Elizabeth McKinley blazes her own path
“My parents wanted me to attend Wheaton from the start, but I had to try out my own path first,” said Elizabeth McKinley ’26, the daughter of alums Dave ’93 and Leslie Badham McKinley ’94.
“I have baby pictures in Wheaton T-shirts, but following in their exact footsteps felt too predictable.”
After spending her first year at a different institution, Elizabeth transferred to the college for her sophomore year and has enjoyed the type of experience that her parents had envisioned.
This year she is serving as president of the college’s Student Government Association.
“Wheaton’s education is the right fit for me,” she said. “I’ve realized that the college provides so many different paths that I couldn’t have followed either of their paths even if I tried … The professors are excited to be here every day and connect with the students. And the classes are unique, interesting and engaging, across all the departments I’ve spent time learning in.”
Being on campus has also provided McKinley with common experiences that her parents enjoyed as students, such as the Head of the Peacock, eating at Chase or Emerson dining hall and encountering a few professors and staff members who were at Wheaton then and remain here now. She said, “It’s been an important journey for me to get here, and I’m so grateful for my parents’ support.”
The flexibility of Wheaton’s Compass Curriculum has afforded McKinley a well-rounded education and empowered her to create a self-designed major in political psychology.
“Studying the intersection of political science and psychology was important to me,” she explained. “While I could have double majored instead, this allows me to do a focused study in political psychology as a senior and provides me with the independence to study exactly what I want and what is relevant to my interests.”
This summer, McKinley served as an intern with Congressman Gabe Amo ’10 (D-R.I.) in the U.S. House of Representatives. She researched legislation, drafted memos and letters, answered calls from the Congressman’s constituents, gave tours of the Capitol and attended hearings and briefings.
“I learned how life on the Hill works and met many interesting people,” she said. “Making connections here could potentially open doors for me later in life.”
Arriving on campus as a sophomore, McKinley wanted to make an impact. “I’ve always been passionate about making a difference and student government felt like the way to do that,” she said.
As a sophomore, she was a member of her Class Council, and last year, she served as the SGA executive secretary, where she worked closely with the student president.
“I saw the responsibilities the role entailed and I felt as though I could thrive in it,” she explained, looking to use her understanding of how the college functions to work toward effective change. “This year, I hope to improve student spaces and give our student body some fun events to look forward to. I appreciate the connection I have with administrators in this role, as well as their support of students and our goals.”
McKinley considers herself fortunate to have found a college that fits her needs and looks forward to what’s ahead.
“I feel like I’ve flourished at Wheaton. Being a student here has opened more doors for me than I ever expected,” she said. “I developed confidence in myself that I didn’t have when I got here. I never thought I’d be student body president in college, or working on the Hill, or designing an independent major. These were lofty ideas that I thought were unreachable before I came here, but I’ve been able to reach those heights with support from my advisors, professors and peers.”
McKinley said that the internship in Washington helped her determine her postgraduate plans. She enjoyed her involvement in the legislative process and believes that working as a staffer is a potential goal.
“However, political psychology also lends itself well to campaigning, advocacy, and political management, so I’d like to see what that route would look like too,” she said. “I’m not done learning yet, but I know that between my time in Congressman Amo’s office and my Wheaton education, I’ll be prepared for wherever my path takes me.”
—By Troy Watkins