Class of 2025: Seth Klein

Originally from Parkland, FL, Seth Klein knew he was interested in both education and psychology. The Master of Education in Educational Psychology: Applied Developmental Science program was the perfect fit.  

Q. Why did you choose the UVA School of Education & Human Development for your program of study?

I chose the M.Ed. in EP:ADS because I grew up loving school and wanted to work as a teacher. Eventually, I also found a passion for psychology. I thought this program was the perfect blend of my interests, as it highlights the inner workings of education through a psychological lens. 

Despite educational psychology being a bit of a niche field, I found it to encompass a lot of different areas and experiences, which made it very interesting for someone like me who didn't necessarily know what path I wanted to take next. 

Q. What is one thing you learned during your studies that surprised you most?

After thinking I disliked math and statistics throughout adolescence, I found that I actually really enjoyed working with numbers and data sets - especially ones where there are tangible things attached, such as student outcomes. 

I ended up enjoying my quantitative methods & data analysis classes the most as they allowed me to see real results from relevant research and student data collection. I'm glad that I was able to find a new appreciation for statistics and encourage all incoming students to come in with an open mind. 

Q. What is one of the most significant things that has shaped your time while you’ve been here?

Throughout my program, I had an internship at the UVA School of Data Science's Office of Student Affairs. This internship helped me figure out that I really enjoy working with student data and has pushed me in a more quantitative direction for my career. 

After working in a lab throughout my undergraduate experience, I was very grateful to have this unique experience to work directly with students, faculty, and data for such a cool, new population at UVA. I learned a lot about survey evaluation and what goes on behind the scenes in an office of student affairs. 

Q. What will you be doing next?

After graduation in May, I am moving to New York City to work at an educational technology company! Although I will miss my time in Charlottesville, I can't wait for what's next and am very grateful to this program for lighting my path ahead.