About Dr. Hughes
Dr. Kathleen Hughes is a Professor of Psychology for Pasco-Hernando State College. She served as the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department Chair for Arts and Sciences for six years. She also teaches part time for her alma mater, Capella University. Dr. Hughes is a Past-President for Psi Beta, the National Honor Society in Psychology for Community Colleges. In 2012, Dr. Hughes was awarded the NISOD Excellence Award.
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Dr. Hughes has worked in higher education for 18 years as both an administrator responsible for assessment, curriculum, and student success and as a faculty member, teaching both face-to-face and online classes. Her first career was in the area of human-computer interaction where she held titles such as usability specialist and director of user experience. She has served as an author for a number of publishing projects with a specific expertise in developing digital activities.
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Dr. Hughes is determined to help students to connect theory to practice and her specific interest and focus is on applied experiences such as service learning and research experiences and helping students to develop employability skills and the ability to showcase those skills!
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Dr. Hughes is also a motivational speaker and owner of Kat's Chats, a social media resource to help people have better tomorrows!
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Kathleen Hughes, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
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EDUCATION
2005
Doctor of Philosophy
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN
General Psychology, HCI and Social Psychology emphasis
2000
Master's Degree
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Madison, NJ
Industrial Psychology (Organizational Behavior)
1996
Bachelor's Degree
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Psychology (minor in Sociology)
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS and COMMITTEES
PSYCHOLOGY SKILLS PROJECTS
Skills Curriculum
Dr. Hughes has designed curriculum to help her students develop a mastery of psychology skills as they relate to the workplace.
Research into Skills
Dr. Hughes's research projects explore how to measure students' skill learning and what factors predict students' ability to learn employability skills.
Teaching Resources
Along with her colleague, Dr. Kimberley Duff, Dr. Hughes has developed digital activities for introductory psychology students.
PODCAST
Psi Beta Joins For Episode 11
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Duff, K. J. & Hughes, K. (2018, August). Cultivating a mastery of lifelong learning outcomes: Mentoring students on scholarship, research, leadership, and community service. Presentation held at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco, CA, USA, August 8-12, 2018.
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Hughes, K. & Duff, K.J. (2018, June). Beyond the lecture: Mentoring Introductory Psychology students through applied experiences. Presentation held at PsychologyOne Conference in Durham, NC, USA, June 28-29, 2018.
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Hughes, K. & Pack, S. (2018, May). Helping students to meet APA learning goals through a virtual psychology conference. Poster Presentation at the STP Teaching Conference, Association for Psychology Science Conference in San Francisco, CA, USA, May 23-27, 2018.
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Hughes, K. (2018, April). Mentoring Students for Success. Keynote at the Central Florida Psychology Summit in Tampa, FL, USA, April 9, 2018.
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Hughes, K. & Pack, S. (2018, March). Facilitating psychology learners’ attainment of soft skills through a virtual psychology research conference. Presentation at the AACE SITE Conference in Washington, D.C., March 26-29, 2018.
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Joseph, T., Gerber, B, & Hughes, K. (2018, January). Extracurricular clubs and activities: Added educational value. Poster presentation at the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology in St. Petersburg Beach, FL, January 3-6, 2018.
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Hughes, K. (2017, August). Unique and engaging experiential learning strategies that students love. Symposium Chair at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, USA, August 2-6, 2017.
Hughes, K., Krause, S., Reagle, B. & Sullivan, L. (2016, November). Infusing research experiences into an online learning environment for psychology students. Presentation at the AACE E-learn World Conference in Washington, D.C., November 14-16, 2016.
Hughes, K. & Sullivan, L. (2015, March). A support services model for first year learners taking online courses. Presentation at the AACE Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference, in Las Vegas, NV, March 2-6, 2015.
Hughes, K., Krause, S., Reagle, B. & Sullivan, L. (2014, October). Enhancing learner engagement in an online baccalaureate program to improve student outcomes. Presentation at the AACE E-learn World Conference in New Orleans, LA., October 27-30, 2014.
Hughes, K. (2014, August). A deep dive into the APA 2.0 Guidelines on Ethics and Social Responsibility. Presentation held at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Washington, DC., USA, August 7-10, 2014.
Hughes, K. (2012, July). An exemplary service learning project. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Honolulu, HI., USA, July 31-August 4, 2013.
Hughes, K. & Zacchilli, T. L. (2013, March). Collaborating for a cause: The Psi Beta & Psi Chi Homelessness Outreach Project for Empowerment (HOPE). Presentation at the Southeastern Regional Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Hughes, K. (2012, August). Teaching the Community- The rewards and challenges psychology professors from community colleges face today. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL., USA, August 4-8, 2012.
Hughes, K. & Zacchilli, T. L. (2012, January). A joint project between a community college and university: The Homelessness Initiative. Poster presentation at the National Institute of the Teaching of Psychology Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, January 3-6, 2011.
Hughes, K. (2011, August). Making room for service learning- How students redesigned a therapy room and recreation room for two community agencies. Presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., USA, August 3-7, 2011.
Hughes, K. & Thomas, K. (2011, January). True service learning: College students design and implement a family therapy room for an outpatient program. Poster presentation at the National Institute of the Teaching of Psychology Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, January 3-6, 2011.