Hometown: Geneva, Illinois

Major: Political Science and Legal Studies

Future Plans: Law school

Taryn Christy chose the University of Illinois Springfield because she wanted to help build “a championship culture” as a member of the cross country and track & field teams, while having opportunities in the classroom and internships. Christy recently earned UIS Cross Country’s first All-American honor with a top-40 finish in the NCAA Division II National Championships in California. On campus, she volunteers with the Illinois Innocence Project helping to review wrongful conviction cases. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and possibly becoming a public defender, working for a non-profit specializing in the public interest, or continuing work with an innocence project.

Leadership is lived at UIS. Every day.