Katie Flood

“I transferred in kind of a weird situation,” begins Russell Sage College student Katie Flood. 

Katie had been a studio art major and art therapy minor at another college, which she loved. Then, in her sophomore year, that school unexpectedly announced it was ending its art programs.

The prospect of starting over at another college was discouraging, said Katie, and she considered staying at her first school with a different major — until she visited Sage. 

“I was looking for a smaller school,” she said. “I toured it, and I absolutely loved it.” 

Sage had the studio art program and Expressive Arts in Mental Health program Katie was looking for, and the Office of Admission streamlined the application process for her and accepted all her transfer credits.   

Once enrolled, she made close friends almost immediately, albeit with another unexpected twist: Katie joined Sage’s new women’s field hockey team despite having never played before. 

That happened when the team’s coach — who works closely with Admission — learned that Katie played ice hockey in high school and encouraged her to give field hockey a try. 

“I’m transferring to a new school. It’s a new major,” said Katie who switched her major to Expressive Arts in Mental Health at Sage. “Why not add a new sport?” 

And although she discovered there is not much overlap between ice hockey and field hockey, it was a great experience. “I made some of my best friends,” said Katie. “I live with some of the girls now. Everybody was so welcoming.” 

On the career preparation side, Katie has been able to sample the day-to-day work of an arts in mental health professional through three practicums, one with senior citizens and two with youth.  

During her final practicum at a school for children with learning disabilities, she shadowed the art therapist and the occupational therapist, which was especially exciting because Katie has decided to pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy at Sage. 

“I’ve had amazing experiences in my practicum classes and using art as a tool to communicate with kids who can’t communicate verbally,“ she said. “I’m looking forward to bringing OT and art together and using art as a way to get kids using their fine motor skills.”