• Kris Robbins

    Kris Robbins

    Assistant Professor of Psychology


Biographical Sketch

Krista Robbins is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Cornell College where she teaches courses in Psychopathology, Counseling and Psychotherapy, Human Services, and Research Methods. Her interests include multipath models of psychopathology, mental health among college students, cross-cultural friendships, and therapy outcomes of international students. Kris’s work is multicultural and interdisciplinary in nature. Her current research seeks to understand factors that contribute to international friendships on college campuses.

Kris takes a relational-based approach in the classroom and cultivates an inclusive learning environment for all students. Kris’s classes regularly integrate discussion prompts, peer-to-peer conversation, and real-world problem solving. She encourages students to develop critical thinking skills by working together to critique current ways of thinking and knowing. One of Kris’s goals as a teacher is to ignite curiosity and excitement for psychology by working to bring concepts to life. She enjoys teaching on the block plan as it allows students to immerse themselves in a topic and drive their own learning. 

Academic History

  • Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Purdue University, 2024
  • M.S.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Purdue University, 2019
  • B.A. in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Beloit College, 2014

Courses Taught

  • PSY 161: Fundamentals of Psychology
  • PSY 282: Psychopathology
  • PSY 382: Counseling and Psychotherapy
  • PSY 392 Research Methods II
  • PSY 395: Human Services Practicum & Seminar

Recent Publications and Presentations

Chomintra, M, Tucker, C., Alvarez, B., Hayes, A., & Robbins, K. A. (November 2025). Claiming our narratives: Feminist resistance in educational spaces. Roundtable to be presented at the 45th annual conference of the National Women’s Studies Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Bartholomew, T. T., Smith, E., Pérez-Rojas, A. E., Robbins, K. A., Joy, E. E., & Mubirumusoke, M. (2025). Black clients’ perceptions of therapists’ cultural comfort, alliance, and outcome and the discussion of anti-black racism in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy. 

Bartholomew, T. T., Gentz S. G., Uupindi, V., Abadi, T., Sugihara, A., Joy, E. E, Robbins, K. A., Maldonado Aguiñiga, S., & Asino, E. (2025). Perceptions of suicide and mental illness causes/treatments among Aawambo Namibians: An urban-rural vignette study. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation. 

Robbins, K. A., & Aggarwal, A. (April 2025) Incorporating lived experiences into the teaching of psychopathology. Roundtable presented at the 2025 Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.  

Robbins, K. A., Bartholomew, T. T., Joy, E. E., Keum, B. T., Pérez-Rojas, A. E., & Lockard, A. J. (2024). Social support and psychotherapy outcomes for international students in university/college counseling centers. Journal of American College Health. 

Zhou, X., Aggarwal, A., Robbins, K. A., Khalil, A, & Çiftçi A. (2024). The hidden curriculum of gatekeeping: Dismissal experiences of health service psychology trainees. Journal of Counseling Psychology.

Chomintra, M, Tucker, C., Alvarez, B., Hayes, A., & Robbins, K. A. (November 2024). Feminist health literacy: Exploring the state of the field through interdisciplinary perspectives. Roundtable presented at the 44th annual conference of the National Women’s Studies Association, Detroit, MI.

Xiao, H., Suarez Bonilla, G., Eng, E. E., Robbins, K. A. (February 2024). Effective use of program evaluation. Presentation presented at the 2024 Big Ten Counseling Centers Conference, College Park, PA.    

Robbins, K. A. (February 2023). Host-national students’ engagement with international friendship. Poster presented at the 51st annual meeting of the Society for Cross-Cultural Research, San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Bartholomew, T. T., Robbins, K. A., Valdivia-Jauregui, L., Lockard, A. J., Pérez-Rojas, A. E., & Keum, B. T. (2022). Center effects, therapist effects, and international students drop out from psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 69(3), 287-297.