Kathryn Kiskinen
Compassion is essential to our survival as a species. I had very thoughtful professors who incorporated elements of social justice into their lessons, even in my labs!
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Degree and Class Year
Hometown
Current City
Major
Minor
Extracurriculars
Overseas study
Job Title, Organization
Continuing Studies
What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
I felt very supported by the admissions team when I was accepted into L&C, and I really like the concept of liberal arts because it allowed me to explore many fields of study while majoring in psychology.
What have you been doing since graduation?
After graduation, I moved to the Bay Area and was hired as a medical scribe in the Neuro Oncology department at Stanford Children’s hospital. I worked there for over a year and loved it, but wanted more hands-on experience in a clinical setting so I became a registered behavior technician at BlueSprig Pediatrics and currently work with children, ages 2-7, with ASD and learning differences. I also moved back to my hometown in order to save money for graduate school. I currently work at a behavior clinic in Folsom, California. I am moving to Scotland in September 2025 for my master’s degree, which is a research intensive program in psychology.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for grad school?
My education at Lewis & Clark College significantly helped my critical-thinking skills and writing, which made my job as a medical scribe and RBT much more fulfilling when it comes to recording session notes and helping to design treatment plans for patients.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
Compassion is essential to our survival as a species. I had very thoughtful professors who incorporated elements of social justice into their lessons, even in my labs!
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
I stay connected to L&C through engaging with other alumni on social media like Instagram and LinkedIn.
What did you like or find most interesting about your major?
Psychology is a versatile field and can be applied just about everywhere.
What did you like or find most interesting about your minor?
Music is healing and brings people together—I really loved being in choir and sharing my interests with like-minded people.
What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?
My favorite courses were Health Psychology and Cross Cultural Psychology where I learned about the importance of the body-mind connection (especially when it comes to stress) and cultural sensitivity—I am able to apply what I learned in these courses to my current job where I work with children of diverse backgrounds.
Where did you find your community on campus?
I found my community through mingling with people in my dorms and classes.
How did you choose your overseas program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?
I chose the fine arts program in London so I could embrace my artistic side and enjoy the arts. This program inspired me to continue my education overseas because travel is important to me and I want more time living abroad.
