Author: Behrend Blog

‘Kosovo precedent’ complicated invasion of Ukraine, visiting scholar says

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

 By Robb Frederick, Associate Director of News and Information,

Penn State Behrend

When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin invoked the “Kosovo precedent,” a 78-day NATO air campaign over the former Yugoslavia. The attacks, launched on March 24, 1999, and led by the United States, forced Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw from Kosovo, where more than 10,000 Kosovar Albanians had been killed.

NATO had acted without approval from the U.N. Security Council, where Russia, a longtime Serbian ally, could have vetoed any resolution. The member nations argued that the international community was obligated to intervene and end a humanitarian crisis.

Russia had a different perspective.

“Russia’s view was that NATO had attacked a sovereign country and taken its territory,” said Jiří Nykodým, a postgraduate researcher at Masaryk University in Brno, in the Czech Republic. “Then, when it suited them, they argued the opposite – that Kosovo set a precedent for interventions that do not involve the U.N. Security Council. Russia used that as a justification when they annexed Crimea, and again when they invaded Ukraine.”

Nykodým studied the Kosovo precedent during a five-month visit to Penn State Behrend, where he served as a visiting scholar. He came to the college to work with Lena Surzhko Harned, an associate teaching professor of political science and an expert on Ukraine and the politics of the post-Soviet space.

“Her insight was very unique,” he said. “She recommended several books, including texts that were written in Cyrillic.”

Jiri Nykodym

Jiří Nykodým

A paper written by the pair was published by the European Consortium of Political Research.

As they examined the Kosovo precedent, Nykodým and Surzhko Harned looked closely at how it intersects with a diplomatic principle known as “responsibility to protect.” That policy, adopted at the 2005 United Nations World Summit, gives the international community the right to intervene when a state fails to keep its residents safe. The measure was a direct response to the war in Kosovo and massacres in Rwanda and Srebrenica.

“When you combine the Kosovo precedent and the responsibility to protect, you see there are limits to international law,” Surzhko Harned said. “Russia has used the Kosovo precedent to obstruct and undermine the law. Basically, they say to the west, ‘You broke the rules first.’”

Russia has blocked efforts to enforce the responsibility to protect, vetoing U.N. resolutions meant to address state failures in Syria, Zimbabwe, Myanmar, Venezuela and Yemen. At the same time, Putin used the measure to justify military incursions into Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, where he perceived a threat to Russian-speaking minority communities, alleging a genocide for which there was no evidence.

“Putin has been careful not to explicitly invoke the responsibility to protect,” Nykodým said. “He uses the same language, however. It allows him to operate in a grey zone, selectively applying aspects of international law that support his goals.”

The war in Ukraine raises the stakes for the international community, which will have to reassess its commitment to the responsibility to protect other nations, Nykodým said.

“The war makes this more relevant,” he said. “We are seeing the effects of the Kosovo precedent in real time, and at the cost of Ukraine’s sovereignty.”

Psst: Office gossip can be costly, Behrend researchers find

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

By Robb Frederick, Associate Director of News and Information,

Penn State Behrend

canstockphoto110465852 (002)

Workplace gossip often targets the boss. She’s in over her head. He’s overextended. There’s trouble at home, supposedly.

When the boss is the one spreading gossip, sharing private insight about a team member’s performance or personal life, that can lead to a far more damaging dynamic – a behavior researchers refer to as moral disengagement.

“Leaders set the tone for an organization,” said Joongseo Kim, an assistant professor of management at Penn State Behrend’s Black School of Business. “When a leader participates in gossiping behavior, other employees pick up on that right away. They are less likely to feel shame or guilt when they gossip. They think, ‘Even the leaders are doing this. It’s acceptable in this organization.’”

Kim runs the Raimy Behavioral Lab at Penn State Behrend. He studies business ethics and workplace deviance. This spring, working with Madison Dambach, a senior in the Black School of Business, and Yun Kim at Oklahoma State University, he began a study of gossip contagion in the workplace.

“Gossip can be fun,” he said. “It’s sharing a thing that began as a secret, and that makes it a social-bonding mechanism.”

Positive gossip – sharing the news of a colleague’s promotion, for example – can increase a team’s sense of organizational identity, according to a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health. That type of water-cooler talk can boost efficiency and employee retention.

“It’s all about intent,” Kim said. “If you gossip to motivate a person, or to elevate the reputation of a person, that’s a positive thing. If what you are saying is purposefully hurtful, however, and if you’re saying it to sideline or neutralize a colleague, that can do real damage.”

An employee with a calculative mindset – someone who approaches social relationships as a means of achieving another goal, such as financial gain – is more likely to gossip when a supervisor participates in the behavior, said Dambach, who presented the study at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology conference in Boston.

“People with a higher calculative mindset see gossip as an opportunity,” Dambach said. “It’s a way to undercut a competitor or cast doubt on their abilities or their commitment to the organization. Some people will use that to their advantage, especially if the supervisor is listening.”

When a boss gossips, that’s viewed as a green light for others in the organization to behave the same way, Dambach said. Over time, that can affect employee productivity.

“Managers should pay more attention to that,” she said. “if they feed into gossip, their employees will do the same, without any sense of guilt or shame. That weakens the cohesiveness of the group. It leads to resentment. Ultimately, it can lead to the failure of the business.”

Madison Dambach and Joongseo Kim in Boston

Senior student Madison Dambach, left, and Joongseo Kim, assistant professor of management at Behrend’s Black School of Business.

Standout Seniors ’23: Max Myers (Mechanical Engineering)  

Published on by Behrend Blog1 Comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the last several weeks, we have introduced you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

max myers

Today, we’d like you to meet Max Myers.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Minors: Math, French and Francophone Studies

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Behrend Excellence Award

On choosing Behrend: Behrend is a great school. The class sizes are small, so you get to know your professors well. Getting started with extracurriculars, research, or other campus opportunities is easier because you aren’t competing with thousands of other students. Also, Behrend is close to home, so I saved money by commuting.

On choosing his major: I wanted to go into some form of engineering or science. Mechanical engineering is very broad. You can go into a lot of different sectors – corporate, government or academic – and fields within those sectors after finishing the degree.

Awards and recognition: President’s Freshman Award, Dean’s List, First-Place Engineering Research Award at the Sigma Xi Undergraduate Research and Creative Accomplishment Conference.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: Graduating with two minors, my Schreyer Honors thesis, three internships, and an internship project all coming to an end as I start a new chapter is extremely gratifying.

Campus involvement: I was part of the French and Francophone Club. I also worked as a tutor at the Learning Resource Center for about three years and was a lifeguard at Junker Center for a year.

What you might be surprised to know about him: I can ride a unicycle.

Words he lives by: “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life,” JRR Tolkien. It is really easy to get caught up in your education or your career and start chasing pursuits that are not totally your own. It is also easy to stop pursuing something you love because of what others think. I think living a good life is living a simple life, where you do things you care about no matter how big or small they seem. Everyone has a different path.

Highest priority in coming years: I want to travel globally and continue to learn. I think I will be to go to graduate school within a decade.

Advice for first-year students: Study hard. Respond to your emails. Make sure to keep your professors updated via email. Make sure the email is sent and not stuck in the drafts folder. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help—Tutoring is free, and the tutors are wicked smart and patient.

Max plans to serve as a nuclear naval officer through the Nuclear Propulsion Candidate Program.

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Savanna Carr (Industrial Engineering)

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Savanna Carr.

Savanna Carr IE copy

Major: Industrial Engineering

Hometown: Accident, Maryland

On choosing Behrend: I originally wanted to be an aerospace engineer, and the only university that offers aerospace engineering in Pennsylvania is Penn State. I ran cross-country and track in high school and after talking to the head cross-country coach, Coach Greg Cooper, I decided to start at Behrend and transfer to University Park after two years. After my first semester, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. I knew Behrend was where I was going to be the most successful.

On choosing her major: When I decided to stay at Behrend, I changed my major to Mechanical Engineering. I’ve always loved the methods and process of manufacturing but not always the design part of engineering. During the pandemic, I did some soul-searching and realized that Industrial Engineering was a better fit for me. I switched my major again, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: There have been a lot of things I am proud of during my time at Behrend, but if I were to pick one, I would say that it is how much I have grown as a person. My freshman year, all I could think of was running fast and making it to nationals. While I’d still love to do that, I’ve realized that there is more to college than that. I took a semester off to do a co-op at Rand Machine where I helped grow their new Program Management department. I’ve never been the best student, but once I started taking major classes, I started making the Dean’s List. Though it has not been easy, Behrend has helped me grow tremendously and I am proud of the person I am today.

Campus involvement: I am a member of the cross-country and track teams as well as Phi Sigma Rho, an engineering sorority.

Awards: I’ve been the AMCC cross-country runner of the year four times, an academic all-American, and the 2019-2020 Behrend Athlete of the Year, and I received the 2020 Herb Lauffer Leadership and Scholarship Award.

What makes her unique: I’m determined. My coach told me that when he needs a relay to do well or someone to score points in an event, he’ll put me in it because he knows I’ll get the job done.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I love to downhill and water ski.

She’s writing her own story: I’ve always felt pressure to be the best in the classroom, the fastest person on the team, and involved in everything. During college, I realized that while I could have everything, I wasn’t able to achieve everything. And it took me a while to realize that it is okay. I define what makes me successful, and I define what is a good life. So, I try to wake up every day grateful for the opportunities I have been given and to be a better person than I was yesterday.

Improvement is her passion. I am passionate about improvement, from the manufacturing process to personal goals. It’s amazing what someone can accomplish when they put their mind to it.

Advice for first-year students: Something I’ve come to realize is that when you set a goal to climb a mountain, you only spend a fraction of the time at the summit compared to the long trek up. Enjoy the climb.

Parting thanks: I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me through the journey, especially my parents, Jay and Johnna, who I am so blessed to have supporting me, and Coach Greg Cooper who talked me into coming to Behrend.

After her graduation in December, Savannah plans to find work as an industrial engineer.

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Olivia Hodgson (Environmental Science)  

Published on by Behrend Blog1 Comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Olivia Hodgson.  

SS23OliviaHodgson

Major: Environmental Science

Minors: Biology and Chemistry

Hometown: Centre Hall, Pennsylvania

On choosing Behrend: When I first visited Behrend, I knew this was the place for me. Behrend is a small school that offers so many opportunities. It has allowed me to grow socially, academically, and professionally.

On choosing her major: I chose to major in Environmental Science because, when I was in high school, I read Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. I wanted to combine my interests in biology and chemistry to study chemical pollution in the environment.

Her proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My undergraduate research and presenting my findings at the annual Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America conference.

Campus involvement: Behrend Alternative Break, Behrend Honors Student Association, Greener Behrend, and the Schreyer Scholars Program.

Awards and recognitions: Undergraduate 2021 Jerry Covert Student Research Award, Cavano Leadership Award, Most Outstanding Student Organization Officer Award, Penn State Behrend Academic Excellence Award.

What you’d be surprised to know about her: In another life, I would be a K-12 science teacher.

Her passions: Science and science education. I want to foster curiosity and be a mentor to other aspiring scientists.

Advice for first-year students: It is important to balance hard work with fun. It’s obviously important to prioritize your studies, but make sure you spend time with your friends, get outside, take up a hobby, and just step away from your work for a few hours.

After her graduation in May, Olivia will begin a research assistantship at Penn State University Park and begin working toward a master’s degree in Ecology.

Standout Seniors ’23: Ben Fahrney (Mechanical Engineering)  

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!-  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Ben Fahrney.   

ben fahrney3 cropped

Major: Mechanical Engineering Major

Hometown: Lititz, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Provost Scholarship as well as scholarships from the foundry industry

On choosing Behrend: I chose attend Penn State Behrend for its excellent integration of the business and engineering schools. I chose to stay at Behrend because of the professors. During my first year, one of my professors sat down with me for almost four hours to talk about what I wanted to get out of my experience there. This kind of personal interaction with professors is common at Behrend and exactly the reason I loved it here.

On choosing his major: Like most engineers, I have always loved learning how things work but, at Behrend, I really fell in love with the process. Seeing a project that you have been working on for months–and sometimes years–slowly come together is a truly rewarding experience and one I hope to continue pursuing in my professional career.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: One of my proudest accomplishments was completing an almost three-year-long research project (concerning the integration of additive manufacturing into the Pennsylvania investment casting industry to spur economic growth) and presenting my findings at various competitions, at major trade expos, and at several campus presentations. Working on a huge project like that and then presenting in front of more than 200 industry professionals is not where I would have seen my Behrend career going, but it has been an amazing experience.

Campus involvement: I have been on the executive board for the Materials and Manufacturing Group for all four of my years here at Behrend. I am also involved in the Rack ‘em Pool Club and Disc Golf Club and have been a Welcome Week volunteer twice. I have also worked in Innovation Commons, the college’s open ideation, product development, and prototyping center, for three years.

Awards and recognitions: I have been on the Dean’s List several times, won both first and second place in the engineering division at our annual Sigma Xi research competition, been the recipient of several metal casting scholarships from the foundry educational foundation (FEF), and won the Larry Blum Intern Scholarship, which allowed me to speak at the 68th annual technical conference for the Investment Casting Institute.

What makes him unique: When I first came to Behrend, I had almost no experience in the metal casting industry. I barely knew what the industry was. Since starting formal academic research during my first semester, I have become a highly regarded student in the field.  After four short years, I have had internships, competed in competitions, and spoken at conferences in the industry. I am an active member of the Foundry Educational Foundation, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and the Investment Casting Institute and frequently travel to their conferences and expos.

Top priority: I am excited to begin pursuing my professional career. I’m also looking forward to setting some roots down near my family and begin serving my community as a volunteer firefighter again.

Eager to help: I am most passionate about helping people in any way that I can. I enjoy talking with new and prospective students, making them feel welcome, and giving them the advice and guidance that was so helpful to me when I first came to Behrend.

Advice for first-year students: The best advice that I have for new students is to talk to people. Bugging my professors, people at job fairs, and even the maintenance staff at Behrend has afforded me more opportunities than I can count.

After his graduation in May, Ben has accepted a position as a systems integration and testing engineer in the rotary mission systems division of Lockheed Martin in New Jersey.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

 

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Joseph Previte Jr. (Polymer Engineering and Science)  

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Joseph Previte Jr.

JosepfPrevite

Major: Polymer Engineering and Science (PES)

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: I am a Penn State Schreyer Scholar.

Why Behrend? I chose Behrend because it was close to home and offered the degree that I was interested in.

On choosing his major: I chose the PES major because I love chemistry, and this new major is very chemistry-focused.

A trailblazer: My proudest accomplishment at Behrend is being one of the first two students to graduate from the brand-new PES major.

Campus involvement: I was a member of the Behrend Plastics club during my junior and senior years.

Awards: I have been on the Dean’s list since Fall 2020.

What makes him unique: I really love airplanes, and I flew a plane before I drove a car.

People might be surprised to know: For most of my college career, I was in a class of just two students, since my major is brand new to Penn State Behrend.

Top priority: To earn a doctorate in Polymer Science and Engineering with a focus on aerospace composites. I would love to work for an aircraft company like Boeing or Lockheed Martin designing commercial or military aircraft.

His passions: I am passionate about airplanes and my career, but also about my faith, family, and friends. I also love physical activities such as skiing and weightlifting.

After his graduation in May, Joseph will work at Parker LORD Corporation for the summer in research and development. In the fall, he will begin graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Alexis Parker (Nursing)   

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!-  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Alexis Parker.   

alexis parker1

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Panhellenic Council Scholarship and Irvin Kochel Leadership Scholarship. I also received an outside award from the American Association of University Women (Erie branch.)

On choosing her major: I have always had a passion for science, medicine, and helping people. I knew that nursing was for me. Penn State has a great nursing program, so it was an easy choice to make.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: My proudest accomplishment is the service event that was hosted through Panhellenic Council. All of the sororities came together and collected feminine products, new clothing, and other items to make more than 100 individual grab bags that were donated to a local non-profit organization that benefits women and children in crisis. I was so happy with the teamwork that the sororities displayed and the outcome of our donation drive.

Campus involvement: I was involved in Alternative Spring Break, Alpha Sigma Alpha, National Panhellenic Council, and our campus chapter of the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I am a licensed cosmetologist. I hope to find a part-time job working in a medical spa, so I can utilize my nursing degree and my cosmetology experience to make people feel better about themselves.

How does she define a good life: A good life would be getting to wake up and genuinely enjoying what I am doing, whether helping somebody in the hospital, making somebody else laugh or smile, hanging out with my family, or just reading a good book.

Top priority: My top priority is getting oriented to my new career and eventually applying to graduate school. I want to obtain my doctorate in nursing and become either a nurse practitioner or a nurse anesthetist.

Her passion: I am passionate about helping people and participating in service to others. I was honored to be able to participate in Alternative Spring Break all four years of my collegiate experience. I hope I can continue participating in service opportunities after I graduate.

Advice for first-year students: Get involved and attend events. Joining clubs and organizations will give you so much experience in team building, growing relationships with others and being a leader. I have grown so much in my leadership skills, and that would not have happened without involving myself in the wonderful clubs, organizations, and events on campus.

Alexis has accepted a job in the trauma-neuro intensive care unit at UPMC Hamot in Erie.

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Zoe Mouchantaf (Industrial Engineering)  

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world!-  We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Zoe Mouchantaf.  

PXL_20230322_171717009.PORTRAIT

Major: Industrial Engineering

Minor: Operations and Supply Chain Management

Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon

Scholarships: Leadership Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I chose Behrend because of the student-to-professor ratio. I believe that having a close relationship with faculty and staff creates more opportunities for students and helps them thrive during their college career.

On choosing her major: I chose my major because it is broad. I am not sure what industry I want to work in after college, and this major allows me to apply my knowledge to most industries.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: I am proud to be the president of the Multi-Cultural Council at Penn State Behrend. I love to spread the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and create an environment where everyone feels welcome. Moreover, I am also proud of the fact that I was selected to be the student speaker during the scholarship luncheon.

Campus involvement: I am the president of the Multi-Cultural Council, a Global Ambassador, part of the Behrend Schreyer Scholars Council, a peer tutor, a teaching assistant, and a research assistant.

Awards and recognitions: I was nominated as a Penn State emerging leader. I entered a Google competition and was selected as a Google Scholar. Finally, I received the President’s Freshman Award.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I speak three languages and one dialect.

Her definition of living a good life: Living a good life means living in the moment, not worrying about the future, or thinking about the past.

Her top priority: I want to focus on my career and then obtain an MBA from MIT or Harvard.

Her passions: My goal in life is to create a positive impact on all the people who I encounter. I am passionate about motivating people and encouraging youth to earn a good education.

Advice for first-year students: Time flies by. Don’t waste your time—get an internship, do a research project, and get involved in clubs. It’s never too late to start thinking about post-graduation plans.

After graduation, Zoe will be working as a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm.

Standout Seniors ’23: Meet Hannah Gampe (Mathematics)

Published on by Behrend BlogLeave a comment

Penn State Behrend’s Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark on the world! We’re proud of our students and all that they have learned and accomplished here at Behrend. Over the next several weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few of our remarkable seniors who have overcome challenges, pioneered new technologies, participated in important research projects, and made their mark at Penn State Behrend.

Today, we’d like you to meet Hanna Gampe.

HannahGampe cropped

Name: Hannah Gampe

Major: Mathematics, Applied Mathematics option

Minors: Computer Science and Statistics

Hometown: Tyrone, Pennsylvania

Scholarships: Behrend Excellence Award and Todd Leadership Scholarship

On choosing Behrend: I grew up between Altoona and University Park, so I loved the community, connections, and opportunities to be found in the Penn State community. I wanted to go to a smaller campus where I could meet new people, and Behrend was perfect for me.

On choosing her major: I always loved math and the subject came naturally to me, so I decided to explore it more.

Proudest accomplishment at Behrend: During my first semester over Thanksgiving break, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and had to miss a week of school. I was told that I might not be able to come back from missing that much time, but I did. I finished my first semester with a 4.0 grade point average and have maintained it ever since.

Campus involvement: I am the president of Random Acts of Kindness, Pi Mu Epsilon, and the Disability Awareness and Resources for Equity group, and also vice president of University Park’s chapter of The Diabetes Link. I am also a member of Lion Ambassadors, Lion Scouts, Leadership Scholars, the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, and Alternative Spring Break, and I am a math tutor.

Awards and recognitions: The President’s Award, the Most Promising Freshman in Mathematics, the Sparks Award, Evan Pugh Scholar, Academic Excellence in Mathematics, and Irvin H. Kochel Award

What makes her unique: I can sing the alphabet backward.

What you might be surprised to know about her: I played piano for nine years.

Her definition of a good life: Being happy with yourself and being kind to others. Showing kindness to others is, in turn, showing kindness to yourself. It’s important that your happiness come from within and not rely on another person or material things.

Her passions: I really like reading and I hope to travel when I get out of school.

Advice for first-year students: Don’t be afraid of your professors. They are people, too (shocking!). They want you to succeed, and they care about you.

A final note: The best advice I received regarding college was: “You can work hard for four years and have fun the rest of your life or have fun for four years and work hard the rest of your life.” That’s not to say you can’t have fun in college, but remember why you are there and make smart choices.

After graduation, Hannah, plans to start her career in data analysis or statistics.