College of Charleston Student on Path to Purpose
Honors College psychology student Emma Steckly is gaining hands-on experience through her CofC courses, leadership roles on campus and community work.
Emma Steckly has always been drawn to psychology. Growing up in Simpsonville, South Carolina, she took dual enrollment classes in high school, which solidified her desire to pursue a psychology degree.
Determined to stay in state, Steckly visited the College of Charleston and immediately felt it was the right place to continue her education. The College’s ideal location, size and strong partnership with the Medical University of South Carolina made it the perfect fit for her academic and professional aspirations.
“I never officially toured the College, but just from visiting I fell in love with the city of Charleston – especially the small-city vibe,” says Steckly. “I knew the College would be the perfect place for me.”
So far, it has been. Steckly is currently in the Honors College pursuing a psychology major with a minor in crime, law, and society. She is a Charleston Fellow and a recipient of both the R.I.S.E. Scholarship and the Frederick Jacob Collins, Jr. Scholarship, which have supported her academic journey and personal growth.
“The financial support of these two scholarships has allowed me to focus more on my academics, and perhaps adding another major or minor,” says Steckly, who actively contributes to campus life through several leadership and support roles.
One of those roles is as a resident assistant, through which she has found a meaningful community and a way to apply what she’s learning in the classroom.
“The reason I am studying psychology is because I want to help people, and being an RA, I get to help others and apply what I have learned from my classes,” she says. “I was reluctant to become an RA, but thankfully my friends convinced me to apply. Since then, it has been one of my favorite communities that I have gotten plugged into at CofC.”
“Emma exemplifies the kind of engaged compassionate leadership that defines the College of Charleston experience.”
Stephen Short, Associate Professor of Psychology
In addition to being an RA, Steckly works as a psychology and social science research/statistics tutor in the Center for Student Learning, helping fellow students navigate challenging material. She also serves as a peer counselor and the marketing and social media director for Students 4 Support.
Off campus, Steckly gains valuable hands-on experience, too.
“I have a summer job that started with teaching in a preschool for 3-to-5–year-olds and has now transitioned into camp counseling for 5-to-7–year-olds at the same school,” Steckly explains. “This experience connects to my psychology studies, as I’m considering a future working with children.”
Her hard work and dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Emma is a standout student who not only earned top marks in my psychology courses but also brought the material to life with original insight and application,” says Stephen Short, associate professor of psychology. “Her work as a resident assistant in the dormitories, tutor for the Center for Student Learning and peer counselor for Students 4 Support are just a few examples that reflect her dedication to using psychology to support others. Emma exemplifies the kind of engaged compassionate leadership that defines the College of Charleston experience.”
That same drive and curiosity continue to shape Steckly’s academic journey as she prepares to begin her bachelor’s essay under the mentorship of Chad Galuska, professor of psychology.
“Emma excelled in my conditioning and learning courses, including an advanced laboratory where students condition rats to press levers for food reward and conduct novel experiments,” says Galuska. “Here, Emma became passionate about furthering her research experience in this area of psychology. Currently, she is designing her bachelor’s essay research that will begin this fall. An excellent student, Emma is intellectually curious and works well as part of a research team.”
After graduating, Steckly plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work or become a registered behavior technician in applied behavior analysis therapy, inspired by her internship at a nonprofit supporting individuals with autism. Her passion for learning, creating meaningful relationships and helping others continues to motivate her as she immerses herself in the field of psychology and bettering herself along the way.
