Get to Know Your Student Committee: Campus Rep. Coordinator, Haylie Stewart

​We asked the members of the 2024-2025 Student Committee to answer some questions about themselves to help you get to know who they are and what they do. 

What is your school, program, and year?
University of Alabama, Clinical Psychology, 4th year

Why psychology and the law?
I've always been interested in serious mental illness and the inequalities faced by those in the legal system. Individuals with SMI, as well as individuals with criminal-legal histories, are often the least prioritized in research, treatment, and policy, which not only impacts their lives, but society at large. Psychology and law combines my interests of working with vulnerable populations and (hopefully) improving the criminal legal system.

What is your favorite thing about your current graduate program?
I LOVE my advisor. Dr. Jenni Cox is an amazing mentor and I feel so lucky that I get to work with and learn from her. She is truly the best part about the University of Alabama. 

If you were not in graduate school, what would you do?
I would probably still be managing research projects for the VA, but I would hope I was either working in performance arts or event planning. 

What advice do you have for those applying to graduate school?
For me, applying systematically helped with feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do. I gave myself deadlines for each item (including figuring out which schools to apply to) and used spreadsheets to track requirements and deadlines. Reach out to academic advisors/professionals/grad students you know in psychology to help with application materials. Tons of people in psychology helped with my statement of purpose (the hardest part) and preparing for interviews, and it made a huge difference. 

If you had one year to train, what Olympic sport do you think you could qualify and medal in?
Probably weight-lifting, though I'd prefer ice skating lol

Books or movies?
Books

If you could only watch 3 movies for the rest of your life, what would they be?
The Greatest Showman, Hamilton, Tangled

What is your go-to road trip snack?
Cheez-its

Does pineapple belong on pizza?
It's fine, I guess

Explain your hot take about pineapple on pizza. 
I don't hate it, but I won't actively choose to have it on pizza. I'm indifferent. 

What is your favorite place you have ever traveled?
Paris, France

Would you only eat hot food or cold food for the rest of your life? Why?
Probably cold foods because I love salad, potentially more than any other food (I know, weird)

What is your favorite weird fact?
Zac Efron made a tinder account, but no one matched with him because they thought it was fake

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