This story was originally published on March 16, 2026 in Penn Arts & Sciences.
Godsey, who grew up in the foothills of Appalachia, has gained new ways of connecting with their roots as a linguistics major at Penn.
“I do come from a place that is more cows than people, and Philadelphia is chock full of people,” says Luke Godsey, C’26, a linguistics major from Science Hill, Kentucky. After arriving at Penn as a Spanish and Biology double major, Godsey was drawn to linguistics; the work, especially research they did on Appalachian dialects to combat harmful stigmatizations, helped them feel more seen. In a particularly notable moment, Marlyse Baptista, President’s Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, reached out to them to join her research team. It was so influential that Godsey is now working toward a doctoral program in linguistics.
Outside of their studies, Godsey enjoys crocheting, quilting, and working at Penn’s Women’s Center, where they collaborated with a coworker, Tryphena (Vena) Zarief, C’25, to establish an art program called “What’s your Story?” that awards grants for students on campus. As their future unfolds, Godsey hopes to continue connecting with people and learning their stories: “I’ve just really learned the beauty of people.”