Katie O’Brien
The Director of the Institute for Student Success oversees all academic support services for the College including peer tutoring and academic coaching programs and the Office of Disability and Access, which provides individualized accommodations to students. The Director collaborates with faculty and staff across departments and divisions to ensure the personal and academic success and retention of all students.
Background
Katie started her career at Ursinus in 2019 as the Student Success and Retention Specialist at the Institute for Student Success, working with students on academic probation to develop individualized plans for their academic success. Since then, Katie has been able to expand her role within the ISS to include oversight of the Office of Disability and Access, a natural fit for her background in mental health and counseling. Katie serves are various committees and teams across the College to ensure the personal and academic success of all students at Ursinus College.
Katie is committed to providing equitable and inclusive services for all students, particularly at predominately White institutions, which is a focus of her current doctoral work at Rowan University.
Education
- B.A., Psychology, Widener University
- M.S., Counseling, Villanova University
- Ed.D, Educational Leadership, Higher Education, Rowan University, exp. May 2025
Dissertation: Examining the Perceptions of White Students about Campus Racial Climate at a Predominately White Institution: A Phenomenological Mixed Methods Study