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In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
We believe in collaboration. Actually. Genuinely. I have never felt alone here.

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Come to the MPC. Seriously. Whether or not you have questions. The MPC is one of the most casual social spaces you can find, and you are welcome there. And don’t forget to come to teatime on Wednesdays, go to math talks, and stop by your professors’ office hours.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
Moodle has an app. Teams has reaction emojis. The library has a TV and an audio studio.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
I learned how to say yes to things. Euchre with new friends? Singing in a cappella? Working at a radio station? Hiking 150 miles across Portugal during study abroad? I said yes. And those were some of the best decisions I’ve made.

What has been your favorite class at K? 
Topology with Dr. Oloo. It was my first proof-based course, and the goal was to get our hands dirty. (And with chalkboards involved, I mean that literally.) All we had were our assumptions and anything we’d already proved. We spent class time in pairs, chalk in hand, sketching out our reasoning for a new theorem. It was frustrating, yes, but Dr. Oloo never let us get too stuck. And it was unbelievably rewarding.

How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth?
I took Politics of Latin America cold. Zero previous knowledge, completely ignorant. Why not? I “called the shots” in TV Production for a skit I wrote about Microsoft Word. Ever since Classical Hollywood, I can’t shut up about movie lighting. While abroad, I learned “Catholic Pedagogy” from a Spanish priest who swore like a sailor. This breadth makes me a fuller person and a better citizen. And also a more annoying person to watch a movie with.

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
During my sophomore year, I worked as a news intern at WMUK, Kalamazoo’s public radio station. I reported on topics like wildlife diseases and federal COVID funding, and I even wrote a feature on Stetson’s bell tower. I’m currently business director for the Limelights, co-president of Sight-Reading Club, a LandSea leader, and while I was in Cáceres I volunteered at a local nursing home.

What is your SIP?
I’m using my reporting background to take a stab at math journalism. This fall and winter, I’ll be diving deep into a complex math topic, researching it thoroughly, interviewing experts and writing all that up into an accessible, engaging article.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’d love to launch a career in science journalism. The plan is a few fellowships for news organizations, but I’ll also be looking to get into industry and make use of my STEM degree.

What is a random fun fact about you?
Kalamazoo College pays for Metropolitan Opera on Demand. I think I’m the only student who uses it as a streaming service. Like, for fun.