Catrina Casting '26: Building Community and Advocating for Inclusivity at Westfield State

For Catrina Casting, Class of 2026, choosing the right university was about more than academics. It was about finding a place where she could thrive. Originally from Taunton, MA, Casting, a psychology major with a minor in criminal justice, knew she had found her fit when she visited Westfield State University. “The inclusive and accommodating climate was exactly what I needed,” she shared, reflecting on her experiences navigating dyslexia and ADHD during high school.

Casting’s relationship with Westfield State began during Accepted Students Day when she connected with Sarah Lazare, Director of the Banacos Academic Center. “She told me that she saw fire in my eyes and wanted me to join the Learning Disabilities Program (LDS),” Casting recalled. “I chose Westfield State for that reason, and the minute I became part of the community, everyone was so helpful, kind, and open. I wanted to be part of that so I could help other prospective students figure out what fit best for them, whether it was here or somewhere else.”

Now, as an active member of campus life, Casting is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and helping others feel at home at Westfield State. She serves as a Residential Assistant (RA), a campus tour guide, a LEAD Scholars ambassador, and a peer counselor.

“For me, it’s about giving back,” Casting said. “I want to make the college experience as welcoming for others as it was for me. Most of my roles center on helping others feel comfortable and acclimated to campus life.”

Casting’s passion for psychology stems from her desire to advocate for others, particularly children in schools. Inspired by her own challenges with accommodations, she is committed to ensuring every child has the resources they need to succeed. “If a child needs something to succeed, then we need to fight for that child,” she said. “I feel good when I help other people, especially in situations where I knew how hurt I felt. It’s really just important to go back and help those who need it.”

This past summer, Casting worked with children with autism and behavioral challenges, an experience that solidified her career aspirations. Commenting that she fell in love with the job, Casting also had the opportunity to talk to the parents about their experiences in school and hear about their fights to get their children the proper accommodations they need.

“I thought to myself, what if I created a career around educating myself on the education system itself and seeing what kinds of disabilities or delays children need to be accommodated for?” she added. “When I talked to the parents, I thought I would love to do that, and I know I would have the passion for it, though I would also love to be a family therapist as well. I want to be able to help families and couples deal with issues that they have together, because if you can help the two people at the top of the family system, you help the child grow up in a healthy household. I just feel I’m destined to end up in some sort of community work where I’m helping others.”

As an RA on the JEDI floor, Casting has designed programming that celebrates diversity and fosters unity. Earlier this year, she created a diversity-themed “tea party” bulletin board and program, inspired by the inclusive storytelling of Bridgerton. Residents wrote their unique identities on pieces of paper, which formed a colorful “cup of diversity.”

“Those small pieces of paper created a cup of diversity because there’s so many different kinds of identities around campus. Afterwards, I created an entire program and worked with a bunch of campus partners where I wanted it to be fun and educational as well. People won prizes, drank tea, and I correlated it with the television show, Bridgerton, because Bridgerton  retells historical stories while including people of color, which were not included in the past. Taking that theme and correlating it with education and inclusivity made the most sense to me.”

Now in her second year as an RA, Casting continues to find fulfillment in her work. A current bulletin board she’s working on is themed on the concept of unity and is described as “very 3D.” “At the moment, it has a sky, a sun, clouds made of cotton, paper airplanes flying around, and the message is, in unity we fly,” she elaborated. “Meaning, if we come together and support one another, we can prosper. The RA’s door tags are pilots because we’re in leadership and we’re supposed to be representing that unity and being the start to all of it, so my residents are the airplanes flying upwards.”

These individual leadership positions, as well as Casting’s supportive and inclusive role as an RA, continues to help her find fulfillment in her role as a campus leader within a variety of interpersonal environments. “Being an RA by itself aligns well with what I want to do down the road,” she said, “and it gives me exposure on how to deal with others’ issues as well as how to support and be there for them. It’s been a great experience and I’m honored they chose me to work on the JEDI floor, because there’s so much I want to do with it.”

For prospective students, campus community members can look forward to the various types of programming Casting offers, such as events and club activities that focus on emotional and academic support, accommodations, and overall wellness. “There’s so many things to do,” she said about Westfield State. “We have so many clubs as well as the events that the Campus Board Activities and Student Activities, Involvement, and Leadership offices host. RAs are recommended to throw eight different programs each year, so we’re always giving stuff out, having programs, throwing get-togethers, and doing things our residents want to do. Westfield State gives you so much space to do what you like to do.”