UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Jayden Foxx is a fourth-year Penn State student majoring in political science and double minoring in crime, law, and psychology and African American studies. Hailing from Binghamton, New York, Foxx is utilizing resources offered through the College of the Liberal Arts and the University to make the most of her Penn State experience — and help her peers do the same.

As a first-generation student, Foxx has felt supported by the College of the Liberal Arts. She said the college offers a diverse range of opportunities for all students, and she appreciates how the college promotes a positive narrative around first-generation students.

“I think there’s a misconception about being a first-generation student because people view it as a negative. I see it more as a positive aspect because I’m doing something that my mother never had the opportunity to do,” Foxx said. “I feel like the College of the Liberal Arts takes more of a positive view of it as well, and it makes you feel like you’re not an outcast because you are a first-generation student, especially with their first-generation programming.”

Foxx also highlighted the financial support she has received as a student, expressing gratitude for the college’s recognition of hard work and its understanding of the unique challenges first-generation students face.

“We are humans trying to make a difference for our families,” she said.

As a mentee in the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program, Foxx has gained invaluable insights, describing the experience as a beneficial opportunity that allowed her to forge a meaningful connection with her mentor and helped her define her career options.

“The College of the Liberal Arts was really good with matching me up with a person who I really felt connected to and I felt like would really help me with my career journey,” Foxx said. “It’s so nice — I didn’t realize how beneficial the program was.”

After completing an application through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, mentees are connected with mentors in their desired field of interest and/or major area. Although Foxx has formally completed the program, she remains close with her mentor, Randy Houston, a 1991 Liberal Arts alumnus. They continue to communicate monthly, and Houston provides ongoing guidance and resources to help Foxx.

Foxx became a mentor herself — an academic peer mentor in the Division of Undergraduates Studies — during her second year at Penn State. Drawing from her own experiences with time management and study strategies in high school, she felt compelled to support students facing similar challenges.

“It’s a great opportunity that everyone should know about,” Foxx said. “I really just wanted to help students because I know I’ve struggled and I wanted to let them know that they weren’t alone.”

Each week, Foxx met with several mentees to address their specific challenges. She provided valuable resources, created tailored study sets, and served as a consistent source of encouragement.

“I think it went really well,” Foxx said. “Seeing their growth was really good for me and seeing them get more confident in their academics was a big thing.”

As a student worker for Penn State’s Gender Equity Center, Foxx educates her peers and raises awareness of the center's mission through educational workshops that address issues like sexual violence, partner violence and domestic violence.

“I am on the educational workshop team, so I usually go into first-year seminar classes to explain what the Gender Equity Center is and provide them resources, but we also have a variety list of programs that faculty and staff can request,” Foxx said.

In recognition of her leadership and achievements, Foxx was selected for the 2024 Penn State Homecoming Student Court. She described this opportunity as the highlight of her final year at the University, reflecting on its significance in her journey.

“It meant a lot to me. Looking back at my freshman self and how much I struggled to find my community and feel comfortable at Penn State, I now see that as a senior, I have achieved what I always wanted. This is exactly what I dreamed of as a freshman, and it feels like all the pieces of my life are finally falling into place,” Foxx said.

As a first-generation college student, Foxx felt she was living this experience for her mother who never had the chance to attend college. Her mom was able to join her for Homecoming week, attending the parade and the football game.

“It was just an honor to represent my class but also to have faculty and staff really notice how hardworking the people on the student court are,” Foxx said. “It was great to see the diversity, and it was great to see the other people being recognized for their accomplishments.”

Looking ahead, Foxx will graduate this May and plans to attend law school in the fall. She hopes to become an attorney specializing in family law or estate planning and one day open her own law firm.