Dr. Gail Freidman – Alumni Shadow

When students enter college, they may have an idea about majors, but want more information from a professional in the field before making a commitment. The center offers students just such a program, allowing students to shadow UC alumni by engaging in phone conversations, participating in informational interviews, or spending time with them at work.

Dr. Gail Friedman participated in the program, allowing a student to visit her office and conduct an in-depth interview. As a psychologist, Dr. Friedman could not allow the student to sit in on sessions, but she could provide valuable insight into the profession.

“We talked about how to become a psychologist, the education it requires, how it feels to be in the profession and how the student’s own personal talents would apply,” she says. “The student ‘shadow’ seemed to focus on a couple of different areas. She said she liked people and had a natural connection with them. We then discussed how she could apply her skills to the profession.”

Dr. Friedman had a great deal of encouragement and guidance during her own college years. She in turn wants to pass that experience along to students through the center by volunteering her time.

“I like the idea of helping a student understand their strengths and limitations, and helping them plan the directions of their study,” she says. “I’ve always liked the idea of being a mentor.”

The Center for Exploratory Studies is generously supported in part by the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association.

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