University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Scholarly Interest:

Multiracial families
Race
Whiteness
How students learn about race
Qualitative research methodologies.

Clinical Interests:

Multicultural issues
Spirituality and therapy
Neuroscience and therapy
Sensorimotor psychotherapy
Narrative therapy
Emotionally focused therapy approaches

Professional Credentials:

1997 Licensed Psychologist, State of Minnesota
2001 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of Wisconsin
2004 AAMFT Approved Supervisor

Selected Publications

Chick, N., Karis, T., & Kernahan, C. (2009).  Learning from their own learning: How metacognitive and meta-affective reflections enhance learning in race-related courses. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 3 (1), 1-28.
http://www.georgiasouthern.edu/ijsotl

Karis, T.A. & Killian, K. (Eds.). (2008). Intercultural Couples: Exploring Diversity in Intimate Relationships.

Karis, T. A. (2008). "We're just a couple of people": An exploration of why some black- white couples reject the terms "cross cultural" and "interracial." In T.A. Karis &  K. Killian (Eds.), Intercultural Couples: Exploring Diversity in Intimate Relationships. New York: Routledge

Karis, T. A. (2008). The psychology of whiteness: Moving beyond separation to connection. In R. Osborne & P. Kriese (Eds.), Global Community: Global Security (pp. 97-108). Amsterdam/New York, NY: Rodopi.

Karis, T. A. (2004). "I prefer to speak of culture": White mothers of multiracial children. In H. Dalmage (Ed.), The politics of multiracialism: Challenging racial thinking. New York: State University of New York Press.

Thomas, V., Karis, T., & Wetchler, J. (Eds.). (2003). Clinical Issues with Interracial Couples: Theories and Research. New York: Haworth Press.

Karis, T. A. (2003). How Race Matters and Does Not Matter for White Women in Relationships with Black Men. In Thomas, V., Karis, T., & Wetchler, J. (Eds.). Clinical Issues with Interracial Couples: Theories and Research. New York:Haworth Press.  

Rosenblatt, P. C., Karis, T. A., & Powell, R. D. (1995). Multiracial Couples: Black and White Voices. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Winner of an award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Human Rights as an outstanding book for the year 1995 on the Subject of Human Rights in North America

Selected Presentations

Vulnerability and Difference. Talk for the general public at Clouds in Water Zen Center. St. Paul, MN. August 30, 2009
www.cloudsinwater.org/audio/CIW2009-08-30.mps   

Dance of Difference: New Perspectives on Diversity. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Cloquet, MN.  February 24, 2009.   

Attending to Emotions When Learning About Race. Culture Matters: Designing Learning Environments to Foster Cultural Awareness and Intercultural Competence (Co-presenter Sharon Barnett). Bloomington, MN. November 22, 2008.

Looking in the Face of Whiteness. Training for Corporation for Supportive Housing (Co-presenter Harry Ford). St. Paul, MN. November 3, 2008; December 1, 2008. Duluth, MN. January 2009.

How Do White Students Learn About Race? AAC&U Diversity, Learning and Inclusive Excellence Conference. Long Beach, CA. October 18, 2008.  

Awakening to Freedom. Talk for the general public at Clouds in Water Zen Center. St. Paul, MN. June 1, 2008.
www.cloudsinwater.org/audio/CIW2008-06-01.mps

Understanding Interconnections between Interpersonal and Structural Aspects of Race.  International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. Vancouver, B.C. October 15, 2005.

Learning About Race: What Does Learning Look Like When It's Not Going Well? International Society of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference. Bloomington, IN. October 23, 2004.

White Women/Black Men: How Race Matters and Does Not Matter. Minnesota Psychological Association Friday Forum. St. Paul, MN. June 4, 2004.

"Good (White) Girls": How Do We Shift from Being "Good Girls" to Doing Good in the World? UW-System Women's Studies Conference. UW-Stout. October 23-24, 2003.

The Relational Construction of Whiteness: Racial Identity Metaphors of White Women in Relationships with Black Men. Jean Baker Miller Training Institute Research Network, Wellesley College, MA. June 20, 2003.

Scholarships of Teaching and Learning Projects (SoTL)

2005-2006 Project Report: How Do White Students Learn About Race? A SOTL Investigation of What's Going on When Students Move from Emotional Reactivity to Racial Understanding.

2003-2004. Project Report:  Talking (and not talking) about race.