Molly Kleist
I was a sociology and criminal justice major, a pep band leader and an energy policy researcher. And I could do it all because I’m a Bluejay. Creighton is a formative place for transformative people.
Sociology and Criminal Justice, College of Arts and Sciences
Between the activities I was involved in, and the relationships I forged with professors, I truly found my community at Creighton. Being the president of the student-led pep band helped me form close friendships and build leadership skills. I found a passion for sociology along the way, too. I chose it as my major after taking an intro course my freshman year.
I liked the content, and the professors in the department were very supportive. They offered me great advice throughout my time here, and I even started working on a research project with one of them in the summer of 2021. The project explored the energy policy planning network in corporate America. We looked at boards of directors in the network to see if and how they change through different presidential administrations. I gathered data and used software to put that data into network maps to show overlaps and connections.
Throughout my research experience I learned how to work with my peers and professors in a new academic setting and how to use the people around me to advance my research. Sometimes research takes you in a direction you didn’t plan on going, but it ends up being a better direction. I am using the skills that I honed, such as leadership, data analysis, public speaking and academic writing, as I pursue a career in human resources.
This is just a snippet of the many ways Creighton helped me grow and change for the better.
