BA in Psychology

Lauren Eichler, 2025

What was the most impactful class you took in your major?  

The most impactful class I took was Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System with Professor Ramsdell. This class was so special to me because it fit exactly my interest and felt like the perfect intersection between my criminology and psychology majors. Professor Ramsdell made the class engaging and the assignments taught me so much about how our criminal justice system works with people who have mental illness. Professor Ramsdell is also the reason why I am going on to pursue a career in social work. I took this class at a time when I did not know what I wanted to do but hearing that social workers were involved in the criminal justice system, and how highly Professor Ramsdell talked about them made everything click for me. 

What activities were you involved in during your time at George Mason that impacted you? 

I have been involved with Mason Hillel for about three years and served as both the Executive Assistant and the President on the student board. Hillel has taught me so much about being a leader and how to work with other students and organizations to create a thriving campus at George Mason.  

For the last year, I have also been the undergraduate assistant for the Judaic studies program, which has been so much fun. I have helped plan large academic events and learned more about how an educational department runs. During my sophomore year, I was also a research assistant for Professor Beidi Dong in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society. This role was such a unique opportunity for me to get to work one on one with a professor and learn more about how to conduct research.  

Finally, I have been lucky enough to have two law enforcement internships during my time at George Mason. I interned with the San Mateo Police Department when I was back home in California one summer. I also interned with the United States Marshals Service, which is entirely thanks to Professor Patrick Gallop for connecting me.  

These internships have given me hands-on experience in law enforcement and given me the opportunity to make new connections and learn about various career options. 

What is your most memorable moment at George Mason inside or outside of the classroom?  

There are so many memorable moments, it's so hard to pick just one. I think in a general sense, the most memorable aspect of my criminology classes is that most, if not all, of my professors were able to bring in real world examples and personal anecdotes to their lectures and that really helped me learn. It was amazing how many of my professors worked on incredibly important cases and it was a really helpful way to bring what we were learning about in the textbook to life. My most memorable example of this is when I walked into class one day and my professor opened with telling us about how he was an FBI agent working the case of the 9/11 attack in D.C. To hear that recount, not just in a history class, but from someone who was there and actively responding is something I will never forget. 

As you are reflecting on your time at George Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their George Mason journey?  

I would tell a new student that I highly recommend putting all of your assignments into your calendar as soon as you get your syllabi. That is the only way I was able to stay on top of all my work! I also recommend talking to your professors even if you do not need help in class because you never know when you are going to learn about a career you want to have or make a connection that could lead to new opportunities. 

What is your next step after graduation? What are your future plans?

After graduation, I will be moving to Ann Arbor to get my master's degree in social work at the University of Michigan!