Meghan Kelly

How did you choose your degree program?

HDFS was an easy choice for me to major in as I have always been passionate about social justice and relationship health. My major is the intersect of these two fields and provides the opportunity to intentionally learn about diverse family services in hopes to further advocate for families. Knowing how important the family is and how different societal systems affect them, it was easy for Human Development and Family Science to draw me in.

How did your academic experiences in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences impact you?

I greatly enjoyed my experience within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences as it was filled with real-life experiences. A part of the requirements for my degree was a certain number of internship credits. This guided me in career development, resume building, and establishing future career interests. Also, taking integrative study courses allowed the classroom to integrate with real life experiences. It applied the knowledge from lectures and class discussions to current events, for real concrete understanding instead of broad abstract ideas.

What accomplishment(s) during your time at Mason are you most proud of?

My time at Mason has been filled with so much joy and growth. I have been able to grow in leadership skills by serving as president of my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. My ability to work professionally and network because of my different internship experiences, at Catholic Mobilizing Network and Migration and Refugee Services of Catholic Charities, have been a precious experience for me. With all of that, I am most proud of the impact being apart of the Catholic Campus Ministry has had on me. I have been able to serve in leadership as co-chair of Works of Mercy (our service outreach ministry), a bible study leader, and find a support system like never before. This community has been irreplaceable and so valuable in my personal growth and formation that I am so grateful to have found my home at Mason in the CCM community.

Are there faculty or staff members who made a difference during your Mason career? Please give an example of this impact if possible.

The entire HDFS faculty has been very generous with their time, giving advice and guidance in each course to help me academically and professionally. Susan Burns has been great help throughout my time in CHSS by assisting with internship coordination and guidance in representing not only Mason, but HDFS, professionally.

What are your current career plans following graduation? What are your long-term career goals?

After graduating, I will be joining the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) as a missionary serving on a college campus. I hope to work for a non-profit in direct services and advocate for families and family policy. My previous internship experiences were with an organization advocating against the death penalty and another that assisted with refugee resettlement and integration. These two experiences revealed how much policies effect families and is a career field I hope to remain in.