Clementina Aboagye ’25
Major: International Relations; Minor: French
Hometown: The Bronx, N.Y.
Clementina grew up in Ghana, West Africa, as the oldest of four siblings. She immigrated to the United States in 2012. Her interest in law started early when she recognized that disparities paralleled in her Ghanaian and Bronx neighborhoods created legal injustices for individuals with lower socioeconomic status. With the dynamics of changing presidential administrations, Clementina became interested in immigration policy and immigrant rights. Clementina realized that lawyers have the power to be agents of change — a responsibility that needs introspective, empathetic, patient, and knowledgeable advocates. At Colgate, she is a part of the Debate Society, a Career Services peer career adviser, a first-year representative of the Black Student Union, and the inter-club liaison for the African Student Union. Clementina also dances in Melanated and Latin American Dance groups. Clementina envisions a future career working at the United Nations focusing on humanitarian aid.
Mandy Chan ’23
Double Major: English, Political Science
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Having grown up in an immigrant neighborhood acting as a bridge between her parents and the English-speaking world, Mandy noticed a disconnection between her experience and that of her peers. Mandy transferred to Colgate as a sophomore seeking a more intimate and discussion-based setting that would foster her studies and her future in law. In previous summer breaks, Mandy has canvassed with a grassroots political campaign and interned as a legislative assistant with a New York City council member. There, she was able to concentrate on immigrant rights, language justice, and housing equity. This past summer, Mandy worked with an attorney specializing in special education law, drafting and preparing court documents. On campus, she is a writing consultant at the Writing and Speaking Center and a participant in the Consumer Bankruptcy Law Project with the Upstate Institute. Mandy plans to work full-time following graduation in a legal or legal-adjacent field before applying to law school.
Ella Corbett ’24
Double Major: Political Science and Peace and Conflict Studies
Hometown: Harvard, Mass.
Ella's passion for law developed on a high school research project focused on human trafficking. She continues pursuing this passion at Colgate. Ella is a member of the varsity field hockey team where she serves as a wellness advocate and has been named to the NFHCA Academic Squad for the past three years. Additionally, she is secretary of Phi Eta Sigma First-year Honors Society, co-president of the John Quincy Adams Society, and president of the Refugee Tutoring organization. Ella worked as a congressional intern for Massachusetts representative Lori Trahan. She will return to the congresswoman’s office this summer to focus on creating a smoother transition process for those immigrating to Greater Boston. Following Colgate, Ella plans on pursuing further education and research investigating the European refugee crises before attending law school to focus on international human rights and criminal law.
Gwen Eichfeld ’25
Major: Neuroscience; Minor: Philosophy
Hometown: Winnetka, Ill.
Gwen’s interest in health care stemmed from assisting her twin brother to learn to regulate his behavior, engage socially, and perform everyday physical activities. She started pursuing her medical goals through her high school’s intensive BioScience Center of Excellence program. Gwen was named a finalist at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for her independent research in computational biology and epidemiology. She then published this work in a peer-reviewed journal. At Colgate, Gwen has investigated cancer cells and the microbiome in her lab experience. This summer, she will intern at the National Institutes for Health using CRISPR and other tools to research the genetic pathways of rare diseases. Gwen competes as a scholarship student-athlete on Colgate’s Division 1 Women’s Ice Hockey team. In 2023, the team won the ECAC championship and played in the NCAA tournament. Away from the ice, Gwen is a certified EMT and worked as a lifeguard, direct support professional, and campus health assistant. Her goal as a physician is to develop and apply science-based approaches to have the same positive impact on individuals and families as she has experienced.
Sarah Finton ’23
Major: Molecular Biology
Hometown: State College, Pa.
For as long as she can remember, Sarah has had a passion for medicine. At Colgate, Sarah volunteers as an EMT at the Southern Madison Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) and assists to administer COVID-19 vaccines at Colgate’s point of dispensing. Her 2021 summer internship at Massachusetts General Hospital reaffirmed an interest in oncology. At MGH, Sarah conducted her own research and served as the primary author of a paper studying the prognostic significance of perineural and lymphovascular invasion in duodenal adenocarcinoma. Sarah’s own cancer diagnosis at the beginning of her junior year gave her a unique perspective on health care. Her personal experiences have inspired her to advocate for the patients she hopes to work closely with in the future. Co-curricularly, Sarah is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, where she serves on the standards committee and as a sexual assault prevention and support chair. She also is a co-host for a radio show on WRCU. After graduation, Sarah will work at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center before attending medical school.
Joudenie Germain ’24
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Union, N.J.
Joudenie has always been passionate about giving a voice to those historically ignored. Growing up in a predominantly minority neighborhood, she sees communication barriers that exist across communities and the resulting uncertainty that arises from the inadequate translation of resources to marginalized groups. Joudenie’s motivation to be an attorney stems from her interest to provide transparency to enable underrepresented groups a greater say in legal matters. With the Colgate Vote Project, she aimed to minimize misconceptions about mail-in voting during the 2020 presidential election. Her internship at The Friedlander Consulting Group allowed her to participate in the legislative process for bipartisan bill H.R. 1179. There, she successfully acquired the co-sponsorship of several House representatives, including the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. This past summer, Joudenie interned at the Evan Guthrie Law Firm, constructing legal articles for a national website to promote a greater understanding of key cases. As the program intern for the Office of Student Involvement and the traditions committee co-director of the Student Activities Association, she is invested in fostering a stronger campus community. This semester, Joudenie was selected to Colgate’s Washington, D.C. Study Group where she is interning as a professional development office intern in the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Anna Gianneschi ’23
Major: Peace and Conflict Studies
Double Minor: Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and Spanish
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
Anna's pursuit of law stems from her interest in public policy. Colgate’s impactful Peace and Conflict Studies courses opened her eyes to the ways law, policy, and geopolitics shape each other. Concentrating on Arabic and Spanish, she intends to use her cross-cultural experiences and strong foundation in foreign languages to serve a diverse client base. Anna is interested in issues of conflict mitigation, equitable diplomacy, national security, and international organizations. She believes that attending law school or a dual degree program will arm her with significant academic tools to build a greater understanding of the legal processes that inform policy. Anna hopes to promote policies that advance U.S.-Middle Eastern and U.S.-Latin American relations through a career in public service or international law. In the spring of 2022, she fulfilled her Boren Scholarship for Arabic in the UAE at the American University of Sharjah. To bolster her language skills and cultural knowledge, Anna continued studying Arabic in an intensive summer program at The American University in Cairo. Outside of the classroom, Anna is a member of Colgate's Division I Track and Field team where she throws the javelin.
Benjamin Godbout ’24
Major: Molecular Biology
Minor: Global Public and Environmental Health
Hometown: Sterling, Mass.
Ben’s interest in medicine began when he was diagnosed with heart disease in eighth grade. During check-ups at Boston Children’s Hospital, Ben was captivated by his cardiologists’ ability to apply their expertise to make a positive impact on their patients. Following his diagnosis, Ben worked closely with the Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation to pass lifesaving legislation in Massachusetts that mandated the presence of AEDs in public schools and school-sponsored events. His passion for medicine motivated him to participate in Harvard Medical School’s MEDscience Summer Program where he engaged in hands-on emergency medicine scenarios. During this program, he identified his interest in anesthesia. Ben spent this past summer working as an intern at UMass Chan Medical School researching the regulatory mechanisms of cellular division to develop more effective cancer therapies. When Ben isn’t conducting molecular genetics research at Colgate, facilitating small-group study sessions as a PLTL leader, or attending Colgate sports games, he enjoys writing and producing music with his brother. Together, they have released an album; their original music was featured on season 13 of NBC’s, American Ninja Warrior. Following graduation, Ben will attend the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and hopes to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist.
Eric Goodney ’24
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: Hanover, N.H.
Eric’s career aspirations evolved to medicine while watching his mom positively respond to treatments and her return to an active lifestyle following her diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. At Colgate, Eric has been a research assistant for three years in Professor Geier’s organic chemistry lab, studying the synthesis of compounds related to cancer therapy, and sharing his work at Colgate's poster sessions. He has also worked alongside the preferences for open versus endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysm (PROVE-AAA) research team at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont. Here, Eric studied ways to improve communication between physicians and patients who have experienced aortic aneurysms. As part of Colgate Caretakers, Eric volunteers at Hamilton’s Adult Day Health Center, where he enjoys engaging with patients and fostering a comfortable environment. Eric is also a member of Colgate’s ski racing team and enjoys competing in the Mideast division of the USCSA. After Colgate, Eric plans on attending medical school, possibly to study orthopedic medicine.
Michael Hanratty ’24
Double Major: Political Science and Economics
Hometown: Avon, Conn.
Michael’s passion for advocacy began as class president during high school. As he successfully lobbied for a drive-in graduation, he realized that he could create meaningful change by using his voice to speak up on behalf of others. Michael hopes to pursue a career in constitutional law. He strives to serve his community by defending America’s founding ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity. He is interested in public policy, and he hopes his academic training will position him to make meaningful contributions to economic policy debates. During the summer of 2021, Michael interned at the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut. There, he helped re-launch Secretary Merrill’s red, white, and blue schools civic education initiative and tracked agency bills in the Connecticut General Assembly. This past summer, he worked in Washington, D.C. as a media affairs intern for the Republican National Committee where he ghost-wrote op-eds signed by political figures and printed in major national publications. At Colgate, Michael writes an opinion column for the Maroon-News to influence campus debate and offer unique political analysis. He is also the co-musical director of the Colgate Dischords and a member of Colgate’s Division I Men’s Golf team, for which he also serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and as a career ambassador.
Gahae (Natalia) Kim ’24
Major: Molecular Biology
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Natalia’s passion for medicine and biomedical research stems from her journey as an international student and immigrant. She seeks to create a network of support and advocacy for those in rare and unique circumstances. Natalia first discovered her passion for rare disease research through an internship at SoVarGen, an advanced gene therapy company that focuses on utilizing therapeutics to develop groundbreaking cures for neurodevelopmental disorders. SoVarGen’s novel treatment modality became her inspiration for understanding the molecular basis and markers of rare diseases and the development of RNA-based advanced gene therapies. At Colgate, Natalia is a Hancock Commons Community Leader, volunteers with Colgate Caretakers, and serves as the co-president for both the Korean Culture Association and Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students. She seeks to create communities of support and inclusivity at Colgate and increase the accessibility of campus resources. Natalia hopes to work as a clinical research coordinator to better understand the bridge between translational and clinical research before attending medical school.
Addison Hillerbrand ’23
Major: Molecular Biology
Double Minor: Global Public Environmental Health, Writing and Rhetoric
Hometown: Wilmette, Ill.
AAddison discovered her desire to pursue medicine following her brother’s cancer diagnosis. During high school, she widened her interest in public health and health care equity after interacting with clients in Chicago soup kitchens. At Colgate, Addison earned her EMT license and volunteers at Southern Madison County Ambulance Corps (SOMAC). She has developed her leadership skills on Link Staff, as a peer tutor, on the Pre-Health Pathways leadership council, and on the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. In 2020, Addison was awarded the Manzi Fellowship to work at Women’s Lunch Place in Boston, MA where her work focused on providing services to restore dignity and self-respect to homeless, unemployed, and impoverished local women. Addison worked on the beta-launch of Food-Intolerance Baby, a program providing new mothers with information regarding breastfeeding and infant food intolerance strategies. During the summer of 2022, Addison conducted research at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago under the supervision of the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control. She focused on C. difficile infection and antibiotic resistance in pediatric oncology patients. After graduation, Addison plans to work as a clinical researcher before pursuing medical school, with the ultimate goal of continuing to relate her practice to mitigate the effects of social inequities and health disparities.
Lauryn Johnson ’23
Double Major: English and Neuroscience
Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.
Lauryn’s interest in law came about after learning about the inequities that exist in the legal system. Through conversations with Colgate alumni and current lawyers, Lauryn confirmed her decision to pursue a career in public interest law, with a focus on criminal justice reform. At Colgate, Lauryn serves as an orientation link and is a co-president of Colgate Ballet Company and Colgate Dance Initiative. Lauryn also works as an intern for BRiDGES, the Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, a local nonprofit that seeks to link community members with addiction and mental health resources. This experience has solidified her desire to serve in the public arena. Academically, Lauryn’s double major propels her to explore new interdisciplinary fields, such as neurolaw, and its continued expansion into the field of criminal law. During the summer of 2022, Lauryn worked with the commercial risk solutions group at Aon in Boston, where she assisted with work dedicated to mitigating the risks faced by Fortune 100 corporations. Following graduation, she will join Deloitte as a strategy analyst before attending law school.
Labib Mamun ’24
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Global Public and Environmental Health
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Atlanta, Ga.
Having grown up in the projects of East Atlanta, Labib’s interest in medicine stemmed from witnessing the effects of generational poverty and socioeconomic barriers for immigrants and people of color. Having lost a friend to the flu and seeing his family’s struggles with the financial burden of essential medical procedures, Labib became passionate about access to health care and causes of diseases that disproportionately affect minority communities. At Colgate, Labib has served as the co-president of the Minority Association of Premedical Students and is an OUS/First-Gen Scholar. He has led multiple dialogues about HIV/AIDS-related stigma through the ALANA Cultural Center and is heavily involved with engaging in discussions related to social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion. His research interests focus on the neuroimmune effects of HIV infection in the brain and the diagnosis and prevention of traumatic brain injury from playing contact sports. He is also interested in early childhood development and works as a part-time teacher at the Chenango Nursery School, where he enjoys spending time with six-year-olds. During the summer of 2022, Labib interned at the Williams laboratory at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine researching the neuroinflammatory properties of HIV infection in the brain; he will return to Hopkins during the summer of 2023. He hopes to continue neuromedical research before applying to medical school. His ultimate goal is to work as a physician in a major urban center with a focus on alleviating disparities in underserved populations.
Carla Perdomo Silva ’23
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: San Juan, P.R.
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Carla saw first-hand the discrepancies in health care for underrepresented communities and how they trickle from physical health to social health. Her background has given her a unique perspective in seeing the inequality in access to resources between minorities and people with privilege and inspired her to try and bridge this gap. Since she was young, Carla has aspired to become a doctor and make the public health sector equitable for all. During the summer of 2022, Carla conducted research on the translation mechanisms of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to create target therapeutics with higher efficiency and results. At Colgate, she is researching the amino acids in bioaerosols to identify the movement of these aerosols, as well as advance public health research on allergies. Carla is a member of the Women’s Rowing team and is the director of student-athlete engagement for the student-athlete advisory committee. Here, she advocates for, empowers, and amplifies the voices of teammates to address problems and areas of improvement within the athletic community. After graduating, Carla hopes to do clinical research before attending medical school. She ultimately hopes to lead by example within the medical community to create a safer community for all.
Grace Poncsak ’22
Major: Molecular Biology
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Grace began her college career at the Ohio State University, researching the effects of childhood and lifetime obesity and colon carcinogenesis as a molecular genetics major and helping the soccer team win the Big Ten Conference. In 2019, Grace transferred to Colgate. She is a goalkeeper on the varsity women’s soccer team and serves on its Leadership Council. Additionally, Grace is a member of Colgate Christian athletes and represents Colgate in the national organization Voice in Sport. Grace is a certified medic and has worked in the busiest emergency department in Columbus. She has also traveled on several service trips around the world. Grace desires to bring more social equity into medicine and wants to devise public policies that reimagine health care infrastructure and quality improvement in medical training. In doing so, a higher quality of care can be given to marginalized populations to decrease mortality rates due to systemic issues. After Colgate, Grace plans to play professional soccer briefly in Europe before attending medical school. Her long-term goal is to be a trauma surgeon, beginning her career in military medicine to learn the best trauma techniques and serve populations all over the world. Following her service, she will continue doing medical missions and research through civilian medicine.
Archie Rook ’24
Major: International Relations
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Archie is a first-generation American raised in one of the country’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods. His passion for law stems from his desire to use the justice system to protect the nation’s most vulnerable populations. In high school, Archie served in the Anchorage Youth Court, a restorative justice program that allows local youth to forgo misdemeanor charges and a record by participating in peer-led court proceedings and social rehabilitation. He returned to the Youth Court in the summer of 2021 as the Law and Leadership Program Manager, studying and analyzing the constitutional and legal principles behind social inequities in his community. In the summer of 2022, he was selected as an Institute for Responsible Citizenship Washington Program Scholar where he worked to increase diversity in senior management and policymaking roles. At Colgate, Archie serves as a liaison to student organizations for the Student Government Association, philanthropy chair for Phi Kappa Tau, and an OUS/First-Gen Scholar. Through these roles, he seeks to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment in the Colgate community. These experiences continue to motivate Archie to pursue a career in foreign policy and international humanitarian law following Colgate.
Alexander (Alex) Schade ’24
Major: Music
Minor: Biology
Hometown: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Alex came to Colgate committed to the liberal arts, with strong interests in music and the sciences. His passion for medicine was affirmed when he joined Southern Madison County Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) as an EMT in his first year. Alex further immersed himself in medicine by becoming a SOMAC Student Coordinator, serving as a student trainer for varsity men’s soccer, working for Colgate’s vaccine and testing group, and spending his summers working as an EMT. Following a family member’s diagnosis of a heart condition associated with Marfan Syndrome, Alex spent a summer volunteering as a research assistant at Mount Sinai Hospital. There, he performed experiments to study the causes and effects of the unique molecular mechanism involved with this currently untreatable condition. At Colgate, Alex shares his passion for the sciences by working as a chemistry and organic chemistry tutor, while also serving as the vice president for the Phi Eta Sigma First-Year Honors Society and as a student ambassador for sexual violence survivors at Colgate’s Haven. Aside from these interests, Alex majors in music with a focus on composition and piano.
Piper Schneider ’23
Double Major: Neuroscience and English
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
In high school, Piper held several volunteer positions, which piqued her interest in working to benefit the community. At Colgate, Piper volunteers as an EMT at the Southern Madison County Ambulance Corps (SOMAC) which has solidified her interest in medicine. She has also had the opportunity to conduct research centered on reward-related learning with Dr. Ewa Galaj. During the summer of 2022, Piper worked as a tau biology intern at AbbVie, where she performed and analyzed in-vitro cell culture-based assay experiments to facilitate the development of new drug therapies to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. In previous summers as a Manzi Fellow, Piper studied depression in adolescent girls with the McLean Laboratory for Affective and Translational Neuroscience while also working with the Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting families experiencing homelessness. Following graduation, Piper will attend the University of Rochester Medical School. She is excited to take part in Rochester’s endeavor to bring health care to the unhoused and low-income communities. As a future provider, she intends to pursue a career in obstetrics and maternal and fetal medicine.
Elina Sen-Ghosh ’24
Major: Political Science; Minor: English
Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Elina’s passion for legal advocacy sources from her unwavering commitment to serving her community and her belief in the power of individualized service to shape a person’s life. By enabling informed advocacy, Elina hopes to infuse the practice of law with empathy and intention, making it more accessible and approachable to all who seek representation. During high school, she volunteered for several years for a local nonprofit that uplifts academically underperforming public school students. Her dedication to public service has also defined her time at Colgate. She serves as the president of the class of 2024, the president of Mock Trial, and a senator in the Student Government Association. Elina interned with a boutique litigation law firm in New York City over the summer. She is now serving as a policy intern at an advocacy organization focused on women’s rights and experiencing the federal legislative process firsthand while participating in Colgate’s Washington D.C. study group this spring.
Lara Shqair ’24
Double Major: Molecular Biology and Sociology
Hometown: Palestine; and Syracuse, N.Y.
Since watching her father pass away as a result of gun violence, Lara has been passionate about pursuing medicine grounded in social justice. As a first-generation, low-income daughter of immigrants, Lara believes that physicians play a critical role in supporting communities to navigate inequitable medical systems. At Colgate, she serves as a social justice peer educator at the ALANA Cultural Center, is an OUS/First-Gen Scholar, an El-Hindi Center for Dialogue Seeds of Peace fellow, and co-president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). Lara hopes to make Colgate as inclusive as possible by coordinating dialogues that create conversations facing different communities. Growing up in a culturally, religiously, and economically marginalized household, she has seen the transformative power of collective advocacy and coalition building. She currently works as a patient care technician and a scribe in urgent care in Syracuse. Additionally, she worked on an independent qualitative research study on women’s disruption and intervention in medical discourse with the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. During the summer of 2022, Lara spent time at the Icahn School of Medicine in Mount Sinai in New York City as a northeast regional alliance med prep scholar, further preparing for research and medical school. Following Colgate, Lara hopes to attend an MD/PhD program in New York City.
Maya Souvignier ’23
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Global Public and Environmental Health
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Co.
Maya’s passion for community outreach and public health stems from her family’s work for the Public Health Service and their efforts to support rural medicine and education. Her passion has led her to many opportunities that allow her to serve her communities. At Colgate, she volunteers as an EMT at Southern Madison County Ambulance Corps (SOMAC), welcomes first-years as an orientation staff member, and administers vaccines and COVID-19 tests to limit the impact of the pandemic on campus. Additionally, she works as a peer coach with Colgate’s Shaw Wellness Institute, making mental health resources accessible to students by creating a safe space to share challenges without judgment. These roles, alongside working as a medical assistant at Boston Medical Center through the Manzi Fellowship last summer, have given Maya meaningful patient experiences that excite her about the impact she can make as a doctor. Through her coursework, her appreciation for the effort that goes into community health and medicine has grown tremendously. Maya is determined to address the inequalities that communities face in accessing medical care and hopes to work in primary care after medical school.
Melanie Tlaseca Verde ’23
Double Major: Women’s Studies and Philosophy
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Through work around inclusion, disability advocacy, and tenants’ rights, Melanie personifies the values of engaging in long-term social change and effective civic engagement. At Colgate, they are a strong advocate for neurodivergent peers to expand support through the Office of Disability Services. They serve as co-president for QTPOC (Queer, Trans, People of Color), co-president of the Spanish language debate society, treasurer of the Latin American student organization, and on the budget allocation committee. Melanie is also a proud first-generation college student. In 2022, they were nominated for the Newman Civic Fellowship, awarded to a student who demonstrates a commitment to long-term social change and effective civic engagement. Local impact is a value Melanie forged through their home community of Newark, N.J. There, they led community organizing for tenants’ rights. Melanie also contributes translation services, meal preparation, and grant assistance to low-income residents at Brick City Mutual Aid in Newark. They helped enumerate the 2020 Census, reaching 500 homes. As a Manzi Fellow, Melanie worked at Women’s Lunch Place with clients experiencing housing and food insecurity, challenges they also try to alleviate in the Hamilton community. Following Colgate, Melanie plans to pursue an MSW and law degree.
Brianna Wright ’25
Double Major: Political Science and Psychology
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
Brianna’s interest in law began in high school upon joining her school’s national travel debate team. Both this and her upbringing in a predominantly Black area in Queens showed her firsthand the legal system’s inequalities. This has formed her interest in how lawyers impact policy and enact reform. At Colgate, Brianna continued to pursue her passion for debate while serving as the secretary of the Debate Society. Through her studies, she investigates the intersection of policy and lawmaking. In the summer of 2022, Brianna worked with a political consulting firm assisting the grassroots campaigns of progressive candidates in New York City. This experience taught her about the critical importance of local politics. Advocacy has always been important to Brianna. She intends to pursue a dual degree law program following Colgate to focus on litigation, civil rights, or public policy to better serve underrepresented and marginalized groups.