Meet VALLEY’s Fall 2024 Campus Culture Section Opener: Luke Snyder

Most Penn State students check their weather news source every morning to predict what the day might bring.

Luke Snyder is different — they already know what the weather will be. Studying meteorology and atmospheric science, third-year Luke Snyder has found their niche in reporting and observing weather patterns around State College with charm and style. 

Snyder says that Penn State is so close to the Appalachian Mountains that intense weather falls apart before hitting State College — “I wouldn’t expect any crazy weather… for a weather lover it’s unfortunate.” 

Being an openly queer individual in a field that is still dominated by straight and cisgender people, Snyder is breaking conventions. 

Naturally, this comes with challenges: “How am I going to navigate my identity and not hide this huge, crucial part of myself?”

Snyder said they have been interested in meteorology and reporting for several years, but began taking it seriously when they enrolled at Penn State. As the president of Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Student Council, a member of the Live Broadcast Team of Penn State’s Campus Weather Service and hosting their own segment called Juniata County Out-Luke on Juniata County Radio, Snyder knows everything there is to know about reporting the weather and creating a welcoming community around campus. “Knowing how it’s done outside of our club has given me a much more solid foundation,” Snyder believes.

Breaking the routine of doing things under the supervision of Penn State made Snyder “fall in love with [their] career again.” Running their own segment outside of the university has granted them skills that they have brought back to their campus involvement. Snyder has worked towards a welcoming environment in their clubs and wants to help people find others who let them be their true selves. 

Synder reaches out to new members of the organization to make them feel comfortable and excited about their work. Their goal is to motivate others and let people know that they don’t have to hide themselves — and is doing so as one of the first visibly queer people in meteorology. 

Thinking about his fellow club members and queer people who might watch him on television someday, Snyder says “I would love to be a source of inspiration.”

It is no surprise that Snyder has big dreams for their future. While their ultimate goal is to work in a big city like New York City or Los Angeles, they also enjoy the idea of working in smaller cities and being immersed in different cultures. Snyder says that it still feels like “you have to have a look” in meteorology, which is why they see New York City or Los Angeles as something that is still far into their future. 

Snyder finds that his friends are his biggest support through his college career both in and out of academic settings. 

“We all know exactly how each other feel,” Snyder says.

They emphasize how their peers are the people who “get it,” and how their relatives mean well in their advice but it is often out of touch with the current state of education and early careers. Those who are not involved in meteorology or even attend Penn State can relate. This is why Snyder leans on their friends for support and advice in school, meteorology, friendships and everything else. 

Snyder is ready for any storm that awaits them – both professionally and naturally – and is pioneering a new era for meteorology and reporters of all types of television.

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