Teddy Schupack

Teddy Schupack is a psychology doctoral student from Hayward, CA

Hometown: Hayward, CA

High School: William Howard Taft High School

Year: Anticipated Graduation: Spring 2027

What is your major (and/or minor), and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am technically majoring in social psychology with a minor in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology, but I'd consider myself a proud student of the social and I/O psychology area. I didn't always know I wanted to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. In fact, it was not until my junior year as an undergraduate that I decided to switch my major from music business to psychology. I am very thankful for the guidance of my undergraduate professors who supported me in pursuing this advanced degree. Besides my general interest in social psychology, my decision here is influenced by my goal of becoming a professor. In order to get there, I'm happily completing my Ph.D. in psychology.

Tell us about the research you are conducting at NIU: what it involves, why it interests you and who has been important to your success along the way.
I've conducted and been a part of teams that have conducted all sorts of research here at NIU. Some research I am particularly proud of being a part of is the research that Dr. Randy McCarthy and our research team have been doing on everyday prosocial behaviors. This research is particularly exciting for several reasons. For one, the focus on prosocial behaviors (which can include compliments, expressions of gratitude, social support and apologies) is an exciting and new focus of our lab. It has also been really exciting because part of our research process involves having our participants engage in these prosocial behaviors in the real world, which almost feels like we are helping spread some goodness in the world, in addition to contributing to scientific understanding of these behaviors. I also want to shout out our research team and all of our undergraduates who have made significant contributions to this work as well.

How has conducting research strengthened your experience at NIU, and how do you expect it to help you in the future?
Research is a significant part of graduate school training. Becoming a trained researcher who can conduct independent, scholarly research is crucial. I feel that my research experience has provided me with the training and skills to do exactly that.

What has genuinely surprised you about your experience at NIU?
I don't know if I truly anticipated what my graduate school experience would be like, but safe to say a lot has been surprising, mostly in good ways! Academically, I get to be surprised every day when I learn about a new effect in class or hear about another student's research. Professionally, I have recently begun teaching my own class, which has been super educational. I'm learning about teaching, applying what I've learned about teaching and expanding my teacher's toolbox. I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience, and I'm looking forward to my career. Socially, I've made wonderful connections with amazing people that will hopefully last far beyond graduate school.

Are you involved in student organizations, mentoring programs or extracurricular activities? If so, which ones, and how have they shaped your experience as a Huskie?
I've been a part of different mentoring programs, panels and general opportunities to grow as a scholar. To name one, I am currently working on a volunteer program assessment as part of a program that allows graduate students who are being trained in I/O psychology to apply skills to real volunteer program assessment.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel supported and successful, and how?
The Department of Psychology is always extraordinary. Shout out to Kathi West and Ian Findley, who are on top of everything all the time. They are part of the backbone of the psychology department.

Who has been a favorite instructor or professor, and what did they teach? What made them memorable?
Some of my most memorable professors have been Dr. Brad Sagarin, Dr. Randy McCarthy, Dr. Lisa Finkelstein and Dr. Anne Britt. Some classes have had memorable reading lists, some created invigorating educational discussions and classrooms, and some are memorable for the support they provide beyond the classroom.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community, and why are you drawn to it?
Unfortunately, I do not get out much from my office in the psychology building, but I have some nostalgic spots on campus from special moments. Many of these moments are grad school firsts: first classroom, first time meeting special people, first thesis proposal and defense. There are a lot of spots.

How has NIU helped you find your community or your sense of belonging here?
I think more than anything the people of NIU have given me sense of belonging. I've mentioned some specifically, but generally I feel community in the people I get to share these spaces with.

Why is a college education important to you?
Graduate education is important to me because it is simply a necessary step in the pursuit of my career goals. I have enjoyed my graduate school experience, and I am fortunate to have this experience, but it is also simply a necessity I need to accomplish.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges right now?
When researching graduate programs, particularly Ph.D. programs, one of the most important things to think about is the advisor you'd be working with. In Ph.D. programs where research is a significant proportion of your training, you will want to apply to work under an advisor who is actively conducting research that matches your interests (to some extent) and is generally someone you can imagine working closely with over the next several years.

How do you manage your responsibilities like school, work, family and everything else while still making the most of your time at NIU?
Managing work/school/life is always a skill in graduate school, and I think most others would agree. I have found that managing this balance requires deliberateness. In graduate school, you are working on projects, assignments and assistantships that could take up your entire life if you let it. The deliberate balance I have found really just comes down to maximizing my productivity when I need to be productive and protecting time, so I can still be a functioning human.

What led you to pursue graduate education, and why did you choose NIU for that next step?
While considering whether to pursue a graduate education, it really came down to what my career goals were and if graduate school was a necessary step. At some point, I decided my goal was to be a professor, and in order to reach that goal, I knew graduate school was inevitable. NIU was my decision mainly because of the alignment with the advisor I was applying to work under, Dr. Randy McCarthy. I felt our research interests aligned and we would be able to work well together. Fortunately, I was correct!

How has your graduate program connected you to research opportunities, professional networks or career advancement?
I personally feel very lucky for my experience in my graduate program. I am able to be an active contributor to research projects, pursue independent research and gain career-relevant teaching experience. I am grateful I've been given such valuable opportunities to develop these important skills.

What has your relationship with faculty and fellow graduate students been like, and how has it shaped your experience?
Again, I feel very grateful and fortunate that I have had wonderful experiences with faculty and fellow graduate students. To name some: Holly Sampson, Kaya Easley, Dr. Randy McCarthy, Selena Heinlein, Dr. Lisa Finkelstein, Dr. Brad Sagarin, Dr. Jared Wilson and Nathan Campbell. These people have positively shaped my graduate school experience in different ways. I’m grateful for their support, generosity, friendship and partnership (just Holly). My professional, academic and social experience would not be the same without them.

What would you tell an undergraduate student who is considering graduate school?
What I tend to tell people who are considering graduate school is to base your decision on your career goals. If you want to work in a career that requires a graduate degree, then graduate school is right for you. I have other advice for people who are in graduate school, but when it comes down to whether grad school is right for you or not, I believe it depends on if your career requires it.