January 2012 - Student of the Month - Nicole Heller

Heller: Allentown, Pennsylvania

 

Graduate School: What undergraduate institution(s) did you previously attend?

 

Heller: I attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio from 2004 to 2008 where I earned a BA in psychology and English prior to attending UMaine.

 

Graduate School: Why did you choose to attend UMaine?

 

Heller: I was drawn to the current research project being conducted by my mentor, Dr. Marie Hayes, examining the impact of prenatal methadone exposure on infants.

 

Graduate School: What degree program are you pursuing?

 

Heller: Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology

 

Graduate School: What are your plans after graduation?

 

Heller: I hope to enter the professoriate at an institution where I can share my excitement about psychology with undergraduate students through both teaching and research.

 

Graduate School: What do you consider your most important accomplishment here so far?

 

Heller: I think the most important accomplishment for any graduate student is learning to juggle the demands of academia while still finding time to eat, do laundry and see our friends.  For me, this year was especially challenging when I started teaching my own course while simultaneously taking classes and trying to keep up with research in the lab.   I’m still standing so I consider that an accomplishment.

 

Graduate School: What is the highlight of your academic experience so far?

 

Heller: My interactions with students and faculty on campus as well as the people from the community who participate in my lab’s research. Because the students in my class are from such diverse backgrounds, I think I learn as much from them as they do from me. Additionally, my colleagues and the faculty in the psychology department make the long hours seem less tedious – I can always count on them for a coffee break and a laugh. Finally, working with women in recovery and their infants is an incredibly rewarding experience as is knowing that this research will have a profound impact on not only this sample of women and children but also the state of Maine.

 

Graduate School: What is your favorite place on campus?

 

Heller: Besides my office? I like hiding out in the stacks on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the library. Wells is also up there on my list of favorite campus places.

 

Graduate School: What awards or other significant recognition (both on or off-campus) have you received since beginning your degree program?

 

Heller: I've received the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Assessment Graduate Teaching Solo Instructor Award along with letters of commendation from the Psychology faculty for outstanding overall performance.

 

Graduate School: What other important information about yourself would you like us to know?

 

Heller: I am one of the Psychology representatives for GSG.