Leah is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and double minoring in Religious Studies and Classics. She won the 2023 Joel and Marion Blass Award in Religious Studies. Outside of class, she volunteers with the UM Scholars Bowl Tournament, and the UM High School Speech and Debate Tournament.

Why did you choose to attend UM?
I chose to attend Ole Miss primarily because I was offered amazing scholarships. They also have amazing special programs such as The Center for Manufacturing Excellence and the Honors College. Additionally, the university is only an hour away from my hometown so if something happens I can be home relatively quickly.

When and how did you choose your major(s)/minor(s)?
I always knew I wanted to go into engineering and after talking to a chemical engineer, but I always wanted to study other stuff too. I have always loved to learn about religion and after my first religion class at Ole Miss, I knew I wanted to minor in it. I added my second minor in Classics partially because I lived with two Classics Majors that always talked about their classes and how well it pairs with religious studies. Quite a few of my religion and classics classes cover the same time period and I love how they allow me to learn about the same events from different perspectives.

Career goals?
I plan to work as a chemical engineer in a manufacturing setting but I never plan to stop learning about religion and other subjects that interest me.

What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they’re interested in pursuing that field of study?
I would tell them to go for it because it helps you better understand other people and history. Religion is something extremely important to many people and can help you better understand their choices and lifestyle. It also can help you better understand politics and history, both ancient and modern.

Why is your department a special place?
My department is a special place because of the closeness of it. I am able to develop relationships with my professors that allow me to receive any help from them that I may need. Additionally, this closeness allowed me to become a TA for some classes in 2022.

Can you tell me about a professor or a class you’ve taken that has had the most impact on you?
The class that had the most impact on me was “Jesus and Mohammad” with Dr. Thurlkill in Spring 2020. Despite the class being altered due to COVID, this class started my involvement with the religion department and later sparked my minors.

What is an especially memorable trip, research, internship, or other school related activity you’ve done?
It was a study abroad trip I took to Rome with the Classics Department in January 2022 because many of the sites we visited also were religious sites for both Roman religion and Christianity. It was also the first time I had been to Europe.

What are you binge watching?
I am rewatching the old TV show M*A*S*H and Star Wars Rebels. I am reading Hercule Poirot novels by Agatha Christie.

What is your go-to meal in Oxford?
Catfish from Taylor Grocery or Pad Thai from Rice and Spice. Also a Sour Patch Kid Energy Drink from Shadrach’s.

What are some dream travel destinations?
I would love to go to Jerusalem, tour Shinto temples in Japan, and Hindu temples in India. I also would like to go Greece and someday go back to Italy.

What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you’d tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
It is okay to change the plan. I thought I had everything related to college figured out when I started, and I now know I did not. I added minors that were never in the plan. Randomly deciding to take a religion class inspired me to take some of my favorite classes.