Rate My Professor Christina Sinisi

Dr. Christina Sinisi serves as Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Charleston Southern University, where she has been a faculty member since 1994, achieving tenure in 2007 and promotion to full professor in 2005. She earned her B.A. in Psychology magna cum laude from Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1986, followed by an M.S. in Psychology in 1988 and a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1993 from Kansas State University, where her dissertation examined 'The Origins of Volunteerism: Socialization and Personality Predictors.' Her early career included roles as Graduate Teaching Assistant and Experimental Methods Laboratory Instructor at Kansas State University from 1986 to 1990, Instructor in Continuing Education and English from 1989 to 1992, Temporary Instructor at Georgia Southern University in 1992-1993, and Temporary Assistant Professor there in 1993-1994. At Charleston Southern University, she progressed from Assistant Professor (1994-2000) to Associate Professor (2001-2005), served as Interim Department Chair in Fall 2015 and Chair of Behavioral Sciences from 2016 to 2018.

Dr. Sinisi's research focuses on prosocial behavior, moral development, and related topics, as evidenced by her publications including 'The initial validation of a liking of children scale' (Journal of Personality Assessment, 1990), 'Factors affecting reactions to a rape victim' (Journal of Psychology, 1992), 'The role of critical experiences in moral development' (Basic and Applied Psychology, 1995), 'Factors affecting children’s, adolescents’, and young adults’ perceptions of parental discipline' (Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1996), 'College Students’ PTSD Symptoms, Coping, and Perceived Benefits following Media Exposure to 9/11' (Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 2003), and 'Monopoly in Hurt' in College Faith III (Andrews University Press, 2006). She has secured multiple grants with students from the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, such as $2000 for 'Empathy and Emotional Risk as Predictors of Career Choice' (1999-2000) and $1275 for 'Are Montessori or Traditional Schools More Gender Equitable?' (2002-2003). A dedicated Psi Chi advisor, her Charleston Southern chapter has earned National Chapter of the Year (2004, 2010), Southeastern Regional Chapter of the Year (2003, 2008, 2015), Campus Club of the Year 11 times, and she has been Southeastern Regional Advisor of the Year (2004, 2009) and Vice-President (2016-2018). With her students, she has presented over 100 research papers at conferences. Additional honors include multiple listings in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Sigma Xi Associate Member (1992), and various Hollins College awards.