Student Profile: Joye Kallgren
Small class sizes and one-on-one attention from professors are helping Joye Kallgren reach her goal of doing pharmaceutical work in Francophone Africa.
The double major in Chemistry and French has a passion for the language, but wanted a skill set to use the language.
Joye Kallgren (right) with her French exchange student Marion Bertho (left), who has visited for three consecutive summers.
“I have wanted to study French since I was about 4 or 5 years old, and after taking 4 years in high school, I found that French was one of my strongest passions,” the Trenton junior says. “Although the French language is really my passion, I decided that a practical skill is really necessary to make a difference.”
She is a French teacher’s assistant, which allows her to experience a unique teaching opportunity. In addition, accessibility of the faculty allowed her to truly study the language with a professor.
“I worked one-on-one with my professor on an informal grammar review which ironed out problems I was still having,” she says. “At a larger university, I would not have the small class sizes that promote conversation in the language that is being learned and would not receive the personal attention of the professors.”
Kallgren plans to study abroad in France in 2008. She chose Alma in part because of the vast study abroad opportunities.
“I wanted a smaller, close-knit college which had good academic standing,” she says. “Also, while some schools do not transfer financial aid to study abroad, Alma allows this and also offers a variety of study abroad options.”
She is also involved in varsity cross country, New Life Campus Ministries, Forgotten Children of Eastern Europe, Chapel and alternative breaks.
