Research Interests: imposter phenomenon; first-generation college students; peer support programs in higher education
Social Change Interests: Animal protection; equal pay
Location: Pennsylvania
Joined Walden: 2014
About Christy: At Walden, I enjoy supporting doctoral students in multiple ways, as both the Coordinator of the doctoral peer mentor program and in my contributing faculty role in the Academic Skills Center. I have a PhD in General Psychology (Educational Track) and MS in Psychology, both from Walden University. I have experience teaching psychology courses face-to-face and online and have supported online learners as a writing and learning specialist. Outside of Walden, I enjoy hiking, painting ceramics, and spending time with my family and many pets.
Feeling like you don’t belong? You’re not alone!
Finding Balance by Saying “No”
5 Tips for Getting (and Staying) Motivated
​Allwright, J., Fraenza, C., Rye, T. (2019). Holistic customer care in the Academic Skills Center: How supporting student well-being impacts students and faculty. Session presented at the Innovative Teaching Practices Showcase at Walden’s Winter National Faculty Meeting.
My Advice to Walden Students
Go outside of your comfort zone while completing your program. Whether you’re uncomfortable
with a certain technology or asking for help, go beyond any fears you have and try new things along the way.
In my role, I connect newly enrolled doctoral students with a peer mentor. I also get to create resources, support a team of fantastic peer mentors, and carry-out other administrative-focused tasks like compiling data for the program.
I get to work on many different projects that I enjoy, but one of my favorites was getting to build the content in our Doctoral Peer Mentor Program Blackboard Classroom.
I started my journey with Walden back in 2007 when I entered the PhD program in General Psychology (Educational Track) with only my bachelor’s degree. I earned my master’s degree in 2010, and then my PhD in 2014. While in my program, I got the chance to serve as a graduate assistant within the Academic Skills Center.
After graduation, I jumped at the chance to return to Walden, first as a contributing faculty member for the Doctoral Writing Workshops and then as full-time staff in my current role. I have enjoyed all of my experiences so much at Walden that I’m currently pursuing another master’s degree, this time in higher education.
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Dr. Christy Fraenza on Staying Connected to WaldenU, the Doctoral Peer Mentors, & Imposter Syndrome (Podcast)