STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
Mitali Temurnikar is a second year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Her research centers on global workforce development, the role of technology in career development, and innovative policies to enhance vocational outcomes across diverse populations. As a research assistant at BU’s Center for Future Readiness, Mitali contributes to initiatives that support educational systems and organizations in developing impactful career and workforce programs. Her work spans career readiness policy analysis and culturally sensitive career interventions, always aimed at bridging gaps in access and advocacy. Mitali holds an M.Phil.Ed. in Professional Counseling and an M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Mental Health Services from the University of Pennsylvania, where she honed skills in trauma-informed mental health and career counseling. Her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion was honored with Penn’s GSE Student Award for Excellence.
Katie Cook is a 4th year doctoral student in counseling psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Katie has worked with her advisor, Dr. Erin Hardin, on the NIH-funded Imagining Possibilities grant project, which provides career education to students in rural Appalachian high schools by serving as a facilitator and staff trainer. Katie also has worked as an academic mentor for rural Appalachian college students in the NSF-funded ASPIRE program at the University of Tennessee. Katie’s research interests involve applying vocational psychology theory to develop career interventions that directly support members of her community. For her dissertation, she developed Project PACE, a career intervention for women living in a transitional housing program in East Tennessee. She was also elected to serve on the Journal of Career Assessment student board as a student reviewer. She has been supporting the current SVP Student Representative to build community among students who are also passionate about vocational psychology. Katie is hoping to advance communication among students and the SVP board for their enhanced student engagement and representation in the field.