معرفی
Dr. Crystal Colter is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Division of Behavioral Sciences at Maryville College, where she has been a faculty member since 2000. She is based in the Sutton Science Center and teaches courses such as Social Psychology, Cross-Cultural Psychology, and Community Psychology & Social Justice, emphasizing interactive and civic learning approaches.
Her educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Richmond, with minors in Spanish and Women’s Studies, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Dr. Colter's research focuses on academic and social self-efficacy among first-generation college students and the educational experiences of Hispanic and Latino/a/e students, particularly DACA and undocumented youth. She is deeply involved in outreach initiatives such as the Villamaría program and the 'Puertas' mentoring project, which supports Latino/a/e students in pursuing higher education. She also organizes an annual conference for educators and community leaders on supporting Latino/a/e student success.
She is proficient in Spanish and actively engages with Spanish-speaking students and families. Dr. Colter is committed to social and racial justice, contributing to these efforts both at Maryville College and through her involvement with the Immigration Justice Team at Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
She has received grant funding from Conexión Américas and collaborated with the Appalachian College Association and Excelencia in Education to support her outreach programs. Her work integrates community engagement, education, and advocacy for underserved student populations.
