Dear Students,
Welcome and welcome back to all of you. 2020 was quite a year, and the dawn of 2021 has been equally challenging. One of your peers told me the first week of the new year was a “trial-period only” and that the real new year started on January 8. I’m going with that.
There is much to grieve, much to be grateful for, and much more for us to do together in this new year. My S-OP colleagues and I are looking forward to our Zoom classes with you, as well as our upcoming on-line community-building events (not an oxymoron) and our continued collective efforts to connect with one another in creative ways over our shared interest in all things Social-Organizational Psychology. I hope you had a chance to refresh (if even just a little) over the winter break and that you are as excited as we are to reconnect with our learning community.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us in the S-OP program if you need help, have questions, want advising, or just want to say hello. We are here for you.
Looking forward to creating a bright, productive, healthy and just 2021 with all of you.
Warmly,
Sarah Brazaitis, PhD
MA Program Director
Alumni Profile
carnelius smiling
Carnelius Quinn is a 2016 graduate of the M.A. program. Prior to the program, he earned a double B.A. in Sociology and Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University, and spent a decade serving community and public health organizations focused on young people and HIV-impacted populations. The Org Psych program taught Carnelius systems thinking (along with the wonder of how groups and conflict operate), which he calls on daily to navigate and improve the complex “stakeholdering” required to move teams through large-scale change.
Carnelius currently serves as a communications manager for the Cybersecurity organization within Deloitte Global. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating a network of Cyber professionals across the globe to deliver awareness and educational programming – which has become increasingly important given the recent shift to 100% work-from-home mandates and spikes in cybercriminal attacks. Carnelius also provides change management expertise to transformation initiatives within the broader IT organization, as well as leading internal inclusion initiatives.
Carnelius currently resides in Austin, Texas, and spends his free time skydiving (he is working towards his solo certification). Carnelius absolutely recommends skydiving to all of you Org Psychers. It will remind you to keep calm during any “fall.” No matter how fast you might feel you’re plummeting, there is more time in the air than you think. Use it wisely!
Carnelius Quinn
Carnelius Quinn is a 2016 graduate of the M.A. program. Prior to the program, he earned a double B.A. in Sociology and Theatre Arts from San Francisco State University, and spent a decade serving community and public health organizations focused on young people and HIV-impacted populations. The Org Psych program taught Carnelius systems thinking (along with the wonder of how groups and conflict operate), which he calls on daily to navigate and improve the complex “stakeholdering” required to move teams through large-scale change.
Carnelius currently serves as a communications manager for the Cybersecurity organization within Deloitte Global. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating a network of Cyber professionals across the globe to deliver awareness and educational programming – which has become increasingly important given the recent shift to 100% work-from-home mandates and spikes in cybercriminal attacks. Carnelius also provides change management expertise to transformation initiatives within the broader IT organization, as well as leading internal inclusion initiatives.
Carnelius currently resides in Austin, Texas, and spends his free time skydiving (he is working towards his solo certification). Carnelius absolutely recommends skydiving to all of you Org Psychers. It will remind you to keep calm during any “fall.” No matter how fast you might feel you’re plummeting, there is more time in the air than you think. Use it wisely!
Recommended Readings
- Here is an article with research-based advice on how to be happier in 2021, as I’m sure we can all use a little extra happiness these days.
- Here are tips on how to make the most of on-line learning.
- This episode of the Hidden Brain podcast talks about the psychology behind waiting (for a vaccine, for a loved one to recover from an illness, for the time when it’s safe to hug your grandma, etc.) as well as the psychological experience of relief when a threat is over.