Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies Major Graduate School Acceptances 2021
Panel discussion.
Sivan Komatsu
Majors: women's, gender & sexuality studies, psychology
Hometown: Jericho, New York
Graduate School: University of Washington
Field of study: school psychology
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
The skills, knowledge and experience I gained at Dickinson will undoubtedly be huge assets in graduate school and beyond. Between my two majors, I have a solid foundation on which to begin my graduate studies. My psychology major has provided me with a wealth of knowledge about mental health, and my women's, gender and sexuality studies major has allowed me to view mental health within sociopolitical contexts. Combining these majors has also allowed me to become skilled in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This background of knowledge will be incredibly useful in my Ph.D. program. I have no doubt that the experience I've gained from my classes, jobs, internship, externship, study abroad and volunteer work will serve me well after graduating from Dickinson.
What are you most anticipating about your career or post-graduate pursuits?
I have been dreaming about attending this particular Ph.D. program since I was in high school, and the fact that it is about to become a reality is mind-blowing. I am so excited to continue my education and to use what I learn to help schools, children and families. I look forward to creating long-lasting, sustainable change in the field of school psychology through research, practice and advocacy.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
The most defining moments of my Dickinson experience have been when I was able to apply what I was learning in class to the real world. In January 2019, I participated in Dickinson College's externship program and shadowed clinicians at Wellmore Behavioral Health, a mental health and substance abuse treatment provider in Waterbury, Connecticut. In the spring of 2020, I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I conducted psychological research and served as a clinical psychology practicum student at a school for adults with severe mental illness. I was also able to work with the Dickinson College Wellness Center to get mental health crisis hotline numbers on newly printed student ID cards. I will always be grateful for this opportunity to advocate for something so important to me and for the ability to make a change at Dickinson College.
Internship Experience
During the fall 2019 semester, I served as the Title IX office intern at Dickinson College under the supervision of Title IX Coordinator, Kat Matic. I collected data on Dickinson's Title IX-related programming and conducted research on Title IX practices at other institutions. My internship culminated with an in-depth analysis of Title IX best practices.
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Published March 29, 2021