Jay King

Areas of Specialty:

RSO Advising, RSO Training and Development, WI Experience Grant Advising, RSO Resource Open House, CfLI Website Management

Academic background:

BA in Psychology and Social Work, University of Iowa; Master’s in Social Work, Family-Centered Practice Track, University of Iowa

Areas of interest:

I love creating and studying art, exploring the city, cooking and trying food from around the world, horror movies, and tabletop roleplaying games like D&D!

Personal biography:

I was born in the Philippines, bounced from state-to-state when I was younger, but would come to call my homes in Iowa City and Marion, IA. As a first-generation undergraduate student at the University of Iowa, I considered myself lucky to share my time with incredible student organizations and fellow student leaders, including the Campus Activity Board and the transgender advocacy group, UI Trans Alliance. Through my involvement as both a member and leader over four years, I developed a deep love for leadership development, community building, and advocacy-focused programming. After graduating with degrees in Psychology and Social Work in 2020, I went on to earn my Master’s in Social Work in 2022. As a graduate student, I co-instructed an undergraduate cultural competency course and spent a year with the UI Leadership, Service, and Civic Engagement team helping student leaders develop leadership skills through individual mentorship, advising, and programming. It was during this time I developed my personal and professional philosophy centered around humility, empathy, genuine curiosity, and resilience. After graduation, I joined CfLI in June 2022, and now look forward to calling Madison my new home, exploring the city, and supporting UW’s students!

Favorite quotes:

“Just because you are soft doesn’t mean you are not a force. Honey and wildfire are both the colour gold.” – Viktoria Erickson

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke

“They say the best blaze burns brightest when circumstances are at their worst.” – Sophie Hatter, Howl’s Moving Castle

What every student should know about the UW-Madison campus?

Know that you belong here and your experience, voice, and strengths deserve to be shared, valued, and celebrated. UW-Madison is a huge campus and community, and it’s understandable if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or disconnected. There is a place for you here, and the team at CfLI are happy to help you find that connection at any point in your college journey.