Faces of GPS: Meet Christine Oskar-Poisson
July 22, 2024
In this new edition of Faces of GPS, we're excited to welcome Christine Oskar-Poisson, our new assistant director of Online Faculty Relations, to the Brandeis Online community.
Get to know Christine!
What are some fun facts about you?
I love to read. My first love is 19th century Russian literature, but I will read anything and everything. In eighth grade, I set a goal of reading Stephen King’s works to date, and I did it! Fun fact — my family was friends with Stephen King’s medical advisor, who ensured that the medical details in King’s books were accurate, and I am fairly certain that I met the dog that was the basis for Cujo.
Can you tell us about your background?
I am from the North Shore. I was born in Salem, MA, lived in Peabody, and spent many childhood summers at the Salem Willows. My extended family includes a mix of New England Gloucester fishermen, academics in higher education, and a solid amount of nurses and teachers. I currently live in southern New Hampshire with my husband and rescue dog. I have two adult children who recently graduated from colleges in California.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire and taught for 20 years as a high school English teacher. I can quote passages from The Great Gatsby in my sleep. I earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from New England College and spent the last eight years as an Assistant Professor of Education. Most recently, I was an Assistant Professor in a MAT, Trauma-Informed Education program.
My scholarship explores the way vicarious trauma impacts writing faculty, and I continue to publish and present my research. I maintain active teaching licenses in English and Assistant Superintendent/Curriculum Administration. I also serve on the executive board for the NH Council of Teachers of English.
What attracted you to Brandeis Online? What inspired you to work for Brandeis Online?
The mission of Brandeis University as a liberal arts institution to support diversity, encourage freedom of expression, and be a location for public good is what first attracted me to Brandeis Online.
In addition, I was an early adopter of online teaching and learning and have spent much of my career developing programs and authoring courses for online platforms. Lifelong learning is very important to me, and Brandeis Online offers a wide range of learning opportunities.
What are the responsibilities of your role at Brandeis Online?
As the assistant director of Online Faculty Relations, I support the work of the faculty in Rabb’s GPS program. From faculty recruitment to analysis of end of term student evaluations, my job is to ensure that GPS instructors are supported and successful in their job at all times. I also provide engagement and professional development opportunities to new and current faculty. In addition, I collaborate with the Rabb/GPS team to ensure that our students are having a strong educational experience in their courses.
What excites you the most about your new position? What are you most looking forward to?
There are so many exciting initiatives and opportunities for growth at Brandeis Online. Innovation is happening in real time, and I am excited to be part of the team!
For more information about teaching at Brandeis Online, please visit our Faculty Resources page. To contact Christine, please email her at coskarpoisson@brandeis.edu.