Student Ambassador: Ava Gabriele

Hi! My name is Ava Gabriele, and I am a student in the School Psychology MA/CAGS program here at WJC! I am from Trumbull, CT but am currently living in Walpole, MA right now! I graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 with a BA in Psychology and three years of experience in Nursing.

I took one year off after I graduated from my undergraduate program to gain experience and work in a school system. While working in a primarily special education high school, I was exposed to several disorders such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Disorder, and so many more. Having the opportunity to work with these children really solidified the fact that School Psychology was the career path I wanted to pursue. When applying to graduate programs, William James immediately stuck out. I loved how the school was smaller, focused on mental health professions, and placed first-year students in the school setting right away. Being able to take what we learn in the first few weeks of classes and apply it in a school setting the next day was one of the many reasons I chose William James.

Being at William James has taught me so many things. The most important thing I have learned since my time here is to be curious and ask questions, we have such an amazing staff so take advantage of that! Good luck with this next journey and do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you might have!