Dear Students,

 

Welcome and welcome back to our 2022-2023 academic year at Teachers College, Columbia University. We are delighted to welcome you and welcome you back to the Social-Organizational Psychology Program.
 
I send these newsletters monthly from September through May to our MA program community to communicate key program information, to share interesting articles, and to spotlight student and alumni accomplishments. Feel free to let me know if there is anything you want highlighted in upcoming newsletters.
 
During our MA Program Orientation on August 31, I spoke about our program's strengths and values and linked them to our shared world. Skilled organizational psychologists have never been more essential in every industry around the globe as we continue to stand in the middle of the change curve regarding the world of work and try to address society’s most pressing problems. (I also mentioned Beyoncé, Prince, and Harry Styles so take a peek at what I said here: Brazaitis Orientation Remarks 2022)
 
It has been wonderful to see many of you in class, on campus, and in TC’s numerous hallways. My faculty and staff colleagues and I are looking forward to a great semester and year with you all. See you soon!
 
 

Warmly,

Sarah Brazaitis Signature

Sarah J. Brazaitis, Ph.D.
MA Program Director
 


Current Student Profile

Divya Ramoo
Divya Ramoo is a second year M.A. student in the Social-Organizational Psychology program. After obtaining her B.S. in Psychology from The Ohio State University, Divya worked for five years doing account management, organizational development, and leadership development work across the country for a private membership organization. It was during this time she discovered her passion for OD field and developed a deep desire to learn more. After finding the S-OP program at TC, Divya decided to take the leap and pursue an advanced degree. She is particularly passionate about change management and strategic talent development and hopes to pursue a career in these fields.
 
Most recently, Divya completed an internship with The Adecco Group at their APAC headquarters in Singapore. She led research on the state of the organization’s learning culture and how to further its development within the diverse cultural context of the APAC region.
 
Divya currently serves as the President of OHDCC where she has the honor of working with a wonderful team of dedicated S-OP students to enhance the overall student experience. Outside of school, you can find Divya exploring NYC’s incredible food scene, taking walks with friends along the west side highway, and cheering on her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes in football!
 
Please feel free to connect with Divya on LinkedIn if you have any questions!

Alumni Profile

Sunday Helmerich
Sunday Helmerich (they/them) is a 2021 M.A. graduate of the Social-Organizational Psychology program. Prior to attending TC, they were a professional songwriter and touring musician, licensing original music for use in TV networks including NBC, ABC, E!, The CW, Fox, VH1, Freeform, and MTV. Sunday’s passion for social justice fueled their decision to leave the music industry and roll up their sleeves to help organizations transform into safer, more inclusive places for all.
 
While at TC, Sunday held various internships, including as a consultant at The Talent Strategy Group, a performance management focused consulting firm, and working with fellow TC Alums Amanda Weiner and Marina Milonova as an Organizational-Development Intern at VNS Health.
 
Sunday is currently a consultant and facilitator at The Courage Collective, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting company focused on creating equitable and inclusive cultures where employees feel valued, appreciated, and celebrated. Their consulting approach is strategic, holistic, and human-centered, always prioritizing a collaborative approach to ensure sustainable impact and positive change. They also design and facilitate training sessions that foster impactful dialogue and create psychologically safe spaces where employees ranging from entry level to senior executives can share experiences that lead to intentional action, meaningful reflection, and ultimately, individual, and organizational transformation. 
 
Sunday currently lives in Brooklyn with their partner and cat, Mr. Magoosh. They enjoy cooking, exploring the city, and are always down to connect with fellow TC alums! So, please reach out and say hello via LinkedIn.

 

Recommended Reading

In my Orientation remarks I mentioned that we need to take care of each other in our learning community. This research paper is related to that theme. It is a study that showed participants underestimated the positive impact of acts of kindness on recipients and reminds us that being kind is more helpful than we might think. 
 
Having trouble adjusting to being back at school, work and all of it? Here is an article that offers some tips for getting back into the groove of your daily routine after a vacation.