headshot of NikitaTell us a little bit about the Foundation Program you applied to?

I am so honored to be a recipient of the Foundation for Advancing Human Systems Minority Fellowship Program. This prestigious national fellowship in the profession of Marriage & Family Therapy offers training and mentorship to students who are pursuing their graduate education in the field. The aim of this fellowship is to train students to improve mental health access and service delivery to underserved communities. Recipients receive training in clinical practice, research skills, advocacy and so much more.

What are your goals post-graduation?

After I graduate, I hope to balance maintaining a role in tech world while also gaining experience working as a clinician with a diverse client population towards my licensure. I’m currently attending the MFT program full-time while also working at Google full-time as a Technical Recruiter and Wellbeing Program Manager. I build and host workshops and intentional programming for my recruiting organization, infusing the clinical knowledge I gain from my education. 

In my career, I wish to influence mental health on both a macro environment, such as in my work with organizations, and on a micro-level helping individuals recognize their own strengths and reach their goals.

What has been a favorite memory, professor or experience at your time here at Chapman?

My cohort of 19 students means the absolute world to me. We are incredibly close and began bonding and communicating even before our orientation in Fall of 2023. We have shared so many special moments, but a highlight that stands out is birthdays. Birthdays are a big deal in our cohort—it feels like every few weeks, we’re sneakily signing cards or bringing in treats of all kinds to share.

Anything else you wanted to share?

When applying to Chapman, I could feel that it was my dream school/program right off the bat. Now, a year and a half into my program, I count myself lucky every day to be here. Our faculty, Dr. Jonathan, Dr. Peterson, Dr. Patrick, and Dr. Payne are so obviously passionate about the advancement of this profession that it oozes through everything they do. The curriculum and coursework of our program promotes us to expand our thinking on how diversity may impact the research, practice, and theory of psychotherapy. Between my education at Chapman and my admittance into the fellowship, I feel confident and profoundly grateful that I am being taught to treat clients from a lens of cultural humility. 

Congratulations Nikita!