Rocío Yao
Pronouns
Degree and Class Year
Hometown
Major
Minor
Extracurriculars
Overseas study
What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What’s your favorite class? Why?
My favorite classes have been Human Rights in International Affairs with Assistant Professor Suparna Chaudhry and Asian Studies Colloquium with Professor Jennifer Hubbert. Both of these classes combined concepts from my majors together and challenged me academically. Additionally, the professors were extremely supportive of me and my success.
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
I chose to come to L&C because of the overall support I knew I would receive with financial aid, academic life, and student affinity groups.
What do you like most about your majors?
What I love most about my international affairs and sociology and anthropology double major is that the professors are incredibly passionate about what they teach. They are approachable, friendly, and extremely good resources.
Where do you find your community on campus?
During my first year, I found my community while living in Akin Hall among the other Third Culture Kids (TCK) and international students. Since then, my community has expanded through my involvement in Race Monologues, the Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement (IME), and Poetry of Color.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Trust the timing and process of everything that is happening around you, you will get the hang of things as you go!
Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?
I was a committee member for the 60th annual International Affairs Symposium (IAS) in the spring of 2022, and I’m currently a cochair for the 19th annual Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies (RWS). Both of my experiences gave me greater exposure and understanding of my fields while researching for speakers and themes we wanted to explore. Through symposia, I learned the power of academics in provoking questions and starting important conversations in our everyday lives. In IAS, I brought elements from my sociology and anthropology major into the debate questions. For example, we asked the question, “Does globalization increase tolerance or exacerbate xenophobia?” and one of the speakers was a social anthropologist. The RWS theme this year is The Art of Storytelling, and we are exploring how storytelling can be a tool of resistance, power, and oppression that some may overlook. I love being part of the process of creating meaningful events for the campus, and the most exciting part is seeing them come to life.
Did you visit campus before deciding to come to L&C? How did your visit influence your decision to attend?
Before I committed to L&C, IME’s Great Expectations Mentorship Program sponsored me along with other historically underrepresented prospective students to visit campus. This visit convinced me that L&C was a good choice for me because of the beautiful campus and the great friendships I made with current and prospective students. Additionally, I met many staff members who already knew my name from my application and showed great excitement to meet me in person. Unlike other schools, L&C’s commitment to their students made me feel welcomed rather than just another statistic.
