Student Profiles
Alyvia Gell
- SUNY Plattsburgh Queensbury Campus, Class of ’26
Alyvia is from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She has a passion for helping people. “I have always been a helper. I knew that from a young age I wanted to pursue a career that would nurture that passion. In fact, I originally wanted to be a healthcare worker. However, enrolling in an AP psychology course in high school turned my head and made me realize just how much psychology intrigued me. I then realized that if I were to become a psychologist, I could help others by different means. Plattsburgh has fueled this passion immensely and further grown my love for psychology and the human brain. I now cannot imagine any other major for me.”
Alyvia appreciates the connections she has been able to make at the branch campus. “Due to the smaller class sizes at the branch campus, I have found that we are quite a close-knit group, and I have made a handful of meaningful friendships that are bound to last well after graduation. This is also the case for my professors. This gives us students a chance to create stronger connections and maintain communication with our professors, which is great for opportunities such as research apprenticeships, teaching assistantships and internship placements.”
She has found that the professors provide a strong support system, which was very reassuring to her as a transfer student. “Dr. Grabbe, Dr. Bremser, and Dr. Sturman have made my undergraduate experience meaningful and unforgettable.” She is enhancing her experiences even more as a research apprentice and through an internship at Double H Ranch. Her next step is to attend the SUNY Plattsburgh main campus for her M.S. in clinical mental health counseling. Her experiences have solidified her desire to help children and adolescents, and she looks forward to opening her own private practice one day.
Teddy Defayette
- SUNY Plattsburgh Main Campus, Class of ’26
Teddy is from Plattsburgh, N.Y. He knew coming into college that he wanted a career working with people. “I wanted a field where I could help give back to the community, and I picked psychology. I knew that this program would give me the best tools and experiences that I could use to succeed, and I was absolutely correct! Learning about human behavior and cognition, how people tend to act in group settings, and the biological mechanisms that work throughout our brains and bodies has been extremely interesting!”
SUNY Plattsburgh’s psychology program has prepared him for his next steps — he will be attending the University at Buffalo for a master’s program in school psychology. “One of the best things I got to do here was intern with the Nexus program. I had so much fun getting to work with everyone there. I also was heavily involved in research with a few professors and that was so much fun, and it was a great way to get applied experience related to things I had learned about in my classes. The psychology program at SUNY Plattsburgh is incredibly special. Every professor is extremely caring, and they work very hard to ensure that their students succeed. I have had an amazing experience in the program, and I have made a lot of great memories that I won’t forget!”