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Parker Ross, 2024 Graduate

Position and Employer: Selection & Assessment Specialist, Wells Fargo

What MSIOP program experiences have been very valuable to you in your career? The
consulting experiences I had during the MSIOP program, both assigned and ones I took on
independently, were incredibly valuable. They gave me real-world opportunities to apply what I
was learning and develop my expertise across all areas of I/O psychology. One experience that
stands out is a pro bono project I worked on. It was a turning point for me, not just in terms of
skills like job analysis and assessment development but also in learning how to work with
clients and create solutions that truly make an impact. That project, along with a selection-
focused one, has been a big reason I feel confident and prepared in my current role. I also
gained a lot from learning how to communicate effectively with business leaders. Being able to
deliver high-quality work in a way that resonates with executives has been a game-changer for
me. Overall, these experiences gave me a strong foundation and a clear path for how I want to
contribute to organizations in the future.

What is your take on the perceived financial value of the MSIOP program? I think the MSIOP
program at Texas A&M is incredibly valuable because it truly prepares you for the workforce.
It’s not just about learning the theory—you get real-world experience through hands-on
projects that make you ready to contribute from day one. The program strikes a great balance
between technical skills and practical application, which gives you a big advantage in the job
market. Plus, the connections you build with faculty and peers set you up for long-term success.
It’s definitely a worthwhile investment in your career.

What advice would you give to students? My biggest advice to MSIOP students is to make the
most of every opportunity you get. Take on as many hands-on projects as you can, even if they
aren’t required. Those real-world experiences will give you skills and confidence that’ll set you
apart when you start your career. Additionally, don’t overlook the importance of building
relationships. Connect with your classmates, professors, and professionals in the field. You
never know which connection might lead to a new opportunity or help you down the road.
Also, if you’re feeling unsure about your career path, that’s okay! Use this time to explore
different areas of I/O psychology—you might stumble on something you love that you hadn’t
even thought about. Lastly, work on your communication skills. Being able to explain your ideas
clearly to people who aren’t I/O experts is one of the most important things you can do to make
an impact in this field.

Jeremy Sapia, 2023 Graduate

Position and Employer: Employee Experience Product Analyst at HP Inc.

What MSIOP program experiences have been very valuable to you in your career? Every
course offered me something valuable. Learning to balance the academics, with my other
involvements, emphasized the tantamount importance of interpersonal skills and time
management. The ability to apply our knowledge and skills to consulting projects were
excellent experiences because it challenged me to connect psychological research and data
insights to be digestible for non-academic stakeholders.

What is your take on the perceived financial value of the MSIOP program? Any investment in
education to further a career is worth it, especially this program! Securing a graduate
assistantship on-campus helped lower the cost of my out of state tuition. Many employers offer
student-debt assistance, so do not let the price tag of a graduate degree intimidate you.

What advice would you give to students? It’s not just about the degree; it’s also about your
story and what compliments your degree. This program and university offer many
opportunities, so go all-in once you find something that clicks. Network with intention, ask
questions, find what you enjoy learning, and remember that you got this!

Neel Mishra, 2022 Graduate

Position and Employer: Lead Human Resource Business Partner at Infineon Technologies Americas Corp.

What MSIOP program experiences have been very valuable to you in your career? Each and every session over the 15 month program was equally helpful in providing in-depth information on the amazing field of IO Psychology. I particularly enjoyed the lecture series on US labor laws, job analysis, research on key research constructs of Org Psychology, learning and development, as well as advanced statistics. Research experience with Isaac’s lab under Kristen Jaramillo’s guidance was particularly rewarding in enriching my fundamentals of good research skills.

What is your take on the perceived financial value of the MSIOP program? With the scholarships and on campus job opportunities, I was able to offset a portion of my international student fees. It paid off as I received a well paying internship and job thereafter. I would say the quality of our Program with income opportunities are commensurate with the program fees. Although, RA positions within the department for grad students is an opportunity area we can explore.

What advice would you give to students? Stay focused and actively seek out opportunities to sharpen your learning. Make the most of the program/ professors/ learning resources/ network available. While the program offers a multitude of exciting avenues for learning, you will always have the option to go the extra mile in making your learning holistic, both academic and practical! Also, you have a large alumni network always available to support you - make sure you leverage them! Happy learning and I wish you all the best 🙂

Lawrence Liu, 2021 Graduate

Bruce Keller, 2020 Graduate

Position and Employer: Research (Flight) Project Manager at the Behavioral Health & Performance Lab at Johnson Space Center

What MSIOP program experiences have been very valuable to you in your career? I didn't graduate long ago, but so far working with R. Older researchers seem to be better versed in statistical software like SPSS. R is capable of much more complex analysis, it being open source allows for the use of the most recently developed statistics, and finally the ability to create interactive websites and apps in R is something SPSS won't be able to do any time soon. Employers seem to value R highly as it has been emphasized greatly during interviews and has frequently led to special assignments.

What is your take on the perceived financial value of the MSIOP program? I worked for a few years between my bachelor's and starting my master's degree. I got a fantastic job thanks to the good preparation of the program and its strong network. Even paying out of state tuition, the program will have paid for itself in two years.

What advice would you give to students? The program faculty are fully committed to help you reach your goals but they will provide mostly opportunities, guidance, and resources. It is still primarily the student that must take the initiative and put in the effort to meet their goals.

Ta’Niss Robinson, 2020 Graduate

Mary Lee Morales, 2019 Graduate

Position and Employer: People Analytics Analyst at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

What MSIOP program experiences have been very valuable to you in your career? My internship and the consulting projects that were organized with local businesses are two of the major MSIOP program experiences that have been invaluable to my career. These applied experiences allowed me to apply and retain the knowledge that I gained through the MSIOP program and to obtain work-related experiences that would make me a strong candidate for the job roles that I would soon be applying for. In addition, these experiences have allowed me to build my internal network at HPE and to cross-collaborate on projects that are unrelated to my current role, thereby building my work experiences.

What is your take on the perceived financial value of the MSIOP program? The MSIOP program has been well worth my investment. As an early I/O practitioner, it gave me the edge in job applications as a result of my applied experiences during the program and it helped me have a foundation on which to build my professional credibility. The MSIOP program also provided me, and continues to provide, access to working opportunities that would not be open to me otherwise.

What advice would you give to students? My advice would be to start networking early. Leverage your role as a student to build your network with I/O practitioners using informational interviews. You'll find that many practitioners are inclined to share their knowledge when the individual requesting the interview is a student and the conversation is framed as purely informational. After all, they were once students too.