Education: Ph.D., M.A., B.S., Ball State University
Dr. Kristen K. Williams, Professor of Psychology, joined the Lourdes University faculty in the Fall of 2019. She is a student-centered scholar who has been recognized as a recipient of the Lourdes University Faculty Excellence Award (2023), the Society for Teaching Psychology’s Early Career Travel Award (2019), the Ohio Magazine Excellence in Education Honoree (2015), and the Heidelberg University Distinguished Scholarship Award (2015).
Dr. Williams, an Indiana native, earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with specializations in Developmental Psychology and Gifted and Talented Studies in 2009 from Ball State University. Dr. Williams holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology (2006) and Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science (2005; Magna Cum Laude), also from Ball State University. She was a 2000 graduate of the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities.
At Lourdes, she teaches several courses, including General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Introduction to Counseling, Dynamics of Marriage and Family, Pre-Professional Seminar in the Social Sciences, and Multicultural Diversity. She has also served on the Lourdes University Faculty Senate, Honors Council, and Rank and Promotion Committee. Prior to accepting the position at Lourdes, Dr. Williams taught for nine years in the Education Department at Heidelberg University, earning tenure and promotion while there.
Dr. Williams’ social justice-focused research examines the individual and contextual factors related to developmental and achievement outcomes for those from underrepresented populations. She has studied those within rural, gifted, LGBTQ, and first-generation student populations. Her research has been presented at various regional, national, and international conferences and published in many peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes. Her work has been supported by several sources, including The Association for Institutional Research and the National Center for Education Statistics. Additionally, her research has been recognized by various organizations, including the Association for Institutional Research’s Charles I. Brown Fellow Award for Most Outstanding Dissertation Proposal and Heidelberg University’s Distinguished Research Award.
Dr. Williams is active within the professional community of psychology. She is a member of several divisions within the American Psychological Association, including the Society for the Teaching of Psychology. She has served on the editorial board for the Journal for the Advancement of Education Research and is currently a reviewer for the Educational and Developmental Psychologist and Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She has successfully applied her expertise to community projects, including her service on the board of directors for Seneca Mentoring Youth Links (SMYL), the annual Heidelberg University Human Trafficking Awareness Week, and the recent founding and chairing of GLSEN Northwest Ohio chapter.
Publications
Williams, K. K. & Smith, A. (2020). Leaning on our values: Supporting student academic success in a pandemic world. In K. Varner, S. Bickmore, D. Hayes, P. G. Schrader, D. Carlson, & D. Anagnostopoulos (Eds.), The Corona Chronicles. Dio Press. (In press).
Williams, K. K. (2016). From aspirations to access: Individual and contextual factors that facilitate or impede postsecondary education attendance. Educational Practice and Reform, 2, 69-79.
Williams, K. K. (2015). The role of place in the school factors that facilitate or impede postsecondary education attendance. Journal for the Advancement of Educational Research, 9, 34-42.
Williams, K. K. (2015). Does place still matter?: Examining the discrepancies in postsecondary education attendance among rural, urban, and suburban students. Journal for the Advancement of Educational Research, 9, 6-16.
Williams, K. K. (2014). When perception outweighs reality: The role of parental factors on the educational aspirations of rural high school students. Psychology and Education, 51, 42-53.
Speirs Neumeister, K.L., Williams, K. K., & Cross, T.L. (2009). Gifted high-school students’ perspectives on the development of perfectionism. Roeper Review, 31, 198-206.
Speirs Neumeister, K.L., Williams, K. K., & Cross, T.L. (2007). Perfectionism in gifted high school students: Responses to academic challenge. Roeper Review, 29(5), 11-18.
Peterson, K., Paulson, S., & Williams, K. K. (2007). Relations of eating disorder symptomology with perceptions of pressures from mothers, peers, and media in adolescent boys and girls. Sex Roles, 57,629-639.
Scholarly Presentations
Williams, K. K. (October, 2018). Does My Family Belong?: Creating an Inclusive School Climate for LGBTQ Families. Presented at the Midwestern Educational Research Conference in Cincinnati, OH.
Williams, K. K. (October, 2018). Stepping Out of the Shadows: The Educational Experiences of Students with LGBTQ Parents. Invited research talk at the Heidelberg University Faculty Formu in Tiffin, OH.
Williams, K. K. (October, 2016). The Antiquated Curriculum: Biased Representation of Family Structures in Our Nation’s Schools. Paper presented at the Midwestern Educational Research Conference in Evanston, Illinois.
Williams, K. K., Pistorova, S., & Castleman, M. (March, 2016). The Availability and Usage of LGBT Literature in Classroom and School Libraries. Paper presented at the 21st Annual Heidelberg University Minds at Work Conference Faculty Symposium in Tiffin, OH.
Williams, K. K. and Green, J. (April, 2015). The Bi-Directional Relationship between Peers and Perfectionism among Gifted Adolescents. Paper presented at the Council for Exceptional Children 2015 Annual Convention.
Rowe, T., & Williams, K. K. (January, 2014). The Effectiveness of Teacher Read Aloud on Oral Reading Fluency Rates. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI.
Hushhour, T., & Williams, K. K. (January, 2014). The Effects of Classical Music on the Behavior among Fifth Grade Students. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI.
Almekinder, A., Williams, K.K., & Castleman, M. (October, 2013). Game On!: The Use of Digital Gaming within the Classroom. Presented at the Ohio Confederation of Teacher Educator Organizations (OCTEO) in Columbus, OH.
Williams, K. K. (February, 2013). The Development of Perfectionism Among Gifted High School Students . Paper presented at the 18th Annual Heidelberg University Faculty Research Symposium at the Minds at Work Conference, Tiffin, OH.
Williams, K. K. (November, 2012). Facilitators and barriers to college attendance among rural, urban, and suburban students. Paper presented at the Association for the Advancement of Educational Research, Hutchinson Island, FL.
Hoffman, T., & K. K. Williams (June, 2012). The effectiveness of delivery method on student achievement within a community college multimedia program. Paper presented at the 2012 Association for Institutional Research Annual Forum, New Orleans, LA.
Williams, K. K. (February, 2012). From aspirations to access: An exploration of the facilitators of and barriers to postsecondary education attendance. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Heidelberg University Faculty Research Symposium at the Minds at Work Conference, Tiffin, OH.
Williams, K. K., & Paulson, S. E. (April, 2010). How place moderates the relations between individual, family, and school factors and postsecondary education attendance. Paper presented at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
Paulson, S. E., Williams, K. K. (March, 2010). Predicting college attendance: An examination of individual and family factors. Paper presented at the Society for Research on Adolescence 2010 Biennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
Williams, K. K. (May, 2009). The influence of school factors on postsecondary attendance for rural, urban, and suburban students. Paper presented at the Annual Forum for the Association for Institutional Research, Atlanta, GA.
Jameson, M. M. & Williams, K. K. (April, 2009). Does enrollment in a test and measurement course affect pre-service teachers’ attitudes toward assessment. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA.
Williams, K. K. (January, 2009). Does place matter anymore?: Access to postsecondary education among rural, urban, and suburban students. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI.
Williams, K. K., & Oetting, M. (October, 2008). Investigating the moderating role of race/ethnicity on the relations among extracurricular activity type and educational aspirations. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Mid-Western Educational Research Association, Columbus, Ohio.
Williams, K.K., & Jameson, M.M. (April, 2008). Sports, clubs, or music: Which extracurricular activities are most related to postsecondary educational aspirations? Paper presented at the Biennial Conference on Human Development, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Williams, K.K., Huffman, L.F., & Finch, W.H. (January, 2008) Investigating the influence of parental factors on the postsecondary educational aspirations of rural middle and high school students. Paper presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI.
Williams, K.K., & Speirs Neumeister, K.L. (October, 2007). Gifted high school students’ perspectives on the development of perfectionism. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Mid-Western Educational Research Association, Saint Louis, Missouri.
Williams, K.K., & Speirs Neumeister, K.L. (August, 2007). Perfectionism in gifted high school students: Responses to academic challenge. Paper presented at the 17th Biennial World Conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, University of Warwick, England.
Invited Professional Development Sessions
Williams, K. K. (October, 2019). Conducting Research in the Fields of Psychology and Education. Invited presentation for Lourdes University Honors Seminar.
Williams, K. K. & Zeigler, J. (October, 2019). Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness. Invited presentation for Lourdes University Staff.
Williams, K. K. & Blochowski, K. (September, 2019). Inclusion of LGBTQ Students. Invited presentation for Toledo MetroParks Staff.
Williams, K. K. (March, 2019). LGBTQ Inclusion with the Classroom. Invited presentation for the Heidelberg University Faculty Development Day.
Williams, K. K. (2016-2017). Presenter of Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Workshops in Seneca County area schools. Representing Tiffin Franciscans Sisters in Shelter.
Williams, K. K. (August, 2016) Professional Organizations for Students: What’s Sex Have to Do with It and The Impact of Serendipity. Invited talk at the 2016 Heidelberg University AIM HEI Sophomore Conference.
Williams, K. K. (2014-2015). ‘Berg STEM Scholars. Served as the Program Evaluator for the S-STEM grant program at Heidelberg University sponsored by the NSF S-STEM program aimed at improving the recruitment, retention, graduation, and placement of underrepresented students in STEM fields.
Selected Awards and Grants
2020 Society for Teaching Psychology Early Career Travel Award
2016 National LGBTQ Taskforce Eric Rofes Scholarship
2015 Ohio Magazine Excellence in Education Honoree
2015 Heidelberg University Distinguished Scholarship/Research Award
2014 Heidelberg University Philanthropy Community Engagement Grant
2014 Heidelberg University Aigler Summer Research Grant
2008 Association for Institutional Research Most Outstanding Dissertation Proposal
2008 Association for Institutional Research Dissertation Fellowship Grant
2008 National Center for Education Statistics National Summer Data Policy Institute Fellow
2007 Urie Bronfenbrenner Doctoral Student Travel Grant
PSY 105 Pre-Professional Seminar in Psychology–F2F/Online
PSY 110 General Psychology—F2F/Online
PSY 350 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 470 Introduction to Counseling
PSY 490 Psychology Capstone–F2F/Online
SOC 304 Multicultural Diversity–Online
