Student Spotlight: Rin Nguyen

Academic program
Counseling psychology PhD program with a specialization in women's and gender studies and certification in mixed methods research

Degrees you currently have
I earned my B.A. in psychology and women's and gender studies with minors in Japanese, sexuality studies, global studies, Asian studies, and English as well as my M.A. in counseling psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).

Hometown
Grand Island, NE

Why did you select your program?
I chose to pursue a doctoral degree in counseling psychology, with a specialization in women’s and gender studies and a certification in mixed methods research, because I highly value mental health and wellbeing and want to practice at the intersection of clinical work, social justice, and research. I originally entered a clinical psychology program, and I quickly recognized that my training goals were not being met. Although I value interdisciplinary and culturally informed work, I often felt isolated and constrained by a medical-model approach that reduced clients to symptoms to be “cured.”

During that time, I gained significant insight into the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities, which ultimately shifted my worldview. I decided to leave the program and intentionally sought out training that centers social justice, cultural humility, and holistic client care. This search led me to the counseling psychology program at UNL.

I especially appreciate the opportunity to pursue my specialization in women’s and gender studies and a certification in mixed methods research. My specialization has allowed me to explore the histories, theories, and lived experiences of marginalized groups, enriching my understanding of multicultural counseling. Complementing this, my mixed methods training has equipped me with the skills to investigate pressing systemic issues and integrate that knowledge into evidence-based clinical practice.

What has been your best experience as a graduate student at Nebraska?
The best part of being a graduate student at UNL is getting to be home and engaged in my local community. I am a native Nebraskan and a two-time UNL alum, and although I have traveled internationally and lived in several other states, I always find myself returning to Lincoln. I value the opportunity to stay local and support my community through my teaching, research, and clinical work. I am deeply appreciative of the long-term relationships I have built with students, staff, faculty, and community members, and I look forward to many more years of meaningful collaboration.

Who have been some of your strongest mentors or role models here?
When I think of mentors on campus, two come to mind in particular: Dr. Manda Williamson and Dr. Dena Abbott.

I met Manda during my first semester of undergrad in 2015 (ten years ago!) and since then, we have shared a consistently positive and supportive relationship. She has been an inspiring presence in my life, always encouraging me, believing in me even when I did not, and steadily supporting my growth as both an educator and researcher. I feel incredibly privileged to now teach alongside her at the same university. I truly believe that the day she retires will be the day our campus loses an extraordinary instructor, mentor, and colleague.

Dena is my graduate advisor, and it has been an absolute pleasure working with her these past several years. She is a relentless advocate for me and my peers, creating countless educational and research opportunities while fostering our long-term growth as sex-positive researchers and clinicians. Dena exemplifies what it means to be a culturally informed, kind, and compassionate mentor, educator, advocate, therapist, and researcher. I am utmost grateful that she chose to come to Nebraska and take my cohort as her first group of Nebraskan students; without that, I would not have had the opportunity to work with her. Although I am saddened to be graduating and leaving her research lab, I look forward to continuing to learn from and collaborate with her as a colleague.

Research experience
I have been involved in research since my second year as an undergraduate, collaborating with a variety of impactful labs and research communities that align with my values, including The Hope Lab, Trans Collaborations, and the Sexual Assault and Sexual Health (SASH) Lab, all focused on supporting the health and wellbeing of women and queer people. I have also had the opportunity to work with the Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) to conduct research on the wellbeing of our queer students.

Currently, I am a member of the Secularity and Sexuality (SECS) Lab, where I collaborate with peers, other campus labs, and research teams across the nation to examine the intersections of mental health, sexuality, and religiosity. My work has included studying menstrual health among transfeminine, transmasculine, and nonbinary adults, leading multiple six-week sexuality education courses on campus, and exploring factors contributing to faculty attrition. Through my mixed methods research certification, I apply quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches to explore these topics thoroughly, using my findings to promote positive social change and inform my clinical practice.

What are your plans once you have earned the degree?
After ten years at UNL, this will be my final year as a student! I am currently applying to pre-doctoral psychology internships and will complete a one-year "residency" prior to receiving my degree. Following graduation, I plan to pursue licensure as a psychologist and certification as an AASECT-certified sex therapist. I am currently exploring a few career paths, including becoming a Professor of Practice, where I can blend teaching with applied clinical experience and roles more centered around therapy and psychological assessment. Whatever direction I take, my goal remains the same: to provide affirming, socially just care and education supporting marginalized communities' well-being.