AU ROTC Program Grad, US Army Officer, Med Student

Eager to become part of a hardworking, empathic team of psychologists, Mia decided to attend AU. “It was very important to me that the school I chose had a strong field of psychology and Alfred exceeded all my expectations!” Mia explains. As part of several close-knit communities, she came to know almost every face she encountered while walking across campus. But the biggest reason that led Mia to AU was the Varsity Equestrian Program. Passionate about pursuing riding, she was a member of the Western Equestrian team from her first year through her junior year.

During her sophomore year, Mia joined Army ROTC as well as the Army National Guard. ROTC pushed her to her limits, helping her develop, improve, and become a stronger leader. To balance the rigor of the military and academic success, she prioritized obligations, kept a detailed schedule and remained focused even when social opportunities arose. To maintain her health and well-being, she set aside time to visit loved ones. Through her leadership responsibilities as an ROTC cadet company commander and Army National Guard alternate platoon leader, Mia discovered how rewarding it is to teach and guide others.

Mia is currently a second-year doctoral student in clinical psychology at William James College. She’s focusing specifically on working with underserved populations such as military families and ethnic minorities. Her experiences within the military environment have shown her how a lack of self-care can lead to poor morale and emotional strain within the military unit. She hopes to serve as an Active-Duty Army psychologist, raising awareness about the benefits of self-care while simultaneously attempting to reduce the stigma of utilizing behavioral health resources.