UL Lafayette was the right place for Riley to call home while she earned her degree in psychology.
СAPPItСAPPs sort of a tradition in my family,СAPP she said. СAPPMy mom came here, my uncle came here, and my grandparents live here. IСAPPve been around here my whole life.
СAPPUL Lafayette is small and intimate, and I like the connections here СAPP I didnСAPPt feel that anywhere else,СAPP she said. СAPPI like the small size of classes and campus. ItСAPPs nice to come here. I love going to the library and being outside.СAPP
It isnСAPPt just the СAPPСAPPs welcoming atmosphere that Riley enjoys, but her departmentСAPPs as well.
СAPPThe psychology program makes me feel like I can be successful in the future,СAPP she said. СAPPTheyСAPPre really uplifting and everything IСAPPve learned IСAPPll take with me for the rest of my life.СAPP
Studying Industrial Organizational Psychology
Riley will be attending grad school for industrial organizational psychology, a branch of psychology that she started studying here at UL Lafayette.
СAPPI talked to an industrial organizational psychology professor and I got this HR internship. I found out that I think this is something I can succeed in and would enjoy, which is what I long for: enjoying my job,СAPP she said.
СAPPIndividuals work more than they do any other thing in their life,СAPP she explained. СAPPTheyСAPPre at work more than theyСAPPre at home. So, I want to take what I learn from psychology and help them enjoy that and just aid them in any way I can.
СAPPI want to help organizations to be successful and help their efficiency and find the best people for organizations that fit their roles,СAPP she said. СAPPPsychology really helps with that because you learn about human behavior and you will learn how those behaviors can be brought into the work field and where they would be most successful in that company.
СAPPWhen times change, companies need to change with that time,СAPP she said. СAPPItСAPPs important to re-evaluate and do job analysis throughout your time there to make sure that everyone is capable of whatСAPPs required of that position.СAPP
Riley's Research
Riley takes part in an industrial organization-focused research lab, which looks into discrimination against pregnant women in the workplace.
СAPPWeСAPPre seeing how that discrimination affects their stress, if they feel comfortable with the company, and how long they would stay there,СAPP she said. СAPPWeСAPPre looking at anticipated discrimination versus experienced discrimination and how that plays a role.
СAPPThe results of the first study came back significant,СAPP she said, СAPPand weСAPPre looking at demographics specifically in this study to see if, for example, youСAPPre African American versus white, or married versus single, and weСAPPre looking at the intersectionality of the data.
СAPPI was interested in it because I am a female and, as a female, we get pregnant and we have to work,СAPP she said. СAPPSo, I want to see if that information could be passed to employers to show that there is still discrimination, even though there are laws in place. Just to make them knowledgeable that this is still happening and that shouldnСAPPt be done.
СAPPYou learn so much about yourself and others,СAPP she said. СAPPThis major has helped me and helped me help others. IСAPPm forever grateful for that. It made me realize some things about how I acted and how other people acted and to be respectful of everyoneСAPPs behaviors. WeСAPPre all human and everyone works differently. ItСAPPs a good program to understand how to work with other people.СAPP