Aside from the campus being gorgeous, Lewis & Clark was the only college where I could really see myself attending. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true; I had a vibe that it would be somewhere where I would thrive. The close-knit community, the extracurricular opportunities, and the faculty was the perfect fit for me. During my four years, I was not disappointed!
What have you been doing since graduation?
Since graduation, I have been enjoying my lack of homework and working away at my job.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your job?
Lewis & Clark prepared me for my job by helping me develop a solid work ethic. By having strict deadlines and rigorous work, it has made my current job feel like a walk in the park. I feel prepared and confident in my work thanks to the projects and work done in the classroom, specifically in the computer science and data science departments.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
The most important thing I learned at L&C was to be myself. Everyone I interacted with in and out of the classroom had their own story and upbringing that defined who they are, and it was great to be able to interact with so many different people. I enjoyed learning through different teaching styles and spending time with the most wonderful people I have ever met!
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
I regularly talk with my close friends I met in my classes and the dorms as well as some occasional communication with my favorite faculty and staff. I have also joined the Mid-Atlantic alumni chapter in hopes of being able to connect with some local alum.
How do you describe the liberal arts?
The liberal arts focuses on looking at subjects as a whole, and this allows you to explore a variety of topics in these areas. Many departments offer a wide selection of courses, such as the mathematical sciences department. They offer many computer science classes that cover many different topics, and after spending most of my time with this department, I was able to try new things and see how all of these courses are connected with each other.
What did you like or find most interesting about your major?
In computer science, if there is a program or process that doesn’t exist, you can just make it yourself. Programming allows you to solve problems on your own and more specifically in your own way. I love being able to come up with my own ideas for a solution and then implement it. I also really enjoyed computer science at Lewis & Clark because there is a wide variety of courses offered on different subjects, and if you plan your schedule right, you can take almost all of them.
What did you like or find most interesting about your minor?
What I most like about data science is that even with a little bit of data, you can discover so much from it. At Lewis & Clark, I learned the skills and tools I needed to be able to pursue the full-time career I have now in this field, and I regularly refer back to my college work. A lot of my course work overlapped with my major work, so I was able to share knowledge between the two to see how they are inter-connected.
What was your favorite class? How did it expand your knowledge?
My favorite class was Software Development taught by my faculty advisor Peter Drake. In this class we were put into teams, and we spent the entire semester developing a product for another faculty member on campus. My team programmed a video compression software to be used by the graduate school for compressing their video files. This was my favorite class because it took what I previously learned in my classes and put it to the test by replicating the software development process followed by real tech companies while working directly with a client. This was also some of the most fun I had in a class, as my team really enjoyed spending our class time together working on our software.
Where did you find your community on campus?
I found a lot of community in the Bon (Fields Dining Hall). During any meal, the dining hall is always packed, and it is very easy to spend hours just talking with friends there. There is also lots of community in the residence halls. I lived in Platt Howard, which is a quieter community where everyone is friendly with each other, as well as Copeland, which is a more active community that will rock your world. However, most of my community was formed while attend / leading the Fire Arts Club, and if you are looking to try something new or join a very close and welcoming community, I highly suggest giving this club a shot!
Who was your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?
I considered Peter Drake to be my mentor on campus. He was not only the professor for many of my computer science classes, but he was also the faculty sponsor for the Fire Arts Club which I both attended and eventually led. Because I was interacting with him so much in and out of the classroom, I got to know him well and he was always someone I could also go to with a question or an issue.
Student Profile
What’s your favorite class? How has it expanded your knowledge?
My favorite class was Algorithm Design and Analysis with Associate Professor Peter Drake. It helped me get a better understanding of what it is like to work in the computer science field. It was also a great opportunity to meet fellow computer science and mathematics students, as this class was a required class for both the computer science major and the computer science and mathematics major.
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
Aside from the campus being gorgeous, Lewis & Clark was the only college where I could really see myself attending. I got a vibe that this would be somewhere I could thrive, and this ultimately is how I made my decision. I have yet to be disappointed.
How do you describe the liberal arts?
The liberal arts focuses on looking at subjects as a whole, and this allows you to explore a variety of topics in these areas. Many departments offer a wide selection of courses, such as the mathematical sciences department. They offer many computer science classes that cover many different topics, and after spending most of my time with this department, I have been able to try new things and see how all of these courses are connected with each other.
Where do you find community on campus?
Firstly, in the Bon (Fields Dining Hall). During any meal, the dining hall is always packed, and it is very easy to spend hours just talking with friends there. Secondly, in the residence halls. The majority of my friends also live on campus, so we spend a lot of time in our rooms or in our hall lounges. Lastly, at the IT Service Desk where I work. Aside from helping the community, my coworkers and I take time to have fun on the job and spend time with each other.
Which residence halls have you lived in? How would you describe the hall’s personality? What is/was the best thing about living on campus?
I have lived in Platt-Howard (both Platt and Howard) and Copeland. Platt-Howard is a quieter community where everyone is friendly with each other, and Copeland is a more active community that is always full of fun surprises. Having lived in both of these halls as both a resident and a resident advisor, the best thing about living on campus is being so close to your friends and to campus resources. I can walk down the hall and hang out with my friends, or I can walk to my classes in just a few minutes.
If you went on a New Student Trip with College Outdoors, how did it shape your experience as an incoming student?
Attending a New Student Trip was the best decision I could have made as an incoming student. It provided me with an opportunity to meet new people and help transition into my new life in college. I met many people who I am still friends with, and it overall was an experience that I would highly encourage any new student with even a sliver of interest in the outdoors to partake in.
If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience so far?
I do not plan on studying overseas because I would rather spend my time working directly with my professors on campus. Lewis & Clark offers great study abroad opportunities, but I was not interested in any of them.
Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?
I have not been involved with any symposia, but I have many friends who have, and they have spoken very highly about their experiences.
Did you visit campus before deciding to come to L&C? How did your visit influence your decision to attend?
I visited campus prior to making my decision, and it solidified how beautiful the campus is. It is one thing to be told how pretty campus is, but seeing it for yourself is a completely different experience. It was also helpful to see where I would be living and where I would be walking around, and this put the value of a small liberal arts school into perspective.
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Your college experience is what you make it. With the many opportunities available at Lewis & Clark, you are able to shape your own future and make your own decisions as to how you spend your time here.
What’s your favorite spot on campus?
My favorite spot on campus is on the walkway in between the reflecting pool and the estate gardens. Assuming it is a clear day, if you stand just below the steps that lead to the reflecting pool and look out beyond the grass in between the trees, you can see Mount Hood!
What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?
My favorite thing about living in Portland is the food. Within 15 minutes of driving off campus or taking the Pioneer Express shuttle, you can find many different restaurants and food carts that always hit the spot.
How did you decide on a major?
Originally, I planned on being a computer science major, but after speaking with my faculty advisor Associate Professor Jeffrey Ely, I was convinced to become a computer science and mathematics major, as he strongly believes that mathematics is an integral part of studying computer science. On top of this, Lewis & Clark offers a hybrid computer science and mathematics major, and this makes it easy to study both subjects.
Have you had the opportunity to do research with a professor? If so, please describe the project and the experience.
I participated in an applied data science practicum related to monarch butterflies with Professor Greta Binford and several other data scientist specialists with the college. We were divided into groups of students, and our goal was to analyze data of monarch butterflies and various milkweed species and present this information to conservation stakeholders. This was a great experience for applying what I am learning in the classroom to a real-world scenario. Since this was a multidisciplinary project, it was also insightful to meet students and professors in departments other than within my own major.
