Mary Lynn Colosimo

associate professor of psychology

on faculty since 1988

Phone: 708.239.4734
Fax: 708.597.5858
E-mail: marylynn.colosimo@trnty.edu 

Education

Ph.D., The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 1981
M.A., Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, 1972
B.A., Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, 1972

Professional and Personal Interests

For associate professor Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo, her teaching hours on campus may be on a half-time basis, but her interest in her students’ lives is a full-time commitment. Since arriving at Trinity more than 20 years ago, Colosimo believes that she has been called to the ministry of college teaching in psychology and education. Her students—those whom she instructs and those she mentors—would affirm that belief.

That affirmation is derived from Colosimo’s philosophy of teaching in which she sees all who enter the classroom as both teachers and learners. She describes what she calls the “active learning model” as one that offers students opportunities for classroom presentations based on their life journeys.

“To hear from them is a rich blessing every semester as they share how they also have been called to be part of the Trinity community,” said Colosimo.

A native of Chicago, Colosimo graduated from Bradley University (Illinois) with bachelor’s degrees in sociology and education, and then earned a master’s in counseling psychology from the same institution. She later completed her doctorate in curriculum and instruction at the University of Chicago and launched her teaching career at Trinity in 1988 as an adjunct professor in psychology and education.

Colosimo draws upon a variety of resources to help create a collaborative learning environment. The writings of authors such as Henri Nouwen, Parker Palmer, and Brennan Manning have helped to shape her thinking, and she has “invited diversity, embraced ambiguity, welcomed creative conflict, practiced honesty, and experienced humility” in her classroom since she began teaching. She sees her role as a catalyst to assist students in making the connection between “what they believe about the world from a Reformed perspective and how they live in that world.”

Her psychology students have access to “various avenues of scholarship and service as they attempt to create their own understanding of this worldview. Shared leadership and responsibilities [between students and professor] are essential. All involved must be committed to a learning community, a family that is focused on valuing one another, caring about one another, and sharing honestly with one another.”

When students learn to see their world through the lens of psychology, Colosimo believes they can become better equipped to live as God’s servants by analyzing the person of Jesus Christ that the Bible describes. “Psychology helps us understand the soul, and when we read and study Scripture, we learn about inner beings, communal relationships, and the value of solitude. It is interesting to examine how Jesus’ personality was so complete from a psychological perspective and compare our personalities as children of God to His.”
 
Another area of Christian service and commitment is her involvement in several ministries in Harvey, Illinois, particularly Restoration Ministries and Tabitha House for Women, where she has served on the board since 1997. She initiated a weekly book club at Tabitha House and, although not required to teach a course during Interim as a half-time faculty member, she willingly donates her time and salary so her students can experience a “renewed passion for service upon completion of these interim courses.”

Colosimo participates in several professional organizations at both the local and national levels, including the National Association for Gifted Children, Illinois Association for Gifted Children, Illinois Administrator’s Academy, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, American Association of University Women, National Association for Supervision/Curriculum Development and the Illinois Association for Supervision/Curriculum Development.

In her research and teaching interests, she focuses on studying teaching philosophies from a Christian perspective; identifying links between teaching and learning, particularly multiple intelligences and the work of Howard Gardner; examining learning styles, birth order and links between home and school; and studying developmental interrelationships from birth to death.

When not engaged in teaching, mentoring, or participating in ministry service, she spends time swimming, running, listening to music, and practicing yoga and Pilates. She is also an avid skier, a sport she enjoys with her whole family. She and her husband have four daughters and live in Palos Park, Illinois. They are members of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park.

Courses Taught

• Cross-Cultural Psychology
• Life Span Psychology
• Orientation to Psychology as a Major
• Psychology of Gender
• Psychology of Personal and Psychological Growth

Professional Society Membership

• American Association of University Women
• The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Illinois Administrator’s Academy
• Illinois Association for Gifted Children
• Illinois Association for Supervision/Curriculum Development
• National Association for Gifted Children
• National Association for Supervision/Curriculum Development

Papers Published and/or Presented

• “A Model for Living in Balance in the Classroom and in Life.” Teaching for a Change Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah. June 2007. 
• “How Shall We Learn? How Shall We Live?” PHI KAPPA PHI FORUM. Fall 2004.
• Several additional papers published.