Alumni Updates

UA Psychology alumni are spread across the country and around the world – making enormous contributions to so many fields – in scientific research, academia, health care, business, law, education, marketing and advertising, government policy, and more. Read below to hear what some of our incredible alumni have been doing since graduating.

Michelle Conner

Graduated: 2013

After graduating from the UofA in 2013 with a BA in Psychology, I began my Master's of Counseling program at Arizona State University. In 2015, I graduated with my masters, and at that point decided that my primary interest was working in a school-setting. I applied to BASIS Scottsdale, the number one ranked school in the country, where I worked for two years as their College Counselor. I met with high school students to discuss their career goals and helped them through the college planning and college application process.

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I also served as the Senior Project Coordinator where I helped students obtain internships for their third trimester. I am now in my third year within the BASIS network, but am now the College Counselor and Senior Project Coordinator at BASIS Ahwatukee. I also have the great joy of teaching one section of AP Psychology. I love being able to share my experiences of working in Dr. Dave Sbarra's research lab, my internship with Dr. Julie Feldman, or my TA experience in Dr. John Allen's. Psych101 course. I absolutely love what I do and I am so grateful for the experiences I had within the Psychology department at the UofA.

Nicole (Tolhurst) Meek

Graduated: 2013 BA Advisor: Matthias Mehl

I am a former Honors Psychology student. During my time at the UA, I wanted to focus my thesis research on Military family relationships and fortunately my sage advisor, Dr. Mehl pointed me in the right direction and connected me to Lynne Borden, Stacy Hawkins, Casey Totenhagen, formerly in the UA Department of Family Studies & Human Development.

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Whilst pursuing my thesis research, I presented a poster at the National Council for Family Relationships (NCFR) Conference in 2012 and was accepted for a symposium presentation the following year. After graduation, I got married to a military service member (that research came in handy!) and experienced three permanent change of stations with my military husband, but continued to work on this project with my mentors. We prepared a manuscript, submitted for publication, were invited to revise and resubmit, and eventually were accepted.

Recently, the article was published in the Journal of Family Studies (http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/d49SfrrXAegN4YuYv3N8/full)

It is incredibly rewarding to see this project through to the end and I'm grateful for the opportunities afforded to me through the University of Arizona Honors Psychology program and guidance offered by my FSHD mentors and Psych advisor, Dr. Mehl.

Guillermo Gallegos

Graduated: 1983 PhD Advisor: George Domino
I came from Peru, where I got my first degree in psychology. I'm currently a consultant performing forensic work for public safety personnel in NJ and NY. My degree is in clinical psychology. I've worked as a therapist for about 30 years as well as in state hospitals and prisons. I'm now 74 but will not give it up, psychology is my life and my passion.

Alicia Brown

Graduated: 2002 PhD Advisor: Lee Sechrest
Assistant Chief, Behavioral Health Services at VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System. I share fully in the duties, responsibilities, and authorities of the Chief of the Service. I also have oversight and direct supervisory responsibilities for differing Behavioral Health Service programs. I play a leading role in Central Access to Mental Health/Emergency Care, Quality Improvement, Performance Measures and Peer Review.

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The VASNHS serves 58,000 Veterans yearly, providing a broad range of inpatient care and over 798,000 visits. VASNHS will be closely affiliated with the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine. In addition to the Chief and Assistant Chief, Behavioral Health Service, the Service has 26 psychiatrists, 28 psychologists, 33 Social Workers, 1 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, 2 Physician Assistants, 6 APRNs, 2 Psychology Technicians, 7 Peer Support Specialists and 14 administrative staff. The activities of the Behavioral Health Service are organized around various clinical units. All units support a complex integration of clinical, training and research activities.

Joan F. Joynson

Graduated: 1979 PhD Clinical Psychology, minor Physiological Psychology Advisor: Spencer McWilliams
I have spent a lifetime working as a Psychologist in different positions and am deeply grateful the U of Arizona and its Psychology Dept. for giving me such an amazing and solid background, both in research with its critical thinking and in clinical experiences.

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I am also eternally grateful that my doctorate was free and I was fully scholarshiped. I was given externships and teaching positions to support myself while pursuing my doctorate. I pursued an internship at UTMB at Galveston in 1979, worked as a Psychologist on a children's residential unit and settled in to work for 19 years as a VA psychologist where I could pursue clinical, training and research interests. I presented at APA Annual Conventions in areas of training, PTSD and domestic violence. I served on APA's Psychologists in Public Service Board of Directors and was an APA site visitor for Accreditation of Psychology Internships. In addition to serving Veterans on a variety of units both inpatient and outpatient, I was the Director of Psychology Internship Training at the VA for a number of years. Following my time at the VA, I worked for 15 years as a Psychological Consultant for the NJ DDS; this is the NJ managed SSA disability program. I recently retired from the NJ DDS and have been hired as a contractor for an SSA Regional Office as a Psychological Consultant. I have had a varied and stimulating career and have been fortunate to work with many talented people.

I managed to fit in a spunky boy when I was 43 years old and he is completing his engineering degree at Lehigh University. I have been fortunate to have been able to work at what I love doing and was trained for, and am again grateful the the U of A Dept. of Psychology for giving me the basis for a wonderful career. Thank-you University of Arizona and the Psychology Department!