This spring, we are celebrating some of our outstanding students who are graduating this semester. We wish all of our graduating students the best as they begin the next chapter of their journeys.
Name: Chrystal McDowell
Hometown: Macon, Georgia
Program: Marriage and Family Therapy (Ph.D.)
Why did you choose your program?
I chose this program because I am passionate about helping families of a child with Autism. I received my master's in marriage and family therapy in 2017 and worked as a clinician in Macon, Georgia, for three years. During that time, I witnessed family after family waiting four-plus years on the waitlist to be seen. I knew then that I wanted to pursue more research on the impact of barriers to care in families of a child with autism.
What's your favorite part of your program?
This program stood out to me because of the cohesion of its faculty and supportive learning environment. My favorite part of this program was the faculty and students that I grew close with over the past four years. I felt support and encouragement from each faculty member in their own way and feel very prepared for life after the Ph.D.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
Immediately after I graduate, I am going on a cruise! Career-wise, I plan on working at a local clinic as a director performing research and supervision.
