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Mattison Buckley (Wellsville, NY) chose to stay close to home when she enrolled in the associate degree criminal justice at ��Ӱֱ�� State but the connections she has made with her professors and the college community has her now pursuing her bachelor's degree in the field and a minor in psychology.

“At first, I was more interested in getting an associate degree and then I met my incredible advisor who swayed me into switching into the four-year program. I have learned so much from my professors. Criminal justice is so broad, there is so many different opportunities in it.”

Learning from professors that have been in the field has helped Mattison’s learning experience. “Listening to them speak makes me feel like I am right in their experiences. They do a great job capturing what they have gone through and what has gotten them to where they are today. It is cool to be able to see that prospective.”

Connections outside the classroom have made ��Ӱֱ�� feel like home. Mattison ran cross country her first semester and has worked in the admissions office as a tour guide during her time on campus but running the college’s student marketing/media platform, the Bandwagon, has opened new opportunities.

“Bandwagon has switched from a radio station into a space where we produce music, podcasts, and create video and Instagram content. I am excited for the vision; we want people to be interested in life on campus. I am learning how to do different things, I am the treasurer, making purchases, creating content, and setting up agendas and time slots.”

Mattison encourages others to come to ��Ӱֱ�� because the community cares about you. “They are not in it because it is a big fancy place. They are in it because they care about the individual students themselves. They want to see you do the best that you can with the time that you have here. I just love being in ��Ӱֱ��, it just feels like home.”

��Ӱֱ�� State has given Mattison the evidence to produce a bright future.