Nathaniel Marino, MA
Fellow
Psychology & Theological Studies
General Info
Nathaniel (Nate) Marino, MA, is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Houston Christian University. He has graduate degrees in Research and Experimental Psychology (Rutgers University–Camden) and Theological Studies (Houston Christian University).
Scholarly Work
Nate’s research centers on social and personality psychology, with particular focus on moral cognition and behavior, as well as the development of character and virtue. He is also deeply interested in the philosophical and methodological foundations of modern psychology and in reframing them through a distinctly Christian worldview. Flowing from this, Nate is committed to pursuing psychological inquiry that is Christ‑centered and biblically and theologically grounded. In future work, he hopes to explore how a Christ‑centered psychology might shape Christian culture and church life, including discipleship and spiritual formation, church governance, evangelism, and practical theology.
Nate has presented his research at numerous conferences and symposiums, including the annual meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the Association for Research in Personality, and the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association.
Affiliations & Accomplishments
In addition to serving as Assistant Professor, Nate is the Program Coordinator for the undergraduate psychology program at Houston Christian University. In these roles, he has contributed significantly to the university’s curriculum and academic culture. His work includes shaping an overarching framework for renewing the Christian vision of the university’s core curriculum, crafting a new explicitly Christian mission statement for the psychology department, and leading a multi‑year initiative to redevelop the undergraduate psychology program into one that is more clearly and holistically Christ‑centered and biblically grounded.
Nate has received several recognitions for his research, teaching, and service. Upon completing his master’s degree, he was awarded the “Thesis with Distinction” commendation for outstanding scholarship. At Houston Christian, he has been honored with the Provost’s Award for “Teaching as Discipleship” and received his college’s Professional Development Grant.
Personal Life
Nate is a professor not only by profession but by nature and calling. The Lord called and gifted him to preach the gospel and God’s Word as a teenager, and he has continued in that ministry ever since. He serves as a teacher in his church and carries a deep desire to help God’s people know Jesus more fully and grow in Christlikeness through the faithful teaching of Scripture.
Outside of teaching and research, Prof. Nate is an avid video‑gamer who loves unwinding with a great game. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Rachel, as well as with their family, friends, and church community. He loves cooking and—especially—eating, always in the context of shared life with others: food and fellowship. Among the things he cherishes most are rich, meaningful conversations with the people God has placed in his life.
Contact Information
For inquiries or collaborations, please reach out to:
Email: nmarino@hc.edu
Website: https://hc.edu/contact/nathaniel-marino/
Nicholas DiFonzo, PhD 
Jeff Dryden, PhD 
Fernando Garzon, PhD
Joshua Knabb, PsyD, ABPP 
Werner May 
James S. Spiegel, PhD 
Kyle Strobel, Ph.D. 
Phil Andreas, Ph.D. 
Sarah Colyn, PhD 
Michael Strating, Ph.D. 