After graduation, Gustavus Adolphus College senior psychological science honors major Jordan Gette will pack her bags and move to Lubbock, Texas to work toward a six-year doctorate in clinical psychology. The Lee’s Summit, Mo. native plans to research alcohol use, the initiation of substance use, and risk-taking behaviors at Texas Tech University.
Gette is youngest person this year to be accepted to the clinical psychology doctoral program at Texas Tech University — a program with a three-percent acceptance rate. She says that she has a wide range of experiences at Gustavus to thank for preparing her for graduate school.
She attributes much of her guidance to her mentor from the Gustavus Mentoring Program, Dr. Joseph Gaugler ‘95,who is a renowned professor in the University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing, Center for Aging. “Without the mentoring program, I am convinced I would not be making the move to Texas this summer. Dr. Gaugler reviewed my applications, helped me prepare for the GRE, and connected me to potential PhD mentors,” she explained.
At Gustavus, Gette took advantage of the psychological science department’s many opportunities for research and conferences. Last May, she presented at the American Psychological Society conference in New York City with professor Mark Krueger. “Nothing is more humbling than standing in a room with some of the biggest names in modern psychology,” Gette said.
Outside the classroom, Gette’s time at Gustavus has been filled with co-curricular activites such as Relay for Life, Colleges Against Cancer, Student Senate, Theta Xi Gamma sorority, Campus Activities Board, the Gustavian Weekly, and Proclaim.
Although Gette is involved both in research and broader campus life at Gustavus, she’s also gained valuable experience by shadowing doctors at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City. The exposure to patients made her realize she wanted to work with at-risk adolescent populations.
“Sitting in a session with a client serves as a reminder that being a psychologist isn’t just about results, conferences, and getting published. It’s about the people I will serve and the lives that I have the opportunity to touch in a positive way,” Gette said.
During her busy three years at Gustavus, Gette also made a lifelong dream come true by studying away for a semester in Galway, Ireland. While attending school at the National University of Ireland Galway, she was able to take a variety of courses that gave her a broader knowledge of the psychology field. Gette also had the opportunity to work with a group of eight-year-old boys from illiterate households. “Whenever I felt Texas Tech’s three-percent acceptance rate looming over my head, I talked to these boys and they reminded me why it is so important to dream big,” she recalled.
Gustavus junior Allison Birschein, who traveled with Gette to Ireland, says Gette has the determination to do anything she sets her mind to. “While in Galway, we missed the 2015 Nobel Conference on addiction, but that didn’t stop Jordan from setting up the live stream video for us so she could see Dr. Eric Kandel — one of her psychology idols — speak.”
With just over two months until Gette graduates, her friend has high expectations for the future.
“I believe that Jordan is well-prepared to go to graduate school and that she will be an essential asset to the field of psychological science,” Birnschein said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we one day see her back at Gustavus presenting at the Nobel Conference — just like Kandel did in 2015.”
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