School Psychology graduate program celebrates 10th anniversary

May 14, 2024 (Volume 47, Number 18)

six people standing in front of a fireplace

people seated at a table smiling for camera

From left are psychology faculty members Amy Campbell, Amy Matthews, Kristen Schrauben, Jennifer James, Jamie Owen-DeSchryver and Amanda Karsten.

The School Psychology M.S./Psy.S graduate program celebrated its 10th anniversary with an event for faculty, current students, alumni, field supervisors, community partners and university administrators.

Kristen Schrauben, associate professor of psychology and director of the graduate program, gave remarks. Terri Metcalf, from Fennville Public Schools, and Steve Johnson, from Cedar Springs Public Schools, discussed the high quality of the program's training and how much their respective school districts value this partnership with Grand Valley.

When the graduate program began in 2014, Schrauben said there were 82 students. Those students graduated with a 100% employment rate. Schrauben said the majority of graduates continue to work in Michigan school districts. Alumni have completed internships or work in 13 other states.

In addition to school psychologists, the program has had 15 people continue their education to become board-certified behavior analysts. Schrauben said alumni also work as special education directors, researchers, school crisis prevention and response trainers, a Fulbright Scholar, adjunct university faculty and children’s book authors.

"The program has grown to be the largest specialist-level school psychology program in Michigan and currently has its largest first-year cohort with 15 students," she said.