As a psychology student going into her junior year, UHV's Mariah Steen keeps plenty busy as she is also president of the Campus Association of Spirit & Traditions and is also the captain of the UHV cheer team, all the while holding down a part-time job.

Anyone who’s attended a major event at the University of Houston-Victoria in the past year, chances are you’ve seen Mariah Steen leading the charge.

As a psychology student going into her junior year, Steen keeps plenty busy as she is also president of the Campus Association of Spirit & Traditions and is also the captain of the UHV cheer team, all the while holding down a part-time job.

“Being a part of these organizations, I’ve definitely found myself knowing a lot more people on campus and meeting a lot of people everywhere I go now,” the Victoria native said. “And it makes me happy that people can come up to me and say hi with a smile on their face.”

For Steen, becoming a campus leader began with an unexpected transition. Even though she did a little bit of cheerleading in middle school, at heart she was a softball athlete, a sport that has been at the forefront of her life since she was five years old. After playing her last game in high school, Steen said she found herself at a crossroads.

“It was a big change for me because softball is a big part of who I am because I’ve done it my entire life,” Steen said. “After my last game it felt like a shock, and I needed to find out who I was as a person.”

For the time being, it was time to pick the perfect school to continue her higher education.

Freddie Cantu

“Mariah is a great student leader who has grown so much since her time here at UHV. She is dedicated to the Cheer Squad and loves working with them to create new cheers and dances for big events,” said Freddie Cantu, UHV director of Student Involvement. “The squad have done a great job of attending as many home games as possible to cheer on our athletes. Mariah also has done a great job as the President of CAST, with helping create new traditions on campus and learning what spirited events students want to see on campus."

The decision to attend UHV was heavily influenced by her family, Steen said. She wasn’t ready to leave her family behind, especially with her mother expecting to give birth to a new baby during Steen’s senior year of high school, she said.

“I didn’t want to leave right around the same time she was born and not really get the experience to meet her,” Steen said.

Steen’s sister also was attending UHV, and playing on the softball team provided an additional draw, as Steen knew she’d have a familiar face and support system on campus, she said. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of attending UHV compared to other universities was a major factor in her decision. While she plans to eventually pursue her doctorate studies outside of Victoria, Steen said she knew that UHV was the right choice for her at this stage in her life.

After getting settled in her new university, Steen would eventually discover the cheer team at UHV. With her mother’s own cheerleading experience serving as an inspiration, Steen decided to dive right in. It didn’t take long for Steen to find her footing, and she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming co-captain and then captain of the squad.

“I fell into it pretty easily,” Steen said. “I knew I wanted to be more involved on campus, and cheer just felt like the perfect fit.”

Her natural leadership abilities soon caught the attention of the Campus Association of Spirit & Traditions organization, and before long, Steen found herself at the helm of the group as president. The cheer team performs at major events, such as Family Weekend, sporting events and special events, she said.

“The more involved I became on campus, the more people I met, and the more friends I made, and it just made my experience at UHV all the better,” Steen said.

And all of her hard work is paying off. Under her guidance, the Campus Association of Spirit & Traditions organization has seen a surge in student participation, with more and more Jaguars getting involved in campus traditions and events, she said. The cheer team has also gained newfound visibility, with her leading the charge to spread the word and encourage new members to join.

“I want to be that person who people can look up to,” Steen said. “I want to be approachable and friendly, someone who anyone can come up to and ask questions or just to chat. I want people to know that we have a cheer team on campus; in the past, it’s always been something smaller, and I am determined to change that.”

As she looks into the future, Steen said she is planning to pursue a doctorate in psychology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a therapist or a psychiatrist. The subject of psychology, especially how it relates to the human mind and mental disorders, has always been a fascinating subject to her.

“I’m just so intrigued by the way the brain works,” Steen said. “There’s still so much we don’t understand about disorders and mental health, and I want to be the one to make new discoveries and help people in a meaningful way.”