Maria DePalma

Name:

Maria DePalma

Job Title:

Assistant Director

Joined the L&S Office of Undergraduate Advising in:

May 2000

What is your approach to advising?

I hope to assist students in developing solid decision-making skills that empower them to assume responsibility for their educational plans and their achievements. I do so by encouraging and guiding students as they define and develop realistic goals and attainable educational plans.

Education:

MA Counseling Psychology Springfield College, Massachusetts
BA Psychology/Women's Studies SUNY New Paltz

How did you get here?

I followed my passion. Early on in my career I realized that I valued education and loved being able to help others. Where better to be able to offer assistance than a university setting. And what better university than Cal?!

What's your favorite part of your job?

I love finding ways to help students explore the opportunities that exist at Cal.

What's the best class you've ever taken?

I took a Psych class called Social Animal. It was basically a Social Psych class where the elements of group dynamics were taught experientially, in a very Lord of the Flies manner. The professor put up a schedule of meeting times and rooms for both small and large group sessions and then did nothing else - forcing the group to come up with structure and leadership on it's own. It was fascinating.

About me:

I'm originally an East Coaster and have lived in both NY and Boston. But I'm now a confirmed Californian. I love being outdoors, cooking, reading, films and my iTouch!

What advice do you have for L&S students in general?

Be sure to indulge your intellectual curiosity.

Higher education succeeds if it instills in you a desire to pursue knowledge…it fails if you learn simply in order to get a degree.