David Cheng: Current student
Who are you and what year did you enter
STJ?
My name is David Oliver Lee Cheng from Bohemia, NY. I am a
third-year Psy.D. student in the bilingual track with a second
language of Spanish. I started St. John's in the Fall of 2010
and have worked on research projects with Dr. Mark Terjesen, Dr.
Tamara Del Vecchio, and Dr. Ray DiGiuseppe. Currently I am a
Graduate Assistant at the STJ CareerCenter along with a fellow
school psychology student.
What projects/research are you currently working on and
with what professor?
I am currently working on a publication with Dr. Mark Terjesen
and fellow students surrounding the publication practices of top
tier school psychology journals. This study explores what
types of studies are being published and the need for more
intervention-based studies. I am also working on a program
evaluation for school-based cyber bullying and bullying
programs.
What has been your most valuable experience(s) so far at
STJ
My most valuable experience at STJ thus far has been the push to
get involved in research and go to professional conferences.
Not only are we supported in research ideas, but also we are pushed
to be active in pursuing publications and presentations at
professional conferences. Attending professional conferences
exposes us to the field of school psychology and psychology in
general, coming in contact with both the top researchers and
practitioners of our field.
How has STJ influenced your identity in the field of
school psychology
I see the research that the STJ faculty are doing and it
reallypushes me to make my research meaningful to the field.
Not only are we reading the textbooks or practicing the theories
developed by our professors, but psychologists around the country
and internationally, are as well. I want my research to have
that kind of impact on others.
Where do you see yourself in the future and how will STJ
help you reach that goal?
I see myself as a bilingual school psychologist making a
difference in the schools. Our education at STJ is very much
ahead of the curve and therefore may not be what schools are used
to. I am excited to integrate up-to-date research into
practice in the schools and STJ has given me the tools to do
so.
Tayla Stein: Current Student
Who are you and what year did you enter
STJ?
My name is Talya Stein and I entered STJ in 2008 and expect to
graduate in 2013.Throughout my time at STJ, I have been fortunate
to be granted a doctoral fellowship in St. John’s University Infant
Learning and Memory lab under the guidance of Dean Jeffrey Fagen.
Last year I was the recipient of the Ted Bernstein Award, which is
awarded to an outstanding school psychology student within a
doctoral program by New York Association for School
Psychologists.
What projects/research are you currently working on and
with what professor?
I am currently working on my dissertation, entitled Deferred
Imitation in 6-Month-Old Infants Using Distributed or Massed
Practice. Working in Dr. Fagen’s lab for the past four years
has spurred an interest and appreciation of the developmental
process. Working directly with infants and parents has
impressed upon me the immeasurable impact that early development
plays on formation of identity and the learning process. Beyond my
research at STJ, I am also involved in research at my current
externship.
What has been your most valuable experience(s) so far at
STJ
It is hard to point to a specific experience that is more
valuable than the overall experience of the program at
large. I have benefitted tremendously from the guidance and
support of both my fellow classmates and teachers. I
appreciate that I have been able to explore specific areas of
interest. I have chose to take classes outside of core requirements
that have amounted to a concentration in Psychological
Interventions, by being a part of the Bilingual School Psychology
Track, and by exploring various externships that have broadened and
informed my interests.
How has STJ influenced your identity in the field of
school psychology?
STJ has opened me up to new experiences by encouraging me to be
life-long learner, who is constantly growing and adapting as the
field of psychology continues to develop.
Where do you see yourself in the future and how will STJ
help you reach that goal?
I am not entirely sure what the future holds for me. During
my times at STJ, I have externed in school, community mental
health, and outpatient settings and I am excited by the plethora of
opportunities that lay ahead. Next year I will be an intern at
The Help Group, a non-profit community mental health center in Los
Angeles that is committed to serving children, adolescents and
families within outpatient settings, special education day schools,
and residential facilities. I look forward to the diversity of
experiences that I will have there and I know that the tools that
STJ has given me will help me to continue to grow and flourish
there. Paramount among these tools, is an appreciation for
evidence-based practice that I will carry with me as I continue my
professional development.