Olson

Kathy Olson

Kathy Olson
Associate Director; Research Assistant Professor of Psychology (Faculty) kolson@ccfl.unl.edu 402-430-6474

In the few moments she has away from work, Kathy likes to walk or bike, read and spend time with her cats and dog - but only when there is absolutely no chance to play golf.

Education: 
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln, BA (Psychology)
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln, JD (Law)
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln Law-Psychology Program, Post-Doctoral Fellowship
  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln, MA (Psychology)
Areas of Interest: 
  • Juvenile, family and elder law
  • Legal advocacy for children and Guardian ad litem representation
  • Child protection policy
  • Child support
  • Judicial education on child welfare issues
  • Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
  • Youth Peer Courts
  • Domestic violence
  • Juvenile justice
  • Adoption and guardianship
Professional Activities & Community Service: 
  • Member, Nebraska State Bar Association and Lincoln Bar Association
  • Chairperson (2002), District One Committee on Inquiry (Nebraska Supreme Court appointment)
  • Nebraska Legal Services, Board of Directors
  • Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation (IOLTA), Board of Directors
  • Nebraska Permanency Planning Task Force
  • CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) of Lancaster County, Board of Directors
  • Nebraska Health and Human Services System Steering Committee on Fatherhood Issues
  • Nebraska Child and Family Services Review, Advisory Team
  • Nebraska Court Improvement Project, Advisory Board
  • Lincoln-Lancaster County, Nebraska Community Services Implementation Project, Consultant
  • Cather Circle, University of Nebraska Alumni Association, Charter Member
  • Nebraska P.E.O. Home, Board of Trustees (Secretary)
  • Private legal practitioner since 1983 specializing in juvenile and family law
CCFL Projects:
Selected Presentations & Publications: 
  • Tomkins, A.J. & Olson, K.A. (2002). Some initial ideas about implementation of a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system: Impressions from focus groups in Nebraska. In Melton, G.B., Thompson, R.A. & Small, M.A. (Eds.), Toward a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger.
  • Small, M.A., Melton, G.B., Olson, K.A., & Tomkins, A.J. (2002). Creating caring communities: The need for structural change. In Melton, G.B., Thompson, R.A. & Small, M.A. (Eds.), Toward a child-centered, neighborhood-based child protection system. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger.
  • Olson, K.A. (1998). Youth courts: Teens judging teens. Family Futures, 2(3), 15.
  • Paper presentation. Olson, K.A., McKinlay, A., & Melton, G.B., "Peer-networking as a method of dissemination of information to judges on child sexual abuse." Meeting of the American Psychology-Law Society, Santa Fe, New Mexico, March, 1994.
  • Olson, K.A., (1993). Legal actions. In Bulkley, J. (Ed.), Child sexual abuse training manual: A curriculum for judges. American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law: Washington, D.C.
  • Olson, K.A., (1993). Role of the guardian ad litem. In Stick, R.S., & Brooks, C.M. (Eds.), Nebraska juvenile court manual. Nebraska Continuing Legal Education, Inc.: Lincoln, Nebraska.