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In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
The neuro concentration spans so many disciplines, it’s full of dedicated, passionate students and faculty members!

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years & sophomores about connecting to this department?
I would recommend that first years and sophomores interested in this concentration check out the department website, peruse the curriculum, and get in touch with current concentrators like me as well as with some of our lovely faculty. We love to chat, and we can be a really great help for those who are considering the discipline, trying to navigate the course options, and, most importantly, providing some guidance and support as students try things out, discovering what best suits them but also what doesn’t. I think both are super valuable.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
I definitely wish I could tell my first-year self that I could be more confident in myself as a student. I came out of high school feeling really unconfident, like I might never find exactly what I was ‘meant to do.’ This even carried over into my freshman year. But as I moved into more of the neuro courses, I became more and more sure of what I wanted to do, it just takes time.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
At K, I learned how to seek support from peers and professors as I pursue my individual goals, and how to do so confidently. The culture here supports an environment where our faculty and students are truly excited to see people engage with their individual passions, to figure themselves out, and they are also ready to pick you up and support you when you’re unsure of yourself or afraid. Following a beaten path can feel safe, but at K, you can carve out your own and be supported through that – but we also learn how to seek that support and gain an appreciation of the value community.

What has been your favorite class at K?
My favorite class at K has to have been Physiological Psychology. In that course, we learn about the physiology underlying many fundamental cognitive processes, but building on that foundation, we learn about the physiology underlying things like depression, chronic pain, and many other conditions which have historically long been considered “purely mental.” I think that the topics learned about in this course are incredibly valuable for being truly understanding and empathetic, and to change the conceptualizations of things associated.

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I’ve had the opportunity to participate in so many amazing courses and extracurriculars which have all been so enriching and invigorating. Alongside the psych major, neuroscience, and related curricula, I’ve also taken courses in Spanish, German, creative writing, art and art history, music, and philosophy. It’s been valuable for me to be able to foster my interests in literature, linguistics, and art throughout my psych/neuro focused education.

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of Dr. Batsell’s behavioral learning lab, culturing cells for the bio department and some roles in carrying out some trials for former bio professor Dr. Moore’s research, working as a TA for several neuroscience courses and psych courses, and I’ve had the opportunity to do research outside of K as well, partaking in an fMRI research experience at Wayne State. I had the pleasure of being a part of K’s favorite music group, Premium Orange, and K athletics.

What is your SIP?
My SIP will be a data analysis project, investigating the relationship between attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility as it pertains to semantic fluency performance to study the dynamics underlying divergent thinking performance.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I intend to pursue a PhD in cognitive psychology and neuroscience, and my long-term goal is to work in academia. I have a real passion for research and education.

What is a random fun fact about you?
I am physically incapable of snapping, and every time I tell anyone, they immediately try to teach me. It’s never worked. But I’m a pretty prodigious whistler.