Taylor (Rabold) Beougher, came to ONU intent on pursuing a career in law and criminal justice. However, the psychology classes she took sparked an interest in child psychology and behavioral science statistics. Today, she works at the Ohio Department of Education collecting, managing and analyzing data to support preK-12 students and schools.
“Knowing my work and collaboration impacts millions of students every day makes it that much more enjoyable,” she says. “I enjoy the opportunity to develop strategies and create partnerships with parents, school administrations, policy makers and communities who all play a role in student success.”
Beougher enrolled at ONU because she liked the small university environment and wanted to have impactful relationships with her teachers. “Not only was I able to build those one-on-one classroom experiences with my ONU psychology professors, but several of them became mentors and lifelong friends,” she said.
While an ONU student, she worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant. She even had the opportunity to present research findings at national and state-level conferences. She also participated in ONU’s innovative Inside-Out Prison Exchange program, where ONU students take a class with incarcerated individuals. “When telling others about this class, I usually get a shocked reaction, but the class really allows everyone to gain different perspectives, enhance communication and collaboration, and break through ingrained stereotypes.”
Looking back, Beougher is grateful for her experiences at ONU that guided her toward a fulfilling career she loves. A degree in psychology, she says, opens the door to many career options. “Most people think of the stereotypical therapist or counselor when they think psychology, but psychology is so much more than that.”