Cari Stevenson

Dr. Cari Stevenson is an Adjunct Professor at National Louis University (NLU) and a full-time tenured Psychology Professor at Kankakee Community College. She coordinates the Campus Mental Health program and support services for student veterans there. Her expertise spans sense of community, student support systems in higher education, and accessibility via service dogs.

Education: Ph.D. in Community Psychology (NLU), M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Illinois State University), B.A. in Psychology (Illinois Wesleyan University).

Research Focus: Investigates resilience and empowerment in underserved communities, particularly through the interplay of sense of community and purpose. Current projects include studying veteran-PTSD-service dog outcomes and public perception of service animals. Prior experience includes 15 years in Human Resources consulting, specializing in organizational infrastructure development.

Professional Background: I/O consultant for Fortune 500 firms and small businesses, developing HR systems like job descriptions and performance metrics. Active in advocating for mental health and veteran support programs on campus.