Miss Universe Olivia Culpo a Rhode Island native

UNDATED (WHDH) -- Before New England native Olivia Culpo took her first walk as the new Miss Universe, she was walking the Boston University campus as a sophomore.

"That is something great for us at the university to stand behind, to see our students achieve. And I hope she will use the opportunity she gets to really go out and do some good in the world,” said Kennethy Elmore, Dean of Students.

“Makes me want to find her somewhere on campus,” a student said.

That won't be possible for a while as her life is now in for major changes.

Culpo will be a student on leave as she takes the year off to travel with the pageant.

A New Englander through and through Culpo grew up in Rhode Island one of five kids.

“She is a student here at the College of General Studies. Her dean is equally as proud of her and she’s active a lot in public relations and those sorts of things here at the university,” said Elmore.