Vitae

Maryann Makekau is a community advocate, crisis intervention and resource consultant, researcher and author. Her fluency with psychometric administration includes evaluation of learning, memory and executive brain function disorders. Her contributions in research include geriatric memory recognition and military training stress factors. Her experience in the mental health field spans over 20 years. Her recent children’s book series combines her understanding and expertise to affect positive strategies for women and their loved ones coping with breast cancer.  Recent public engagements include breast cancer awareness events, school presentations, chapel and game half-time addresses, conference exhibitor & inspirational speaker and booksigning engagements.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

  • B.A., Syracuse University, 1998, Summa Cum Laude, major in psychology
  • University of Florida/Shands Hospital, 2004, neurological training conference
  • Psychometric Measures and Statistical Analyses advanced training conference, 2008

JOINT-RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Age-Related Dissociations in Time-Accuracy Functions for Recognition Memory: Utilizing Semantic Support versus Building New Representations, under Tibor Palfai, Ph.D., et al.  Syracuse University, 2000

A Risk Factor Model Predicting the Relationship Between Stress and Performance in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Training; Field Researcher under Mark Bates, Psy.D. – Dissertation Candidate for Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 2002

BOOKS IN PRINT/PENDING PUBLICATIONS* ( Little Pink Book Series)

- When Your Teacher Has Cancer: Helping Children Cope in the Classroom and Beyond; Released November 24, 2009 (Spanish translation: Released March 14, 2010)

- When Your Mom Has Cancer: Helping Children Cope at Home and Beyond; Released April 4, 2010 (Spanish translation in progress)

- When Mom’s Cancer Doesn’t Go Away: Helping Children Cope with Loss and Beyond; Released May 26, 2010

- *When Your Grandma Has Cancer: Helping Children Cope at Home and Beyond: Winter 2010

*Other titles scheduled for release: spring 2011; Spanish translations by Amaryllis Sanchez-Wohlever, MD.

The Little Pink Book series benefits The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

 

HONORS

Four+ years of military service to include honors of:

Air Force Commendation Medal (1st Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Ribbon (Long), Air Force Longevity Services Award Ribbon, Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

VENTURES

Joint-owner & officer – Makekau Corporation; Digital media company since 2005: ForeverSkim Magazine and 2030north Studios.