How did you choose to attend Hofstra?

I was familiar with Hofstra because my mother grew up in nearby Queens. I have family members who are alumni, and they had good experiences.

I took a tour of Hofstra and really liked it. I was also offered an attractive financial aid package. It was important to me that I attend school out of state. After visiting the campus and learning more about the offerings, I decided Hofstra was my best option.

What activities and organizations have you been involved with?

The one that is the most important to me is The Hofstra Chronicle, which I joined the spring of my freshman year. It seemed like a good way to get involved on campus. I had never worked in any kind of journalism before, and it helped me to become a stronger writer, both personally and academically. Through The Chronicle, I met and became friends with a great group of people and became really involved in the Hofstra community. 

I also joined LEAF (Leaders for Environmental Action and Fellowship) and became vice president. I enjoy being part of a group that does important community work and has a membership of supportive, encouraging, and like-minded people.

How did you choose your majors?

I was completely undecided when I started at Hofstra. I thought I might major in psychology, but I wasn’t sure what I would do with that degree. I wasn’t really interested in becoming a counselor or attending medical school. 

My first year we were still doing a lot of classes over Zoom because of COVID. During one of my global studies classes, Dr. [Craig] Dalton joined the discussion to introduce GIS (Geographic Information Systems). It sounded cool to me, and it was just smooth sailing from there. I fell in love with that program and the department.

Why is student research important, and what kinds of projects have you worked on?

I've done four GIS classes with Dr. Dalton, and the last three had a research component. Research has allowed me to actively learn outside the classroom. Committing to a topic and producing a final product gives me a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. It’s great when you can get an A on a test or written paper, but research gives you the opportunity to create something original. It’s a process I’d like to continue in grad school and professionally. 

My first research project involved mapping EPA Superfund sites in Nassau County. The Superfund program allows the EPA to take control of the cleanup of environmentally hazardous locations and hold responsible parties accountable. My research examined the location of these areas and their proximity to predominantly Black communities. 

Next, I evaluated possible locations in Northern Virginia for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders. I studied transit locations and traffic data to figure out where might be the most convenient and environmentally friendly locations. While I was doing an internship with my local government, I met with the stadium’s project manager and learned more about the process. 

My final project involved studying New York City’s public libraries and determining how walkable they are from public transit. I set this information against the racial demographics of the city to learn if there are any predominantly Black communities that are underserved by both the transit system and the public library system. I presented these findings at the 2023 meeting of the Middle States Division of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) at Temple University.

Do you think your research helped you with your graduate school applications?

Absolutely. I think my research stood out because I was able to present my work at Undergraduate Research Day and at the AAG in Philadelphia. I think everyone who applies to Berkeley is going to be an accomplished student, but my research probably set me apart from some of the other applicants.

What are you going to miss the most about Hofstra?

The people ̶ 100%. At the very beginning of my time at Hofstra, when there were still a lot of COVID restrictions, I wasn’t sure how my time here would play out. And then I just met the right people. They make me feel like I could be anywhere or in any situation, and as long as they’re in my life, I’ll be in a good place. The people I’ve met at Hofstra have really defined my college career, and I’m grateful to have them in my life. Because of them, I feel that Hofstra is where I was meant to be.

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