Connecting on a Deeper Level

Long before Scott Greenspan began working as a school psychologist, he felt drawn to helping others, especially kids. His summers were filled with teaching swimming lessons and volunteering as a camp counselor in Sharon, Massachusetts. He also worked in several after school programs, the highlight of which was guiding young people as they developed essential life skills.

When Scott enrolled at UMass Boston as an undergraduate, the stage was already set, even if he didn’t fully realize it yet. What he did know was that the liberal arts classes he was taking struck a chord somewhere deep inside himself.

“I felt really alive and fulfilled in those classes,” he said. “They felt like supportive environments where I could engage in rich dialogue about theory, life, and big ideas.”

Psychology was the perfect conduit for Scott to channel his innate curiosity while also putting his passion for mentorship into action. He decided to continue studying at the graduate level, enrolling in the Mental Health Counseling master’s program at his alma mater. When he wasn’t busy taking classes or working on research, he was out in the communities of greater Boston, providing mental health support to children, adults, and families.

Spending so much time learning the theory and practice of psychotherapy triggered a major sea change in Scott’s life. He began seeing himself no longer as a student, but as a professional. Reflecting on abstract concepts like authenticity and empathy culminated in a moment of personal clarity. He opened up to his families and friends about his identity as a gay man. 

“I really connected with myself on a much deeper level,” he said. “It’s kind of funny that the very concepts I was learning in the counseling program were exactly what I needed from myself and others.”

Enter UMass Amherst. After working as a mental health clinician, Scott was craving something more. He wanted to go beyond his influence as an individual practitioner of mental health, and bring all of his skills and interests together in order to create change on a broader level.

Five years of nonstop work paid off (although, as he fondly remembers, “laughs around Furcolo filled my bucket and kept me going toward my goals”). Today, Scott is an assessment specialist and school consultant at Wediko Boston, which is a program of The Home for Little Wanderers. Wediko contracts with schools throughout Greater Boston to provide educational, social, and psychological support services.

Scott’s position provides plenty of latitude when it comes to putting his degree to use. He splits his time meeting with school stakeholders, consulting schools about psychological testing and assessment, meeting with students as part of the special education determination process, and delivering presentations on evidence-based mental health and behavioral interventions.

 “What I really like about the School Psychology program is its emphasis on how we can be agents of change within the school system to support students socially, emotionally, academically, and behaviorally.”

What keeps Scott grounded among all of his responsibilities is Wediko Boston's strong promotion of social justice. 

“They uphold a strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and affirming approach to care,” Scott said. “I feel that I can bring my whole self to work and live out my values.”

Scott credits his training in the College of Education with linking his personal values to educational strategies. Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, or PBIS, is a methodology he learned and gained expertise with at UMass Amherst. (PBIS factors heavily into his current work.) The College of Education also afforded him the opportunity to fine-tune his research skills, opening other social justice avenues to mental health promotion, LGBTQ+ support, and physical activity.

“I felt like my thoughts and perspectives were always heard and valued,” he said. “The EDUC faculty supported me in really grounding my interests within existing school psychology frameworks."

It’s no irony, then, that Scott also finds time to be a fully-fledged academic, on top of all of his professional commitments. He teaches in the School Psychology program at Tufts University, focusing on cognitive behavioral interventions in schools. He also was invited to teach as a visiting assistant professor in the Counseling Psychology program at Framingham State University in summer 2021.

If that weren’t enough, he also stays in contact with colleagues he met at UMass Amherst, working on manuscripts that address topics including physical activity promotion and mental health outcomes of transgender and gender diverse autistic youth.

“I feel so well-equipped to support youth, families, and school communities,” Scott said. “When I walk around the hallways in a school, it’s really exciting to see strategies I have advocated for actually being implemented.”

This story was published in the fall 2021 college newsletter. Read more feature stories on our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and donors.