Community Psychology Alumni

Karen M. Lynch

Karen Lynch's passion and research is in positive aging, which is an arena that allows the merging of her interests in community psychology and positive psychology. Her dissertation quantified variables that lead to positive emotions in senior adults. With Dr. Fromm-Reed, she is currently presenting those findings at conferences. In conjunction with Dr. Fromm-Reed and Dr. Olson, she is working toward publication of her findings. Karen and her husband, Kevin, are the 'Ks' in the consulting firm of K2 Possibilities, LLC. She consults in the field of positive aging with the goal of empowering senior adults. Lynch serves on the board of School and Tutors on Wheels, a non-profit corporation focused on adult literacy in underserved populations. She teaches English literacy for the Congregation of St. Joseph in LaGrange and is an adjunct professor in the psychology department at National Louis University. Lynch has a background in journalism and has worked in the community newspaper business as a columnist and editor. She has a bachelor of arts in education (with minors in English and journalism) from Baylor University, a master of arts in psychology and a doctorate in community psychology from National Louis University. Lynch is an Illinois-certified teacher. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Community Research and Action (APA Division 27), the Midwestern Psychological Association, and the American Society on Aging. "The psychology department at National Louis is unique," she notes. "It is the only university in the Chicago area that offers this type of community-psychology program with the opportunity to conduct research in the field of your choice. Also, the cohort-model facilitates bonding among classmates -- who represent a diverse population -- thereby enabling cross-cultural communication while studying community psychology."