Grad Profile: Olivia Collumb

From homeschooling to leadership on her campus and in her community, Olivia Collumb, psychology graduate at Northampton Community College (NCC), takes pride in her courage and growth that got her to graduation day. With her involvement on campus, she’s become a voice for change in and beyond the classroom. 

“I chose NCC because of its accessibility, and I stayed because of the support I found here,” she shares.  

Having been homeschooled through her youth, she says, “My biggest obstacle was myself. I struggled with the idea of seeing myself belonging at a college. My work didn’t always come easily.  My professors saw my potential when I was finding it hard to see it and encouraged me to go one step further in all I did.” 

Collumb’s passion for psychology came from her own experiences. “I can truly say that a counselor saved my life as a teen. During the times I was struggling, that counselor helped me. I want to give back.” Serving as chapter president of Active Minds on Pocono campus, she’s doing just that. Collumb works to eliminate the stigma of mental health and hosts weekly events for students to have a space and discuss mental health. 

Collumb is also a member of two honor societies, PTK and Psi Beta, the National Psychology Honor Society. Through PTK, she completed an Honors in Action project focused on whether parents and caregivers can teach young children healthy coping mechanisms to positively impact neuropathways before the age of eleven.  

As the VP of Leadership for PTK, Collumb decided to try her hand at the International Division 1 Vice Presidency for PTK. She made it all the way to the semi-finals and learned a lot from her experience. "Although I didn’t progress to a finalist, going to PTK Catalyst was an incredible experience. I was able to meet other students from around the world, and I heard from presenters on the power of stories, the theme for this year’s Catalyst." 

When she’s not in class, she volunteers as a Sunday school teacher and youth leader and helps with her family’s equine rescue.  

Passionate about mental health, and having faced her own share of challenges, Collumb aims to work in trauma-informed nonprofit care after graduation. A Hites Transfer Scholar, the largest scholarship from PTK only offered to 22 students this year, she plans to transfer to a college like Moravian University or Lehigh University to stay close to home and connected to her community.