Kaitlyn Cash Comm260W Newsmaker Profile- Serena Fulton

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.Whether it is through her newly-founded online community database, psYOUconnect, or gatherings on her front porch, Serena Fulton believes that connecting is definitely my thing. Fulton, 22, grew up in Dallas, Pa. with her parents and two younger siblings. She is currently a senior psychology major at Penn State. As a New Leaf Initiative intern, Fulton got continuously more interested in sustainability projects around campus and Centre County. She began as an intern in September 2011 and has been around every semester since. Ive gotten a lot more responsibilities, Fulton said, I dont really know what to call what I do. Eric Sauder, Fultons supervisor at New Leaf, said, She is able to bridge the gap between the two personalities [vision and business] of New Leaf. She is kind of like the nuts and bolts. He then pointed to a small homemade table in the corner and said, She is always sitting at that desk. One thing Fulton does do is run Penn States newest community online database, psYOUconnect. I was able to see the disconnects throughout the community while working with New Leaf, Fulton said, There is so much going on in this townI wanted it all to be in one place.

psYOUconnect is a website founded in January that includes a directory of contact information for student organizations on campus and community organizations around Centre County. It also has a calendar pertaining to community and campus events and a community blog. Fulton created psYOUconnect after multiple community members and students expressed their concern of the amount of disconnect throughout State College. Its the size and the culture of Penn State, Fulton said regarding the issue, the community sees football and partying and the students see the town as their stomping ground. However, around 70 percent of the community works at Penn State and the town of State College came about because of the university. Its odd that they dont work together other than a business stand point, Fulton said, The university just does a terrible job of incorporating students with the community. The receptiveness of the site has not been what Fulton had hoped for. I had this if you build it, they will come mentality, she said. But that isnt exactly what has occurred. Fulton expressed that marketing and promotions have been the hardest aspects of building her project. As she tries to find funding and her exact target audience, Fulton asks herself, How can I make [the site] valuable? How can I make it sustainable so it isnt just done when I leave? She continues to work to find a team that is engaged and passionate.

Not knowing each other should not be a barrier, Fulton said, Students need the community and vice versa. Fulton does believe that psychology is still in the picture. It is applicable to everyday of my life, she said with a giggle, I psychoanalyze everyone. She believes that the amount of interaction she has with community members only allows her to create better relationships and do better business with them. Im able to approach people with a different perspective, Fulton said. Spud Marshall, a community member of State College that has worked closely with Fulton, said that one of her biggest strengths is her ability to bring so many diverse groups together. Shes able to empower others. Its a really unique thing. Fulton has used this ability in her everyday life as well. She is an officer of Ski Club on campus, the vice president of Yoga Club and the direct support specialist for Community Services Group. Maria Balcazar, president of Yoga Club and friend of Fulton, said I feel like Ive met all my friends through her. We cant walk down the street without her saying hi to someone. This comes in handy with her chosen career path. I think connecting people to each other and others with common beliefs is something I will always see myself doing, Fulton said, Even if that means connecting someone with themselves.

psYOUconnect continues to grow. The directory includes more and more organizations every week and the outreach through social media has evolved entirely. Fulton likes to focus on the journey of how her project is progressively growing. She wants it to be something known that can change someone elses life when the time comes. The journey through life is the best part and its the stories and situations that make the experience the best it can be, Fulton said regarding her hopes for her future and the future of psYOUconnect.

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