Alumni Activities - 2000-Current

Becky Brady
BSU Psychology major

Becky is in her second year of the Master's in Rehabilitation Counseling program at the University of North Dakota. She is completing an internship at North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind in Grand Forks, ND.

Jill Keeley
BSU Applied Psychology major

While obtaining her degree, Jill also earned an Early Childhood Education license. She is currently a lead teacher at Northfield Montessori, working with 30 preschool children. She has started correspondence coursework to become a Montessori trained teacher. Jill says, "they are a busy group but they make me laugh every day."

Angie Lindberg
BSU Applied Psychology Major
M.S.E. (Counseling ) University of Wisconsin Superior (2006)

Angie is the Director of the Upward Bound program at the University of Wisconsin – Superior. She regrets that the M.S. Counseling Psychology program at BSU arose 3 years too late for her as “there is NO doubt in my mind that I would have for sure returned to Bemidji State University to pursue this same degree.”

Kevin Titus
BSU Applied Psychology major

Kevin is a probation officer for Itasca County. After graduating, Kevin began working for Northhomes Inc. as a Child Care Worker and 35-day Evaluation Coordinator; he also offered in home family services for at risk children. Kevin has also been a probation officer with Wright County Court Services, in charge of out-of-county adult cases and later juveniles.

Jill Yost
BSU Applied Psychology major
Special Education License Bemidji State University

Jill completed her Applied Psychology internship at a Day Treatment center for students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders. She enjoyed working with the students and is currently licensed to teach students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders and Specific Learning Disabilities. Jill teaches in the Laporte School District. She says, " I find working in this area of education allows me to use my psychology degree and teach at the same time."

Lisa Corradi
BSU Applied Psychology Major
MSW University of Minnesota, Duluth (2006)

Lisa is working as a Foster Care Case Manager for North Homes, Inc. in Grand
Rapids, MN. Lisa finds her job to be very rewarding, and she truly enjoys working with children. She also volunteers/works as a women's domestic abuse advocate.

Manda Johnson
BSU Applied Psychology major

After graduating, Amanda had an internship at the Itasca County Family YMCA, in the day care area. Following that, she became the part-time and then full-time Youth Director at the same YMCA, working with Middle School aged children, planning after school programs and working with groups within the school.

Kate LeTexier
BSU Psychology major
M. Ed. (Counseling Psychology) Washington State University (2003)

While completing her masters program, Kate completed a year-long practicum at Washington State University's Career Services Center which has had a strong impact on her career direction. She worked as an Associate for The Simmons Group in Las Vegas, a consulting group, specializing in strategic planning, executive and management team building, and leadership and communication skills development. Kate served as Program Coordinator of the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth. Recently, Kate was hired to teach psychology at Wenatchee Valley College in Washington in a department with one other full-time faculty member. Unfortunately, the other faculty member died just as the school year was starting, so Kate finds herself as “the senior faculty member/chair of the psychology department.” Despite the struggles that this situation has produced Kate “wakes up every morning excited about a new day of teaching!”

Melissa Martinson
BSU Psychology major
M.S. Ed. (School Psychology) University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (2002)

Melissa is completing an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She is looking for employment as a School Psychologist and will concurrently complete the internship for her degree. Her thesis is on "Educational Implications of Adolescent Sleep: Strategies that Teens Use to Stay Awake in School." Melissa says, "I am looking forward to working in the schools and spending time with students."

Darla (Krogstad) McWilliam
BSU Psychology major

Darla is the Program Director of Northern Lights Community Residence in Thief River Falls, a Rule 36 group home (for mentally ill adults) and work therapy program. They run a used bookstore in the downtown business area, employing over 40 people with mental illnesses. The programs are owned by the Northwest Medical Center in Thief River, providing direct communication with their mental health division. Darla says, "I'm still learning, but it's mostly on the political end of health care when I'd rather concentrate on research or the clinical care of people with mental illnesses."

Drew Schwab
BSU Psychology major

Drew works in the Twin Cities as a Disability Claims Analyst for Fortis, a large financial services company.

Jennifer (Spurbeck) Varien
BSU Applied Psychology major

As part of Jennifer's pre-internship and internship experiences, she worked with the Northwest Minnesota Foundation S.T.A.R. Teams and at Planned Parenthood as Special Project Coordinator. After graduating, she worked at the Gilfillan Center in Bemidji as a residential counselor. She is currently in the Twin Cities working for Job Corps, a training program for low income youth. Jennifer helps young people find employment or higher education options once they complete the program.

(Karen) Sook Fong Wong
BSU Psychology major

Karen returned to Malaysia following graduation. She is working as a secretary and considering a number of different educational options.

Liz (Norton) Vogt
BSU Psychology major

Liz is in the fourth year of a Psy.D. program at Fuller Seminary in California. She has conducted research focused on autism and its effects on families and marriages. Her practicum experience includes working at a county agency providing services to children in the foster care system who have experienced abuse and trauma. She is a psychology assistant in a private practice, doing individual, adult, child, and marital therapy. She is also doing neuropsych training through UCLA and the HELP group, the largest center in the nation for children with autistic spectrum, learning disabilities, and emotional and behavioral disturbance. Liz is in the data collection phase of her dissertation; she also plans to complete an M.Div (theology) degree and complete research on women in the pastorate. Noting the pluses and minuses of living in California, Liz says, “I felt my first earthquake…but get to do homework in the pool.” She also notes, “I feel that my training at BSU prepared me so well for grad school…even though BSU is a small state school, the psych department kicks out students that are competitive with other students from more well-known places.”

Scott Hoffman
BSU Psychology major

Scott is currently enrolled in the School Psychology Specialist program at Minnesota State University, Moorhead.

Melissa Palkki
BSU Psychology major

After graduating, Melissa has explored the world of work in a variety of different settings. She has worked at a public defender's office as a legal secretary. She has been a respite care provider for two children with a variety of physical and psychological problems and has worked as a marketing assistant in an investments office. She is currently working for Itasca County (MN) in Environmental Services (Zoning/Solid Waste) and loves it.

Jodi Ramirez
BSU Psychology major

While on the fast track to getting through college as an "older than average" student, Jodi went to Charlotte, NC to do a summer internship, with every intention of going back to BSU to finish classes and graduate. However, a job opportunity opened up at her internship with the United Way, and she began her professional career in administration, working with a non-profit. Jodi took classes at University of North Carolina - Charlotte and finally finished her BSU degree. She says, "It took longer, but the life experience combined with the educational experience has been invaluable." Jodi has also done volunteer work with the American Red Cross and with the police department.

Ryan Riley
BSU Psychology major
M.A. (Industrial/Organizational Psychology) Minnesota State University,
Mankato (2005)

Ryan’s master’s thesis was titled “Coping with Workplace Incivility: Effects on Retaliatory Behaviors.” He presented the findings at two professional conferences. He recently began working as a civilian Army contractor with Caliber Associates at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Ryan’s group partners with the Army research Institute and conducts research for the Center for Army leadership. His role currently involves validating a leadership competency model and creating an Army Leader Development Guide.

Destiny Shebeck
BSU Psychology major

Destiny is working at Catholic Charities in Fergus Falls. This unit is located on the state hospital grounds, providing intensive treatment for youth ages 9 to 17, most of whom come from foster homes or the court system. Destiny does counseling and one-to-one treatment programs. She says, "I love it and it is a lot of fun."

Lisa Simonet
BSU Psychology major

Following graduation, Lisa got a job as a paraprofessional at Lake Elmo Elementary School where she was assigned to a 1st/2nd grade Multi-Age room, working with a handful of students who were well-below grade level in reading and/or math. She also served seven 6th graders who were offered Title 1 services in mathematics. After that, she "realized that my real 'calling' was in education (Learning Disabilities/Emotional Behavioral Disorders/Social Studies)." Lisa is finishing her Master's degree at Hamline University. She has a 5-12 Social Studies Teaching License and is finishing her K-8 Keyboarding and Computer Applications License. Currently, she is the Technology Teacher and Coordinator at St. Raphael's Catholic School in the Twin Cities.

Justin Arneson
BSU Psychology major

During the summer before his senior year, Justin was selected to participate in a summer internship at Yale University through the NSF REU Summer Internship Program. He worked in the Cognition and Development Lab in the Department of Psychology. Justin is in the second year of a Ph.D. program in industrial and organizational psychology at the University of Minnesota. He is partially funded by a project for the College Board, working on a meta-analysis as well as some primary studies examining the relationship between ability and performance after the effects of socioeconomic status have been controlled. The meta-analysis is focusing on SAT/ACT - college grade relationships, while other components of the study will be focused on these relationships in employment contexts. When the project is completed, the College Board will send his project team to New York to present the results to them. Some preliminary results will be presented by a faculty member at the University of Illinois at a conference in Montreal. Justin, along with Ryan Riley (2002), is involved with Minnesota Professionals for Psychology Applied to Work, a group of I/O psychologists from the area who get together monthly.

Andrew Barten
BSU Psychology major

Andrew is currently working at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in the Twin Cities. He has a position in residential treatment, working with 11-17 year olds who have emotional and behavioral problems.

Jason Douglas
BSU Psychology major

Jason is in a Ph.D. program in Experimental Psychology at the University of North Dakota. He is completing the work for his M.A. degree; his research examines variables related to the interpretation of proverbs, a topic that he explored while at BSU. Jason has taught statistics at UND and Introductory Psychology at University of Minnesota, Crookston. He is beginning his comps

Donald Farnsworth
BSU Psychology major

Donnie is currently pursuing his M.A. in clinical psychology at Minnesota State University , Mankato . He will be continuing his education at the University of North Dakota in pursuit of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Tammy Gradine
BSU Psychology major

Tammy's internship was at Northland Counseling Center in International Falls. With her supervisor, she co-facilitated groups (therapy group, arts and crafts, recreation group, and social skills group) for consumers with severe and persistent mental illnesses. After internship, she took a year off from school and was hired at Northland Counseling working as a Community Support Program Provider with SPMI consumers. She has also worked with REM North Star in International Falls with consumers who are developmentally delayed. Tammy is currently enrolled in the Community Counseling Masters program with a community agency emphasis at the University of North Dakota where she is doing very well. Tammy says, "I feel well prepared going into the program . The department has a scientist-practitioner approach which I like. It really did pay for me to do both Psychology majors there at BSU. I think that these graduate departments in Psychology and Counseling are really looking for students who have both research and practical experience. If students can afford to do both Psychology majors, I think they should."

Megan Gustafson
BSU Applied Psychology major

After graduating, Megan moved to Atlanta, GA and began working for Career Education Corporation as an International Admissions Representative at one of their private colleges. She was promoted and moved to Hoffman Estates, IL to work at the corporate office in the study abroad department as an Admissions Representative, Tuition Planner, Associate Director of Business Development, and Associate Director of Marketing. She is currently doing two positions - Marketing and Tuition Planning.

Suzanne Heng
BSU Psychology major

Following graduation, and a visit to San Francisco, Suzanne returned to Malaysia. She is considering further education in the Health Sciences area and is currently working in a Down Syndrome center.

Michelle (Wakabayashi) Ishinabe
BSU Psychology major

Since graduating, Michelle has returned to Japan and married. She is working at a national research institute (RIKEN) near Tokyo as a secretary for a professor in physics. Michelle says that she is "very proud of being a BSU alumni."

Margaret Kelly
BSU Psychology major

Margaret is a dual degree student, working toward her Master's in Divinity from Luther Seminary and her clinical MSW from the College of St. Catherine's and the University of St. Thomas. The degrees will allow her to be a called and ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and a licensed therapist. Her practicum was at the Division of Indian Work in Minneapolis in their Family Violence Program, and she finished her chaplaincy at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. Margaret says, “I am very glad that I have a psychology background for both degrees.”

Stacy (Tuchek) Marxer
BSU Applied Psychology major

After graduating, Stacy lived in South St. Paul, working at a day care with 3-4 year olds. After moving to Browerville, MN, she began working as a Program Coordinator for Kinship of Todd-Wadena Counties.

Nick is in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at Iowa State University working towards a Masters in Education in Higher Education with an
emphasis in Student Affairs. Nick notes that “the coursework is challenging but I have been well prepared - thanks Randy (Ludeman, adjunct professor)! Nick has an assistantship with Grand View College where he is a hall director. He has continued to run and is preparing for his first marathon.

After graduating, Andrea completed an internship as a Child Life Specialist in California. She is now back in Hastings, MN, married, and working as a preschool teacher in a daycare, “which I love!”

Tracy Brown
BSU Applied Psychology & Psychology Majors
M.S. (School Psychology) Moorhead State University

Tracy attended Moorhead State University and received her Master's degree in School Psychology. She says that she has “never done so much homework before in my life… I really do feel Bemidji helped to prepare me really well.” She is finishing work for her Specialist degree in School Psychology and is currently doing her internship in school psychology in Kenai, Alaska. Tracy works for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, working mainly in two schools, an elementary school and a middle school. The school district is the only one in Alaska to use Response to Intervention. Tracy says that she “hopes to bring the knowledge back to Minnesota when we move back in a couple of years.”

After graduating, Daniel spent a year in Bemidji, completing an Optional Practical Training (OPT) in entry level applied psychology, before returning to Malaysia where he worked for the Psychology Department at HELP Institute. He is now back in the U.S., pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

After graduating, Janice completed an MBA degree at St. Cloud State University. While there, she worked as a graduate assistant in Business Computer Information Systems and tutored Business Statistics. Janice is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in Houston which she characterizes as “a very very hot place…a total opposite of Minnesota.” Nonetheless she says that she misses “the cold and the snow…as well as the lifestyle I had in Minnesota.”

Upon graduation, Sarah returned to Malaysia to work as a research assistant for psychology lectures in what is now HELP University college. After a 1 year stint, she joined the Royal Dutch Shell company where she now works as the Global Planning Lead under the Business Applications Management Strategy & Planning team. In this role, Sarah is involved in building models and processes with the ability to project IT costs from 2006 till 2011. Based on these projections, the Shell Downstream Leadership team makes decisions on strategies to leverage and optimize IT business support in Shell, globally. Sarah notes that wile her job is not directly related to psychology, "it has lots to do with understanding people from different cultures and personalities, and along with it different perceptions!"

After graduating, Belinda worked as a Social Worker in a Nursing Home and Board and Care Facility in Fosston. She has recently accepted a position as Social Worker for Clearwater County Human Services in Bagley. Belinda says, "I have enjoyed the field that I have chosen a great deal and appreciate all that the Psychology Dept. did to prepare me well for this position."

Nick Zika
BSU Applied Psychology & Psychology Majors

In spring 2003, Nick was named as the Outstanding Double major by the department. Currently, he is a Paraprofessional for Special Education for the Central Elementary School in Bemidji, working one-on-one with an Autistic child in the Excel Program that is implemented for autistic children in grades K-5. Nick is also a Direct Care worker with REM, working with developmentally disabled adults, and a Social Work Mentor for Cass County working with at risk youth.

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2005

Annie (Zug) Blackwood
BSU Psychology major

After graduating, Annie lived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and taught English Composition and Conversation at the American University of Central Asia. She described it as “an excellent experience for me, considering my fear of public speaking.” Annie is back in the states, working towards her Psy.D. at the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Eagan, MN. She says, “School is challenging and exciting.”

Kristen Ekholm
BSU Psychology major

Kristen is in the second year of graduate school at Minnesota State University - Moorhead where she is pursuing Masters and Specialist degrees in school psychology.

Rachel VanThomma
BSU Psychology and Applied Psychology majors

Rachel is working towards her Master of Science degree in Psychology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She chose the psychometric track because the university has a well established testing program and direct contact with a state run mental health center in the city. The psychometric students shadow a licensed psychologist while they are testing during the week at the center. She is a graduate assistant for Dr. David Williamson, Chair of the psychology department. Rachel says, “He keeps me busy by
requiring me to teach two SPSS labs each semester to the first year graduate students.” She has worked with Dr. Silver at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, norming a sports fanaticism questionnaire. She will be presenting the results at SWPA in Fort Worth, TX and another conference in Denver in the spring. Rachel’s thesis is entitled "The Utility of Selected Rorschach Variables and MMPI Indices as Discriminants of Criminality." She hopes to continue her education and obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a forensic emphasis. Rachel says, “I would recommend BSU to anyone who inquires about it. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.”

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2006

Maria Balsimo
BSU Psychology major

Maria is working as a Rehab Aide at Children's Hospital in Minneapolis until she begins the occupational therapy masters program at the University of Southern California in June 2007.

Casey Bosch
BSU Applied Psychology major

Casey is currently taking a break from school and enjoying her maternity leave. She is employed at Target and will be working in a Human Resource Team Lead position, in charge of team member support, conflict, trainings, and lead orientations.

Oliver Chan Heng Choon
BSU Philosophy and Psychology major
M.A. Forensic Psychology (Marymount University, VA)

Mr. Oliver Chan holds a M.A. in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University, VA; and a B.A. in Psychology from Bemidji State University, MN. He is an associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and a member of Psi Chi (the National Honor Society in Psychology, USA) and Delta Epsilon Sigma (the National Scholastic Honor Society, USA). He was a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP) for both Washington D.C. and Los Angeles chapters prior his return to Malaysia; and a graduate student affiliate of the American Psychological Association (APA).

As part of his Master’s curriculum, Oliver Chan interned at the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC). He was assigned to the Homicide Case Review Unit, under the Violent Crime Branch to partake in its Violent Crime Case Review Project. He reviewed and summarized homicide cases for submission to the nationwide Violent Criminals Apprehension Program (ViCAP) system. As for homicide cold cases, he identified and reexamined for potential suspects, and analyzed the possibility to re-open the cases for further contemporary scientific testing.

During his tenure at the Homicide Case Review Unit, Oliver Chan had the opportunity to work with a Police Psychologist from the British Metropolitan Police Services, London (a.k.a. “the New Scotland Yard”) on both agencies’ joint study on domestic violence (DV) cases. He identified, summarized, and classified Washington D.C. DV cases for submission to the project.

Prior to the end of his graduate internship, Oliver Chan was offered an employment as one of the first two ViCAP analysts for MPDC. ViCAP is a database system developed by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). His main duty was to examine and organize homicide cases occurred within the Washington D.C., and to communicate with ViCAP analysts from around the U.S. to track down inter-state violent offenders.

Oliver Chan was also a research associate at his school’s Department of Forensic Psychology in developing a Violent Criminal Risk Assessment Instrument to assess the recidivism rate for violent offenders in future five and ten years.

Upon his return to Malaysia, Oliver Chan is offered an employment as a Special Project Executive (Fraud Management) at the President’s Office, HELP University College to assist in establishing a new “Center for Economic Crime.” He is also a trainer on psychological criminology related-topics at the Center for Economic Crime

Heather Crabtree
BSU Psychology major

Heather is in the Ph.D. Clinical Psychology program at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Her concentration area is Long-Term Mental Illness. She finds her work challenging but very exciting. Heather has offered to provide advice to students “on applying to grad school, the GREs, or anything else.”

Kazaoka Kyosuke
BSU Psychology major

Kyosuke is going to graduate school in Chicago. He is working on a degree in Applied Behavior Analysis as well as licensure as a professional counselor.

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