UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Ziyen Curtis, a fourth-year student double majoring in history and global and international studies with minors in women’s studies and gender and sexuality studies, has always been interested in cultural sustainability and gender and racial equity. Their goal is to tackle inequity in higher education.

While representing the Division of Undergraduate Studies in the Council of Sustainable Leaders during their second year, Curtis learned about Enactus from current president Gabby Olson, a fourth-year student majoring in meteorology and atmospheric science, and decided to join. Enactus is an international nonprofit organization committed to using business, entrepreneurship and innovation as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impacts based on the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals.

This year, the Penn State chapter is creating a business that provides self-defense classes for gender minorities on campus. Curtis currently serves as the director of human resources where they network with businesses in State College, connect with faculty and staff and spearhead an advertising campaign promoting the nonprofit business venture.

“Making sure that we highlight how inclusive Enactus can be has been my favorite part this year,” Curtis said. “Enactus has focused a lot on environmental sustainable development goals in the past, but I wanted to make sure that we focused on gender equity as well.”

As a member of the LGBTQ community, it was critical to Curtis that there was social representation beyond academics and environmental sustainability. They said it was motivating and rewarding talking to other members of this community and seeing their reactions to an organization making a class for them to feel “represented” and “safe” on campus.

The Scranton native, who is also a first-generation student, said they were unaware of the steps they had to take to be successful. Although it was difficult to find their footing, they found a pathway that allowed them to balance and connect their mental health, extracurriculars and academics through the support from Enactus and faculty.

“The things I learn in class are things I can apply in any type of activism, whether for myself or others around me,” Curtis said. “I see the progress of how marginalized communities often do not get specific resources. Knowing this, we can aim to make Enactus’ business have resources that are available and accessible to as many students as possible.”

Noticing the lack of representation of other people of color and queer persons while growing up and in college ignited Curtis’ passion for becoming a student leader who impacts the community. They want students to have what they did not — someone who looks like them to look up to as a role model.

“I found myself wanting to be that representation that I wanted as a child and to create a space of confidence that not only can you be successful academically but also personally,” Curtis said. “I want them to know that they can pursue what they want and can get over any cliffs and hills that prevent them from getting to specific phases in life that they see others getting to.”

As they are coming to the end of their academic career, Curtis hopes to leave an impact in a way that people believe they can be sustainable, take advantage of resources and join organizations like Enactus because they have seen someone else do it. They hope the things they have accomplished can inspire others.

“One thing that is important in Enactus is making sure the cycle continues and that it is not ending once the next business venture comes up,” Curtis said. “It is not ephemeral. It is reliving how to be sustainable, not just environmentally but within a community. If you do it, your goal should be so that other people can do it as well.”

Curtis learned this mentality through the inner workings they have seen firsthand in the College of the Liberal Arts. With the constant encouragement and support from faculty, Curtis has been able to flourish as a person. They appreciate how passionate the Liberal Arts community is about what they are learning and what they teach.

“The College of the Liberal Arts has opened so many doors for me,” Curtis said. “In the liberal arts, you can pursue different categories of what might interest you. One global and international studies class helped me look at sustainability in an inclusive way.”

Curtis has followed this passion outside the classroom as well.

Last fall, they co-led a presentation with Olson and other Enactus members at “Global Sustainable Action: It Starts With Us,” a conference hosted by Penn State Global. In their presentation, the group stressed the importance of students as leaders in sustainability and as an underutilized resource at Penn State.

Most recently, Curtis became a finalist for the Striving Toward Awareness and Respect for Tomorrow (START) Conference’s essay contest with a discourse on diversity and ensuring it continues to thrive in Curtis’ communities. The conference will be hosted by Smeal College of Business on March 30.

Looking to the future, Curtis hopes to continue pursuing cultural sustainability and gender and racial equity in a way that will help tackle inequity in higher education.

‘Moments of Change: Creating a Livable Planet’

In the fall of 2022, the College of the Liberal Arts chose the theme for its next offering in its Moments of Change initiative — an undertaking that brings students, faculty, staff and alumni together to explore what it means to live through historic and contemporary times of change. Through the spring of 2024, “Moments of Change: Creating a Livable Planet,” is focusing on the many aspects of sustainability and highlighting the ongoing work of the Liberal Arts Sustainability Council, students, faculty and staff in that regard. Similar to “Remembering 1968” in 2018 and “A Century of Women’s Activism” in 2020, the college has planned an array of courses, lectures, presentations and events centered around the “Creating a Livable Planet” theme.