Katrina Maxwell, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Katrina Maxwell is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling Ministries and the program director for the M.A. in Human Services and M.A. in Pastoral Counseling programs.

Maxwell earned both her Ph.D. and M.S. in Family Relations from Florida State University (FSU) and B.S. in Child Development from South Carolina State University (SCSU). While pursuing her doctorate, she served as a student therapist to individuals, couples and families at FSU’s Marriage and Family Therapy Center. In the practicum, she was trained by a leading therapist in the field of marriage and family therapy. Using this knowledge, she worked with couples as a relationship counselor through a grant funded by the Administration for Children and Families Healthy Marriage Initiative in Florida.

Though she loves providing direct service to clients, Maxwell took on the exciting role of preparing the next generation of human services professionals. In 2007, she began as an assistant professor at South Carolina State University in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Maxwell taught and was an academic advisor to undergraduate and graduate students. She was a program coordinator of the Individual and Family Development graduate program while serving on various university, college and departmental committees.

In 2017, Maxwell joined Saint Leo University as an associate professor of Human Services. She taught undergraduate and graduate courses, served as a faculty advisor of the Human Services Club, led a community advisory board for the human services program at the Savannah Education Center, and was an advisor for the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society. Along with her service to the university, college, department, and education center, she participated in professional development activities (e.g., professional conference presentations and attendance) and other scholarly activities (e.g., book chapter and article publications).

Maxwell’s research has been in the areas of the parent-child relationship, sexual abuse and poverty. Her research interests include strengthening couple and family relationships, improving communication and conflict resolution skills, creating work-life balance, and reducing stress. She enjoys teaching and helping students achieve their educational goals.