Dr. Ryan G. Erbe

Assistant Professor

Character Integrator

Simon Center for the Professional-Military Ethic

ryan.erbe [at] westpoint.edu

Ryan grew up in a small town in upstate New York. He began working at West Point in March of 2021. He enjoys trail-running, hiking, mountain biking, teaching and conducting research. He has been married for 12 years and has 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy).

Ph.D. - Indiana University

M.S. - Ball State University

B.S. - Ithaca College

Research Interests

Character Formation

Emotion Regulation

Spirituality

Meditation

Selected Publications

Erbe, R. G. (2025). Emotional integration and spiritual formation: Integrating emotion into formation of the spirit. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909241309290

Cornwell, J., Wetzler, E., Erbe, R. G., Wood, M.D. (2024). Meaning in life (but not life satisfaction) moderates the effects of battlefield experiences on suicidal ideation. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Erbe, R. G. (2024). Spiritual examples, elevation, and meditation: Engaging the spiritual discipline of virtuous other meditation. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 43(3), 236-245.

Erbe, R. G. (2024). Generation Z and meditation: An exercise of opportunity. Teleios, 4(2), 120-134.

Wetzler, E., Erbe, R. G., Cornwell, J., Wood, M.D. (2024). Dispositional mindfulness moderates the link between potentially morally injurious events and anxiety and depression but not suicidal ideation. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 37(4), 574-585. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23032

Erbe. R. G., Konheim-Kalkstein, Y. L., Fredrick, R., Dykuis, E. M., Meindl, P. (2024). Designing a course for lifelong self-directed character growth. Journal of Character and Leadership Development, 11(1), 1-11. https://jcldusafa.org/index.php/jcld/article/view/286

Erbe, R. G. (2024). From understanding to embodying: Moving beyond teaching for understanding of the spiritual disciplines through using psychological theories of motivation and behavior. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, 17(1), 123-135. https://journals.sagepub.com/eprint/W9GH44PU28FVGEAVQCVS/full

Erbe, R. G., Schnack, D., Meindl, P. (2023). Cultivating a culture of character growth: Developing faculty character and competence at the United States Military Academy. Journal of Character and Leadership Development, 10(3), 44-51. https://jcldusafa.org/index.php/jcld/article/view/275

Erbe, R. G. (2023). The meditation matrix: Where the Word becomes flesh. Teleios, 3(2), 226-250.

Erbe, R. G., Meindl, P., Dykhuis, E. M., Boatright, G., Tilman, T. (2023). A reasoned action approach to meditation behavior among cadets at the United States Military Academy. Military Psychology, 36(4), 456-463. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08995605.2023.2197840