With graduation just around the corner, students Matenyeh Kaba and Dylan Licastro share their favorite NYU Steinhardt memories, their goals for the future, and their advice for students following in their footsteps.
Matenyeh Kaba
Master's, Department of Applied Psychology
Tell us about yourself! What did you study at NYU Steinhardt? What kind of extracurriculars were you involved in?
I am Matenyeh Kaba, a Liberian-American living in Maryland. I am in the Department of Applied Psychology's Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program. In addition to my therapy internship, I work as a Research Program Coordinator for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health assisting with research focused on Alzheimer's Disease in the Baltimore population.
What is your favorite memory from your experience here?
My favorite memory is the Immersion Experience during Dr. Grace Wong's Group Dynamics class. The compassion and humility shown by my professor and classmates were very inspiring.
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in three years?
After graduation, I plan to spend two years working at a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the UK to develop and implement mental health programs for refugees. In three years, I see myself pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology.
What advice do you have for students in your field or program?
My advice to students in my program is: Use the time during your internship to challenge yourself. This is the part of your career where you are expected and even encouraged to make mistakes, so do not allow the myth of perfection to limit the opportunities you take on.
Dylan Licastro
Doctoral, Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions
Tell us about yourself! What did you study at NYU Steinhardt? What kind of extracurriculars were you involved in?
I completed the Educational Theatre doctoral program at NYU Steinhardt. As an international student, due to COVID-19, much of my course work was completed online while I lived in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne was in strict lockdown for 262 days, so I was able to undertake 11 out of 14 courses from my apartment.
What is your favorite memory from your experience here?
My favorite memory at NYU is difficult, so here are my top three!
I completed my Topic Review in front of other doctoral students in September 2021 (when I was living in New York). My Topic Review was the first time I publicly presented on my project and in this session, the other doctoral students were required to provide feedback. It was such an exhilarating moment for me to present on a topic that I am deeply passionate about. I was terrified, but I think I will remember that moment forever.
Another great memory was my group Physical Theatre Improvisation assessment with Nancy Smithner. For my assessment, we performed our group-devised theatre piece on the Seven Deadly Sins. It was my last class ever and as I walked out of Pless Hall the lights on the Christmas tree in Washington Square were turned on and it began to snow. It was magical. It sounds cliché, but I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be.
Finally, in July 2022, under the guidance of my co-chairs Joe Salvatore and Nancy Smithner, I opened my Educational Doctorate play. It's more than just a play – a verbatim ethnodrama sharing the voices of historically underrepresented or marginalized communities in Melbourne, Australia. Opening night in front of a live audience was a truly profound experience.
What are your plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in three years?
Within the next three years I hope to secure a Head of Year role within the independent education sector. I am currently Head of Production at an independent co-ed school; however, I hope to move into a pastoral care role, before transiting into the university sector, focusing on either LGBTQIA+ studies, education, or theatre. Or a combination of the three!
What advice do you have for students in your field or program?
Enjoy every moment, work hard, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many people have undertaken your program before you, and there are wonderful resources available if you ask for help. Prior to studying at NYU, I had no idea about quantitative studies and how to examine data, but NYU has experts in Qualtrics, analyzing data, and editing. I couldn’t have completed the program without the assistance of the resources and wisdom of alumni and staff. Having friends in the course also made the biggest difference, because writing a 300-page dissertation can be incredibly lonely (but rewarding!).
