What Our Grads Say

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Robert Beer, '16

My name is Robert Beer, and as a Roberts Wesleyan University Alumni, I pride myself in the skills which I have developed during my 4-year undergraduate program. Roberts Wesleyan has provided me with the necessary tools to develop genuine empathy, understanding, care, and active listening skills. Roberts allowed me to develop a strong sense of insight into myself which ultimately allowed me to become a better practitioner. My completion of the Psychology program provided me with the necessary foundation, knowledge, and foresight that I needed to open up my own practice. Roberts Wesleyan was a significant influence in the development of my career, a journey that I am excited to have embarked on.   I later completed my Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the University of Portsmouth in 2017.

My practice is Mindset First: Mental Performance Consultancy. At Mindset First we look to develop the mental skills of athletes and aid in their achievement of elite performance and reaching beyond-imaginable goals. Psychological barriers are part of everyday life, however, being an athlete, it seems that we are faced with multiple barriers simultaneously and continuously. At Mindset First we break these barriers by establishing the mindset that nothing is impossible! My job as a mental performance consultant is to provide athletes with the necessary tools and skills to allow the body to perform at the level at which the mind desires. At Mindset First we strongly believe that “The Mindset Always Wins!”.  For more information, contact Robert at 647-772-5136,mindsetfirst@yahoo.com, or www.mindsetfirst.ca.


Sofia Moore, '20

I finished my last three semesters of my undergraduate degree at Roberts and am so thankful for the many opportunities for personal and professional growth that have blossomed from that first decision. I remember wondering what to pursue after graduation and having Dr. Grimm as my undergraduate advisor telling me that she could see me in a clinical psychology doctorate program one day. This was almost 2 years before the Roberts Psy. D. program was birthed and unbeknownst to me at the time, this conversation foreshadowed the path I am privileged to journey on now, as I pursue my Psy. D. in Clinical and School Psychology at Roberts. I excitedly anticipate developing a greater depth of knowledge and level of competence to match the complexity and variety of the pervasive mental healthcare needs in Monroe County and beyond. The Roberts Wesleyan University Psy. D. program is giving me the expertise needed to be effective in service delivery across diverse contexts.

Learning with others in the Psy. D. program who came from undergraduate and graduate programs from other universities, I have a new appreciation for both my undergraduate and graduate experiences at Roberts.  My friends in the cohort are constantly commenting on how holistic their education at Roberts is. The depth and intentionality of our education here is unmatched. In our classes we are exposed to the gravity and stark truth of the great needs in the broken places we are entering as mental health professionals, but our professors help us approach our calling with steadfast hope and eyes ready to see not only the gaps and problems, but also the strengths and resilience that we all have as people made in the image of God. A Roberts education instills in us the conviction that education is a gift not meant to stop in our hands, but to instead be utilized to positively impact as many people as possible, reflecting the nature of a healing and redeeming God who loves sacrificially and unconditionally.

Going into practicum experiences and interacting with other professionals in the field, I have immense gratitude for how well my coursework and my professors have prepared me to tackle whatever is asked of me. I have additionally learned how to approach challenges as a professional, by watching the Psychology Department model tireless dedication in their work with flexibility, humor, grace and wisdom. Every time I talk with a professor, I know they are fully present in the moment, caring about what I’m feeling or questions I may have, regardless of countless other demands on their time and attention. They have spoken life into me and called out my strengths, instilling confidence and radiating hope. Professors in the Psychology Department at Roberts know how to infuse grace into their interactions with students, while simultaneously setting standards for excellence in the classroom and in the field. They have the ability to speak not only to what you are in the moment, but to what they know you can be, both one-on-one and as they lecture to the whole class. This intentionality in interaction makes all the difference in the world, and I always walk away blessed and more at peace, with a vision for not only how I want to be as a professional, but also for how I want to be as a person.


Abby Monroe, '17

My name is Abby Monroe and I am a senior psychology major here at Roberts Wesleyan University. I started my freshman year at Roberts in August of 2013, and although I had decided that I wanted to be a psychology major from the start, I had no idea what I wanted to do with a psychology degree. By the start of my sophomore year, I was beginning to wonder if psychology was really my calling, I loved the major and I loved all of the professors, but I still had no idea what I wanted to actually do when I graduated. Through prayer I felt as though God was telling me to just stay put and wait. In the Fall 2014 semester, I took Psychology of Learning and Behavior, with Dr. Julia Grimm. To this day, that class has been one of my favorite classes that I have ever taken, and it was through that class that I began to seriously consider school psychology as a possible career interest.

Since that semester, I have stuck with the Roberts Wesleyan University Psychology Department program, and I have never looked back. I have learned so much about the mind: its functions, how it works, what it’s influenced by, how it influences our behaviors (and how our behaviors can influence our mind), as well as how powerful and fragile it is. Beyond that, however, I have also learned how the study of people, the study of the mind, and the study of our communities not only applies to the world around us but also applies to faith in Jesus Christ... and how our faith applies to Psychology.

The Psychology department at Roberts amazes me because the department is completely grounded in Jesus Christ. Students learn how to apply what they are learning to their faith and they learn just how much faith plays a role in their everyday lives. Professors are not shy about their faith, and they make it very clear that faith is central to everything that they do and teach. On top of the faith aspect, the RWU Psychology professors genuinely want their students to do well and do a great job at getting students ready for the world beyond the RWU campus.

I have absolutely loved my time in the RWU psychology department, and having applied to the brand new Psy.D. Program Roberts now offers, I am excited at the possibility of being able to continue to learn and grow under the Roberts Wesleyan University Psychology Department for the next few years. Whatever may be in my future, I know that the psych department at RWU will always hold a special place in my heart.


Alexis Bauer, '15

Interning at Hillside was an amazing experience for me. My first week included going to the new employee training, where I learned all about the mission of the organization and the basic principles of how they operate. The training itself was a great learning experience for me. I realized how much my values fit with the goals of Hillside. The focus on unconditional love, flexibility, and advocacy are three key parts of the work they do.

Starting in the unit was challenging at first. I was placed in a residential unit of 9 girls with severe mental illness and trauma history. It was a culture shock for me in the beginning. There are just some things the textbooks can never really teach you, you just have to see it for yourself. The stories were heartbreaking; the girls were hurting and in deep need of love and attachment, despite their behavior that sometimes said otherwise. After the first few days there, I adjusted to the environment, and the girls started winning me over. I fell in love with the genuineness of this environment. There were no fake faces here, it was a safe place for the girls to feel how they were feeling and ask for support when it was needed.

My roles included helping the support staff on the floor, observing meetings and treatment conferences that my supervisor attended, and assisting with some of the ‘behind the scenes paperwork. Interning here gave me the chance to see firsthand some of the manifesting behaviors of various types of mental illness. I had to learn skills to build rapport and how to create healthy boundaries. I found myself wanting to learn more about the specific mental illnesses my girls were suffering from so I could understand and empathize with them in a deeper way. My supervisor was a huge support for this by providing me with helpful recommendations and resources to learn more.

Days in the unit were not always easy. I did witness some crisis situations, and there were a lot of days I left emotionally drained, but all in all, being here was an excellent first experience in the field. As my internship hours came closer and closer to ending, I still felt there was so much more to be learned here, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the clinical setting. There are so many staff members that have had years of experience in the field. They served as inspiring role models for me, especially when it came to crisis situations where difficult decisions had to be made. I talked to my supervisor about this, and she mentioned there was an opening in the unit. Since then, I have been hired on staff as a Youth Care Professional and will be starting there after graduation. I highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in exploring clinical work.


Corey Phillips, '13

Three weeks into the clinical psychology Ph. D program at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), I am feeling the heat--and I don't mean the triple-digit temperatures (only a slight climate change from North Chili). Though I thought the time management skills I learned playing volleyball at Roberts would serve me well in graduate school, each night when I get home, I wonder why there are not a few more hours in the day. It is taking some time to adjust to the multiple pulls of the scientist-practitioner model, but the program does not wait. I am already working on multiple publications, doing clinical work on an RCT, and taking four classes. The workload is intense, and the expectations are so much different than in undergraduate coursework, but I am so happy to be in a program where I am able to integrate my passion for athletics into my clinical curriculum. I already have a great deal of support for my research ideas surrounding interventions with injured athletes and improving return-to-sport outcomes. Despite the support, the shock of what the clinical Ph. D program demands is renewed each day. I find myself facing the constant creeping fear that someone will point at me one day and say, "What are you doing here, imposter?"  I hear that those thoughts are pretty common amongst my fellow clinicians-in-training. Despite the stresses, each day, I find that the foundation I learned in the psychology department at Roberts Wesleyan University provided me with all the stepping stones I need to begin this dimension of my professional training. Assessment with Dr. Repass gave me the basics of the WISC and other assessment tools (which I am already preparing to administer), counseling with Dr. Aube provided me with a valuable clinical foundation, Dr. Bassett passed on the essentials of research, and Dr. Grimm provided priceless guidance in the application and preparation process. I am very thankful for the lessons I learned and for the individuals who shaped my path.


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Ashellee Spears, '15

My name is Ashellee Spears, and I am currently in the Roberts Wesleyan Masters of Social Work Program with a concentration in Mental Health. My experience as an RWU Psych undergrad allowed me to experience the beautiful complexity of who we are on a much greater level. It is aweing in a sense to observe what an individual is capable of either positively or negatively when it comes to the functions of the mind. The more in-depth you learn about the cause and effects of the human psyche, the more God's wondrous yet complex nature is slowly revealed”.


Krista M. Damann, Ph.D., '00

My name is Krista Damann, and I graduated from Roberts in 2000. I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University at Albany in 2007, and completed a 2 year post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology in 2009. I recently passed the oral exam required to complete my board certification in clinical neuropsychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. I just relocated back to the Rochester area and will be working as a neuropsychologist at Unity Hospital. I am excited to see the psychology Facebook page for Roberts!


Katelyn J. Scott, ‘08

I'm a 2008 psychology/communication graduate of RWU. I graduated in May 2011 with my Masters in Mental Health Counseling from the U of R and am currently employed as a Primary Therapist at Rochester Mental Health. I am loving my first job as a therapist and am truly enjoying FINALLY being able to do what I've been going to school for, for so long!


Brittanee N. Jaquish, '15

Hello. My name is Brittanee Jaquish, and I graduated with a bachelor’s of Psychology in December 2015. Post-graduation, I was hired full-time working at a hand on play center for kids. After just three months, I have been promoted to Assistant Manager and got the joy of working with children daily. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to learn more about my passion for working with children. Every class is full of passion, care, understanding, and faith within the field. Based on my experience, my classes, and the professors, my passion for working as a School Counselor grew dramatically during my undergraduate studies. I will be furthering my education at Roberts to earn my Masters of School Counseling starting in the Fall of 2016. Roberts has held a dear place in my heart as the community feeling makes me feel that I am at home. I hope to use the wisdom and guidance I have gained through Roberts to help students in the schools see what they are capable of, just as Roberts has shown me

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Department of Psychology - 595-594-6034 - bisciotti_kelly@roberts.edu