Congratulations to all of our graduates from the Psychological Sciences department! We had over 100 students graduate from our department with degrees from Bachelors, Masters SLP, and PhD. Below are some of the students we have highlighted on social media regarding their next steps. We are proud of each of their journey’s and where they are headed!

Jared Friedman, PhD– Jared completed an interdisciplinary PhD between Psychological Sciences and Philosophy, with a focus on the neuroscience of health information processing and behavior change. In the fall, he will be starting his Masters in Social Work at MSASS, with a focus on Substance Use Disorder and Recovery, connecting theory to practice.

 

 

Elyssa Barrick, PhD– I will be joining the Green Lab as a Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (MIRECC) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Los Angeles VA, where I will continue my work on social difficulties in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

 

PhD conferred August 2025

Elisa Borrero

Stephanie Gomez

Kyle LaFollette

Alexander Olejko

Kathleen Pait

William Andrew Schutt

Liliana Anjali Varman

Hope Vaccaro

Zhixin Zhu (conferred January 2026)

 

Masters in Communications, Speech-Language Pathologist

Maddie Pekar – Florida; Kendall Steer – Florida; Amber See – Ohio; Meredith Mog– Ohio; Grant Cordle – Ohio; Ava Ng – Exploring many options!; Hadley Choler– Illinois; Kate Munz– Ohio; Mollie McGuire – Texas

 

Here is the next adventure for some of our Bachelors in Psychology Graduates:

Pihu Chandra– Attending graduate school to pursue a PsyD in Clinical Psychology at a Midwestern program. I’m especially excited to continue building on my interests in working with children and adolescents, and to deepen my understanding of mental health through both clinical training and research. During my time studying psychology, I’ve developed a strong passion for supporting youth and helping create interventions that make a meaningful difference in their lives, and I’m looking forward to taking that next step in graduate school.

 

Haddy Dardir– I plan on taking the MCAT, continuing my master’s in public health degree, and building additional connections in healthcare before applying to med school in Spring 2027.

Sarah Kim– Taking two gap years before applying to medical school — spending time with family and friends, going on spontaneous trips, and continuing to grow in research as a future physician scientist.

 

 

Isabella Nelson– Post grad I will be starting work as an ABA therapist for 2-6 year olds while obtaining my Master’s degree in ABA therapy at Loyola Chicago!

 

 

Kit Shiells– I am currently applying to Physician Assistant schools for the upcoming 2027 cycle. This summer, I will be back home in Northern Virginia working as a Medical Assistant in Pediatrics before moving to Denver Colorado for my gap year where I will also be working as a Medical Assistant!

 

 

 

Berenice Grijalva Arvizu– This fall, I will be pursuing my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Arizona! As part of my graduate training, I will also be participating in UofA’s Multicultural Bilingual Certificate Program, which will help prepare me for a future career as a bilingual speech-language pathologist serving culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

 

 

 

Sofia Vicenzino– I will be working as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Addictive, Compulsive, and Impulsive Disorders (ACID) Lab at UChicago Medicine. Eventually, I hope to obtain a PhD in Clinical Psychology!

 

Mruthula Mohan Vaanathi– After graduation I’m taking a gap year before med school and I’m working in the meantime.

 

 

Isabella Zolikoff– starting my Doctorate of Clinical Psychology program at Xavier University this August!

Lexi Fuxan– I will be going on to receive my Master’s of Social Work from CWRU!

Grace Misiunas– Taking a gap year (while completing my master’s in bioethics and medical humanities in the fall semester) while applying to medical school to hopefully start in the summer of 2027!

Cristiana Miele– returning to CWRU to get a Master’s in Social Work. But first I’m going to Japan for two weeks with my roommates as a graduation gift to ourselves

Aaron Rucker– I will be joining IAT insurance group as a Surety Associate Underwriter after graduation