Sydney is a sophomore from Midland, Michigan. She is an anthropology and international studies double major with a concentration in the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service.
Sydney is actively involved on campus through her various clubs and organization. She is a member of the Delta Gamma sorority, where this semester she served as director of Anchor Splash — helping to coordinate the sorority’s main fundraising event. She is a part of the Ford Institute, as well as the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program. She also is a member of the Student Volunteer Bureau.
What’s your “hands-on” experience?
Sydney’s hands-on experience here at Albion comes from her work with her favorite professor, Dr. Allison Harnish. This year, Sydney worked with Dr. Harnish as her research assistant. Specifically, Sydney spent lots of time and work on a bibliography section for an environmental anthropology textbook. Sydney’s name will be published as a contributor when the textbook is released.
Sydney has also taken up the role as the leader for the Greek Life Bible Study, a group on campus open to any members of any Greek organization that meets weekly to reflect on scripture passages. (As someone who has attended myself, I can personally say that Sydney creates a warm and inviting atmosphere while also leading the group with confidence through faith.)
Sydney says leading this group has challenged her to go outside of her comfort zone in ways she never thought she would while connecting with others on campus through faith. She has become a better leader and says its one of the best things she has experienced.
Why Albion?
Sydney answered this question with pure and raw enthusiasm: she said she loves Albion so much because of the amazing professors here on campus. She said that through her work with Dr. Harnish in addition to other enriching classes she has taken in the past few semesters, she has gained a sense of community that she wouldn’t be able to experience elsewhere. Whether through a close relationship with a professor, or just being able to walk around campus and say hello to everyone you see, Albion College gives Sydney a sense of community every day.
Sydney used the same reason to encourage others to choose Albion.
“You will create opportunities here,” she said.
And creating she is! Next year for both semesters, Sydney will be studying abroad in Jordan at the Princess Sumaya School of Technology, studying mostly Arabic but also some Anthropology/cultural classes. In the spring she hopes to attain an internship at either the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or NGO, a non-governmental organization.
Leave a Reply