Major: English
Minors: Math, Art, and Women's and Gender Studies
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Georgetown, Kentucky
Why did you select your major and minors? Were there any experiences that convinced you to declare?
I started at UNL as a Mechanical Engineering major and added an English minor during my first semester. I had loved writing in high school and wanted to take more writing classes while in college. As I started to get further into my course work, I realized that I was way more passionate about the classes I got to take for English than Engineering so after my sophomore year I made the terrifying decision to switch my major to English. It has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. My math minor came with the course work from Engineering, but I picked up the art minor after declaring my new major. I had taken a few art classes in high school and wanted to find that enjoyment again, especially in printmaking which worked out perfectly as UNL has an incredible print studio and teachers. The addition of a women and gender studies minor was a recent one. I'm hoping that it will help me continue to expand my worldview and prepare me for my future career.
What is your favorite course you have taken from your programs and why?
It's so hard to pick one, but I'd have to say Beginning Fiction Writing my first semester here. It was this class, but specifically, that professor who inspired and encouraged me to first add an English minor. He always made class fun, even when we had to work through difficult concepts in the writing and editing process. His lessons and critiques really helped me grow as a writer and his encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue what I enjoyed doing.
Who have been some of your strongest mentors or role models here?
There are three people at Nebraska who come to mind. The first is DaWon Baker, Diversity and Inclusion Director for Nebraska Athletics. He is someone who I know I can go to if I have a problem or just need to talk. He works incredibly hard at everything, no matter how big the challenge might be. Who DaWon is to me, I one day want to be for other student-athletes because of him. The next two are my Head Coach, Rachel Martin, and Assistant Coach Mindy Miles. I have looked up to both of them for a long time even before they were my coaches. Their excellence on the range has always been something that I've tried to emulate. But beyond their athletic success, I want to be the kind of person that they are; great leaders, compassionate, dedicated, hard-working, driven, and selfless.
What are you involved in on campus?
I am a member of the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Gender and Sexual Identity. I am also the Captain of the Women's Rifle Team. Also in Athletics, I am a part of Inner Circle, a leadership development group, founding member of N-volved, a student-athlete social climate leadership group, and SAAC, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
What are your plans after graduation?
After undergrad, I plan to get my Masters in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration or something similar to one day work in a Diversity and Inclusion role for a Power 5 school to build a better community and support student-athletes.
