Dr. Wathen is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and the past director of PAU's Center for Educational Excellence. Her research and writing center on innovative pedagogy and andragogy, both online and in person, Group Counseling, and mental wellness needs for those with chronic illnesses and organ transplantation. She has a background in working with survivors of trauma and child sexual abuse. She also has experience counseling and advising college students and working with underserved populations in educational settings. Cristen attended Baylor University for her master’s and Idaho State University for her PhD. Before joining PAU, she was an Assistant Professor at Montana State University for four years. She has served as the president of the Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision and as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision's secretary, among other professional service positions. She is a licensed counselor in California, Montana, and Idaho and is Board Certified in Telemental Health.