Cottey College Psychology Department

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Elsa Yeager, class of 2024, on the completion of her Master's in Social Work degree at the University of Kentucky!

We encourage all of our psychology graduates to keep in touch and let us know when they have important milestones in their lives!

05/18/2026

As much as we enjoy celebrating our recent graduates, we also love celebrating our past graduates! Tamica Tillman, class of 2020, reports that she has been accepted into the Master's program in Forensic Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Congratulations, Tamica!

We encourage all of our psychology graduates to keep in touch and let us know when they have important milestones in their lives!

05/16/2026

Congratulations to the 2026 psychology capstone class!

05/15/2026

Today we celebrate our last student in our spotlight on the 2026 psychology capstone class, Ren Sawyer. Ren is a senior at Cottey College graduating with their Bachelor Degree in Psychology with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.They took an Advance Placement Psychology course their senior year of high school and found themselves fascinated by the subject and strongly drawn to a career in counseling. Upon arriving at Cottey they immediately declared a major in Psychology, and stumbled across an intense passion for activism after taking an Intro to LGBT Studies course and founding Cottey’s LGBTQ+ student organization, PRISM, prompting them to declare their minor.

After Cottey, Ren intends to move to Columbia, Missouri to pursue the master’s degree in Clinical Counseling at Stephens College. Once licensed they hope to become a counselor at an LGBTQ+ resource center or women’s shelter. This desire stems from their passion for helping their community and strengthening the whole community by supporting the individuals that make it up.

When not engaged in schoolwork they enjoy crafts such as crocheting, sewing, painting, and scrapbooking. They also enjoy traveling and camping. On campus they are the president of both the Sexual Health Club and PRISM, and they have enjoyed organizing and hosting events for both.

05/14/2026

Continuing our spotlight series on this year's capstone class, Abigail Melton is a senior at Cottey College, graduating with her bachelor's degree in psychology. While attending a previous institution, she took her first psychology class and found it interesting learning how our brains work and why we think the way we do. Since then, Abigail has developed a strong interest in both cognitive and educational psychology as they correlate together and explain theories in the classroom.

After graduating from Cottey, Abigail plans to start her teaching credential program alongside her master's degree this fall. After getting some more experience in the field, her long term goal is to become a kindergarten teacher in a k-8th elementary school where she can use her psychological knowledge and educational experience in the classroom.

Outside of academics, she enjoys traveling to new places, attending concerts and exploring new coffee shops. She also loves being with friends and family on her free time. During her time at Cottey Abigail was a part of the Golden Key Ambassador Association, the Peer Empowerment Program, and served as Vice President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Abigail is grateful for her time at Cottey College, the meaningful connections she formed, and the personal and academic growth she experienced.

05/13/2026

Continuing our 2026 psychology capstone series, today we highlight Nyilah Johnson. From Newcastle, Oklahoma, Nyilah is a dedicated senior at Cottey College, where she will soon graduate with her bachelor’s degree in psychology. During her very first semester, she enrolled in an introductory psychology course that sparked a strong passion for understanding human behavior, leading her to confidently declare psychology as her major.

Following graduation, Nyilah will begin her professional journey as a Cottey Enrollment Counselor in the college’s Enrollment Office, where she looks forward to helping prospective students navigate their academic paths. At the same time, she plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology online at Arizona State University. Her long-term goal is to work within a police department as a forensic psychologist, analyzing crime scenes and studying criminal behavior to support investigations.

Outside of academics and career goals, Nyilah enjoys reading, watching TV, exploring new coffee shops, and spending time with friends (breaking ankles). She also loves traveling and creating new experiences. On campus, she is actively involved in Golden Key and the Peer Empowerment Program.

05/12/2026

Today we highlight yet another amazing student from our 2026 psychology capstone class, Joliette Johnson. Born and raised in Northern Nevada, Joliette is a senior at Cottey College pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an expected graduation of May 2026. Joliette is a dedicated full-time student-athlete and an active member of Cottey’s cross country and track and field teams, where she has earned recognition as a member of the AMC All-Academic Team for her excellence in both athletics and academics. She also serves as her team's representative for the Association of Student-Athletes.

Ms. Johnson has demonstrated leadership, discipline, and teamwork throughout her collegiate career, successfully balancing the demands of academics and athletics as well as a part time job as a teachers aide for the Little Lambs Daycare and Preschool.

Following graduation, Joliette plans to return to Northern Nevada to pursue a career in law enforcement with the Reno Police Department. During a summer internship with the department, she became their first ever Wellness Assistant, applying her criminology and psychology skills to support officer wellness and mental health initiatives. This experience reinforced Joliette’s plan to pursue becoming a police officer and inspired her long-term goals of becoming a homicide detective.

When she’s not at practice, school, or work, Joliette enjoys staying active through working out, spending time outdoors, including camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. Known for her leadership, dedication, and attention to detail, she brings a strong work ethic and a positive influence to every team and community she serves.

05/11/2026

We wish all our students the best as Finals Week begins!