“My course professors, Mary McHugh, Yurie Hong, Sean Easton, and Margaretha Kramer, all made my experience fantastic. Each and every one of them are lovely people and fantastic professors!”
Birgen was drawn to a major in Classical Languages due to its supplemental nature in her other major, Political Science. Knowing that those with knowledge in classical languages are highly respected in the political science community, Birgen knew that this was something that she wanted to study in hopes of succeeding in law school in the future.
However, since becoming a Classical Languages major, she has also come to love the course material within her classes and the community environment within the Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies Department. She appreciates the department faculty’s involvement in not only students’ academic lives, but also their personal lives. She says, “The department goes to great lengths to ensure students are cared for, have resources, and develop relationships with faculty and other students.”
Birgen has enjoyed all of the professors within the department, saying that she has not had a bad experience with a single one. She has become especially close with Dr. Yurie Hong, saying, “Yurie pushed me toward a standard of excellence while simultaneously always checking in on me and providing me with support along the way.”
Of the faculty as a whole, Birgen feels that they have prepared her for a future career by helping her develop skills in time management, writing, public speaking, memorization, application of theories, research, and more. Although she didn’t participate in any study abroad opportunities through the department, she has many classmates who have had wonderful experiences, such as archeological digs in Portugal, and other research opportunities.
Apart from her academic pursuits, Birgen is involved in many other activities on campus, including Track and Field, Student Senate, and the Tri-Sigma sorority.