Dr. Yolanda Harper, PhD

Professor and Full Time Faculty Yolanda Harper PhD teaches in several programs in the College of Arts & Science at the University of Arizona Global Campus. She earned her PhD and Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Harper has worked in higher education (teaching and administration) in both the private and public sectors. She has extensive university teaching experience both online and in traditional classrooms as well as leadership and organizational consulting experience.

Dr. Harper joined Ashford University, now Global Campus, as a full-time instructor in 2013 and loves having opportunities to interact with diverse learners working toward making their dreams a reality. For her, learning and sharing knowledge is a lifestyle. In classes and in mentoring, her style is often like a coach. “It is a joy to see my students integrating new information with their own expertise and applying academic and professional knowledge and skills to real world contexts.”

“One of my overarching goals in my classroom is to create vibrant, engaging learning spaces allowing all participants to demonstrate, and hone, their strengths in ways that can benefit them for years to come and share smiles along the way."

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to be a partner in my students’ success and I celebrate their accomplishments with them. I know many of the participants in my classes have complex lives with multiple responsibilities. I have tremendous respect for what each one achieves—at times, with ease, and at times, while overcoming significant challenges.”

Dr. Harper’s industry expertise includes the following: leadership, community mental health, inpatient and outpatient intervention settings, child and family assessments and interventions, older adults, youth in the juvenile justice system, individuals with substance abuse disorders, case management, cultural competency and inclusive excellence, working with interdisciplinary teams, incorporation of the creative arts in interventions (music, art, literature, drama), psychological testing and assessment, behavioral pathology, behavioral interventions (autism, child and adult developmental differences), holistic wellness, stress/life management, program evaluation, human resource/talent recruitment and management, research methods, higher education teaching/pedagogy, online and traditional learning pedagogies, academic and student affairs administration, corporate training and consultation, and organizational psychology. Psychology is an extremely diverse and broad field. Her current areas of special interest in the field include positive psychology, holistic wellness, instructor presence, leadership, career development, psychology of music, psychology of language, inclusive excellence/multicultural/diversity, program evaluation and assessment.

When not teaching, Dr. Harper enjoys spending time with loved ones, writing, traveling, photography, cooking, supporting several community organizations, spending time outdoors in nature, and participating in cultural activities and the fine and performing arts.