Hanna Merzbach

Hanna Merzbach BA '20

Pronouns

she/her

Degree and Class Year

BA ’20

Hometown

Bend, Oregon

Major

International Affairs

Extracurriculars

Editor of the Pioneer Log, Climber

Overseas study

Tanzania fall 2018

What three words would you use to describe L&C?

Weird, Green, Wet

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

Although I am an international affairs major, my favorite class I have taken thus far is Buddhist Art History with Professor Dawn Odell. I learned about the spread of Buddhism through an art history lens and am now able to identify key aspects of Buddhist works.

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

I just went abroad and am now taking International Political Economy with Professor Elizabeth Bennett. I am inspired daily by her drive and motivation to make change in the world and can only hope to become half the person she is.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I had planned to go to an East Coast school, but when it came down to it, I realized how much I love living in Oregon and how much I have yet to explore. In addition to Lewis & Clark’s location being the perfect happy medium for me between small town and big city, I was drawn in by the highly-accomplished international affairs department and the variety of overseas programs.

If you have studied or will study overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program?

I chose to go to Tanzania in the fall of 2018 because I thought it would give me an experience I would not be able to have otherwise. This program gives students opportunities, like staying in homestays and learning the language, that would be difficult to access post-college. I also wanted to throw myself into an environment I was completely unfamiliar with and that is definitely what I ended up doing.

What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience so far?

I am back from studying abroad with a renewed interest for learning. I had time to contemplate how I want to spend the rest of my time at L&C and how I can do that in a productive way. I love being back on campus and getting to hear all of the diverse experiences of those who went abroad; I think it is a very valuable way to spread first-hand information about the world.

How did you get involved with the PioLog? What has your involvement with the paper added to your L&C experience?

I got involved with the PioLog almost immediately my first year at L&C. I started by writing for the arts and features sections and then became intertwined in the world of news. I was the news editor my entire sophomore year and am now the copy chief. Being part of the PioLog has given me a home at L&C—a sense of belonging and a purpose. While I do love my classes, the PioLog is what drives my enthusiasm at school; it provides me a mechanism to contribute something positive to the L&C community.

Tell us about your job in PubCom. What do you like most about working in public relations?

I write feature articles for the L&C newsroom. As I am not studying journalism but wish to pursue it as a career, I am trying to take advantage of all the journalistic opportunities at L&C while I can. This position is allowing me to cater my writing toward a different audience than I do with my writing for the PioLog and allows me to see public relations through a different lens.

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

As a self-declared coffeeshop fanatic, The Dovecote is my sanctuary. It provides a break from the monotony of studying at the library and creates an atmosphere essential to L&C culture.