UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From a young age, Elisabeth Egeli, a third-year Penn State student, has been driven by one of her biggest passions: understanding the psychology of crime. A first-generation American from Norway and Venezuela, now living in Houston, Egeli has had her sights set on joining the federal law enforcement since she was 13.

Her dedication to this goal has shaped her academic and extracurricular journey. The Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar is now double majoring in criminology and psychology and minoring in sociology in the College of the Liberal Arts.

“I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior, particularly about criminals,” Egeli said. “I want to understand why people commit crimes and how psychology and societal factors intersect in shaping those decisions.”

This fascination led her to choose her two majors and her minor. Together, these disciplines provide her with a robust foundation for understanding criminal behavior from multiple angles, which she said is essential for her future career in law enforcement.

“These areas of study will help me understand the underlying patterns of criminal behavior, which will be crucial for contributing to public safety initiatives and shaping policies that address crime prevention,” Egeli said.

Her interest in criminal psychology sparked early. As a young teenager, Egeli was drawn to books like “The Confidence Game” and “Recounting the Anthrax Attacks,” which delved into the motivations behind criminal actions. By 16, she had enrolled in a criminal justice course at New York University, and at 17, she wrote her international baccalaureate diploma research paper on the motivations behind criminal behavior. Her ambitions were further solidified when she participated in an FBI Teen Academy program, allowing her to experience a day in the life of FBI agents.

“That experience was pivotal,” she said. “It made my dream of working for the a federal agency feel within reach.”

When choosing a college, Egeli knew she wanted an institution that would nurture her academic aspirations while offering a vibrant campus life.

“I wanted a small college town that was walkable, and after growing up in Houston, I craved seasons,” she said.

The combination of Penn State’s strong criminology and psychology programs, school spirit, and community atmosphere made the University the perfect choice.

Egeli’s decision to join the Paterno Fellows Program played a significant role in shaping her academic experience.

“When I learned about the Paterno Fellows Program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to push myself academically and personally,” she said. “It has enriched my Penn State experience by exposing me to opportunities I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise, like honors classes that challenge me to think in new ways.”

One of the most impactful courses Egeli has taken was CAS 137H/138T Rhetoric and Civic Life, a yearlong honors course that uses rhetoric both to strengthen communication skills and to sharpen awareness of the challenges and advantages presented by oral, written, visual and digital modes of communication, with John Minbiole, assistant teaching professor of communication arts and sciences.

“After the first day, I was anxious and overwhelmed, but Minbiole encouraged me to persevere,” she said. “That class helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and significantly improved my writing skills.”

The challenge of honors courses has allowed Egeli to grow as a student, equipping her with the confidence to engage in more challenging discussions and research.

Elisabeth credits additional Liberal Arts Student Services offices for helping her navigate her academic journey as well.

“The peer advising sessions in Sparks Building have been incredibly helpful,” she said. "The peer advisers and academic advisers I’ve worked with have guided me in getting involved with research, selecting and scheduling my classes and exploring other opportunities within the college.”

Egeli also frequents the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center for Student Success, which she has found provides a quiet and productive space to study in Sparks Building between classes.

“Having that space has been essential in managing my workload and keeping up with my academic responsibilities,” she said. “I encourage other students to take advantage of the resources available within the College of the Liberal Arts.”

An additional resource Egeli has utilized is enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. This past summer, Egeli traveled to the Netherlands as part of the “Dutch Criminal and Social Justice” faculty-led program offered through the College of the Liberal Arts. Over the span of five weeks, Egeli examined the Dutch and American approaches to social problems and criminal justice alongside her classmates and Tim Robicheaux, full teaching professor of sociology and criminology, who has been leading the program for several years.

“The enrichment funding was such an amazing gift — it made my summer education abroad program possible,” she said.

Her time abroad broadened her perspective on how different societies address crime.

“We visited prisons, the Anne Frank house, the International Criminal Court, European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), and many other locations,” she said. “My favorite visit was to the prison, where I saw how the Netherlands prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment. The ethical living conditions provided for inmates were vastly different from what we see in the U.S.”

This experience highlighted for Egeli the importance of considering different approaches to justice and how they could potentially be applied to reform the U.S. criminal justice system.

Her time in the Netherlands was so impactful that she plans to study abroad again, this time in Barcelona, where she will focus on psychology.

“Studying abroad has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life,” she said. “It allowed me to merge my passion for criminology with my love for travel while gaining a broader understanding of international justice systems.”

On campus, Egeli is involved in undergraduate research, working in Professor of Psychology Michelle Newman’s Laboratory for Anxiety and Depression Research.

“Our experiments explore the underlying processes that contribute to these disorders,” Egeli said. “Given how prevalent mental health issues are among students, it’s been invaluable to contribute to research that aims to better understand and treat these conditions.”

Egeli’s passion for research was sparked during her second year at Penn State when she took PSYCH 270 Introduction to Abnormal Psychology.

“That course opened my eyes to the complexities of psychological disorders like depression and anxiety,” she said. “Given how many people struggle with these issues, I wanted to get involved in research that could make a difference in their lives.”

As a research assistant, Egeli helps conduct weekly experiments, exploring how emotions influence physical responses such as heart rate and sweat. Last year, she worked on a graduate student’s dissertation about interventions for depression, which allowed her to contribute to research that may one day improve the treatment of mental health conditions.

“It’s amazing to see how closely the mind and body are connected, and how our emotional state can affect our physical responses,” she said.

With her eyes set on the future, Egeli continues to leverage every opportunity to bring her dream of working with the federal law enforcement closer to reality. Whether it’s through her studies, her international adventures or her research experiences, she is determined to understand the complex psychology of crime and make a lasting impact in the field.