Three cohorts of doctoral students within The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Psychology applied, interviewed and were matched with pre-doctoral psychology internships readying them for life beyond the classroom. These nationally coveted internship placements, facilitated by the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) online match program, serve as the final stage of the Ph.D. psychology program.
The pre-doctoral internship provides clinical, counseling and school psychology students with specialized on-site training at partner institutions across the country. The highly competitive nature of the program meant that this year, there were only 3,978 residency positions available for the 4,480 psychology students applying from universities nationwide.
One hundred percent of Southern Miss students who applied were successfully matched. Students learn if they were selected for a placement on Match Day, which takes place annually each spring with the start dates for most internships beginning in July.
“The School of Psychology’s consistently high pre-doctoral internship match rate is a clear indicator of the exceptional quality of training provided in our applied psychology doctoral programs,” said Dr. Melanie Leuty, director of the School of Psychology. “Faculty provide outstanding mentorship in research and scholarship, ensuring that students develop strong analytical and scientific skills alongside the development of their clinical competencies. As a result, our graduates get selected for highly competitive pre-doctoral internships and enter these internships and our profession well-prepared to deliver evidence-based care.”
Southern Miss provides rigorous and immersive clinical preparation and hands-on practice through the Center for Behavioral Health (CBH), an on-campus training clinic, and offers quality practicum placements with local agency partners across the state.
Lily Hammer, a clinical psychology student, matched with the Minneapolis VA. She said one of her main reasons for attending Southern Miss was the exceptional training provided by the CBH and professionally licensed faculty.
“I have felt very supported by faculty in my independent research and professional development,” said Hammer. “This training allowed me to develop research and clinical skills that made me a competitive applicant for pre-doctoral internship programs, resulting in a successful match.”
Southern Miss students have regularly matched with Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, university medical centers, counseling centers, public school districts, community mental health centers and private practices.
“Receiving that email was the culmination and validation of years of hard work in academic study, clinical training and research,” said Nikkie Bailey, a counseling psychology doctoral student who matched with Eastern Oklahoma VA. “Match Day was one of the most rewarding and exciting high-stakes moments of my life. My training and experiences at Southern Miss have played a defining role in shaping who I am as an emerging psychologist, which gave me exactly what I came here looking for, exactly what I needed and more.”
“I was able to develop promising application materials that provided insight into my journey as a doctoral student at USM,” said Kaylee McKinney, a school psychology doctoral student who matched with the University of Arizona Psych Internship Consortium. “I am immensely grateful to be continuing my journey ‘To The Top’ within the beautiful state of Arizona and hope to continue making a positive difference.”
The 2026 student residencies include:
Clinical Psychology:
- Kendall Beals, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, General Mental Health-Serious Mental Illness Track
- Kylee Behringer, Case Western Reserve University/Counseling Services, Psychology Internship
- Emily Cordova, Monterey County Behavioral Health, Psychology Internship
- Akila Gopalkrishnan, Indiana University School of Medicine, Child/Pediatric Track
- Lily Hammer, Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Standard Track
- Cassi Springfield, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Serious Mental Illness Track
Counseling Psychology:
- Nikkie Bailey, Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System
- Mallory Lastrapes, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, General Internship Track
- Lindsey Ostermiller, VA Western New York Healthcare System, Health Psychology Track
- Summer Steely, Center for Behavioral Medicine, Forensic Assessment and Treatment
School Psychology:
- Mikaela Anderson, High Plains Psychology Internship Consortium, Greeley-Evans District 6
- Jordan Etherington, Autism Assessment & Outpatient Services
- Brittany Garza, Franciscan Children's Behavioral Health Services, Neurodevelopmental Track
- Kaylee McKinney, University of Arizona Psych Internship Consortium, Tucson Unified School District
- Lourdes Rodriguez, High Plains Psychology Internship Consortium, Educational Service Unit #13
- Amarah Sweaks, Nebraska Internship Consortium, Boys Town Omaha Child/Adolescent Outpatient Track
Learn more about the Southern Miss School of Psychology and its programs.
About The University of Southern Mississippi
Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions. Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others. We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 37 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life.
