Christie Howell
Biography
Dr. Christie Howell brings over 25 years of diverse experience in education, child development, and leadership across academic, clinical, and community-based settings. Dr. Howell holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from The University of Alabama with a concentration in Human Development and specializations in parent-child interactions, early childhood development, and language development. She has over two decades of experience in higher education, having served as a faculty member and professor at institutions such as California State University, Bakersfield, Taft College, and Bakersfield College, where she taught courses in psychology, research methods, and early childhood education.
She has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Director of Family First, where she led a team providing early childhood assessments and staff training, and Director of the CSUB Children’s Center, where she managed a team of over 40, oversaw the center’s budget, wrote grants, and developed curriculum. As Department Chair of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies at CSU Bakersfield, she was responsible for course scheduling, curriculum development, adjunct hiring, and accreditation reporting.
Her earlier work includes serving as Founding Director of Child Care Services at the Bakersfield Homeless Center, where she led programs supporting families in crisis and conducted research on child and family outcomes. She has extensive research experience as well, having worked on several early intervention and child development projects at the University of Alabama and in partnership with local school districts.
Dr. Howell has also completed clinical training as a Child Life Specialist, working with hospitalized children and their families. Additionally, she has contributed to community health initiatives through her work with the American Red Cross and the Adolescent Family Life Program, offering training and support in child development, family education, and health and safety.
Her career reflects a deep commitment to supporting children, families, and the professionals who serve them, both in the classroom and in the community.
Currently serving as Dean of Instruction at Bakersfield College, she oversees Behavioral Sciences, the Library, and Academic Technology. Dr. Howell is passionate about supporting student success, creating engaging learning environments in the classroom and online, and using research to inform educational practice.
