A Model for Statewide Educational Outreach to Undergraduates: Implications From a Neuropsychology Outreach Program

Clinical neuropsychology is a specialty of psychology that is closely related to neuroscience in that it assesses cognitive and functional brain-behavior relationships across a range of clinical diagnoses. As with many other related disciplines including neuroscience, educational outreach to students about clinical neuropsychology to increase vocational interest is essential to the field. This manuscript examines the feasibility of implementing one statewide educational outreach program for undergraduate students to learn about the specialty of clinical neuropsychology as a possible career path. The current program was developed by the authors of this manuscript, both of whom are clinical neuropsychologists and co-lead a committee for student outreach within a state organization which represents such professionals. As students in metropolitan areas are more likely to have exposure to neuropsychology, the emphasis of our program has been on outreach to university psychology and neuroscience departments, especially in more rural and geographically underrepresented areas of our state. The process of this outreach, the content of the presentations conducted through this program, and descriptive feedback from participants based on qualitative survey data (2023-2025) is presented. Based on the response and successful engagement rate from the colleges and universities that we have outreached, we have determined that our model offers a feasible means to conduct education about possible careers in neuropsychology to undergraduate students statewide. Practical recommendations for neuroscientists, psychologists, and other such professionals interested in initiating and implementing their own outreach programs within their specialties are also provided.