What are the most impactful things you have done during your graduate program at Simmons?
The PhD in social work program challenged me to focus and refine my emerging identity as a scholar. Across all classes, we continually gave our elevator pitches and then reconsidered them with classmates and professors. Without that workshopping, I would not be as prepared to take on a public-facing role in social work.
Having the opportunity to publish with faculty and connect with outside experts (e.g., those in neuroimaging) was a great experience. Finally, bringing all the threads together (theory, intervention design, evaluation) into a personalized project I carried out was a lot of fun because it was beyond what I thought I was capable of and connected to my social work values.
Tell us about your research and area of specialization (in layperson’s terms).
My research explored the role of self in mental health among youth, specifically addressing alarming increases in social anxiety and social disconnection. I piloted a Zoom-based intervention class, adapting gratitude and compassion practices, drawing from spiritual traditions. We were looking to see if the class was feasible and might decrease self-focus and social anxiety.
A second piece of the research piloted the use of electroencephalogram (EEG) [a non-invasive diagnostic test that records electrical activity in the brain] to explore self-focus biomarkers related to the Zoom intervention. This research could point toward accessible and workable intervention strategies for youth mental health and open new avenues for measurement.
Simmons faculty advised me to apply for research funds, and I was encouraged to receive support from the Simmons Graduate Student Research Fund and the New York Community Trust.
What was your favorite Simmons course and why?
I feel very grateful for Associate Professor Christina M. Sellers’ “Intervention Research” (SW 624) class. It was a lot of work, but it was so concrete that I was able to develop the concepts I had been learning into a workable game plan that I later carried out in my dissertation. The class helped me to understand the role of pilot research in a research pipeline as well. I think I have a good understanding of how this could play out into a career trajectory.
Who was your most influential Simmons professor/mentor and why?
In addition to Dr. Sellers’ support in developing a gratitude- and compassion-based intervention, I am also grateful for Professor Peter Maramaldi encouragement of my interest in neuroimaging. He then stuck with me for a related independent study that lasted much longer than I initially intended.
Together with Professor of Chemistry and Physics Jason White, we were able to publish “Self-consciousness in Adolescent and Adult Social Anxiety: A Systematic Review of fMRI and EEG Findings” in Biological Psychology, which explores neuroimaging during self-focus. I took the article findings and wrote them into my dissertation methodology.
How did you find your community at Simmons as an online student?
As an online PhD student, community can be tricky! A doctoral program can be an isolating experience. My Simmons colleagues in their Zoom boxes were invaluable to keep me going, and we’ve worked hard to support and encourage one another.
Simmons provided spaces for us to connect in this format, and I plan to keep these relationships.
It’s also been nice in this final part of the program to connect with a new PhD student through the Fostering Inspiration and Navigation (F.I.N.) mentoring program. Designed by Professor and PhD Program Director Vanessa Robinson-Dooley, this program is intended to support new PhD students as they navigate the first year of their doctoral journey. I think being able to share my experiences supported me as well.
What advice do you have for current and incoming Simmons students?
My advice is to use your program advisors. Prioritize online communities that are available. Ask professors questions even when you feel like an imposter sometimes. Use the research and practice you have a passion for as your compass, and it will lead you in the right direction.