Multicultural Education Inspires School Psychology Alumna to Bring Her Skills Across the Globe

An education at William James College means an education you can bring to many different career paths, settings, and places. For Mary Fusco, a 2018 graduate of the School Psychology MA/CAGS program, her WJC education inspired her to move abroad and become an international school psychologist.

“I was looking for international work because when I was at William James College, there was a big emphasis on working with culturally and linguistically diverse students,” said Fusco. “I really leaned into that when I was studying there and I wanted to take that a lot further.”

Currently, Fusco works with a diverse range of students in preschool through twelfth grade at an international school in Poland, specializing in providing comprehensive psychoeducational assessments, coordinating the Learning Support program, presenting on topics of neurodiversity, and serving on the child safeguarding lead team. She collaborates with team members, families, and external providers to build an inclusive and supportive school culture. In her career, Fusco is driven by supporting students to develop self-awareness of their learning styles, recognize personal strengths, and build self-agency skills for life.

“There’s such a need for strong support systems in schools, and I really enjoy having a path that allows me to work with so many students and families,” shared Fusco. “Whether in the U.S. or abroad, every school I’ve ever worked for has one thing in common: they all are working to create an inclusive environment that provides equitable access to learning and actively promotes the identity and belonging of all students.”

Fusco’s experiences in her education and career so far have provided her with a diverse foundation in school psychology that she brings to her current position. While at William James, Fusco worked in Quincy, Boston, and Anchorage, Alaska, which, she said, gave her 
“well-rounded experiences” and helped her “feel ready to launch into the field after graduation.”

These field experiences weren’t the only highlight of the school psychology program for Fusco. She also emphasized the faculty and approach to the curriculum. “I really appreciated how William James College and the faculty put forth the foundational themes of neurodiversity, social justice, and culturally responsive practice that were woven throughout the entire program. They weren’t just standalone topics, but integrated into every lesson and training experience,” said Fusco. “It allowed me to deepen my self-awareness and better create space to hear and see others, which is what I find is a cornerstone of school psychology and is essential to working internationally.” 

Since graduating from William James, Fusco has worked for a charter school system in Boston and later traveled around Europe and the Middle East while working as a consultant for a private global company. She provided psychoeducational assessments and counseling to international students, as well as contributed to professional development workshops, consultation, and inclusion review services to international schools. 

“I was really fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to different countries, see a lot of different international schools, and learn how they operate,” explained Fusco, who has now been able to take what she’s learned and apply it all in one place.

After taking a psychology course in high school, Fusco was immediately drawn to the field. She pursued it through both her undergraduate and graduate studies, and never looked back. “I’ve always been interested in the human experience and understanding the way people navigate their inner and outer worlds,” she said. “The best part of psychology is that there’s no end to learning and curiosity. It is a field that is constantly growing, spreading awareness, and driving acceptance in society.” Guided by this philosophy, Fusco values working in schools where that frame of thinking starts early and where people band together like a village to support children.

For others who might be figuring out their career paths and may be considering school psychology, Fusco offered some advice: “If someone feels called to study school psychology, I would say go for it. I’ve had a really positive and rewarding experience in the field so far and there’s a lot of opportunity—in the U.S., but also worldwide—where the availability of services varies from place to place and where communities are seeking this expertise.”

Above all, Fusco encourages those entering the field to explore. “Follow the opportunities that speak to you,” she said. “Those opportunities will carve out the career path that’s meant for you and you will find yourself exactly where you are meant to be at each step in your journey.” 

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