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Profiles of Current Students and Alumni

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Susan Boyer

Program of Study:

MA in Mental Health Counseling

Year of Graduation:

2006

Hometown:

Rhinebeck, New York

Previous Education (degree and institution):

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Marist College (Magna Cum Laude, GPA: 3.70/4.00)

Tell us about your work history before Marist, including years of experience, industry, companies, and positions.

While completing my Master's program at Marist, and following graduation from this program, I held two positions:

• Assistant Research Scientist:Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, New York. I worked under the direction of Matt Hoptman, Ph.D. as an Assistant Research Scientist at Nathan Kline Institute.  In this role, I was a Primary Study Coordinator of an NIH-funded grant on aging, executive dysfunction, and depression, and as an Assistant Study Coordinator of an NIH-funded grant on frontal white matter and impulsivity in schizophrenia.

• Agency Coordinator of Quality Assessment & Improvement:The Astor Home for Children, Rhinebeck, New York. I worked in this role under the direction of Suzanne Button, Ph.D.  In this position, I was responsible for the coordination of agency-wide quality improvement and program evaluation initiatives.

Current Employer and Position:

I am currently employed as a Statistical Research Associate at Rho, Incorporated, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  In this role, I coordinate and supervise the submission of clinical trial data to regulatory agencies to support new drug applications.

Why did you choose Marist?

I chose Marist because of its strong academic reputation, its location, and its hybrid psychology curriculum that incorporates traditional coursework with ample opportunities for application through internship, externship, and internal research opportunities with faculty.  I appreciated the work-life balance that Marist fostered with students, with a focus on both student life and academic achievement.  The five-year BA/MA Psychology Program offered through Marist was a determining factor for why I chose Marist over other colleges and universities.

Tell us about a project or course that was particularly meaningfully to your professional development.

The concentration on research methodology, both in the undergraduate and graduate psychology program, was meaningful to my professional development.  Through this coursework, I gained a statistical and theoretical foundation that I was able to apply in class, through my externship, and in independent research projects with graduate faculty members.  I had the opportunity to present with Marist faculty at national conferences, including the Association for Psychological Science.  In my current position, I frequently utilize the same statistical concepts I was first introduced to at Marist.

Tell us a little about your internship experience.

I completed my graduate externship at The Astor Home for Children, under the supervision of Suzanne Button, Ph.D., Director of Program Improvement, Outcomes Management and Research.  During my externship, I assisted Dr. Button with program evaluation initiatives and outcomes research for agency programs.  I composed literature reviews for Assistant Executive Directors on demand, and supervised two undergraduate interns on program evaluation and evidence-based practice projects.  This externship experience was invaluable because it helped me transition from coursework at Marist to real-world psychological research practice in a clinical setting.

How has a degree from Marist enhanced your career?

The combination of strong academics and faculty guidance has contributed to my professional accomplishments thus far.  I appreciate that I have been able to apply my psychological coursework to clinical and research professional positions.