Matt Julian '07
WHAT I'M DOING NOW
I received a BS in Psychology with a Counseling Concentration in Spring 2007. I earned my MSW at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor; I graduated in December 2008. I am an Initial Assessment Social Worker for Dane County Department of Human Services (DCDHS). When DCDHS receives reports of alleged abuse or neglect, I investigate the allegations. I determine whether or not there are threats to children's safety, and intervene when necessary. After assessing for initial safety threats, I continue to build a relationship with the families and then help connect the families to services within their community.
HOW I DECIDED ON AN UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
I find Psychology fascinating, and the Psychology coursework at Edgewood very interesting and engaging. I originally started out as a Sociology major; after taking introductory courses in both Psychology and Sociology, I switched my major.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED AT EDGEWOOD THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO APPLY IN BOTH MY WORK AND GRADUATE STUDIES
Although I like to think my studies and the Psychology Department are the most important thing, there are a vast amount of other interests and areas that people are studying at Edgewood. They have valuable insights, and have a lot to offer from their own perspectives.
At Edgewood I was taught to coordinate and collaborate with many different programs and people. This has helped me gain a better knowledge of what's going on in the community, whether that be my campus community, my work community, or my public community.
THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE I'D GIVE A CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT EDGEWOOD
Get involved. I was a Peer Educator and an SOS Guide. I became an active participant on campus, which was very rewarding both personally and professionally.
WHAT PSYCH MAJORS CAN DO OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM TO PREPARE FOR THEIR CAREERS
Find a job or volunteer position in their field. I cooked my way through undergraduate school (working as a line chef; managing a pizza restaurant), but my volunteer positions as a mentor in an AODA counseling center really made a difference on my resumé.