Major(s): Government, Psychology
What is your current role? What was your journey in arriving there?
I am a professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota. My research, mentoring, and teaching focus on issues at the interface of social and health psychology. I’ve been on the faculty at Minnesota since 1995. My journey here included stops as a Peace Corps volunteer, graduate school, and post-doctoral training.
What do you enjoy about your work? What do you struggle with?
There are many things I love about my job, but will note two here. First, collaboration — all or nearly all of the work I do involves collaboration with colleagues. I believe science is a team sport — at least in the areas I work — and I find the interactions with my “teammates” is what have kept me engaged and excited over the years. Second, opportunity — I love having the freedom to follow my interests and passions. As for struggles, research can be a frustrating endeavor.
Do you have any advice for students thinking about entering your industry?
My primary piece of advice is to get research experience before you decide to head off to graduate school. Having direct experience with conducting research will not only inform your application to graduate school but also go a long way to helping you decide if this is a journey that you do (or do not) want to begin. I would also urge folks to remember that life is not a race. Don’t hesitate to take time between college and graduate school.
How did your time at Wesleyan influence your career choice/journey?
I was a psychology and political theory major at Wesleyan so there is a line that connects some of what I did then to what I do now. But more than anything, Wesleyan helped nurture my curiosity and my interest is pursuing issues that cross-disciplinary perspectives. I think it also helped develop my interest in working on issues in ways that advance both science and practice.
Updated as of September 29th, 2023
