Mitchell Peterson
Director of Academic Review
Walden University
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
I planned to be pre-law major, until I learned more about the day-to-day work of an attorney.
I decided to major in psychology, because I thought I might enjoy being a clinician.
I enjoyed research methods and applied psychology, and did an internship with a consulting firm.
This led me to pursue a PhD in I / O Psychology at the Florida Institute of Technology.
I worked for the Department of Defense as an adjunct faculty member throughout graduate school.
I accepted a position working in assessment, which led to my career in institutional research.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Ellsworth High School
Ellsworth High School
Career
Director of Academic Review
I use data to support the academic quality and continuous improvement goals of Walden University.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Numbers
Problem Solving
Day to Day
I would say my best days at work involve collaboration, problem solving, and providing support to staff within and outside our department. This could include supporting and guiding research analysts in their work, collaborating with an academic program director to identify data to meet their needs for accreditation or program review, or developing reports that effectively communicate the results of a survey initiative.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Find a major or courses that help you grow your analytical skills. Many people assume majors like psychology or other social sciences only lead to a career working as a clinician providing therapy, or something similar. In my opinion, the most valuable and transferrable skills gained through a social science education are those that relate to research methods, data analysis, and problem solving.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Friends:
"Everyone who doesn't know what they want to do majors in psychology. You need a doctoral degree to do anything and you will be in school forever."
Challenges I Overcame
First-Generation College Student
