Katherine Vinson ’14

Bachelor’s degree in psychology with an applied behavior analysis concentration

In her early teens, Katherine often looked after her young cousin Marco, who had been adopted as a baby and eventually diagnosed with autism. Katherine did her best to keep Marco in a routine, to learn from his behaviors, and create a sense of normalcy in his life. Katherine and her family are committed to exposing Marco to experiences that help him grow intellectually and emotionally so that he may lead a rich and productive life.

Katherine chose the Becker College applied behavior analysis concentration in the psychology program to gain a better understanding of how to help Marco reach normal developmental functioning. “My goal is to help Marco function in the real world, and to help all children live a normal life in a society that accepts them,” she says.

Katherine continues to look after Marco as she attends classes. She made the Dean’s list as a freshman and is eager to learn more about her chosen field of study.