Psychology Club Spotlight with Co-Presidents Paz and Moon
August 26, 2025 - Shelly DeJong
Moon Tran and Paz Bonaventura are the 2025-2026 co-presidents of the Psychology Club, a MSU student 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. I talked with Moon and Paz about the club, their goals as co-presidents, and why this club is important to them!
Can you introduce yourselves?
Moon: I’m an international student from Hanoi, Vietnam, but I've been in the States for the past ten years or so. I’m a senior this year, majoring in psychology with a double minor in Law, Justice, Public Policy, and Data Analysis and Social Science. This is my fourth year with the Psychology Club. I’ve been involved with the e-board since my sophomore year when I was the social event coordinator. Alongside being co-president of the Psychology Club this year, I’m also in two labs including the Computational Basis of Cognitive Control Lab with Dr. Karl Healey and Dr. Joe Cesario’s Social Cognition Lab.
Paz: I’m originally from Western Florida. I’m a junior this year and I’m majoring in psychology with a minor in cognitive science. I’ve been involved with the Psychology Club for three years now. I was the director of recruitment my first and second year, and now we are the co-presidents! In addition to the Psychology Club, I also do research in the Hope Lab with Dr. Dante Dixson and in the Brascamp Visual Neuroscience Lab with Dr. Jan Brascamp. I’m also the Vice President of Generations Connect, which connects students with members of the community who are elderly.
How did you end up as a psychology major?
Moon: My background is actually in music. I've played classical piano for 13 years of my life and I went to a performing arts high school. When college started, my mom suggested I do music therapy, so I decided to major in psychology. I quickly realized, though, that I’m much more interested in research and the mathematical side of psychology rather than in therapy.
Paz: I originally planned to study Interior Design in New York. I was even president of the interior design club in high school. But senior year, I realized I actually wanted to help people, so I switched to psychology. I thought I’d focus on research, but now I’m more interested in the clinical side, like having a private practice.
How would you describe the Psychology Club?
Moon: The Psychology Club is definitely more of a social and networking club. We focus on hanging out, meeting other people in the major, and networking with professors and professionals. You can find out about research or internship opportunities and even learn about things like MSU’s CAPS programs. We don’t have requirements to join. We meet every other Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 and usually have two to three social events a semester.
Paz: When people hear “Psychology Club,” they might think it’s only for psych majors, but it’s open to all majors. We’ve even brought in speakers from other colleges, like Human Resources. We cover all kinds of psychology, from clinical to cognitive to developmental—so it’s a great fit no matter what you’re interested in.
Why is this club important to you?
Paz: For me, Psych Club gave me a place to connect in such a huge school. It made it feel smaller. I found people with similar interests, even if they weren’t psych majors. I also learned about resources I didn’t know much about, like CAPS, which was huge in understanding what support MSU offers. Being in the club just makes you more social—it’s fun, and you find your people.
Moon: For me, in Psych Club, I’ve found my people. I’ve met so many great students, professors, and professionals, and I’ve learned things like how grad schools look at your profile, how to connect with professors, and just how important networking really is, especially for grad school. The professors we meet are super open about their own experiences and how to prepare for different branches of psychology. That’s been huge for me, especially now that I’m about to graduate.
How has the Psych Club helped you specifically?
Moon: One big thing I’ve learned is that research isn’t just limited to academia. I want to get into a PhD program, but teaching isn’t for me, so it’s been really helpful to ask professionals about what research looks like in industry, how to get into it, and what that path is like.
Paz: Last year, a professor came to speak at our club, and this year I found out he had a scholarship, so I applied and got it. I wouldn’t have even known about it if I wasn’t in the club. A lot of professors don’t always advertise their labs, but if you’re in Psych Club and you go to hear them talk about their work, you can have a one-on-one conversation after and make that connection. It also gives you the confidence to go up to professors, because it’s a more controlled environment than just waiting after class.
Do you have any goals for the year as co-presidents?
Paz: Last year we had a lot of social events, and that really boosted the club. I’d love to keep that going—especially since Moon is amazing at planning those things. I think adding a little more of that social aspect would help, so people can connect more.
Moon: I definitely agree. I think in the long run, keeping members engaged is key. So, we’re hoping to add things like games, maybe some food, and other motivators so everyone can stay engaged and connected.
Would you like to give a shoutout to anyone who’s helped you with the club?
Paz: Our advisors, Andrew Murray and Samantha Sliwa have been so helpful. They're great at checking in, especially over the summer, to make sure we're on track with things like Sparticipation and getting started with the club.
Anything you’d like to add?
Paz: I’d say just give it a try. It’s open to everybody, so come to a meeting and see how it goes. If you like it, great! Stick around. If not, that’s fine too. No pressure at all, just show up and meet some people.
Want to learn more about the Psychology Club? Explore their website or connect with them on Instagram.