WKU News

“Transformative.” It is the one word that Kendall Al-Halah, a WKU junior from Jackson, Tenn., uses to describe her Hilltopper journey. After three years on the Hill studying psychology with a forensics concentration, Al-Halah said, “I would never have thought in high school that I would be where I am today, and that is all thanks to the opportunities I have been given at WKU.”

Al-Halah takes part in Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Psi Chi, Psychological Sciences Club, Dynamic Leadership Institute, the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences’ Ambassador program and academic research. She serves as a lab assistant for Assistant Professor Dr. Chris Peters, engaging with different research protocols and serves as a research assistant for Assistant Professor Dr. Young-Jae Yoon. 

“I have been able to engage in research and present the research at local and international conferences. Both opportunities have allowed me to look into different career fields and build my resume as I plan to enter a graduate program.”

The forensic psychology concentration provides a broad approach to the study of crime, the causes of criminal behavior, and how psychology is applied in the criminal justice and legal systems.

“I was always also interested in the criminal side of things. Western is actually one of the few schools that has a forensic concentration for psychology [undergraduate degrees in Kentucky], and I can do a lot with that,” Al-Halah said. “I can go into the government. I can work for the police. I can do a lot of things with it - how versatile it was is a plus for me.”

The wide range of options in forensic psychology led Al-Halah to explore more work within the courts and legal system. 

“I hope to help bring people justice. Our courts can be a little unfair at times, and they can be hard to navigate. I hope that in 10 years, I am making sure others get the justice that they deserve; I know that can be pretty difficult sometimes," Al-Halah said. "Western has really helped me with that due to the forensic concentration that they have here.”

Al-Halah engaged in classes, such as psychology and law, to explore her field further and has received opportunities to conduct research. Specifically, Al-Halah completed a research methods course, and after a class meeting, Dr. Yoon asked her if she wanted to be a research assistant. 

“From the start, Kendall stood out because of her exceptional attention to detail and her proactive approach to complex psychological concepts. She doesn't just complete tasks; she truly engages with the ‘why’ behind the research, Dr. Yoon said.

He continued by expressing that as a research assistant, Kendall has been instrumental in data collection and literature reviews and has shown remarkable growth in her ability to synthesize his data. “Her contributions have significantly advanced our current project,” Dr. Yoon said.

“I have loved doing research. It has been a lot of fun. You get to present your findings. It opened up new doors for me in terms of what I would want to do in the future,” she said. “I can see myself doing [more] research because I can also make a difference that way - by coming up with psychological findings that can benefit others.”

Recently, Al-Halah attended the Society for Personality and Social Psychology’s Annual Convention in Chicago, where she presented research. The convention attracts thousands of attendees in the psychology field. Al-Halah presented “Blind Loyalty to the Sunk-Cost Decision of a Loyal Leader” along with Emma Hicks. The poster presentation shared research on leadership success and group loyalty as a member trait. 

Outside of academics, Al-Halah has engaged in meaningful experiences through her sorority, clubs and ambassador program. 

“Being in a sorority has really shaped my WKU experience. Alpha Xi Delta has helped me grow into the woman I am today and has made friendships that I know will last a lifetime,” she said. 

Al-Halah has participated in Greek Week, Homecoming, Tug, coached an Events Day team, and worked with their philanthropy, the Boys and Girls Club. 

“I came to college knowing nobody, and I don’t know where I would be without them. Alpha Xi Delta has also given me so many leadership opportunities and opened so many doors for me,” she said.

In addition to her involvement in Alpha Xi Delta, Al-Halah serves as president of two organizations, Psi Chi Honor Society and the Psychological Sciences Club. “Being involved in these has allowed me to meet even more people interested in the same things as me and be able to show people opportunities available to them.”

The organizations coordinate social, service and philanthropy events. According to Al-Halah, they are coordinating a project to donate clothes and other needed items to the domestic violence shelter. They also host socials such as movie and trivia nights to help students get closer. 

Al Halah said, “College is hard, and meeting people is hard. In these two positions, I have really been able to help bring people together.” 

For Psi Chi, Al-Halah shared that they organized a career fair and research fair to connect students with learning opportunities. With the Dynamic Leadership Institute, she completed three phases and is in the fourth phase, working on resumes and graduate school applications. Through her ambassador work, Al-Halah shares her experiences with future Hilltoppers. 

“With being a CEBS Ambassador, I am able to give tours of campus,” Al-Halah said. “I love talking about Western. I am a first-generation college student. I came into Western knowing absolutely nothing about college. Now that I am older, I really enjoy helping people know that it is possible to go to college, affordably and with a great community,” Al-Halah said.  

“The impact I want to leave is to show that college is possible for everyone, regardless of their upbringing,” Al-Halah said. “I don’t know where I would be if Western hadn’t made it feasible for me to attend college as a first-generation student. I hope this shows others that they are more than capable of making it happen as well.”