Q&A with Sky Young, 2025 Bachelor's Graduate

Sky Young (BS '25, Applied Psychology and Public Policy) talks connecting passions across disciplines and his advice for following curiosities.

Tell us about yourself! What did you study at NYU Steinhardt? What kind of extracurriculars were you involved in?

At NYU Steinhardt, I studied Applied Psychology; at NYU Wagner, I also pursued a second major in Public Policy with a minor in Multifaith and Spiritual Leadership, driven by a deep commitment to improving mental health systems and making care more accessible for adolescents and young adults. I was fortunate to work on several research projects, from analyzing the role of social connectedness in mental health, to conducting ethnographic work with Ukrainian youth affected by war, to supporting a systematic review on acculturation and civic engagement and considering other contexts at NYU’s EPIC Lab [directed by Selçuk Şirin professor of applied psychology at Steinhardt].

Beyond academics, I served as President of Steinhardt’s Undergraduate Student Government, where I helped lead initiatives around equity, mental health, and student resources. I also worked with NYU Wasserman, participated in the Steinhardt in the City Program Board, and interned with organizations ranging from the Department of Defense to Upward Bound. At my core, I believe policy, psychology, and lived experience must come together if we want to truly serve our communities.

What is your favorite memory from your Steinhardt experience?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I’ll never forget when I realized that Steinhardt wasn’t asking me to choose between passions—it was inviting me to connect them. I started college thinking I’d teach high school social studies. But over time, and after seven changes to my major (and more than a few existential crises), I saw my path take shape: not as a straight line, but as a braid of psychology, policy, and service. That clarity came through conversations with faculty, collaborating on community research, and seeing how much more powerful our work becomes when we stop trying to fit into a box and instead start building bridges.

Any plans after graduation? Where do you see yourself in three years?

After graduation, I’ll continue at NYU Wagner to pursue an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy. After that, my goal is to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology. I see myself building a career that integrates clinical practice, community-based research, and mental health policy—designing culturally responsive, preventive interventions that reach the people they’re meant to serve.

In three years, I plan to enroll in a doctoral program and continue to explore how environmental and systemic factors shape mental health outcomes, especially for marginalized youth.

What advice do you have for students in your field or program?

Let yourself explore. Your work doesn’t need to fit into one neat label, nor do you. The most meaningful paths are often the ones you don’t plan for—so trust that your curiosity is a kind of compass. The best parts of my time at Steinhardt came from the moments I stopped asking “What should I do?” and started asking “What do I want to learn from this?”

Also, build bridges—between disciplines, between people, between passions. That’s where the magic happens.