Isabella Fabens

Class of 2015
Portland, Oregon

From Isabella Fabens’ record of accomplishments in her three years at Lewis & Clark, it’s hard to find an organization she hasn’t joined, or program she hasn’t led. This year, the international affairs major and economics minor serves as the president of the Student Alumni Association (SAA).

Since her freshman year, Fabens ’15 has furthered SAA’s goal of strengthening connections in the Lewis & Clark community. The SAA is led by 18 students who have received the annual Alumni Leadership Scholarship, with membership open to alumni and current students. Fabens has organized or assisted with career panels, dinners, open houses and Careers for Pioneers, where alumni share career advice and feedback on interviews with current students. Future events, Fabens said, might connect alumni with students returning from overseas trips. 

Through internships and study abroad programs, Fabens has strengthened her leadership skills and expanded her knowledge of public health and international development. In East Africa, she spent three weeks researching a project on child mortality. While interning at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C., she wrote an article detailing the impact of Chinese investments in Mexico. This summer, she interned with Mercy Corps while working with associate professor of international affairs Heather Smith-Cannoy, helping her in researching a book on sex trafficking.

At Lewis & Clark, Fabens hosted speakers for the student-run International Affairs Symposium, worked as an assistant leader for College Outdoors, led Admissions tours, rowed crew, and served as a student senator for two years.

As she prepares for life after Lewis & Clark, Fabens is applying for a Fulbright scholarship to travel to a Latin American country. She also hopes to attend graduate school in either international affairs or public health.