Welcome to the College of The Ozarks Psychology Department! The focus of our department is to prepare students to evaluate psychology concepts from a biblically-informed Christian Worldview, to be intelligent consumers of research, and to possess pre-professional knowledge and skills. A balanced curriculum brings together the theoretical and practical dimensions of psychology through experiential psychology courses and opportunities for community-based internships.
At College of the Ozarks, there are academic, vocational, and Christian, patriotic and cultural goals associated with our psychology degrees. The objectives for psychology majors include:
Title: Professor of Psychology and Human and Social Services Division Chair
Email: jelliott@cofo.edu
Teaching Focus: Health Psychology, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Social Psychology, Theories of Counseling
Education: B.S. History Secondary Ed., Iowa State University, 1985; M.Div. Pastoral Studies, Temple Baptist Seminary, 1989; M.S. Educational and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, 1995; Ph.D. Experimental Psychology, University of Tennessee, 2010
Dr. Jeff Elliott began teaching in the Psychology Department in the fall of 2011. He completed his undergraduate degree at Iowa State University, a Master of Divinity at Temple Baptist Seminary, Masters in Educational and Counseling Psychology at University of Missouri-Columbia, and received his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of Tennessee.
Jeff served several years as a senior pastor of churches in Missouri, Indiana, and Tennessee. In addition, he previously was assistant Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development at Tennessee Temple University. Dr. Elliott was appointed Chair of Human and Social Services Division in 2015.
Title: Professor of Psychology
Email: rhendrix@cofo.edu
Teaching Focus: Child Studies, Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Research Methods
Education: B.S., Northwest Missouri State University, 1990; M.S., Emporia State University, 1992; M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1994; Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2004; Graduate Certificate in instructional technology, Northwest Missouri State University, 2017
Dr. Rebecca Hendrix joined the Psychology Department at College of the Ozarks in August of 2014. Her academic interests lie in how students become researchers therefore, she is interested in undergraduate research conferences and their contribution to a scientific mindset. Because of her involvement in student research, her own research often follows the lead of the students as they create and complete projects. She is the advisor of the College of the Ozarks Christian Psychology Club and she holds professional memberships with the Society for the Teaching of Psychology, Division 2 of the American Psychological Association and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. She has received many awards and honors through her career with the most recent being the Eugene Charles Wittick Teaching Excellence Award from College of the Ozarks.
Faculty CV
Title: Associate Professor of Psychology
Email: jmaloney@cofo.edu
Teaching Focus: Educational Psychology, History and Systems of Psychology, Psychological Development of the Child and Adolescent, Crisis and Trauma
Education: B.S., College of the Ozarks, 1996; M.S., Missouri State University, 2007; Ed.D., Lindenwood University, 2015
Dr. Jennifer Maloney is an Associate Professor of Psychology at College of the Ozarks. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology in 1996 from College of the Ozarks. Dr. Maloney went on to receive her M.S. in Education and Clinical Counseling from Missouri State University in 2007, and in 2015, she received her doctorate in Institutional Leadership and Higher Education Curriculum Design from Lindenwood University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Board-Certified Counselor.
Title: Assistant Professor of Psychology
Email: cwgibson@cofo.edu
Teaching Focus: Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Marriage and Family, Counseling Skills and Techniques, Health Psychology, Psychology of Addictions, and Positive Psychology
Education: B.S., Toccoa Falls College, 1997; M.A., Houston Graduate School of Theology, 2005; M.Ed., Clemson University, 2010; Psy.D., California Southern University, in progress.
Mr. Chris Gibson began teaching in the Psychology Department in the spring of 2021. He completed his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Religion at Toccoa Falls College, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Houston Graduate School of Theology, Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Clemson University and is currently working toward his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology at California Southern University.
Chris served for several years in pastoral ministry in North Carolina and South Carolina. In addition, he previously served as an Assistant Registrar at Toccoa Falls College and in Graduate Admissions at Clemson University. He is especially interested in philosophical and theological approaches to psychology.