About
Kathryn C. Oleson is a Professor of Psychology at Reed College and currently serves as the Dean of the Faculty. She joined Reed in 1995 after completing her Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Princeton University, funded by an NSF Graduate Fellowship, and held a National Institute of Mental Health Postdoctoral Fellowship at The Ohio State University (1993–1995). Her academic leadership includes former directorship of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
- Key Roles: Dean of the Faculty, Patricia and Clifford Lunneborg Professor of Psychology
- Education: Ph.D. in Social Psychology (Princeton University, 1993), NSF Fellow
- Research Focus: Social self reactions in academic contexts, self-doubt, achievement goals, academic procrastination, inclusive classroom practices, and productive discomfort
- Administrative Oversight: Supervises Cooley Gallery, IT, International Programs, MALS, Registrar, and other academic units
Her teaching emphasizes active student engagement, research design, and critical thinking, with courses spanning Introduction to Psychology, Social Psychology, Stereotyping and Prejudice, and The Social Self. She has served as Associate Editor for Basic and Applied Social Psychology and co-edited the Handbook of the Uncertain Self.
Scientific Awards
- National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship
Her work explores structural interventions to reduce academic procrastination, the interplay between self-doubt and achievement, and pedagogical strategies for inclusive classrooms. While no recent publications are explicitly listed, her research trajectory centers on social identity dynamics in educational environments.
