Lisa Maddux

DUS Experience

When did you enter DUS?
Freshman year.
How many semesters did you spend in DUS?
One.
Why did you choose DUS?
I discovered after one semester of chemistry classes that there was no way I was going to be a chemist. I hated my classes and wasn't doing well in them. However, I had no idea what I wanted to do instead. Luckily, I was steered to DUS and found a wonderful adviser.
What resources did you use in your exploratory and decision-making process?
My DUS adviser, Laura Brown, was extremely helpful in exploring options with me. She recommended I take some basic requirement classes while I was looking for a major and encouraged me to take classes I was interested in to see if there was a major possibility there. She introduced me to the idea of planning a career out of something I like to do, instead of out of something I simply could do. That advice made all the difference, and I focused on journalism since I had always enjoyed writing.
Did DUS benefit you? If so, how?
DUS helped me step back from the pressure I felt to know exactly what I was going to do with my life even though I was only a freshman. I think it's great if people actually decide their major from the beginning, but in my experience it doesn't usually happen that way. I still would much rather spend a semester or two really looking at the options instead of finding myself near graduation and hating my major.

Penn State Experience

What major(s) (and minor(s), if applicable) did you end up choosing?
Journalism with minors in Political Science and Women's Studies
What year did you graduate?
1993
What extracurricular activities made a difference in your college experience?
I was a reporter and editor for The Collegian, which was a huge help in my career. Although my journalism classes were educational, The Collegian gave me the closest thing to "real world" experience. Once I graduated and worked at a newspaper, I was extremely thankful I had worked at The Collegian.
Looking back, would you have done anything differently during your time at Penn State?
Nothing.

Professional Experience

What jobs have you held since graduation?
  • Reporter, The Evening Sun
  • City Government Reporter, The News Journal
  • Education Reporter, The Macon Telegraph
  • Assistant City Editor, City Editor, and Features Editor, The News Journal
What is your current occupation?
Stay-At-Home Mom and Freelance Writer

Profile Last Updated: June 6, 2005