Title: Assistant Professor of Psychology, Delaware State University
Tenured: No
Age: 39
Education: B.S., psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and Ph.D., health psychology, East Carolina University
Career mentors: Dr. Jeannie Golden, East Carolina University; Dr. Diane Finley, Prince George’s Community College; and Dr. Christine McDermott, Delaware State University
Words of wisdom/advice for new faculty members: “Don’t stretch yourself out too thin. Learn how to say no as a junior faculty member but say it with poise and some grace. The more that you’re straightforward with the time that you have, the more that you can make those decisions of whether to take on something.”
Dr. Albee Mendoza’s parents wanted her to go into medicine, study biology and chemistry, and ultimately become a doctor or nurse. She decided to respect their wishes but do so with a twist by going into psychology instead.
“I kind of defied them a little bit and said, ‘I want to help with peoples’ mental health and talk a little bit about how maybe bullying or trauma or domestic abuse can also impact their actual health, in addition to their physical health,’” says Mendoza, a first-generation Filipino immigrant who came to the U.S. at age 7.
Mendoza is roughly a decade into her teaching career, one that has been tumultuous due to circumstances outside her control. Yet, the assistant professor of psychology at Delaware State University (DSU) persists and chooses to move forward at each challenge with her work in psychology and for students.
