UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of Penn State’s 2020 spring commencement activities, Caitlin Conway will represent the Department of English in the College of the Liberal Arts as the department’s student marshal.
In response to the growing coronavirus pandemic, orders from the state government and recommendations from global public health organizations, Penn State will hold its spring 2020 commencement ceremony via livestream on May 9. The virtual ceremony will recognize all Penn State undergraduate students and all graduate students in the Penn State Graduate School.
Conway, a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, will graduate with bachelor of arts degrees in English and political science. Her faculty marshal is Carla Mulford, professor of English.
Conway has been a member of the Penn State Mock Trial Association since her first year on campus. Over the last four years, she has held various leadership positions within the association, from judging and alumni coordinator to tournament director, and is currently a captain and team selector. In addition to her involvement with the Mock Trial Association, Conway is an intern with the Penn State Committee for Early Modern Studies, a cross-college group associated with the Colleges of the Liberal Arts and Arts and Architecture.
Conway’s liberal arts education has not only helped her discover her career goals but assisted her in the application process. “My liberal arts education provided me with essential interdisciplinary skills that especially prepared me for law school and the law school application process,” she said. “During my time here at Penn State, I honed my writing skills, learned to consider issues in multiple disciplines and on a global scale, and realized my goal of helping people through a career in law.”
Her Schreyer honors thesis is an extension of her interest in law studies. Conway’s thesis is an analysis of Britain’s Marriage Act of 1753. She explores the reasons behind the act’s proposal and the impact of the act on women from different social stations. Several of her internship experiences also embodied her desire to help others through law. In June 2018, she interned with the Honorable Amy Martoche of the Buffalo City Court. Last summer, she volunteered at the Family Justice Center of Erie County, which provides free services for domestic violence victims and their children. As a court intern, she answered domestic violence hotline calls and assisted the Domestic Violence Advocate at the Erie County Family Court by working through cases with both clients and attorneys.
After graduation, Conway will begin working towards her career in law by attending law school.
To students in the College of the Liberal Arts, Conway urged them to make the most out of their time at Penn State. “The College of the Liberal Arts has a wealth of opportunities — take advantage of them, and take advantage of them early. From study abroad programs to internships, Liberal Arts can provide you with a rich, diverse education and truly make your four years here memorable.”
This is the 16th in a series of stories on the 24 student marshals representing the College of the Liberal Arts during the spring 2020 commencement activities.