Hannah Harrington

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

My parents met each other at L&C, and even got married in the chapel (back when it had turquoise carpet on the stage). Though I have always felt an affinity for the school, it wasn’t until I transferred in as a Junior—after attending a school in the Midwest—that it became a central part of my life. I was drawn to the excellent International Affairs major, the globally-engaged student body and faculty, small size, and beautiful location. Though, as I say to the prospective students I work with, college decisions are often gut decisions, and after visiting again on a rainy spring day in 2017, I looked around and couldn’t shake the feeling that L&C should be my next home.

What have you been doing since graduation?

After graduation I taught at a French Immersion school in Portland and was set to go to Rennes, France to teach with the TAPIF program in the fall of 2020. But, like for most of us, the pandemic shifted my plans significantly. I did not go to France, and instead pivoted career fields and found an exciting new position as an admissions counselor. The same love of moving through life as a global citizen, and supporting students that I had while teaching, I also feel working in higher education.

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for post-college life?

To answer this question, I will refer to my Social Justice in the Global Economy (SJGE) class taught by the amazing Elizabeth Bennet. Like most classes at Lewis & Clark, this one combined many different academic and personal skills: reflection, collaborative research, and public speaking/presenting. Discussion-based classes instill in you practices of reflection, so it’s difficult to be a bystander in your education or your work. For me, true learning happens in that time of “pause,” especially as I’ve entered a new career where everything is new. In SJGE, our final project was to work in a group of three to write a grant for Professor Bennet’s hypothetical foundation. Collaboration is both difficult and exciting, and being able to move through different passions, goals, communication styles, and work ethics to produce a project you’re proud of is necessary in any job. Finally, effectively communicating about your passion or project to a group is also difficult, but the ability to deliver a message authentically is a skill that I employ daily in my work, and I’m thankful L&C laid the groundwork for that.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

The most important thing I learned at Lewis & Clark is that there is always more to learn. A Liberal Arts education at L&C demands that you engage with the world outside of your own beliefs and ways of knowing, because no two people think the exact same way about everything. Approaching both education and life with humble curiosity is so critical, and L&C showed me that.

Why did you major in International Affairs?

I majored in International Affairs because I have always been interested in the interconnectedness of the world and how the global impacts the local. I knew L&C’s IA Department had a great reputation, and from my experience, the faculty and program delivered in a deeply impactful way.

If applicable, why did you minor in French?

I minored in French because I have had the fortune of learning the language since 7th grade, and wanted to continue my studies and work towards fluency. What solidified the decision to choose a French minor was taking Femmes et leur libertés (Women and their Freedoms) taught by the amazing Molly Robinson. Professors can truly transform the way we perceive and pursue subjects and passions.

How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?

This year I became more involved than I have been since the pandemic as I was a part of the Alumni Weekend Planning Committee, and attended Alumni Weekend. L&C truly has an amazing community, and I was so happy to reconnect to other alumni, and the school, through those events.