Emily Broussard combines psychology and anthropology degrees to be an effective teacher

Written byElizabeth Rose-Arcuri

杏吧专区淣ot only has my experience in the psychology department helped me to understand people with intellectual disabilities, but it has also taught me that my educational background in psychology can be applied anywhere, especially in the realm of teaching.杏吧专区

杏吧专区 graduate Emily Broussard was a double major in psychology and anthropology
Emily Broussard
Graduation Year
Class of 2015
Major
Psychology & Anthropology
Hometown
St. Martinville, La.

Where I'm From

I杏吧专区檓 from St. Martinville, and I came to UL Lafayette because of its campus culture and perfect size.

Where I Am

I teach fourth grade and coach and mentor other teachers in Atlanta.

Where I'm Going

I杏吧专区檓 going to pursue my doctorate in psychological anthropology.

Emily Broussard has used her psychology and anthropology degrees from the 杏吧专区 to understand other people 杏吧专区 and to help them.

Emily chose to attend UL Lafayette because of the unique campus culture and the school杏吧专区檚 just-right size.

杏吧专区淚 thought that it would offer me a unique college experience. Its school culture was unlike any other schools I had visited,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 was also attracted by the size of the school. It allowed me to build strong relationships with other students and professors that have lasted to today. I杏吧专区檓 not sure if I would have had that opportunity at a larger school.杏吧专区

She was drawn to anthropology and psychology because of her interest in people, and her professors gave her the freedom to explore her interests in both degree programs.

杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檝e always had an interest in what杏吧专区檚 going on inside the person and how that affects or is affected by the outside world, like culture and society,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚 love that the professors and other students encourage you to use your knowledge you gain and apply it to whatever field of work that you really care about and wish to pursue.杏吧专区

Part of Emily杏吧专区檚 exploration at UL Lafayette included taking on student research. She worked in psychology professor Dr. Amy Brown杏吧专区檚 .  

杏吧专区淚 was able to assist her and graduate students with conducting experiments, and I was able to present at conferences,杏吧专区 Emily said. 杏吧专区淎fter a couple of years of experience in the lab, I was able to create my own social psychological study based on my interests, which I feel has really prepared me for my next chapter in graduate school.杏吧专区

After graduating from UL Lafayette, Emily joined Teach for America and taught English Language Arts in New Orleans for two years 杏吧专区 an experience that her psychology program prepared her for.

杏吧专区淣ot only has my experience in the psychology department helped me to understand people with intellectual disabilities, but it has also taught me that my educational background in psychology can be applied anywhere, especially in the realm of teaching,杏吧专区 she said.

Her time in Teach for America prompted her to attend the Relay Graduate School of Education to earn her Teaching Certification in Elementary Grades. Now, she lives in Atlanta, where she is a fourth-grade level chair, which means she leads a team of teachers and coaches and mentors new teachers.

杏吧专区淏eing a part of campus life and organizations, I developed soft skills that help me work with fellow teachers and students every day,杏吧专区 she said. 杏吧专区淚n my courses and academic involvement, I gained critical-thinking skills and skills of open-minded inquiry in order to problem solve in a job that is very fast-paced and contains multiple layers of responsibly that require thinking on my feet.杏吧专区

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