Prof. Coleman Found A Role Model to Shape Her College Journey & Career
Things for Juniors to Ponder Over The Winter Break
Jennifer Coleman is a Professor of Psychology at the Western New Mexico University.
When Prof. Coleman went to SUNY Geneseo for undergraduate study, she had no idea what she wanted to study or become.
Observe People. Identify a Role Model.
At SUNY, she discovered what she was interested in, by observing people around her and liking their life as she saw it.
She had a close friend whose parents were University Professors.
She thought it was super cool that her friend’s father would sit in a sunroom patio and listen to classical music and grade papers on the weekends.
They went to art galleries, to concerts and listened to music.
This life looked really neat. It was a different lifestyle of her own family.
She thought, “I want that life”.
Find a Mentor
Her friend’s parents advised her:
Find a professor you like. Someone you think is a rock star in the classroom;
Talk to that person and see what research they're doing outside of the classroom.
Prof. Coleman decided on Prof. John Sparrow, a faculty member at that time at SUNY Geneseo, whose teaching style was fantastic.
And she went up to him after class one day and said, I'm interested in getting involved in this discipline, then going to graduate school. Are you doing any research outside of the classroom?
Prof. Sparrow welcomed her into his laboratory.
Grad School & Academia
When applying to Grad Schools, she was looking at a number of schools around the country.
One day Prof. Sparrow asked, “Have you thought about the University of New Hampshire?”
She hadn’t. But that program was super well suited for her interests - college teaching and psychology research.
Prof. Coleman received her PhD from the University of New Hampshire.
Today
As I write this, Prof. Coleman is grading papers at the Western New Mexico University.
Not sure if she is in a sunroom patio listening to classical music while grading papers:)
Takeaways For Juniors - To Dos for Winter Break!
Juniors, this might be a good time to start giving College and Career some thought, using Prof. Coleman’s approach.
If you are open to exploring, then here are some things you could try:
Observe people around you.
Identify the people whose lives appeal to you. Maybe 2-3 of them.
For each one
Reach out to them
Interview them about what they do. How they got there?
Shadow them, if possible.
Make notes on your impressions, likes/dislikes.
After the break, set up time with your college counselor to discuss how to take that forward.
On our podcast, Prof. Coleman talks about UG Research at Western New Mexico University, CUR’s Role, Enabling Research Online, Impact of Research, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers.
Hi5s from Prof. Coleman’s Podcast are:
UG Research Role at WNMU
CUR’s Role
Resources for Students
Impact on of UGR on Students
Advice for High Schoolers
Listen to Hi5s. Podcast Highlights with Prof. Jennifer Coleman on UG Research at WNMU. (3-Minute Listen).
Happy Holidays!
Venkat