Christine Keaney

Christine Keaney is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Human Development at Pacific Oaks College, teaching primarily in the online campus. She delivers key graduate courses including the master's thesis sequence (HD 677A, HD 677C, HD 699C), Advanced Studies in Diversity and Anti-bias Issues (HD 562), and courses on community development, cognitive development, and social change.

Education:

• BA in Individual Concentration (Community Development and Urban Studies), University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1999)
• MS in Education (International and Intercultural Education), Florida International University (2009)
• Graduate Certificate in Consensus Building and Conflict Resolution, Florida International University (2009)
• PhD in Education (Teaching, Learning, and Culture), San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University (2016)

Her research and teaching focus on diversity, social justice, community development, and the educational inclusion of marginalized populations. She explores how funds of knowledge and sense of belonging operate within stigmatized communities such as street gangs, aiming to shift perceptions and promote equitable opportunities. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates education, human development, and urban sociology.

Dr. Keaney has presented her work at national conferences including the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2016 to 2018. She has also served as a guest lecturer at Broward College, extending her impact beyond Pacific Oaks.

Professional Memberships:

• American Educational Research Association (AERA)
• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

With over 20 years of experience in facilitation and training in social justice, Dr. Keaney bridges academic scholarship and community engagement. Her career reflects a deep commitment to compassionate, equity-driven change through both higher education and nonprofit service.

She is actively involved in community service as a foster volunteer with the Humane Society of Greater Miami and the San Diego Humane Society, reflecting her broader ethos of care and social responsibility.