Creating Connections at CCP: Dave Hansen

Dave Hansen is a natural connector. He always seems to be able to link those he encounters with other people and resources to help them achieve their goals. Dave said his connecting skills are really just about efficiency. “I think what irks me the most is when things are inefficient,” Dave said. “I think we could get a lot of stuff done if we just connected certain people to the right people.”

This skill has helped Dave tremendously since he started at the College in 2023 as a Business–General major. After his first year, Dave got involved in several groups and activities around campus. In fact, he’s so involved that his friends often joke that he lives on campus.

In addition to working as a peer leader in the Academic Advising office, Dave is also a founding member of the student group WEALTH•NESS. He has also served as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society, the Student Government Association, and CCP’s student chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants. The recipient of three prestigious scholarships, including the Octavius Catto Scholarship Dave was awarded the PepsiCo Scholarship this year and has received a PTK scholarship from Drexel, one of the colleges he is considering transferring to.

After graduation, Dave plans to transfer to a four-year university where he wants to study Finance or Economics. Eventually, he hopes to use his education and natural skills to reform systems in the United States, like the health care system. “There’s a huge flaw within the health care system. Insurance is at an all-time high,” Dave said. “I understand we live in a capitalist society and that we pay for expedited services and quality of care,” he continued. “But I feel like a lot of insurance companies can still make a profit without sacrificing the quality of care.”

When considering how his skills can help reform different systems in our society, Dave said his mind usually jumps to health care because of his initial interest in studying pre-med. But Dave doesn’t want to get pigeon-holed into just one industry. “There’s just so much potential when it comes to economics that I don’t want to limit myself,” he said. “I do think that being able to be a jack of all trades is nice.”

Though Dave is excited to move on to the next phase of his educational journey, he said he will miss CCP, primarily the people and connections he’s made here. “I just enjoy the culture [here],” Dave said. "I enjoy the people that I’ve surrounded myself with, I enjoy the community that I have here.”

Dave is hopeful that he’ll stay connected to the relationships he’s built at CCP—especially to his mentor, Economics professor, Chris Popescu, and his Catto success coach, Lacresha Allen. Dave applied to universities in Philadelphia like Drexel and University of Pennsylvania, so it’s likely that he’ll stay in the area. But regardless of where he ends up, Dave is ready for the next step. He said, “I am excited about graduating, I am excited about going to the next university. ... I'm always excited about new things.”