Welcome Letter from the Chair
Welcome to the Department of Psychology at Loyola University Maryland!
For over 50 years, the department has provided best-in-class education and training in psychology and clinical mental health to thousands of dedicated undergraduate and graduate students from around the world. Deeply rooted in the Jesuit traditions of cura personalis, community, and service, our graduates have assumed critical roles in academia, medical and community mental health settings, and private psychotherapy practice, and our faculty represent leading voices in a diverse range of psychological disciplines, including clinical, forensic, health, organizational, and social psychology. Buttressed by the Loyola Clinical Centers and a network of hundreds of externship and field placement sites in and around the greater Baltimore-Washington metro area, it is no exaggeration to say that the department is a premiere national destination for training in psychological research, practice, and clinical mental health.
Describing the Jesuit educational experience feels like capturing something that's not just effective, but genuinely transformative. I can testify to this because my time at Loyola has had an immense impact on both my personal and professional growth. Each semester, when I step into my classes, I share my own “Loyola journey” with my students. It's worth mentioning that before coming here, I had spent approximately three decades in various academic settings, earning degrees in psychology, women's studies, and a doctoral degree in legal psychology. But despite all that previous learning, it has been at Loyola that I've encountered the most enriching and meaningful education.
What makes Loyola home for me is the incredible support from colleagues in the Psychology Department and the vibrant community of staff, administrators, and programs that create an intellectually stimulating environment. Like many of you, I remember wandering around campus, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities. I dipped my toes into everything – from Diversity Reading Groups and Fellows Programs to the MLK Convocation and thought-provoking lectures hosted by the Center for the Humanities. I was moved by the New Student Convocation, intrigued by Messina Panels, and inspired by student presentations at the USRSC. It was a lot to take in, but I persisted, showing up to as much as I could. And little by little, the confusion transformed into clarity, and I started to experience personal growth in ways I hadn't imagined.
Loyola's Jesuit tradition is not just about education; it's about nurturing the individual. I felt this deeply through the genuine care and support of everyone around me. At the Psychology Department, we are genuinely invested in your journey and your evolution. And you know what? You're going to have those moments – those moments of clarity – where everything just clicks. For me, it was the realization that I was part of a community that shared my values: a commitment to rigorous learning, combined with compassion and a genuine interest in personal development. At Loyola, I feel challenged, every single day, and that is what has allowed me to grow.
But here's the magic that the Jesuit tradition holds: the more you engage, the more you transform. It's a process that's both exciting and empowering. So, my invitation to you is this: Dive in. Embrace as many of these incredible opportunities as you can (while also taking care of yourself, of course), and get ready to witness your own remarkable transformation unfold.
We are thrilled that you have chosen to explore our department and encourage you to learn more about us by reading through our newly redesigned website, emailing our faculty, and asking to speak with current students. Our undergraduate psychology major is the largest undergraduate major at the University. Our clinical professional counseling program is the latest innovative iteration of our 50-year legacy of training mental health practitioners at the masters-level, and our doctoral program in clinical psychology is currently the #8 ranked clinical Psy.D. program in the United States. Our faculty are as renowned for their expertise as they are for their award-winning commitment to student mentoring. Our professional networks and ties to our community partners are deep and strong.
There has never been a better time to join us.
Sincerely,
Marianna E. Carlucci, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Psychology
Read Dr. Carlucci's Welcome Letter for the 2023-2024 Academic Year here.
First- and second-year Psy.D. students at the 2022-2023 Loyola Clinical Centers orientation.