Dr. Krista Fritson is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor of psychology at Nebraska-Kearney. She works with Loper Athletic teams on a regular basis throughout the academic year.Â
A former UNK softball player, Fritson regular leads classes in Abnormal Behavior and Society, General Psychology, Introduction to Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology. Co-Advisor of the UNK Psychology Club/Psi Chi, Fritson is a full-time faculty member in UNK’s Psychology Department while also working as a part-time clinical psychologist.
In 2018 she was one of three UNK faculty members to receive the prestigious Pratt-Heins-Award; her award was for Teaching. Fritson, who grew up in Kearney, returned to town following graduate studies in 1997 where she wroked full-time as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Since becoming a professor at UNK in 2004 Fritson has received other awards and recognitions, including the Mortar Board faculty honor on three separate occasions, College of Natural and Social Sciences Faculty Mentor Award, Panhellenic Council’s Distinguished Faculty Award, Student Government Faculty of the Year Award (2014 & 2019), IDea-CTR "Collaborator of the Year" Award, and a Residence Life Recognition Award.
Her research interests include self-efficacy, teaching issues, sports psychology, psychotherapy processes and outcomes, emotional intelligence, and mindful meditation technology.
She is on the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska Committee, which seeks to improve access to behavioral health in rural Nebraska. Next Fritson is part of the local LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) team; this is a volunteer program of mental health professionals that brings support to family members. She also serves as a committee member and speaker for the Kearney Public Schools' Human Sciences & Education Career Field curriculum. She consistenly coordinates with Region 3 and other UNK offices to bring free mental health first aid training to 40-80 students (by coordinating location, food, speakers, trainees, and funding). This program won a UNK-wide award for its benefits to students.
Finally, Fritson is tabbed by local organizations (e.g. Buffalo County Community Partners, Kearney Public Schools, Kearney Police Department) to improve the wellbeing of the community.
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