Courtney E. Gasser

Biography

As a child, I was always very interested in the interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics at work within myself and with others. Specifically, I was trying to figure myself out and apply what I had learned about the way the world works to my relationships with other people. Also, my family had instilled in me a strong desire to help others. It wasn't until years later that I discovered that I could turn these interests into a career. I was a sophomore in college studying journalism when I realized it. I had wanted to produce the news, but I started to find—through job shadowing and my coursework—that I had a problem. It was becoming apparent that journalism was not as good a fit as I had thought it would be. I was in a panic: What was I to do with myself? I remember feeling very anxious about not having a clear career path in mind. Fortunately, through the help of the campus career center, I was able to decide on a career that was a better fit. From that point on, I have pursued my interests in psychology. Some of my current areas of expertise include vocational psychology and career counseling, and these interests stem directly from my own experiences with career uncertainty. The people at the career center helped me at a crucial point in my development, and from this grew my passion for learning more about vocational processes, so I could be knowledgeable and share this knowledge with others. Other areas of professional interest for me include providing psychotherapy services and researching women's issues. Though my primary research interests continue to be in the area of vocational psychology, these additional interests shape my personal and professional lives in different ways. University of Baltimore students come to class with a remarkable amount of real-world knowledge. As a psychology professor, I get to sift through course concepts with the students and compare research findings with their experiences. I believe that this broadens their understanding of course concepts and provides an opportunity for students to apply those concepts even outside of the classroom. I continue to be impressed with their enthusiasm regarding learning. It almost seems as if they are shouting, "Teach us! We are going places and will need this knowledge!" Beyond UB, I am a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association and the American College Counseling Association.

Research Interest

 Interpersonal Relationship Psychology of Women Psychological Assessment Personality Theory