Dr. Sharon Obasi's headshot

Dr. Sharon Obasi

Department Chair, Professor
obasis2@unk.edu
(308) 865-8225
COE B148
Department of Counseling, School Psychology and Family Science
Research focus areas: Familial Contributions to Identity Formation and Resilience, Determinants of Equitable Health Care Access, Pedagogical Innovations for Academic and Holistic Success

Areas of Expertise

  • Child Development
  • Family Advocacy
  • Family Science
  • Graduate Faculty
  • Neuroscience
  • Pedagogy

Education

  • Online Fellowship and Certificate, Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School
  • Ph. D. - Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario
  • Hons. B.A. - Psychology (summa cum laude), McMaster University

Courses Taught

  • Lifespan Development
  • The Developing Child 0-8
  • Research Methods and Analysis
  • Family and Social Policy

Professional Memberships

  • National Council of Family Relations (NCFR)
  • Academy Health
  • American Naming Society

Research and Presentations

Selected Recent Publications

  • Obasi, S. (2026). How to Design Research That Respects Names and Identity. Sage Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781036252434
  • Obasi, S. N. (2026). Whispering Names, Shouting Identities: The Power of Naming in Youth Literature About Immigrants and Immigration. Names, Naming, Diversity, and Identity in Youth Literature. Bloomsbury.
  • Song, M., Elson, J., Haas, C., Obasi, S. N., Sun, X., & Bastola, D. (2025). The Effects of Patients’ Health Information Behaviors on Shared Decision-Making: Evaluating the Role of Patients’ Trust in Physicians. Healthcare, 13(11), 1238. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111238
  • Song M., Elson J., Nguyen T., Obasi S.N., Pintar J. & Bastola D. (2024) Exploring trust dynamics in health information systems: the impact of patients’ health conditions on information source preferences. Frontiers in Public Health, 12:1478502. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1478502
  • Henderson, T.L., Matthews-Juarez, P. & Obasi, S.N. (2023). The science of families: nurturing hope, happiness, and health. Family Relations, 73(1), 7-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12987

Selected Recent Presentations

  • Obasi, S. & Chiedozie Ike. (2026) “Using Generative Artificial Intelligence to Teach Research Integrity: An Untapped Opportunity,” World Conference on Research Integrity, Vancouver, Canada.
  • Obasi, S. (2026) “The Power of Naming: Identity and Immigration in Youth Literature,” American Name Society, Virtual.
  • Pease, M., Farr, R., Brady, S. Grober-Morrow, M., Fish, J., Obasi, S. (facilitator). (2025). “The Role of Research in Policy: What Policy Makers and Advocates Want to Know,” National Council on Family Relations, Baltimore, MD.
  • Obasi, S. (2024). Programa Delfin-Capitulo Peru, “Beyond the Data: Navigating Scientific Integrity,”  Federico Villarreal National University, Lima, Peru.
  • Obasi, S. (2024), Women in Leadership in Higher Education, "Reflections on Interim Leadership," National Diversity Congress, Harvard Faculty Club, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

Service

  • Good Samaritan Hospital Advisory Council - Chair
  • American Name Society - Membership Officer
  • Common Spirit Health National Institutional Review Board - Member
  • National Council on Family Relations - Past Chair_Family Policy section

CSPFS Faculty Research Directory