A first-generation college student, Brian Bevington (’27 psychology) hoped to hit the ground running when he transferred to Iowa State in fall 2025.
“I came in very passionate that when I get to Iowa State, I need to be ready to go,” he said.
Bevington plans to graduate early, so he immediately sought ways to get involved and make the most of his time on campus. In his first semester, he applied to an undergraduate research position, an internship, and a student leadership position, hoping that least one opportunity would fall into place. Instead, he was accepted to all three.
“I knew that I got all of them within a week, and it was genuinely like, ‘What is happening?’ I was just so excited,” he said.
Making an impact through science
Growing up in West Des Moines, Bevington was familiar with Iowa State, but he wasn’t leaning toward becoming a Cyclone until his older sister, an Iowa State graduate, encouraged him to consider it. After completing his associate’s degree at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), he transferred to Iowa State.
From a young age, Bevington knew he wanted a job where he could interact with people. Then a high school AP Psychology class introduced him the field’s many career possibilities and a path to helping others.
“I realized it was the perfect subject for me,” he said. “I see it as an opportunity to use science to better people’s lives. That’s the most important thing for me in terms of selecting a career.”
A meaningful career in the making
Bevington had considered various paths in psychology, even sports psychology, but one class helped him find his niche. In his first semester at Iowa State, Bevington took PSYCH 2500: Psychology of the Workplace with Marcus Credé, professor of psychology.
“It was my favorite class,” he said. “I had never enjoyed a class that much, and it really reinforced that this is what I want to go into.”
Industrial organizational (IO) psychology is a field that examines people’s behavior in workplace or organizational settings through a psychological lens. With so many people spending a significant part of their lives at work, Bevington realized the field fit well with his goal of using psychological science to impact society.
“I saw IO as an opportunity to use research and science to make people’s work lives better,” he said. “And through that, make their lives better. There are so many studies showing that when people enjoy their work, they enjoy their lives more. And when they enjoy their lives, they enjoy their work more.”
In just one semester, Bevington reached out to and quickly connected with Iowa State faculty who are experts in IO psychology. Along with conducting undergraduate research with Credé, he was also invited to do an IO-focused practicum with Kathy Hanisch, teaching professor of psychology.
“The fact that I’ve been able to connect with both of them and get a chance to work with them on a smaller scale – I think it’s helped me a lot in terms of not only giving me experience but also reinforcing the idea that this is what I want to go into,” he said.
Research with community impact
Bevington will also get real-world experience with IO psychology during an upcoming summer internship at the Des Moines Y Camp. A past camper and current summer staff supervisor, Bevington has designed a unique research project that will launch this coming summer in collaboration with camp directors.
Bevington’s research project provides a new way for camp staffers to track and analyze behavioral trends. For example, homesickness can be common among new campers, but it is hard to quantify with data. By identifying times of day or situations when homesickness is more likely to occur, staff can be even better prepared to help campers. Bevington plans to collect data this summer and work with camp leadership on analysis this fall.
“This was one way that I thought that I could use what I’m learning in school to help a company that I’m very passionate about and feel is genuinely doing some good in the world,” Bevington said. “I felt like it was the best of both worlds.”
Paying it forward
Though still in his first year at Iowa State, Bevington is also already giving back to future Cyclones. As a peer ambassador for the psychology department, he shares his transfer experience with new students and their families. Here’s a trio of his top tips: It’s okay if your career goals change. College is a time to broaden your experience, so try new things. And professors truly want to help you succeed.
“I thought coming into such a big major and a big university that I was never going to talk to my professors, but the reality is that most professors really want students who are passionate about their fields to connect with,” he said.
A fortunate fit
Along with quickly adding valuable career and leadership experiences to his resume during his first year, Bevington also checked the box on a favorite Cyclone experience – cheering on Iowa State football at Jack Trice Stadium during a Big 12 conference matchup versus Arizona.
“It was genuinely just an unreal atmosphere,” he said.
In the future, Bevington plans to attend graduate school and is interested in contributing to a positive work culture through a leadership lens. He has a minor in leadership studies and hopes to one day consult with companies to develop successful tools for evaluating and promoting good leaders.
“I feel very fortunate,” he said. “To be completely honest, I was worried coming into Iowa State. I didn’t know how my course load would be or how I would do academically. To hit the ground running, so to speak, and to get these opportunities and get connected with the right people, I feel like things have really worked out for me.”