As an undergraduate, Dr. Kezia Shirkey shifted her academic focus from medicine to psychology after meaningful experiences volunteering at a children’s hospital. There she developed her interest in the social and psychological impact of illness and how children and families cope.
Now as a faculty member in the Psychology department, Shirkey places a high value on the undergraduate learning experience. “I was privileged to have professors who interacted with me personally and were invested in my learning, and I desire to give back in the same way to my students by helping to inspire passion for learning, serving others, and understanding more about human behavior and thought,” she says. Her teaching interests include health psychology, abnormal psychology, counseling psychology, behavioral neuroscience, stress and health, and introduction to psychology.
Shirkey was drawn to teach at North Park because of its small size, community engagement, access to Chicago, interest in issues of justice, and the integration of faith. She is active in the Psychology Club, conducts research on health promotion in young adults, and supervises student research projects.