Spring 2024 Mortensen Donor Awards for Psychology Undergraduate Engagement

As a Helpline Volunteer for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), Thiagarajan provides peer support and resources for individuals struggling with eating disorders during weekly shifts. She engages in meaningful conversations and offers assistance by creating a safe and comfortable space for callers to express their feelings and the help they need. Through this experience, she can fuse her knowledge and experience as a psychology major with her academic pursuits to work in healthcare -- reinforcing her dedication to mental health advocacy. Although a brief call may not cure someone’s struggles, this allows Thiagarajan to be a small stepping stone toward a meaningful difference.

This award’s financial support allows Thiagarajan to further dedicate more time and energy to her nonprofit work for ANAD. It further motivates her and empowers her to continue her commitment to mental health advocacy. 

Kozlov is a Direct Service Advocate (DSA) with the University of Minnesota’s Aurora Center, where she applies her psychological knowledge from coursework and training to care for individuals who have experienced or are concerned about sexual violence. Taking helpline calls requires trauma-informed care, the ability to assess an individual's needs, and competency in resources to meet those needs. 

Kozlov is an undergraduate student who understands when time is equated to money and works alongside schoolwork, she is appreciative of the time that this award gives her to participate in her studies and all the additional experiences expected at this stage in her educational career. This is especially true as she intends to go to graduate school. 

Arnold is working as a resource counseling advocate at Tubman, assisting people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds through safety planning, crisis intervention, emotional support, information and connection to Tubman services, and referrals to community organizations. At Tubman, they strive to provide person-centered care with an attitude of cultural humility. This has been Arnold’s second semester working at Tubman, and she has been privileged to be able to implement much of what she has learned as a psychology student at UMN in service of better understanding and supporting the people with whom Tubman works. Volunteering at Tubman has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and she is grateful for all that she has learned both from her colleagues there and from the clients, who never cease to inspire her with their resilience, strength, and bravery.

This award helps to offset costs associated with her work at Tubman and thus will allow her to take this volunteer position serving the community rather than seeking to fill these hours with paid work. Arnold is very grateful to be relieved of some of the financial pressures associated with her choice to spend this time working at Tubman.

Composed by Madison Stromberg, communications assistant.