Marj Olney

• Phone: (619) 594-6883
• Fax: (619) 594-4208
• Email: molney@mail.sdsu.edu
• Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Marjorie F. Olney’s teaching, research and service activities focus on improving employment opportunities for individuals with psychiatric and developmental disabilities. She is the Program Advisor to the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Certificate and the specialization in Psychiatric Rehabilitation. She has also served as Project Director for the Center for Emerging Leadership (www.interwork.sdsu.edu/cel) and ProjectLEADERS, programs which provide peer-to-peer information, training and mentorship by and for individuals with developmental disabilities.

An active researcher, Dr. Olney uses multiple methodologies to explore disability issues related to identity, service utilization and employment outcomes, and barriers to employment specifically as these impact individuals with cognitive and psychiatric disabilities. She has had 27 peer reviewed articles published, and has presented her work at over 50 local, state and national conferences.

Dr. Olney teaches graduate courses and is a member of the doctoral faculty, co-teaching the seminar in Qualitative Methods of Inquiry each year, and serves on several dissertation committees. She also teaches courses in psychiatric rehabilitation, job placement, foundations of rehabilitation counseling, and counseling theories. Dr. Olney's courses combine theory and practice, demanding critical thinking skills, independence and mutual respect in the classroom.

Dr. Olney encourages lively intellectual exchange of ideas and works to provide a safe and supportive learning environment, motivating students to both apply their learning and to seek more knowledge. In addition to classroom teaching, Dr. Olney regularly provides training to rehabilitation counselors throughout California and its neighboring states on psychiatric disabilities, counseling methods, supported employment and related topics.

Lastly, Dr. Olney serves the community and profession on various university, local, state and national committees and boards. She is an Editorial Board Member for the journals Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin and conducts peer reviews for several other journals. Dr. Olney is a member of the Workforce, Education and Training committee of San Diego’s Department of Mental Health. She is active in promoting psychiatric rehabilitation within the rehabilitation counseling community through participation in committees with the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) and the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE).She is chair of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Council of NCRE.