CBU senior Karla Mendoza isn’t messing around. She identifies a goal, develops a plan to ensure success, and goes for it.
“While in high school, I knew I wanted to pursue higher education, for sure, and I wanted to make a wise choice for college,” said Karla, who will graduate in May. “My goal was to pursue a career as a psychologist, and I knew I would need to get a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree, so I needed to make a wise decision financially and academically.”
After experiencing a large high school, the small class sizes and close-knit community at CBU were a welcome change. She quickly got involved with the Honors Program, which provided leadership opportunities and community, and followed that by serving as co-chair for the student-led Catholic Relief Services chapter at CBU
“I had a really good offer, and I really liked the psychology program,” said Karla of her decision to attend CBU. “There were a lot of factors, such as wanting to have the opportunity to build strong academic relationships with professors, as well as ensuring I could have research experience opportunities as an undergraduate student, both of which are important to be a competitive applicant to PhD admissions. I knew I would need to make good connections for my next level of education.”
Following graduation, Karla plans to complete a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. She wants to develop culturally sensitive mental health practices to meet the unique needs of immigrants and refugees, as well as address the language barriers and general stigma around mental health in minority communities.
Service to others is fundamental to her belief system. She assists with the Buc Stop food pantry on campus and helps secure free feminine hygiene products for students as part of the Sister-Supply project.
“Karla is a person built with quiet strength that allows for her actions to speak louder than words,” said Brother Christian Camacho, Coordinator for the McLaughlin Social Justice Institute of Lasallian Practice.
“When she is committed to something, she gives it her all,” he added. “Have it be serving those struggling with food insecurity or those in need of feminine care products, Karla strives to give dignity to those who need it the most.”
As a freshman, Karla remembers walking past the mural featuring that year’s five Lasallian Fellows during orientation and thinking, “Imagine if I could be on that board one day.”
“I never really thought it could happen; it was simply wishful thinking at that time,” said Karla, who was selected for the university’s top honor this year. “It came as a very pleasant surprise.”
Along with her many campus activities, Karla consistently sets her academic bar high, presenting her research at various conferences, including the American Psychological Association (APA) Convention, where she presented her research in Seattle last August and is set to present again in Denver this year.
She received the Summer Undergraduate Psychology Experience in Research (SUPER) Fellowship through APA and also volunteers in the Cognitive Neuroscience lab with Dr. Jeff Sable on electroencephalogram (EEG) studies.
“Karla Mendoza is a rock star,” said psychology professor Dr. Maureen E. O’Brien, who has been one of Karla’s mentors. “I am so proud of her many accomplishments and am honored to have been a part of her CBU journey. Getting to work beside her as her advisor and research colleague has been a true joy, and I am sure going to miss her when she graduates.”
Karla will also miss her time at CBU, which has been a positive experience through and through.
“I really have so many good things to say,” she reflected. “But as a senior, you can’t help but get sentimental looking back.
“I have made lifelong friends, have met and worked with amazing faculty and colleagues, and overall, have really felt that I have been able to make a difference in the community. CBU has truly provided me with so many opportunities both academically and personally, and I will always be thankful for them.”
