Graduate Profile: Amanda Leppek
Amanda Leppek knew she wanted to perfect her Spanish, and realized the only way to do this would be to study in a Spanish-speaking country. Her Spanish major at Alma allowed her to study in Ecuador and Peru for four months.
“The Spanish program in particular was definitive for my Alma, and more broadly my college, experience because of my time spent studying abroad,” the 2006 graduate says. “Living in South America was one of the best experiences of my life. The particular challenges and triumphs that I faced living in countries where another language is spoken was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I only wish study abroad was mandatory for ALL students.”
Now pursuing her master’s degree in educational psychology at New York University, she was drawn to Alma by the personal atmosphere and opportunity to be involved in a large variety of activities.
“A defining aspect was the embodiment of the liberal arts education: the ability to bring interests and ideas together, across disciplines and issues, to create well-rounded students with a broad perspective on the world,” she says.
She would like to work as a professor, highlighting educational psychology from a cultural and language standpoint. She also would like to do consulting work in local schools and educational policy work.
“Having the flexibility to explore all the different fields of study gave me the opportunity to discover multiple topics for which I am passionate about, and then to ultimately see that I could bring them all together to form my career,” she says. “I know that if I had gone to a large university, I would not have had the same opportunity to explore so many areas of study, nor — and perhaps more importantly — had the support of SO MANY faculty to nurture my interests.”
While at Alma, Leppek was a resident assistant, a member of the varsity tennis team, involved in service organizations, a member of academic honoraries for Spanish (Sigma Delta Pi) and psychology (Psi Chi), and a member of the social fraternity Phi Sigma Sigma.
“I loved my time at Alma and will continue to be appreciative of all that it has brought to my life,” she says. “I only hope students for a long time to come will continue to have the opportunity to experience all that I did.”
