KaLynn Terrell ’19

A little over a year ago, KaLynn Terrell ’19 found out her school—Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana—was closing. She went from having her future mapped out to not knowing what the next year would bring.

Despite the unexpected and challenging transition, Terrell found herself embraced by Marian faculty who wanted to see her succeed.

“My professors have been overwhelmingly nice and supportive,” Terrell said. “They really check in and want to make sure I’m doing okay.”

Terrell has already established herself as a leader on campus, especially for fellow students from Saint Joseph's College. She serves as that school's student representative on the university's Board of Trustees, speaking on behalf of her fellow students. She also serves as president of the Union for Black Identity, a position that fit well as she was president of SJC's diversity coalition and chair of their Black Student Union. She is a lead peer tutor, teaching assistant for a reading strategies course, a tutor for athletics, and works on campus in a dining facility. Next year, she plans on being a resident assistant.

“KaLynn works diligently to provide significant Black cultural experiences through our campus UBI organization that all of us can unite to celebrate with courage, pride, and dignity,” says Cathi Cornelius, Ed.D., associate professor of elementary education. “We are truly blessed to have her serve in this leadership role of this historic culturally responsive student organization.”

Yes, she is settling in quite nicely.

Set to graduate in 2019, Terrell is now looking for her next move—graduate school. She plans to earn a master’s and doctoral degree in clinical psychology.

“I want to be the safe haven for people, and I can do that through therapy, through assessment and diagnostics, and by helping people get the treatment they need,” Terrell said. “Many of these people have been written off by society because they have a mental illness, because they have a disorder. I can help change the stigma of mental illness.”

Bachelor of Science in Psychology