Neuro Emphasis Ambassadors

Craig Stone

2^nd Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Track

Email: craigstone@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution | University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Hometown | Hollis, NH

Why I chose Pacific | I chose Pacific University because I want to become a neuropsychologist, and its Neuropsychology concentration provides unparalleled training and educational opportunities. The practicum sites available to neuropsychology PsyD students in the Portland area at various hospitals and clinics were enticing when I applied, and the ability to begin my training in neuropsychological assessment at a full-time placement in my second year was what truly sold me on Pacific. I know that here I will be getting the hours and experiences necessary to be a competitive applicant for internship and post-doc placements with a focus on neuropsychology, and to me that was the most important thing about choosing a doctoral program. I also love the Pacific Northwest and wanted to go on an adventure far away from home! After living here for almost 2 years, I know that I made the right choice for both my career and personal goals.

Favorite PsyD course | Neuropsychological Assessment: This course allowed myself and my peers to begin working with the fundamentals of neuropsychology. We not only learned how to administer assessment tools, but also analyzed the evidence base for these tools and the underlying brain networks and structures that make up the domains tested in neuropsychological assessment. This class was a really valuable building block for what is to come later on in the program.

Hobbies | I love the hiking opportunities that the Pacific Northwest provides me with. An hour in any direction from Hillsboro there is bound to be an amazing hike with great views. From the coast to Mt. Hood, there are so many trails to conquer over the course of my time in this program! I’m also a big sports fan, and the atmosphere at Timbers and Thorns games in Portland is always electric! I also love photography, watching Formula 1, and going into Portland for adventures!

Simran Mahabaleshwarkar

1^st Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Track

Email: maha4022@pacificu.edu

Hometown | Overland Park, Kansas

Undergraduate Institution | University of Texas at Austin

Why I chose Pacific | A combination of factors drew me to Pacific University. The fact that the neuropsychology concentration was close-knit, specific, and met future licensing guidelines was important to me. I also loved that I would be surrounded by nature with lots of opportunity to explore my environment and provide balance while I was earning my degree.

Favorite PsyD Course | Clinical Foundations. I had an amazing professor teaching the course (shoutout Dr. Cook) and he made the content approachable and interesting to learn. Starting to learn the clinical skills that we would be using in the clinic was the best part of the class. It was both intimidating yet fascinating to begin developing new skills and interacting with people in a new way. I absolutely loved the learning environment of this class—it left room for trial and error, growth, and was always a safe place to ask questions.

Hobbies | Apart from reading and dancing I have recently started enjoying the nature around me! Oregon is absolutely beautiful, and I have hopped onto the hiking bandwagon. I also love finding hot springs and watering holes that are nearby (absolutely stunning)! I also love learning new things like ASL and henna. 

Amal Soomro

4th Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Emphasis

Email | soom0849@pacificu.edu

Undergraduate Institution | Texas Tech University

Hometown | Tucson, Ariz.

Why I chose Pacific | I chose Pacific University because its program most closely aligned with my academic and professional career goals. I felt that the faculty, coursework, and hands-on training would help make me the most competitive candidate that I can be for PsyD programs in the future. I also appreciate how small Pacific's graduate campus is because it provides a great opportunity to really bond with your cohort and connect with faculty. I admired the dedication of the faculty to their students in making sure their professional goals will be met, and also allowing various opportunities for a well-rounded experience and exposure that make us competitive candidates for other avenues in our careers. 

Favorite PsyD course | Neuro-Assessment: This is what I ultimately want to do as a profession. This class brings it all together before you begin your experience in the clinic, which is exciting!

Hobbies | I enjoy hiking, traveling to new places, and cooking with different recipes.

Ethan Wallace

4th Year | PsyD Program | Neuropsychology Emphasis

Email | wall0191@pacificu.edu

Hometown | Portland, OR

Why I chose Pacific | I chose Pacific University for two major reasons: the neuropsychology emphasis and my prior experience at the university. Becoming a clinical neuropsychologist has been my life aspiration, so to be working towards a degree in this field is a dream come true. The curriculum emphasizes both research as well as practical application, which I think is imperative to be a well-trained psychologist. Additionally, the mixture of both assessment and therapeutic practica will provide me the experiences to ensure that I am competent to serve clients as both a neuropsychologist and a therapist. As for my prior experiences, I received my MA from the Applied Psychological Sciences program at Pacific University. The faculty were absolutely amazing and seeing the culture of Pacific made me want to stay. While graduate education is hard and rigorous, the faculty have demonstrated that they are

Favorite PsyD course | Biological Bases of Behavior: I am 100% a bio nerd, so learning about how behavior, emotions, and various disorders are studied and understood through biology at a graduate level has been amazing. It is a tough, but fair course and that also made it my favorite.

Hobbies | As a native Oregonian, I am contractually obligated to love hiking and the outdoors. Oregon has a lot of hidden and known gems when it comes to nature and I encourage everyone to explore the beauty that the Pacific Northwest has. My personal favorites are the Painted Hills and Whychus Creek Trail, but you can never go wrong with a trip to the coast (just don’t go in the freezing water!). Outside of being outside, I love to spend my downtime hanging out with friends, cooking, trying out local restaurants and cafes (although you can usually find me with a Starbucks in hand), playing the occasional video game, or tending to my plethora of plants that I have acquired during quarantine. I love meeting new people and giving recommendations, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions!