Alyssa Hovey

Alyssa Hovey (’21 psychology) applies the skills and knowledge she acquired from Iowa State’s industrial and organizational psychology courses to her career today as a human resources operator at Barilla America in Ames, Iowa.

Though she began her college journey as a biology major, Alyssa’s decision to take a developmental psychology course during freshman year quickly altered her career path. She was drawn to the industrial and organizational curriculum for its real-world applications and diverse job opportunities.

“In my job, I prepare lots of reports, like the ones I did in the practicum during my undergraduate years, as well as work on surveys for our team,” Alyssa said. “The other thing I do is interact with our team and find what motivates each of them, as no one is motivated the same at work.”

Alyssa intends to take her psychology degree and career a step further by enrolling in graduate school in the future. She is certain that her practicum experiences at Iowa State, such as evaluating psychological situations, motivations and attitudes, will serve her well as she works to complete a master’s degree.

Because a psychology degree prepares students for a wide array of careers, Alyssa recommends choosing the path that speaks to you.

“Do what feels right to you if you are considering psychology. When I started my psych major, I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, but I found my way thanks to Psych 450 (Industrial Psychology),” Alyssa said. “Go out of your comfort zone and push yourself, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you have the chance, get real-world experience. It may be hard or a little more work, but it is 100% worth it.”