What are some of the reasons why you decided to attend Fordham?
A major selling point of Fordham for me was definitely the ability to have both a traditional campus feel while having access to the many resources a major city provides. At the Rose Hill campus, I loved the idea of being able to travel to other boroughs and explore different cultures, landmarks, and entertainment opportunities, and at the same time being able to spend a sunny day relaxing on Eddies Parade with my friends. The possibilities were endless both on and off campus, making Fordham the perfect choice.
I also gravitated toward the small class sizes offered at Fordham. With most classes having only about 25 students, I saw myself being a true part of the University, actively engaging with peers and professors about larger issues facing the world. Fordham was dedicated to seeing its students grow as both individuals and as members of a larger community—one that I am proud to be a part of.
What do you think you got at Fordham that you couldn’t have gotten elsewhere?
Fordham allowed me to meet so many wonderful and interesting people from completely different walks of life. Particularly as a political science major, I was always surrounded by diverse experiences and perspectives, and the ability to have constructive conversations on complicated issues with my peers was amazing. In a larger sense, the Fordham community is so incredibly strong and supportive. Fordham students care for and support one another, and the friends I have made will always mean something special.
Did you take any courses or have any experiences that helped put you on your current path?
While not directly related to what I am doing now, my three years at the RamLine call center [reaching out to Fordham alumni and parents of current Fordham students]taught me many important skills and gave me valuable insight into the kinds of work I want to do in the future. As both a student caller and a supervisor, I learned strategies to successfully engage with individuals with vastly different experiences than I [have], listening to them and meeting them where they are at so that they know they are understood and appreciated. More importantly, working at the call center made me realize how proud I was to be a Fordham student. There was never a point when talking about my job or life at school felt forced, and every call was just another opportunity to talk about the people, classes, and opportunities I loved so much. Having graduated, I want to be able to work somewhere and say that I have a true passion for what I’m doing.
Who is the Fordham professor or person you admire the most, and why?
Professor Diane Detournay taught the introductory course to my American studies minor, and it ended up becoming one of the most important experiences I had at Fordham. I think there is a tendency to present U.S. history to kids in simplistic terms, and before coming to college I had never really sat down and considered the larger issues that have and continue to shape America and its people. In Diane’s class, we were primarily tasked with having these conversations, thinking about the institutions and structures in society we take for granted, and how they shape the America we live in today. Never had I had a professor so passionate about the work they were doing, wanting her students to challenge conventional thinking and advocate for needed change. Diane taught me about my duty to be good citizen, and the ideas she presented will always [stay]with me.
What are you doing now, and what do you hope to accomplish, personally or professionally?
Right now, I’m working in the development office of my high school creating communications and media strategies. I am responsible for designing content on our platforms that tells the story of the school while encouraging our immediate and broader communities (alumni, parents, friends) to continue feeling engaged and supporting our mission. Curating our social media presence and publishing articles on our website and in our magazine have been some of my most recent responsibilities.
At night, I am pursuing a graduate degree from Fordham in elections and campaign management. The program has given me a wide look into the opportunities to work in politics, and with the current work I am doing, I am hoping to get involved in the communications planning for candidates running for office.
What are you optimistic about?
I’m optimistic about the kind of world my generation can create. Particularly now, we have seen young people be so passionate about the issues they are fighting for, and [be]truly invested in making the world a better place for all of us. My peers and I care deeply about one another and advocate for our collective well-being, and it is that mindset that will always give me hope.
Anything else we should know about you, your plans, or your Fordham connection?
I’m excited for the day we can come back to campus and celebrate the end of my senior year. This year was certainly not what anyone was expecting, so I look forward to reconnecting with classmates I haven’t seen in a while and experiencing [what]we would have had in May.
