Engagement Opportunities

Tanja St. Pierre

Assistant Director for New Student Orientation and Student Engagement

Email: txs181@psu.edu

Student engagement facilitates student success.

Meaningful educational experiences outside of the classroom foster a variety of transferable skills, including interpersonal skills, leadership, appreciation for diversity, and opportunities for social, cultural, and academic growth.

Here in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, student engagement is also a way to explore majors and their nuances and can assist you in making an informed decision about your educational path at Penn State.

On this page, you will find engagement resources in DUS, DUS student stories that exemplify meaningful engagement, and ways to connect with engagement offices in DUS and at Penn State.

Student Engagement Experiences

Richard

English; Global and International Studies

What activities are you engaged in outside the classroom?

I was able to start a baking club at Penn State and become its president because of the support I received from many amazing friends and incredible mentors. This journey began when I first entered university, uncertain of my identity and who I aspired to become. The one thing I felt certain of was that I wanted to learn how to bake and become skilled enough where I could make delicious desserts for my family and friends. In pursuit of this goal, I explored every resource and opportunity possible to find a place amongst bakers. What I discovered quickly was that Penn State did not currently offer what I was looking for, and in my disappointment, I voiced my feelings to my advisors, friends, and even faculty I’ve never met before to discover some possible way to make my goal a reality. As they listened with endless patience and empathy, each person began to see the gaps in my approach and suggested that I needed to have a greater focus on what I desired. These suggestions led to my self-exploration and eventually to my mentors encouraging me to start my club: a place where individuals can share a common passion in infinite forms.

Ava

Accounting; Political Science

What activities are you engaged in outside the classroom?

University Park Undergraduate Association: Vice Chair of Student Life Committee, DUS Representative - I got involved with UPUA because I wanted to become more engaged with Penn State and play an active role in events on campus
Student Fee Board Member: UPUA Elected - I became interested in SFB because I want to become an accounting or financing major and I thought it would be a good experience.
Presidential Leadership Academy - I applied for PLA because I wanted to gain critical thinking skills and thought learning from the President of Penn State would be a great experience.
Delta Gamma - I joined DG because I wanted to meet more people and engage with Penn State in a different way.

Brianna

Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management; Sports Studies minor

What activities are you engaged in outside the classroom?

Minorities in Sports club (MiS) : I am currently the events coordinator for MiS. I chose to engage in this club because it is my dream to work within the sports management industry. Additionally this club is filled with other minorities who share the same passion and love for the sports. MiS connects students with professionals working within athletics while also helping us find internship and networking opportunities. Both the members and opportunities are what caused me to engage in the club.
National Association of Black Accounts club (NABA) - I am the current secretary for NABA. I joined this club because it acts as a networking club that connects its members with professionals working within business. It also helps with finding job, and internship opportunities. While also helping its members with professional development. It is opened to all business majors, related majors, and those interested in business or the Smeal certificate. The opportunities in addition to the members is what caused me to engage in this club.
Video Internship for Penn State Football - I am a video manager for Penn State Football. This internship is a great way for me to get my foot in the door, in addition to allowing me the opportunity to work within the sports industry. Furthermore, it gives me the opportunity to explore different areas of the industry, while also networking with the football staff.

Amma

Business Management; Health Policy & Administration

What activities are you engaged in outside the classroom?

During my first semester, I attended a couple of the introduction meetings of the Black Caucus, HPA Mentoring Group and the African Student Association. I choose those clubs as they were the closest things that felt like home to me and or peaked my interest. As I did not really know anyone coming into Penn State, I choose to attended a couple meetings as I was already familiar with these clubs back in high school and wanted to join some type of community that reflected on me as an individual.

DUS Opportunities

Student Clubs & Organizations

OrgCentral for UP Clubs & Organizations
- Use the filters on the left-hand side if you are looking for a specific type of club/organization
Involvement Fair Flip Grid Videos
- Click on “View 19 topics”, select your topic of interest, and scroll down to see the responses. Each response represents a different student club/organization