Mya McKeown is a senior Communication and Social Influence student and native to the Philadelphia area. She has been a peer mentor with the Smith Scholars program and on Klein College of Media and Communication's Dean's Student Advisory Council. Off-campus she is a secretary for the non-profit ArtsAbility. After graduation, she will be getting her master's in communication from The Ohio State University to become a professor and continue her passion of research and mentorship.  

Catie Duffield, Graduate Assistant for Fellowship Advising, shares that “The kindness Mya exhibited in class accompanied by her ability to take the lead is evident in her involvement on campus. Each year, the Smith Scholars program selects a group of students to serve as peer mentors for incoming Smith students of similar academic background and provide small group advising, advice for the fellowship application process, and to listen to their concerns. When selecting peer mentors for the 2023-2024 academic year, Mya was an obvious choice, and has proven to be exceptional in this role. She is assertive in meetings, eager to brainstorm with her mentees and reassure them of their doubts. As a first-generation college student, Mya is aware of the insecurities students may face and thus very empathetic. Evidence of her kindness and leadership are clear across her on and off campus activities. She is a pilar in any classroom, and the true embodiment of Temple’s core values".