In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
The diverse course offerings allow me to delve into various facets of biology while further concentrating on my chosen field!

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Form relationships with your professors! Go to office hours, even just to introduce yourself. Look at working for the department and attending events that the department hosts! Guest lectures, SIP presentations, and themed game nights are all fun, and easy, ways to get to know your professors and your fellow biology majors!

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
I would tell my first-year self to give everything a try! It is easy to find yourself focusing on following one career path. Branching out, taking classes in new departments, joining different programs, and going to random events all have helped me decide if that path is the correct one, and allowed me to have fun along the way!

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
The most valuable thing that K has taught me has been to have a healthy work-life balance. K encourages students to express themselves outside of the classroom, and doing so, has allowed me to be a part of communities that are important to me!

What has been your favorite class at K?
I have to name 2 because I cannot choose between Cell and Molecular Biology (BIOL-246) and Learning (PSYC-420). I can easily say that Cell and Molec has the most fascinating lab, and I loved being able to work on one project throughout the duration of the term. Learning, with Dr. Batsell, is a class I would recommend to any student at K, as it is both appropriately challenging and interesting, and it is applicable to everyone, regardless of major! It is the only class I have ever taken that allowed me to train a rat through my computer!

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Due to the open curriculum, I have ended up taking more classes outside of my department than within it! I have taken many courses that complement my learnings in my biology courses, but also some that are completely unrelated. I never would have anticipated taking so many physics, computer science, or German classes during my time in college but they have led me to awesome new experiences and they all greatly contributed to broadening my perspectives about life!

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I am a member of the women’s soccer team, a Civic Engagement Scholar for the Young Adult Program under the CCE, a Special Olympics basketball coach, a TA for BIOL246 and BIOL224, and a laboratory intern for Stryker’s Analytical Sciences Lab.

What is your SIP?
The Analysis of Viscosity, Adhesion, and Solubility Properties of Clinically-Relevant Artificial Test Soils for Sterilization Testing in Stryker Instrument’s Analytical Sciences Laboratory.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I hope to continue my education in either a masters or doctoral degree program! I aspire to contribute to the neuroscience field in some capacity, whether through research, clinical practice, or industry!

What is a random fun fact about you?
I was born in Kalamazoo, raised in Colorado, and ended up finding myself back in Kzoo for high school and college!

In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
The staff.

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Don’t be afraid to branch out, even if it is with upperclassmen at first, everyone is applauding your success and wishing you the best.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
Not everyone wants you to be successful, so don’t be too naive and listen easily when someone is trying to lead you off your path.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
To focus on myself and what I do and not worry about what others think of me.

What has been your favorite class at K?
Community Dialogue is a theatre class that I absolutely loved and am TAing for right now. Just the mix of K-community and theatre really helped to understand what problems others might be facing on campus. Not only that but it provided such a safe space to talk about those problems and find others that felt the same.

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I have taken full advantage of the flexible curriculum. I have taken classes in most areas such as History, Theatre, English, Spanish, Chemistry, Psychology and Biology and honestly it made me figure out what I truly wanted to do and what I love to learn about.

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I have participated in some. I am a TA for a theatre class, a writing tutor for Climate Biology, volunteered for some on-campus events, worked on-campus jobs and will be a First-year mentor next year.

What is your SIP?
How culture affects risk-taking tendencies.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
Graduate school for clinical psychology or working a field related job.

What is a random fun fact about you?
I am learning sign language and know some snippets of songs in it.

In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
The biology department covers so many different subject areas, there’s always something more to learn!

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Please reach out the Biology DSAs! We would love to answer any questions they might have, especially as someone who’s been with the department for so long!

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
I’ve definitely learned how to be more independent since becoming a student here, especially after studying abroad.

What has been your favorite class at K?
My favorite class will always be German 101! I was part of an incredible cohort, and we had the best teacher and TA who made learning German so much fun.

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
Even though my major is in biology, I’ve taken a lot of chemistry and math classes. Less traditionally, I’ve also taken classes in history, political science, and German.

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I’ve been an ECO Club board member since my first year, and I’ve done two internships: the MLEIP internship with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the PLSI internship with the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Pathology.

What is your SIP?
My SIP focuses on the use of digital and quantitative PCR to measure DNA damage and corresponding changes in gene expression in animal kidney tissue. I’m looking at the total number of mitochondria while simultaneously quantifying the proportion of mitochondria with heteroplasmy, which results from mitochondrial DNA damage associated with aging and kidney disease progression.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
Hopefully I will enter a master’s program to become a Pathologist Assistant!

What is a random fun fact about you?
I’ve been a vegetarian for 9 years!

In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
The community of people invested in the constant pursuit of exploring, respecting, and learning about life at every level.

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Ask questions. One of my favorite things about science, or life in general, is that questions inevitably lead to more questions. I can’t think of a better reason to engage with the biology department than to ask a bizarre question that might never be answered. Whether it’s talking with your classmates, upperclassmen, or your professors, having an inquisitive mind is a great way to connect both within and outside of the department.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
Not enjoying a class is not a bad thing. Granted, it might be hard to get through over 10 weeks, but you also come away with a clear image of what doesn’t fulfill you, which is just as important to identify as what ultimately does fulfill you.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
Your life does not “begin” after college. You are already living life, and being present as much as you can is the best gift you could give yourself. “Enjoy yourself – it’s always later than you think.”

What has been your favorite class at K?
Social Development (PSYC-460) – It’s an incredibly interactive course and provides such interesting insight into what it means to connect with the people around us, and the challenges that arise for emerging adults (us!).

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I’ve completed courses in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, Psychology, Anthropology & Sociology, Philosophy, Chemistry, and Professional Development. I also studied abroad and completed courses in Theatre, Environmental Studies, and English. I’ve been extremely privileged to be able to explore so many of my interests without ever feeling like I wouldn’t complete my degree in 4 years.

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I have been a TA for the Psychology Department, an intern for S.P.E.A.K. in the Office for Student Success & Wellness, participated in Students for Reproductive Freedom, K Votes, Red Cross Club, Crochet Club, and as a lifeguard and instructor in the Swim for Success program with the City of Kalamazoo. Outside of K, I have been a medical scribe, an advanced English tutor, and a case management intern at MRC BridgeWays. In the fall, I will be working in the Center for Career & Professional Development as a Career Advisor.

What is your SIP?
I will be completing a research internship at UTHealth in Houston, TX under Dr. Laura Goetzl, studying targeted biomarkers for early predictors of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) response as well as fetal brain alterations as a result of maternal stress.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’m hoping to go on to graduate school, either for a masters or a PhD in Psychology. Whether I end up as a counselor or a researcher remains to be seen, but I’m excited to find out!

What is a random fun fact about you?
I once sent a patch to space.

In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
A wonderful community of people, with a passion for working together to further our shared knowledge!

What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Do not be afraid to reach out! Talk to professors you haven’t had classes with yet just because you like their research. Talk to your peers in your class who have similar interests as you. Talk to your peers who don’t! Take every opportunity to learn and grow in this department that you can, because everyone is here to help, and everyone loves to talk about their interests and paths. It allows you to get connections within many different disciplines and fosters a community that is so beneficial as you make your way through your four years at Kalamazoo College.

What is something you know now that you wish you could tell your first-year self?
Try all the classes possible to narrow down what you like and don’t like, and to find new interests!

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
I have gained confidence in myself and my ability to learn. By not being afraid to ask questions, I have learned so much and feel so confident in the way I hold myself. I have learned to be my own person and feel confident doing so.

What has been your favorite class at K?
Cell and Molecular Biology, because it is a class I did not expect to like and it gave me a newfound interest in cellular biology. It was really cool to see how things function on such a small level, and I learned so much!

How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I gained a strong interest in Spanish after studying abroad and have loved incorporating Spanish classes into my schedule. I also took a few econ and stats classes that helped me gain a deeper understanding for some of the math and statistical analysis that I will come into contact within my field of biology. It was cool to learn about that from outside fields and perspectives! Finally, I have really enjoyed taking photography classes and even have continued to take pictures outside of my classes because it gave me a newfound interest in the field!

What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
I had an internship with Tending Tilth helping with setup and care of prescribed grazing of sheep. I am in Premium Orange A cappella group, and am on the swim team here at K.

What is your SIP?
I am investigating the connection between coral reef restoration and what overall changes of the ecosystem leads to. I am looking specifically into fishes within an ecosystem pre and post restoration. My goal is to identify if there is a positive difference in ecosystems after this restoration.

What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I would like to go onto grad school and work towards my PhD in ecology or biology, then I hope to be a professor in a smaller school like K to do research and teach students.

What is a random fun fact about you?
I am really good at making homemade chocolate chip cookies.