Hello, my name is Anna! I am from Portland, Maine and am studying environmental science. I like to joke that being from Maine is my whole personality, but some of that is true: I listen to a lot of Noah Kahan, I'm a huge hiker and skier, I rock climb, and I drive a Subaru Outback. You can find me around campus in a coffee shop with the newest seasonal drink or driving my friends to Trader Joe's to get snacks for movie night. I am passionate about climate activism, birds, and scientific research. I would love to tell you about Cornell, the college transition, research opportunities, and academic life!

Hometown

Portland, Maine

Major(s)

Environment and Sustainability major with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology

Minor(s)

Public Policy

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Rock Climbing Club at Cornell - Secretary and Vice President (current) Birding Club - Secretary (current) Sunrise Cornell - Research and Policy Director (current) Herpetological Society - member (current) Hedrick Laboratory, Veterinary School - Lab assistant, independent research (current) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Lab assistant, independent research (current) Cornell University Sustainable Design (CUSD) - Business teammember, Fall '24

Describe your college experience

I am a very independent and self-motivated person, which made the transition to college fairly simple as throughout high school I tended to run my own life and schedule. However, I found significant challenges with the health side of living away from home, such as adjusting to making appointments in a new place and transferring care. Problems like these are normal and surmountable, and overall I feel like I've really thrived and college and grown into a new version of myself. I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm serious!

Tip for future students

My biggest tip for future students is to not close yourself off to anything. I think there is a lot of pressure in college, especially at Cornell, to immediately know who you are and what you want to do. I think it is very important to keep multiple paths open and not decide the rest of your life at age 18. There will be pressure to find jobs, pick classes, and present yourself in this manner, but I think things work out the best when you have room to explore.

Favorite class

My favorite class so far in college has been "The Art and Science of Birds," where a professional scientific illustrator instructs a small group on how to produce realistic and informative bird art pieces while also learning about avian anatomy, feather structure, and behavior.

Career goals

I want to get a Ph.D. and become an ornithologist and ecologist, a researcher who studies birds and the natural world in order to help preserve species and their environment. My goal is to become a scientist who can speak the language of politicians to influence decision-making, including climate policy.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night is to go rock climbing with friends while blasting music, then getting milkshakes downtown and wandering the streets.

High school or secondary school

Waynflete, Portland, Maine, USA