From the classroom to the conference podium, Patricia Marsh, PhD, has built a career defined by her ability to inspire learning, foster academic growth and lead initiatives that strengthen higher education. As associate professor of psychology and department chair at Ottawa University, Arizona, she has become a central figure in shaping the institution’s academic environment, guiding both students and faculty toward excellence. Her work spans teaching, research, mentorship, and administrative leadership, all anchored in a deep commitment to student success and the continuous improvement of educational programs.
In addition to her faculty role, Dr. Marsh is the elected faculty representative for the School of Arts and Sciences on Ottawa University’s Board of Trustees. This position allows her to participate in institutional decision-making at the highest level while representing the perspectives of a significant portion of the university’s faculty. She also volunteers as a tutor in writing and statistics, offering personalized support to students, particularly valuable at the university’s newer campus, where resources are still developing.
Dr. Marsh’s educational foundation is rooted in rigorous academic training. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in social and personality psychology from Kansas State University, where her studies emphasized experimental design and statistical analysis within an interactionist framework, exploring the relationship between individual traits and social context. She also holds a Master of Science in psychology from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois.
Building on her long record of academic and service excellence, Dr. Marsh’s professional honors include multiple Outstanding Professor Awards, a nomination for a Data Analytics Staff and Services Award at Arizona State University and induction into a Who’s Who registry as an undergraduate. She has held membership in the American Psychological Association and continues to remain active in the professional community.
Dr. Marsh’s expertise in the assessment of student learning has been a hallmark of her career. She has played key roles in accreditation processes with the Higher Learning Commission and has contributed to numerous assessment committees at various institutions. At Ottawa University Arizona, she launched a campus-wide research and creative arts poster session to promote interdisciplinary scholarship and student engagement.
Before joining Ottawa University, Dr. Marsh was a senior data analyst at the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Arizona State University, overseeing large-scale data projects supporting educational innovation. She previously was an associate professor of psychology at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, promoting undergraduate research and organizing a state-level psychology research conference that drew students from across Missouri. Her earlier roles included working as an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Central Missouri, where she received an Outstanding Professor Award. She was also an assistant professor of psychology at Missouri Western State University.
Dr. Marsh’s early career included academic appointments at Kansas State University, Manhattan Area Technical College and Highland Community College Wamego Center, as well as administrative roles at Kansas State University, leading as an assistant director of assessment of student learning. As a graduate research assistant, she collaborated with the campus counseling center to analyze intake data for more than 1,100 students annually and contributed to the development of a copyrighted mental health assessment tool now widely used in counseling psychology.
Looking ahead, Dr. Marsh plans to strengthen Ottawa University’s undergraduate psychology program both on campus and online, develop research opportunities for remote adult learners and deepen student understanding of developmental and cognitive challenges faced by vulnerable populations. She hopes to be remembered not just for her professional achievements, but for empowering students to create lasting positive change in their own communities.