Finding meaning in the ‘science of people’
Through strong mentoring and extensive research opportunities, psychology majors follow human behavior into productive careers.
Within his first few months on the job, Michael Sheehan ’25, a health coach at Awaken180, hit a record for the weight loss and behavioral change program — the fastest time to be signed off on weekly coaching goals. His clients noticed what his Stonehill professors already knew: He had a gift for understanding human behavior and creating change.
Sheehan came to Stonehill knowing he wanted to help people but unsure about exactly how. That clarity came through hands-on experience — the kind the psychology program emphasizes. He took courses in clinical psychology, completed internships at Harvard University and conducted independent research on adventure therapy, later serving in adventure-based roles at a Catholic summer camp and the YMCA after graduation. By the time he landed at Awaken180, he wasn’t just theoretically trained; he also was ready to help.
“At first, I was set on the research route,” Sheehan says, “but once I took the Psychotherapy Practicum, I was captivated — the clinical route felt more natural. Stonehill’s professors really encourage curiosity and exploration throughout the program.”
Helping students navigate their profession is a hallmark of Stonehill’s psychology program. While the major is ubiquitous in higher education, Stonehill has built something distinctive: a program where students don’t just learn about behavior — they also study it in the real world, practice changing it and get mentored by faculty who are actively doing the work themselves.
Olivia Vezina ’24, who recently accepted an offer of admission to Florida International University's clinical psychology PhD program.
Extensive Faculty Expertise
The program has nine full-time faculty members, including three clinical psychologists. Adjunct faculty members who specialize in areas such as neuropsychology and school psychology also teach a variety of courses. This depth allows students to take advanced courses—the Psychotherapy Practicum Sheehan experienced, along with niche topics such as child psychopathology and school-based assessment—that most colleges of Stonehill’s size can’t offer. The wide variety of faculty expertise means students can also explore topics that interest them.
Olivia Vezina ’24 took advantage of that depth. As a psychology major in the honors program, she converted her Cognitive Psychology course to an honors class and pitched a research project on decision-making and problem-solving. Her professor, Jennifer Cooper, not only approved the project but also mentored Vezina through two years of independent research, helped her recruit 100 research participants from the Introduction to Psychology course and supported her presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association conference, where Vezina won a regional research award.
For Vezina, the “secret sauce” of Stonehill’s psychology program is the level of individual attention from faculty. “I could call anybody on faculty at Stonehill, and they would be able to not only give me a recommendation but also recall specific things about me,” says Vezina, who recently accepted an offer of admission to Florida International University's clinical psychology PhD program. “Even if I was in just one class with a professor, they got to know me no matter what.”
Adam Ammirata ’26, with a double major in psychology and criminology, is currently conducting research on suicide intervention strategies for justice-involved youth at Brown while simultaneously interning at Bridgewater State Hospital, a forensic mental health facility.
Research Meets Real-World Experience
The program requires all majors to take Research Methods in Psychology, where they design and conduct their own studies. But that’s just the foundation. Students can pursue independent research with faculty, investigating wide-ranging topics of interest from active-shooter response training to anxiety interventions to intimate partner violence.
For those ready to dive deeper, the externship program partners students with research labs at Brown University, Harvard University and Boston University. Adam Ammirata ’26, with a double major in psychology and criminology, is currently conducting research on suicide intervention strategies for justice-involved youth at Brown while simultaneously interning at Bridgewater State Hospital, a forensic mental health facility. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a focus on forensic settings.
Ammirata says Stonehill’s culture is a natural fit for anyone interested in a field involving social justice. “There’s so much compassion built into the education here,” he says. “Rather than just teaching about psychological disorders or trauma at a surface level, components of the lectures build off that and make you look at the issues more deeply.”
Vezina, who is also applying to Ph.D. programs, spent her own junior and senior years at Brown’s labs, coding interviews, conducting literature reviews and recruiting participants. She stayed on at Brown after graduation as a volunteer and is now a senior clinical research assistant working on autism and suicide intervention studies.
“Those experiences — being at Brown, an R1 institution — can open up all kinds of opportunities,” she says. “Even as a volunteer after graduating, I ended up as a second author on a research poster.”
Psychology is the science of people, Our students understand how people think and act, and they understand research and the scientific method. That sets them up for a lot more opportunities than therapy alone.
Many Pathways Forward
Where does a psychology degree from Stonehill lead? Everywhere. Some graduates go on to earn advanced degrees in clinical psychology. Others become data scientists or human resources professionals or build careers in areas such as nonprofits or criminal justice.
Several alumni work as licensed therapists and social workers — and some even return to teach as adjuncts, “a full‑circle” way of giving back to a community they value.
What they share is preparation — not just theoretical and applied knowledge but also the skills and confidence to know where their interests lie and how to turn those interests into a career.
“Psychology is the science of people,” says Stephanie Ernestus, interim department chair. “Our students understand how people think and act, and they understand research and the scientific method. That sets them up for a lot more opportunities than therapy alone.”
For names of people doing clinical research, I recommend Hannah Dalton or Emma Fontes. Hannah and Emma have done research with me in a course called Research in Clinical Psychology, Emma will be doing research with Erin O’Hea next year, Hannah will be having an internship with autistic kids.
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