Sepideh Alavi

Research Interests

Sepideh M. Alavi is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology emphasis working with Dr. Maryam Kia-Keating. Her scholarship is on the impact of compassion fatigue, secondary and vicarious trauma, and burnout in health and mental health care providers responding to trauma, and organizational strategies to improve resilience.

Mentoring Experiences

Teaching and mentoring undergraduate students at UCSB has been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my graduate career. I strive to collaboratively explore and identify barriers and facilitators to fostering academic growth with my mentees. In this process, it's important to meet mentees where they are at to facilitate a safe, open, and welcoming space. My goal is to cultivate self-efficacy in my mentees, for them to see their strengths, and feel empowered to pursue their dreams.

Meaning of the Award

This award is very meaningful to me, personally. In part, working with highly motivated students who are eager to learn and go the extra mile to reach their goals, reminds me of my 18 year old self who had just arrived in America after completing high school abroad, and attempting to navigate higher education in the U.S. My mentors have a significant role in my success and I am grateful to be able to give back to students and mentees as they strive to find their pursuits.