Sharon N. Obasi

Sharon N. Obasi is a Professor in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Western Ontario and a B.A. (summa cum laude) in Psychology from McMaster University. Her research spans family science, gender identity, naming patterns, and health information systems, with notable contributions to understanding trust dynamics in healthcare and linguistic trends in gendered names. She serves on the CommonSpirit Health National Institutional Review Board and is the Membership Officer for the American Name Society.

Obasi’s work bridges academic and industry collaboration through experiential learning initiatives, as seen in her 2024 presentation on workforce readiness. Her 2019 paper on name selection and gender identity earned the American Name Society’s Best Article Award. She actively contributes to family policy through her role as Chair of the Family Policy section at the National Council on Family Relations.

Her presentations include discussions on scientific integrity in Peru and interim leadership strategies in higher education. Research themes include healthcare access, LGBTQ+ health equity, and pandemic-era educational adaptations. She teaches courses such as Lifespan Development and Research Methods and Analysis, emphasizing practical applications of family science principles.