Zoe Rommel

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Sculpture 2 with Professor Jess Perlitz. Any class with her is a class I highly recommend. Jess is an AWESOME professor and super supportive. She introduced me to many different materials in art and makes you think about things (not just art) in multiple ways. Sculpture 2 (Sculpture 2/3, as the classes are combined) specifically has a small class size, and we built a great little community in our class, which I really enjoyed.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

At the end of the day, the beauty of the campus really made me pick Lewis & Clark. It has many other draws, but the campus set it apart for me.

What do you like or find most interesting about your major?

Being a math major, there are so many different classes to take. The math department also feels like its own little community, and all of the professors are so great.

Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.

I love the volleyball club! Having played competitively since 7th grade, I wasn’t looking to be an athlete after high school, specifically for volleyball, but I knew I wanted to go to a school with some sort of volleyball club. It is very recreational, and I have made a bunch of friends as well. It’s a great outlet to still get to play one of my favorite sports, but not have to go to practice or be super competitive about it.

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?

I am going to be overseas in Greece for Fall ’25, and I chose my program based on the location and the classes. As a math major, there isn’t a math-focused Lewis & Clark overseas program, so I was open to whatever programs they had. I also did not have a ton of prerequisites completed for non-English speaking programs, so my options were a little more limited. I knew I wanted to go overseas since I started college, but I wish I had started looking at the programs in my first year, so I could have planned a little further ahead.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Find a club that suits you! Start looking at overseas programs far in advance so you can be ready for the one you feel most drawn to. Don’t stress too hard about choosing your major. Spend a semester or two exploring your options. Also, don’t feel pressured to stay in a class you aren’t doing well in, but also don’t withdraw from too many courses. Stay on track with your credits so you don’t have to overload for a bunch of semesters. Go to the College Advising Center early and ask them to set you up with a four-year plan (which you will develop along the way), and also ask them to show you how to find your program evaluation.

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?

The best part about living on campus is being so close to academics.

Each residence hall is different in its own way, but they’re all great places. I have lived in Platt-Howard (specifically Platt), Copeland, and Stewart-Odell. In Platt, even the non-Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) side has a very artsy-chill, low-key personality. Copeland definitely has a drinking Red Bull and pulling an all-nighter type of personality. Even if you are not pulling an all-nighter, the frequent fire alarms will encourage you to do so. It is located right next to the forest and is beautiful. Stewart-Odell has a studious but fun personality. It is mostly upperclassmen, so the people know what their majors are and know what they’re doing to graduate. The best part about living on campus is being so close to academics. You can wake up 20 minutes before your class, and not having to commute is really great. Also, seeing your fellow students and friends in the halls is fun. 

Did you visit campus before deciding to come to L&C? How did your visit influence your decision to attend?

I visited on a sunny day in February before committing. Seeing the campus, how beautiful it is, its size, the Frank Manor House, all made me really love it. What set it apart from other schools I toured was the moss-covered everything and the view of Mount Hood.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

The liberal arts really round you out well as a student. I have taken a bunch of different classes and learned something that I have integrated into my daily life from each of them. Sometimes it can be a drag to think about having to take a bunch of general education classes, but if you really look through the catalog and find classes that do interest you, it won’t feel like you’re taking a general education class, but rather a class that you are excited to be in.

If you went on a New Student Trip with College Outdoors, how did it shape your experience as an incoming student?

I met a lot of people on my New Student Trip, and it was helpful to come into the college already knowing some people. It made me feel less intimidated about making friends and meeting new people. I also enjoyed getting to see Mount Hood in the summer and hiking on it.

What’s one of the best spots on campus?

The bridge is so fun to walk across, and when I lived on that side of campus, it was always fun to walk to class over it. I also think the area outside the Albany Quadrangle is super nice on a sunny day, and you get the view of the Dovecote Café and the Quadrangle, which are super cool buildings with cool history. The Frank Manor House is also super cool to walk through and think about the history of the building. Other than that, the lawns between Mount Hood and the Frank Manor house are so gorgeous, and they set the campus apart from an average college campus.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

The greenery is all year round. In Colorado, spring is super brown, but here, winter is when it is most green, and I love it when the moss is thriving.

How would you describe sustainability at Lewis & Clark? What’s your involvement with any sustainability initiatives on campus?

I think the general student demographic values sustainability. I come from a family where my mom is heavily involved in sustainability efforts and has raised me to value the effect I have on the environment. I have found that a lot of students here have similar views on that and think about where their food comes from, how much single-use plastic they use in everyday life, and how their consumption has an impact on the environment. Additionally, the elimination of any single-use utensils and dishware at the Fields Dining Room (the Bon) reflects the college’s sustainability efforts.

How are you involved in the arts at L&C?

I am not an art minor, but I have taken a 3D art class almost every semester at Lewis & Clark. The teachers are very liberal arts in that they make you think about what you’re making and how you’re making it in a very different way than I was previously taught in any other art classes I’ve taken. I love my art classes because they are rigorous, but very rewarding. Every time finals season comes around, I’m thankful to have one final that isn’t an exam or essay but is instead the culmination of a large project that I have been working on.

Mathematics