Tech. Medicine. Education. Dentistry. Physical Therapy. These were just some of the industries high school students called aloud when asked what professions may stem from a bachelor's degree in psychology.
It's a field many Washoe County School District juniors and seniors are getting more familiar with: hundreds are enrolled in Psychology 101 through Collegiate Academy, a dual credit program that offers them the opportunity to earn college credit at a discounted cost in their high school classrooms. And this week more than 400 Collegiate Academy students took an even deeper dive as they visited campus to engage with faculty from fields including social work, nursing, medicine, education, human development and family science, and counseling. The goal of the event, the first Collegiate Academy Mental Health Careers Summit, was to offer students a well rounded understanding of how mental health fields intersect with psychology.
Professional and personal
For students like Jayda McGovern, a junior at Reed High School, studying psychology and learning about careers is more than an academic experience, it is personal.
“Studying the research behind how and why people function has helped me cope with the history of mental struggles in my family,” McGovern said. “I'm hoping today to find a specific career I can go into, to get a more concrete idea of what fields there are for psychology majors.”
The event also featured a keynote address from Trevor Macaluso, chief executive officer of The Eddy House, a shelter for homeless, runaway, foster and other at-risk youth. Macaluso emphasized the urgency of mental health advocacy, particularly for Nevada’s most vulnerable young people.
“Mental health professionals are the backbone of organizations like ours,” Macaluso said. “I hope students walk away today knowing that their future careers could make a life-changing difference for people in our community.”
Part of the Wolf Pack
The Collegiate Academy Mental Health Careers Summit also showcased the true impact of the Collegiate Academy program. Through taking college classes at their high school, students become part of the Wolf Pack, and so do their teachers, as they take on instruction for these classes. Emily Roberts, who teaches Psychology 101 at North Valleys High School, sees firsthand how the program is making college more accessible for her students.
“Collegiate Academy connects students with the community,” Roberts said. “These classes also save students a lot of money by taking the class while still in high school.”
Roberts estimates that 85 students from her classes alone will receive college credit for Psychology 101 this semester—a significant increase from the AP Psychology course she previously taught.
For Lauren Conner, a psychology teacher at Reed High School and one of the event organizers, this early exposure to mental health careers is essential.
“We often hear about how low Nevada ranks in mental health care,” Conner said. “I've always thought recruitment into these fields should happen at the high school level: if we can keep students who are in these classes interested and engaged, the chances of them majoring in these fields increases.”
Prioritizing personal mental health
The Collegiate Academy students also heard from Bailey Ivory, a third-year medical student at the University, who spoke about the importance of prioritizing their own mental well-being as they move from high school to college, and throughout their educational careers.
“This transition from high school to college is full of apprehension and stress,” Ivory said. “I want events like today’s Summit and the topics we cover to help turn that apprehension into excitement for these students’ future and their careers.”
The Collegiate Academy Mental Health Careers Summit was a partnership between Collegiate Academy and the University's Psychology Department, reinforcing the shared mission of making higher education more accessible and introducing students to meaningful career paths. "Connecting these students with academic departments that offer programs in mental health is a great first step in fostering interest for these extremely important careers in Nevada," said Joe Nannini, director of Dual Credit Initiatives at the University.
On a mission and growing
Collegiate Academy is growing rapidly, with more than 7,022 students from 36 schools statewide participating this semester. This year alone, high school students had access to 38 ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ courses across a range of subjects, including English, mathematics, political science and chemistry. The program thrives on a unique partnership — University faculty work closely with high school teachers, ensuring the curriculum meets college standards while also being effectively delivered in the high school classroom.
For the many students in attendance, the Collegiate Academy Mental Health Careers Summit reinforced that mental health careers are not only in demand but essential. As they prepare for their futures, events like this help them envision where their education can take them and how they can make an impact.
“Today I’ve learned about various careers and that I definitely want to continue with psychology,” said Reed High School senior Tyson Shoupe. “Collegiate Academy classes have been one of the most impactful parts of my high school career.”
