Growing up in Mingo County, Haleigh witnessed firsthand the challenges surrounding rural healthcare. Limited resources, long travel distances, and persistent stigma often made it difficult for individuals to seek and receive the help they needed.
“Even if they were able to get over the stigma of mental health, it was still very difficult for people to get the help that they actually needed,” Haleigh said.
Her understanding of these barriers became personal through her father’s experience as a veteran who often had to rely on under-resourced local clinics or travel to receive care.
“I’ve seen how it can impact not only the people struggling with those issues, but their family members as well,” Haleigh said.
These experiences opened her eyes to a larger issue affecting many families in her community and ultimately inspired her decision to pursue a career in mental health.
Haleigh’s academic journey has been focused and accelerated. Dual enrollment coursework completed during high school allowed Haleigh to enter Marshall University with nearly 80 credits and an associate degree already earned. This head start placed her on track to graduate ahead of schedule. Reflecting on the opportunity, Haleigh said the program gave a lot of people a leg up that they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
Beyond the classroom, Haleigh has been actively involved on campus as the secretary of student advocacy for the Student Government Association. In this role, she has worked closely with students to ensure their voices are heard.
“Every person deserves a voice, whether it’s one that I can personally relate to or not,” Haleigh said.
She has built strong communication between students and university leadership and provided support to peers who may feel more comfortable speaking with fellow students. Her involvement has helped her grow as both a leader and an advocate.
In addition to her campus leadership, Haleigh has remained committed to serving others through community involvement. She has volunteered with local organizations, including food pantries, which has further strengthened her passion for helping underserved populations.
“I love to hear the stories of others and take that with me whenever I think of the initiatives I may want to start,” Haleigh said.
These experiences have reinforced her desire to use her education to create meaningful change, particularly in rural areas where resources are often limited.
While many students view higher education as a path away from small towns, Haleigh sees it as a pathway back.
“I personally love where I’m from,” Haleigh said. “Knowing that I could have the option to come back and help the people that I’ve seen struggle is definitely something that I’m very passionate about.”
Haleigh’s goal is to become a child clinical psychologist and serve children in rural West Virginia, where access to mental health care can be scarce. In her home county, limited staffing often meant that one psychologist was responsible for multiple schools, leaving many students without consistent support.
“I mostly just want to be a resource for children in these rural areas that would not have the opportunity to seek mental health help otherwise,” Haleigh said.
Looking ahead, Haleigh will begin Marshall’s Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) program this fall, continuing her journey toward a career in psychology. Through this program, she will gain the hands-on training and experience needed to work directly with patients and address complex mental health challenges. As she moves forward, her focus remains rooted in giving back to her community and improving access to care in rural areas.
For Haleigh, success is not defined by leaving home, but by returning with the knowledge and skills to make a difference. Her journey reflects a strong commitment to service, advocacy and community, and her future work has the potential to create lasting impact across the region.
