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What drew you to Colgate?

Growing up in a small town in Kentucky, I never thought I would stray far from home for college. Nearly everyone in my family and graduating class attended the closest local college. I was drawn to Colgate’s liberal arts curriculum, knowing that my interests fall at the intersection of economics and political science. I knew Colgate would prepare me for my ultimate goal: attending law school. However, even if by some chance I was accepted, I believed I would never be able to afford a Colgate education.

Tell us about your research for the Alumni Memorial Scholars Program and what inspired you to select this topic.

Growing up in a household that used American Sign Language, the deaf community has always been important to me. Since my fields of study do not directly interact with sign language in any capacity, I knew that I wanted to use my Alumni Memorial Scholar (AMS) funds to conduct research that would combine my academic interests with my passion.

In the summer of 2023, I traveled to Berlin, Germany, to study the differences between American Sign Language and Deutsche Gebärdensprache (German Sign Language).  I investigated the paths of assimilation that both communities were forced to take by the hearing majority, and I was able to identify how these paths influence the modern day. 

Then, in the summer of 2024, I went back to Berlin, in addition to Munich and Hamburg, Germany, to study how these differences impact the accessibility of financial services for deaf individuals. The means of providing accessible services in Germany are vastly different from those in America, and I wanted to learn more about the policies that may allow this discrepancy to occur.

You have traveled quite extensively while at Colgate. Which of these trips do you feel had the greatest impact on you?

I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively as a student at Colgate. I have been to Germany twice to conduct independent research with funding from the Alumni Memorial Scholars Program and the German department to Italy and Cyprus with the Sophomore Residential Seminar Program and to England and Ireland with an extended study in the economics and English disciplines. Aside from my independent research, which holds a unique place in my heart, I would have to say that the trip to England and Ireland has been the most beneficial for me.

This trip, led by the incredible Professor Chad Sparber and Professor Morgan Davies, allowed me to interact with institutions that I may pursue a career with. This trip included visits to , the , the , the , , and the . I had the opportunity to speak with current members of these institutions about how my academic interests, coupled with my plan to attend law school, may lead me to a similar career. I returned home from this trip with a reinvigorated sense of self, eager to begin planning my next professional steps.

You plan to attend law school after graduation, how do you feel Colgate has prepared and will continue to prepare you for this next step?

Colgate has a plethora of activities that prepare students for law school. Namely, the hosts LSAT practice sessions and organizes law school admission panels. For those interested in corporate and financial law, such as myself, the is a great place to gain insights into the actions of large firms. Not to mention the countless guest speakers who visit Colgate throughout the academic year, whether in the form of a Career Services panel or an individual lecture. There is always access to law school preparation materials at Colgate, and they come in every form imaginable.