College of Education and Behavioral Sciences News

Dylan Boughey, a senior Psychology major from Louisville, is spending part of his summer traveling and seeing new places, like many college students. However, unlike other students, he is running coast to coast for an amazing cause. “I am in a group of 6 and we are running from Baltimore to San Francisco. I am representing the Ulman foundation which is located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ulman Foundation helps patients navigate their diagnosis by giving them community, a free home to stay in during treatment, professional help with fertility preservation, financial guidance, and opportunities to stay fit. This is a housing organization to help cancer patients of John Hopkins that come all over the world. If you need treatment from John Hopkins and you live on the west coast, you can stay in the facility for free.” 

The roughly 2,800 mile run is giving Boughey the experience of a lifetime. “It restores my faith in humanity by seeing how open and friendly people are to let us stay in their houses or places of solitude and feed us. Everyone is so friendly and supportive when we tell them about our mission. I have seen strangers every day in different cities all across the United States help us along the way.”

You may think that Boughey has a passion for running, but he says he hates it. Thankfully, this adventure is valuable is other ways. “I am doing this to raise money and to prove to myself I can do this big of a challenge. When I finish this trip, I will have the confidence that will carry over into other parts of my life where it was lacking before.” 

It’s no surprise that Boughey chose Psychology as his major because he wants a career helping others and what he’s learning in the classroom is assisting him this summer as he runs across the country. “Through my psychology degree, I was taught about all the different types of people and how they live in society. This comes with different personalities, interests, concerns, and everything else about their character. On this trip I am part of a team of 6, and they are from all over the United States. With my psychology degree, I am very equipped to understand their point of views of life and personality by knowing about their families, interests, and the way they typically live their lives on day-to-day basis.” 

Boughey says he chose WKU because “it felt like a supportive community that treated me like family.” When he returns to the Hill to finish up his degree this fall, he will also be involved in student organizations that helped sparked his charitable spirit. “Greek life is where I started to get involved in charity foundations that give back to the community. One of my friends told me about Midnight On The Hill, and I was hooked. I became part of the team for sophomore and junior year, and we raised around $200,000.” 

If you’re interested in supporting Dylan and his fundraiser for the Ulman Foundation, visit https://impact.ulmanfoundation.org/fundraiser/4472768. To learn more about the Psychology program at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/psychology.