Our club is about serving the students. We are really trying to encourage the idea of student autonomy. We want them to create ideas for the events, create the fliers to publicize them, and to develop into strong leaders
As students come back to campus this spring, those looking for a place to connect can turn to the Psychology Club, which despite its name is open to students of all majors. The popular club focuses first and foremost on creating a sense of belonging.
“Anybody that has been wanting to join a club but felt too shy, we are a welcoming group and want people to feel comfortable,” said psychology major Maliyah Ndiaye, ’26.
Maliyah serves as the director of creative designs for the club.
“Our mission is to bring the BSU community together, to provide a space where students of different backgrounds can come together and engage,” she said.
Psychology Professors Caroline Stanley and Janessa Carvalho serve as the club’s advisors, and in 2024 they committed to making sure the group was even more inclusive.
“Many students don’t know how to get involved, or where to go. This club is a way for students to be more active, whether they live on campus or commute,” Carvalho said.
According to Stanley, the club promotes career readiness, fosters community outreach, and offers social opportunities, all of which are built into its activities and events.
“Another thing that makes us different is that we let the students choose their roles. There is no hierarchy, everyone is equal and they decide how much time they have to commit,” Stanley said.
Angy Reyes, ’26, is the club’s communications director, helping to promote and plan events.
“We host events both in person and virtually to ensure accessibility to all students, including commuters who can’t always be on campus,” Angy said.
Past events, such as destressing workshops, a BSU alumni speaker series, and celebrations, reflect the club’s focus on student well-being.
“We explore topics concerning students’ well-being and mental health, which is applicable to everyone, not just psychology majors. We opened the club to a wider group of students because we wanted to diversify our perspectives and increase access to the support and resources that we offer,” Angy said.
Maliyah said it’s been nice to see an uptick in students attending their events and credits the support of BSU President Frederick W. Clark Jr. for the increased interest.
“Having his support means a great deal, he helps us with exposure and has come to events where he’s spoken about leadership, what it means to be a good leader, and fielded questions,” Maliyah said.
A future goal, Stanley said, is to engage with other clubs on campus, to create more interdisciplinary opportunities.
“Our club is about serving the students,” she said. “We are really trying to encourage the idea of student autonomy. We want them to create ideas for the events, create the fliers to publicize them, and to develop into strong leaders.”
Carvalho added, “We have so many students here at BSU with different needs and we want to accommodate as many as we can.”
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