Student leader champions involvement and opportunities for Liberal Arts students

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Reese Hays, a third-year student double majoring in political science and criminology, serves as an enthusiastic advocate for College of the Liberal Arts students at Penn State.

Hays, a Clymer, Pennsylvania, native, joined the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) because of his immense passion for the college and wanting to help increase involvement following the COVID-19 pandemic. LAUC, the representative body of undergraduate students in the College of the Liberal Arts for the last 48 years, creates programming and hosts events to help foster the experience of Liberal Arts students.

“LAUC has really taken some great steps in terms of increasing involvement and awareness,” Hays said. “We have really been focusing on fostering a social aspect to make everyone feel welcome and involved in LAUC.”

This past fall, LAUC hosted an event for students to have their professional headshots taken. Hays said the group is working on a resume workshop and an alumni panel for spring. They also hope to collaborate with other student organizations on various initiatives and events.

Hays was sworn in as the College of the Liberal Arts representative for the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) earlier this year.

“I was really interested in advocating for all College of the Liberal Arts students, as well as LAUC, so I interviewed with the executive board of LAUC and got elected.”

Within the position, Hays serves on UPUA’s Academic Affairs Committee where he writes and cosponsors legislation that aims to better the college and the University as a whole. He said this opportunity has brought forth immense personal and professional development, and he feels grateful that he is able to do work that supports other students.

“I enjoy doing the work behind the scenes for the betterment of everyone at the University,” Hays said. “The networking opportunities have been great. I’ve been meeting a lot of people who are passionate about bettering the University for everybody, especially the representatives from other colleges who are trying to make sure the voices of the students within their colleges are being heard.”

Hays has enjoyed getting to provide programming for Liberal Arts students through his roles in UPUA and LAUC. He looks forward to LAUC’s upcoming events in the spring that will help students learn more about career-readiness and the opportunities and resources available to Liberal Arts students, including out-of-classroom experiences.

Hays has participated in several out-of-classroom experiences himself, including a faculty-led course trip to the Netherlands for five weeks last summer. He received enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network to support his trip.

“The enrichment funding really allowed me to make the most of the trip through different experiences,” Hays said. “I was able to use the money I saved with the enrichment funds to travel while I as abroad to places like Spain and Belgium. I even had the opportunity to run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, during the Festival of San Fermin.”

Hays said that the classes and faculty members within the College of the Liberal Arts have made his Penn State experience and helped him discover his career passions.

“I have grown to really appreciate the various approaches that professors take to set us up for success, even if it means feeling more challenged,” Hays said. “I’ve formed connections with professors that have been helpful in deciding my future plans, especially Tim Robicheaux in the Department of Sociology and Criminology. He talked me into doing the faculty-led course trip last summer, and it was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. The college has made my experience much deeper than just showing up to class. They’ve really been helpful with figuring out what I’m going to do with my future.”

Because of his double majors and his plans to graduate early, Hays said he utilizes the Liberal Arts Office of Academic Advising quite regularly.

“Academic Advising has been extremely helpful every time I have used them, especially my academic adviser, Mia Parise. She has gone above and beyond to help me with my academic planning,” Hays said.

After graduation, Hays said he hopes to attend law school to pursue a career in criminal law and governmental affairs. He explained that Penn State, the College of the Liberal Arts and his various involvements have prepared him and provided critical skills to pursue his interests.

“I plan on taking advantage of everything that Penn State and my student involvements have given me, especially with LAUC,” Hays said. “The networking opportunities it's given me to meet so many people who I’ll hopefully work with in my professional career down the road are great. That, and the education that the College of the Liberal Arts has given me, will really set me up to be successful in the future.”