Dr. Michael Penland is a clinical psychologist practicing in the Wilmington area for the past 15 years. He completed undergraduate work at UNC-Greensboro, earned his master’s degree from East Carolina University, and completed doctoral studies at The Florida State University. After graduating from FSU and returning to NC to work for community mental health, he taught part-time at Southwestern Community College in Sylva, NC, as well as at UNC-Asheville as part of a collaborative program with Southwestern Community College. His clinical practice specializes in treatment of college students to older adults, and he has worked as Clinical Director for various businesses across North Carolina, working in hospital and long-term care settings. Currently, Dr. Penland is an Affiliated Clinical Faculty Member at UNC-Wilmington in the Ph.D psychology graduate program and is in private practice. He has presented at national conferences and has numerous peer-reviewed manuscript publications on various topics including aging issues with older adults, parenting practices, and sexual behaviors of college students.

He has close ties with the Community College system in North Carolina. In addition to his teaching experience at Southwestern Community College and UNC-A, his father was on the Board of Trustees for Southwestern for 16 years, and has been a strong advocate for community college education. Also, after graduating from Hoggard High School, his son attended CFCC and completed his associate’s degree before transferring to New York University. Dr. Penland’s daughter-in-law, after graduating from New York University, continued her education and graduated as an R.N. from the CFCC Nursing Program.

Dr. Penland has served on the Board of Directors for Western North Carolina Alzheimer’s Association, as well as being the co-founder and serving as Chairman of Board of Directors for a non-profit counseling practice in Asheville, NC that provides care for uninsured and underinsured people in need.

He lives downtown and is an avid supporter of the Wilson Center performances, particularly the PNC Broadway series.