Meet Bethannie Jamerson 👋
Bethannie has always had a passion for creativity and serving others. Today, she is funneling her passions into the work she is doing through Valdosta State’s master’s program in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology. For her, it’s all about making discoveries and answering questions that will allow people to live their best lives.
“Being able to apply psychological methods to resolve conflicts in the workplace and improve the overall quality and well-being of employees is the perfect way to fulfill my purpose of helping and serving others.” – Bethannie Jamerson
Here’s what she told us about her experience with the I/O Psychology program.
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Q: What has been the most intriguing project that you’ve completed while in the program?
A: The most intriguing project I have completed was creating a website on Work-Family Conflict. This is a concept that is a growing issue for employees and employers in our current workforce and can be defined by high levels of conflict that arise when one’s work and familial roles are incompatible. Achieving work-life balance is my current area of interest and it was insightful to explore this concept from a social psychology perspective. Creating the website was also extremely fun! This project was completed with two classmates of mine – Natalie Evans and Kennedy Drury.
Q: Have you conducted any research so far? If so, can you briefly tell us about your research?
A: The research that myself, Kennedy Drury, Jacob Highsmith, Sandra Marek, and Johnathan Burnette conducted in our Personnel Selection course sought to investigate the interrelationships between perceptions of power distance, agreeableness, and affective commitment (an employees’ positive emotional attachment to an organization). The research that we completed will be presented at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference in Washington, D.C. this April (Whoop!).
Q: What has your experience been like in the I/O Psych program?
A: Being in this program has not only taught me new things about myself, both professionally and personally, but it has also given me the opportunity to develop professional relationships and continuous lines of mentorship with my fellow students in the program. Although I was nervous to start the Industrial/Organizational program, the nerves quickly faded as I realized that I had chosen a friendly environment that encouraged mentorship, opportunity, and professional development. Like anything you do in life, you have the ability to make the best out of what you are given, and I can say I have made this experience the best fit for me. I have been involved in several professional development opportunities that led to applied experiences in different states and internships that were offered to me directly by CEOs. The I/O program at VSU is honestly nothing like I expected and everything that I needed.
Q: Why are you passionate about this field?
A: Becoming an Industrial and Organizational psychologist is far more than a career goal for me – I consider it as internal fulfillment. I plan on leveraging the experiences I have had in my life to not only help organizations and employees function in a healthy work environment but also help those families and children who have, unfortunately, experienced the secondhand effects of living in a household with an employee dealing with work-family conflict. Contributing to the field of Industrial/Organizational Psychology makes me feel like I can truly achieve my purpose in life.
Q: What would you tell someone who was interested in applying for this program?
A: The only person standing in your way is YOU. You never know what type of growth can come from being involved in a professional journey such as this. And because this is a rapidly growing field that has a wide range of career options, taking on a challenge like this will abosolutely allow you to develop into the professional you want to become. So, I say just do it!
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The priority application deadline for #VState’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology program is April 1. Learn more about the program or apply online today!
