News

SCU Psychology alumna Katie Holmes ‘23 launched her career in management consulting last year and is already making a positive impact on the field. Here she tells us how her time in the Psychology department helped prepare her for her new role:

Following my graduation from Santa Clara University in June 2023, I spent the summer traveling the world with my friends and family before I officially made my move to San Francisco. I started my job in October at a management consulting firm called Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) where I work as an Analyst. I have been with my company for almost six months now, and I've truly enjoyed working alongside like-minded colleagues, gaining experience from client projects, and getting involved internally by being elected to A&M's Emerging Leaders Board, which is a committee made up of young professionals from across the United States who want to make positive change within our organization.

Throughout my time as a student in Santa Clara's Psychology Department, I took so many amazing classes that shaped my interests, passions, and career trajectory. The psychology classes that have stuck with me the most as I've moved away from college and entered the working world have been Advanced Topics in Social Psychology, Psychology of Close Relationships, and Industrial / Organizational Psychology. I am passionate about interacting and
engaging directly with people to understand the reasons behind why they think, behave, and communicate the way that they do. This ties to my career because, as a consultant, my job is to work alongside people to help them navigate through big changes they are experiencing within their companies. In the consulting world, this is called "organizational change management." I find that the principles of social psychology are so relevant and applicable to this type of work, and I feel that the knowledge I gained from taking these psychology classes at SCU has truly helped me succeed in my job.

My advice to current students is to GET INVOLVED! During my time in the Santa Clara Psychology Department, I was a peer advisor for four years and eventually became the Lead Peer Advisor, I worked as a student assistant in the department, and I was a member of Psi Chi. Getting involved in all of these ways truly shaped my undergraduate experience and allowed me to meet so many amazing people, gain leadership experience, and make an impact on others. The Psychology Department was a fantastic support system for me at Santa Clara, and I am very lucky to have been a part of it!