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Current student JayLhien Colbert.
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125 Anniversary Celebration: JayLhien Colbert

April 14, 2025

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Editor's Note: This is a series of stories about Western Illinois University students, alumni and community members, highlighting their experiences during our 125th anniversary celebration. We will feature 125 individuals from August 2024 to August 2025.

MACOMB, IL - - Current Western Illinois University Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) senior JayLhien Colbert describes WIU as a place that fosters growth—a second home that inspires students to embrace their journey.

"When I think about WIU, I think about growth, opportunity and the incredible people who make it feel like home," Colbert said. "It's a place that challenges me to be better, supports my ambitions and fills my journey with unforgettable experiences."

To Colbert, being a Leatherneck comes with a lot of responsibilities. From being resilient in the face of adversity to striving for excellence and community development, Leathernecks are driven to succeed.

"To me, being a Leatherneck means resilience, ambition and making an impact," Colbert said. "It is about pushing through challenges, striving for excellence and using every opportunity to grow both academically and personally. As a Leatherneck, I am driven to succeed, not just for myself, but to uplift others and create meaningful change."

Colbert's favorite Leatherneck memory is experiencing growth by stepping out of her comfort zone during a school project.

"I had the opportunity to collaborate with other students on a project that pushed me to think creatively and step outside my comfort zone. I organized a photoshoot with friends and students from around campus to promote WIU and the event was a great success," Colbert said. "It not only helped raise awareness about our university but also sparked my passion for creating events that bring people together. It's something I strive to continue doing, making a positive impact in the WIU community."

As a student inspired to make a difference, Colbert is involved in different things on campus. She is a member of the Black Student Association (BSA), the Western All Volunteer Efforts (WAVE), Preeminent Ladies Society (PLS), Western Democratic College Chapter Party (WDCCP) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

To prospective students, Colbert's advice is to come to WIU to embrace their individuality while welcoming growth.

"Give yourself room to grow and be yourself," Colbert said. "But give yourself time and space to change."

As we honor 125 years of educational excellence, we invite local WIU students, alumni, faculty and staff to share their stories and be featured in our series. Contact University Communications at U-Communications@wiu.edu to participate.

To learn more about the WIU LEJA programs, visit wiu.edu/leja/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing