STUDENT STORIES
"Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion."
~ Barry Holstun Lopez
Where are they (and how are they) now? Click on the picture to read a few stories of students in the dissertation phase.
Dissertation student Kathleen Barry has teamed with adjunct faculty member Linda Buzzell to create an initiative called Creating Community Pathways. Inspired by the work of faculty member Mary Watkins, this initiative seeks to expand the scope of psychotherapy out into the needs of the community. Click on Kathleen's picture to read more about this exciting project!
Three of our students presented papers at the International Conference of the Jungian Society for Scholarly Studies and were very well-received. Click their picture to read about the conference and their presentations.
To read previous Student of the Month profiles, click here.
The Depth Psychology Program congratulates ABD student Jeanne M. Schul for being chosen to present at the 2009 Journey Conference "Moving Toward Wholeness" to be held at Browns Summit, North Carolina, on October 15-18. Click her picture to read more about her work with psyche, soul, and soma.
"During the three years of class work, the most exciting thing has been the injection of a mysterious nourishment I received every time I went down to Santa Barbara. This has been the first time that I felt a part of a community that speaks my language. The fact that I could be talking to someone for hours and by the end we both know that we not really know what we have been
talking about, and yet we smile knowing that something happened
here - that is priceless. Today, the most exciting aspect of my studying
is no doubt, my dissertation."
From an interview with dissertation student Aviva Joseph. More of the interview can be found here, in addition to some of Aviva's course and fieldwork papers.
Current Student Profile
David Scott Savlowitz--1st Year Student
Dissertation student Robin Barre reacts to the Newsweek edition with the cover "We Must Fire Bad Teachers." Link to Newseek, and read Robin's article, by clicking here.
Click here to add text.
Tell us a little about your personal and educational background.
I am Founder and President of Competitive Analytics (“CA”) located in Costa Mesa, California USA. CA was founded during January 2000 and literally delivers “competitive analytics” and is run as a scientific think tank by specializing in “decision optimization.” In essence, CA conducts deep comprehensive research coupled with precision analytics often involving advanced mathematical models and bleeding edge processes such as genetic algorithms and neural networks. Although CA’s capabilities span a myriad of market intelligence functions spanning several industries and sectors, consulting projects often involve demand/supply forecasting, peak-to-trough forecasting, pricing analysis, valuation, consumer research, customized focus groups and surveys, and strategic planning.
To paraphrase Howard Roark from Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead: “CA doesn’t analyze in order to have clients…CA has clients in order to analyze.” Mr. Savlowitz and all CA analysts are characterized by their passion for applying a highly objective approach, demanding absolute independence, and having a perpetual thirst for mathematical innovation and technology. CA analysts are screened for graduating in the top 2% of their graduating class and/or achieving an IQ within the top 2% of the country.
I was born in Manhattan New York where I attended Mahopac High School. As an undergraduate student at the University of Albany, I studied Computer Science and Classical Music Theory and Composition. After my sophomore year, I moved out west and graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Finance in 1986 and M.B.A. in 1989. Over my academic career, I have been active in various market research and analytical capacities and authored several research papers for the Urban Land Institute, presented conference papers and keynote presentations for homebuilders, banks, city council sessions, and state of the city symposiums.
Prior to starting Competitive Analytics, my professional career included senior analyst positions at Kenneth Leventhal & Company and Ernst & Young as well the Director of Market Research at The Irvine Company.
When I have spare time, I can be found in my home-based state-of-the-art recording studio writing and recording music. I am married to Erika who is an accomplished investment banker and lawyer specializing in foreign emerging markets. We enjoy movies, traveling, depth psychology, athletics and are both voracious readers.
You can reach me at 714-545-2555 (office) or 949 697 9977 (mobile) or dss@competitiveanalytics.com
What were you doing before you applied to Pacifica?
Running my company.
How did you find out about Pacifica, and what led you to apply?
About 15 years ago I was driving randomly around the foothills of Santa Barbara when I noticed a sign that said “Pacifica Graduate Institute.” I said to myself: “What the heck is this?” I drove in, parked, and meandered around (not knowing of course that I was on the Lambert campus with strict parking regulations). I quickly found the bookstore and scanned through the bookshelves thinking to myself that these topics were so eclectic and different than anything I had ever read before. Then I left and didn’t think another thought about Pacifica for a long while. Then, about five years later my life caved-in (I went through a divorce while my best friend was dying of cancer). I soon started seeing a therapist and over the next 10 years I would stop into the Lambert bookstore to buy a few books . . . but still never allowing myself to entertain the thought of pursuing a degree in psychology for more than a few seconds. Fast forward another five years later, I’m married to a wonderful woman (Erika) and after a vacation in Santa Barbara and another ritual visit to the bookstore, we noticed an invitation to attend an “Introduction to Pacifica.” We signed up and after Stephen Aizenstat and Dennis Slattery spoke, Erika leaned over and said: “I’m going!” I quickly responded: “You mean you don’t like what you’re hearing and want to leave?” She quickly clarified: “No…I mean I’m enrolling!” About 90 days later and Erika was accepted into the Myth program and I was accepted into the Depth Psych program.
What specifically appealed to you about the Depth Psychology degree?
There are a myriad of aspects of the DP program that appealed to me, however, THE most important factor was that Pacifica encourages you to bring your own ideas, theories, and imagination. . . and you are expected to “advance” current frameworks, theories, and philosophies. Everything I read at Pacifica provokes a dozen new ideas and theories . . . and the feedback and encouragement I have already received from Drs. Bona, Selig, Ciafolo, Watkins, Slater, and Kilpatrick enlarges and refuels my ever-expanding tank of imagination . . . which was a pretty enormous container to begin with! Conversely, anyone and everyone that knows me will tell you I detest environments where I am expected to learn and follow specific pre-established guidelines of knowledge.
What has been the most exciting aspect of studying in the Depth Psychology program thus far?
That is an Über-challenging question. I would have to say the readings. I have a library at home with over 500 books on psychology and philosophy and thought I would be familiar with the assigned readings . . . But I was not! Reading about new theories, concepts, research techniques, and history was a very exciting and eye-opening experience . . .and still is!
What are one or two of the courses you’ve taken that have been favorites, or made a significant impact on you?
Now that question is going to get me into trouble with the professors I do not mention! LOL! And I honesty enjoyed them all!
What is unique or special about the Depth Psychology community?
I believe there is a unique connection among members of the DP community that can potentially experience an innate insight into an alternative set of cultural values . . . if you allow oneself to be and stay connected. As an analogy, the character of Dr. Grace Augustine in the movie Avatar is empathetic to a different set of core values versus a dysfunctional social milieu we perceive as normal. That malleable acceptance of differing values, frameworks, cultures, behaviors, etc. is what I believe a majority of people who see themselves as part of the DP community embraces.
I am working on a half a dozen ideas and projects on how I will (excuse the business term) leverage my degree. These include: 1) My wife and I plan to evolve an advisory service we just started that will integrate mythology and depth psychology with individual clients, corporations, communities, and government. Interestingly, we are calling our new organization “Atlantica Institute” . . . inspired by three reasons: the fact that I flew over the Atlantic Ocean to meet Erika, the mythological place of Atlantis, and the obvious inspirational tie with Pacifica. Other ideas include a model I am developing called SEQOL (Significantly Enhancing Quality of Life), Relative Time Banking, A potential course on Economics and Psychology, and last but not least (and most likely my dissertation topic) an idea called the Human Matrix: A Unifying Integrated Meta-Archetypal Theory of Psychology. More on that one later!
David's links:
CONGRATULATIONS TO THREE OF OUR CURRENT STUDENTS
who presented pages at Claremont Colleges Pagan Studies Conference.
