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Dr. Esther Burson

PhD in Psychology and Social Intervention Alum

Graduation year: 2021 

Dissertation title: Critical Consciousness and Intraminority Solidarity: A Multi Methods Analysis 

Principal Advisor/Mentor: Erin Godfrey 

Current position: Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Smith College 

What was your first job after you graduated? Postdoctoral Associate in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University 

Did you earn a masters degree before entering your doctoral program? No 

Undergraduate Major/College: B.A. in Psychology and Classics from Swarthmore College

What was the most influential part of your experience in your program? Working with, and learning from, such brilliant and caring colleagues was a true pleasure.

What is something you wished you would have done differently during your academic years in the program? I wish I had done a better job linking my research interests to my course work, so that I could have used my courses to improve my research. It is hard to balance coursework and research. I managed that balance by deprioritizing my courses, and  missed out on a lot as a result. Our courses are taught by world experts, and it's incredibly special to have the opportunity to build knowledge together. What I wouldn't give to have access to all that expertise now!