After high school, Paige chose to work in the restaurant industry where she opened several restaurants instead of immediately pursuing higher education. Despite her full-time work commitments, Paige's passion for education remained unwavering, eventually earning her a scholarship to complete her bachelor's degree at Smith College. She returned to Chicago in January 2020, right as the world was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests, which significantly influenced her career path. Initially enrolling in Loyola's criminal justice program, Paige soon pivoted to public policy, recognizing that this field would better equip her to affect meaningful change.
"With COVID going on and the George Floyd protests, I quickly realized that in order to change the rules, I was gonna need a public policy background."
While at SCPS, Paige has successfully balanced her roles as both a student and an employee at Loyola. In her current role as Assistant Director of Business Operations and Administration, Paige directly supports the Chief of Staff in the Advancement Office, applying the skills and knowledge gained from her public policy program. Her work involves implementing new policies and procedures, which aligns well with her studies and provides a practical application for her learning.
Paige's also serves as Co-Chair of the Graduate, Professional, and Adult Council (GPAC) at Loyola. She joined GPAC with a strong desire to feel more integrated as a graduate student and to actively contribute to driving positive changes on campus. GPAC serves as a platform for students from diverse backgrounds to voice their experiences and advocate for necessary resources and support. Paige has worked to make significant strides in representing graduate and adult students through attending Board of Trustees meetings and advocating for graduate students within the university.
"It really is meant to be a collection of students across campus that are coming together...and being able to communicate the needs of graduate, adult students to decision makers."
Reflecting on her journey through SCPS, Paige emphasizes a message of holding institutions accountable to the people they serve. This principle has guided her through her educational path and into her advocacy work at Loyola. For future students, she advises embracing this sense of accountability, not just for themselves but also in their interactions with larger entities and systems designed to support them.
