Science discovery in the public square
“I always knew I was going to med school,” said Samantha Geisinger (’18), a Science and Psychology dual-major. “But I was spending most of my time involved in student advocacy here at Penn State and at the federal level. I realized my true passions don’t lie in medicine. My passion is to advocate for other people.”
This senior, once bound for medical school, now is serving her second term as executive director of the Association of Big Ten Students, a group that advocates locally and nationally for the rights of more than 500,000 students at Big Ten schools. These days, Geisinger spends her time organizing letter-writing and social media campaigns around the tax bill and the PROSPER Act (reauthorization of the Higher Education Act), and she has changed her plans from attending medical school to advocating for public policy.
“I was spending most of my time doing student government, and I was enjoying it more than I was the lab,” she said. “I realized that I should be doing more of what I liked.”
With three full years of science under her belt, Geisinger knows that she has something unique to offer public-policy circles. This background has already helped her to quickly understand science policy issues and explain things like climate change and mental-health issues that are hot topics in public squares.
“It’s nice because I know the science behind these things, so it’s easier for me to help others understand what’s happening,” she said.
As a proponent of civic engagement who thinks scientists represent a powerful voice respected by lawmakers, Geisinger encourages all scientists to become engaged in policy.
“Scientists don’t have to go out and speak publicly about things,” she said. “But they are experts in their areas and they should advocate for what they believe, even if they just sign on to initiatives.”
While her eyes are on “big picture” politics, Geisinger focuses her day-to-day advocacy on students at Penn State and in the Big Ten. She notes the inherent struggles, at a school as large as Penn State, in rallying significant student interest in anything at the federal level, but says she has also seen some important changes taking place at University Park during her tenure, particularly in raising awareness of mental-health issues and resources available for student support.
She reflects, too, on how proud she was that the Class of 2017 gift was made to the Lion’s Pantry, which supports students in financial need. The civic-minded nature of Penn Staters inspires her, as do the public stands that President Barron has made recently on hot topic issues.
“Penn Staters care about things and each other,” she stated emphatically.
It is evident that Geisinger has made the right decision to pursue her passion in public policy, and she does so with a strong Eberly College of Science background. Like other scientists she is driven and focused, but her focus came at the right time for both her and the future of science.