Raising the Bar: Meet 2025 PNW graduate Mya Bell
Mya Bell’s, ‘25, future changed the day a friend invited her to tag along on a campus tour of Purdue University Northwest (PNW). That casual visit eventually led to Bell earning dual bachelor’s degrees in Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS) and Political Science from the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (CHESS) at the university.
Initially, Bell was unsure of what she wanted to study. After reading the description of the HDFS major on PNW’s website, she knew it was a perfect fit. A class on family law piqued her interest in law and politics and resulted in a second major.
A first-generation college student, Bell was a member of TRIO, a McNair Scholar and a member of the PNW chapter of Alpha Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for first-generation students.
A member of the Honors College, Bell served on the Honors College Advisory Board in various leadership positions and was also a peer mentor and teaching assistant. In addition, the Schererville, Indiana, native was a member of Pi Alpha Sigma, the national political science honor society, participated in the Model United Nations and Model Illinois Government, served as vice-president of the Student Government Association, president of the CHESS Student Advisory Board and president of the PNW Food Pantry, where she helped launch a community garden on the Hammond campus, providing fresh produce and herbs to students.
Bell presented research at several conferences, including the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference and the Mid-East Honors Association Conference, and completed internships with Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana and Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.
After graduation, Bell will continue her studies at PNW by pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Longer term, she would like to attend law school, become a criminal defense attorney and open her own practice.
There is always somebody to turn to for support and guidance, helping to uplift you and give you opportunities.
What did you like most about PNW?
“Definitely the community. There is always somebody to turn to for support and guidance, helping to uplift you and give you opportunities. Just being able to grow as a professional and as a student was life changing.”
How do you think your involvement in campus organizations and activities helped define your success at PNW?
“All the experiences, even my time in the classroom, have exposed me to so many different people, their ways of life, their struggles and successes. Having the opportunity to work in so many different environments with really diverse groups of people gave me a great perspective, an open mind and empathy. It also gave me a really great work ethic and resilience. It’s helped me find passions outside of just what I’m studying.”
Did you have a pivotal experience while attending PNW?
“Toward the end of my first year I received the Outstanding Newcomer Award from the Honors College. It was the first time I’d ever been recognized like that and it made me realize that someone saw potential in me that I hadn’t really seen in myself. That pushed me to get more involved and by my second year I was really engaged on campus and it made college so much more fulfilling. This year, I was named Undergraduate Student of the Year, which felt like everything came full circle. It was the motivation I needed to finish strong.”
What words of advice would you share with prospective students looking to attend PNW?
“Use your time at PNW to come out of your shell and network. Try everything you can because you never know where it will take you or what you’ll learn. Be resilient and keep a positive mindset.”
Was there anyone at PNW who inspired or encouraged you along the way?
administrator of honors student leadership and programming
“She is the first professional who saw something in me – that I could be a professional too. She introduced me to so many opportunities to grow and learn and was always the kindest person.”
Meet the Spring 2025 Graduates
Discover what drives our remarkable Spring 2025 graduates. From late-night study sessions to campus milestones, see how they’re Powering Onward.