Marion Nesbit

Marion Nesbit holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed an APA approved scholar-practitioner program that emphasized clinical and consultation skills and the possibilities for school psychologists to effect organizational change, not only on a school system level but also in the government and public policy arenas. Her minor concentration was in community psychology, and she furthered her knowledge of public interest law and policy by attending courses and participating in an internship at the University of Texas Law School in the fields of child and family law, educational law, privacy rights, and juvenile justice. She served for two years in state program development for special education by interpreting legislation and litigation for public school administrators and psychologists in Texas before beginning an academic teaching career that has spanned two decades. Her interests range from developmental to organizational psychology, and her scholarship has focused on the relationships among systems and individuals, particularly on the qualities of leadership that influence greatest developmental change. She has recently engaged in a research project on higher education pedagogy that looks at thesis advisors as mentor/leaders and focuses on the relationship of pedagogical style, students' development, and thesis completion. She is an active community servant and serves as board member for several organizations. Her interests include the visual and performing arts, perennial gardening, and travel.