Rebecca Treisman, a master’s student in school and community psychology in the Wayne State University College of Education, recently won the Galvin Growth Group Scholarship for School Psychology Students. All school psychology students in Michigan are eligible to apply, but only one is selected to receive the $500 scholarship each year. 

“I am honored and humbled to receive this scholarship,” said Treisman. “I am grateful to the Galvin Growth Group for their support and for helping me achieve my academic and career goals.” 

Treisman said her career choice is a natural result of her life experiences and goals. 

“I want to help children who are going through challenging experiences in school,” she said. “Mental health is a rising problem, especially for children and adolescents. Schools are one of the most accessible ways for children to receive services, including mental health care. Pursuing a degree in school psychology will allow me to make a difference in the lives of others.” 

After earning a bachelor’s in gender and women’s studies and certificates in folklore, LGBTQ+ and religious studies, Treisman worked at a law firm that specialized in family, elder and disability Law.  

“I observed the legal groundwork and barriers that go into working with children with disabilities,” she said. “I enjoyed making connections with clients and wanted more of those personal experiences.”  

Treisman interned with Project Girl, a nonprofit that teaches girls media literacy skills. She engaged with participants in one-on-one and group discussions about messages they received from the media and how they made them feel.  

“Seeing the girls reflect upon the internalized messages from the media and society taught me about the resiliency of children and contributed to my desire to work with children,” she said. 

Treisman is part of the Project Support Lab, which is directed by Assistant Professor Sarah Kiperman, one of her mentors.  

“It is important for graduate students to have mentors to help guide them through a difficult time of figuring out the field and future careers,” she said. “Dr. Kiperman has played a key role in helping me figure out what opportunities exist for me as a graduate student and guiding me in how to create the career that I hope to have in the future.”  

The Project Support team works with LGBTQ+ youth, specifically focusing on how they experience support and non-support. They collaborate with the communities they are engaging with to create resources related to mental and physical health, safety planning, and relationships.  

“LGBTQ+ youth are a group of individuals who have unique needs that are often not addressed,” Treisman said. “As a school psychologist, I can help LGBTQ+ youth access the resources and support they need.”  

Working with underrepresented populations and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion are important to Treisman, who is the third generation of her family to attend  graduate school at Wayne State.  

“Throughout all my studies and experiences, social justice and equity were at the forefront,” she said. “I chose Wayne State to continue following that common thread. The master’s program in school and community psychology at Wayne State is social justice informed, which allows me to continue working to gain equity for everyone.”