After 11 years, woman becomes first student to earn a Ph.D. in school psychology.
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 42 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
With a story defined by perseverance and personal transformation, Brenda Mariel Cintrón Rodríguez became the first student in the Doctoral Program in School Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Mayagüez Campus (RUM), to successfully defend her doctoral dissertation -- an achievement that goes beyond academics and stands as a testament to resilience.
Her journey reflects determination in the face of the many challenges that marked her training.
“Even amid so many situations -- like the pandemic, strikes, and campus shutdowns over these 11 years -- I persisted. And even after experiencing the deepest pain -- the passing of my son, Diego -- I am still here, giving my best,” said newly minted Dr. Cintrón Rodríguez. “This achievement represents not only my effort, but also a labor of love dedicated to my greatest teachers, Diego Alejandro and Sergio Miguel. They have taught me that nothing is impossible when you do it with passion.”
After being readmitted for study at RUM in 2015, Cintrón Rodríguez earned the academic degree she had long pursued at the start of the pandemic.
“I first studied on campus from 1993 to 1995, and I left with a very low GPA. My readmission was therefore conditional on completing an academic plan,” she said. “I obtained my [bachelor’s] diploma in the same semester the pandemic began, so there was no in‑person graduation. When I finally received the diploma -- one year after reaching that goal -- I learned that I had graduated Magna Cum Laude, with a 4.00 GPA in my concentration.”
Later, in 2024, Cintrón Rodríguez joined the first graduating cohort of RUM’s Master’s Program in School Psychology, an offering that began in August 2020.
“It’s a mixture of emotions, because I’ve been studying for many years,” she said. “Between completing my high school equivalency and my Ph.D., I have studied continuously for 11 years, which can be overwhelming and exhausting. Still, what matters most is the satisfaction of knowing I gave everything to achieve this.”
Being the first person to earn a doctorate degree within the program also brought added emotional weight.
“To be honest, this recognition feels good because it validates all the effort and sacrifice I’ve made -- and it allows me to honor what I didn’t do at the beginning of my college career,” Cintrón Rodríguez said. “More than anything, I want to be an example for my children, so they understand that giving up should never be an option.”
She added that being in such a visible role also brought significant pressure.
“Many people were closely following my work, which increased my stress and raised the standard I set for myself,” she said.
Her doctoral research, titled “Indicators of Hopelessness in a Sample of Adolescents and Young People in Puerto Rico,” addresses one of the most urgent challenges in today’s social context. The study examined levels of hopelessness -- along with its affective, motivational and cognitive dimensions -- among students in ninth through 12th grade and first-year university students. It also explored how hopelessness relates to sociodemographic, academic and contextual factors.
The process was supported by a strong academic and professional network -- an essential element of her training, Cintrón Rodríguez noted.
“I want to publicly thank Dr. Janet Bonilla, the Department of Psychology, and my colleagues in the doctoral program for their support,” she emphasized. “Dr. Bonilla has truly been the driving force behind my dissertation. Without her guidance and support, this dream would not have become a reality.”
Cintrón Rodríguez also underscored the experience gained during her internship at RUM’s Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, where she provided services to the university community.
The doctoral program launched on campus with eight students. In 2024, for the first time, the university awarded eight master of science degrees in school psychology to students who completed the first stage of the combined track leading to the doctorate, with two areas of specialization: clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
“The awarding of the first doctorate in school psychology within the UPR Graduate Program -- and within the University of Puerto Rico system -- represents the fulfillment of a great dream and the culmination of years of hard work, commitment, and a shared vision,” said Dr. Bernadette Delgado Acosta, a professor in the Department of Psychology and one of the program’s founders. “Beyond an individual accomplishment, this moment reflects the collective effort of a faculty committed to building a doctoral program of excellence, capable of training highly prepared school psychologists to address the academic, socio-emotional, and mental health needs of children and adolescents in Puerto Rico.”
“It also confirms that, from our public university, we can create programs of the highest academic and professional quality -- programs that are socially relevant and sensitive to the realities of our country,” she added. “This degree is a source of enormous pride and hope for the future of school psychology in Puerto Rico.”
UPR President Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde and RUM interim chancellor Dr. Miguel A. Muñoz Muñoz also highlighted the student’s academic accomplishment, describing it as a historic institutional milestone.
“The approval of this first doctoral defense in school psychology positions the University of Puerto Rico as a benchmark for training highly prepared professionals who support the holistic development of our children and youth,” the UPR president said. “This achievement confirms that the public university produces relevant, sensitive, and transformative knowledge -- knowledge that can serve communities, strengthen graduate education, and open new pathways for the future of school psychology in Puerto Rico.”
Muñoz added: “We are setting the pace and opening new paths with a student body that is always seeking opportunities and new horizons for growth.”
“I congratulate Dr. Brenda Mariel Cintrón Rodríguez on this important achievement, which fills us with pride and stands as a powerful example for the next generation,” he said. “Wherever there is hopelessness, there is also hope -- and those who are strong and determined can find it.”