{"id":119275,"date":"2024-09-25T09:53:14","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=119275"},"modified":"2024-09-25T09:53:14","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T14:53:14","slug":"brandy-blount-division-chair-undergraduate-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/community\/brandy-blount-division-chair-undergraduate-psychology\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Brandy Blount: Helping Students Begin Their Higher Education Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Brandy Blount, Ph.D., division chair of The Chicago School\u2019s undergraduate psychology program, growing the university\u2019s undergraduate presence has been a true passion project. Says Dr. Blount, \u201cOur undergraduate experience is now in its 10th<\/sup> year. Reflecting on this decade of growth makes me proud of how many students start with us as undergraduates and go on to complete other graduate programs with The Chicago School.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the launch of The Chicago School\u2019s first undergraduate program a decade ago, the university has thoughtfully invested in creating simple pathways between undergraduate and graduate programs, with more than 100 students reenrolling in other The Chicago School programs after completing their undergraduate degrees with the university.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Undergraduate faculty, including Dr. Blount and Dr. Felice Mayes, join students to celebrate The Chicago School\u2019s inaugural Psi Chi honor society induction ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Blount highlights that the undergraduate leadership team has learned a lot over the past decade that has helped it serve the unique needs of undergraduate students balancing work, school, and family.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few years ago, we hired our first undergraduate-specific academic adviser, and this made such a difference for our students,\u201d Dr. Blount says. \u201cJust in her first year of work, we saw undergraduate student retention increase by 20%.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, Dr. Blount and her colleagues will continue to identify opportunities to offer students the most innovative, high-demand programs and experiences in the field of integrated health.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Undergraduate students travel together on a study abroad experience in Germany to strengthen their sense of community and extend their learning outside the classroom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Blount also credits the advocacy of Michele Nealon, Psy.D., president of The Chicago School, for helping the university launch its first undergraduate program. According to Dr. Blount, \u201cDr. Nealon really understands the importance of undergraduate education in setting students up for future professional and academic success. We couldn\u2019t have started these programs without her support.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the years since the earliest undergraduate program welcomed its first students, Dr. Blount and the rest of the undergraduate leadership team have focused on providing students with a diverse array of programs and support that meet their unique needs. For instance, the team has launched multiple undergraduate student clubs and a new undergraduate study abroad experience in both South Africa and Germany, all designed to build community within the university\u2019s growing undergraduate population.<\/p>\n

What continues to unite undergraduate and graduate programs across The Chicago School is a shared commitment to social change.<\/p>\n

In Dr. Blount\u2019s own words, \u201cA Chicago School education is not about getting in and getting out with a diploma in hand. It\u2019s about more than that. It\u2019s about making a real difference for your community. Within the undergraduate space, we want to show undergrads the world and help them find that place of impact.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Brandy Blount, Ph.D., division chair of The Chicago School\u2019s undergraduate psychology program, growing the university\u2019s undergraduate presence has been a true passion project. Says Dr. Blount, \u201cOur undergraduate experience is now in its 10th year. Reflecting on this decade of growth makes me proud of how many students start with us as undergraduates and go on to complete other graduate programs with The Chicago School.\u201d Since the launch of The Chicago School\u2019s first undergraduate program a decade ago, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":119285,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191,113],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1398],"class_list":["post-119275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-psychology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDr. Brandy Blount: Helping Students Begin Their Higher Education<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Brandy Blount, Ph.D., is the division chair of the Undergraduate Psychology Program at The Chicago School.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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