WKU News

Simply put, Derek Collins – a senior political science major and legal studies minor from Hattiesburg, Miss. – is the ideal Potter College of Arts and Letters student. 

Collins has been a consistent leader on campus over his four years on the Hill. Notably, he is a member of the Potter College of Arts and Letters Dean’s Council of Students (DCS). He said he has greatly enjoyed his time in DCS. Through his work with the Council, he has served as the Chair of Diversity and Outreach for the organization and student member on the Dean’s Search Committee.

"Serving as the Diversity and Outreach chair put me in the position to welcome and advocate for students representing diverse backgrounds,” said Collins. “Additionally, DCS allowed me to play a pivotal role in the trajectory of the College of Arts and Letters! I was honored to serve on the Dean's Search Committee to select the next Dean for the college, an opportunity afforded to me because of my affiliation with the DCS.”

However, Collins’ campus involvement is not limited to the Potter College of Arts and Letters. He is also a member of the WKU Forensics Team. Collins has won numerous accolades throughout his time in Forensics and said the Potter College of Arts and Letters has assisted in his speech and debate career.

“PCAL coursework has helped me conceptualize why a lot of the things I discuss in Forensics occur,” said Collins.

The Potter College of Arts and Letters has also shaped Collins’ post-graduation aspirations. His favorite courses were Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties with Dr. Jeffrey Budziak, an Associate Professor of Political Science and the Assistant Dean of the Potter College of Arts and Letters. These classes have shaped his interest in socio-legal studies – a subject he plans to eventually obtain a master’s degree in.

For now, Collins is looking ahead to the next chapters in his academic and professional life. He is currently interviewing for jobs in the U.S. Congress, and he plans to apply for graduate opportunities like the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Marshall Scholarship to further his education.

Though his time in the Potter College of Arts and Letters draws to a close, Collins is grateful for the experiences he’s had. When remarking on his service to DCS, Collins said, “all in all, I will miss serving on the Dean's Council of Students!”

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For more information about the Potter College of Arts and Letters, visit https://www.wku.edu/pcal/

For more information about the Dean’s Council of Students, visit https://www.wku.edu/pcal/deans_council_of_students/deans_council_of_students.php

For more information about a major in Political Science at WKU, visit https://www.wku.edu/political-science/index.php