Presidential Fellows Reflect on Impactful Courses at Campus Panel

Sajja Ranjit ‘29

News Editor

Five of Trinity College’s presidential fellows reflected on the courses that shaped their academic and personal journeys during a panel event titled “The Best Class I Ever Took” held in the Dangremond Family Commons and moderated by President Daniel G. Lugo. 

The event aimed to highlight the impact of faculty and classroom experiences at Trinity. Presidential fellows are nominated by their departments and recognized not only for academic excellence, but also for their leadership and wide-ranging involvement across campus. 

The panel featured Alenka Doyle ’26, presidential fellow for the neuroscience department; Lily Mellitz ’26, presidential fellow for the theater and dance department; Alexandra Torres ’26, presidential fellow for the political science department; Avery Sands ’26, presidential fellow for the environmental science department; and Alexa Zambarano ’26, presidential fellow for the biology department.

A central theme throughout the discussion was the role of faculty in fostering meaningful learning experiences. Professor of Political Science and co-director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Stefanie Chambers gave the opening remarks, emphasizing that the students’ reflections constantly highlighted professors’ creativity and commitment to teaching. 

In addition to their academic achievements, panelists described extensive involvement outside the classroom. Doyle, a neuroscience and english double major, with a concentration in creative writing is a coxswain for the varsity men’s rowing team, conducts research in neuroscience and psychology and works as a writing associate in the Writing Center. Mellitz, a theater and dance major, serves as a student representative for her department, president of a student-led club called Students for Accessibility and formerly served as the Executive Features Editor for the Tripod, while also double minoring in classics and English. Sands, an environmental science major, conducts research in two labs, serves on the sustainability committee and is a National Environmental Leadership Fellow and a Rosemary and Stan Marcuss ’63 Fellow. Torres, a political science major, has interned at the United Nations, founded Trinity’s Model United Nations club, and is completing thesis research on sex trafficking, while also working as a Pilates instructor. Zambarano, a biology major, serves as president of TriBeta, vice president of community outreach and is a tutor, while also conducting research and completing a thesis with Professor Krista Foster.

Several panelists pointed to specific courses that helped shape their academic interests and future plans. Zambarano highlighted a 400-level biology capstone named Bacterial Pathogenesis taught by Associate Professor of Biology Lisa-Anne Foster, which played a key role in her decision to pursue a Ph.D. in disease research rather than medical school. “It was one of the factors that made me realize I’m more interested in asking questions and doing research,” Zambarano said. She also described a semester-long assignment in which students developed a vaccine proposal, noting that the project helped connect classroom learning to real-world applications. “It really showed me how science translates into real-world contexts,” Zambarano said.

Torres reflected on two courses, Introduction to Political Philosophy and Policy and Human Rights taught by Senior Lecturer in Political Science Hernan Flom, that influenced her academic trajectory and informed her thesis on human trafficking. “It was kind of mind-blowing to see how you can’t think about politics without thinking about philosophy,” Torres said. She also discussed how classroom dynamics shaped her confidence, recalling a moment when a professor pointed out differences in participation: “She told me that only a few women were speaking in class,” Torres said. “That really stayed with me and encouraged me to keep participating.”

For Sands, experimental learning played a central role in her academic development. She highlighted her participation in the Liberal Arts Action Lab with Director of the Lab and Lecturer in Public Policy & Law Derin Ozlem Atalay, where students worked directly with Hartford community members on local issues. “Hearing directly from residents who were impacted made it real,” Sands said. Her project focused on the environmental and health impacts of a waste incinerator and later inspired her senior thesis on mercury contamination in urban ponds.

Other panelists emphasized how courses outside their primary disciplines contributed to their growth. Mellitz discussed Critical Views, Critical Values, a course that challenged her to think more critically about art and media. “Art is everywhere,” Mellitz said. “We learned how to break down what we consume every day and actually critique it.” She added that the course pushed students to move beyond surface-level reactions. “A lot of times people just say something is good or bad,” she said. “But we really talked about why.”

Doyle highlighted a course titled Advanced Creative Writing Workshop in Poetry taught by Professor of English Ciaran M. Berry, describing it as one of the most meaningful courses she took at Trinity. “It was a very vulnerable space,” Doyle said. “Poetry is deeply personal, and sharing that with others taught me a lot about myself and my classmates.”

Throughout the discussion, the panelists reflected on the value of interdisciplinary learning, a staple of a Trinity education. While some acknowledged that stepping outside their major initially felt uncertain, they emphasized that engaging with multiple disciplines ultimately strengthened their perspectives. “It might not seem helpful in the short term,” Doyle said, “but in the long term, it absolutely is.” Torres also emphasized the importance of a broad academic approach. “My major is very human,” she said. “Understanding different perspectives is essential.” Zambarano added that combining biology with religious studies shaped how she approaches healthcare and research.  “In medicine, people can be reduced to just their condition,” she said. “I knew I didn’t want to be like that.”