Volker K. Thomas Purdue University, USA

Volker Thomas, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy in the Department of Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. in Family Social Science with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Minnesota and an MSW from the University of Kassel, Germany.

Since 1993 Dr. Thomas is on the faculty of the COAMFTE accredited doctoral MFT program at Purdue University and served as its director from 1999-2003. Dr. Thomas has been on the editorial boards of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, The Family Journal, and Counseling and Values. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the AFTA Newsletter from 1998-2002. His research interests include family assessment, family therapy with economically disadvantaged families, gender and multicultural perspectives in family therapy, family therapy with children, ethical and professional issues, supervision in family therapy training.

Among his many publications are recent books: Cierpka, M., Thomas, V., & Sprenkle, D. H. (Eds.) (2005). Family assessment: Integrating Multiple Perspectives. Kirkland, WA: Hogrefe. Thomas, V., Karis, T., & Wetchler, J. (Eds.) (2003). Clinical Issues With Interracial Couples: Theory and Research. New York: Haworth Press. Additionally, Dr. Thomas has published over 60 refereed journal articles and book chapters, and has extensive experience as presenter at national and international conferences.

Dr. Thomas is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Indiana and has a small private practice in West Lafayette. He is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).