Caryn Christensen, associate professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, is being honored with this year's Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award, given annually to a full-time faculty member for sustained service to the University.Christensen has served the University consistently and in numerous ways since joining the faculty in 1991. In addition to teaching and researching, she has served as a member, co-chair, or chair of many programs, task forces, and committees, making her one of the busiest and most vital members of the University’s academic community.
“Caryn always puts her full effort into all her service work because she cares deeply about UHart. I’ve never known her to refuse when asked to serve in a critical support role,” says James Shattuck, associate provost for academic affairs. “She puts all the time necessary into handling her jobs well, and also brings a great work ethic, strong intellect, and compassionate personality to everything she does.”
Christensen holds a doctoral degree from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, both in experimental psychology. Her research focuses on the psychology of decision making in applied settings, primarily in the clinical or medical space. She does not, however, limit herself by any measure to a single handful of topics but enjoys hearing about, exploring, and discussing thematic
issues beyond her core areas. As such, Christensen eagerly welcomes the opportunity to provide research consultation or guidance that benefits students and colleagues alike.
Among her many administrative roles at UHart have been interim associate dean of student services in the College of Arts and Sciences, interim dean of undergraduate learning, and, for four years, chair of the department of psychology. Prior to arriving at UHart, Christensen was an assistant professor of medical education at the University of Illinois.
She has been active in both publishing and conference activities. Christensen has contributed to books such as Decision Making in Health Care: Theory, Psychology, and Applications and Informal Reasoning in Education. She has also presented at conferences, including those organized by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Atlantic Center for Learning Communities.