Bethany College is pleased to welcome both Kristin McCombs, who has an extensive background in higher education, and Arin You, whose education is deeply rooted in social diversity, as its newest members of the Psychology Department.
McCombs will be joining in time for the fall semester from Wheeling University in Wheeling, W.Va., where she was the chair of social sciences teaching psychology, criminal justice, and a master’s in organizational leadership. She also stood as the interim vice president of academic affairs.
“We are elated to name Dr. Kristin McCombs as the psychology chair,” says Interim President Jamie Caridi. “Her impressive skills in leadership and higher education will be a great benefit to the department, and I am confident students and staff alike will find her as an essential team member to our success.”
While at Wheeling University, McCombs created new certificate pathways for chemical dependency and behavioral health and counseling, as well as serving as a research and internship mentor for undergraduates.
“We are very fortunate and excited to welcome Dr. Kristin McCombs and Dr. Arin You to Bethany,” says Provost and Dean of Faculty Anju Ramjee. “They bring with them new ideas, concepts, and teaching philosophies which will help in designing and focusing on the future of the programs in the department, both at the undergraduate and graduate level.”
McCombs has a Ph.D. in educational psychology and instructional technology from Kent State University, a MA in research methods in psychology in education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in psychology and history from Wheeling University.
“I am delighted to be welcomed by Bethany College as the new Chair of the Psychology Department,” McCombs says. “Bethany has a longstanding tradition of academic inquiry and excellence and I am looking forward to supporting and challenging our students as they pursue their goals.”
McCombs is published a multitude of times for her research on various topics, but most recently on the gender difference in STEM collaborative gaming through Springer. She also presented work at conferences across the United States and in Portugal, France, and Germany.
“In addition to Dr. McCombs, Bethany College is thrilled to have Dr. Arin You joining the team,” says Caridi. “Dr. You brings a deep understanding of culture to the table that can be used as a tool to tailor teaching for Bethany’s diverse student population.”
Prior to receiving her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Utah, You earned a double-major BA in both English and Korean literature. She says this familiarized her with the discussion of social issues, such as gender differences in learning settings, and the perceptions of these issues throughout history in two very different cultures.
“I am thrilled to join the Department of Psychology at Bethany College and be a part of the drivers to actualize the goals of the institution,” says You. “I look forward to contributing to students to deliver and bring forward their inter-and-transdisciplinary thinking and understanding of psychological science.”
You has a decade of teaching experience that influenced her to make learning both engaging and fun. She has also taught several classes online and in-person using discussions, survey tools, and up-to-date clips to develop students’ thinking skills in psychology.
Source: https://www.bethanywv.edu/about-bethany/bethany-college-names-new-psychology-chair-and-assistant-professor/
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