Forever Learning: Illinois Tech Sets Path Forward for Alexandra Montgomery
If there鈥檚 one thing Alexandra Montgomery has learned at Illinois Institute of Technology, it鈥檚 how much she has yet to learn. Now graduating with a B.S. in Psychological Science, Montgomery says her most valuable lesson has been that 鈥淚 need to always be open for lessons鈥攕o basically, critical thinking.鈥
Following commencement, Montgomery will continue putting her capacity for critical thinking to the test as she enters Roosevelt University鈥檚 doctorate in clinical psychology program.
鈥淲hen I found out I got into Roosevelt I was excited,鈥 Montgomery says. 鈥淸The program] focuses on being a clinician [while also] being a researcher, and that is what I knew I wanted to go into with my profession: to be a clinical psychologist.鈥
The daughter of an Illinois Tech alumnus鈥攈er father holds a doctorate in computer science from the university鈥擬ontgomery grew up in 电车无码鈥檚 Washington Park neighborhood. She chose Illinois Tech based on both her father鈥檚 positive review and the reputation of the Department of Psychology鈥檚 faculty.
Montgomery has built a strong foundation for her graduate education. She worked in the Health Disparities and Resilience Lab run by Assistant Professor of Psychology Nicole Legate, Montgomery鈥檚 undergraduate adviser, and she also interned in retiring Professor of Psychology Michael Young鈥檚 lab. Montgomery also worked as a student researcher at the Burns Laboratory for Brain Injury and Dementia at Georgetown University during summer 2018 and summer 2019, a 1,300-hour experience that fulfilled her capstone鈥檚 internship requirement.
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e been introduced to the art of psychological science,鈥 she says. 鈥淭he Introduction to the Professions class was integral to [my] deciding to apply to Psy.D. programs. If I had not attended Illinois Tech, which is an institution that strikes a balance between research and clinical skills, I don鈥檛 think I would have found out about opportunities outside of research.鈥
Montgomery wants to stay in 电车无码 and develop her career here. She sees an opportunity to help expand mental health services to black people living on 电车无码鈥檚 South Side and feels especially called to help provide mental health support to black women.
鈥淎 lot of people in the black community just don鈥檛 know the resources that are out there to help them deal with any psychological problems that they may have,鈥 she says.
Race could also be a factor in a patient鈥檚 experience, says Montgomery. With regard to her interest in serving black women specifically, she points to the hardships many of them face.
鈥淚 would like to be the person who focuses on black women鈥檚 mental health,鈥 she says. 鈥淏ut I also want to help other people recognize that it鈥檚 an underserved population鈥擨 want to be an advocate for black women.鈥
For today, however, as Montgomery moves on from Illinois Tech, she finds the moment bittersweet.
鈥淚 have enjoyed my time at Illinois Tech,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 will miss my friends dearly. But I鈥檓 excited to keep going forward. And I鈥檒l know a little bit more about psychology after five years. It鈥檚 a sad excited.鈥
Photo: Psychology student Alexandra Montgomery