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College of Arts & Science
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Kristen Altenau (Dean's Student Advisory Council)
- senior psychology major
- from Cincinnati
- resident assistant in the Honors and Scholars Living-Learning Community
- research assistant in Health Psychology with a professor in the Kinesiology Department
- writing consultant at the Howe Writing Center
- loves hanging out with friends and going to Miami hockey games (Go Redhawks!)
[More from other DSAC students.]
Being involved in undergraduate research has given me a great opportunity to develop a personal relationship with a faculty member, thoroughly understand how the research process works, and gain experience presenting my own research findings.
In the fall of 2009, Kristen reflected on her time at Miami University.
Academic & Co-curricular Experiences
"I have done health psychology research in the KNH department for three years. I have presented at multiple research conferences on Miami's campus and at a national research conference in Wisconsin. Currently, I am studying the Alpha Female and working on my Departmental Honors Thesis. Being involved in undergraduate research has given me a great opportunity to develop a personal relationship with a faculty member, thoroughly understand how the research process works, and gain experience presenting my own research findings. This is rare in the undergraduate experience and I am very grateful that I had this unique opportunity during my college years.
"The summer before my senior year, I studied abroad in an International Health program. During the six week experience, we studied in the classroom for three weeks in Dijon, France. We then traveled to Paris and Geneva for a week in each city, where we visited organizations such as the World Health Organization, United Nations, International Red Cross headquarters, International Telecommunications Union, Doctors Without Borders, and the Global Fund. Outside of the classroom, we still had plenty of time to visit the Louvre, Versailles, the Moulin Rouge, and Burgundy. It was an amazing way to spend my last summer of college!"
Impact I Hope to Make on Miami
"Miami has been so good to me — this university has given me some of my closest friends, opportunities to develop my leadership skills, a wonderful education, and the confidence to succeed in the next chapter of my life. There have been many individuals that have made my time at Miami this meaningful. I hope that by the time I leave, I have impacted at least one other student's time here at Miami and made their college experience better than it could have been."
Thoughts on Representing My Peers
"Being a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council has been an honor. Having the ability to represent my CAS peers and work on a monthly basis with the Dean has been a great opportunity to discuss current 'hot topics' on Miami's campus with a group of intelligent, incredibly impressive individuals. I have loved every minute."
My Leadership Experiences at Miami
"I was a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL) for two years. Being a SOUL was a phenomenal opportunity that allowed me to welcome 7,000 first-year students and their families to Miami's campus. Throughout my time as a SOUL, I met some amazing people and was able to develop my leadership skills at an advanced, rapid rate.
"I have also been a Resident Assistant (RA) in the Honors and Scholars community for two years. Being an RA has allowed me to continue my leadership development, working with 71 women in the Honors and Scholars community and supporting them throughout their process of finding their own, individual place at Miami.
"My sophomore year, I worked as an Honors and Scholars Ambassador and worked with perspective Honors students that were interested in coming to Miami. I am also currently an Assistant Supervisor for the Honors Peer Mentor program, in which upperclass Honors students mentor first-year Honors students, planning events for their mentees and being a support system for them."
What I'm Planning for the Future
"I have recently decided that I am interested in pursuing a career in counseling or student affairs. Therefore, I am currently pursuing graduate school programs in these two areas of study."