Student gains global perspective, leadership skills through Liberal Arts experiences

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When Zachary Graaf transferred to Penn State after spending his first year at another university, he wasn’t so much changing campuses as redefining his academic path.

The Havertown, Pennsylvania, native knew he wanted a college experience that was versatile, challenging and deeply connected to his interests in politics, communication and global perspectives. That search ultimately led him to major in political science and pursue not one but three minors: economics, Arabic language, and politics and public policy.

“I wanted a degree that would open doors to many different career paths while letting me explore subjects I love,” Graaf said. “Political science gave me the chance to develop strong critical thinking, writing and communication skills, while economics taught me logical reasoning and financial literacy. My Arabic minor came from a long-standing interest in the Middle East. I’ve been studying the language for over 10 years and continuing at the university level has been one of my favorite parts of college. Altogether, these fields complement each other perfectly and prepare me for a career where I can bring different perspectives to the table.”

Graaf hasn’t limited his studies to the classroom. Over spring break this year, he joined the embedded course ARAB 99/499: Youth Life in Egypt, which gave him the chance to immerse himself in the history and culture of Cairo while practicing his language skills.

“Studying abroad in Egypt was transformative,” he said. “It deepened my understanding of the region I’ve been fascinated with for so long and reminded me why I chose Arabic as one of my minors.”

These interests reflect Graaf’s broader career goal to work as a political consultant, particularly on projects that reflect America’s changing demographics.

“I want to use my Arabic language skills for voter outreach and engagement,” he said. “The electorate in the U.S. is becoming more diverse every year, and language is such an important tool for building trust and connection.”

Graaf’s passion for politics isn’t theoretical, as he’s already spent multiple election cycles in the thick of campaign work. After working on two political campaigns during the last election, he wanted to gain experience on the cutting edge of digital politics.

That led him to Targeted Victory, a digital-first political consulting and public affairs firm in Arlington, Virginia. He spent this past summer there as a client strategy intern focused on political fundraising. He worked on campaigns for five different clients — including candidates, congressional committees and political action committees — and was responsible for developing, testing and launching targeted email and SMS fundraising campaigns.

“The work was fast paced and every day was different,” he said. “I got to write persuasive copy that responded to current events and political issues, design digital fundraising emails using HTML and CSS, and track campaign results in real time. Knowing that my work was contributing to record-breaking fundraising results for some of our clients was incredibly rewarding.”

Graaf credits the Virginia Todd Chapel Executive Internship Program in the College of the Liberal Arts with making the experience possible. The program provides $6,000 to students completing top-level career development opportunities in the private sector.

“Living in D.C. for the summer was a dream, but it’s also expensive,” he said. “The Chapel award gave me the financial freedom to live comfortably, network, attend events and make the most of being in such a politically active city without putting that financial burden on myself or my family.”

While internships have sharpened his professional skills, Graaf said his most formative leadership experience came with the Liberal Arts Ambassadors. He served as the group’s president during the 2024–25 academic year.

“I joined Ambassadors in January 2024, and right away I knew I wanted to make a difference,” he said. “There are so many misconceptions about liberal arts degrees, and I wanted to be part of changing that narrative.”

As president, Graaf oversaw a 292% increase in membership, recruited and trained more than 40 new Ambassadors, and helped the organization raise more than $8,000 for THON 2025, breaking all previous fundraising records. Under his leadership, the group also built new partnerships across the college.

“Leading Ambassadors was transformational for me,” Graaf said. “We created a tight-knit community of motivated, well-rounded students who are passionate about their fields of study and about giving back to the college. It was the greatest learning experience of my life so far, and I’m proud to leave behind a legacy of growth, inclusion and excellence.”

Now, as he transitions back to being a general member of Ambassadors, Graaf is excited to mentor the next class of leaders.

“It’s rewarding to see new voices take charge and bring fresh ideas,” he said. “I’m looking forward to supporting the executive board and helping our organization continue to thrive.”

For Graaf, the heart of his Penn State story is the value of a liberal arts education itself.

“A liberal arts education gives you the tools to think critically, communicate clearly and adapt quickly,” he said. “The opportunities I’ve had like studying abroad in Egypt, interning in Washington, D.C., leading Ambassadors, have all been possible because of the College of the Liberal Arts. It’s allowed me to grow into a more thoughtful, driven and capable version of myself.”

He also credits the support of the Chapels and the Career Enrichment Network staff for making those opportunities a reality.

“The Chapels’ generosity and the Network’s guidance have been invaluable,” he said. “They provided not only financial support but also mentorship and encouragement at every step of my journey.”

Set to graduate in December, Graaf is already thinking about the next chapter. He hopes to work on political campaigns, applying the skills he gained at Targeted Victory to help candidates run effective, data-driven campaigns.

“Strong digital strategy, persuasive messaging, and the ability to meaningfully connect with voters are the skills redefining elections now,” he said. “And I want to be part of that future.”

To fellow students, his advice is simple — say yes.

“Take advantage of every opportunity, whether it be internships, clubs, coffee chats, leadership roles,” Graaf said. “College goes by faster than you think, and you don’t want to leave with regrets about what you didn’t do. Each experience shapes you in ways you can’t predict. Work hard, play harder and enjoy the ride.”