Alex McCord’s journey from reality TV star to psychology researcher is a story of reinvention, perseverance, and a deep passion for understanding the human condition. Known to many as an original cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY), Alex is now in the final year of her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of New England (UNE) in Australia, proving that life often takes unexpected but rewarding turns.
Before diving into academia, Alex spent two decades in the entertainment industry. After studying theatre at Northwestern University, she worked as an actor and media professional, based mostly in New York City. However, a decade ago, a significant life change occurred when she and her family moved to northern New South Wales, Australia. This shift led her to reconsider her career path.
“Immediately after high school in the United States, I weighed up two career paths: the entertainment industry or the social sciences,” Alex recalls. “I chose showbiz first. But when we decided to move to Australia, I knew I wanted a career change and decided to revisit the road not taken.”
Alex is currently a PhD Candidate in the UNE School of Psychology.
To begin her transition, Alex completed her undergraduate psychology degree through the City University of New York via distance education while settling in the Byron Bay region. When it came time to pursue post-graduate studies, she chose UNE, drawn to its reputation, flexibility, and local clinical placement options. These factors allowed her to balance academic demands with parenting and work commitments.
“My experience at UNE has been fantastic,” she says. “UNE’s course structure, its life-friendly format, and the ability to study online while attending residential schools made it the perfect fit. Most importantly, UNE’s option to source clinical placements locally allowed me to complete requirements while continuing to work and parent.”
Psychology was a natural choice for Alex, fuelled by her fascination with human behaviour and interaction. “Humans and human interaction fascinate me. I’m not sure it’s possible to ever know enough about the human condition,” she explains. “It’s life-long learning, and I am here for it.”
Her time on RHONY also influenced her decision to pursue psychology. “When RHONY came along, I had been in the business ten years—nothing major, but consistently working. I was a worker bee who was cast in a show that became a hit,
Alex presenting her research at the 2024 UNE Research Pathways Conference.
and we’ve all heard that story before. The show premieres, and suddenly the world knows who you are, with all that entails, for better or worse,” Alex reflects. “During that time, I witnessed quite a lot of human highs, lows, and ‘what were you thinking?!’ moments, either in others or myself. That, plus many other moments in life where I wanted to understand people better, led me to study not only theory and research but also to train as a practitioner.”
As she nears the completion of her PhD, Alex is excited about what lies ahead. “I found that I really love research (and stats!) as well as supporting people in clinical practice,” she says. “I’m anticipating finding a way to combine the two.” Her passion for research has already earned her recognition, including the Australian Psychological Society’s Elsie Harwood Award for her honours thesis and the 2024 Peter Beumont Award for early-career research in eating disorders.
Balancing academic demands with family life hasn’t been easy, but Alex credits her husband and two sons for their unwavering support. “They have been keeping me sane and grounded since well before my academic path began,” she says. She also acknowledges her academic and clinical supervisors for their guidance and inspiration. Reflecting on her journey, Alex admits, “I had no idea I would like research so much. Also, it’s a very good thing I chose the other career first and came to psychology as a mature student. I would not have had the patience, life experience, or mental flexibility to do all this at 18!”
Her time at UNE has been nothing short of rewarding, praising the practical and comprehensive curriculum, Alex notes, “There is nothing extraneous in either the honours or post-graduate units. Every bit of information is relevant and necessary, and I use pretty much all of it regularly.” She also highlights UNE’s supportive environment, saying,
Alex with Supervisor, Dr Kylie Rice.
“UNE has great staff, the ability to study in a format that is life-friendly, and still provide meaningful connection, partnerships, and mentoring.”
Research Participants Needed
Alex is currently after survey participants to help with research into eating disorder treatment for children or adolescents.
Are you a parent or caregiver who is currently involved in or has recently participated in eating disorder treatment for a child or adolescent aged 6-18? If so, we need your valuable insights to improve support for families navigating these challenges.
Why Participate?
Our research team at the University of New England has developed a tool to better understand the challenges and strengths caregivers experience during treatment. Your input will help refine this tool to improve care and outcomes for families.
What’s Involved?
- Who: Caregivers of children aged 6-18 involved in eating disorder treatment.
- What: A short, anonymous online survey.
- Time: One session.
