Taisha M. Jones
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

"As a second-year clinical psychology student, I find myself constantly intrigued by the incredible amount of support available to students at Saint Louis University. From the first time I walked on the campus, I could tell that Saint Louis University was the graduate school for me. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the value of a friendly face and a warm greeting; that is exactly what I found when I walked the campus. It was so exciting to receive a welcoming smile while passing by other students on campus.

My name is Taisha M. Jones and I am a native of St. Louis, Missouri. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri - Columbia in May of 2002, earning a bachelor degree in psychology and in sociology. Following graduation, I was employed as a psychometrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital in which I administered psychological and neuropsychological testing batteries to children and adolescents. It was this experience along with my personal career goals that inspired me to attend graduate school.

I chose Saint Louis University for the quality of training in the area of clinical psychology. The doctoral program is quite comprehensive and embraces eclectic thinking as well as research. The university provides support and various resources that make being a graduate student rewarding. Everyday I am exposed to greater depths of knowledge, and my colleagues and the faculty help make my experience fun-filled and stimulating.

My research interests range from examining resiliency factors in children and adolescents, to assessing the impact of psychological disorders, namely mood disorders such as depression, on emotional well-being and academic achievement. Also, I am interested in investigating the relationship between personality types, motivational patterns, and resiliency.

Ultimately, my goal is to become a licensed clinical psychologist in which I would provide therapy and assessment to people that have limited access to mental health services, and to continue contributing to the research in my areas of interests. I aim to interact with community outreach programs and schools in order to promote education and intervention, as well as the prevention of various mental and emotional health concerns."