Devin O’Harra ’24 | Evanston, Wyoming
Majors: Psychology, Social Work

Please tell us about yourself.

I am from Evanston, Wyoming, and I graduated in May 2024. Back home, I have five dogs, all rescued by my mom and little brother, Tristan. I love being outside, skiing, kayaking, and traveling! Some of my other favorite things include chai lattes, carpool karaoke, Trader Joe’s, and impulse trips to anywhere with my best friends.

Being from Wyoming, how did you hear about 南瓜影院 and why did you choose to attend college here?

I first learned about 南瓜影院 when I was little, driving under the skyway during visits to my grandma and cousins who live in the area. I applied, and when I came to campus for my scholarship audition for the trombone, I was greeted and welcomed back by many students and faculty. The warmth I felt during my campus visit stayed with me, and I continued to experience that same sense of welcome throughout my time at 南瓜影院. I also chose 南瓜影院 because of the diverse course options and the well-structured curriculum. Double majoring and taking fun classes here was much simpler and more flexible compared to the other schools I considered.

What do you enjoy about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

The endless amounts of coffee shops that are so close to campus! There are so many options for places to study that it makes reading textbooks way more fun. I love all the local markets held year-round or the lively activities happening around campus. There’s always something to do at any time of day. I also appreciate how close we are to , offering paddleboarding in the summer and a ski resort in the winter.

What surprised you most about 南瓜影院 and/or the F-M community?

When I came to campus, I did not expect the Fargo-Moorhead area to be so cold and flat compared to Wyoming. Hearing that Olin Hill was actually the tallest point in Moorhead was mind-boggling to me! I was also surprised at the strong connection 南瓜影院 has to the community and how closely we work with local businesses around the area. I love the amount of local restaurants, bands, and artists as well.

How did you get involved with the  and what was your role? What was your favorite part of being a member?

I got involved through other social work majors who were in the club and had been in it since my sophomore year. I was vice president my senior year; however, we are all such close friends that it was very collaborative. We discussed various topics pertaining to roles in the field and did lots of self-care as well (since that’s also very important!). My favorite part was when we traveled to Minneapolis to attend the Minnesota Social Services Conference for a few days in March. We attended various seminars and sessions, gaining valuable insights from experts with decades of experience in the field. My favorite session was based on social work’s role in the climate justice issue. 

What other activities were you involved in?

I was the recruitment co-captain for , which is the only Greek organization on campus. I have also been an Orientation Leader and FYT (First-Year Transition) Mentor for Club 14 and loved it! Additionally, I was part of the Student Ambassadors team and got to give tours to potential incoming students. Off campus, I did volunteer work with the Matthew’s Voice Project, a nonprofit working with homeless youth, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For Make-A-Wish, I was a Wish volunteer, so I got to meet with different kiddos and help them discover what their wish might be.

How did you decide on your majors?

From a young age, I’ve worked closely with my mom’s nonprofit preschool, which gave me a strong sense of purpose when working with children, so I knew I wanted to go into something of the sort. I started at 南瓜影院 as undecided and, prior to the second semester of my freshman year, I didn’t know that social work was even an option as a major. I learned about the major after taking a course with Dr. Lemaster, where we discussed what we have planned for our future. I was so unsure that I broke down crying, having no idea what I wanted to do other than make a positive impact on others. Dr. Lemaster was so sweet and supportive and proceeded to have a two-hour Zoom call with me that night, talking about all my options, and told me about social work. I decided on social work within a few weeks of that conversation. I had established psychology as a minor at the beginning but switched it to a major after I saw the benefits in having two majors compared to one when looking into future post-college jobs.

Do you have a favorite psychology or social work course? If so, why?

My favorite social work course was Comparative Cultural Encounter. We were able to attend a variety of cultural immersion events and hear from various groups of people who, as a class, gave us a different perspective than our own. We were learning more in-depth about cultural terminology and norms that will apply to the work we will do with all groups and individuals. I was able to gain a wider perspective of how culture plays into healthcare decisions, as well as differences in lifestyles. This class was also with the same 11 people I had taken social work courses with since sophomore year, which made me excited to go to class every day since I considered them all to be my friends.

My favorite psychology course was Behavioral Neuroscience with Dr. Olson. Our whole class became very close and would have study sessions late at night before exams. Dr. Olson taught the class in such a fun way, and I was able to learn so much about how the brain functions and why. I still use and think about that information in my daily life. That course was definitely the deciding factor in choosing to double major.

The possibilities of how to use the new space seem endless, which is so exciting for all healthcare-based fields.

What was the best part about taking classes in the new Heimarck Center?

The new Heimarck Center has so many windows and is such a gorgeous building! My favorite part of taking classes there was the simulation labs and home health lab. As a social work major, we got to work in the home health lab and act as if we were social workers in a home setting. The plan for the space is to have student actors come in to represent family members, and the social work students will be able to implement social work interviews and assessment practices as if it were a real home visit. The possibilities of how to use the new space seem endless, which is so exciting for all healthcare-based fields.

Did you have any internships? If so, what were your responsibilities and what did you learn?

The summer after my freshman year, I was able to do a paid internship at the Ronald McDonald House of the Red River Valley, which then led to a job as a family service associate. I worked closely with families who had children receiving care or treatment at a hospital in the area. I was also able to learn about the inner workings of nonprofit organizations and how they function.

During my last semester, I had been doing my social work field internship at the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center in Fargo. I was shadowing forensic interviews on kiddos who had experienced abuse or neglect as well as working with families in advocacy sessions to provide additional support to non-offending caregivers and the kiddos during pre- and post-interviews. I was also able to attend multidisciplinary team meetings for cases and meet with law enforcement, social services workers, and prosecutors to learn more about each role and their impact. I loved my experiences at the Red River Children’s Advocacy Center and learned so much!

What do you value most about being a Cobber?

The relationships I’ve been able to form in the community, with faculty, and with peers on campus is more than I had ever hoped for when coming to college. I’ve met some of the most inspirational and golden-hearted people who’ve given me such a strong sense of connection and belonging that I couldn’t ask for much more. I also value the strong sense of humor we have about having a corn cob as a mascot. Roll Cobbs!

What advice would you give to an out-of-state student who is considering 南瓜影院?

As an out-of-state student, I’d say opening yourself up to attending a school outside of where you grew up allows for so much growth. If I had stayed in Wyoming for college, I wouldn’t have met the incredible people that I now call my best friends, and I wouldn’t have opened myself up to the entire world of endless opportunities and work that now sounds like a hobby to me! Going out of state for school was the best decision I’ve made for myself thus far. It’s also made me much better at winter driving and getting myself out of my comfort zone.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working as a guardian and conservator for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. After grad school, I plan on joining the Peace Corps in a role involving family and child development. After that, I am not sure of anything specific but strive to work with children in an ecotherapy setting.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Cobber experience?

If I’ve learned anything, it’s to not walk under the bell tower alone and that campus turkeys are people, too. 南瓜影院 is a great school with many opportunities that are easily accessible compared to other universities. Again, Roll Cobbs!

^{Published February 2025}