Admission Jr Staff Back to Connect / Meet the Student Admission Staff ADMISSION FELLOWS Sophia Datta ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Singapore, Singapore Major(s): Political Studies & Asian Studies double major, Philosophy minor Favorite Pitzer Class: Authoritarian Politics Campus Involvements: 5C Women’s Club Volleyball team, Pitzer Store, Liaison for Asian Studies at Pomona Favorite Pitzer Memory: Picnicking on the Mounds with my friends Fun Fact: The longest I’ve ever been in one country was during COVID Lucy Conover ’23 (she/her) Hometown: La Mesa, CA (east San Diego) Major(s): Science, Technology and Society major, Mathematics minor Favorite Pitzer Class: Philosophy of Technology or Fantastic Archaeology (a tie!) Campus Involvements: STS Major Liaison for Pitzer, on-campus art fair participant (such as Storyteller’s Festival), Math tutoring Favorite Pitzer Memory: Giving my first campus tour and sharing my love of Pitzer with prospective students! Fun Fact: I loved Lady Gaga so much (and still do) in elementary school that I performed an elaborate hula hoop routine to her music in the 4th grade talent show. Quentin Jenkins ’23 (he/him) Hometown: Chicago, IL Major(s): Sociology & Africana Studies double major Favorite Pitzer Class: Wokeness: African American Social Theory Campus Involvements: First-Gen Club, Office of Black Student Affairs, Racial Justice Initiative, Student Liaison for Sociology field group Favorite Pitzer Memory: The 5C Carnival! Fun Fact: I studied abroad in the United Kingdom and was able to travel to a total of 7 other countries during my time away. Sydney Gerteis ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Cleveland, OH Major(s): Sociology & Studio Art double major Favorite Pitzer Class: Sociology of Health and Medicine Campus Involvements: Ceramics TA, Public Health Club Favorite Pitzer Memory: Studying abroad with the Pitzer in Costa Rica Summer Health program! Fun Fact: My sister, Capri, and I are named after places! Aayushi Kapadia ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Bakersfield, CA Major(s): Human Biology Favorite Pitzer Class: Multilingual Writing Campus Involvements: Academic Standards Committee on Student Senate, Joint Medical Program, California Students for Public Health, Tamasha, SASA Favorite Pitzer Memory: Playing Capture-the-Flag on the Mounds at midnight! Fun Fact: Cooking is my therapy 👩🍳 Anton van Schaik ’23 (he/him) Hometown: New York City, New York Major(s): Food & Agriculture Studies (self-designed) Favorite Pitzer Class: Introduction to Black and White Photography Campus Involvements: Leader of CSA (Claremont Supported Agriculture), Co-President of Pitzer Baking Club, Office of Admissions, RLOA (Residence Life Office Assistant), Volunteer at the Pitzer Student Garden Favorite Pitzer Memory: Picking figs from the Pitzer Garden and then making jam from them Fun Fact: My first pet was a silver Chinchilla named Goldie. Annemarie Gerlach ’23 (she/her) Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL Major(s): Economics & Music (Opera Performance Concentration) double major Favorite Pitzer Class: Color Theory Campus Involvements: Senior Class Representative, Upperclassmen Resident Assistant, Residence Hall Council, Music Department Peer Tutor Favorite Pitzer Memory: finding a hand-printed tie-dye Pitzer shirt made by a student in the fig tree. Fun Fact: I was an OA leader for this year’s trip to Catalina Island where I ate a hornet. Aloha Cerit ’23 (she/they) Hometown: Honolulu, HI Major(s): Sociology & Organizational Studies double major, Economics minor Favorite Pitzer Class: College Inside-Out Campus Involvements: New Student Orientation Coordinator, Pitzer Outdoor Activities, CASA, 5C Roller Derby, Gold Student Center Staff Favorite Pitzer Memory: My first day in a Sociology classroom! I loved learning from the professor so much that he is now my advisory, and I decided to pursue a major in Sociology. Fun Fact: I was born in Istanbul and am half Turkish. Micah Tratt ’23 (he/him) Hometown: Seattle, WA Major(s): Molecular Biology Favorite Pitzer Class: Spanish in the Community Campus Involvements: Research with Dr. Wiley and Dr. Finseth, Keck Science Peer Tutors, Surf Club, Claremont Lacrosse, and Chem Club. Favorite Pitzer Memory: Returning to campus after 18 months due to COVID Fun Fact: During my gap year, I worked in a cancer research lab studying Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). STUDENT TOUR GUIDES Rowan Hoel ’23 (she/her) Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri Major: English & Sociology Minor: Classics Involvements: Academic Guide, Intramural Volleyball, Founder of Pitzer-sponsored Art Collective: “Bimbo Summit,” Podcast Internship at Les Deux You Remember This? Fun Fact: I was a tap dancer for 10 years and so was my dad! Bree Reed ’23 Hometown: Lake Balboa, CA Major: Molecular Biology Involvements: POA, Inner-tube Water Polo, & Baking Club Fun Fact: I own more than 60 pairs of graphic crew socks! Alexa Potter ’25 (she/her) Hometown: Manhattan, NY Major: Environmental Analysis & Gender Feminist Studies Involvements: Sunrise, Reproductive Justice Club, POA, Outdoor Adventures, Slacklining, Beach Swims, Poetry, Climbing/Surfing Fun Fact: I am a certified rescue SCUBA Diver! Maya Levine ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Park City, Utah Major: Self-Designed Public Health Minor: Media Studies (Film) Involvements: Curriculum writer and teacher for A Cleaner Tomorrow (ACT), Roller Derby Team, & Climbing Club Fun Fact: I am in the process of getting an A License for skydiving! Mahima Kumar ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Cupertino, CA Major: Physics Minor: Mathematics Involvements: Pitzer Advocates, OA Leader, APAC, WALH, & Keck Physics Grader Fun Fact: I can play 4 musical instruments, and I’m always trying to learn more! Eva Swartz ’25 (she/her) Hometown: Arcata, CA Major: Neuroscience Involvements: March for Our Lives, RAD Lab, Sunrise Movement, Hiking and Painting Fun Fact: I’ve had a pet frog named Joyce for 7 years! Duncan Speirs ’25 Hometown: San Luis Obispo, CA Major: Economics Involvements: Pomona-Pitzer Track & Field, Student Garden Fun Fact: I love pokemon, tea, and my cape sundew! Jordan Klein ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Oakland, CA Major: Media Studies Campus Involvements: Claremont Greenshirts Ultimate Frisbee, 5×5 Films, & OA Leader Favorite Pitzer Class: Favorite Pitzer Memory: Fun Fact: I was in the top 1% of Taylor Swift’s Listeners on Spotify in 2020! Austin Dowd ’24 (she/her) Hometown: Boston, MA Major: Environmental Analysis and History Campus Involvements: Sunrise Movement, Chicken Caretaker, Gardening Fun Fact: I have an identical twin sister who was born 2.5 hours after me! Liam Davis-Bosch ’24 (they/them) Hometown: New York, NY Major: Psychology Minor: Data Science Campus Involvements: President of Queer Trans+ Student Alliance, DISCOVR, Project Sunshine, crafting Fun Fact: I did flying trapeze for 5 years and wanted to be in the circus when I was younger! Dey Wallace-McKinstry ’25 (he/him) Hometown: Norwalk, CT Major: Psychology & Political Studies Campus Involvements: BSU, LSU, Pitzer Advocates Fun Fact: I named my first dog “Linen” after the fabric because I thought the word sounded cool! Adaija Sheppard ’25 (she/her) Hometown: Chicago, IL Major: Organizational Studies & Psychology Campus Involvements: Resident Assistant ,Vice President of the first generation club, executive board member of BSU, WAB improv Fun Fact: I have seen Hamilton 8 times live! Annie Lewis ’23 (she/her) Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Major: Psychology Minor: Theatre Campus Involvements: Spotlight MT, Black Student Union, volunteering Fun Fact: Marissa Markey ’25 (she/her) Hometown: Torrance, CA Major: Psychology Minor: Planning on minoring in data science, or economics Campus Involvements: PP Womens Tennis, Tutors for a Cause, OA Leader, Global Mental Health Lab, Tennis Coach, Board Games Club, reading Fun Fact: I have visited 27 states and I hope to visit them all one day! Soren Laskin ’25 (they/them) Hometown: Houston, TX Major: Organizational Studies Minor: Sociology Campus Involvements: Hillel, APAC, taekwondo club (VP), comics, student senate, video games, skiing, board games, reading Fun Fact: I have a boating license DIVERSITY INTERNS Solange Baker ’23 Hometown: San Francisco, CA Major: Sociology Involvements: Black Student Union, Diversity Intern, Ever Upward Pictures Student Productions, Bayshore Elementary Instructional Aid and Specialist Favorite Pitzer Class: “Unruly Bodies: Black Womanhood,” and “Racial Politics of Teaching” Fun Fact: I have creative directed and produced 5 music videos! Sergio Quechol ’23 Hometown: Inglewood, CA Major: Latin American Studies and Gender & Women Studies Involvements: Central American Student Association, Latinx Student Union, First Gen, Claremont Student Worker Alliance, Writing Center Fellow, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow Favorite Pitzer Class: Gender, Radicalism & Revolution Fun Fact: I am a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow! Dominic Arzadon ’23 Hometown: Honolulu, HI Major: Environmental Analysis and Critical Global Studies Minor: Asian American Studies Involvements: Asian Pacific American Coalition, First Gen, Robert Redford Conservancy Fellow Favorite Pitzer Class: Race, Empire, Filipinx America Fun Fact: I biked around an entire island in 2 hours while abroad in South Korea! Jocelyn Vega ’23 Hometown: Napa, CA Major: Sociology and Chicanx Latinx Studies Involvements: Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Latinx Student Union, First-Gen Club, CLSA Sponsor, and Encuentros Favorite Pitzer Class: Sociology of Education Fun Fact: My arms are double-jointed! Diego Villegas Ayala ’24 Hometown: San Francisco, CA Major: Organizational Studies and Chicanx Latinx Studies Involvements: Latinx Student Union, First Gen Club, Identity Board, Spanish Conversation Tutor Favorite Pitzer Class: Queer Latinx Migration Fun Fact: I have a two-year-old turtle named Bartholomew! OPERATION ASSISTANTS Maddie Hall ‘24 Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA Major: Combined major in Political Studies and Organizational Studies Involvements: Writing Center, Tutors for a Cause, Claremont Concert Orchestra Favorite Pitzer Class: US Democracy in Comparative Perspective Fun Fact: I lived and worked on an eco-farm in PA last spring semester! Nati Azmera ‘24 Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Major: Double major in Computer Science and Econ-Accounting Involvements: EESA, Debate Union Favorite Pitzer Class: Econ Statistics Fun Fact: One of my best friends is a tree! Simone Paradis ’23 Hometown: Sandy Hook, CT Major: Combined major in Political Studies and Organizational Studies Involvements: Writing Center, Tutors for a Cause, Claremont Concert Orchestra Favorite Pitzer Class: US Democracy in Comparative Perspective MEDIA INTERNS Carlos Gomez ‘24 Hometown: Major: Involvements: Favorite Pitzer Class: Fun Fact: Sammy Basa ‘24 Hometown: Major: Involvements: Favorite Pitzer Class: Fun Fact: Siya Bhola ’25 Hometown: Major: Involvements: Favorite Pitzer Class: Fun Fact:
