Student Ambassador: Suzanna Mangray

Hello! I’m Suzanna Mangray. I’m a first-generation graduate student pursuing my MA/CAGS in School Psychology at WJC. I am a member of both the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Initiative (CAMHI) fellowship programs. I’m also a member of the First-Generation Student Group at WJC and plan to join the African and Caribbean Concentration next year. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, I grew up in Long Island, NY where I earned my BA in Psychology from CUNY Queens College. As a child, I aspired to be a teacher but in my senior year of high school, I fell in love with clinical psychology. However, after learning about ABA therapy, I became a Registered Behavior Technician, supporting learners with ASD and socio-emotional disorders overcome a multitude of social, emotional, and behavioral barriers in school and home settings over the years in NY and MA.

Wanting to do more for students and emboldened by my varied work and life experiences, I ultimately decided to become a school psychologist as it is a combination of my former aspirations. I plan to become an agent of change as a school psychologist that provides culturally diverse care for at-risk and underserved student populations.

As a returning student, WJC quickly became my top choice for a school psychology graduate program as my main considerations were: would I have enough experience in the field to be a competent provider and would I receive education that could serve as a strong foundation for the rest of my professional life? The early and strong emphasis on experiential learning, paired with faculty who provide a safe place where learning can truly happen, and WJC’s commitment to cultural diversity made WJC the best choice for me.

I'm excited to answer any questions you may have as you consider WJC and the School Psychology MA/CAGS program for yourself. There is no such thing as a silly question so please feel free to send an email my way.