Rebecca Bove, a first-year graduate student in the developmental psychology program, is the recipient of the 2019 Berk Developmental Graduate Teaching Fellowship.
Bove was raised in McHenry before earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Illinois State University. She chose the psychology program at ISU because she knew there would be opportunities not available at other universities.
“Here I’m able to focus on both research and applied experiences in developmental psychology. I get to work hands-on with professors and know they will be there if I have questions or need help”, said Bove.
Her research interests include looking at social-emotional development with atypical developing children as it relates to art programs. After completing her master’s, Bove plans to either enter a doctoral program for child psychology or take time to work in a hospital or school setting with children who have developmental disabilities. Eventually, she would like to become a college professor and continue doing research with children.
Distinguished Professor of Psychology Emerita Laura Berk established the Developmental Psychology Graduate Teaching Fellowship for a master’s student admitted to developmental psychology. The fellowship supports a second-year graduate student with an assistantship for teaching a developmental psychology course. The department also provides the student with a full-tuition waiver. Each year the developmental psychology faculty selects a first-year graduate student as the Fellow; the student’s faculty mentor helps prepare the student to teach a college-level class during the following academic year.
