Raaga Mahesh’s academic journey began with a single class that sparked a lasting passion. As a high school sophomore, Mahesh took Introduction to Psychology with Professor Michael Cassens at Irvine Valley College (IVC) through dual enrollment. “There, I fell in love with wanting to understand the vast and interdisciplinary subject more,” she said. Now a psychology major focused on child development, Mahesh has built on that early inspiration through both academic exploration and real-world experience. Working as a day care teacher has strengthened her ability to connect theory to practice and deepened her interest in how children learn and grow.
A graduate of Irvine High School, Mahesh will transfer to the University of California, Berkeley, this fall, continuing a path defined by academic excellence and engagement. At IVC, she earned a 4.0 GPA and was named to the President’s List while actively participating in the Honors Program and the Irvine Valley Promise program. She is also an inductee of Psi Beta, the psychology honor society, and a member of the UC Irvine Honors to Honors Program. Mahesh has distinguished herself as a scholar and researcher, presenting her work at multiple conferences, including Honors Transfer Council of California conferences in 2025 and 2026, the Western Psychological Association Annual Conference in 2025 and 2026, and the IVC and Saddleback Research Conference in 2025. Her research roles have evolved from team member and researcher to first author, reflecting both her dedication and leadership in the field.
Her achievements have been recognized through several scholarships, including the City of Irvine Educational Partnership Scholarship and the Society of American Military Engineers Scholarship. In addition to her academic work, Mahesh was selected for the Alliance for California Traditional Arts’ Apprenticeship Program in Bharatanatyam, a classical South Indian dance form, further highlighting her commitment to cultural expression and lifelong learning.
On campus, Mahesh has been actively involved in creating meaningful student experiences. She serves as co-coordinator for the IVC Honors Program Events Team and contributes as a Psi Beta member and researcher.
Looking ahead, Mahesh plans to pursue a career in developmental psychology, with a focus on applying research to improve elementary education policy.
She encourages future students to embrace every opportunity available to them. “Say yes to everything. Take that class, apply for that position, and join that club. Some of my best experiences happened when I ventured beyond my comfort zone, so don’t let fear stop you,” she said. “I never knew I would be writing about psychology in my women’s history course—it can be a beautiful thing to find parallels between your passion and other niches. Amongst all this, enjoy your time! Take advantage of the plethora of fun events and groups on campus as well as the strong support systems (including your professors!). Your two years at IVC are not just an ‘in-between’ limbo state; while community college can be an excellent stepping stone to a four-year university, if you are curious and intentional during that time, your efforts will be reciprocally rewarded.”