GSEP Spotlight: Dana Pettaway (MA ’25)
The GSEP Spotlight Series highlights students and alumni whose journeys reflect Purpose, Service, and Leadership in action. In this spotlight, we feature Dana Pettaway (MA ’25), a student in the Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (Online Format) program, whose personal and professional experiences are shaping her mission to support families impacted by severe mental illness.
For Dana Pettaway, the path to becoming a therapist is deeply personal. As the parent of a son living with schizophrenia, Dana brings both lived experience and academic training to her mission of supporting families affected by severe mental illness.
Dana recently graduated from Pepperdine University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology MFT program in May 2025. Her education provided a foundation in evidence-based practices, narrative therapy, and social justice advocacy, reinforced by the mentorship of faculty who are active in community mental health.
She is also a recipient of the Dr. David A. Levy Scholarship for Excellence in Critical Thinking, an award that recognizes her academic achievement and commitment to the field.
“My mission is to merge theory with practice to deliver compassionate, accessible care to families impacted by severe mental illness,” Dana shares. “I understand firsthand the challenges these families face, and I want to help create meaningful support for them.”
Dana’s commitment to service extends far beyond the classroom. She has provided crisis support through the 988 Suicide Prevention Center, volunteered with San Diego Youth Services to assist unaccompanied minors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and served as Chief of Staff and an ambassador for Psi Chi.
She is also a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist through the California Mental Health Services Authority and actively advocates for mental health policy through collaborations with NAMI, the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance, and local government initiatives, including efforts connected to SB43 and the CARE Act.
Dana recently participated in the Contemporary Narrative Therapy Conference hosted by the Pepperdine Online MACLP Clinical Training Department—an experience that broadened her clinical perspective and deepened her resolve to advocate for systemic change.
As she begins the next phase of her professional journey, Dana remains dedicated to bridging personal insight with clinical expertise to create lasting change for individuals, families, and communities navigating complex mental health challenges.