Dena Watson-Krasts is a Professor of Psychology at Mendocino College, where she has taught since 2006, initially as a Pilates instructor and later adding courses in Communication and Psychology. She began her higher education journey at Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Studio Art and Art History/Visual Culture(now History of Consciousness). Her interest in psychology emerged during her undergraduate studies, which included extensive study of psychoanalytic theory with Victor Burgin. She later earned a Master of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Sonoma State University.

Dena’s academic interests and published work focus on rape culture, trauma, grief, and adjustment/resilience. Before becoming a full-time Psychology faculty member, in addition to teaching part time, she worked as a Behavioral Consultant in Mendocino County and owned businesses in event design and wellness. Her interdisciplinary background in the creative arts, humanistic psychology, and trauma-informed therapeutic approaches continues to shape her teaching and her commitment to helping students understand psychology as both an academic discipline and a tool for understanding lived experience.