As a Division I athlete, Emily, from Hershey, PA, chose Ohio State because it provided the best avenue for her to pursue both athletics and her education. This spring, Emily will graduate from OSU with three bachelor’s degrees (psychology, anthropology, and music – with a minor in society and environmental issues) and as the captain of the varsity pistol team.

Emily is a fourth-year member of the varsity pistol team and was named an OSU Scholar Athlete each year as well as a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Training on both air and .22 pistols requires several hours of practice each day, and competitions from October-March. In 2018, Emily was part of the National Championship Team. About her time on the team, Emily states, “I am beyond grateful for all of the great friends I have made through the pistol team and the awesome opportunities it has awarded me to challenge myself mentally and physically as both an athlete and a person.”

Outside of athletics, Emily keeps herself busy with her coursework and extracurricular involvements. Recently, she had an article published in the Journal of Undergraduate Research at Ohio State (JUROS). The article, "Eagle-Eyed Sharp Shooters: The Importance of Visual Skills and Acuity in Precision and Military Marksmanship” started out as an assignment for Honors Sensation and Perception (3310H), and with encouragement from the professor, Dr. Kristin Supe, and many rounds of edits, landed in JUROS. She is also actively involved with Student-Athlete Peer Educators, and helps organize their signature event, Buckeye State of Mind (BSOM). Per Emily, “BSOM is a mental health summit for student-athletes that works to provide resources for athletes struggling with mental illness and reduce the stigma surrounding being a struggling athlete. I am super proud of everything that we can accomplish as peer educators, and I look forward to continuing to promote health and wellness to my peers!”

After graduation, Emily plans to pursue graduate school and eventually work as a university professor. Her advice to other psychology majors?

“Take advantage of everything the psychology department has to offer! You have the opportunity to try so many different things, whether it’s getting involved in a lab, joining student clubs and organizations, listening to lectures by guest speakers, attending career or graduate school fairs, or doing your own research thesis. You don’t have to love everything, but you owe it to yourself to learn about everything that psychology has to offer at Ohio State and beyond.”