Syrah Starnes
Since starting graduate school, I’ve grown to really appreciate the liberal arts education and academic rigor of my undergraduate education. The small class sizes and mentorship from professors at L&C mirrors that of my graduate school experience.
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What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
Really a combination of factors. The environment of a smaller liberal arts college was the best fit for me, allowing for the right opportunities to succeed. I was also excited to have the opportunity to continue my track and field career while also being in a rigorous academic environment. Ultimately my decision came when I visited campus. Being a native Oregonian, I already loved Portland, but I fell in love with L&C when I stepped foot on campus.
What have you been doing since graduation?
I worked for a small business in Beaverton the summer after graduation and I have been in graduate school at Notre Dame since the fall of 2020.
How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your PhD program?
Since starting graduate school, I’ve grown to really appreciate the liberal arts education and academic rigor of my undergraduate education. The small class sizes and mentorship from professors at L&C mirrors that of my graduate school experience. Additionally, having a solid base of education from the liberal arts approach has strongly benefitted my success in my early graduate coursework, qualifying exams, and current research endeavors.
What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?
To be truthful, it’s difficult to choose just one important thing I took away from my time at Lewis & Clark, there are so many aspects of my education and experience at LC that I am very thankful for. To name one important aspect, I really appreciated all that I was able to engage in and accomplish at Lewis & Clark. By choosing two majors and participating in athletics, work-study, and extracurriculars, I really did a lot during my undergraduate career. While it was not always easy, I feel like I learned more than just the content of my courses.
Why did you double major in chemistry and mathematics?
When I started at Lewis & Clark I already knew that I wanted to major in a STEM-related field. I chose to major in chemistry as it offered the greatest flexibility to integrate the chemistry, biochemistry, and biology classes that would best prepare me for my future goals. After taking a few math courses and really enjoying the rigor of the material as well as the teaching styles of the professors, I decided to add a second major in mathematics.
How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?
I stay in touch with my close friends as well as a few of my professors. Given that my graduate research is year round, I have yet to have a chance to return to campus since graduation, but I plan to reconnect at a future Alumni Weekend.
Where did you find your community on campus?
I found community in many different areas of campus. I found community in athletics with my teammates and other student-athletes, as well as participating in club and intramural sports. Early in my time at L&C, I made connections with peers on the same floor of my residence hall. As an upperclassman, my majors themselves became strong communities as my peers and I would spend time with each other both within and outside of our classes. I also found community with the other students during my study abroad program.
If you studied overseas while at Lewis & Clark, how did you choose your program? What did your overseas study add to your L&C experience?
While it is possible to study abroad in pretty much every major at L&C, having two majors with requirements to fulfill precluded a fair amount of programs during the academic year. Luckily, my advisor had created a program in Berlin that provided the option for chemistry and biochemistry majors to be able to study abroad and fulfill their major requirements. Additionally, I was really interested in studying in Europe, so the program was a perfect choice.
Prior to studying abroad, I had never been outside of the United States. Being able to study in Berlin provided a plethora of new experiences to my time at Lewis & Clark. Not only was I able to travel and experience different areas in Europe, but I learned so much during my time in Berlin. Both during classes and on my own time, I learned so much about Germany (both historic and modern). Living with a host family was an invaluable experience as well.
