Wondering what some of our alums are up to these days? So were we, and when we reached out we found out about all the talent and good work that they have been multiplying. Check these awesome readers out –

Jennifer Coleman ‘13

I am currently entering the final year of my clinical PhD program at Palo Alto University and moving from San Francisco to Chicago to do my pre-doctoral internship at Northwestern University. I will be working at the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) department providing therapy to the students. I have been working in college counseling for the past few years and was even a therapist at Santa Clara University CAPS for a year! I cannot wait to be finished with my doctoral program and finally a licensed clinician!

It’s so hard to choose a favorite children’s book there are so many great ones. I think I would have to go with the classic Goodnight Moon because my parents used to read that to me every night.

 

Bianca (Zardetto) Rodriguez ‘15

I am about to graduate with my Master’s in Counseling Psychology from SCU this June!

During my last year in the program, I have been working full-time at my practicum site working with Spanish speaking families in a community-based agency. I have about 15 clients in my caseload right now ranging from 6 to 18 years old. I am also wrapping up a few projects with the Children’s Discovery Museum working on research that is focused on healthy eating and physical activity.

My favorite children’s book would be La Mariposa by our very own Professor Jimenez 🙂

Anisha Agarwal ‘15

I finished up my Master’s in Organizational Psychology from USC last year. Upon graduation, I decided to switch companies (where I used to work with Bianca!) and move to San Francisco. I’m simply living the city life and am currently a tech recruiter at Intercom.

My favorite children’s book has to be The Rainbow Fish — the moral of the story is great.

 

Andrew Weaver ‘15

I have officially committed to NYU to pursue a Ph.D. in Teaching & Learning with a concentration in Literacy Instruction (I could never lose the reading focus after all). I will be working with Michael Kieffer studying the use of Executive Functions in literacy instruction for middle school students, as well as some work on peer networks and academic achievement. I am also going to be a member of the Institute of Educational Sciences Pre-doctoral Interdisciplinary Research Training fellowship (IES-PIRT), which will allow me to work with students from other social sciences looking at education.  I am beyond excited about this program, and to move to NYC!

My favorite kid’s book is The Little Prince!

Maddie Regan ‘15

I’m still working in Ireland with the L’Arche Community, a community centered around adults with intellectual disabilities. I’ve been here since the Fall of 2016. At the end of last year, I switched positions from residential staff to our day program, so I’m working directly with our core members on life skills, reading, independent living, etc. I’ve even done some rhyming exercises and games with some of our verbal core members and it’s been really cool to see the outcomes of their abilities (most all of them can rhyme when prompted!).

 

My next steps are a bit up in the air, as I’d like to make a change career-wise and am choosing between staying in Ireland or a move back to the States. I’m also hoping in a few years time to apply to Masters in Social Work programs, either somewhere in Europe or in the USA. So lots of possibilities, just not sure where in the world just yet!

And only recently I’ve been reading a LOT of Winnie the Pooh to a few of my core members, it’s a very popular series here (even if it doesn’t rhyme much).

Briana Mitchell ‘15

I’ve been working as a research assistant in neonatology at the Stanford School of Medicine since July 2016, but in three weeks I will actually be starting a new job at UCSF.  I’ll be a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator in the OB/GYN department at San Francisco General Hospital, working on clinical trials for new kinds of contraceptives. In the next year or two I’m planning to apply to master’s entry nursing programs to become a nurse practitioner, hopefully in women’s health.

One of my favorite children’s books is Great Day for Up by Dr. Seuss (of course). My mom can still recite most of that book to this day because I made her read it to me so many times, which is where I got the inspiration for the repetition study!

Sarah James ‘15

I am still teaching first grade in Baltimore, MD. I finished my Teach for America commitment and graduated from Johns Hopkins with my Masters in Education and have been enjoying my time teaching in the city. I am planning to stay in teaching for a little while longer.

I am also participating in a policy and advocacy fellowship this coming summer to work for a nonprofit on education reform and learn more about the private, nonprofit sector. I have also been heading up a Green Team at my current elementary school and really enjoying teaching the students about environmental issues and the importance of recycling.

We just read Are You My Mother? in my first-grade class so I think that is my current favorite children’s book!

Rose Dhaliwal ‘15

I am currently working as a Public Relations & Policy Advisor for a City of San Jose Councilmember (which I have been doing since graduation). I’m thrilled that I will be starting my PsyD in Clinical Psychology at the University of La Verne this fall. My work will focus on mental health awareness & education in adolescents in the juvenile justice system. I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life and using all that I have learned in your lab throughout my future career!

My favorite children’s book is The Colors of Us by Karen Katz. It doesn’t rhyme but I love its focus on appreciating diversity among us all 🙂

Katie Ciffone ‘15

I graduated with my masters and teaching credential from SCU last June. I am currently working as a 3rd grade teacher at a title one (low income) school in San Jose. Some of my students have suffered from trauma that impacts their social interactions and attitudes toward education. I’m learning to target specific behaviors by using positive reinforcement strategies, and these methods have changed how I view challenging physical behaviors and have helped me meet the social-emotional needs of my students.  At the beginning of the year, I had students reading from a pre-kindergarten level to a beginning of sixth grade level. They have all made progress and I am very proud to be their teacher.

This summer I will teach dance and art to elementary and middle school students. I will also transition to a new school district and attend different professional development opportunities to help me prepare for my future students. I am still planning to pursue a special education credential to help me better meet the needs of diverse students. My favorite children’s book is Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. I distinctly remember my teacher reading this book in elementary school and it forever touched my heart.

Erin Furay ‘16

I am about to finish up my 2nd year of graduate school studying for my PhD in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University (in the same program as Jennifer!). This morning, I just matched at a practicum training site for next year; I will be at Kaiser Permanente Richmond’s Child & Family Team, providing individual therapy to kids and teens as well as couples and family therapy. I will also get to conduct and observe intakes, run group therapy sessions, and also do some assessment of kids and teens. I can’t wait to start this summer!

Lastly, and most importantly, Iggy Peck, Architect is my favorite children’s book (and/or Rosie Revere, Engineer). They are the best (and they rhyme!).

Tess Miller ‘16

During the day, I am currently a behavior specialist at a therapeutic school for emotionally disturbed kids. Basically, I manage 11 ED kids – from emotional needs to behavioral needs. I was just promoted to manage the schools’ social skills curriculum as well (and yes I used what I learned from my autism social stories books!!!).

At night I am getting my Masters in Clinical Psychology, and a joint LPCC/MFT license. I will start practicum in one year! Woohoo! I am really hoping to work in the Juvenile/CPS system for that. This summer, I am also starting work towards my BCBA (board certified behavior analysis).

My favorite kid’s book is definitely The Seven Silly Eaters. My mother read that to me constantly.

Marya Husary ‘17

Since graduation last year, I worked in the Language and Cognitive Development lab at UC Berkeley over the summer. I worked with a PhD student from Yale University studying the impact socioeconomic status had on children’s risk taking. I worked on collecting lit reviews, project design, and pilot testing of the study. I traveled to Jordan and Georgia (the country in Eastern Europe) for about a month, and then in November I started working as a project specialist at the Tuberculosis Control Branch at the CA Department of Public Health. I’m working closely with clinicians and epidemiologist on their work to control, monitor, reduce and eliminate TB. Quite different from anything I’ve worked in before but I’ve learned a lot and excited to be working on my own project soon.

I took the GRE last month and have been looking into various Masters in Public Health programs. I’m taking my time a little more than I initially planned because I really want to find the best field incorporating psychology and public health. I’ve worked in each field alone and something always seems to be missing.

My favorite childhood book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. A short story but I used to love the rhymes.

Jacqueline Quirke ‘17

Since graduating, I have been working in the Language and Cognition lab at Stanford running various studies at the Children’s Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose. I just took the GRE a week ago and am now starting to refine my search on grad school programs! Like Marya, I am trying to take the process slow in order to make sure I pick the right program, but as of now I am going to apply to both MFT and clinical doctorate programs either this fall or next!

There are two children’s books that I really like and I can’t seem to choose which is my favorite! They are “The Dot” and “Beautiful Oops” both about art 🙂