Student & Alumni Highlights

Celebrating Our Outstanding Graduates                                                                  
Each semester, the university recognizes some of our exceptional graduating students, nominated by their departments for their remarkable academic achievements and contributions to their fields. Nick Denstaedt was selected as one of our latest graduates of George Mason University and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences who was nominated. Congratulations! 
 

Nick Denstaedt, Master of Professional Studies in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, is a seasoned talent management professional and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a decade of experience collaborating with business executives to design and implement data-driven talent strategies. His work has been pivotal in enhancing the employee experience for frontline workers and developing emerging leaders. Notably, Nick spearheaded a research project utilizing a work redesign committee intervention to boost autonomy and well-being in a warehouse setting. 
 
 
 A Journey of Growth, Family, and Achieving Dreams 

Caroline Little, a psychology graduate and the 2024 Winter Commencement student speaker, reflects on her transformative journey at George Mason University. From a teenager to a mother, Caroline's story is one of determination and growth, highlighted by her academic achievements in psychology and her personal milestones, including meeting her husband and becoming a mother. She credits her experiences, including working in applied behavioral analysis, for shaping her future aspirations in marriage and family counseling. 
Caroline's advice to students is to stay focused on their dreams, no matter the challenges. 
Read the full article here. 
 
Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Sarah Carter (PhD, Clinical Psychology, 2018) 

We are proud to highlight the remarkable achievements of Dr. Sarah Carter, who earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from our program in 2018. Dr. Carter was recently awarded a $6.4 million research grant from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs to evaluate the effectiveness of Get Better Together, a groundbreaking relationship education program designed to support military couples.  

"Get Better Together" aims to strengthen relationship functioning among military couples while also serving as a cross-cutting primary prevention program for suicide risk, alcohol and substance abuse, and intimate partner violence. This innovative program seeks to address critical issues affecting service members and their families, offering meaningful support where it is most needed. 

The study will establish the effectiveness of Get Better Together through a randomized controlled trial involving 500 military couples. Additionally, the research is supported by a Stakeholder Advisory Board consisting of military leaders from all branches, ensuring the program is tailored to the unique challenges faced by military families. 

Dr. Carter’s dedication to improving the well-being of military personnel and their loved ones reflects the profound impact of clinical psychology research in real-world applications. We celebrate her accomplishments and look forward to the results of this important study, which has the potential to enhance the lives of countless military families.

Congratulations, Dr. Carter, on this outstanding achievement! 
 
Psychology Doctoral Student Publishes Report with National Endowment for the Arts 

Psychology doctoral student Anna (Sofie) Caruso recently had her report for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) published on their website. Defying Gravity: Conversations with Leaders in Nonprofit Theater explores key themes from NEA listening sessions with nonprofit theatre representatives across the U.S., highlighting challenges in the field and innovative solutions theaters are using to adapt. Caruso expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to this project and collaborate with the NEA team. 

Read the full report here: Defying Gravity Report.