Deenie Bulyalert

What’s your favorite class? Why?

Currently, Ecology with Assistant Professor Heidi Liere. I love learning about our natural world, and I think Professor Liere brings a lens that I haven’t been able to see before in science classes. In these few weeks, I feel like I now step outside with a different perspective on how I see the world—how it interacts with me, with each other, and how I can keep it safe.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I never thought I would be able to go to college because of cost, let alone a private school but I have to give most of the credit to Isa Simon BA ’26 who is about to graduate this year. I wanted to come to Lewis & Clark because of how beautiful it is but Isa made the decision easier. She has known me since I didn’t know anything about anything and guided me a lot in high school. She is the reason I get to choose kindness everyday.

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

I chose both of my majors (psychology and biology) because I believe that everything is so connected. I wanted to learn more about that. Learn how the human mind works and how the surrounding world that cares for us works. Learn how I can take care of other people and other things. Most importantly, learn how absolutely every piece of our lives intersect with one another.

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

I chose the entrepreneurial leadership and innovation minor because I started doing work in nonprofits at a really young age and nonprofit programs were the biggest reason I have been able to get to where I am now. ELI offers a lot of nonprofit learning opportunities and engagement so it felt like the natural choice.

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

I am so lucky to have such a large web of community on and off campus. I got involved in a lot of clubs early on and I also have the privilege of having known people in the Portland area prior to coming to Lewis & Clark. My friends and I host dinner parties at least once a week, come over when I need help, and are my ways to talk through everything. I have also found a lot of community in clubs and have truly been able to grow more comfortable in my identities. I live off-campus now, but it has been nice to create a space for myself away from the business of school, work and clubs.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

One of my favorite sayings is, “No one is ever thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about yourself.” I used to be afraid to even walk by myself to class or go off-campus alone because I was so worried about what everyone else was thinking but I have grown to learn that it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re not harming others, be loud, take up space, make noise, move your body, and make space for others.

Tell us about the upcoming Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies. What has your experience as a cochair been like? How does this event complement your academic experience?

As people have likely seen, our theme is Sowing Resistance. We wanted to talk about the history or our roots and see how we can plant foundations that will last generations. It has been super cool to work on something so large like this, to feel like I am part of something that is making a difference in academia. This symposium has complemented my academic experiences a lot more than I was anticipating. We have and I know we will continue talking about connection between each other, as humans, and humans to what most would call nature.

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

Yes, I did. Visiting campus influenced my decision a lot. I was never quite sure about college but when I come to the campus it felt like the right choice for what I wanted to do and I hadn’t felt that with other schools before.

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

My New Student Trip I think changed my life. I met my closest friends and what I believe are my lifelong friends on that trip. I’m sure everyone says this, but our New Student Trip felt very different than the connections I have made before. Even after three years, we are planning an NST reunion and we have ended up doing some kind of meet up work every year.

How did your financial aid package influence your decision to attend Lewis & Clark?

My financial package was my make or break decision. I am incredibly grateful for the Ford Family Foundation because I was able to receive a scholarship through them and it has allowed me to come to college and truly experience everything I would like.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Portland?

There are a ton of activities to do. I grew up in a small-ish town and it has been fun to be in a more city environment but also be able to escape to nature when I am on-campus.

How did you decide on your major?

I knew I wanted to be a psychology major because learning about human behavior has always been super interesting to me but when I came in I thought I would go toward environmental studies. I ended up landing on biology because I really wanted the lab, research, and science experience. I have always been interested in forestry and any type of conservation work and I feel, for the most part, biology professors make space to talk about social justice in the science community because it does matter.

Have you had the opportunity to do research with a professor? If so, please describe the project and the experience.

Yes! I am currently in the Behavioral Health and Social Psychology lab with Professors Brian and Jerusha Deweiler-Bedell and it has been amazing to learn from such intelligent professors. Our lab is incredibly collaborative and it feels like a group of friends handing out.

Why are you double majoring? What relationship do you see between your studies?

I came into school wanting to double major. I just felt like I couldn’t pick one thing and have always been super interested in many topics. Psychology and biology feel like a great balance because in psychology, we study behaviors, emotions, personality and focus on humans whereas, with my interested in biology, we study about our natural world. I feel like if I was studying one or the other I wouldn’t know as much as I do and I wouldn’t always have the lens that every second of life is a learning opportunity to dig deeper and find the stories in everything.

Tell us about your involvement with the Bates Center. How do you feel that entrepreneurship and leadership integrate into and enhance a liberal arts education?

I think this minor has rounded out my education at lewis and clark. I have been mostly going down the nonprofit side of the ELI minor and have been working in nonprofits for at least five years now. It has given me a lot of connections to people and the courage to reach out and seek opportunities even if no ends up being the answer.

Psychology Biology Entrepreneurship