Headshot
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Additional Positions
Chair, Department of Psychology, Justice, & Society
Degrees
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Clark University, 1992
M.S., Developmental Psychology, Illinois State University, 1988
B.A., Psychology, Illinois State University, 1986
A.A., Psychology, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Illinois, 1984
Professional Experience
Professor, Rockhurst University, 2013-Present
Associate Professor, Rockhurst University, 2003-2013
Assistant Professor, Rockhurst University. 1999-2003
Visiting Assistant Professor, Rockhurst University, 1997-1999
Assistant Professor, University of Northern Iowa, 1991-1997
Research
Afful, S. A., Braitman, K. A., & Oliver, J. A. (2023, October). Think Big, ACT small: Well-being Interventions Across the Curriculum. Society for the Teaching of Psychology’s Annual Conference on Teaching. Portland, OR.
Scott, P. D., & Oliver, J. A. (2021). Using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to demonstrate the complexities of race as an influence on development. In Incorporating diversity in classroom settings: Real and engaging examples for various psychology courses (pp. 178–184). Society for the Teaching of Psychology.
Oliver, J. A., & Scott, P. D. (2019, October). Using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory to Demonstrate the Complexities of Race as an Influence on Development. Society for Teaching Psychology’s Annual Conference on Teaching. Denver, CO.
Scott, P. D., Haefele, B. F., & Oliver, J. A. (2019, August). Enhancing Employable Skills Self-Efficacy in Senior Psychology Majors. American Psychological Association Annual Convention. Chicago, IL: American Psychological Association.
Haefele, B. F., Oliver, J. A., Keady, K., & Kobie, A. (2017, August). Calibration skills as a function of class standing and practice. 125th American Psychological Association Conference. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Oliver, J. A. (2016, January). Using Student-Generated Case Studies to Teach the Psychology of Disabilities. 38th annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology. St. Pete’s Beach, FL.
Balusek, K., Oliver, J. A., & Braitman, K. A. (2015, March). Students’ understanding of critical thinking activities. 52nd annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Orlando, FL.
Oliver, J. A., Balusek, K., & Braitman, K. A. (2015, January). Students’ understanding of critical thinking activities: Beyond “Thinking outside the box”. 37th annual National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology. St. Pete’s Beach, FL.
Brown, S., Oliver, J. A., & Michael, R. (2013, October). Promoting the intellectual skill of synthesis through student scientific writing. 10th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Raleigh, North Carolina.
Brown, S., Oliver, J. A., & Michael, R. (2012, October). Using course embedded assessment to evaluate and improve student scientific writing. 9th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Hamilton, Ontario.
Balusek, K., & Oliver, J. A. (2012, October). An assessment of students’ ability to evaluate sources using a scale. 9th Annual Conference of the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Hamilton, Ontario.
Oliver, J. A. (2012). Research methods: Evaluating summaries of research reports. Transformative Dialogues, 6.
Oliver, J. A. (2012). Transforming lives and social justice: Educational psychology students working with at-risk youth. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 3, 59–79.
Maguire, L., Fanning, C., & Oliver, J. (2011, October). Emerging Adults’ Identity and Spirituality: An Examination of Caucasian, Native American, and African Americans. 5th Conference on Emerging Adulthood. Providence, RI.
Oliver, J. A. (2009, October). An Investigation of Undergraduate Students’ Identity and Spirituality. 4th Conference on Emerging Adulthood. Atlanta, GA.
Scott, P. D., & Oliver, J. A. (2006, March). Student Definitions of Critical Thinking: Implications for Instructors. 13th Midwest Institute for Students and Teachers of Psychology. Glen Ellyn, IL.
Michael, R., & Oliver, J. A. (2005, July). Evidence of Increased Student Learning, Attitudes toward Service-Learning and Comfort with Service-Learning Projects in University Psychology Courses. Educating Citizens Through Service Learning. Tulsa, OK.
Scott, P., Oliver, J. A., & Ursch, J. (2003, August). Student Evaluation of Factors that Support Effective Learning. American Psychological Association. Toronto.
Winemiller, A., Evans, L., Oliver, J., & Cooper, J. (2003, April). Gender differences in the sciences: A survey of Missouri colleges. Missouri Academy of Sciences. Warrensburg, MO.
Edmiaston, R., Oliver, J. A., & Fitzgerald, L. (2001, April). Teacher Beliefs about the Role of Private Speech in Children’s Learning. American Educational Research Association. Seattle, WA.
Awards
2012 Rockhurst University Teaching Excellence Award
Biography
Developmental Psychology
Research Methods
Psychology of Disabilities
Positive Psychology
Cross Cultural Adolescent & Emerging Adult Development