Rev 12-28-07

PETER A. KELLER, PhD

Welcome to my home page. This page offers links to my interests, my courses, and recent activities. If you need to contact me, please use my email. I was appointed Interim Dean of the Faculty in fall 2005 and expect to continue in that role until June 30, 2008. Prior to that time, I served as chairperson of the Psychology Department at Mansfield University for 20 years. The Psychology Department is a student-centered group that operates on a team model. All eight faculty members of the department play essential roles in efforts to improve all that we do and to support a climate that fosters learning.

I am a past president (1998-99) of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA) and a fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA). I am also a past president of the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation. I enjoy association service and have found it especially invigorating to work with the excellent volunteer and staff leadership associated with the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. This is a challenging time for professional psychology, and PPA is at the forefront of state associations in addressing important issues for clients and psychologists alike.

Beyond a variety of general career interests in community and clinical psychology, I have focused my career on two areas in particular. The first is the delivery of mental health services in rural communities. My colleagues and I have taught, published, and consulted in this area. One of our publications, which appeared in the summer 1999 Journal of Rural Health, proposed a research agenda for rural mental health.

A second area of interest has been group and organization development. I have taught courses in group process for more than three decades. I have consulted with a variety of public and private organizations concerning team and interpersonal issues and strategic planning. The use of focus groups to enhance organizational process is a related interest. More recently, I have been interested in professional ethics and the development of organizational cultures that promote ethical behaviors.

Within the University setting I have had a particular interest in strategies for enhancing student learning and in various forms of assessment. I am committed to the notion that wisely used assessment of student learning is essential to improving all that we do.

I presently chair the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health. This is a collaborative, grant- funded organization that is dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for all citizens of our county.

For more information, please visit my linked pages for useful connections to other professional pages that you may find of interest.

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