Mrittika Sen
Why did you choose Northwestern?
I chose Northwestern University in order to study with Professor Mike Roloff, who is a stalwart in my field and area of interest. Besides, the university's reputation of providing an all-round education and opportunities to graduate students interested in alt-ac careers, appealed to me.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
I studied how people process messages of organizational change. What factors determine how a change message is framed as bringing gains or loss to the recipient, and how does this framing influence the message recipient's subsequent behavior? I was specifically interested in the role of social-psychological factors and the process of framing on the way a message is viewed.
My work now involves partnering with non-profit organizations and individual grant seekers in researching, writing, and procuring funds for their social impact projects. I have worked in the areas of art and culture, community development, education, and youth enrichment.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
I wanted to apply what I learned in graduate school to a real-life context. I have always been interested in social issues, and wanted to assist non-profits in making more impact, while using my research, analytical, and writing skills. I started my own consultancy in order to work with various organizations with varied missions.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
That I have taken risks, and despite suffering a personal tragedy (my infant daughter died in sleep from unidentifiable causes at the end of my second year of the PhD, four days after we had moved away from Evanston for my husband's job), I did not give up on the PhD. I worked on it remotely, and finished it. I also persisted with the process of identifying the area of work that would use my graduate education and skills, while catering to my need of using my intellect and writing for social impact.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I registered my consultancy right around the time that COVID hit. Despite the challenges of setting up my business in an uncertain world, I have grown from serving one client to serving three. Also, recently, I began working with a wonderful non-profit from my home country of India in the area of international development and education. Getting to know about the new generation of social entrepreneurs, and their inspiring work, as well as being able to give back to my country, really excite me.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Do not think of an alt-ac career as a secondary option; rather, be purposeful in pursuing one. Explore opportunities on campus and beyond, and make connections across organizations and functions in the field of your expertise. Think of your graduate career as a time for exploration as much as specialization. Hone your career-related skills, but cultivate your hobbies and interests outside graduate school as well!