She received her PhD in experimental psychology in 1989, from Colorado State University. Dr. Karlin was inducted into Psi Chi in 1986, and has served for several years as a faculty advisor and, most recently, as Psi Chi's regional vice-president for the Rocky Mountain Region (1995-99). Dr. Karlin served on several national committees during her service on the Psi Chi National Council, and she also wrote and produced the Psi Chi national video (1998), which was distributed to all chapters. Dr. Karlin is regional coordinator for the Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology (CTUP).