Majors: Psychology
Minors: Spanish
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Gering, NE
Why did you select your major and minor? Were there any events or people that convinced you to declare?
I am a psychology major with a Spanish minor. I chose to pursue psychology following several personal events that lead me to an interest in one's wellbeing. However, I quickly dove into and found a huge passion for conducting research within the field. As for Spanish, I had always been fascinated by high school courses, and I knew I wanted to continue my study of a second language.
What is your favorite course you have taken from your program(s) and why?
Likely one of the best, most well-rounded courses I have taken was Abnormal Psychology with Dr. Lorenz. Dr. Lorenz did an amazing job of incorporating new research within the field, challenging systematic biases, and balancing case study with theory. This course convinced me I was in the right field.
Who have been some of your strongest mentors or role models here?
I have been fortunate to receive guidance from several great mentors. For my honors thesis, I worked closely with Sarah Gervais, Tierney Lorenz, and Amanda Baildon, who are all extremely passionate researchers with great insight within my field. When arranging my study abroad in the midst of COVID, Allison Hinsley was an amazing support. Regarding my Spanish studies, Monsterrat Fuente-Camacho and Kelly Kingsbury Brunetto have always been extremely helpful.
Do you have research experience? If so, please describe your project.
For three years, I worked under the Trauma, Violence, and Abuse Lab (now the VISTA Lab) as an undergraduate research assistant on a project concerned with social interactions and alcohol use. When data collection ended, I used that data for my honors thesis, which looked at enjoyment of sexualization and self-objectification among sexual violence survivors. Now I'm currently involved with the Iniciativa HABLa Lab.
Have you had an internship or job? If so, please describe it and explain how your major helped you with it.
I've worked in many roles throughout my undergraduate career, but perhaps the most influential has been my involvement at the Malone Community Center. I began at Malone in 2020 as a Youth Development Specialist, and I was immediately called upon to use what I had studied when providing trauma-informed care to a group of K-8th grade students. I now work as a Family Engagement Specialist, where I interact with clients needing crisis or general life support and conduct community assessment research.
Did you study abroad? If so, describe the experience.
I studied abroad in Valencia, Spain at the University of Valencia. This experience was phenomenal, as I met many great friends, travelled, and was able to deepen my understanding of the Spanish language. I enjoyed learning about my field of study from a different perspective, and those I met along the way hold a special space in my mind forever.
What are you involved in on campus or in the community?
I am the current vice president of PSI CHI, an international honors society in psychology. We host bi-weekly meetings alongside the Psychology Club where we play games, dive deeper into psychology topics, and engage in career exploration.
What are your plans after graduation?
Following my graduation, I have accepted a Fulbright Research Fellowship to Costa Rica. There, I will work for 10 months alongside my mentors at the National University's Institute of Women's Studies on a project concerned with cross-cultural validation of sexual violence victimization measures. I look forward to working alongside such a dedicated and talented group of researchers.
