Major: Psychology
Minors: Child, Youth, and Family Studies; Educational Psychology
Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska
Mara Johnson grew up in Nebraska and has spent the past few years living in Lincoln, which influenced her choice to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is now a fourth-year psychology major with minors in Child, Youth, & Family Studies and educational psychology.
"I almost pursued the pre-health pathway to become a nurse, but I discovered that psychology was a much better fit for me personally, considering there are lots of different career paths within this field to choose from," Mara said.
Through different work and volunteer experiences with people of all ages, Mara realized she wanted to pursue a long-term career in social work. She liked the idea of working closely with others and offering support.
Mara’s favorite classes so far include CYAF 458: Family Stress and Crisis, Coping and Recovery, EDPS 362: Learning in the Classroom, and PSYC 380: Psychopathology and Mental Health.
"I enjoyed all of these courses not only because I was eager to learn about these topics, but also because it was evident that the instructors cared deeply about what they taught and were professional in guiding my learning," Mara said. "It made it all the more interesting to hear how to apply material learned in lecture to real-life scenarios!"
In spring 2026, Mara decided to take part in Leadership and Service experiential learning by becoming a Resident Assistant.
"Before committing to this role, I honestly already had an idea in my head of what RAs were 'supposed' to be, and I didn’t believe that I was capable of becoming one. A close friend of mine encouraged me to apply anyway because she saw qualities in me that I didn’t see in myself at that time," Mara said.
The experience has been positive for Mara, and she feels honored to help first-year students build a sense of community.
"My role as a student worker requires me to ensure support, inclusion, safety, and engagement amongst individuals living on campus," Mara said. "My focus is to strengthen close relationships and build a welcoming community where everyone feels as though they belong while also being able to tend to various responsibilities that are expected of me."
Mara realized she was having an impact when a student personally thanked her for her support.
"A moment where I realized my smallest efforts were making a difference was at the end of the semester when I received a letter under my door from a resident that stated I had made a positive impact on her academic year because I planned fun, creative events that brought the girls living on my floor closer together, and I often would check in on her individually to see how things were going for her," Mara said. "That solidified my decision to continue in this role during the rest of my time here because I know that I’m fully capable of being that 'go-to' person for someone who may genuinely need that."
She is grateful for the leadership skills she is gaining through this hands-on learning experience.
"I can proudly say that this leadership opportunity has been impactful in so many ways, teaching me skills such as how to communicate effectively and think critically in order to solve problems," Mara said. " I now have a better understanding of what it looks like to support those around me in different ways, and I plan to use what I have learned to impact others."
Looking ahead, Mara knows the experience she is gaining now will be invaluable after graduation.
"As I continue to pursue social work, I know I will take all the opportunities and experiences I’ve been given along with me post-graduation," Mara said. "I’m so grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that have come my way thus far!"
