Grad year: 2016
Major: Biology and Political Science, emphasis on conservation and environmental politics/policy
Hometown: Minnetonka, MN
Current City: Mankato, MN
Current Company/Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College
Job Title: Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement
What is your first Gustavus memory?
I was driving up the hill with my mom for a junior visit in the spring. As we approached campus, the leaves of the trees stopped blocking our view and we caught our first glimpse of Old Main. We turned to each other and exclaimed “IT’S LIKE DISNEY WORLD!”
What was your favorite class and/or professor and why?
My favorite class was Developmental Biology with Margaret Bloch-Qazi. I absolutely LOVED the bioethics section and really enjoyed being able to formulate my own research project and see it through from start to finish. Margaret is the kind of professor who truly has a passion for what she is teaching and values not only passing on her knowledge, but learning alongside her students.
What do you miss most about your time as a student?
I miss living within walking distance from all of my friends. Now we’re all spread out across the globe and seeing each other has become a little more difficult.
What brought you back to campus the last time you visited?
I work here!
How has your Gustavus experience most impacted your life beyond the Hill?
My Gustavus experience taught me to seek out multiple sides of a story and consider things from many viewpoints. This has been helpful in my time since graduation, as I moved to France for a year and had to work through many cultural differences. It’s also a great life skill to have in your back pocket.
What do you most enjoy about being a Gustie alum?
I think the Gustie spirit is unparalleled. Being a Gustie alum means that you instantly have access to a community of 28,000 Gusties, and you can likely find a Gustie anywhere you go. Having that community to lean on is something that I think is special about our school.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
I’m going to cheat and pick two! During my senior year of college, there was a span of about 6 months where I didn’t have front teeth. I had a “flipper” and could pop my front teeth in and out. My second fun fact is that I was an extra in a Chinese music video filmed in Florida (Tia Ray – Just My Luck).