Fostering Belonging: Q+A with Agathe Brudi '25

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Agathe Brudi

Class of 2025

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

You are engaged in a number of peer mentoring roles as a Pace student. Please tell us more about these experiences and how this work is meaningful to you.

A peer leader is essentially a co-teacher for University 101 classes who serves as a helping hand as freshmen transition into college life. Through this role, I was able to give back to the Pace community while simultaneously gaining experience and making friends. I could not mention my peer leadership without acknowledging my own University 101 instructor, Denise Moreno, a kind-hearted individual who always ensured that class ran smoothly and taught students valuable skills.

I also volunteer for a peer mentoring program that helps Pace students with physical mobility challenges flourish, such as aiding them with their homework, typing, and accessing Pace websites. The work can sometimes be challenging, and full of trial and error, but, as with all new experiences, I discover what works best for me and the other individual, and then we find a mutual rhythm. Overall, this experience has really opened my eyes to the kind of work I want to do when I graduate.

How did you become interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology?

I always wanted to understand why humans think and act the way they do, and my mom felt that I have good perception when it came to reading people and analyzing different personalities and situations. I am very content with my choice, as psychology is possibly the most interesting subject I have studied, specifically, subtopics such as mental and physical disorders, biological psychology, neuroscience, evolution, behavioral psychology, intelligence, memory, and socialization of personality. I could never get bored, as there is always something new to discover, not only about others, but also myself.

At Pace, I’ve been able to both meet a diversity of people and take part in so many opportunities. I am eternally grateful for the privilege to attend this school.

Why did you choose to attend Pace?

I chose Pace for a number of reasons. I was really drawn to being a part of the Pforzheimer Honors College, as I wanted to challenge myself with the responsibilities that come with this membership. All these years have been truly beneficial to me, and I would not have had as much success in college if not for the help of Mohini Gobin, my guidance counselor. In addition, as someone who is originally from France and has lived most of my life in suburban New Jersey, I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and be in the new environment of New York City. At Pace, I’ve been able to both meet a diversity of people and take part in so many opportunities. I am eternally grateful for the privilege to attend this school.

What have your experiences been like with the New York Psychology Department? What faculty have been instrumental in your academic journey?

I have had the pleasant experience of getting to know several staff and faculty members in the New York Psychology Department. As I mentioned earlier, Denise Moreno, who I worked with in peer leadership, has been instrumental in guiding me to become a better instructor, but also a more active member of the Pace community. Professor DaSean Young, PhD, my experimental psychology professor and advisor for my honors thesis, has been both incredibly vital to my thesis proposal and helped me overcome my anxiety when it comes to doing research. Professor Samantha Pescatore has taken the time to talk to me about different career paths, and Professor Michele Zaccario, PhD, is a wonderful individual who cares deeply about her students and ensures they understand the course materials.

What activities/organizations are you engaged in at Pace?

I am an honors student in the Pforzheimer Honors College and president of Tonal Recall, Pace’s premier acapella group.

What would you like to do upon graduation/what are your career goals?

I would like to pursue a master’s degree and experience different roles in the field of psychology, such as working with those who have mental and physical challenges, as well as further study behavior, memory, intelligence, and personality.

What advice would you like to give to our current students?

It is hard to manage all the responsibilities of being an adult, but it is manageable. I am sometimes nervous I am going to live a life of regrets, but to defy this mindset, I always remind myself to take it a day at a time, as it is better to live in the now than stress about a future that has not happened yet.