Meet Our Faculty: Dr. Xin Zhao

Dr. Xin Zhao

Preferred pronouns:

He/Him

Title:

Assistant Professor

School of:

Humanities and Social Sciences

Department:

Psychology

What you teach:

General Psychology (PSY 1010), Lifespan Psychology (PSY 1100), Personality Theory (PSY 2250), Abnormal Psychology (PSY 2300), Social Psychology (PSY 2500), American Identities (HON 2060)

Years teaching at SLCC:

2.5 years

Undergraduate degree:

Virginia Tech

Master’s:

Utah State University

Doctorate:

Utah State University

Why working at SLCC matters:

Ever since graduate school, I knew that teaching is what I am most passionate about. In addition, SLCC provides me with resources in professional development and opportunities to mentor students in undergraduate research.

Greatest professional challenge:

I strive to encourage students to develop a passion and curiosity for knowledge beyond grades and accomplishments. I also try to introduce multicultural perspectives to help students gain a three-dimensional appreciation of the content they learn in class.

Greatest professional accomplishment:

Starting the Higher Ed Teaching and Learning Lab since arriving at SLCC, where I am actively working with students on a few different research projects.

Advice for students or others:

College is much more than classrooms and exams. This might be the only time in your life where you get to explore endless possibilities. Think creatively, reflect often, practice kindness and be brave. Try things you only dreamed of doing, do things you would never do again in the future, make a friend with someone very different from you, join a service focused student club, take an auto-mechanic or yoga class. Leave no regrets when that moment comes for you to walk across the stage at graduation.

Future plans:

I like to collaborate and develop interdisciplinary courses with colleagues across other disciplines. Students don’t experience real life in a vacuum, and I want to figure out a way to teach them applicable knowledge through an integrated approach.

Family:

I am married, and we have a three-year-old daughter and a son on the way.

Hobbies:

In my spare time, I like to read behavioral economics books, learn how to write better, play fantasy football with my friends (been doing this since my college days), and keep an eye on what’s happening on Tik Tok.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog