Julie Yonker


Julie Yonker

Education

Prof. Yonker received her B.A. from Calvin College in Biology/Chemistry and then pursued teratology research (the study of birth defects) for several years at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Procter & Gamble. 

Prof. Yonker received her Ph.D. from Stockholm University in cognitive and experimental psychology.  She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in substance abuse at the University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry.

Biography

Professor Yonker teaches Introduction to Psychology (151), Lifespan Development (201), Health Psychology (335), Internship in Psychology (380) and leads the psychology off-campus interim, The European Influence on the History of Psychology and Religion. Prior to returning to Calvin she taught psychology courses at the University of Cincinnati. Professor Yonker received her B.A. from Calvin College in Biology/Chemistry then pursued teratology research (the study of birth defects) for several years at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Procter & Gamble. She and her family spent nine years living, working, learning and traveling in Europe (Germany, Sweden and Belgium). Professor Yonker received her Ph.D. from Stockholm University in cognitive and experimental psychology. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in substance abuse at the University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry. Her research interests include faith and religious development in emerging adulthood and virtue development in emerging adults.

Recent Awards

  • 2017 Advising and Mentoring Award
  • NetVUE Vocation Exploration: Who are you? Translating self-understanding into vocation via the advisor
  • Lilly Vocation Venture Fund Grant - Understanding Christian College Students' Perspectives on Addiction
  • Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship - The State of Religious Faith in Adolescence and Young Adults: A Review and Critique of the Research
  • Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship and the Alumni Association Grant - Christian Perspectives on Mental Illness, Alumni-Faculty Working Group
  • Templeton (subcontract) Grant - The Assessment of Intellectual Virtues
  • Templeton (subcontract) Grant - The Science of Intellectual Humility: Analytical Thinking and Belief Systems

In the News

Read Professor Yonker's article "Don't Let Social Media Replace Genuine Friendships."

Professor Yonker is partnering with students and a nonprofit to promote vaccinations.  Read about this work.

Watch as Professor Yonker wins Professor of the Year 2013.

Part of the homework Professor Yonker assigns in psychology 209 is creating the life histories of older adults.

Professor Yonker spoke to the parents of the 2011 Calvin graduates at the Parent's Breakfast during Commencement weekend.

Read more about the faith and adolescence research Professor De Haan and Professor Yonker are working on.

Read more about Julie's research on cognitive aging and the Dutch Famine.

Academic interests

Her research interests include biological contributors to cognitive function in adults as well as faith and virtue development in emerging adulthood.

Research and scholarship

Publications

Abma, L. C.*, Timmermans, R. A.*, & Yonker, J. E. (2021). Health Congruence Paradox in Older Adults: Contribution of Cognition and Relational Visits. Geriatric Nursing, 42, 708-713.

Yonker, J. E., Pendery, A.R.*, Klein, C. & Witte, J. (2019). Relational based Christian Practices of Gratitude and Prayer can Positively Impact Christian College Students' Reported Prosocial Tendencies. Journal of International Christian Education, 23, 150-170.

Yonker, J. E., Hebreard, D.M., Cawley, B.D. (2019). Validating Faculty Advising Through Assessment. NACADA Journal, 39.

Yonker, J. E., Edmons, L. R.O., Cresswell, J., Barrett, J. L. (2016). Primed analytic thought and Intrinsic religiosity: The importance of individual characteristics. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 8, 298-308.

Yonker, J. E., Wielard, C. J., Vos, C. L.*, & Tudder, A. M.* (2016). Development of the character trait of humility in first grade children Journal of International Christian Education, 21, 55-71.

Yonker, J.E. (2014). The Spiritual lessons of emerging adulthood. Christian Educators Journal, 54, 7-10.

Witt, J.D., Cawley, B.D., Yonker, J.E., Polage, D.C. (2014). The value of virtue: An organizational approach to the challenges of workplace disabilities. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 7, 274-278.

Yonker, J. E., Schnabelrauch, C., &  DeHaan, L. G. (2012).  The relationship between spirituality and religiosity on psychological outcomes in adolescents and emerging adults: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Adolescence, 35, 299-314.  doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.08.010

DeHaan, L. G., Yonker, J. E., & Affholter, C. (2011).  More than enjoying the sunset: Conceptualization and measurement of religiosity for adolescents and emerging adults: Implications for developmental inquiry.  Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 30, 184-195.

Yonker, J. E.  (2011). The relationship of deep and surface study approaches on factual and applied test-bank multiple choice question performance.  Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 6, 673-686.  DOI: 10.1080/02602938.2010.481041

de Rooij, S.R.,Wouters, H., Yonker, J. E., Painter, R. C., & Roseboom, T. J. (2010) Cognitive health in the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort: Effects of prenatal undernutrition on cognitive function in late middle age.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107, 16881-16886.

 

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