O'Brien

Karen M. O’Brien Dr. Karen M. O'Brien is a professor in the Department of Psychology and also serves as the faculty ombuds at the University of Maryland. Through her research, teaching, and service, Dr. O'Brien strives to generate knowledge to address social concerns, to educate and mentor students to achieve their potential, to assist faculty in creating equitable, inclusive, and healthy work environments, and to contribute to the communities where she lives and works. Dr. O'Brien studies factors related to successful management of work and family, grief counseling and related interventions, and dating violence. She teaches courses on intimate partner violence and death, dying and grieving, and arranges service learning experiences for undergraduates who work with children living in shelters for abused women. Dr. O'Brien is a licensed psychologist in the State of Maryland and a fellow of the American Psychological Association.