There were many reasons for Ph.D. in School Psychology student Madeline Racine to choose the University of Houston, College of Education (UH COE), but the opportunities at a wide variety of clinical training sites across Houston was a major draw. Since beginning her work toward her doctorate, she has also seen first-hand how supportive and dedicated COE faculty are to their students.

Racine became interested in psychology while taking an Advanced Placement (AP) psychology class in high school. She discovered school psychology while applying to graduate programs, and knew she’d found the perfect field of study.  Racine especially likes that School Psychology allows her to work with children of all ages in a wide range of settings, as well as working with their families, teachers, and other professionals in order to strengthen the connections between home, school, and the community.

Since beginning her studies, Racine has been inspired by many of our faculty. “First and foremost,” said Racine, “I have been inspired by [assistant professor in the department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences (PHLS)] Dr. Sarah Mire who has been my professor, practicum supervisor, and mentor over the past few years. She’s been a huge contributor to my developing interest in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. And I continue to be inspired by [PHLS professor] Dr. Norma Olvera’s dedication to her career and finding a solution to childhood obesity within minority families. And I’m always inspired by how much [PHLS clinical assistant professor] Dr. Kim Schoger cares about her students and the enthusiasm and positivity she brings to the classroom.”

Racine’s professors reciprocate the admiration as well. “Madeline is such a delight to work with,” said Schoger. “She is a bright young woman who demonstrates superior work ethic and is a skilled instructor. Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) students have benefitted from her expertise and enthusiasm for teaching.” In addition to agreeing that Racine is a delight to work with," Olvera said, “Madeline is very versatile in her research interests, and is an insightful thinker.”

Racine’s area of research includes topics surrounding school based mindfulness and yoga, childhood obesity, subjective well-being, and autism spectrum disorders. “I have gained a very strong interest in research surrounding children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families,” said Racine. “Specifically, I hope to help families navigate through the assessment and diagnosis process and increase their awareness about autism and early intervention.”

After graduation, Racine hopes to find a job working with autistic children and their families, providing assessments and evaluations for children and working with their families to connect them with resources, interventions, and training. Not only does Racine want to work in the field, she has also taken an interest in teaching. “After graduation, I would love to be able to teach a class at a university for either undergraduates or graduate students in addition to my clinical career,” she said.