First-generation student Harlie Endicott channels her studies and lived experience into community-building, organizing, and social justice work
Harlie Endicott | Credit: Kiarra Ruff
By Taylor Pedersen, CLA Student Writer - June 1, 2026
As a public policy and sociology major with minors in political science and philosophy, junior Harlie Endicott is focusing her college experience on community engagement, advocacy, and creativity. Moving between leadership roles, volunteer programs, and student organizations, her work consistently focuses on understanding how systems impact people’s lives and how communities can better support one another.
Growing up, Endicott frequently moved and experienced periods of instability, which exposed her to a diverse range of communities. Those experiences shaped the questions she would later pursue academically.
Her coursework helped connect personal experiences to larger institutional patterns. Sociology and public policy provided Endicott the lens to look at how generational poverty, unequal access to education, and systemic barriers shape opportunities for families.
One issue that especially stood out to her was food inequality. She referenced the growing use of the term “food apartheid” rather than “food desert,” emphasizing that unequal access to affordable food is not accidental, but tied to intentional public policy and infrastructure development.
“It’s institutional,” Endicott said. “And it could be changed with direct action.”
For a period of time, she lived in Juneau, Alaska, which also left a lasting impact on her worldview. Endicott said being surrounded by Indigenous culture in everyday life exposed her to traditions, foods, and community practices that strengthened her understanding of cultural representation and inclusion.
“I’m not Indigenous, but getting to be part of those experiences taught me a lot,” she said. “It builds understanding and community.”
At OSU, that same interest in community-building carries into so much of her involvement outside the classroom. Endicott works as a Program Lead with Community Engagement and Leadership, where she organizes volunteer opportunities and civic engagement programs for students. Over the past year, she has managed a program called Beavs Serve that connects student cohorts with local nonprofits for eight weeks each term. The experience, she said, helps students engage with the greater Corvallis community while learning about social justice issues outside of a classroom setting.
“OSU is kind of a population in itself,” Endicott said of OSU. “But Corvallis as a whole has communities you can learn a lot from.”
She has seen this program benefit both students and nonprofit organizations. Community partners gain additional support and visibility, while students often find a sense of connection and positive community through hands-on engagement.
“You get to do good in your community,” she said. “And you get to meet other people at OSU who are interested in those same topics.”
Alongside her policy-focused work, Endicott has intentionally poured herself into separate outlets throughout college. She writes for DAMchic and serves as Vice President of design-focused sorority Chi Theta Phi, which are spaces, she described, that provide balance, allowing her to engage with different parts of herself outside academics.
Maintaining creative spaces has become especially important as she studies emotionally heavy topics like inequality, voting rights, and social policy. Endicott said policy work can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially during periods of political tension and uncertainty.
“It can be really draining emotionally and mentally,” she said.
Creative outlets and community involvement help her counterbalance that emotional weight, giving her space to reconnect with the values that drew her toward advocacy work in the first place.
During her time at OSU, Endicott has also been supported by the Ford Family Foundation scholarship, which she said made many of her opportunities possible. As a first-generation student, the scholarship gave her the flexibility to participate in organizations, leadership roles, and campus experiences without the constant pressure of financial instability.
“Scholarships really give you the freedom to utilize the opportunities OSU has,” Endicott said.
This summer, Endicott will intern with Collective Rising, a national reproductive justice organization. She hopes to continue working in nonprofit and advocacy spaces focused on supporting women and strengthening communities. Though no matter where her career leads, Endicott hopes her work continues creating spaces where people feel connected and supported rather than isolated. At the start of her senior year next fall, Endicott will study abroad in South Korea, learning about new perspectives, communities, and approaches to social change.
“We should come together, help each other, and rise to our best potential,” she said.