Teaching and mentoring offer unique opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is developing mentoring relationships with students and assisting them in identifying, pursuing, and achieving their career and educational goals. My graduate and undergraduate courses are designed to maximize critical thinking and active. My greatest contribution to teaching undergraduate students is reflected in the development of a two-semester service learning course focused on domestic violence. The first semester of this course focuses on the acquisition of knowledge related to research and theory on domestic violence and multicultural issues. During the second semester, students work in a shelter in our community that serves women and children who experienced domestic violence. Please refer to my website for more information about my teaching. http://counselingpsychologyresearch.weebly.com/index.html
O'Brien, Karen
Bio
Dr. Karen M. O'Brien is a professor in the Department of Psychology and faculty ombuds officer at the University of Maryland. Through her research, teaching, and service, Dr. O'Brien strives to generate knowledge to address social concerns, educate and mentor students to achieve their potential, assist faculty in creating equitable, inclusive, and healthy work environments, and contribute to the communities where she lives and works. Dr. O’Brien studies factors related to successful management of work and family, end-of-life issues and dating violence. She teaches courses on intimate partner violence and death, dying and grieving. Dr. O'Brien is a licensed psychologist in the State of Maryland and a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
Please refer to Dr. O'Brien's website for additional information about her research, teaching and service.
http://counselingpsychologyresearch.weebly.com/index.html
Degrees
Counseling Psychology, Loyola University of Chicago, January, 1993. - PhD
Counseling and Guidance, University of Missouri, Kansas City, July, 1988. - MA
Biology, B.A., Sociology, Loyola University Chicago, May, 1983. Minor: Women's Studies. - BS
Areas of Interest
Women's Vocational Development and Economic Self-Sufficiency
Intimate Partner Violence and Dating Violence
Death, Dying and Grieving
Research Topics
My research focuses on the vocational development of women (e.g., studying factors associated with successful management of work and family in the United States and internationally), intimate partner violence (e.g., developing interventions to reduce dating violence), and death, dying and grieving (e.g., educating future helping professionals about end-of-life issues). Please refer to my website for detailed information about my research. http://counselingpsychologyresearch.weebly.com/index.html
Karen O'Brien
Professor and Faculty Ombuds, Office of the President
| BPS 2147B
| kmobrien@umd.edu
| (301) 405-5812