Hannah Meggitt-Nxumalo

What’s your favorite class? How has it expanded your knowledge?

Social Psychology with Professor Diana Leonard. After taking her class, I had the opportunity to work in her lab and learned so much about the research process. I would highly recommend that everyone takes the opportunity to research with a professor if they get it.

Who is your mentor on campus? Why do you consider this person your mentor?

I have had a lot of guidance from both Professors Yueping Zhang and Diana Leonard. Professor Zhang is my advisor for my major. She is incredibly passionate about her field and always happy to talk about career options and life after Lewis & Clark.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

Since I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the campus before arriving for orientation, I had to base my decision on the website and some conversations with current students. One of the things that really stuck with me was how welcoming the community seemed.

If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience so far?

I am currently studying abroad in Ireland on the social sciences program. I chose the program because it included a psychology-related internship. I am thinking of attending graduate school in the U.K., so to have this experience was indispensable to me. On this program, I have been able to experience a very different college environment to Lewis & Clark. We live, work, and take classes in the city, we are able to walk everywhere, and we have to cook all our own meals. It’s a much more independent environment, which has been incredibly refreshing (but I still can’t wait to get back to L&C).

How do you feel supported as an international student at Lewis & Clark?

All of the people that work at the international students office are amazing! From the moment I arrived at the airport I have known that I can go to them with any questions (no matter how big or small) and they will do their best to answer them. The people in the office are very good at their jobs and very organized. I have never felt like I couldn’t go to them or like they wouldn’t be able to help.

How did you decide on a major?

When I started at Lewis & Clark I was absolutely certain that I wanted to be a biochemistry and molecular biology major. What really made me decide to switch to psychology was thinking about the kind of work I wanted to do after I graduated. I love working with people and I decided that psychology gave me much more of an opportunity to be engaged with people and communities.