Suzanne Zakaria is a 2014 graduate from the College of Liberal Arts with bachelor of arts degrees in international politics and Spanish. After her time at Penn State, Suzanne earned her J.D. from Georgetown in 2019 where she also received a certificate in refugees and humanitarian emergencies. Currently, Suzanne works as a law clerk for the U.S. Courts of Appeals in Tennessee.
She left a lasting legacy on Penn State by founding the State of State conference where students gather to discuss and work on issues they face in their day-to-day lives. She stays involved in her community, now, by tutoring public school students and coaching a youth running club.
Q: What about your experience at Penn State and Schreyer helped set you on a path to becoming a legal expert who is dedicated to working with those most in need like the unhoused and those unfamiliar with the U.S. legal system?
A: My undergraduate experience was foundational to my success as an attorney. I was challenged to think critically about world issues. I quickly became involved with many student organizations at Penn State, ultimately taking on leadership roles within them, which fostered my management and collaboration skills in the workplace.
Q: Was making a global impact in your professional life a goal that you had before you came to Penn State and Schreyer? If so, how did the Honors College help nurture that goal?
A: I always knew I wanted my work to have a global impact. The Honors College helped me realize that goal while I was a student. An advisor recommended that I apply for the Penn State Washington Program, which matched me with an internship at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. That experience was incredible and led to another internship at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. Both positions broadened my understanding of global issues and provided me with practical skills and connections that would prove instrumental in my future endeavors.
Q: You founded the State of State conference, an annual gathering to discuss important topics impacting student life at Penn State. What was your inspiration for taking on that project and what about your Schreyer experience helped make it possible?
A: State of State was created to give speakers a platform to talk about important Penn State issues and to allow participants to exchange ideas in facilitated discussions. My co-founder Patrick Boynton and I felt the need to create a space for Penn Staters to come together and address important issues impacting life on campus. We recognized then that only through conversation could we spark reconciliation and positive change in our community. The Honors College was indispensable to this effort. My co-founder Patrick was another Schreyer Scholar, as were many of the first State of State members. Plus, the Honors College supported the conference by becoming one of the inaugural sponsors.
