A Senior Moment: Graduates Reflect on Their Time at GW

May 2, 2012
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With the Columbian College Celebration and GW Commencement around the corner, emotions are running high this time of year as seniors say goodbye to friends and faculty and look ahead with excitement—and a bit of trepidation. We asked members of the Columbian College Class of 2012 to reflect on their favorite moments, professors, and experiences during their four years in Foggy Bottom. Whether it was being lucky enough to land a favorite professor for multiple classes, connecting to international students through music, or having the opportunity to use the resources of the Library of Congress and other venerable institutions, these students have their memories to take with them . . . along with their degrees. The following provides a sampling of their reflections:

“Though I entered undecided, it only took one sociology class to convince me that was the major for me. In Professor Wenger's “Race and Minority Relations” class, my paradigm for understanding society completely shifted. Sociology was an academic area that spoke not only to my interests, but also my passions. A good professor can do that: marry your academic coursework with what is in your heart. That class has changed my life and my academic and career trajectories.”

Chelsea Ullman
BA Sociology

“Professor Paul Carrillo's “Econometrics” class was one of the hardest and most gratifying classes I have ever taken. The course gave me the tools to read, critique, and conduct empirical research. It was like learning a new language.”

Andrea Cristina Ruiz
BS Economics

“My favorite academic experience has been participating in Habitat for Humanity with my [Interior Design] program. One of our professors, Nancy Evans, takes her classes each semester to Ivy City in Northeast D.C. for a day to build. The first time I went, my friend and I attached siding to the outside of a house and, another time, I climbed up onto the roof and helped nail sheathing onto the rafters. It was really fun to get out of the studio and help serve the community with all my friends from class.”

Emily Davis
BFA Interior Design

“Last summer, I went to Brazil with GW’s University Singers.  Even though I didn’t know the language, I was able to connect so quickly and easily, through music, with the university students from Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo, and share the excitement of learning, and collaboration. I also enjoyed being able to work closely with professors and experience what they do outside the classroom.”

Daniel Kaufman
BA Music and Environmental Studies

“My favorite academic experience was taking “Intro to Psych” with Professor Maria Gomez-Serrano.  She was not only knowledgeable about the subject, but also very funny and engaging.  I looked forward to her class every Tuesday and Thursday.  She was the reason I decided to become a Psychology major.”

Jacqueline Chang
BA Psychology

“For my University Writing final paper, I interviewed the prominent singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson and went to his show, all in the name of research. It was cool as a freshman to interview someone who was on David Letterman!”

Shawn Kelly
BA Special Interdisciplinary Major in Arts Administration

“I took Dr. Dennis Shell’s “Psychology of Spirituality” course as a freshman [but] struggled with the material and needed to meet with him every week for an hour.  His commitment and dedication to his students was important [to me] because I didn’t feel like teachers cared about their students until I had a class with him. He showed me that teaching, for him, goes beyond the classroom.  It’s not just about lecturing or giving exams, but working with students so they can achieve their best. I met with him several times each semester since that Spring of 2009.” 

Katrina Valdes
BA Psychology and Communication

“As a Sociology major, I have taken a variety of courses covering many different topics and approaches. During my sophomore year, I found a professor whose interests matched mine. After three years, and what must be a record-breaking six classes with Dr. Lynette Osborne, I [wrote] my senior thesis under her guidance, and I continue to look to her both as a mentor and as a friend.”

Jessica Fern
BA Sociology

“One of my favorite experiences stems from an observation requirement for my Speech and Hearing Sciences major. For my “Voice and Diction” class, we had to perform three observations, and it just so happened that each time I went, it was the same client. At first, I thought this would be a disadvantage, but it turned out to be the best experience I ever could have had. Not only was I able to learn about something I had no idea existed—Transgender Vocal Therapy (transgendered people learn to speak more like the sex they are transitioning to), but I was able to witness a particular client's personal development. In October, at one of the first visits, the client had a very deep voice and sounded like she was forcing her lighter voice. Then, by the time I saw her again in December, she sounded so natural and light. It was incredible to me, and sparked a passion for speech that I hadn't realized before.”

Ashley Delgado
BA Speech and Hearing Sciences

“My favorite academic experience would definitely be the “Freedom and Equality” class with Professor Steven Kelts. The class forced me to think critically in a manner that was very new to me, and it also really molded and shaped my writing both in and out of the political science discipline. It was one of my first experiences with political thought, and through the class, I realized that I am very interested in that topic.”

Kenneth Cobbs
BA Political Science

“As an Anthropology major, it is very important for me to see the world from outside of the classroom.  I was lucky enough to participate in an archaeological dig with Professor Eric Cline in summer 2010.  We spent the summer digging at Tel Megiddo in Israel with Tel Aviv University. Not only was this a great opportunity to get to know other GW students and professors better, but it was the best hands-on learning that anyone could ask for.”  

Rebecca Kahn-Witman
BA Anthropology

“A memorable academic experience was when Professor Dane Kennedy took us to the Library of Congress for our Dean’s Seminar class on empires. He showed us an exhibit of artifacts from the time of Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, and we got to see maps and globes used by European explorers that usually don't leave their home museums. After having read about Copernicus for so many years, getting to see his drawings that proved the solar system is heliocentric enhanced my appreciation for history. The maps and artifacts gave a visual history that one cannot get out of a textbook or lecture.”

Albert Cramer
BA History

“One of my favorite academic experiences at GW involved George Washington himself. I took a class called “George Washington and His World,” which took students to his estate in Mount Vernon once a week. There, we had the opportunity to learn about Washington while exploring the place he and his family called home. My professor, William diGiacomantonio, was not only a brilliant history scholar, but he also brought in experts to teach us more about different aspects of Washington's life. He made us excited to pick topics on which to do our in-depth research for our major paper, and I came away from the class with a better understanding of the complex man who founded our country.”

Leah Morse
BA Psychology

“I would say my favorite academic experience is not actually a single experience. I met my academic advisor when I first visited GW during CI [Colonial Inauguration] my freshman year and, ever since, Professor Herman Carrillo has been a fantastic resource. I've been fortunate enough to also have had him as a professor and as my thesis advisor. His advice, support, and genuinely fascinating anecdotes were always incredibly helpful.”

Anna Storm
BA English and Creative Writing

“In addition to majoring in Psychology, I decided to minor in Judaic Studies. I think my favorite academic experience has been my “Jewish Geography” class with Professor Jenna Weissman Joselit. I loved this class, because the professor was unbelievably knowledgeable, engaged, and truly invested in the material she was teaching. I learned so much about the diverse cities in the U.S. where Jewish immigrants settled. It was such a thought-provoking class, and it really reinforced my love and interest in learning about Judaism both as a religion and culture, because there is so much that I still do not know. In addition, it was an intimate class, which provided a wonderful place for people to really express their reactions to the readings and movies.”

Jennifer Orel
BA Psychology

“I think the best academic experience I've had was getting the chance to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, during fall 2010. It was amazing to be able to not only get an education in another country and at another university, but also learn culture through experiences as well.  My “Eastern European Film” class professor had us watch a movie each week and write a reflection on it before discussing it. Many of the movies were older, from the time of communist rule, so it was interesting to see how rebellious ideas against the government were portrayed through an art medium.”

Caroline Quat
BA Political Science and Political Communication

“My favorite academic experience here would have to be my “Primatology” class with an amazing professor, Peter Lucas. I took this class in the fall of 2010. Our final paper was on the behavior of any greater ape at the National Zoo. I chose the orangutans because of their human-like behaviors. We were able to visit the National Zoo for class and it was incredible! And our professor's passion made it much more enjoyable.”

Lizzie Poniarski
BS Biological Anthropology

“One of the most outstanding academic experiences I’ve had stems from deciding to be a Women's Studies major. One course had a particularly strong impact on my life: “Women in and Beyond the Global Prison” during the spring of my sophomore year. There were five students in my class, and it was instructed by the director of the Women's Studies Program, Professor Dan Moshenberg. I had ample opportunity to speak as often as I wanted, to really grapple with the text, examine my peers' perspectives, and not have to fight for access to my professor during office hours. Professor Moshenberg is an active advocate and researcher for the demographic expressed in the subject matter, which gave us access to grass-root activities, current literature, and figureheads of the movement. He brought in several speakers, from the previously incarcerated to those who work in jails. This course made me seriously consider changing my career goal of being a neonatologist to being a physician/social worker at a prison facility. Without this and other small classes and the quality of my instructors, I would not be nearly as enthusiastic about academics at GW as I am now!”

Natasha Dupee
BA Women’s Studies

“As a Chemistry and German major, the variety of classes I've taken at GW has been pretty extensive, but I have to say that my absolute favorite was an anthropology course titled "Language in Culture and Society." It was refreshing to step out of my normal disciplines, but still take a class that was relevant to my interests. Professor Alexander Dent, the students, and the TAs were all extremely engaged and drove my success, participation, and fascination in the class.”

Mary Moreno
BS Chemistry and German Language and Literature