Elizabeth O’Brien, PhD, serves in academic affairs leadership with a focus on faculty development, professional learning, and systems that support teaching, scholarship, and wellbeing in higher education. Her work is grounded in counselor education and human development, with particular attention to how individuals and institutions navigate periods of transition and growth.

With a background as a counselor educator, clinician, and academic leader, Dr. O’Brien brings an integrative perspective to faculty and professional development—bridging research, practice, and reflective inquiry. Her interests include leadership development, mental health across the lifespan, and preparing future professionals for complex, relational work.

She is the author of The Power in the Middle: Confidently Navigating the Prime of Your Life, which examines midlife development through a mental health and human development lens. Her current scholarly work includes collaborative writing and editorial projects in counselor education and professional training.