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Ethan Turner, a senior at DU studying finance with minors in leadership studies and psychology, has spent the last four years building a life rooted in care, curiosity, and connection. Originally from Pueblo, Colorado, Ethan now splits his time between ������ and Denmark, where his parents relocated after he chose DU.

Ethan's path to DU wasn't straightforward. “I thought I was going to be an electrical engineer. I was set on it for years,” he says. But during his junior year of high school, that changed. “I realized I didn't want to be an engineer anymore. I started thinking about business, and DU stood out—not just for the academics, but for the relationships. I wanted to know my professors, not just sit in a lecture hall with 300 people.”

That desire for connection has shaped every part of Ethan's DU experience. As president of Undergraduate Student Government (USG), he's led with a philosophy grounded in service. “If I can help change the university I love, even just a little, for someone else, that matters to me.” He started as a senator for the Daniels College of Business and quickly found that USG was more than policy; it was community. “Honestly, I joined to make a difference, but I stayed because I found people I love hanging out with.”

Outside of USG, Ethan plays intramural soccer (“not very good,” he jokes) and works as a learning assistant in the Leadership Studies Department. “I've been with the same professor for five quarters. It's one of the most meaningful parts of my week.”

When it comes to his well-being, Ethan doesn't hesitate. “Community. That's how I experience wellness here. My friends, my professors, even administrators—DU is full of people who genuinely care. I can walk into office hours and talk about life, not just assignments.”

Mentorship has also been a cornerstone of his growth. He says assistant director of leadership studies, Leah McFail, “reminds me to take care of the person I am right now, not just who I'm trying to become.” He also credits Joe Walsh, assistant professor in leadership studies, for challenging his leadership assumptions and finance professor Paul Harrison for keeping things real: “Paul's hilarious. He's one of those professors who makes you want to show up.”

Ethan's academic path reflects his layered thinking. “Finance pulls on the part of my brain that loved engineering, but it's also about systems of value—why we create them, how we live within them. That's where psychology comes in. Our financial systems are deeply psychological.” His leadership studies minor, meanwhile, is rooted in purpose. “I was raised to believe we're here to make the world better. That's what guides me.”

As graduation approaches, Ethan is clear about his goals. “I want to be a financial advisor. Financial education is terrible in this country. If I can help five families send someone to college who didn't think they could afford it, that's enough. That's life changing.”

When asked what he hopes to bring into the world, Ethan says, “Be where your feet are. It's easy to get caught up in expectations—yours and everyone else's. But you're doing your best right now with what you have. That's enough. That's where growth starts.”