{"id":35891,"date":"2025-04-30T14:04:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T18:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/?page_id=35891"},"modified":"2026-01-05T13:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:50:09","slug":"ellington-mendez","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/academics\/commencement\/graduate-class-of-2025-student-spotlights\/ellington-mendez\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellington Mendez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/h3>\n

Class of 2025<\/h2>\n

Degree: <\/strong><\/h3>\n

M.A. in <\/span>Forensic and Legal Psychology<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n

Summit, Nj.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where are you from and what brought you to Marymount?<\/b><\/h3>\n

I’m originally from New Jersey, but I earned my undergraduate degree in psychology at Stevenson University in Maryland. While I was there, I became interested in the forensic side of psychology and thought I\u2019d like to become a legal aid. I started digging and talking to colleagues about graduate programs in the area that were more focused on forensic-based psychology, and someone suggested Marymount. After doing some research, I found the location was ideal and the experiences I would get at Marymount would be beneficial in building myself up as a professional in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

What has your experience been like at Marymount?<\/b><\/h3>\n

My time at Marymount has been excellent. From an academic perspective, I don\u2019t think there was a single class I didn\u2019t enjoy. All of the topics we covered were interesting and the professors were amazing. There\u2019s also an incredible community within the Forensic and Legal Psychology program. Because we\u2019re a smaller school and a smaller program, everyone can build tight bonds with each other and great connections with the faculty. I was also lucky enough to land a job as a graduate assistant with the <\/span>Graduate Admissions team<\/span><\/a>. Working closely with them, I’ve been able to build a lot of great friendships and professional relationships that I truly cherish. <\/span><\/p>\n

What are some opportunities you\u2019ve had through Marymount\u2019s program?<\/b><\/h3>\n

I attended an American Society of Trial Consultants conference thanks to a connection I made at a Marymount career fair, and it was my first big conference in my specific field of interest. I got the opportunity to network with so many amazing professionals, particularly those who work in the field of jury consulting, which is what I would ultimately like to go into. I also met a lot of people who shared great firsthand knowledge about the field and advice on how to succeed. After graduation, I hope to pull on some of those new contacts to see about working with them or their companies on a contract or full-time basis in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

How has Marymount prepared you for the workforce?<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Forensic and Legal Psychology faculty members are fantastic at making sure that students get not only what they want out of the program, but also everything the program has to offer. Whether that\u2019s hands-on learning experiences in the courtroom or the variety of classes offered, students can understand all aspects of the field. On a larger University level, the career fairs run by the <\/span>Center for Career Development and Community Engagement (CCDCE)<\/span><\/a> have been invaluable to me. The whole CCDCE team encourages students to build networking skills and provides a lot of different opportunities for students to meet and greet employers from many different companies. The connections they offer are second to none in my opinion. <\/span><\/p>\n

What advice would you give to new graduate students?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Get rid of the stigma that says as soon as you get into your graduate program, you need to know exactly what you’re going to do and where you’re going to be. Just relax and let the program teach you something. Learn what career paths and experiences are out there and find what you are drawn to. Let that inform your decisions. In my experience, very few people walk into their graduate program knowing exactly where they will end up. The best thing to do is to have an open mind and allow yourself to soak in everything that the program has to offer, as opposed to trying to go in with a specific mindset.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Class of 2025 Degree: M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology Hometown: Summit, Nj. Where are you from and what brought you to Marymount? I’m originally from New Jersey, but I earned my undergraduate degree in psychology at Stevenson University in Maryland. While I was there, I became interested in the forensic side of psychology and […]<\/p>\n

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