Major: Psychology
Minor: German
Why did you choose your major?
I chose to major in psychology because I am fascinated by how the brain processes information and how it rebounds from injury and disease. The undergraduate research opportunities available to psychology students at Cal Lutheran really sparked my interest.
Would you recommend it to a future student? Why?
I absolutely recommend a psychology major to future students because it is an incredibly relevant area of study that can be applicable to many different career fields. Cal Lutheran’s excellent psychology professors are wonderfully dedicated and help students explore various pathways in psychology, such as counseling, clinical, cognitive, criminal, social, industrial and organizational, and sports. The thoughtful, tailored mentorship the professors provide has made my undergraduate experience incredibly meaningful.
What are your future plans?
I plan to attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in clinical neuropsychology and to continue in psychological research.
Are there any particular experiences — in or out of the classroom — that have helped you identify that path?
Being able to explore multiple topics within psychology through classes and working with professors on research teams has allowed me to discover my passion for clinical psychology. I have gained valuable skills by working on research teams, both during the school year through a Culver Behavioral Science Research Fellowship and by conducting independent research projects over the last two summers through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
In addition to presenting at the Research Symposium and Festival of Scholars at CLU, I have also been able to present at a regional psychology conference. Through my meaningful interactions with professors and exceptional research opportunities, I have learned so much about not only psychology, but myself. I am confident that I have found my vocational calling and I look forward to someday helping others develop their full potentials in a clinical setting.
What motivated you to choose your minor? Would you say that your minor is a good pairing with your psychology major?
My dad graduated from Cal Lutheran in 1989 with a German minor and my whole life he spoke highly of the program with Dr. Walter Stewart. I was thrilled when I came to Cal Lutheran and saw that it was one of the few universities still with a German department. I added a German minor because I was interested in becoming more familiar with the language and culture.
I also really liked the strong sense of community that Dr. Walter Stewart created in his classes. My minor has been helpful, especially when studying the history of psychology and the founding psychologists who were German.
Would you recommend it to a future student? Why?
I recommend a German minor because Dr. Walter Stewart takes an outstanding interdisciplinary approach to his classes and applies German culture to philosophy, psychology, history, art, and music. German classes provide an excellent way to fulfill CORE 21 requirements in an engaging, discussion-based format.
Are there any particular experiences in your minor classes that were quite memorable?
One of the most memorable highlights was making a quiche and only being able to speak in German as we made it! I am currently working as a German DA and am excited about being able to tutor students as they learn the language.