Lizbeth Mendoza ’25

Queens, New York

Neuroscience major. Sociology minor. Admissions ambassador. Member of the student club Raicés.

Stepping onto Skidmore’s campus at the start of my first year filled me with a rush of excitement for the new memories and opportunities to come.

Skidmore has helped me to understand that there is always more than one path, especially as an undergrad. Initially, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I pushed myself to explore new topics, from the arts to the sciences. Creative Thought Matters!

When I attended a computational science conference in South Carolina and presented a poster based on my summer research, it was fun not only to showcase my abilities but to speak with other scientists. I never imagined presenting research findings to such an informed audience so early in my undergraduate career. I’m grateful that the experience was fully funded, too.

Outside the classroom, I do computational biophysics research with Professor Lia Ball, which has allowed me to gain valuable skills in a new field. I am also a student worker in the Office of Special Programs and at Scribner Library.

For fun, I love being a member of Raicés, the Latinx multicultural club. Not only do I enjoy seeing other people in a shared space where we can share our identities, but it also makes me feel like I’m at home.

After Skidmore, I plan to pursue a neuroscience research career focused on testing the efficacy of drugs and treatments for neurological or severe neurodevelopmental disorders. I am also considering a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

I remember applying to colleges and thinking that my family would never be able to pay the tuition costs. I stressed myself out not only finishing the application but also applying for external scholarship sources. Thankfully, the financial aid offer from Skidmore was more than I had imagined. Thank you so much for allowing me to discover myself personally and academically and pave the way to future success.”