Hawks Hired highlights the accomplishments of RWU graduates as they finalize the next steps in their career journeys. Emma is currently a Graduate Student at Columbia University, Teachers College, studying School Psychology. Read on to learn more about her next chapter since graduation.
What was your program of study at RWU? Graduation year? I graduated in 2023 with a BA in Psychology and minors in Criminal Justice and Spanish.
Where is your next adventure? (Company/School and Role) I am currently attending Teachers College, Columbia University to pursue my master’s degree in School Psychology.
What are you most looking forward to in this new role? I am so excited to be attending the School Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. In this program, we get hands-on experience starting our first semester and we get placed in a school for fieldwork our second year, so I am very excited to have these opportunities to learn from trained professionals in the field. I am also very excited to be living in New York City! Moving to a big city was a big change, but I love it so far! There are so many places to explore and fun things to do!
What was the process like of landing this job/next opportunity? When I was researching grad school programs, I was unsure of what field or program I wanted to pursue, but I did a lot of researching online and I had a lot of guidance from some great mentors at RWU. Applying to grad schools meant tons of applications to fill out, essays to write, and interviews to attend. In my interviews and essays, I talked a lot about the experiences that I engaged in at RWU, including my research, internships, and work as a Writing Tutor and a Peer Mentor.
Who helped you during your job search/graduate school process? Dr. DiCataldo, Dr. Berman, and Dr. Tooley in the Psychology Department and Professor Dermody from the Honors Program, were super helpful in guiding me in completing my thesis and Honors Capstone Project, and in applying to graduate schools.
What advice do you have to students who are in the process of finding a job/going to graduate school? For students who are in the process of finding a job or going to graduate school, don’t be afraid to talk highly about your accomplishments and passions. Also, step outside of your comfort zone and if you are unsure about what your future looks like, don’t be afraid to try out new things or move somewhere new!
Want to share your next steps with the CCPD? Email Kevin (kdeeb@rwu.edu) in the CCPD to learn more about sharing with us!
