Sometimes, finding the right place to lead means knowing when it’s time to make a change. For Jenna Ciora, a Pittsburgh native with a natural drive to take charge, her initial college choice just wasn't cutting it.

Disappointed in the lack of opportunities to lead at a branch campus of a large university, Jenna decided to make a change. She transferred to PennWest California, which her sister – an alumna – suggested would align more with Jenna’s goals.

"I haven't looked back at all. I love it here. The environment is perfect for me and gives me every opportunity I could need."

Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Jenna transferred to PennWest California in spring 2025 and wasted no time getting involved. Within her first weeks on campus, she was already attending events, exploring clubs and finding her place. One of her earliest campus memories is from a Student Activities Board bingo event, where she found herself not just attending, but helping.

Looking back, she laughed at how quickly it happened: “I have a video of myself sitting up there, rolling the balls at bingo and I’m saying ‘How did I get here?’”

That early momentum turned into a long list of campus leadership roles, including the PennWest Leadership Academy, Cal Commuters, and work in student development. She brings energy and confidence to everything she does, and she leads with intention.

“I want to make the change; I don’t want to sit back and watch it,” she said.

That mindset shows up in the way she helps organize student life, contributes to campus meetings and learns how decisions are made behind the scenes. In her role as lieutenant speaker of the House of Representatives, she has gained firsthand experience with communication, budgeting, and the systems that keep campus organizations moving forward.

Jenna approaches leadership with the goal of absorbing everything she can from the mentors around her. She adopted her meticulous organizational habits – like keeping detailed daily to-do lists  – from watching a fellow student during a challenging time. That drive to continuously improve is paving the way for her ultimate, highly ambitious goal of becoming a CEO or managing marketing for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For Jenna, PennWest has been more than a place to earn a degree. It has been a place to practice leadership in real time.