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Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D.

About

Ross E. O'Hara, Ph.D., is a Behavioral Researcher at Persistence Plus, where he applies his expertise in behavioral science to develop scalable interventions that improve college student retention. He also travels the country talking about how nudging can reshape the college student experience. Prior to Persistence Plus, Dr. O'Hara earned his Ph.D. in social psychology from Dartmouth College, and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Missouri and the University of Connecticut. His research has appeared in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Psychological Science and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and he has co-authored a chapter on behavioral nudging in the book Decision Making for Student Success.

Recent Posts
How to Make Friends and Stay in School
Some students today struggle with the social skills necessary to make friends. Here are four evidence-based tips for the most effective ways to spark lasting friendships.
How to Get Students to Use Resources
How do we get students to take advantage of the help available to them? Changing norms around these resources can motivate students to get the support they need.
The Power of Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

Self-reflection is a powerful tool for enriching learning. We can use it to help students get the most out of college and prepare for their careers.

What Quitting Tells Us About Persistence

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

Our society celebrates perseverance and scorns quitting, yet tens of millions of people have quit college. The book "Quit" suggests how to help more students graduate.

What Good Is College?

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

Many people question the value of college, with some seeing college as simply a means to finding work. A report highlights the benefits of college for health and happiness.

How to Listen With Empathy

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

Students often quit without us truly understanding why. Listening with empathy can reveal what core needs of theirs are not being met and how to motivate them to persist.

What Ted Lasso Teaches Us About College Success

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

Ted Lasso always had a folksy lesson to teach us. How Ted motivated his players to seek help and grow can teach us how we do the same for our students.

A Simple Way to Show Your Students You Care

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.

Students perform better when they believe that teachers care about them. Something as simple as a personal email may be enough to show students that you care.