“Psychology invites us to ask deep questions about what it means to be human,” says Bushnell University psychology professor Dr. Erin Mueller. Those questions are not just academic for Mueller — they are invitations to serve, to listen, and to lead with compassion. She focuses her teaching on helping students explore the mind and spirit in tandem, and she is happy to do so at Bushnell, where faith, research, and real-world experience come together to create an educational experience that inspires meaningful growth and self-discovery.
Mueller serves as director of the psychology program and the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program at Bushnell. She joined the university in 2022, bringing over two decades of professional experience in clinical settings and academic leadership. As a licensed psychologist in Oregon since 1999, she began her career working with children and families facing developmental, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Her training includes a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University and a postdoctoral fellowship in neurology at Oregon Health & Science University. This background laid the foundation for a practice grounded in empathy and evidence-based care.
Before arriving at Bushnell, Mueller served in several key academic roles, most notably at Concordia University-Portland. She spent over a decade there teaching, advising, developing curriculum, and launching programs, including a Psi Chi chapter and a Master’s in Community Psychology. She also directed study abroad experiences in South Africa, Ireland, and France — immersive trips that connected psychological learning with global perspective and service.
Her leadership journey continued at Northwestern College, where she held research roles with the Parent Lab and Pacific Research and Evaluation, helping to translate complex psychological research into tools for everyday families and educators.
“I’ve always been passionate about helping students connect what they’re learning to the world around them,” she reflects. “Psychology is everywhere — in relationships, in decision-making, in faith, in vocation. My job is to help students recognize that and engage deeply.”
We sat down with Mueller to learn more about her path from clinical practice to academia, her passion for mentoring students, and how she brings creativity and strategy together in the classroom. You can watch the full interview on Bushnell’s YouTube channel or via the embedded video below.
Rooted in Relationships
Her teaching approach at Bushnell is holistic and hands-on. “I like to meet students where they are,” she says. “I like to nurture the soil in the classroom—to both convey knowledge about psychology and help them apply what we’re learning to their own lives, future careers, and to understand how people think, feel, and behave through the lens of science.”
Mueller’s classroom is more than a space for academic exploration—it’s a place where students are invited to grow in wisdom, purpose, and faith. “My faith is part of me at my core,” she shares. “Even when we’re not directly addressing it in class, it’s present with us—in the way I teach, the way I pray for my students, and the Scriptures I share that align with our topics.”
Students in Bushnell’s psychology program have the flexibility to pursue a general degree or specialize in forensic psychology or neuroscience. Many go on to graduate school or careers that reflect their calling in counseling, health professions, criminal justice, and beyond.
Mueller encourages students to fully embrace the unique season of college life. “I always encourage students to really lean into this special time,” she says. “Try things you never imagined doing, connect with your professors and classmates, and walk away knowing you gave yourself fully to this season.”
Faith in Action
Outside the classroom, Mueller sees service as both a mindset and a mission. “I see service as my day-to-day walk — looking for needs in my midst and seeing how I can meet them,” she explains. “Whether that’s a colleague who needs to talk or a student who needs support, I look for those opportunities.” She also leads more formal opportunities for students to serve, such as participating in Embrace the Community Day or volunteering with the Psychology Club at the Eugene Mission.
Mueller’s integration of faith and psychology finds unique expression in her emphasis on virtue formation. “One specific thing I think a lot about is cultivating virtues — hope, love, fidelity, responsibility, and integrity — not just within myself, but certainly within my students,” she says. “Sometimes things get difficult for students, and it might feel easier to disengage. But to really walk with them through those challenges, that’s where growth happens. And I do believe that is because we’re on this larger faith journey together.”
Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and exploring ways to live out the calling of a lifelong learner.
Her advice to Bushnell students? “Lean into wonder. Be open to what you don’t yet understand. And trust that the work God is doing in you — even in the messiness — is preparing you for something beautiful.”
To learn more about Bushnell University’s online psychology program, visit www.bushnell.edu/online-psychology. To explore our on-campus program, visit www.bushnell.edu/psychology.