UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With so many resources and opportunities available to students at Penn State University Park, the task of finding the right resource can be overwhelming for students, especially for the 25% of Penn State’s undergraduate population who are first-generation students.

The Chaiken Center for Student Success in the College of the Liberal Arts is helping students navigate the complexities of a large university. The center was founded at the start of the fall 2021 semester thanks to the generosity of Gene and Roz Chaiken, Penn State’s 2021 Philanthropists of the Year. Located in 101 Burrowes Building on the University Park campus, the center helps shepherd students toward degree completion by connecting them to existing University resources and providing a programming portfolio of student success coaching, cohort building and retention activities.

Patty Klug, director of the Chaiken Center, explained the problem the Chaiken Center tries to address.

“We want to reach students who may not be using the resources provided to them through the college or the University,” Klug said. “We have a wealth of resources, but a lot of the time, the students that should be using them aren’t. We want to help these students navigate and learn more about all the opportunities, funding and support that they have access to but may not know about.”

To help students find what they’re looking for, the Chaiken Center has hired six peer success coaches to work one-on-one with students through challenges and opportunities associated with college. The peer success coaches hold office hours on Mondays from 1 to 5 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Chaiken Center.  

Even though the center is open to all Liberal Arts undergraduates, Klug sees the benefit in all six peer success coaches being first-generation students.

“We’ve hired students who are first-generation, have gone through challenges and are looking for opportunities. They represent the kinds of students that are not utilizing the available resources in the college as much as they could and should. We know that peer interaction is powerful, and if the peer success coaches are similar in nature and represent the journey of other students, then it could be very helpful.”

One of those peer success coaches is Mandoline Bhuiyan, a second-year student majoring in criminology and psychology.

“Since my parents didn’t have the experience of attending college, I was responsible for navigating the college process by myself,” Bhuiyan said. “Through copious amounts of trial and error, I feel that I have gained a lot of insider knowledge and tips and tricks that could only have been achieved through personal experience.” 

Bhuiyan is excited to work with students from different backgrounds and support them on their academic journey.

Nykeima Roberts, a junior majoring in Japanese and sociology, is looking forward to helping students and applying the knowledge she’s gained from her own experiences. 

“My unique position as a Black, female, queer, first-generation student means that I am able to relate to many different experiences shared with other students,” Roberts said.

Nia Smith really enjoys the humanities and the endless possibilities within the College of the Liberal Arts. The second-year psychology student hopes to ignite the same passion for other students as well.

Smith also recognizes the struggle that the last two years have had on students and feels confident in her knowledge of resources and her ability to help others who also struggled.

“During the first half of my second year, I experienced a lot of change that I navigated myself through, and those changes helped me learn how to make executive decisions regarding my own college journey,” Smith said. “Also, being a first-year student during the pandemic made me figure things out on my own, and therefore, I feel when it comes to navigating Penn State in person or online, I have a pretty good understanding already.”

Tatiana Drebot is a second-year student majoring in labor and human resources. Drebot enjoys how interconnected all of the majors are within the College of the Liberal Arts and is looking forward to meeting students and using her knowledge to help others have the best college experience they can possibly have. 

As a first-generation student, Drebot has empathy for other students who may be facing difficulties.

“I struggled getting used to the whole college dynamic as a first-year student, and I hope I can assist others in getting used to this amazing and exciting campus,” Drebot said. “I am a first-generation, minority student. I know what it is like to struggle academically or be lost in who to go to for academic concerns, and I want to be that guidance who can help others facing similar circumstances.

“My college journey is thankfully supported by several academic scholarships through the College of the Liberal Arts, and I would love to guide others in finding that same support," Drebot added.

In addition to being able to relate to students who may be struggling, the peer success coaches are all passionate about the College of the Liberal Arts. Klug thinks this passion will be the key to their success.

“We want students in the College of the Liberal Arts to have a connection to this specific identity of the liberal arts, and all of these peer success coaches are very enthusiastic about choosing this college and all of the great things it brings with it,” Klug said. “It’s the idea of making connections with unlike things, using critical thinking to solve problems and being very engaged citizens.”

Second-year student Michelle Kengkart is majoring in criminology. The Liberal Arts Ambassador enjoys getting to represent the college to prospective students and alumni and participating in events that strengthen the Liberal Arts community.

“I am inspired to help others achieve their goals. The best feeling is talking to others who understand what you go through as a student and as a person, so I wish to be that for other students. I want to guide students in the right direction so they can be successful and content with themselves,” Kengkart said. “I understand the hardships that students may be going through academically, personally and socially. Even if there is something I haven't directly experienced, I have the proper resources and knowledge so that I can help a student no matter what their needs may be.”

Kaisha Garvin-Darby has enjoyed all of the opportunities and resources available to her in the College of the Liberal Arts and the wide range of majors. The second-year psychology student is excited to share that with other Liberal Art students.

“I have struggled in finding out what I truly wanted to do and what path I wanted to take, so I think showing students how to ground themselves and figure out how to find their passion will be the major way I can connect to them," said Garvin-Darby.

Ways to engage

In Nov. 2021, the Chaiken Center hosted the College of the Liberal Arts’ First-Generation Student Celebration during the National First-Generation College Celebration. The event provided first-generation students the opportunity to come together, learn about available resources, share their stories and take home giveaways.

Klug is looking for more ways to get students in the door this spring. The Chaiken Center is currently hosting “Wayfinding Wednesdays” and “Find Out More Fridays” every week through the end of the semester. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays, students can drop in to ask questions of representatives from various student support offices on campus, including the Career Enrichment Network and Undergraduate Scholarships in the College of the Liberal Arts and the University’s Office of Student Aid. Topics, which will vary for each session, include scholarships and funding, career coaching, the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program, education abroad and more. Students who stop by the events or office hours will be entered to win gift cards to the Creamery or the Liberal Arts online apparel store.

Students are also invited to stop by the Chaiken Center for peer advising office hours, which are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday through Friday. Peer advisers work closely with Liberal Arts Academic Advising and can answer questions related to scheduling, specific courses, and majors and minors.

Space permitting, the Chaiken Center is also open to students as a place for studying.

Visit la.psu.edu/chaiken-center to see the full list of upcoming “Wayfinding Wednesdays” and “Find Out More Fridays,” peer success coach bios and office hours, information about the center, and more.