Major: Psychology
Minor: Criminology
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Why did you select your major and minor?
I chose to major in psychology because I have always been inspired to help others, especially those who feel that they have no one to turn to. I want to pursue a career in which I am able to make a positive change in the lives of others and have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with people, specifically children and adolescents. The addition of a criminology minor to my degree was influenced by my interest in forensic psychology and the major impact that psychological expertise can have within the court system.
What is your favorite course you have taken from your program and why?
My favorite courses that I have taken throughout my undergraduate experience have been Advanced Social Psychology with Dr. BK (Carolyn Brown-Kramer) as well as Clinical Psychology with Professor Esseks (Rosemary Esseks). Both of these courses provided me with an entirely new perspective on the world of psychology and allowed me the opportunity to apply my own knowledge and ideas into my coursework. I loved to learn about the many psychological applications within the clinical domain as well as the many theories applied to social constructs within psychology.
Who have been some of your strongest mentors or role models here?
Not necessarily a mentor, but a professor that made an impact on me was Cal Garbin. Though I wasn't able to interact with Professor Garbin as much as I would have wanted due to COVID-19 and online classes, I still took so much from my course with him. PSYC350, Research and Data Analysis, was a class that I was always warned about as a psychology major. Professor Garbin was able to make a very intimidating course much less stressful with his light-hearted and understanding approach to teaching. It was apparent that Professor Garbin cared about his students and wanted us to excel, which played a huge role in my success in the class as well as my confidence in taking difficult courses.
Do you have research experience (UCARE or other)?
In the fall of 2021 I became an Undergraduate Research Assistant for the BAR Lab on campus. This lab is unique in that it involves how social perceptions and interactions are altered in the presence of alcohol. My duties for this position include setting up and running lab sessions as well as coding data. Training for and working with this lab has been an incredible learning experience and I'm excited to continue with the BAR Lab in the spring semester.
Have you had an internship/job?
I am currently the Marketing and Communications Intern for the College of Arts and Sciences. At first this position didn't seem to directly relate to my degree, but I have been surprised to see the different ways in which I can use my background in psychology. Marketing in general can be improved by using psychology to interpret the feelings of viewers and by creating content that can hold attention as well as interest. I feel that my role as the MarComm intern provides me with a more robust understanding of the application of psychology in different settings and careers.
What are you involved in on campus?
Throughout all of my undergraduate career I have been a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. I have been lucky to build relationships with amazing people and hold a variety of different positions within the chapter during my time at the University. During my freshman and sophomore year, I was a member of Big Red Singers, the show choir on campus. I decided to forgo the group when the pandemic began at the end of my sophomore year. However, being apart of Big Red Singers provided me with some of my favorite college memories, and I feel honored to have been a singer in the group. Off-campus, I am a mentor in the Teammates program and get to meet weekly with an incredible student at an elementary school in Lincoln.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to focus on perfecting my personal statement and applications for graduate school. I hope to get involved with an internship in a clinical setting that will give me added experience for graduate school. I will apply for graduate school in the fall, with particular interest in the Law-Psychology joint program that the University of Nebraska Lincoln offers.
