Wheaton News

Wheaton’s most recent alums take with them new interests and perspectives, enhanced confidence in their ability to navigate what comes next, a network of friends and mentors, and more knowledge about themselves and the world than they expected to gain. Here are a few of their stories.

Amber Arcand, a business and management major from Millville, Mass., said that she graduated from Wheaton “knowing that this was exactly where I was meant to be.”

“Looking back, I am leaving Wheaton with skills and confidence I did not have when I arrived,” said Arcand, who graduated magna cum laude with a concentration in healthcare management and a sociology minor.

She will be launching her career in healthcare administration as a clinic/practice assistant at Mass General Brigham Newton-Wellesley Hospital while completing her graduate degree through Wheaton’s 4+1 Master of Science in Business program.

Arcand discovered Wheaton through then-softball coach Rachel Powers. She quickly found a close-knit community that encouraged her to get involved across campus. In addition to pitching for the women’s softball team, she participated in the Wheaton Athletic Mentors student ambassador program and worked in the campus mailroom.

“Through all of these experiences, I built relationships that mean a lot to me and will stay with me long after graduation,” she said.

Academically, Arcand said the combination of business and sociology courses shaped the way she thinks about leadership and healthcare systems. While courses in accounting, finance and marketing built a strong professional foundation, sociology gave her a deeper understanding of people and decision-making.

“One class that really stood out to me was Human Resources with Professor Kellie Mackisey,” she said. “She had a way of bringing the business world into the classroom that made learning genuinely exciting.”

Arcand enrolled in Wheaton’s accelerated graduate program because it “gives me the flexibility to work full-time while completing my degree in just one year. The asynchronous format and the opportunity to continue learning from professors I already know and trust made the program an easy decision for me.”

The ability to combine graduate study with work in the field is particularly important to her.

“I see this position as an important stepping stone toward becoming a population analyst,” she said. “I want to gain a strong understanding of how the healthcare system functions before advancing further in my career.”

Liam Daly, a physics major from Foxboro, Mass., will pursue a master of science in the Data-Enabled Computational Engineering & Science program at Brown University.

After arriving on campus, Daly discovered a passion for physics and expanded his affection for and knowledge of it through coursework, projects and research. “Taking Intro to Physics I and II with Professor John Collins helped me build my confidence and he continued to be a mentor throughout my time at Wheaton,” he said.

Daly worked on experimental and computational physics projects, including spectroscopy, optical materials, and a senior honors thesis analyzing polarization data from the 2024 total solar eclipse. He said, “These experiences sparked my interest in using mathematics, computation, and modeling to study complex physical systems and real-world engineering problems.”

At Brown, he plans to focus on computational science and scientific computing while expanding knowledge in physics and applied mathematics.

He marveled at the work ethic and resiliency he developed while at Wheaton. “With all the experiences I’ve had, especially with research, I’ve realized that it’s not about being brilliant,” he said. “It’s about working consistently and not giving up when things get difficult.”

Micaela Luffborough, a double major in political science and Hispanic studies, will return home after graduation to serve as an assistant to the mayor’s office in her hometown, Chula Vista, Calif.

The course that changed Luffborough’s “life and trajectory at Wheaton” was Power and the State, taught by Professor Alireza Shomali. In her first political theory class, she learned that “the power dynamics and structures that the state or government imposes are exerted through persuasion, beliefs, and ideology … this course changed my ways of thinking tremendously,” she said.

Luffborough was also significantly influenced by studying abroad in Costa Rica, where she polished her Spanish skills and won the FIBA 3-on-3 basketball tournament, while competing with three other women for the National University of Costa Rica. She said, “It was an amazing experience and our win enabled us to travel to Brazil to play against the top Latin American teams: Chile, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Brazil.

“At Wheaton, I learned how to be responsible, empathetic, persistent and communicative. But most importantly, it has shown me that I can do anything I want as long as I put my mind and effort toward it. The academic, financial and emotional challenges that I faced led me to develop a strong relationship with myself. I now have the positive self-talk, organizational and management skills, and self-love to overcome any future obstacle.”

Lucas MacKenzie, a political science major and legal studies minor, arrived on campus from St. Albans, Vt., unsure about what he would study; legal studies, education and history all held appeal.

“I had my options open. That was one reason that Wheaton stood out to me. It offered all of those different disciplines,” said MacKenzie, who plans to continue his journey toward a legal career next fall at Suffolk Law School in Boston.

“The classes that I took in political science and philosophy helped me decide to focus on political science and legal studies, and I became more confident in the idea of going to law school,” he said. “From the classes I took, I realized that my writing and public speaking skills kept improving, which I think of as major requirements for a career in law.”

One course, “Nation and State in Southeast Asia” led by Assistant Professor of Political Science Jonathan Chow, not only furthered his analytical and communication skills but also satisfied a long-held interest in that part of the world.

“Professor Chow brought a variety of different sources—textbook readings, memoirs, documentaries, newsreels from various periods of the past—to create a clear picture of the region,” he said. “The class also took advantage of the fact that you were going to be with a small group of people, where you can really hear every person’s ideas, as well as hear what Professor Chow had to say.”

MacKenzie also found a connection while taking the Museum Studies course with Professor Leah Niederstadt. The course led to an internship in which he conducted provenance research on objects in Wheaton’s collection, an experience that sharpened the research, analysis and communication skills he expects to use as an attorney.

“The research skills, the writing skills, synthesizing what I learn into information that is easily transferable—that skill is definitely something that I’ve honed,” MacKenzie said. “When I talk about Wheaton, I often use the word ‘growth,’ because I’ve had a huge amount of that while here and definitely feel confident that I’m ready for law school.”

Alba Medina, a design major from The Bronx, N.Y., will pursue a master’s degree in urban design and community planning at Pratt Institute in New York City.

After starting at Wheaton with an interest in journalism, Medina explored several areas, including sociology and environmental science, before finding her major. “I wanted to be able to intersect design, while understanding human behaviors, and advocating for sustainability,” she said.

Her favorite courses were Food and Society with Professor Justin Schupp, where she came to understand worldwide food injustices from a sociological perspective, and Exhibition Design, taught by Professor Leah Niederstadt. “I learned how to research artifacts, before installing them into a gallery,” she said. “Our class held a competition for gallery layout, and my group had the winning design.”

Outside of classes, Medina adored participating in Paraíso Latino. “It encouraged me to move my body, embrace my culture, and dance with really great people,” she said, while serving as social media manager and graphic designer for Arts at Wheaton provided her with a wide range of design skills that she’s excited to use.

The staff of the Life and Career Design Institute served as advisors and mentors, especially during her internship, and Creative Arts Professors Kelly Goff and Tania Schlatter “were always available when I needed them and gave me constant advice on how to best navigate the design world,” said Medina. “I’m very confident that my access to a liberal arts curriculum gave me the creative liberty to focus my studies on what I’m truly passionate about.”

Arden Ulmer, a chemistry major from Henniker, N.H., will head to Tufts University next fall to pursue a Ph.D. program in chemistry. It’s a path she hadn’t considered pursuing until her sophomore year when she attended a MAP Day session by Professor of Chemistry Chris Kotyk.

“He offered a presentation for chemistry majors about going to graduate school where he talks about his experiences as a grad student and shares application tips and tricks,” Ulmer said. “It seemed like an interesting opportunity to pursue. In addition to taking classes, you are conducting your own research.”

The idea came into full focus last summer, thanks to an internship supported by Wheaton’s internship grant program. Professor Kotyk connected Ulmer with a colleague at the University of Rhode Island who operates a large research program. The experience of working as an undergraduate research assistant to Ph.D. students erased any lingering doubts she might have had.

“I was introduced to instrumentation and techniques that are a bit more complicated and thorough than what I had learned so far,” she said. “And all the grad students and investigators were very supportive. Spending my summer at the lab showed me the pathway and gave me the confidence to go forward.”

Ulmer also embraced opportunities outside her major, including a 3D art course and a study abroad experience in Florence, Italy, where she took a class exploring the chemistry behind art restoration and painting materials. “It was probably the most valuable, amazing experience I’ve ever had,” Ulmer said.

Now preparing for doctoral study, Ulmer said the close relationships she formed with professors and classmates at Wheaton gave her the confidence to pursue ambitious goals. “I think that’s something that’s really special about Wheaton,” she said. “It is that small liberal arts college where the professors get to know you, and they just truly want the best for you.”

Mia Wolfgang, an English and secondary education major from Holliston, Mass., will teach English at Foxborough Regional Charter High School after graduation while continuing to coach soccer.

“I love everything about education—being able to help many people everyday, the challenge of discovering new, creative, and engaging ways to teach different content and being surrounded by the energy of young people—it keeps me going,” she said. “I chose English because I love to analyze and write … and I know from my own experience that when your teacher is passionate about their subject, the class is always better.”

Beyond her education practicum, Wolfgang cites her senior seminar (Narrating the Machine: AI, Social Media and the Literature of Digital Consciousness) as her favorite. “Professor Lisa Lebduska gave me the space and support to follow my passion for writing and take on projects even if they went a little outside the syllabus,” Wolfgang said. “I was excited to work on my writing everyday, express my ideas and she gave me the confidence to feel the ideas I had were worth sharing.”

Wolfgang also gained much as a member of the women’s soccer team. “It taught me how to be prepared, collaborative, competitive, and to always strive to be better. I learned how to use competitiveness as a tool to become more successful, while leaning on others who are there to support me.”

She is very confident about her future. “Wheaton has provided me with exceptional people that have helped me along my way and will continue to do so after college,” Wolfgang said. “Between the flexibility to create an academic schedule that encompassed all my passions, the support from faculty and the hands-on practice, I am incredibly prepared for what comes next.”