UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brooklynn Jones, a third-year student double majoring in criminology and psychology and minoring in sociology, said she has gained a strong understanding of the importance of voting and being politically active through her numerous involvements and academic passions.

Jones, a Paterno Fellow, Schreyer Scholar and Bunton-Waller Fellow, has been involved in voting work since attending high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she founded her school’s first voting registration club. When she came to Penn State, she joined the newly formed League of Women Voters.

“Because I already did voting work, I was excited to join and help get the club started, especially with a group of women who shared the same interests and ideas that I had,” she said.

Jones is now the treasurer for the Penn State chapter of the League of Women Voters and previously served as the organization’s liaison for PSU Votes.                 

Along with being in the League of Women Voters, Jones is an active member of the sorority Delta Sigma Theta, where she serves as the organization’s social action chair and uses her experience in voting work to host events aimed at informing and activating student voters.

“My organization involvements have allowed me to indulge in social advocacy, which is an important tool needed in the field of law, especially when defending someone,” she said. “To add, the leadership positions I have held within my various organizations and within the College of the Liberal Arts, like being a teaching assistant, have taught me how to regulate and delegate important tasks.

During Jones’ first semester, she met with her academic adviser in the College of the Liberal Arts and learned about the Paterno Fellows Program.

“I was very excited to hear more about it,” Jones said. “The Paterno Fellows Program challenged me by placing me into honors courses that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills. These are valuable skills that can benefit me not only in my academic pursuits but also in my personal and professional life. Becoming a Paterno Fellow has also granted me the amazing opportunity to join the esteemed Schreyer Honors College.

“To add, the funding opportunities within the College of the Liberal Arts have allowed me to receive a college education that otherwise would not have been possible. I am very thankful for the College of the Liberal Arts and their resources because they are allowing me to succeed and will continue to allow me to succeed in the future," Jones said.

To Jones, being politically engaged is one of the most important ways to be active within a community. She said she believes there are critical issues both at the local and national level that impact students and voting is one of the most important ways to make her voice heard.

“Being politically engaged allows you to be knowledgeable and open to change,” Jones said. “At the end of the day, we are the future, and we will be the people in these elected offices later in life. Going out and getting educated about the importance of voting or who’s on the ballot, whether it’s a general election or a primary, is very important.”

Jones said she also has also been able to pursue these passions within the classroom.

“The classes I have taken so far within the College of the Liberal Arts have allowed me to immerse myself in different topics I can explore within the criminal justice field and system,” Jones said. “Starting from introductory classes all the way to 400-level classes, they explore topics that are both known and unknown to me, and this ultimately forces me to engage in studies I may not have thought of before.”

Having a second major, as well as a minor, has allowed Jones to think about a wide variety of career fields she may be interested in pursuing, she said.

“Studying criminology, psychology and sociology has pushed me to want to engage in practices that target mental health within society and the criminal justice system,” she said. “Many assume this may mean therapy or rehabilitative services, but the College of the Liberal Arts allows you to see that there is more than that.”

Jones said she plans to become a wrongful conviction attorney or a special victims unit lawyer for children in hopes of helping underrepresented communities and those less fortunate.