The new dean for Pacific University’s School of Professional Psychology is Christiane Brems.
Brems was born and raised in Germany and came to the United States when she was 19 to pursue adventure and education.
Prior to living in Alaska, Brem lived in Oklahoma, where she received her master’s of science in psychology with mental health specialty, and a bachelor of arts in psychology at Oklahoma State University.
Brems is stepping into her new role at Pacific after spending the last 23 years at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, where she developed a Ph.D. program in clinical psychology.
Currently, Brems focuses on behavioral health, prevention of illness, promotion of health, using yoga as a way to manage stress, nutrition and its relation to mental health and disease and suicide prevention.
Brems arrived at Pacific in July and she recognized the university’s strong commitment to work with the community.
The School of Professional Psychology has a new Ph.D. program in clinical psychology and according to Brem, this is the first Ph.D. degree offered at Pacific’s Health Professions Campus. She has a strong background in research and said, “I hope to bring more support for faculty research.” She added that a Ph.D. is a research focused degree and that having this is part of that path to supporting research.
One of Brems’ goals as the new dean of the School of Professional Psychology is to focus on community service. Another goal of hers is to increase focus on cultural diversity. Brems added that culture shapes our values and she wants to bring that front and center by integrating it into the curriculum.
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