Research, Writing as a Point Park Undergrad Benefits Alumna in Grad School, Social Work Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Meet Kerry Glova
Job titles: Weekend Activities Coordinator, Data Collector and Quality Improvement Intern
Employer: The Academy Schools, City Parks Alliance/RAND Corporation and Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc.
Degree earned: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Behavioral Sciences, Point Park University, 2015
Pursuing: Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration at the University of Pittsburgh
College activities: Confluence Psychology Alliance and Barista/Student Employee Manager at Point Park's Starbucks
Scholarships from Point Park: Presidential Scholarship and School of Arts and Sciences Scholarship
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. (Lawncrest section)
High school: Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls
Now living in: Pittsburgh, Pa. (Shadyside section)
Hobbies/interests: Running, hiking, yoga and reading
LinkedIn: Kerry Glova
-- Kerry Glova
Why did you choose Point Park to study psychology?
I've always wanted to study psychology. In high school, we had college admissions representatives visit during lunchtime. One day, I heard a representative from Point Park University discussing how their psychology major offered a concentration in forensic psychology.
Other schools I had applied to didn't have that concentration so Point Park stood out to me. I ended up talking to the representative about Point Park's psychology program and Pittsburgh in general. As I further explored the psychology major at Point Park, the unique humanistic focus of the program really interested me.
Additionally, the scholarship package I received, along with the many college credits I could transfer in, were the other big reasons I chose Point Park. (It was also the only school I applied to outside of Philadelphia.) Going to Point Park saved me time and money and gave me a head start on graduate school. For me, college actually cost less than high school. It was very affordable.
How has Point Park prepared you for your current positions as well as graduate school?
My senior thesis class was really helpful and led me to my internship in social work. For this class, we had a lot of freedom and autonomy in picking a topic for our year-long research paper and project. My paper was titled "Prisoner Reentry: A Phenomenological Account of Transition After Incarceration." It involved a lot of interviewing, which really improved my skills in that area.
The research and writing I did at Point Park really benefited me, along with the support and guidance I received from faculty in the Department of Humanities and Human Sciences. Also, my behavioral science courses with Dr. Sarah Schulz taught me a lot about social work and encouraged me to pursue jobs in this field.
List internship and career-related experiences you had while at Point Park.
- Community Outreach Coordinator, Great Nonprofits
- Undergraduate Social Work Intern, Eighth Avenue Place
- Intake Coordinator, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh
What is your favorite Point Park memory?
Working at Starbucks is one of my favorite memories. I enjoyed greeting students, faculty and staff in the morning. I helped make their day because everyone loves their coffee.
What are your career goals?
I'm really interested in mental health and criminal justice policy work as well as forensic psychology and program evaluation. My populations of interest are people struggling with mental health issues and those involved in the criminal justice system. There are a lot of unique concerns in mental health and forensic populations. It's an area that definitely doesn't get enough attention.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
At Point Park, I was able to go at my own pace and finish in three years. The University offers a lot of flexibility for students regarding course selection, transfer credits and campus living. Also, Point Park is very generous with scholarships and offers a lot of networking opportunities. For a young adult moving away from home, there are a lot of great reasons to choose Point Park.
Photo by Shayna Mendez, a senior photojournalism major