Additional Roles Professor
Faculty Member Psychology Major 
School of Social Innovation 
Pronouns She/Her/Hers
Education Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Doctor of Philosophy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Master of Arts; Open University UK, Master of Science in Psychology
Areas of Expertise
  • Cognitive Reserve and Healthy Aging
  • Brain Stimulation and Neurorehabilitation
  • Psychological Factors and Physical/Emotional Health
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Biography

Barbara Colombo, Ph.D., is Professor at Champlain College, USA, where she runs the Behavioral Neuroscience Lab. Her research and writing, deeply embedded in her teaching, is focused on exploring the role of the cognitive reserve and non-invasive brain stimulation in promoting emotional and physical health in different populations (young adults, adults and aging population). Her recent research focuses on the effect of the cognitive reserve as a mediator in different adverse health conditions (sleep disorders, chronic pain, COVID related PTSD). Her passion for health and health equity led to a line of research aimed at reducing health disparities for aging populations living in rural areas as well as aging individuals who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. She has also been exploring the relationship between doctors and patients, with a specific focus on trust and shared decision making, and how this can influence health outcomes.

Dr. Colombo earned two master’s degrees, one from Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milano (Social sciences) (Italy) and one from the Open University (Psychology) (London, UK). She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Universita’ Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milano, where she worked as tenured assistant professor of Psychology until her move to Champlain in 2014. She also deepened her postgraduate education at Harvard Medical School, focusing on Clinical Research and Biostatistics.

Her passion for applied teaching, service learning, and inclusive education is matched by her academic profile, which consists of 2000 citations on high impact journals, Impact Factor of 24, and more than 100 peer-reviewed publications (many of which with her students as co-authors). She is an editor and reviewer for several high Impact Factor journals.

Her professional expertise includes working in a clinical private practice, in hospitals as clinical neuropsychologists, and running hundreds of workshops focused on health and wellbeing, peer education, professional decision making, and inclusivity.

Publications & Abstracts

Publications & Abstracts

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