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About Dr. Jen Wallin-Ruschman

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Expertise

Community Psychology, Social Psychology, Psychology of Gender, Psychology and Social Change, Community, Participatory, and Qualitative Methods

Personal Statement

I teach courses in community psychology and research methods. My teaching and research are both influenced by critical and feminist pedagogies. I think of learning and knowledge production as a collaborative and participatory process. An action orientation is also central to my work- come to class prepared to engage in real-world application and project-based learning with an aim toward social change.

As a community-based researcher, the topics I investigate shift with the community I am working with and their identified needs. However, my approach to research is always rooted in respect for multiple ways of knowing and the experiences of research participants. I mix methods when conducting research but I often focus more on qualitative methodologies, including focus groups, photovoice, open-ended surveys, and interviews. I love collaborating and mentoring students on research projects or just chatting about methods. Please stop by anytime to talk or explore ways you might get involved in research or action.

I live with my partner and two young daughters in Boise. I love coffee, dessert, and fantasy books. I enjoy running, biking, swimming, camping, and yoga but don’t always have time to follow through on these with regularity.

Professional Experience

2022 – Present Hansberger Chair of Community Collaboration and Engagement

2020-Present Associate Professor of Psychology, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID.

2016 - 2020 Assistant Professor of Psychology, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, ID.

2013-2016 Assistant Professor, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton, GA.

Education

  • Ph. D., 2014, Applied Psychology (specialization in Social and Community), Portland State University
  • M.S., 2011, Psychology, Portland State University
  • B.A., 2008 , Psychology, Sociology, and Biology, University of Louisville

Publications

Wallin-Ruschman, J., Price., A.*, Richey, C.*, & Carns, K.* (2020). Reflections and results from the intersections: Teaching and learning the praxis of intersectionality in the psychology classroom. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 12(1), 13-26.   *= College of Idaho student or alum
Patka, M., Wallin-Ruschman, J., Al Rahma, B. A., Zar, A.^, bin Nauman, H.^, Sharif, J. M^….Khanam, Z.^ (2020). “We need to share our stories”: The lives of Pakistanis with intellectual disabilities and their guardians. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Patka, M., Wallin-Ruschman, J., Murry, A. & Minich, N. (2018). Exploring sense of community as a predictor of critical consciousness among youth in Ukraine. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 9(1), 1-17.
Wallin-Ruschman, J., Patka, M., & Murry, A. (2018) The role of sense of community and individual differences on critical consciousness in Iran. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, (4)1, 42-65.
Wallin-Ruschman, J. (2018). “I thought it was just knowledge but it’s definitely a lot of guts”: Exploring emotional and relational dimensions of critical consciousness development. The Urban Review, 50(1), 3-22.
Wallin-Ruschman, J. & Pataka, M. (2016). Learning from critical collective spaces: Reflections on the community-diversity dialectic in safe spaces. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 4(1), 318-331.
Patka, M, Wallin-Ruschman, J., Wallace, T., & Robbins, C. (2016). Exit cards: Creating a dialogue for continuous evaluation. Teaching in Higher Education. DOI: 10.1080/13562517.2016.1167033