Member Spotlight: Tamara S. Lyn, PhD

Name:  Tamara S. Lyn, PhD

License #: 6487

Bio: Dr. Lyn is a board-certified consulting psychologist, ICF-certified executive coach, and accomplished leader with over twenty years of experience in clinical psychology, criminal justice, budget execution, regulatory compliance, community relations, leadership development, and employee engagement.

Her areas of expertise include: leadership and executive coaching, organizational development, change management, labor-management relations, board  governance and strategic planning, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, employee development and engagement, and correctional mental health care.

1)      What attracted you to the field of psychology? “In college I was very interested in supporting children and families and thought I could do so by being a family court judge. Along the way I watched my friends go to law school and I realized that it was not for me. The law school method was not the best way for me to learn. After graduating from college, I was introduced to a psychology professor who assessed the development of infants and toddlers who were exposed to cocaine in utero. I worked as her research assistant. She opened my eyes to how I could pursue my interest in children and families as a clinical psychologist.” 

2)      What do you enjoy most about your work? “After a career as a clinician and executive in corrections, I now work as a consulting psychologist to organizations in several industries, including higher education, philanthropy, and health care. I enjoy learning about their areas of expertise. Every day I gain a better understanding of their challenges and opportunities. Being exposed to a wide variety of fields is like having a liberal arts education all over again. I really enjoy it.” 

3)      What advice would you give someone who is considering getting a degree in psychology? “My advice is to finish school with as little student debt as possible. I had good mentors who helped me to make good choices about fellowships and grants. I was very fortunate to avoid large student debt. A low debt made it possible to follow a career path in public service that I could not otherwise afford. Low student debt offers the financial freedom to follow your deepest passions.”

4)      When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing? “I love to travel. I was really fortunate that my mother worked for an airline when I was a child. Because of her job, my family was able to travel very inexpensively. My parents were eager to expose me to the art, food, and culture of other countries. Now I combine my love for psychology with my love for travel and visit other countries to learn about their mental health care systems and provide advice on expanding access to care and improving clinical training.” 

5)      What is something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know? “I learned late in life that ‘Lyn’ is not my original family name. My family name is ‘Ling.’ My grandfather immigrated from China to Jamaica in the 1920s, and somewhere during his journey his name was documented incorrectly. I discovered the error during a high school student exchange program to China. While sitting on an airport floor waiting for a flight, my tour guide translated a short family history written by my grandfather in Chinese. My true family name is recorded in my grandfather’s little book.”

6)      If were not a psychologist, what would you do? “I would have been a talk show host. Ever since I was a child, I have watched TV talk shows. Now I enjoy listening to podcast interviews. I learn so much by talking with people about their lives, their work, and their views of the world. I enjoy asking a question that opens up new lines of insight and conversation.” 

7)      What is the next place on your travel bucket list? “I will be traveling with friends to Croatia in June. I look forward to the incredible art, food, and architecture of the area. In January 2025 I will be in Tanzania to better understand the challenges related to delivering mental health care, training providers, and reducing stigma around mental illness.”

8)      What are you currently reading or listening to? “I just finished a book called, ‘Heaven and Earth Grocery Store,’ by James McBride. It's a terrific story of a mixed community of African Americans and people of Jewish descent living together and confronting a crisis.  It reminded me a lot of my own upbringing in New York, where I lived in a similarly mixed community. I recognized a lot of the customs and interactions between the two groups. I highly recommend the book.”

9)      What is your favorite word and why? “My favorite word is ‘curious.’ I try to approach people and new ideas with curiosity. It helps me avoid assumptions and stereotypes. When I am curious, I see things from new perspectives and am able to generate new and innovative ideas.”

10)  What is your least favorite word and why? “My least favorite word is, ‘Because.’ When I ever ask a question and am told, ‘Because that's how we do it,’ or ‘Because it has always been done that way,’ it strikes me as a lazy answer. It doesn't leave space for being creative or inventive in finding solutions.”