2023-2024: Emmett Tweeddale
Emmett Tweeddale
2023-2024: Underserved Scholarship Awardee
Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA
Health and Behavioral Medicine
LGBTQIA+ Studies
“It is only when we take chances, when our lives improve. The initial and the most difficult risk that we need to take is to become honest.” —Walter Anderson
Emmett Tweeddale is originally from upstate New York, but has called many places home including London (England), Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. He began his study of psychology as an undergraduate student at Stonehill College. His involvement in the Office of Intercultural Affairs on campus with the LGBTQ+ self-identified group and the Advocates for a Brighter Stonehill Leadership group spearheaded his involvement in protecting LGBTQ+ identities in academia. He is proud of his challenging, yet rewarding role as a peer leader for the LGBTQIA+ community during his undergraduate career, striving for constant and collaborative improvement in his advocacy.
As a queer person who has profound hearing loss, advocating for underserved communities and recognizing intersectionality has not only been a necessity for himself, but has also turned into a passion he has been devoted to professionally. Emmett has worked to support the mental health of underserved communities, particularly youth, in a number of settings, including Wediko Summer Camp, Bierman ABA, and the North American Family Institute.
As a student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at William James College, Emmett looks forward to studying psychology through a multicultural lens to work towards systemic equity in the mental health field. Emmett intends to advocate for students with disabilities in the Academic Resource Center and become involved in student-led organizations. His short-term professional goals are to perform well academically and at his practicum placement at NFI Massachusetts. Emmett’s long-term career goals are to secure his licensure, begin practicing outpatient therapy, and supervise clinicians at a non-profit serving underserved populations. He wishes to focus on trauma-informed care within the LGBTQIA+ community, create accepting work and therapeutic environments, and inspire positive change in the lives of mental health providers and those seeking mental health care.
Emmett shares:
“To have been awarded this scholarship means to be given the opportunity to be a part of the change I will be and so many others have been working towards during their time at WJC and after... Being recognized as both an advocate and as part of different underserved communities gives me resolve, confidence, and motivation to continue to strive for equity, inclusion, and acceptance, especially in the psychological field.”
Emmett has had a deep appreciation for music ever since he began playing violin at age six. He values music’s positive effect on his mental health and pursuit of passion. Emmett was also a competitive gymnast for over 15 years. Within the training, competing, and traveling, gymnastics gave him insight into mental and physical health and allowed him to excel at his passion.