Reflections from Three Psychology Graduates

AMARIS ILAR

“Pursue anything that genuinely interests you and create a sense of community through your various passions! The field of psychology is vast, offering opportunities to explore numerous topics from mental health to cognition. Don't be afraid to dive into areas that spark your curiosity, even if they seem outside the traditional scope of psychology. By pursuing your diverse interests and fostering relationships within the UW community, you'll enrich your academic experience and discover new dimensions of personal and professional growth.”

Amaris Ilar is UW Psychology’s nominee for the Dean’s Medal in the Natural Sciences Division of the College of Arts and Sciences. Amaris is graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BS in psychology and a BA in education, communities and organizations. Among her many accomplishments, Amaris spent two years as a research assistant with Dr. Priscilla Lui as well as two years working as a peer health educator with UW LiveWell. Home for Amaris is Auburn, Washington.

Favorite memory as a psychology major: Taking PSYCH 439: Psychology of Health Disparities, taught by Dr. Cynthia Levine. I wrote about my interest in taking this course in my personal essay for the psychology major application, so it felt like a huge “full circle” moment when I walked into the first day of my PSYCH 439 class during my last fall quarter of my undergraduate journey!

Most proud accomplishment: My involvement as a Peer Health Educator at UW LiveWell: Center for Advocacy and Health Promotion. Since 2022, I have facilitated over 100 workshops for both undergraduate and graduate students, covering crucial topics such as mental health, bystander intervention, and substance use. I’ve even had the opportunity to present in Kane Hall a few times! Although I took a public speaking class in high school, I never thought I would grow to love public speaking as much as I have over the past four years.

Amaris would like to thank: The phenomenal professors and graduate students in the Psychology Department who have enriched my academic journey and expressed genuine care for me as not only a student, but as an individual: Dr. Cynthia Levine, Dr. Laura Little, Nancy Gomez, Sarah Gobrial, Dani Munoz Lopez, Dr. Tabitha Kirkland, Dr. Milla Titova, and Z. Ferguson. I would also like to thank Dr. Priscilla Lui (ADAPT) and Dr. Scott Graupensperger (Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors) for their mentorship as a PSYCH 499 student in their labs. Additionally, thank you to my professors in the College of Education who have helped me to reimagine and rediscover a shared humanity in our education system: Dr. Edmundo Aguilar, Dr. Jaclyn Lally, and Dr. James Mazza. Most importantly, I’d like to thank my family for their unwavering support and love throughout my academic journey. Their encouragement and belief in me, along with the memory of my beloved father who passed before my sophomore year at UW, have been my greatest source of strength and I couldn't have reached this milestone without them.

LEANA DOUGHTY

“If an opportunity presents itself – take it! Many of my experiences have been guided by the idea that regardless of the outcome, what matters the most is that I tried. Each attempt at something new gives you a chance to refine your skills and learn from the experience. My advice to future psychology majors is to view each opportunity as a chance to grow as an individual, regardless of what happens. By doing so, you might just discover a new passion or interest!”

Leana Doughty was selected to be one of the two featured student speakers at this year’s Psychology Graduation Celebration. Leana graduates this June with a BS in psychology. Home for Leana is Oak Harbor, Washington.

Favorite memory as a psychology major: My senior year as a whole was full of my most favorite memories as a psychology major. Through RSOs such as PsychatUW and the Grey Matters Neuroscience Journal, I was able to expand my interests in psychology and neural mechanisms to extracurricular activities, from mentoring psychology undergrads to designing journals on Huntington’s disease. Additionally, I have met some of my best friends through my courses and labs, and it has been so wonderful to get to talk to people in my major/field who are equally passionate about psychology. The connections I’ve made with professors, advisors, fellow students, and UW alumni have positively shaped my time as a psychology major.

Most proud accomplishment: The accomplishment I am most proud of is joining research. In search of PSYCH 499 credits, I joined the Basso Lab in September 2023, and never could have predicted how influential this experience would be in determining my career interests. As a research assistant, I have had the opportunity to investigate neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This has been dually meaningful to me, as not only am I the first person in my family to be involved in research, but in 2018, my great grandma Mabel, who we called “Big Gram,” passed away from a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Through my research, it has been my goal to better understand the causes and preventative measures we can take concerning neurodegenerative diseases, to both improve the lives of both those with the disease along with those of their loved ones, and I hope to continue to make my Big Gram (and Big Pop!) proud.

Leana would like to thank: Though it is a long list of people, I could not have made it to where I am today without the support of my friends and family. I am forever grateful to my Mom (Lacy), Dad (Michael), sister (Orenda), and brothers (Clay and Daniel), for their unwavering support throughout my entire academic journey. A big thank you to all of my close friends, and a shoutout to Tiara who has stuck by me and been my best friend since second grade! I’d also like to thank everyone I have met through Residential Life, CLUE, the Basso Lab, and Northwest Neuropsychology, all of whom have shaped my experience at UW. Additionally, I want to thank Vicky Hansen, who helped me as I entered the department and was figuring out what I wanted to do with my degree. Finally, I’d like to thank Dr. Laura Little and Dr. Debbie Paulsen for doing an excellent job at teaching me statistics, as well as Dr. Jessica Brand and Dr. Kevan Kidder, both of whom were my professors (Dr. Kidder is now my research supervisor), and whose classes allowed me to discover new passions within psychology.

KAVIN SRINAKARIN (KEN)

“Embrace every opportunity to engage with the diverse opportunities at UW. If a professor’s or graduate student’s work piques your curiosity, take the initiative to read about it and reach out. Alongside your academic pursuits, never give up on your other passions. Filmmaking and theater have not only shaped who I am, but also continually remind me of the power of the present moment and the beauty of exploring the unknown. Embrace an interdisciplinary approach as you weave your interests, whether they’re artistic or scientific, into formulating research questions, engaging with communities, or designing mental health interventions. I see these disciplines informing each other, creating boundless connections.”

Kavin Srinakarin was selected to be one of the two featured student speakers at this year’s Psychology Graduation Celebration. Kavin is a psychology honors student graduating Magna Cum Laude this June with a BS in psychology and a minor in education, learning and societies. Home for Kavin is Bangkok, Thailand.

Favorite memory as a psychology major: It all began in the Forest Club Room of Anderson Hall. Surrounded by the serenity of evergreens, the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems (HINTS) Lab meetings extended beyond academic discussions into shared experiences in nature—from stargazing under starlit skies to sitting by fire to feeling the push and pull of ocean waves. These meetings not only deepened my understanding of research, but also emphasized the importance of personal narratives in scientific inquiry, and in connecting us with the world and each other.

Most proud accomplishment: One of my proudest accomplishments is my senior honors thesis at the Center of Neuroscience, Neuroendocrinology & Clinical Translation (CoNNeCT) Lab under the mentorship of Angela Fang, Ph.D., and Gillian Grennan, which aimed to incorporate gender group categorization to potentiate vicarious extinction learning for patients with social anxiety disorder. As Vice President of PsychatUW (the principal student-led psychology organization at UW), I co-founded a mentorship program for students from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds, and led the organization of bi-weekly events that highlight the achievements and voices of people of color in psychology. Recently, I had the privilege to present my research on digital mental health interventions at the United States Association for the Study of Pain Conference. This work, which focused on adapting mental health solutions to the needs of underrepresented adolescents and their families, earned me the Best Datablitz Presentation Award.

Kavin would like to thank: My educational journey has been profoundly enriched by remarkable people. I am deeply grateful to all the professors, teaching assistants, researchers, mentors, administrative staff, classmates, funding bodies, friends, and loved ones with whom I’ve had the honor to collaborate and learn. Each interaction, no matter how brief or seemingly small, has infused my UW experience with life, curiosity, and inspiration. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have met such kind, genuine, and supportive individuals and communities, and I hope to keep in touch with many of them after graduation.