2024-Emma Chen
Emma Chen
Major: Anthropology & Sociology
Second Major: Government & Law
GPA: 3.99
THESIS TOPIC
State Laws and Abortion Providers: Sociocultural Changes at Abortion Clinics in Response to Post-Roe Era Legislation
PERSONAL STATEMENT
As first-year spring move-in approached and our class had still not seen a classroom, I realized we would all be in need of healing and companionship. The concept of tikkun olam — repairing the world — which I embraced years ago, became my charge to help rebuild the community that paused during the pandemic. I feel immensely proud that I can graduate knowing that not only did I flourish inside and outside my academics, but I have done so with overwhelming inclusion, kindness, and compassion.
Intellectually, I stepped outside my comfort zone, researching with talented faculty on topics from mass incarceration to early-American populism. My senior thesis examines individual experiences in a post-Dobbs world. If I’ve learned anything at Lafayette, it’s that above all, I must listen to people’s stories.
Intentional engagement is crucial to community. Throughout my four years in POSP, I learned what meaningful and mutually-beneficial relationships with Easton look like. Being able to share this with incoming students has been one of the great joys of my life. In the newsroom, I’ve grown as a writer, collaborator, and leader. I have interviewed dining staff, authors, local politicians, and club presidents. I’m in awe of my team who works tirelessly to provide our community the highest quality news. Within Kaleidoscope, I have built bridges across campus by advancing new ideas of equity to the Greek community and speaking with professors about challenging academia’s norms. I spearheaded similar collaborations on the Panhellenic Council, by fundraising for Mutual Aid, implementing social justice conversations for fraternities, andhelping introduce a multicultural fraternity.
I have made connections with faculty, staff, and peers. I have left my mark here. I have done so with compassion and empathy as motivating forces. But most of all, I have learned what infinitegratitude towards my community feels like.
ACADEMIC ACTIVITY/AWARD
Senior thesis- 1 Year
I am pursuing an Anthropology & Sociology and Government & Law thesis titled “State Laws and Abortion Providers: Sociocultural Changes at Abortion Clinics in Response to Post-Roe Era Legislation” with advisors, Professors Kissane and Silverstein. I am conducting legislative research into seven states of interest hoping to gain a better understanding of individuals’ experiences since Dobbs in states with varying degrees of reproductive restriction. As part of this research, I am conducting semi-structured, qualitative interviews with clinic volunteers and employees.
Excel Scholar for Professor Joshua Miller- 1.5 years
I am working closely with Professor Miller on his upcoming book transcribing the lectures of late Professor John Schaar. I have been adding supplemental research on topics of early American political theory, including key themes, figures, and events. I feel so fortunate to be able to hone my research skills alongside a professor that I not only greatly respect, but from whom I have been fortunate enough to receive significant mentorship.
Writing Associate- 2 years
I have collaborated with three professors in their writing-intensive courses. I work with each of their students multiple times per semester to develop more fully their own writing skills. I have worked with approximately 75 students individually. For the past year, I have also served as Mentor Writing Associate, acting as a liaison between student writers and faculty, overseeing over 70 writing associates, and leading staff meetings. I love that this
experience allowed me to connect with students from all across campus, and work with faculty to assist students in any way possible.
Research Assistant to Professor Adam Biener- 1 year
Over my junior summer, I contributed research and organized a presentation for the National Initiative to Advance Race Equity. Professor Biener led this initiative in partnership with JustLeadership USA, an organization led by directly impacted individuals who seek to rethink the American punitive legal system. I wrote, edited, and provided insight into a whitepaper that has been signed onto by numerous private and public actors within the national criminal legal system. I feel so proud to have contributed to such a significant project, especially one that was a collaborative effort between a Lafayette academic and this important organization.
Anthropology & Sociology Club- 3 years
I served as Treasurer and President of the club, organizing thesis information sessions, Gateway talks, and social events. Under my leadership, the club membership increased, the outreach to non-A&S majors grew, and the quality of events became stronger. I care so deeply about the A&S department, and am so glad that I got elected to positions where I could connect with individuals who have similar intellectual interests.
Marquis Scholar- 4 years
I earned a merit scholarship awarded to 50 students in each class with my acceptance into Lafayette, and have maintained the requirements needed to renew it each year.
Pi Sigma Alpha- 1.5 years
I am a member of the national Government & Law Honor Society.
Dean’s List- 4 years
I have received higher than a 3.6 GPA for each semester at Lafayette.
Class of 1959 Marquis Scholar Endowment Fund- 1 year
Merit scholarship.
Class of 1956 Scholarship Fund- 1 year
Merit scholarship.
Paul Bernon Memorial Prize in Sociology- 1
I won this award this semester, which is given to the graduating senior “most outstanding in anthropology sociology.”
Minerva and Emil V. Novak Prize- 1
I was awarded this prize this semester, which is given to “one or more majors in the Department of Government and Law based on overall excellence in academic work and citizenship in the campus community.”
Eugene P. Chase Government Prize- 1
I won this prize this semester, which is “awarded annually to the student who has, in the judgment of the Department of Government and Law, submitted the best written exposition in a Government and Law course.” Professor Il Hyun Cho nominated my paper titled “United States Disparities in Humanitarian
Involvement Abroad: A Comparative Analysis of Aid Given to Yemen and South Sudan” which I wrote in his course, Global Governance.
CAMPUS SERVICE ACTIVITY/AWARD
The Lafayette- 4 years
My role on The Lafayette began as soon as I joined the Lafayette community (albeit from afar, during COVID-19). I was first a staff writer; I researched, wrote, and collaborated on news stories each week. I was especially proud of my work on the story “Why we dropped: Ex- sorority members talk about problems in Greek life and their decisions to leave.” As Assistant News Editor, I oversaw the writers in the news section, assigning them stories, editing their work, creating the social media posts, and working with the rest of the editorial team. As News Editor junior year, I led the entire news section, working with the other sections to produce a weekly newspaper. Throughout these roles, I continued to write almost every week. One of my stories in junior year, “Faculty protest working conditions of non-tenured professors” shed light on the troubles of contingent faculty in academia, allowing for these individuals to share their experiences. This year, as a Managing Editor, I oversee and edit all 35+ articles in the paper each week from every section. I lead an editorial team of over 25 students, including editors, designers, deliverers, photographers, and business managers. To date, I have conducted interviews and research culminating in over 90 published articles. Allowing members of Lafayette to share not only their experiences, but also their stories has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I have been able to break important stories, expose the campus community to individuals and struggles they may have been unaware of,and give a voice to disenfranchised individuals.
Kaleidoscope- 3 years
I am so proud to have been involved with this incredible work since sophomore year, and have acted as the Coordinator the past two years. I have facilitated discussions to every incoming fraternity member for five semesters on how social justice and Greek Life overlap. This discussion that I introduced to the Interfraternal Community my sophomore year has now become a requirement for all individuals rushing fraternities. I have also led multiple events at freshman orientation, introducing incoming students to the Lafayette ideals with regards to diversity and inclusion. In addition, I have organized and been involved in a variety of other discussions, ranging from white voluntourism to male privilege to housing crises. For each of these presentations, I have done hours of research in order to facilitate the most educational, accessible, and engaging conversation. As Coordinator, I am responsible for communication with outside organizations that want to partner with us, and also for the management of Kaleidoscope as a whole. I have increased partnerships with other campus organizations, allowing social justice to permeate every part of campus.
Anthropology & Sociology Office- 2 years
I have worked as a Departmental Assistant for the past two academic years, helping to manage the department’s office through administrative tasks such as digitizing content, poster creation, and copy editing. I also streamline communication between the faculty and the library. I feel so fortunate to have been able to support – even if in small ways – the department that has supported me for four years.
Student Government- 2 years
As part of the Equity and Inclusion committee for two years, I helped spearhead the Pard Pantry — an initiative that provides free food, toiletries, and other necessities to individuals who do not have easy access. I coordinated with other campus members in order to make the Pard Pantry a staple at Lafayette. I also was one of three individuals to organize the LGBTQIA+ formal, which was a collaborative effort between my committee and OUT Lafayette that provided a social event for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies. This was the first of its kind at Lafayette.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Pre-Orientation Service Program (POSP)- 4 years
I have been actively involved with POSP all four years as a First-Year, Kids in the Community (KIC) Assistant Director, KIC Director, and Co-Executive Director. As KIC Assistant Director and Director, I led a staff each year of six upperclassmen and 12 first-year students. Collaborating with my other directors of the children’s program, I planned, organized, and led a summer camp at Paxinosa Elementary School engaging the students in arts, science, and collaboration activities. As Executive Director this year, I oversaw the entire POSP program, including four different camps of service at Paxinosa Elementary School, Firth Youth Center, Gracedale Nursing Home, and various community gardens. I led an Executive Board of 13 individuals, a staff of 14 individuals, and a first-year cohort of 28. I worked closely with the community partners in order to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship, reworked the week-long schedule to maximize engagement, and oversaw the planning of various night time activities intended to introduce the first-years to campus and each other. I am so proud of the programs, and more so the relationships that I have helped build for the Easton community, and I am equally proud of the underclassmen who have learned to ensure these relationships continue. The culture that I espoused within POSP was one of “overwhelming inclusivity and kindness,” as I told the first-years on the first day. They exceeded any expectations I could have had.
Landis Class of ’97 Community Service Award- 1
Awarded to “a senior student … who has been committed to service and the residents of the Easton Area Community.”
SPECIAL INTEREST/ACTIVITY AWARD
Panhellenic Council- 2 years
I served as Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the 2022 year and as President for the 2023 year. As VP DEI, I increased communication amongst chapter DEI officers in order to share ideas and hold each other accountable in promoting inclusion and educating their chapters. I partnered with the Interfraternal Council and Lafayette Mutual Aid to hold a Greek-wide fundraiser that raised over $1,700 in a week for Mutual Aid. As President, I
oversaw five sorority chapters, six executive board members, and over 350 individuals. Under my leadership, the Panhellenic Council held its very first National Panhellenic Council week, bringing together our community with non-affiliated individuals. During this week, we raised money for various Easton organizations, hosted a bake sale in collaboration with L-RAJE, and gave out snow cones on the Quad. I also successfully collaborated with the Interfraternal Council on an FSL Fest, helped to plan and lead a successful formal recruitment alongside the VP of Recruitment, and worked with the VP Events on advancing Panhellenic community relations.
Panhellenic Community Builder Award- 1
This award is presented to one member of the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. I received it my junior year, as I was the member who best “exemplified what it means to build and unify the fraternity and sorority community. These candidates excel in outreach, campus relations, inter and intrapersonal skills, challenging the norm, and have a passion for cohesion
and siblinghood.”
Alpha Phi- 3 years
I have held positions as the Director of Diversity and Coordinator of Campus Involvement during my three years in Alpha Phi, helping to promote inclusion and connect our members with alumni. As Director of Diversity, I organized multiple DEI discussions for the chapter, and as Coordinator of Campus Involvement, I collaborated with other members to plan family weekend gatherings. I have been an active member of the chapter, engaging with our
sisterhood events, our philanthropy events, and our educational events.
Hillel Society- 4 years
I have been a member of the Hillel society, participating in Shabbat services and other holiday activities with the group.
WJRH- .5 year
I hosted a radio show, alongside two of my peers, during which we discussed the week’s newspaper and background information for many of the stories. This was the inaugural season of the radio show, and I am proud to have introduced another vehicle for news delivery to the Lafayette community.