Majors: New Media Art and Design
Minor: Comunication
Transferred from: College of Lake County

Designing beyond the classroom: Working for the student newspaper The Stentor as well as two internships gave Velez experience that helped her land a position as a Production Artist at Hand2Mind, an educational toy and publishing company.“I knew I wanted to do something visual. I really liked what I was doing with The Stentor, and those layout and design skills helped me in this role.”

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Majors: Economics and Data Science

Hometown: Brazil

The value of authentic networking: During his time at Lake Forest College, Ian completed four internships. He credits the genuine relationships he developed with faculty, alumni, and industry professionals for helping him earn his full-time analyst position at Goldman Sachs. “People tend to think networking is superficial, but it's really a way to build relationships. To be interesting, you have to be interested.” 

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Major: English (creative writing track)

Minor: Philosophy

Hometown: Nolensville, Tennessee

Majors: Biology and Environmental Studies

Hometown: Addison, Illinois, US

A career that's gone to the birds: Coursework in animal behavior, developmental biology, microbiology, and environmental studies prepared Nancy to care for injured wildlife while developing the scientific and problem-solving skills she now uses every day. “Coming into school, the only way I thought to work with animals was to be a vet, but when I was working with the vets at the center, I saw that they don't work as closely with the animals as the rehab team does. I found myself drawn to the process of rehabilitation and watching these animals grow up and finding solutions to some of their day-to-day needs.”

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Majors: Politics and African American Studies

Minor: Legal Studies

Removing barriers through advocacy: DeJanae pursued internships in direct services that reinforced her passion for client advocacy. As a Professional Fellow with Partners for Justice, she will work alongside public defender offices, connecting clients with housing, employment, mental health, and other community resources while gaining valuable legal experience before attending law school. “I've always wanted to provide resources for people and break down the barriers to accessing them.”

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Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: English

Building a future in conservation: At Lake Forest, Will built a foundation in conservation through research, greenhouse work, and coursework in plant biology. Now, he restores prairies, woodlands, shorelines, and aquatic habitats while gaining hands-on experience across diverse ecosystems. “What I love most is the breadth of what I'm learning. Every day I always learn something new, and I get to work hands on with ecosystems I've never worked with before.”

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Majors: Data Science and Economics
Minor: Public Policy
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Iowa

Finding the right fit through research: Anna started college planning to become a lawyer, but research experiences, internships, and faculty mentorship led her to a new path. Through a two-year predoctoral fellowship at Stanford, she will conduct economic research that informs public policy while exploring her interest in pursuing a PhD. “I realized I still wanted to be involved in policy. This position combines the legal and policy side with numbers and research.”