Get to know your Student Committee: Jill Del Pozzo

Jill Del Pozzo is the 2018-2019 Secretary for the AP-LS Student Committee! Jill has worked hard all year to take notes on Committee meetings, always with flare, and aid the Conference Co-chairs with the Conference program. She has also contributed significantly to our decision of add a Diversity Liaison. Jill took some time to answer a few questions for us!

​If you could only have 3 non-psychology books on your bookshelf, what would they be?
 
Harry Potter
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
 
Yep, all young-adult books, but definitely the ones that have stuck with me from adolescence and I will always love.
 
If you were not in graduate school what would you do?
 
If I were not in a PhD program, I think I would be a pediatric surgeon. That was always something I considered doing for a long time. I think I would always be in a helping profession in some capacity, as I have naturally gravitated towards those kinds of jobs. Then there’s always being a pro athlete, flipping houses, or owning a donut shop.
 
Why did you join the AP-LS Student Committee?
 
I joined the Student Committee to get involved in AP-LS beyond an individual level and for the opportunity to learn how it operates at an executive level. I also had an interest in helping to increase the resources available to students and networking opportunities through AP-LS. It has been a rewarding experience to serve alongside students from different schools and backgrounds and a great place for student leadership development, which was important to me.
 
What advice would you give undergraduate students thinking about graduate school?
 
Get research experience! This was invaluable to me. I worked in a research lab for four years before applying to graduate school and I felt incredibly prepared when I got there. Not saying you need to stay that long, of course, just get your feet wet. It gives you a chance to interact with different populations, present research, and even co-author publications (depending on the lab). It allows you to see if this is really what you want before committing five years to a program. I was also able to make professional connections that way, which have served me well in graduate school as well.
 
Who is one professional and one personal role model?
 
My professional role model would have to be Dr. Steven Silverstein who is at Rutgers University and who’s lab I was fortunate enough to work in for four years. He is the type of person everyone loves to work for. He does research on schizophrenia and has had an amazing career. He models what it truly takes to be successful in the field. He helps to shape young professionals and students and invests so much of his time in them. He is always there too, whether for support or to hear a research idea you have that he will likely encourage you to run with. He helps you get where you want to be. I am forever grateful for being mentored by him and being a part of the “family” he created in his lab.
 
My personal role model will always be my mom. She is the kindest, most supportive, and strongest person I have ever met. Without her, I truly do not know where I would be. She supports me no matter what I do in life and has always been there for me when I needed her most. She is the type of person who gives, but never asks or expects anything in return. She is patient and calm. She is a light in this world and I hope she knows that.