Susan Christy, Ph.D

Susan Christy, Ph.D.

Professional Profile

Susan Christy has created the first ever comprehensive approach, book and training for building strong staff-faculty relationships – Working Effectively with Faculty: Guidebook for Higher Education Staff and Managers. Her current focus is consulting and speaking for universities, colleges, academic medicine, and higher education conferences on the topic of academic culture, staff-faculty partnerships and how staff and faculty can work together to create the best in education, research and organizational effectiveness. Susan continues to facilitate retreats and provide coaching for university faculty, administrators and staff.

Experience

Author, consultant, keynote speaker/trainer – Academic culture, staff-faculty relationships, strategies and best practices for staff who work with faculty

• Working Effectively with Faculty: Guidebook for Higher Education Staff and Managers
• Customized keynote speeches and trainings for universities, colleges, academic medicine and higher education conferences (see partial client list and topics below)
• Consulting and research for higher education – staff-faculty partnerships, organizational effectiveness, lean management, shared services, teambuilding, department and team retreats
• Individual coaching for faculty and/or staff at all levels
• See client list at SusanChristy.com

Management consulting, training design and delivery, coaching, retreats

President, Christy Consulting, Inc. 1998-2011. Christy Associates 1988-1998.

• Team building with high-performing teams and teams in crisis – team tune-up to major interventions, team retreats
• Management consulting
• Training: Leadership skills for managers and supervisors, customer service strategies, team building, coaching, listening, accountability, working with difficult people
• Coaching – one-on-one support that focuses on the client’s agenda
• Christy Consulting, Inc. was dissolved in 2011 and Susan now works as a solo proprietor
• See client list at Susan Christy.com

HighGain Inc., San Francisco, CA.  Vice President of Programs, 1987-1988

Head Trainer and Director of Programs, 1985-1987

• Designed and implemented corporate communications training programs, consulted with clients on management and team building
• Hired, trained, and managed thirteen trainers and program department staff

Professional speaker, television talk-show host

• Speaker to businesses, academic institutions and community organizations. Topics represent Susan’s broad background in psychology, business, higher education, team building and empowerment
• TV talk show host, weekly program – REACHing the Disabled

Tenured Professor of Psychology

Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield CT.  1973-1984

• Directed Psychology program and designed psychology curriculum
• Established and coordinated Speakers’ Bureau
• Consulted with the Women’s Center, Day Care Center, and Disabilities Program

College and University teaching

• University of Hartford, Hartford, CT. 1971-1973.  Part-time Instructor
• Tunxis Community College, West Hartford CT. 1971-1973.  Part-time professor
• University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. 1968-1969.  Part-time Instructor           
• Lowell State College, Lowell, MA. Full time Instructor.  1966-1967

Education

• D. in Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA,  1994. Dissertation on self-esteem and self-compassion
• A., University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, 1967. (Psychology) Thesis on motivation and cooperation in business
• A., Connecticut College, New London, CT., 1965 (Psychology)

Certified Management Consultant

California College Teaching Credential—Business and Psychology

Board Member

• The Institute of Management Consultants
• The California Institute of Integral Studies
• Keep Your Freedom, Keep Your Dreams (Teen pregnancy prevention)
• American Association of University Women
• Positive Resource Center – AIDS Benefits Counselors

Volunteer

• Mojave, Navajo, Zuni Indians – projects to preserve their cultures
• Tsunami Relief work in India – worked in two fishing villages and raised $21,000 to feed hungry people, build 10 houses and buy fishing nets for a whole village
• Juvenile Hall. Self-esteem, anger management work with youth
• Guest speaker at many schools and universities
• Center for Attitudinal Healing – facilitated many groups for caregivers
• Valley Emergency Readiness Group – Marin County, California