QUESTIONS:
- What are you doing now (career and/or educational wise)?
- Psychological Specialist, Sr.
- I work at Emory Healthcare and Emory University in Alzheimer’s Disease research and clinical care. I started with lab processing and cognitive testing. I currently lead a team of cognitive assessors, and still help out in the lab with Cerebral Spinal Fluid processing every once in a while.
- I also work part-time as an EEG consultant for Dr. Annabelle Singer in GT BME research.
- How did your degree in Psychology help you in acquiring the position (or getting into the program) that you are currently in?
- I worked with Dr. Audrey Duarte in her Memory and Aging lab. This exposed me to several things: neuropsychological assessments, EEG, data processing, and working with older adults. Once I had EEG experience, Dr. Annabelle Singer from BME and Dr. Grace Leslie from Music Technology reached out for EEG consultant. Unbeknownst to me, Dr. Singer had ties with Alzheimer’s Disease research. When I was looking for a job, Dr. Singer graciously sent my resume to Emory, and the rest is history!
- How do the knowledge/skills learned in your undergraduate program assist you in your current position or program?
- Of course the research experience helped me with getting to my current position, but the curriculum that GT Psych majors go through definitely sets us apart in our field. When comparing my academic history to fellow Psych majors, there’s no competition! Through our heavy STEM-focused curriculum, we are taught the problem-solving and time management skills that really define my work ethic and, honestly, my value in my current field.
- What is your favorite memory of your time with the School of Psychology?
- Easy, late night studies in the catacombs of Coon, mostly for Spieler’s statistics course.
- What advice would you give current and future GT Psychology Majors?
- Take the programs seriously! Knowing how to process data is MAJOR. I had no idea.
- Also, if Tech doesn’t necessarily have the emphasis you’re looking for (ex. I ended up wanting to be clinical), don’t panic! The things you learn at Tech will help you stand out no matter what field you are thinking of entering. People say it all the time, but turns out, it’s very true! Tech has its reputation for a reason. You’re attending a prestigious school with a wonderful Psychology program that I wouldn’t have traded for anything.
