Melanie Hom

Why FSU?

Given my goals, the clinical psychology program at FSU was a natural fit. The program excels at equipping its students with robust research and clinical skills. Furthermore, my advisor, Dr. Thomas Joiner, not only values his graduate students’ success but also provides countless resources for us to achieve that success.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

During my undergraduate career, I developed an interest in suicide prevention and was driven to find ways to reduce barriers to mental healthcare access. I was fortunate to connect with incredible mentors who nurtured this interest. They provided me with hands-on opportunities to conduct research and taught me how to support individuals struggling with thoughts of suicide. Together, these experiences solidified my desire to pursue a graduate degree in clinical psychology—not only to obtain therapy skills to effectively treat at-risk individuals but also to find novel ways to connect suicidal individuals with life-saving care.

Briefly describe your career aspirations

Moving forward, I plan to continue developing a program of research that aims to connect individuals at elevated suicide risk with high-quality mental healthcare services; such services can importantly reduce suffering and save lives. At the same time, I hope to continue serving as a clinician who provides therapy services to high-risk patients. Ultimately, I am incredibly grateful to be able to pursue a career dedicated to suicide prevention. The P.E.O. Scholar Award has also been critical to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. It has provided support for me to pursue invaluable research and clinical training opportunities, such as attending conferences and workshops.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

If I had to give any advice to future graduate students, it would be to seek out mentors who challenge you to set lofty goals while also providing you with the tools to persist through setbacks.