Her Story
About Christine
Christine Oh, Ph.D., is an executive leader in higher education, mental health, and public health with more than 18 years of interdisciplinary experience spanning research, teaching, clinical practice, administration, and strategic program leadership. She currently serves as a Resilience and Wellness Consultant with Connect Counseling, where she develops evidence-based approaches that help individuals and organizations strengthen resilience, identity, wellness, and mental health. Her work bridges education, behavioral health, and public health, with an emphasis on translating research into practical strategies that create sustainable individual and system-level impact.
Throughout her career, Christine has held senior leadership roles in higher education and public health. As Assistant Dean for Southern California at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, she oversaw programs across clinical psychology, marriage and family therapy, public health, and biomedical science while leading student-success, retention, crisis-management, and community-engagement initiatives. Previously, at Los Angeles Pacific University, she oversaw psychology, health sciences, and public health programs and co-led a mental health initiative for at-risk students. Her public health career with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health included leadership positions in clinical standards, training, quality improvement, research, and evaluation, including management of millions of dollars in grant and training resources. Her research has also appeared in peer-reviewed publications including Health Services Research and Sociological Perspectives.
Christine earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology from UC Irvine, with a focus on diversity, immigration, mental health and wellness, and medical sociology, as well as a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Her professional philosophy is deeply influenced by her parents' emphasis on service and her own experiences with mental health and immigration challenges. She believes that purpose is found through growth, service, and helping others discover their worth and resilience. She encourages women entering the field to embrace the journey as a marathon, remain connected to their passions, and view hardship as part of the process rather than proof that they are on the wrong path.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents instilling the value of giving back and serving others from an early age. Even though they had initial reservations about mental health due to cultural stigma, the idea of purpose and living outside of yourself was ingrained in me. My life experiences with my family's mental health struggles and immigration challenges sparked my curiosity and drive to create resiliency and help others find worth and purpose. Purpose is always tied to living and growing outside of yourself, and true fulfillment comes from giving back.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I have received is to stay connected to your “why.” When the work becomes difficult, when circumstances change, or when you begin questioning yourself, return to the reason you started. Your purpose becomes an anchor. It reminds you that a difficult chapter is not the same thing as a failed journey.
I have also learned that you do not have to have everything figured out before taking the next step. My own career has taken turns I could not have predicted—from research and teaching to academic leadership, clinical practice, coaching, and pursuing licensure. At times, stepping away from one path created the space to discover another. Those transitions taught me to trust the process and recognize that our careers, much like our lives, can evolve.
And perhaps the most important lesson is this: hardship does not mean you are not meant to succeed. There will be seasons when you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or even discouraged. That is part of being human. Growth comes from allowing those experiences to teach you rather than allowing them to define you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's not supposed to be perfect but more about growth and learning about yourself. Lean into what speaks to you and what makes you passionate. It's not an easy road, it's almost like a marathon. When you feel like giving up, take a step back and remember what you're passionate about and what speaks to you. That will always be the driving force. Just because you're experiencing hardship doesn't mean you're not meant to do it, it's just part of the process. Always look back to your North Star.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges—and opportunities—is breaking down the barriers between mental health, education, and public health so that people receive more integrated and responsive support. We have an opportunity to use evidence, technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative models of care to build systems that address the whole person rather than isolated needs. The future belongs to leaders who can translate research into practical solutions while keeping compassion, equity, and human connection at the center.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, compassion, resilience, curiosity, and service are the values that guide me both professionally and personally. I believe our work should create meaningful and sustainable change, while always respecting the dignity, identity, and lived experiences of the people we serve. Above all, I value purpose and connection—the belief that when we support one another, remain open to growth, and use our experiences to give back, we can create stronger individuals, healthier communities, and more hopeful futures.
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