Jaelen Hodges
At Lewis & Clark, I came to deeply appreciate the power of being part of a community where genuine curiosity is the norm. Sharing that space with others who truly valued the pursuit of knowledge made learning feel alive and made every experience more meaningful.
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What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
I was drawn to both the campus and the faculty. Lewis & Clark offered the best of both worlds in terms of location for me. It has both the serenity of the quiet, forested campus paired with the opportunities of a big city. I loved that I could study surrounded by trees, with frogs and birds as my background noise, and then head into Portland for concerts, incredible food, and hands-on experiences in local hospitals. During my campus visit, I met several psych professors whose passion for their teaching and genuine care for their students stood out to me as well.
What have you been doing since graduation?
I worked for two years as an assistant coach for the Lewis & Clark rowing team and as a medical scribe in the Emergency Room. I am now in medical school.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for medical school?
Lewis & Clark provided me with a strong academic foundation in a wide range of subjects including biology, chemistry, psychology, public health, and sociology which have all been directly relevant to the material I’m learning now in medical school. The support I received from the pre-health program, especially from Pre-Health/Pre-Med Advisor Carolyn Zook, was also invaluable. She guided me in selecting courses and finding meaningful internships during college, and continued to support me through every step of the application process after graduation. Her mentorship combined with Lewis & Clark’s commitment to a liberal arts curriculum with excellent classes in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences made a tremendous difference in my path.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
At Lewis & Clark, I came to deeply appreciate the power of being part of a community where genuine curiosity is the norm. Everyone on campus had a spark and it constantly inspired me to dive deeper into my own interests. Sharing that space with others who truly valued the pursuit of knowledge made learning feel alive and made every experience more meaningful.
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
I stay connected through supporting the rowing team and attending alumni events when I can.
