Name: Faith Couts
Major and current year at UCI: social policy and public service, junior
Scholarship received: Elena B. and William R. Schonfeld Scholarship
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Why did you decide to come to UCI and what has fueled your interest in social policy and public service?

I view UCI as a place where I can grow as a scholar, but ultimately, I chose UCI because I see the university making strides toward diversity and providing access to underrepresented communities.

I see social policy and public service, particularly in the area of education, as a way I can make the greatest impact on my community and the world at large. My journey has shown me education is a pathway to intergenerational mobility and a way in which an individual can gain an understanding of the world outside of their purview.

Tell us a bit about your undergraduate research and what drew you to this topic.

I’m completing a year-long qualitative research study on university adjustment in non-traditional female college students. I examined through one-on-one interviews how variables related to mentorship, university environment, and the pandemic influenced their adjustment to the UCI campus. Ultimately, I will use my research findings to develop a need-based assessment of the non-traditional student population on the UCI campus and cultivate recommendations for future programs and interventions to support the retention of this group.

I became a mom early in life (at 18 years old) and then again at 27. I previously worked full time and returned to school after a 28-year hiatus.  My non-traditional background led me to pursue public service via higher education and informed my research interest in the non-traditional student experience, specifically transfer student adjustment to the 4-year university.

What do you plan to do after finishing your degree next year?

I plan to pursue a graduate degree in higher education and student development. My longer-term goal is to return to work in higher education to help first-generation students, transfer students, and students from underserved communities forge pathways in post-secondary education.

What would you consider your biggest accomplishment at UCI?

That’s a tough question. I think my biggest accomplishment has been getting to UCI. I started at community college when my son (Hunter Wetzel, who is my youngest child) left for his first year as a college freshman. I worked full-time, went to school full time, and helped him navigate his first year at the university. I graduated summa cum laude from Saddleback College, which for me was a big deal! And now, Hunter and I are both third-year social sciences majors at UCI. I’m honored to be walking this path alongside him and look forward to walking across the stage at graduation with him next year.