Biography
Kirk G. Mensch is Professor of Ethics & Organizational Psychology and Director of Graduate Programs in the Catherine T. MacArthur School at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He is an ethicist and theoretical psychologist whose research is focused in moral psychology and applied ethics. Dr. Mensch started teaching at the university level in 2004 at the College of William & Mary and, since then, has continued to teach and lecture at various institutions in the U.S. and the U.K.
Dr. Mensch is published in several peer-reviewed academic journals on topics related to moral psychology, leadership development and theory, ethics, the philosophy of science, and is a member of several academic societies including the Society for Business Ethics and the International Society for MacIntyrean Ethics. He has more recently vetted his research at universities such as Oxford, Imperial College London, Notre Dame, and Durham University, and is a regular presenter and speaker at various universities and conferences around the world. His more recent research is focused on the problem of inconsistent moral assumptions within the social sciences. He has previously argued (various papers can be located on academia.edu) that incommensurate moral assumptions within many theories, that are later turned into practice, must be considered at the outset because these theories may be unwittingly presented as morally generalizable, which can cause confusion at all levels of society and allow politicians, lawyers, and clever people to create misleading and misguided arguments as they use the results of research based in morally problematic theories as the basis of arguments presented in the public arena. Dr. Mensch has also connected this problem to the disengagement of moral self-sanctions, cognitive distress, and self-harm, including suicide.
Dr. Mensch also has over 25 years of trusted advisor and consulting experience in both the public and private sectors. He is a former U.S. Intelligence Community Officer, combat veteran, and government contractor who served as a leader (and Jumpmaster) at various levels with the famed 82nd Airborne Division and he has a long history of working with U.S. agencies and foreign governments to solve challenging problems. Dr. Mensch also dedicates time to advocate for Disabled Veterans and is involved in volunteer activities with several organizations.
Formal Education
Ph.D. Ethics & Moral Psychology
Thesis Title – Moral Disengagement, Hope & Spirituality: Including an empirical exploration of combat veterans
Under the Supervision of Prof. Esther Reed (Ethics & Religion) & Dr. Avril Mewse (Psychology)
University of Exeter
Exeter, United Kingdom
Ph.D. Human Resource Development & Organizational Leadership
Dissertation Title – Belief and Moral Judgment: Considering Implications of a Religious Paradox in Neo-Kohlbergian Moral Reasoning.
Under the Supervision of Prof. Paul B. Carr
Regent University, School of Business & Leadership
Virginia Beach, VA
C.A.G.S. Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Leadership Theory
Regent University, School of Business & Leadership
Virginia Beach, VA
M.B.A. Business Administration
Webster University
School of Business and Technology
Saint Louis, MO
B.S. Economics
Army ROTC, Distinguished Military Graduate
West Virginia University
College of Business and Economics
Morgantown, WV
Degrees
PhD, University of Exeter | PhD, Regent University | MBA, Webster University | BS, West Virginia University