A series of interviews with our LAS community.
When you choose a college to attend, you're also choosing a community. From the faculty that teach the courses you're interested in, to the students that start as classmates and become friends, down to the staff that support and guide you through your choices post graduation. Voices of LAS is a collection of interviews with the members of our community that build the fabric of UIC, sharing their unique perspectives from groups they've found belonging within to their favorite classes.
Interviews with Students Heading link
What has been your favorite class or professor so far?
My favorite class has been HN 110. Even though I took the class online, I genuinely learned so much with it. This class teaches us the basics of culinary and how to balance out every meal. The part I enjoyed the most was having to prepared different meals every week.
| Biological Sciences
Why did you choose UIC and LAS?
Growing up in Illinois, I always considered Chicago a hub of opportunity and learning. As I considered my undergraduate options, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was an easy decision for me. With its history as a premier research institution and its incredible professors, I have ample opportunity to learn from the best and pursue meaningful activities. Furthermore, being in the heart of Chicago, UIC offers plenty of job opportunities and internships, which, coupled with its broad alumni network, opens unique possibilities that allow me to make a real impact.
| Biochemistry
Any advice for your freshman year self?
If I were to give my freshman-year self one piece of advice, I’d tell her to stay open-minded and keep a positive outlook, regardless of the situation(s) at hand. Things do get easier, and success is near.
| Earth and Environmental Sciences
Are you a part of any groups or clubs on campus?
I am a part of the DuSable Scholars Program which is designed to support Black students in STEM. This program helps me understand my identity in STEM, and also understand that I can be myself in the STEM field. Through this program, I have been exposed to research, and have met some great individuals!
| Integrated Health Sciences
Choosing Liberal Arts and Sciences wasn’t a difficult decision for me since I have always been passionate about psychology and helping others. In addition, the advisors continued to guide and push me, which just confirmed my decision to attend that college.
| Sophomore, Psychology
Voices of LAS Interview | Senior Academic Advisor, Alexa Heading link
Interviews with Faculty & Staff Heading link
How do you prepare students for their future careers?
Right now, a major part of my role involves mentoring undergraduate to doctoral-level graduate students. This may go against the advice of some of my colleagues, but I try to prepare students less for their future careers and more for their next direct step. This is largely because I personally have never done well with the five-year, ten-year plan structure. There are too many interesting paths that I do not know about, or that haven’t even been developed yet, and sometimes the further you go the more doors there are. I say go with what makes sense in the broader context of your life—because life does come first. But I don’t promote recklessness. I want my mentees to leave with the fundamentals to make good decisions and have lots of choices. Whatever they choose is ultimately up to them.
| Psychology
Why did you choose UIC and LAS?
Growing up in Illinois, I always considered Chicago a hub of opportunity and learning. As I considered my undergraduate options, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was an easy decision for me. With its history as a premier research institution and its incredible professors, I have ample opportunity to learn from the best and pursue meaningful activities. Furthermore, being in the heart of Chicago, UIC offers plenty of job opportunities and internships, which, coupled with its broad alumni network, opens unique possibilities that allow me to make a real impact.
| Biochemistry
Any advice for your freshman year self?
If I were to give my freshman-year self one piece of advice, I’d tell her to stay open-minded and keep a positive outlook, regardless of the situation(s) at hand. Things do get easier, and success is near.
| Earth and Environmental Sciences
Are you a part of any groups or clubs on campus?
I am a part of the DuSable Scholars Program which is designed to support Black students in STEM. This program helps me understand my identity in STEM, and also understand that I can be myself in the STEM field. Through this program, I have been exposed to research, and have met some great individuals!
| Integrated Health Sciences
My advice to new students at UIC, and especially in LAS, is to explore. Take advantage of this time in your life to explore everything that’s available to you on campus, in our city. The classmates that you’ll meet, the teachers that you’ll learn from, the courses that you take.
| Senior Academic Advisor