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Emma Nessel

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Major: Psychology

Class of 2023

Why did you choose Scranton? 

I chose Scranton because it felt like a community. I wanted a university that was small, but not too small, and Scranton fit that criterion for me. I liked getting to know the professors and my fellow students. After being in Scranton, I felt like it was a second home.

What did you like about the psychology major? 

I liked that the psychology major felt like a community in itself. I had classes with a lot of the same students every year, which was helpful. The professors cared about everyone doing well in their class and were willing to help. The program also provided other opportunities outside of class, such as the Psychology Club, internships, and research.

What research did you do at Scranton?

I worked with Dr. Hopkins in the Play and Learning Lab. I received a ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ grant for a research project that was my senior Honors Thesis. I looked at the transmission of gender stereotypes through play with parents and their 3 to 4-year-old children. I collected data then analyzed my data. I was excited to contribute to the field with my own research.

What was your Teaching Assistantship like?

I was a TA twice. I was first a TA for Dr. Nolan’s Intro to Psychology course. It was difficult to plan activities and switch the class to Zoom due to COVID-19, but I enjoyed the challenge. I learned about behind the scenes of teaching a class. I was also a TA for Dr. Betancourt’s Career Development Seminar. It was a great experience, and I was glad to share my knowledge of graduate school and applying for internships.

What were your extracurricular activities? 

On campus, there were so many clubs and extracurricular activities to join. I was the Vice President of Psychology Club for the 2022-2023 school year. I was also a section leader in the Performance Music Concert Band and Jazz Band. 

What are you up to now?

I will be attending Clark ÐÓ°ÉÔ­°æ in Worcester, MA to get my Master’s in Communications. I have already studied some overlap between psychology and communications, but I am excited to see how my psychology background can aid me in my future career. After graduating the program, I will get a job in public relations, possibly working at a museum to use my history and philosophy minors.

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