The Class of 2022 is ready to put the liberal arts into action. Since their arrival at Conn, the students in this graduating class have explored a wide array of interests, excelled inside and outside the classroom, completed internships, studied abroad and collaborated on research with their professors—all while making a difference in their communities and beyond.
Meet some of the members of the Class of 2022 as they reflect on their Conn experiences and prepare for the future.
Tihut Getabicha
Quantitative Economics and International Relations double major; Arabic minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA)
Campus involvement:
Walter Commons Fellow, Holleran Center Fellow and Senior Admissions Fellow
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Taking classes in departments outside of my majors and minor have given me the opportunity to explore other aspects of humanity, including psychology, human development, philosophy and history. For example, I took “Africa and the U.S.” with Professor Swagler, and it opened my eyes to Africa-U.S. connections through immigration, music and films, and made me realize the historical implication of even the Afrobeats we listen to in today’s world.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I interned for Deloitte and Touche’s consulting division, which helped me integrate fundamental economics with understanding client cases. I now understand the value of client confidentiality as professional etiquette in the workplace.
Future plans:
I will be joining Microsoft fulltime in their partner enterprise network.
Moriah Prescia
Anthropology major; Film Studies and Environmental Studies double minor
Campus involvement:
I have been the Program Coordinator for the Office of Equity and Compliance, a Genesis Program Ambassador, a tutor for the Anthropology Department, a Queer Peer mentor, and a member of Underrepresented Voices in Film club.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
During the Spring 2021 semester, I took a class on Personal Documentary with Professor Ian Harnarine which involved creating a series of short films that spoke to aspects of your personal identity and life story. The films I made in that class required a great deal of self reflection about the experiences that shaped me, and was an incredible opportunity to sort out the experiences I find most important in my past. Naturally, a level of vulnerability was also required for everyone in class. Even though we were on Zoom, we managed to develop such a closeness and were constantly supporting and encouraging each other’s art. Every class was beautiful, and really spoke to the ability to use personal stories that speak universal truths.
Best takeaway from my internship:
In the summer of 2021, I completed an internship as a writer for Climate Refugees, a small nonprofit that utilizes advocacy and research to highlight the complexities of climate change migration and its human rights implications, as well as the climate injustice at its roots. I was tasked with writing for SPOTLIGHT, a weekly publication that shines light on climate displacement events in the news. Through this experience, I was able to improve my writing and research skills and make new connections to better understand the impact of climate change on a human level.
Future plans:
I have been awarded a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship by the Watson Foundation to embark on a year of international discovery and exploration of the funding, production and distribution of documentaries that inspire environmental justice and social activism. I will travel to Brussels, Belgium; Taipei, Taiwan; New Delhi, India; and Mexico City, Mexico, spending three months in each location to immerse myself in different aspects of global filmmaking and explore how people across the globe use documentaries to illuminate important stories that advance social and environmental justice. Following my Watson experience, I plan to pursue a career as a freelance filmmaker, partnering with nonprofits working within the human rights and environmental justice fields to explore topics including food sovereignty, climate change, migrant protections, access to safe drinking water and the right to clean air.
Ricardo Lombera
Government and Sociology double major; American Studies minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy
Campus involvement:
Co-chair of Men of Color Alliance, President of TEDxConnecticutCollege, President of CC Law Society, MEChA, Communications and Marketing Ambassador for Gender & Sexuality Programs, Hale Center for Career Development Fellow, REAL student staffer, Member of SGA Committee on Equity and Inclusion
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Doing a research project with Prof. Ronald J. Flores in the Sociology Department. I learned the skills to conduct research which I still use. During my sophomore summer, I conducted research for Professor Mara Suttmann-Lea in the Government Department about voter education. Under Dr. Suttmann’s direction, I was able to develop an understanding about the importance of local voter education and delve further into my government education.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I interned with the UC Berkeley Labor Center and was placed with the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco. I was trained by Labor Center staff on organizing semantics and the history of labor unions in the United States. Through my experience with the Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, I learned about housing insecurity, and charted how San Francisco's homeless population has increased dramatically. I discovered how important collective action is to achieving a common goal. I was also a marketing and communications intern for the Silicon Valley branch of the Human Rights Watch, where I learned effective marketing and outreach strategies.
Future plans:
I will be working at a media network agency in New York City and plan to pursue a dual J.D./M.B.A.
Suzanne Allen
ACS Certified Biochemistry/Chemistry major; Mathematics minor
Campus involvement:
I am the Vice President of the College’s pre-dental club, and have served for two years as an introductory chemistry tutor.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Completing a group semester-long research project in molecular biology during the spring of my senior year. I was able to collaborate with my peers and conduct research related to bioelectricity and cell cycle progression.
Best takeaway from my internship:
The summer of my junior year, I completed an internship in Professor Schneider’s biochemistry lab. I worked on synthesizing a small molecule to target and inhibit Quorum Sensing in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. I learned many organic synthesis techniques and protein purification techniques. One of my biggest takeaways from my summer internship experience was the ability to communicate with others about science. I gave a poster board talk about the research I conducted and was able to share my work with a wide array of members at the College.
Future plans:
I will be attending the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.
Alireza Mohammadi
Quantitative Economics and Econometrics major; Finance and Computer Science double minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Entrepreneurship Social Innovation Value and Change Pathway
Campus involvement:
Vice President/Sector Head at Peggotty Investment Club, former Men’s Soccer varsity team member, and Business/Finance Manager at International Student Association
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
My favorite class was “Tennis.” I had never played tennis before, but I picked it up very quickly, and now I play once a week and love it!
Best takeaway from my internship:
I participated in the Tuck Business Bridge Program at Dartmouth College in 2020, and I was a finance intern at Margaret A Cargill Philanthropies last summer. In 2021, I was awarded the Davis Projects for Peace grant to promote peace through education in Kabul, Afghanistan. I used the grant to start a library and technology center and mentorship program for underprivileged children in Kabul in an effort to reduce child labor and improve access to educational resources. Throughout my experiences, I have met exceptionally smart, welcoming and supportive groups of people and made meaningful connections.
Future plans:
I am pursuing a career in finance and an incoming Global Markets Sales & Trading Summer Analyst at MUFG in the NYC office.
Madison Comer
Classics and Philosophy double major
Center/Pathway affiliation: Eye of the Mind Pathway
Campus involvement:
I am a member of Hillel and the Ultimate Frisbee team. I have served as a House Floor Representative and Jewish Learning Fellow, and I have participated in the Walter Commons Language Challenge.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
My favorite classroom experience was in my Eye of the Mind Pathway course. Professor Hammond invited a guest speaker from the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) to speak about education accessibility in America and how the BPI addresses this in prisons by providing people with the opportunity to attain higher education. Following this experience, I began to rethink what I could do with my education to make education more accessible and inclusive.
Best takeaway from my internship:
For the past four years, I have interned and volunteered with the New London County Historical Society. Working with my mentor and through writing assignments and exhibit building, I have learned the importance of considering the oppression that marginalized groups have and continue to face. To address access to education, I helped develop inclusive educational curricula for the historical society’s summer museum program and assisted with exhibits focusing on marginalized groups in history. I also interned for three summers with NDH Law, a boutique firm that handles civil rights cases. My internships there helped me gain better insight into the oppressive structures that still exist in America today and how to effectively advocate for civil rights.
Future plans:
For the next year, I will be teaching English at a school in Athens, Greece, as a Fulbright Fellow. After that, I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in public history. Ultimately, I hope to work for an organization like the U.S. Department of Education or UNESCO to develop educational resources that will make it easier for students to apply their history education to contemporary issues.
Jacob Nozaki
Computer Science major; Psychology and German Studies double minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA)
Campus involvement:
I serve as Chair of Academic Affairs for the Student Government Association, Co-President of CC Democrats, President of the Consulting Club, and I’m a member of the men’s ultimate frisbee team. I have also served as a language table host, a German language tutor, and a computer science teaching assistant.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
My favorite three classes were “Sculpture Workshop,” “Intro to African Art,” and “Intro to Asian American Studies.” I enjoyed taking classes outside of my major, and these three proved to be interesting and hugely beneficial for me. Prof. Steiner taught “African Art” and it was an incredibly engaging experience because of the material and his skill as a professor. Prof. Takamori and my “Intro to Asian American Studies” classmates helped me reflect on my Japanese heritage and Asian-American identity, which has had a profound impact on me. Finally, “Sculpture Workshop” was just a fun class where I was able to work with my hands to create art, which is something I haven’t really been able to do since before coming to Conn. Plus, Professor Bailey is incredibly supportive and kind.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I completed an internship at SAP, which is a multinational enterprise software company based in Germany. I was a security researcher, working one-on-one with my adviser on a topic called Human Factor Security. I was able to use both my computer science and psychology knowledge, as well as my German language skills. I was able to connect with colleagues across over a dozen countries and engaged with a topic that is highly interesting to me.
Future plans:
I have been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and will be teaching English at a school in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. After my Fulbright year, I am considering pursuing a master’s degree in public policy, education or education policy, as well as a career in the tech industry as a project manager or software engineer.
Alyss Humphrey
Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology major
Center/Pathway affiliation: Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy
Campus involvement:
I am a Housefellow, a Senior Admissions Fellow, and a Big Sib.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Taking "Biochemistry" last year with Professor Schneider. I loved learning about all the different mechanisms and chemical reactions that sustain life.
Best takeaway from my internship:
In the summer of 2021, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Professor Schneider researching bacterial communication. I discovered just how amazing research is and learned about how bacteria is constantly evolving.
Future plans:
I want to ensure every person has access to safe and equitable health care and I plan to pursue this through a career in either public health or nursing.
Jordan Westlake
History and Global Islamic Studies double major; Arabic Studies minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA)
Campus involvement:
I am the treasurer of the Connecticut College Figure Skating Club, and a member of the Ultimate Frisbee team and the ConnChords a cappella group.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
One of my favorite academic experiences was traveling to the United Nations with my fellow CISLA scholars and meeting with the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN from the Syrian Arab Republic. It was fascinating to hear first-hand the official Syrian government position on topics that related directly to my Senior Integrative Project. Plus, I got to use a bit of Arabic.
Best takeaway from my internship:
In summer 2021, I was a research assistant at a think tank called the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan. My projects included researching the impact of COVID-19 on business, services and education, and working on a position paper about civil society organizations in Jordan. The latter project was published, which was very exciting. Although the internship was remote, I learned a lot about Jordan and about what the process of conducting research is like overall.
Future plans:
I have been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship from the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to study Arabic at the Arab American Language Institute in Tangier, Morocco. After that, I plan to work abroad using my Arabic language skills before applying to graduate school. In the future, I am considering a career in academia.
Autumn Galindo
History and Government double major
Center/Pathway affiliation: Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy
Campus involvement:
As a member of the History Department Student Advisory Board, I helped organize a variety of different events, including an African history speaker series and a field trip to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. I was also part of the History Department’s faculty searches. During my sophomore year, I was the public relations chair on the executive board of Asian and Asian American Students in Action. I am also a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship scholar.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
I have many! One of them was when I took “Globalization of Urban Poverty” with Professor Chhabria. This course was illuminating and life changing for me as it helped me understand structures of exploitation globally, like neo-imperialism. A lot of themes I learned in this class were part of my history honors thesis, and Professor Chhabria served as my thesis adviser.
Best takeaway from my internship:
During the summer of 2021, I was a research assistant for a historian at Vanderbilt University. This was a super enriching experience where I was able to do a deep dive into the historiography of the Marcos era in the Philippines. Not only was I able to learn new academic material, but I was also able to solidify my research skills in a professional setting. This experience helped me realize that I would like to go into academia as a historian.
Future plans:
I will be attending Columbia University to pursue a Ph.D. in history.
Julia Graham
Slavic Studies and Psychology double major; Environmental Studies minor
Campus involvement:
I am a manager at one of Conn’s coffee shops, Coffee Closet; a tutor in Russian, writing and psychology; a sexual violence prevention and advocacy peer educator and a sustainability fellow. I was also selected as a Winthrop Scholar.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Taking “RUS 303” (Advanced Russian: Russia Today) my first semester. There were only four of us in the class, two of whom were native/heritage speakers. It was extremely difficult to keep up in class conversations with them, but that is ultimately what made the experience so rewarding. I rose to the challenge, and was able to learn so much in the class, which culminated in a final paper and presentation in Russian, with the help of our wonderful professor, Olga Bukhina.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I completed an internship last summer at a sleep research laboratory at the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan. In this role, I helped researchers sort through data and recruit participants for studies. I also interacted with participants, taking vitals and samples and conducting surveys. Given that it was a sleep lab, this involved early mornings and late nights, which were difficult at times. However, I enjoyed working with the other people in the lab, as well as the participants. I learned more about what research looks like on a day-to-day basis.
Future plans:
I have been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship to study Russian in Kyrgyzstan this summer, and a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Fellowship to teach English at a University in Kazakhstan during the 2022-2023 academic year. Following the Fulbright fellowship, I will work at Epic Systems, a Madison, Wisconsin-based healthcare software company.
Cameron Tubb
English and German Studies double major
Center/Pathway affiliation: Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA)
Campus involvement:
I have helped lead the German table at lunch for the past two years.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
Professor Chris Steiner’s course on African Art. Professor Steiner is tremendously passionate and knowledgeable about the subject and shares the subject matter in such a way that you can’t help but take on that passion yourself.
Future Plans:
I am a Fulbright Fellow and will be teaching English at a school in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After my Fulbright year, I hope to attend a graduate program either in the U.S. or Germany.
Quinn Kilmartin
Biology major; Psychology and Human Development double minors
Center/Pathway affiliation: Public Health Pathway
Campus involvement:
President of Equity in STEM, chair of the Biology SAB, member of the women’s Club Soccer Team, tutor in the Biology Department, member of the Pre-Health Club, tour guide, senior admissions fellow, Winthrop Scholar
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
My Public Health Pathway project. Through this experience, I spent three years studying reproductive justice advocacy movements and the future of Roe v. Wade through studies across gender studies, Africana studies, government, history, anthropology and sociology courses. I was able to apply my classroom skills through a variety of internships, most notably at Planned Parenthood. I love how Connections gave me the opportunity to design my own program of study, make connections across departments and organizations, and follow my passion for reproductive health equity. As Roe v. Wade is critically at risk of being overturned, I feel prepared and ready to enter the workforce using what I’ve learned through my Public Health Pathway project.
Best takeaway from my internship:
My favorite internship experience was working as a research intern for National Advocates for Pregnant Women, a nonprofit legal group that provides legal defense for women facing charges relating to pregnancy. I had a variety of different responsibilities in this position, including developing a national outreach strategy to public defenders and tracking maternal health policies, but my most rewarding project was assisting on the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. My research helped the legal team develop an amicus brief and submit it to the Supreme Court.
Future plans:
After college, I hope to gain more experience working in reproductive healthcare advocacy. Eventually, I’d like to earn my master’s degree in public health with a concentration in reproductive health. My dream is to run my own reproductive justice nonprofit.
Sneh Shah
Neuroscience major; Computer Science minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Data, Information and Society Pathway
Campus involvement:
I was a treasurer for Relay for Life, a floor governor for the REAL staff, I served on the Psychology and Neuroscience Student Advisory Board, I was a research assistant in the Neuroscience Department, and I was a member of the Pre-Health Club. I'm also a Winthrop Scholar and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Nu Rho Psi and Psi Chi.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
My favorite classroom experience would have to be taking "Neurobiology of Disease" with Professor Schroeder. This class felt so inline with what I was interested in and every student in the class presented on the current state of research on various neurological disorders, which really helped connect textbook knowledge with scientific advancement.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I did an internship in the Boison Lab at the Rutgers Department of Neurosurgery, where I was a research assistant. I learned so much about epilepsy, its complexities, and how to treat or prevent it. It is fascinating to see that all the work in the lab is translational to the clinical aspects and having an impact on actual patients.
Future plans:
I'm continuing my research at the Boison Lab and working in a local hospital. I also plan to apply for medical school this year.
Emma Atlas
International Relations major; East Asian Studies minor
Center/Pathway affiliation: Global Capitalism Pathway
Campus involvement:
I have been active in numerous campus clubs and organizations, including Hillel, Orchestra and Ultimate Frisbee. I currently serve as co-president of Hillel.
Favorite academic experience at Conn:
I had so many great classroom experiences. I loved Professor Levin’s lectures in my “Civil War” class, and had a lot of fun in Professor Fleury’s “Diplomacy” class when we held a mock diplomatic summit to create a resolution for the South Sudanese civil war.
Best takeaway from my internship:
I worked for The Women’s Foreign Policy Group in Washington, D.C. This organization promotes women’s voices in the male-dominated field of foreign policy. I worked full time, so I gained a good understanding of how the organization ran and how it interacted with the wider nonprofit world in the D.C. area.
Future plans:
I have been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to teach English at a school in Taiwan for the 2022-2023 academic year. After my Fulbright year, I plan to move to D.C. to pursue a position with the U.S. Department of State or a similar organization
