When Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bright first stepped onto the campus of PennWest Edinboro, she already carried a deep curiosity about people—why they act, think and relate the way they do. That natural inclination to understand human behavior led her to major in sociology, a field that allowed her to dig beneath the surface of society and see the bigger picture. But Bright didn’t stop there—she added a certification in cannabis science and industries, blending her academic interests with a passion for community education and policy reform.
“I love working with people and always wanted to learn why people did things in specific ways,” she said. “Sociology has taught me the knowledge of being able to look past the surface and learn the historical and contextual story of people and societies.”
Bright’s time at PennWest has been nothing short of transformative—not just for her, but for the many lives she’s touched through her involvement on campus. From serving as a community assistant to leading peer responder programs and helping new students find their footing as an orientation leader, Bright has embraced nearly every opportunity to give back and grow.
“I have been busy with my time here at Edinboro,” said Bright, who was also involved in recreational volleyball and the PennWest Leadership Academy. “I have learned such a wide range of lessons and could not be more grateful for my mentors and leaders around me pushing me toward better and brighter things.”
Those mentors include figures like Abby Day, Missy Dunn, Patricia and Sam Claster, and her Highlands 1 staff—all of whom left a lasting imprint on her journey. But one particular class during her first semester helped change the course of her college experience.
A multicultural class assignment prompted her to interview someone different from herself. The resulting interview with a graduate assistant sparked a friendship and opened the door for Bright to become a community assistant.
“I have been one for three and a half years, and it has caused so many great things in my life,” she said.
That one assignment sparked a chain reaction of growth, leadership, and community impact—key themes in Bright’s Edinboro story.
Looking ahead, Lizzy’s short-term goal is to gain hands-on experience as a technician in a cannabis growing operation, where she hopes to deepen her understanding of the industry. Long-term, she envisions herself as a public cannabis educator and legislative advocate—bringing science, understanding and policy together to shape a more informed future.
For incoming students, Lizzy’s advice is simple but profound: “Trust in the journey and push yourself to be the change you want to see in the world.”
As she prepares to graduate, Lizzy carries with her not just a degree, but a deeper sense of purpose and a lifelong commitment to learning, leading and uplifting others.
“I may be leaving Edinboro,” she said, “but the lessons I have learned will never leave me.”