Once a Viking, Always a Viking

Dr. Erica Rozmid ‘10 and Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Small ‘14
Dr. Erica Rozmid ‘10 and Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Small ‘14 have a lot in common, but it wasn’t until recently that they reconnected and found out how much. They knew each other as children, having met in a dance class outside of school. Lizzy, who by that point had appeared as a series regular on the Discovery Kids/TLC show Hip Hop Harry, met Erica in dance class as she was preparing for her upcoming bat mitzvah. While their sisters also shared a friendship, the age gap between Erica and Lizzy meant that when they each joined Campbell Hall as 9th graders, their time in high school didn’t overlap. So, while they were mutual acquaintances, their friendship didn’t have a chance to develop as young people. However, both Erica and Lizzy had their passion for mental health ignited in an AP Psychology class at Campbell Hall. Both decided to pursue this field of study and work upon graduating CH. 

After receiving her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University, Erica began working as an attending Psychologist at UCLA, providing care for teenagers with anxiety and mood orders. While she loved the collaborative environment, she was frustrated that she was not able to provide continuous care in an outpatient setting to her patients. For this reason, she soon established her own clinic, Clarity CBT & DBT Center, to treat children and adolescents who struggle with anxiety (including selective mutism, OCD, and panic attacks) and depression (including those who have self-harming behaviors and suicidal thoughts) utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Meanwhile, Lizzy was making her way through college and grad school while also pursuing her acting and music career. As she neared the completion of her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California, she began thinking about how to launch her career. As luck would have it, she received an email about a CH alumni event and noticed that Erica was listed as a member of the Alumni Board. The two connected through social media and, over time, formed a warm friendship. “We realized that we had a common value of prioritizing mental health and a shared perspective on therapy,” says Lizzy. 

When Erica decided to hire an associate for her practice, she knew Lizzy would be a great fit with her clinic. “Our shared Campbell Hall background made me feel very comfortable about bringing Lizzy into my practice,” says Erica. “Campbell Hall instills values of excellence and I’m proud to be connected and network within this community for exactly that reason.”  

Lizzy also knew she could expect high standards from a fellow CH alum. “I was initially drawn to Erica’s practice because of the exceptional supervision and mentorship she offers, preparing me for my work in a way that no other practice offers,” explains Lizzy. 

Erica and Lizzy still laugh about their hip hop combo days. While their acquaintance could have ended there, their current working relationship is rooted in their continued connection to fellow CH alumni and their alma mater. “I was working in New York and decided to attend a CH Alumni mixer,” notes Erica. “I was able to reconnect with some classmates and meet Aubrey Rakoski, Associate Director of Advancement for Alumni Relations, who stayed in touch with me after the event.” When Erica moved back to Los Angeles, she decided to get more involved in the life of Campbell Hall. She joined the Alumni Board and was a featured speaker at a CH Parent Education event on adolescent mental health. Lizzy stayed connected through CH social media platforms, reaching out to fellow alumni to grow her network. 

Now, Campbell Hall offers even more formalized networking opportunities through the Viking Career Connection where CH alumni can share job and internship opportunities. Attending CH events, such as Homecoming, Alumni Mixers, and Reunion are also great ways to connect and even potentially find your next work opportunity! 

Visit campbellhall.org/alumni for more information. 
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