Yancee Gordon

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

Rigorous, Innovative, Engaged

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I knew that I wanted to go to school on a small campus that has a big impact, both in the community and globally. I was fortunate enough to tour the campus and sit in on classes before I applied, and I noticed all the students and professors were engaged in the topic. They were using established texts and theories to try to make sense of the world around them today, and critiquing said theories to make them inclusive and representative of populations who were disregarded at that time. I fell in love with the campus and sense of tranquility and academic exploration that I could feel in classes and common spaces.

What have you been doing since graduation?

I am the Communications Coordinator and Public Information Officer for Marion County Public Works in Oregon. I work with six divisions to share critical messages and information with the public. My job ranges from conducting outreach on sustainable practices and programs to sharing emergency notifications and messages.

I also volunteer as a volleyball coach teaching fundamental skills to new players. This season, our team moved up 35 ranks from the beginning to the regional competition.

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for your job?

L&C helped me realize the importance of storytelling, and how to craft messages to resonate with diverse audiences. In my job, I have to encourage behavior change and share information that impacts the health and safety of my community. I use the tools I got from L&C about how to communicate effectively in various situations to aid in helping my community understand the information they need for their lives.

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

L&C helped me understand how to apply academic skills and theories to real-world situations. I had the opportunity to study information from antiquity to today, and my classes were focused on critiquing these theories to make them representative of broader and more diverse audiences and applicable to modern situations.

Why did you major in rhetoric and media studies?

During my college search, I knew I was interested in the social sciences. I wanted to work in and for my community after I graduated. rhetoric and media studies appealed to me because it’s about making meaning from all the content that’s out in the world, be it television or movies or novels or social media. My classes taught me to interrogate the media I see, and how to make my own content that connects with people.

If applicable, why did you minor in political science?

I kind of stumbled into a political science minor, as I would take one class for fun, then another, then another until I had enough credits to constitute a minor. All the classes are engaging and full of spirited debate that I enjoyed, and I loved the ability to talk about the past and present in the same class.

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

I try to stay active in the alumni groups and keep tabs about what’s happening on campus.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

I think the liberal arts are all about opportunity and curiosity. You have to be curious and willing to go outside your academic comfort zone and have the opportunity to find diverse classes or activities to try. A liberal arts education encourages students to take classes from multiple disciplines and find connection and commonalities through seemingly disparate topics.

Where did you find your community on campus?

The biggest factor in finding my community on campus were my Spanish language classes. The best part of these classes were the small cohorts that traveled with you from one class level to the next, and the emphasis on connection and conversation in class. I made lifelong friends in these classes, and I was able to enjoy new experiences with them like studying overseas or participating in cultural events.

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?

I studied overseas in Alicante, Spain in the language and culture program in Spring 2019. This was one of my all-time favorite parts of my time at L&C. I chose this program with encouragement from my Spanish professors, who pushed me to continue my language studies and challenge myself to complete advanced classes and utilize my skills in a new place. This opportunity added so much to my L&C experience – I was able to challenge myself, gain confidence in the skills that I developed at L&C, experience a new culture for an extended period of time, and look at current events and academic topics from an entirely new lens.

Rhetoric and Media Political Science