An incoming Preparing Future Faculty scholar and the recipient of the very first Ronald A. MacQuarrie Graduate Student Fellowship, Jillian Clark is reaching her goals in the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology.
“My journey thus far has included a lot of learning experiences, both in and out of the classroom,” she said. “I have formed a lot of great new relationships with other graduate students and faculty.”
Jillian said she chose UMKC for several reasons, including the training opportunities, the interactions with students and faculty, and the location.
“I chose UMKC over other graduate schools, as UMKC offered the opportunity to receive doctoral training in clinical psychology while also receiving training in health psychology,” she said. “Further, while I was interacting with graduate students and the faculty during the interview process, all individuals involved in the program seemed to be very supportive of one another. I also appreciated the location of the campus and the opportunities that Kansas City had to offer beyond academics.”
Thus far, Jillian has enjoyed her time at UMKC.
“I have greatly enjoyed working with faculty within the Psychology Department as well as faculty in other departments. I have enjoyed learning from and reaching milestones with my peers,” she said. “Having the opportunity to interact with undergraduate students through teaching and assisting with research has been a great experience, as I have had the opportunity to see them succeed and pursue their goals. Beyond my academic experiences, I have also enjoyed the great barbeque Kansas City has to offer and the local fishing and kayaking opportunities.”
Jillian intends to graduate in 2017 after a one-year internship, and will be matched to a clinical site somewhere within the U.S.
“My hope is to obtain a post-doctoral position or employment that will allow me to continue to pursue my research interests as well as to gain the additional clinical hours needed to become a licensed Clinical Psychologist,” she said. “Beyond these career plans, I plan to continue to spend time with my husband and family and travel. I’m also going to sleep a lot more than I do now as a graduate student.”
According to Jillian, the UMKC faculty are ready and willing to collaborate with graduate students across disciplines in order to help the students reach their goals.
“I would advise potential students to reach out to different academic units to see if they have opportunities that may be available to meet the particular area of interest of the student,” she said. “There may be opportunities available for collaboration that are parallel to what your interests may be.”
Jillian has other advice for potential graduate students as well: find a hobby or activity outside of graduate school, and prioritize finding time for it.
“These self-care activities have made the graduate school experience much more enjoyable,” she said. “Also, I wholeheartedly believe that one should always add guacamole to their burrito, as that makes life more enjoyable.”