Kiara Bullard ‘26
Major: Psychology
Next Step: APU to pursue a Master’s in Child Life
Kiara Bullard is a psychology major, a trusted student worker and caregiver at the LMU Children’s Center, and a peer mentor, who will be pursuing a master’s degree in child Life at Azusa Pacific University. The program prepares students for credentialing as a child life specialist, who are allied health care professionals with expertise in helping children and their families navigate traumatic and challenging experiences, particularly health crises.
Bullard’s love for children and her desire to work with them stem from her mother, a daycare teacher. “Growing up, I’d get chances to volunteer at her job, and these were the best days, being surrounded by children, laughter, and fun,” she said. “They are our future, and the better we treat, care, and nurture them, I feel our future will look really bright.”
Originally from Inglewood, CA, Bullard chose LMU for the small class sizes, beautiful campus, and the scholarships and aid she was offered. Bullard’s experience at LMU has been nothing short of “greatness,” shaped by a close-knit community of students and faculty, where everyone seems connected, especially in the Department of Psychological Science. Academically, LMU has challenged her in many ways, often requiring persistence and resilience. Even when exams did not go as she hoped, Bullard continued to push forward using every available resource to improve. Her commitment to learning is consistent, particularly when navigating complex quantitative material, and she has built meaningful relationships by collaborating with classmates, organizing study groups, and attending faculty office hours regularly. Being a regular at office hours has offered her valuable insight not only into course material but also into the broader field of psychology and the research pursuits of BCLA faculty.
Beyond her psychology coursework, Bullard really enjoyed her religious studies courses. “It’s not just the text itself, but the history of how it’s been used and interpreted. Exploring how religion has influenced and continues to influence our world and human behavior is very interesting to me.”
Kiara has also had many transformative experiences outside the classroom, including a recent trip to San Francisco, where she consulted with OpenAI on initiatives focused on youth mental health. During the visit, she joined a group discussion that included the president of the American Psychological Association and other national leaders in mental health advocacy on how young people envision AI supporting mental health. Coming from a Black and Brown community where access to mental health resources was limited or unclear, she emphasized how AI could make mental health support more accessible and culturally responsive. The conversation also touched on the need for robust safety measures and the potential of AI models designed specifically for mental health applications.
“At LMU, we emphasize the education of the whole person as a core tenet of Ignatian pedagogy. Kiara truly embodies this mission,” says Professor Alex Sturm. “She is present for both learning and personal growth. She enjoys being challenged. She is deeply committed to advocating for vulnerable populations and has a demonstrated record of doing so.”