A Conversation with the Co-Presidents of the Psychology Club

September 11, 2024 - Shelly DeJong

Izza Peeran (psychology major, Fall ‘24) and Bri Klopp (psychology major, Spring ‘25) are the co-presidents of the Psychology Club, a campus group for anyone interested in the field of psychology. Students connect with their peers, volunteer at various events, and get insights into a variety of career opportunities. We reached out to Izza and Bri to learn about their lives, the benefits of being involved on campus, and their goals as co-presidents.

 

Why did you choose psychology as your major?

Izza: I have been passionate about psychology and understanding the human mind from a young age and have known since middle school I wanted to have a related career. I love studying psychology because it allows me to be a more emotionally aware person and understand all sorts of different people. There is so much you can do with a psych degree, and I love how I have the opportunity to research and contribute to the field while also eventually doing therapy and being a resource for others.

Bri: I chose psychology because I really have always been interested in the brain and the functions and I love the science behind it all. I have always liked the brain and when I was in high school I took a college psychology class and I decided then that psych was something I could definitely pursue as my major.

 

Can you tell me about the Psychology Club?

Izza: Psychology Club is a student organization that is open to all majors. We have different speakers from various fields within psychology come and talk with our members about what their field entails, their personal journeys to getting there, and provide information about what it takes to pursue a career in that field. We also host social events for members to bond, and for people to network and get to know people with similar interests. We want to be a resource for our members, which is why we have meetings related to grad school, resume building, and an array of other workshops. Psychology Club is an amazing place to connect with others, expand your knowledge, and gain guidance in planning your next steps.

Bri: We have lots of people from different psychology backgrounds that come speak to our club about how they got to their position in their career and give any tips they may have. Everyone gets the chance to ask questions and make a new connection!

 

What could a new member expect out of the Psychology Club this year?

Izza: New members this year can expect some really interesting and helpful meetings ranging from forensic psychology to resume workshops. Members can also expect more fun opportunities to bond with their peers, make new friends, and grow their network. As a member this year, there will be opportunities to learn about future leadership positions within the club as well. Our goal is to make being a member of Psychology Club as valuable and enjoyable an experience as can be.

Bri: A member could expect to get a lot of information they may not have known, and maybe even find another career path they never thought before to pursue. Our goals are to make it more social and make sure people are enjoying themselves and want to come to our meetings!

 

Who would be a good fit in the Psychology Club?

Izza: There is no one answer to this question, Psychology club is intended for anyone and everyone who is interested in joining. You do not have to be a Psychology major or even be in the College of Social Science. If you have an interest in learning more about psychology and want to connect with more people, Psychology Club is the perfect place for you.

 

Why is this club important to you?

Izza: Psychology Club is important to me because I have first hand experienced the benefits of being a member, and want to share that experience with others in similar positions. I remember being a freshman, not knowing what organizations to join or what direction to head in with my major. Joining Psychology Club really paved the way for me to navigate different career options, form a clear plan, get any questions and concerns addressed, network with others, and gain leadership experience. Navigating college can be difficult  and I feel like my experience with this club made my progression through college smoother, which I want for others as well.

Bri: This club is important to me because of the great people in it. Everyone I have met is so nice and we all have a shared interest in psychology which is really cool too.

 

Want to give a shoutout to anyone that has helped you along the way?

Izza: I want to shout out Andrew Murray, our wonderful advisor for Psychology Club. Andrew has always been a source of guidance for our e-board, supporting us as each year goes by. He also makes it a point to be a helpful resource for the members of our club, always going the extra mile to be at our meetings. Thanks for everything Andrew!

Bri: I’d like to shout out Noel Lugo, one of the psychology advisors. I have gone to Noel for all of my years now at MSU for academic advising and I always leave with all of the information I need and all of my questions answered. Also to Dr. Susan Ravizza, I have been part of her research lab since sophomore year and she has been such a great resource and professor for all of my years working with her.

 

What are each of your hopes/goals for the future?

Izza: I am currently in the process of applying for grad school. After I graduate this Fall, I will be working full time as a Research Project Coordinator, and am hoping to go straight into a Clinical Psychology PhD program in Fall 2025. Long term, I would like to continue doing research and also eventually open up my own practice for family therapy and ABA therapy.

Bri: My goal is to pursue a neuroscience PhD! I am currently starting to apply to grad school for fall 2025, and my lifelong dream is to pursue neurodegenerative disease research and potentially be a PI (principal investigator) one day!