Liberal Arts student finds purpose through literature, activism and service

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — During her time at Penn State, student Emily Cotrufello has built a college experience that reflects her passions for literature, activism and community service. A fourth-year student double-majoring in English and international politics and minoring in women’s studies, she discovered early on that the liberal arts offered the perfect space to connect her academic interests with real-world impact.

“I’ve always been obsessed with reading and literature,” said Cotrufello, who was originally a biology major. “I have a talent for science, but my love for English and the liberal arts was stronger.”

Her long-standing interest in political activism led her to pursue international politics, and her women’s studies minor has helped her connect her studies in new ways.

“I took a few women’s studies courses my first few semesters and fell in love with the subject,” said the Broomall, Pennsylvania, native. “All of my academics play super well together. Each area of study has made me better at them all combined.”

The Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar has been able to unite her passions and interests through her work as a member of Days for Girls at Penn State. Days for Girls is an international nonprofit organization that aims to provide sustainable menstrual health solutions and products to menstruators who have to miss school or work during their period. 

“I remember being a freshman at the Involvement Fair and getting so overwhelmed with the number of organizations on campus,” Cotrufello said. “I wanted to be involved in orgs that put marginalized identities at the forefront of their service, so I looked at all of the clubs on OrgCentral and immediately loved Days for Girls.”

Cotrufello currently serves as the administrator on the chapter’s executive board, a position she said she is especially passionate about due to its social presence both within the organization and with other contacts across Penn State. In her position, she handles the organization’s social media, collaborates with other organizations on campus and helps to run events with the chapter such as period product drives.

“This organization has given me a community, leadership, friendship and personal growth,” Cotrufello said. “In my position, I have been able to meet young students and introduce them to the organization. I’ve also been able to foster a sense of community within the org, but also with other orgs across campus, which has been very rewarding.”

Cotrufello’s education abroad experience last summer also played a large role in her Penn State experience, she said. Last June, Cotrufello participated in the Literary London faculty-led program, a month-long experience that took Penn State students to London to study British works, including those focused specifically on crime and justice. She called the opportunity a “dream come true.”

Cotrufello expressed her gratitude for this experience abroad, saying that it was a goal she never previously thought would be possible until she learned about this program from Marcy L. North, associate professor of English.

“I always wanted to study abroad but was unsure if I would be able to financially,” Cotrufello said. “I learned about the trip through Dr. North and immediately wanted to apply just to see what would happen. I applied for enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network and was able to go on the trip — it was one of the best experiences of my life.”

Last semester, Cotrufello was a teaching assistant for ENGL 105: American Popular Culture and Folklore, a course focused on singer-songwriter Taylor Swift as a literary figure. Cotrufello spent the last two summers interning at Haverford College Libraries and the last two and half years as a library circulation assistant at the Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library at Penn State.

Following her graduation, Cotrufello said she plans to merge her passion for literature and community service by pursuing a master’s degree in library science. Her experiences with Days for Girls and her interdisciplinary studies have shaped the way she approaches learning, and she hopes to share that insight and inspire others when doing research in her future career.

Above all, Cotrufello said her time at Penn State and the College of the Liberal Arts has taught her to embrace every opportunity, push beyond her comfort zone and grow both academically and personally. From navigating her early college years to becoming a campus leader, she credits Penn State with shaping her into the person she is today.

“Everyone is so welcoming and supportive when you put yourself out there,” Cotrufello said. “From my classes to my experiences beyond the classroom, I’ve gained so much. I truly don’t think I would have been this happy anywhere else — there’s something here for everyone.”