• BA: African American Studies, CSU Fresno (Armenian Studies Minor)

• MA: Afro-American Studies, UCLA (Sociology concentration)

• MA: Counseling Psychology, Argosy University (MFT concentration)

• PhD: General Psychology (expected completion 2027)

Hello, and welcome to your Psychology course!  I am Prof. O. (Jennifer Ounjian), one of your full-time tenured faculty members in the psychology department of CCC!  I grew up in Fresno and have lived in Los Angeles, Oakland (North, East, and West), San Pablo, El Sobrante, and Richmond.  I live between Fresno and El Cerrito with my three kids, our pittie Kane, and 2.5 cats (one only comes around to eat). 

Please refer to me as Professor O.

Pronouns: she/her. 

This is my 25th year at Contra Costa College. I have worked in various capacities, including Senior Academic Manager for Student Life, Research Coordinator, and for the last 14 years as a Professor! I have also worked as a therapist for adults, couples, and groups specializing in psychodynamic and Gestalt techniques, treatment of sexual dysfunction, psychological testing and assessment, and sand-tray therapy.  My research interests are broad but include dream interpretation, existential psychology, and the decolonization of psychology as a field using a variety of transformative pedagogy. 

I have three kids: 23 (an MCHS graduate and CSU alum), 21 (an electrician apprentice), and 15 (a 9th-grade student-athlete).  

A little about me...

• I try to stay off the SNKRS app (I'm a low-key sneakerhead) and recently tried to be a seller on Whatnot. I was not successful...🤣

• I cultivate (and sometimes kill) a garden where I grow various vegetables, herbs, flowers, and interesting plants I find at what used to be called Annie's Annuals in Richmond (if you like plants and haven't been there, check it out!!) I think they are now called Curious Flora.  

• I also scroll FB/IG (yeah, old people's social media) and watch a few TV shows. Right now, I don't have anything that's my favorite. I am eagerly waiting for the 3rd season of Mindhunter.

• I love a good cup of coffee.  My favorite foods are pupusas, dolma (Armenian style), and Caesar salad. 

• I am secretly addicted to Krispy Krunchy blueberry biscuits.  IFYKYK.

I look forward to getting to know you as we travel through the world of Psychology!  

Prof. O.