Mentor Bios
MUGSS Mentors by Program
Industrial/Organizational Psychology Mentors
Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology Mentors
Applied Social & Health Psychology Mentors
Industrial/Organizational Psychology Mentors
Keslie Daigle
Michigan born and raised, I attended Grand Rapids Community College and transferred to a smaller liberal arts school, Grand Valley State University (Go Lakers!). At GVSU I was able to get some great research experience in multiple psychology labs. I was luckily accepted into the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program (for students who are under-represented in PhD programs), qualified as a low-income and first-generation student. This is where I learned about the hurtles of applying to graduate school and preparing for the GRE. I couldn’t imagine going through the process alone – and you shouldn’t either! On the other side of the ‘getting into grad school journey’, I am a first-year in the I/O Psychology PhD program and happily working on Occupational Health Psychology research with Dr. Gwenith Fisher.
With the GRE and application process still fresh on my mind, I would be happy to work with any students who are seriously considering graduate school in psychology. I couldn’t have gotten here without the help of those who went before me. (Hint: I’m the person who went before, for you).
Della Agbeke
Hi! I’m “originally” from Colorado and have lived here all my life (I was actually born in Arizona but moved when I was less than a year old, so I’m basically a CO native). I attended the University of Denver for undergrad and got my degree in Psychology and Sociology. My interest in pursuing psychology began when I had an amazing teacher who taught my high school psychology course. I spent most of my undergraduate career working in a research lab that studied adolescent romantic relationships over time, and eventually developed an undergraduate thesis based on emerging adulthood and romantic relationships. Since then, my research interests had taken on a completely different aspect. My additional backgrounds in sociology and communication studies had led to my interest in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Within this field, my research interests pertain to workplace diversity, inclusion and intersectional identity. When I was looking at graduate schools, I wanted to leave Colorado and see what other states had to offer. I am not a big fan of the cold, so the extended Colorado winters were added incentive to leave. However, after visiting a couple other states and schools, I decided that I actually didn’t want to leave this beautiful state. I guess I don’t hate the cold as much as I thought I did.
What I’m looking for in a mentee:
Come as you are! I’m happy to help with any of the run of the mill graduate school application materials, as well as just talking through the graduate school process and all the things that one might be excited or fearful about. I look forward to meeting you!
Kelly Cave
I am originally from Tampa, Florida, and I completed by undergraduate degree in psychology and minor in general business administration at the University of South Florida in 2016. During my time as an undergraduate student, I worked in three different I/O labs and took an undergraduate course in I/O psychology. When I first started college, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in psychology, but it was not until I had these experiences that I knew I wanted to pursue I/O psychology. Since I was only in college for 3 years, I had to work extra hard to gain the experiences necessary to be competitive for graduate school applications.
At the beginning of my senior year, I began applying for I/O Ph.D. programs. The process was more of a marathon versus a sprint, and I could not have done it without the help of the graduate students I worked with at USF.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
After my wonderful experiences working with graduate students who made a difference in my life, I am excited to return the favor to current undergrads. I am happy to help students who are at any stage in the application process or those who may still be figuring out if graduate school is right for them. As for my mentoring style, I can either be more hands-on or less structured depending on my mentee’s needs. I would like my mentee to be willing to ask questions, try their best, and keep in contact!
Becca Brossoit
I grew up in Massachusetts, but lived in upstate New York during my junior year of high school, which was when I had the opportunity to take my first psychology class. After taking this course, I knew that I wanted to pursue an education and career in psychology. I graduated in 2015 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. During my time as an undergraduate student, I had the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant in a lab that examined the role of sleep on various memory processes. My experience in this lab helped me understand how exciting conducting research (especially related to sleep!) is. After learning about the field of I/O psychology, I decided to apply for graduate programs during my senior year in order to start the following academic year. I’m now a first-year student in the I/O Psychology PhD program at CSU and couldn’t be happier with my decision! I chose to attend CSU because of the students, faculty, and culture of the I/O program. My current research interests include sleep, occupational health psychology, work-life balance, stress, leadership and diversity.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Since I applied for graduate school less than a year ago, I remember how challenging the application process can be! I owe so much to the mentors that I had at home and at UMass who helped and supported me when I applied. I would love to be a mentor for current students who are interested in graduate school. Whether it’s writing personal statements, getting strong letters of recommendation, gaining research experience or just staying organized throughout the process, I’m happy to help!
Madison Hanscom
For my B.S. in Psychology I attended Kennesaw State University in Georgia. I had a great experience at KSU! During this time I was able to get involved with research and some other great leadership opportunities. As an undergraduate I fell in love with research and I knew that graduate school was my main goal; however, I had a bit of trouble identifying the field I wanted to study. Fortunately I had an amalgamation of experiences to guide me in the right direction. Although I applied to several different types of psychology graduate programs, all the *stars* aligned and I had an “I/O epiphany”! (This was undoubtedly due to the business school research I was fortunate enough to be involved with, the I/O psychologists I did informal interviews with, etc.) I found that spreading out my application process worked well for me. I began researching the programs and topics of study far ahead of time, and this helped my stress levels. Needless to say, the application process had my stomach tied in knots----the most stressful part for me was the wait! After visiting CSU for recruitment weekend, it was no longer a choice. This was the place for me.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I cannot imagine going through the application process without someone to ask questions! The application process involves a lot of steps, and I am happy to help with someone who may be at any point of the development. Selecting the right field is also difficult; feel free to come with any and all questions. Remember that you need to have a competitive application (so get involved ASAP if you have not already). In my opinion, it is never too early to start…. Get that ball rolling!
Lena Huebner
I grew up in Germany and attended high school there, but moved to Florida in 2009, which is where I completed my undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. This is where I took my first psychology course, and I quickly realized that this was what I wanted to pursue my education and career in. I joined three labs in different fields of psychology: neuroscience, clinical, and social psychology. I realized that I enjoy research, but these fields were not quite right for me. I began researching different areas of psychology and discovered I/O psychology. It quickly became clear that I would be applying to graduate programs in this field. The application process was rigorous, but I could not be happier with the result. I am attending CSU as a first year PhD student, and this decision has changed my life. I now work with Dr. Jeanette Cleveland and conduct research in the fields of diversity and subjective age.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Because I just started graduate school, my own application process has not been that long ago. I am excited to help enthusiastic students pursue their goal of graduate school, whichever field they may be interested in. I am open to just exploring possible fields of interest with a student or helping with the process of applying for a specific program! This process can be very intimidating, but if you are a motivated mentee, I will try to be as resourceful and helpful as possible in order to help you achieve your goals.
Alyssa Marshall
I grew up in northeast Florida, and I graduated from The University of Central Florida with a B.S in Psychology and a minor in Statistics. From the time I started college I knew that I wanted to study psychology, and I realized pretty quickly that a graduate degree would help to prepare me for a career in this field. I started working in a Clinical Psychology lab, and I loved getting to see how the research process actually worked! During my junior year, I began researching different areas of psychology to see if there were other types of graduate programs I might consider. After talking with some of the graduate students at my school, I decided to take an I/O Psychology class and to join one of the I/O research labs on campus. I quickly realized that I loved being able to apply what I was learning to something most of us have to do every day – go to work!
Because I was able to figure out where my passions lied early on, I was able to apply my senior year and come straight to graduate school. The application process was complicated and difficult, and there is no way I would have been able to do it without the help and advice of the graduate students I worked with! Ultimately the hard work paid off, and now I am a first year PhD student in CSU’s I/O Psychology program. Although I considered several schools, I decided that CSU was the best fit for me, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision!
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I am excited to be able to help mentees in any way that I can, whether they are just starting to consider a graduate school education or currently applying. As a first year student, the application process is still very fresh in my mind. I know that when I was an undergrad I would take all the advice I could get from graduate students, and I am happy to transfer what I’ve learned to potential mentees. I am very flexible in terms of my mentoring style, and as long as mentees are equally excited about working with me, I am happy to help in any way that I can!
Steve Manning
I earned my undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. After a few semesters of general education courses, I became interested in studying psychology. I had a difficult time deciding which career path to follow in psychology once I discovered there were several different options. I was originally interested in counseling psychology. However, late in my junior year I learned about I/O Psychology and decided that was the best fit for me. I started to get more involved in research after deciding to pursue a career in I/O. I was primarily involved with a cognitive psychology lab running experiments related to memory and comprehension, but I also had a great opportunity to work with an I/O professor doing some salary research. Participating in these research labs really helped me to build some knowledge of how research is conducted, which I think helped my odds when applying to graduate programs.The graduate students at UNLV were also involved in a mentoring program for undergraduates interested in graduate school. I enjoyed the program and it was incredibly helpful. I am hoping that I can be equally helpful for undergraduates at Colorado State. I remember being frustrated, stressed, and confused during the graduate application process. It can be time consuming and difficult to navigate, so my goal is to help undergraduate use the information from MUGSS and guide them to find a graduate program that fits them best.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Applying to graduate school is a daunting task, but it can also be exciting. I am happy to help students who are at any stage in the process. I am pretty flexible in terms of the amount of support and face time you would like.
Victoria Mattingly
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Psychology and Communications. Knowing I wanted a graduate degree but not sure about the type of program to pursue, I decided to take some time off from school to work. I moved to Portland, OR and worked as a research assistant for a program evaluation firm. This was great because I was able to apply the psychological research skills I learned as an undergrad to a real-world setting. After a chance meeting with a few I/O consultants, my interest was piqued about this field of psychology. I wanted to learn if I/O would be a good fit for me, so I volunteered in an I/O lab at Portland State and also interned with the I/O science team at a talent management agency. After taking four years off to explore my interests, I was certain that the time was right for me to go back to school and earn my Ph.D. in I/O psychology. The application process was challenging for me since I was simultaneously working two jobs. Studying for GREs was particularly difficult, as I struggled with get back into “student mode.” I found crafting my personal statement for each school to be daunting yet incredibly rewarding. I was forced to reflect on not only where I had been but, more importantly, where I wanted to be. I was delighted to be accepted into CSU's I/O psychology program. I knew CSU would be the best fit for me based on all of my experiences in Portland, in addition to the ample research I did when exploring I/O programs in general.
Why we decided to start this program:
I took the lead on developing MUGSS to pay it forward. There is absolutely no way I would have gotten to this point in my life without all of the invaluabe help I received from others along the way. I have had very rewarding mentoring experiences on both sides of the relationship, as the mentor and mentee. Plus, it just makes sense that all of these intelligent and motivated CSU undergrads interested in psychology graduate programs should be connected with my colleagues who happen to be grad school rockstars. And I'm more than happy to do facilitate those connections any way I can.
Megan Naude
I grew up in northern New Jersey and graduated from Penn State in spring of 2013 with B.S. degrees in Psychology and Labor Studies & Employment Relations. I discovered I/O Psychology during my freshman year at PSU when I took an introductory course, and I quickly figured out that I wanted to pursue a career in the field. I sought out research opportunities and worked closely with I/O professors and graduate students as an undergraduate research assistant. This was an invaluable experience for me because I was able to see what it was really like to conduct research, study, and work in the field of I/O. Making the decision to go to graduate school was difficult, but ultimately I knew that it was the right path for me. Once I made that decision, I realized that actually applying to programs is not quite as simple as it sounds! Navigating the process of studying for GREs, asking for letters of recommendation, writing personal statements, and composing a CV was a bit overwhelming at times, but I was fortunate to be able to rely on the help and advice of the graduate students in my research lab. While the application process was challenging, it reconfirmed my passion for I/O and helped me narrow down my research interests. I applied to many Ph.D. programs, but after visiting Colorado State I was sure that this was where I wanted to be.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Having just been through the grad school application process, I have a lot of tips and advice that I would love to share with my mentees. I am willing to help with any part of the process and to provide any support or encouragement that may be needed (throughout all the craziness!). I can especially provide some insight when it comes to choosing which programs to apply to and eventually choosing a school to attend, since I particularly struggled with these decisions and learned a lot along the way. I’m happy to help anyone who is ready to apply for grad school this year, but I can also provide guidance for anyone who is still in the early stages of making the decision to apply. I had a lot of really great experiences as an undergraduate that helped to shape my future as a grad student, so I can definitely suggest some ways to help you further explore I/O or grad school if that’s what you are looking for. I’m looking forward to passing on all of the advice that I’ve been given in the past few years!
Javier Ospina
I grew up in Chicago, IL and received my B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in psychology with a minor in chemistry. I had originally planned to pursue a graduate education in biology, but after several years working in labs as an assistant I realized it wasn’t for me. After graduating, I spent some time volunteering in cognitive psychology labs and eventually wound up working as the research coordinator for one of them. It was only on a whim that I discovered what I/O psychology was after a conversation with an outgoing lab member. I took classes on the side and built relationships with faculty and grad students, all of which helped me figure out that I wanted to study I/O. I looked at several programs and ultimately decided that CSU was the best fit for me.
It’s hard to describe in words how stressful and frustrating the entire grad school process can be, from deciding where to apply to finally picking a school. I was very fortunate to have worked with graduate students and faculty that provided me a lot of guidance as well as participate in research programs that offered many resources. As a research coordinator, one of the things I enjoyed most about my job was the opportunity to work with undergraduate assistants and help them with their graduate plans, several of which I am proud to say are now in M.S. or M.D. programs. I feel strongly about the mentoring relationship and would like the opportunity to help the next generation of grad students as others helped me before.
Kevin Walters
I graduated from Kansas State University in May 2013 with a B.S. in Psychology. I was born and raised in Wichita, KS (to dispel any curiosities, I did not drive a tractor to school every day, but I HAVE been to Oz). I originally went to K-State for Mechanical Engineering, but by the end of my freshman year I found myself very unsatisfied with where my studies were taking me. I wasn’t very interested in my courses, and my GPA suffered as a result. I knew I needed to change majors and get focused, but I couldn’t decide what to focus on. My older sister was studying Psychology at another school, and after long talks with her I decided to switch majors. As my undergrad progressed I became fascinated in studying the mind and behavior of people. However, I was soon presented with another challenge: what field of psychology to focus on for graduate school? I spent 3 summers working with autistic and behaviorally-challenged youth to explore Clinical Psych experiences, and read books about Ted Bundy and took various Criminology courses to explore Forensic Psych. Come junior year, I was still struggling to find a focus, my GPA was still recovering from my first year of undergrad, and I had no real research experience to put on my resume/CV. As luck would have it, that fall an I/O professor guest-lectured in one of my courses. Her personality and teaching style immediately made me certain I wanted to work with her. Soon after, I approached her and got a spot in her research lab. It was then that my passion for my studies truly got fully ignited; the interactions and research experience with my adviser made me dead-set on pursuing I/O Psychology. Within I/O, I have broad research interests in Occupational Health Psychology and Positive Psychology, somewhat tying in my previous interest in Clinical Psych. Once I was accepted to CSU and visited Fort Collins, I immediately knew that this is where I wanted to be. And the rest, as the cliché goes, is history.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
As any grad student mentor should, I’m more than happy to help out with the usual (GRE prep, gaining undergrad research experience, building a CV, reviewing essays, etc.). The grad school application process is fresh in my mind, so I feel that I’ll have a particular strength in that regard. Additionally, I feel that I’d be a perfect fit for an undergrad out there in the situation that I was – whether it be having difficulty in selecting a particular field of psychology, or trying to ‘catch up’ and build a strong grad school application without a huge amount of time to do so (i.e., a junior or senior). However, I would be more than happy to work with mentees of all backgrounds and experiences – the office door is always open!
James Weston
I grew up and lived in North Carolina all of my life, attending Appalachian State University for college. As an undergraduate I started as an international business major and completed my first two years like this. After numerous psychology classes during that time I was told by an advisor that I couldn’t afford to take any more of these classes since they did not count towards my major; So, I switched my major to psychology later that afternoon. I first heard about I/O psychology as a junior when I had to complete a project in my Careers in Psychology class. Since I had kept a business concentration to my psych degree the teacher assigned me to research the I/O subfield of psychology. I was drawn in by the practical application of social psychology concepts and several good professors. However, I was still heavily involved in the clinical side of psychology throughout my time as an undergraduate. I worked in a research lab that focused on exercise and anxiety disorders and was essentially mentored by the professor running the lab. At the same time I was working at a mental health facility. Entering my senior year I already knew that I wanted to do graduate school but I also knew that I wanted to take some time off, even if just for a year. After graduation I had in the back of my mind the things I knew I should be doing to get ready to apply for schools but ran into the difficulty of working full time and putting off studying. For me, the most difficult part of the application process was actually sitting down to do the studying for the GRE while not being in a school mindset. I was also very worried that my clinical psych background, with regards to actual applied experiences, would cause schools to look over me for someone with a more I/O specific background. I am entering my first year in the PhD program here and am excited to help out in any way for students looking to go into Psychology. I had more conversations and meetings with people on what field to go into, schools to apply to, and even which programs within schools to apply to, than I can count. Hopefully I can pass on some of this advice to an interested mentee.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I am looking for a sophomore or junior in psychology that has a general idea of what they want to go into but is still flexible to go down different paths. I am happy to share any experience in other areas of psychology and can provide insight into what several areas are like after college. I would be happy to give pointers on the GRE, review essays, give advice on choosing recommendation writers or just be there to answer questions about different graduate schools or the whole process in general.
Cognitive Psychology Mentors
Lauren Bates
I obtained my B.A. in Psychology from California State University Long Beach in 2012. Originally when I started at CSULB I wanted to be a biomedical engineer, but it wasn't long before I began to seriously question whether or not that was the path for me. I had a wonderful General Psychology professor who helped me realize that I wasn't happy in my engineering major, and that psychology could be the field where I would feel at home. After turning my attention to psychology I had another identity crisis of sorts when I realized I did not want to be a clinical psychologist, and at the time I truly thought this was the only viable career path for someone with a degree in psychology. After taking my first Cognitive Psychology class in my third year of college, I had another wonderful "aha" moment where I realized that experimental psychology was where I wanted to take my career. From that point on, I actively sought out classroom and research opportunities to develop my interest in human cognition. There is nothing quite like feeling as if you are finally in the driver's seat of your academic life.
As an undergraduate I worked both in a clinical and cognitive lab, completing an undergraduate honors thesis in cognitive psychology. I also had the opportunity to serve as an undergraduate TA, which is where I got my first taste of teaching. Now as a graduate student I work in a learning and memory lab in the Cognitive program with Dr. Ed DeLosh. I earned my M.S. degree in Psychology from Colorado State University in the Summer of 2015, with a thesis on the indirect effects of retrieval practice on memory. I am currently a teaching fellow with two sections of PSY 100, though in the past I have also taught Cognitive Psychology (PSY 452) and the Cognitive Psychology Lab (PSY 453). I would be happy to talk about the different responsibilities associated with graduate work in experimental psychology (e.g., research, coursework, teaching, service). I have also worked with The Institute for Learning and Teaching (TILT) as the Assistant Coordinator of Learning Programs since the Summer of 2014.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I know how disorienting college can feel when you are simultaneously being pushed towards numerous career options while also having no idea what you want to do with your life. Truthfully, I can attribute so much of my success to the people who helped mold me into who I am today. The importance of mentoring cannot be overstated. I am happy to work with any students who are looking for a little guidance. My background is primarily in cognitive psychology, so I can certainly offer more detailed information to students interested in this area (or in experimental psychology in general), but I would be happy to work with students in other areas who are simply looking for someone to help them towards their post-college journey.
Hannah Hausman
Hi everyone! I am originally from Boulder, CO and I love being outside in the mountains--especially when it is snowing. I love running, biking, camping, and skiing. I was on the cross country ski team in undergrad at Williams College, which is a small liberal arts school in western Massachusetts. I came to psychology through a bit of an untraditional route. I earned my B.A. in math and statistics in 2012. Right after college I moved to the Bay Area in California to work as a statistician in an education research non-profit that aimed. Our goal was to help students in community colleges pass developmental math on their first try. In this job I became obsessed with the idea that we need to better understand how students in general, and struggling math students in particular, learn to make their time in class and studying as effective and efficient as possible. After a year as a statistician, I spent two years working as a cognitive psychology research assistant studying learning and memory processes back at Williams College. Now I’m a first year cognitive student working with Dr. Matt Rhodes studying how people learn, how they think they learn, and when and why those two things don’t always match up. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to attend CSU for grad school.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I am excited to work with people at any stage of the application process-from figuring out whether grad school is really the right place for you, to preparing a personal statement and asking for letters of recommendation. I’m especially interested in helping students develop a plan for courses to take and work/research experiences to have to best prepare for grad school while still having fun. My general philosophy is if you work really hard at things that you care a lot about and are interested in, there will be a grad school that is eager to have you. If you want help figuring out just what you’re passionate about working on and how to describe it in a grad school application, come see me!
Cognitive Neuroscience Psychology Mentors
Lara Pantlin
I am a first year graduate student in the Cogntive Neuroscience program. I graduated from Meredith College (Raleigh, North Carolina) this past May where I majored in Psychology with a minor in Economics and Biology. I also ran cross country at Meredith for four years and was senior captain. Since my undergraduate institution was a small liberal arts school, I did not have access to specific fields (i.e. neuroscience) and developed a diverse research background. I interned at the neurotoxicology branch of the Environmental Protection Agency for 2 years and worked on two projects: one that assessed the visual function of rats exposed to an ethanol-gasoline mixture and the other evaluated the potential phototoxicity of cerium dioxide nanoparticles in retinal pigment epithelial cells. In psychology, I did my thesis on social support as a buffer for stress induced by the transition from high school to college in young adult women and a paper in mentoring as a stress reducer in this transition.
My interests were always in the biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders. I originally looked at schools either heavily in biological neuroscience or interdisciplinary neuroscience, but I realized my interests and strengths were in terms of biology as it applies to psychology. When I found CSU’s unique program in cognitive neuroscience, I realized that this was the exact field I was searching for. Now my research is focused on time processing deficits in subpopulations of schizophrenia including high risk for psychosis.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I am open to anyone who needs any type of assistance. I think it’s important to know that at some point you will be excited, afraid, and overwhelmed about the application process- but that’s okay. Applying to programs can become extremely frightening and I hope I can help find ways to make the process less intimidating. My strengths are in organization, writing and CV development, and research. In regards to program type, I am most knowledgeable from experience about M.A. and PhD programs.
Counseling Psychology Mentors
Nicole Olivas
I grew up in Colorado and have been fortunate enough to remain here my whole life. I attended CSU as an undergraduate majoring in Psychology and Sociology, graduating in May 2015. My interest in pursuing Counseling Psychology began during my freshman year at CSU. I had a particularly difficult time transitioning into college due to some family health concerns. However, this difficult family experience encouraged me to attend therapy to help with my transition to a new environment during a time of need. Seeing the usefulness this provided for me, I realized that I would love to find a career that allowed me to do the same for others. This experience stirred up a passion for helping others in a direct way that provided personal meaning. And this is exactly what I found when I began pursing Counseling Psychology! I am currently in my second year as a Counseling Psychology PhD student. My career aspirations include working toward owning a private practice to primarily focus on clinical work, as well as teaching 1-2 courses at a teaching institute (meaning I wouldn’t focus on research or be an academic). Clinical interests include working with children on the autism spectrum, sexual assault survivors, other trauma victims, individuals with eating disorders, and interpersonal relationships. My research interests include: resilience, adjustment to the college environment, and autism spectrum disorders (e.g., how to teach children social skills, how to provide parents with resources to properly help their child).
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Someone who is both excited and motivated to pursue graduate school. My hope is that my mentee(s) would be willing to work hard and ask any questions they may have about the application process, graduate school in general, etc. I am willing to work with a student that is anywhere along in the process, from deciding whether or not graduate school is a good fit to fine-tuning applications to be sent to schools. I also want my mentee(s) to be able to see me as a support system through the difficult process of making the decision to apply to graduate school and completing (or even beginning) the application process.
Celia Fulco
I’m from Minneapolis, MN and attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, graduating in 2013. I started out in my undergraduate career thinking I would get a degree in Animal Science and go on to Veterinary school, then switched to a pre-med major and planned to prepare for medical school. Taking a seminar about the psychology of paranormal phenomena planted a seed that grew into my fascination for psychology. I ended up majoring in Psychology, Spanish and Social Justice. Getting involved in research was instrumental in providing me the experience I needed to know what a graduate work would look like, and I remained active in independent research post-graduation. Professionally, I worked as a counselor at a women’s health clinic, and found the work extremely rewarding. After graduating undergrad I moved to Madrid, Spain for one year to travel and teach English to 1st-5th graders, and it was an amazing experience. It also served as a reminder that my interest in psychology was deeply held; even in beautiful Europe I felt a strong pull to get back into the study and practice of psychology. My research interests include health behaviors and underrepresented populations, and clinical populations I am interested in working with are trauma and interpersonal violence survivors.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Someone who is motivated and excited to venture into graduate school, and may have questions about how to maximize their undergraduate career and optimize their application. I am looking for someone who has lots of questions that I can try to answer, and who would like a supporter through the quite stressful process of thinking about and applying to grad school.
Kirsten Graham
Hi! I grew up in New Jersey and earned my undergraduate degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. After graduating from Rutgers, I spent several years gaining clinical experience working in a partial hospitalization program for children with severe psychiatric, social, and behavioral disorders and deficits. I then decided to pursue further education and attended Fordham University where I earned a Master of Science in Education in Mental Health Counseling, New York State’s master’s level counseling degree. During my master’s training I spent a year as an intern-therapist The College of New Jersey’s Counseling Center. I decided that I wanted more training so I applied to doctoral programs, was accepted to CSU, and moved out to Fort Collins in 2012. Since arriving at CSU I have worked in university and community counseling agencies and been involved in several research labs and projects. I am currently in my third year in the Counseling Psychology PhD program and am enjoying the glorious life of a grad student!
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Having graduated from a master’s program and being currently enrolled in a doctoral program, I am happy to help those of you who might be wondering what’s the difference between the MS/MA and PhD/PsyD, etc. I’m also pretty well informed about the often-confusing differences and similarities between the helping fields (Social Work, Therapists, Psychologists, and so on…) and am happy to help sort through this information to find what specific degree might fit you best. I’m also happy to help you, when possible, connect with clinical and research opportunities. Other than that I hope to provide guidance and support as you embark upon the exciting path to graduate school!
Jaime Haines
I came to CSU from the small town of Amery, Wisconsin, which is in the Northwest area of the state. I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and minored in Spanish. During my undergrad, I knew psychology fascinated me, but it took some time to find my niche. I took classes because they sounded interesting, talked to professors, and read a lot of graduate program pages. Unexpectedly, it was by taking an art therapy class that I discovered one of my passions: horticultural therapy, which I am now working to become registered in. I am also working toward my goal of becoming a professor at a university where I can spend my time teaching, mentoring, incorporating climate justice conversations, and being involved in student organizations and faculty committees.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I remember being where all of you were! Applying to grad school felt like a huge task, and having someone that knew the ins and outs would have saved me several headaches. I didn’t even know what a CV was until I visited a school! (If you don’t either, never fear, Google knows, as do I.) Headaches I feel particularly competent at solving are ones resulting from what experiences to seek out during your undergraduate years, how to choose a program, how to “sell” yourself on a CV or during an interview, and anything writing related (I tutored in person and online at my university’s writing center for three years). I’d love to work with anyone who has questions, will try their best, and is excited to maximize his/her college experience!
Maeve O'Donnell
Hi! My name is Maeve (rhymes with "Steve"), and I was born and raised in New York. I attended college at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, where I majored in psychology and played soccer for the Seton Hall Pirates. After college, I attended the University of Denver and earned my master's degree in sport and performance psychology. As a former athlete, I was very much interested in the mental side of sport and how to help develop coping skills in the demanding collegiate sport environment. After some work in a downtown Denver high school, though, I realized that my interests were quite a bit broader. I wanted to pursue research in health as well as gain clinical experience. I worked for two years in pediatric obesity prevention research both in the Bronx in New York and in rural Alamosa, Colorado. I fell in love with community health research, in which I was both able to work hands-on with communities and do research that felt meaningful to me. I am currently in my third year as a Counseling Psychology PhD student. My general interests are around health psychology, positive psychology, designing interventions, and community research.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I'm open to helping in whatever stage people might be in. If someone has an interest in sport psychology, health intervention work, or in health psychology or positive psychology, I might be especially helpful. I also really enjoy helping to craft/edit personal statements as well so if people are looking for help with that, I'm definitely open. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Applied Social & Health Psychology Mentors
Katie Hodgin
Hello! I’m proud to say that I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado, and feel lucky to be able to continue my academic career with graduate school at CSU. I received my Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder. As an undergraduate, I struggled to choose a major and was particularly torn between the fields of psychology and exercise science. I ended up choosing psychology, but then decided to pursue another degree that would allow me to study a combination of the areas I am most passionate about. As a result, I graduated with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from CSU, which makes up one-third of the Colorado School of Public Health (CU-Denver and University of Northern Colorado are the other two). In the MPH program here at CSU I focused on and received specialized training in health and exercise science. Now, I am a third-year student in the Applied Social and Health Psychology program and am working on my Master of Science (MS) degree. My research is in obesity prevention and reduction, with a focus on promotion of physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. I love to learn about the psychological factors that influence people’s decisions to engage in or avoid these healthy behaviors! Along with the psychology of exercise and nutrition comes my other main passion: teaching. I truly enjoy every aspect of teaching and mostly enjoy interacting with students who have a thirst for learning!
What I am looking for in a mentee:
I am happy to work with all students, regardless of where you currently are in the graduate school process. I am available to help with decisions regarding whether or not graduate school is right for you, which graduate programs might be the best fit, and how to apply for graduate school. Because of my background in public health and exercise science, I may be most helpful to students who are interested in pursuing similar areas or programs in health psychology. I look forward to meeting you!
Charlie Heidrick
I grew up in Eagan, Minnesota, which is near Minneapolis. Growing up I loved to play sports, read books, and complain to my parents about how my older brother was being mean to me. I attended undergrad at Iowa State University and received my B.S. in Psychology. Initially as a freshman and sophomore, I was pre-med and fully intended on trying to go to medical school. After struggling and hating Calculus and higher levels of Chemistry though, I turned my focus completely to Psychology and have loved every second since (well, not every second I suppose). For me, and I think most people, the application process for graduate school is not only intimidating and confusing, but expensive as well. I look back at it as a positive though - the process forced me to have better time and money management, as well as having a better ability to say no to social events when the time calls for it.
At Colorado State I study health behaviors and have a particular interest in Exercise Psychology. I am interested in encouraging and helping people to exercise more under the assumption that a life with regular exercise is more positive than a life without regular exercise (and a lot of research would back up that assumption, so I guess it’s not really an assumption, huh?). Central to my research is the thought that our behaviors are affected by many domains: personal, cultural, biological, social, etc. As a current graduate student, I try very hard to equally prioritize the things that are important to me, such as family, friends, personal goals, and school. It can sometimes be very hard to do that in graduate school, but I value the importance of that mindset and believe the challenge is something we have to deal with our whole lives.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
Someone who enjoys learning and is looking to learn more about Psychology in general or, more specifically, graduate school in Psychology.
Julie Prosser
Hello! I am originally from several small towns in north central Ohio that no one has ever heard of. As I was nearing my high school graduation, I was already halfway done with an associate's degree in Web Page Design and Programming when I realized my heart wasn't in it. I decided to take an Introduction to Psychology class, and I fell in love. However, I knew that if I pursued psychology, I had a very long road ahead of me before I would finish school. Doubting my commitment and decision-making skills, I decided to pursue a backup plan first: I completed an associate's degree in business management at a local community college. After my associate's degree, I graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in psychology from The Ohio State University – Mansfield. After that, I moved to southern Ohio where I earned my M.A. in general psychology from the University of Dayton. I am now so excited to be part of the Applied Social and Health Psychology PhD program here at CSU. My main research interests include self-disclosure between intimate partners (as well as with close others), and other factors affecting relationship formation and satisfaction. Basically, I'm interested in what people tell others about themselves and the effects that self-disclosure has on strengthening (or weakening) the relationship. I also hope to start studying the effects of communication within the family structure as well.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
TI am happy to help any student who is willing to take the steps necessary to make their future happen! I am open to guiding students at any step in the process – whether it's deciding to go to grad school or not, finding schools that are appropriate for their interests, studying for the GRE, creating/updating a CV, or filling out specific applications. I've been through the grad school application process twice, so I'm sure I can help somewhere!
Ellen Ratajack
Hello! I am originally from the Northwest corner of Indiana (aka the Region) and graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2009 with my BA in Psychology. From there I went on to complete my Master’s in Research Psychology, with an emphasis in Social Psychology, at East Carolina University. After spending a few months in limbo I started a job with the Chicago Zoological Society for 2 years as an assistant data analyst. While I loved my job at the zoo (most people can’t say that they had a stalker who was also a peacock…) it was time to head back to school to pursue my PhD, hence why I moved to Colorado! While my journey was less than traditional, I couldn’t be happier with the steps taken to get here. My research interests include close relationships and stalking once those relationships end, aggression and violence in social relationships, issues related to human trafficking, and spirituality as it relates to a variety of topics including conservation psychology. I believe in the importance of work life balance, so in my spare time I enjoy taking dance classes, white water rafting, skiing and catching up on sleep.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
The process of applying to graduate school and choosing a program can be overwhelming at times. I’d be happy to work with anyone interested in pursuing psychology beyond their Bachelor’s degree. The application process alone is challenging, but also finding out what you do or (just as importantly) don’t want for your career is a crucial piece of information and I’d love to help my mentee through the process!
Perla Sandoval
I am originally from Southern California. I received my Bachelor’s degree of psychology from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). As an undergrad I knew I loved psychology but was reluctant to commit to psychology as a major because I thought a psychology Bachelor’s degree would be too restrictive in career options. I, like many students, explored various other options to major in until ultimately deciding on psychology. The curiosity and enjoyment that I experienced while learning about social psychology ultimately inspired me to pursue a Ph.D. in social psychology with an emphasis in conservation psychology. Another major source of influence for this was my Research Assistant work as an undergrad in the CSUSM Applied Social Psychology Laboratory. This lead me to join programs such as the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program that mentored me in my research interest and helped me in the process of finding an appropriate graduate program. Now, I am currently a second year student in the Applied Health & Social psychology Graduate program here at CSU. My research interests range from the very broad general application of social psychology principles in everyday life to my research primary focus on social normative influence and conservation behaviors such as recycling and energy use.
What I am looking for in a mentee:
It has not been that long since I asked myself what exactly I wanted to do after college and I know that it can be an overwhelming process trying to figure that out. Therefore, I am happy to work with anyone in any stage of their application process. Whether it be how to best develop your course plan for graduate school, deciding if grad school is really the right place for you, to preparing a personal statement and asking for letters of recommendation. My mentors provided me with such great advice and I’m happy to pass down their wisdom and my own.
