On their very first day as Derner doctoral students, Travis Nair and Anne-Marie Romain struck up a friendshipâthe start of a lasting bond that has mutually supported them through the milestones and challenges of Adelphiâs nationally top-ranked clinical psychology doctoral program.
It should come as no surprise that as the first university-based professional school of psychology in the United States, the Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology has long enjoyed an international reputation for excellence. Today, its clinical psychology doctoral program is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nationâs best.
Flourishing friendships between students, according to Laura Brumariu, PhD, associate dean for professional programs and student advancement at Derner, are often a key ingredient in student success.
âFriendships based on mutual regard, affection and support are one of the best gifts of going to school togetherâtaking classes and undergoing similar learning experiences together and sharing an understanding of life and the world,â she explained. âStudents develop friendships that are a source of joy, learning and reciprocal validation of their hopes, dreams and fears.â
As doctoral students Anne-Marie Romain and Travis Neal look forward to earning their PhDs in May 2026, they each insist that the friendship they struck up in August 2021 on day one was fundamental to their program experience.
âA PhD is so hard and long,â said Romain, who will soon be moving to Chicago to start her final, yearlong internship in college counseling at the University of Illinois Chicago. âHaving this friendship was really helpful for me to not feel alone.â
A âVery Close Friendshipâ
Looking back, Nairâwho recently began a clinical internship at Montefiore Medical Center in a combined childhood/adult programâsaid that theirs has been âa very close friendship.â Although he had also done his undergraduate work at Adelphi, being a PhD student was nonetheless a big transition. âWe were just coming out of the pandemic and were the first cohort to be back in person,â he recalled.
âAnne-Marie and I finished our longest class on the very first day, and weâd both gone to the student lounge, where we reflected on our day,â he explained. âRight off the bat, we connected, and the rest is history.â
Romain, who earned her bachelorâs degree at St. Johnâs University, reminisced that âwe were both right out of undergraduate school and felt like fish out of water. We were among the youngest people in our cohort, and ended up talking and sharing not only similar experiences, but similar worries and fears about starting grad school.â
Though their research is centered on different areasâNair studies parent-child attachment and child adjustment and meaning-making in life while Romain focuses on topics related to racial identityâtheir interests intersect with the study of parent-child relationships. Regardless of their topics of study, according to Romain their friendship allowed them to share ideas when they started clinical work for the first time to support each other in their journey through program milestones, like applying for intern- and externships and working on their dissertations.
Over the years, Dr. Brumariu has seen firsthand how Travis and Anne-Marieâs friendship has challenged and brought out the best in each of them. âI think their closeness allowed a genuine curiosity, generosity, helpfulness and humor to emerge, adding a dimension beyond their academic and citizenship excellence. They challenged each other to dream high and stay focused when the work was hard, and to trust who they are and can be.â
Growing Together
âItâs been really interesting to grow together during our doctoral studies. Anne-Marie is an amazing clinician and teacher. We both started out saying âoh my gosh, what are we doing?â yet we were excited to be there,â Nair said.
Both quickly assumed leadership roles that included mentoring undergraduates in the Mentoring Future Psychologists (MFP) program. Founded by Dr. Brumariu in collaboration with Drs. Fiori and West, and served as co-chairs of the Derner Student Action Committee (SAC), a form of student government that advocates for student rights, enhances the student learning environment, and facilitates relations between faculty and students.
âI was proud to be there and reflect studentsâ voices, represent my cohort well, and create a space where people felt they were heard, while fostering a space of mutual respect between faculty and students,â Romain said. For his part, Nair was especially proud of helping to develop a constitution for SAC.
Moving Into the Future
While Nair, a recipient of the Stricker Fellowship Award which has funded his fourth year, is still uncertain of his postdoctoral plans, he said he eventually hopes to go into academia while maintaining a small private practice.
Romain intends to stay in college counseling, whether in Chicago or back in New York.
One thing is certain for the two of them: their friendship will continue. âWeâll be in each otherâs lives for a long time,â Romain insisted.
Nair agreed. âWhat I really value in our friendship is that we are very honest with each otherâand that comes with time and trust. Anne-Marieâs been a true friend throughout, and I hope Iâve been the same,â Nair said. âSheâs been there through challenges with the doctoral program and challenges with life. Sheâs not getting rid of me.â