Liberal Arts student champions undergraduate research

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Cameryn Allen, a fourth-year Penn State student graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, didn’t always plan to go into research. She first chose her major because friends often turned to her for support — earning her the nickname “everyone’s confidant.” But while she’s passionate about helping others, she soon discovered that counseling wasn’t her path.

Everything changed after taking "PSYCH 100: Introduction to Psychology."

“That class sparked something in me,” Allen said. “I realized that I love data — analyzing it, understanding what it’s telling us and using it to make change. That’s when I started seeing myself in research and teaching.”

A proud first-generation student from Philadelphia, Allen admitted she underestimated how much college would require beyond academics.

“I thought just getting the degree would be enough,” she said. “But by my second year, I realized I needed to get involved outside the classroom too.”

That realization led her to the Liberal Arts First-Generation Committee, which quickly became a cornerstone of her experience.

“Getting involved with the First-Gen Committee changed everything,” Allen said. “It gave me community, leadership experience and honestly, I think it’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been so successful academically.”

Allen took on leadership roles within the committee and deepened her involvement with the Liberal Arts Chaiken Center for Student Success. Her connection with the center inspired her to apply for a peer mentor position.

“I had learned about so many campus resources through the First-Gen Committee and wanted to help others find their way,” she said. “I felt like my story could make an impact.”

That drive to help others extended into her work as an undergraduate research ambassador with Penn State’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring Office. In that role, she advises students on research opportunities, speaks at University events and helps connect peers with faculty and funding resources.

“I meet with students one-on-one and walk them through the process, whether they’re just getting started or are deep into a project,” Allen said.

In those conversations, she draws on her own experiences conducting research at Penn State. Allen has worked in several research labs, including the Survey Research Center in the Social Science Research Institute and the Parent-to-Child Anxiety Transmission Lab and the Gene Environment Interplay Across the Lifespan Lab in the College of the Liberal Arts.

This spring, Allen also played a central role in organizing the college’s first Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Expo. As the student liaison on the Liberal Arts Alumni Society Board, she saw an opportunity to fill a gap.

“I never had the chance to present my research at a Liberal Arts-specific event,” Allen said. “I wanted to give other students that opportunity — to create the kind of space I wish I’d had.”

After months of planning, the expo was held this past March with strong participation from students, faculty and staff. Allen’s initiative and leadership were recognized at the College of the Liberal Arts’ Alumni Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 1, where she received the Christopher B. Gamble Service to Penn State Award.

Reflecting on her experience, Allen said she believes research has shaped her in ways far beyond the academic.

“Research teaches you so much more than how to collect and analyze data,” she said. “It builds leadership, communication, teamwork and project management skills — things you can take anywhere.”

That foundation has already opened doors for her professionally, helping her secure interviews and job offers that align with her passion for data-driven impact.

During the summer of 2023, Allen served as a research and data analysis intern with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, where she worked on projects that combined data with criminal justice reform. She also gained experience at the intersection of law and public health through an internship with the Public Health Management Corporation. Currently, she interns with the College of the Liberal Arts’ Office of Analytics and Planning, where she analyzes post-graduation outcomes and builds data dashboards to support the college’s strategic priorities.

“When you stay in a research setting for a while, it’s like growing with a company. You take on more responsibility, learn new skills and figure out what really drives you,” she said.

After graduation, Allen said she plans to pursue a career in nonprofit data analysis, aiming to support organizations working in financial, social or demographic impact spaces. Long-term, she hopes to earn a graduate degree and return to the classroom as a psychology professor.

“I just want to make sure that the data I work with is doing something real — something that makes people’s lives better,” she said.