Why did you initially decide to become a Peacock?
I was first recruited to play on the Division I softball team as a junior in high school. I always had a dream of playing Division I softball, and I thought Saint Peter’s was one of my best options. Once I toured the campus, I knew this school was for me. I knew I would fit in well on a small campus, and SPU is the perfect size. I officially committed to play softball here at the beginning of my senior year of high school.
What was your major at SPU and what clubs or activities did you participate in?
I originally was majoring in biochemistry, but during my junior year, I decided to double major in mathematics as well. Playing a Division I sport takes up most of my time, but I was still a part of a few academic honors societies throughout my time here. I was in the honors program, along with Pi Mu Epsilon, which is the mathematics honors society. The honors program gave me the opportunity to write and defend a thesis – which I chose to do in mathematics. I decided to look at arm injuries to Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers, where I used statistics to analyze my findings. I worked with Dr. Kintos of the Mathematics department, as he had previously worked with baseball statistics for another honors thesis. Dr. Kintos was an amazing thesis advisor and was great to work with throughout the entire process.
The faculty had a big impact on you here with your thesis. How did faculty mentorship play a part in your Saint Peter’s University experience overall?
Faculty mentors have been a huge part of my time at Saint Peter’s. The entire mathematics department deserves a ton of praise, as they do so much for each of their students. They all care so deeply about their students and would do basically anything their students need. I have grown to have a great bond with Dr. Protomastro, who is a professor of mathematics. He is an amazing professor and has the biggest heart. I know I can rely on him for almost anything – whether that be a letter of recommendation, or even if I just need someone to talk to. The faculty at Saint Peter’s has truly made my experience here amazing, and I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful people here.
Was there a moment for you that truly cemented that this is the place you were meant to be?
Besides when I first came here and loved the small campus, I really bonded with my softball teammates my freshman year. I was struggling mentally with a bad case of the yips (an unexplainable loss of skill) while pitching. I felt so lost, but my teammates helped me through this. I quickly found a new position at first base, despite my desperate want to still pitch. I became a starter and was so supported by my teammates. I was extremely timid when I first joined the team, but quickly learned that I was meant to be here. My roommate, Kasidy Slusser, who is also a member of the softball team, became my best friend almost instantly. The combination of these two things really showed that SPU was meant for me.
As a 2025 graduate, what are your graduation plans and how did Saint Peter’s prepare you for that? Is it the path you expected? If it wasn’t, how did the skills you gained at Saint Peter’s help you figure out your new direction?
I am planning on enrolling in a Master’s program in data science. This is quite different from what I originally wanted to do – which was to work in a lab. I owe this to the mentorship of the mathematics department. During my freshman year, I was told to think about a minor in mathematics, since I was talented in this area. I was eventually encouraged to turn this minor into a major, which really made me have a greater passion for math. Data science combines both math and science, which I believe fits my passions very well.
What advice do you have for any incoming freshman or new students at Saint Peter’s?
Make great relationships with faculty members. So many of them will go above and beyond for you, if you treat them with respect. Focus on schoolwork, but don’t get too stressed out about it. Make sure you have time for yourself and friends as well. These will be the best four years of your life, enjoy them!