Physics Ambassadors

Sandra is a sophomore physics and math major with a concentration in engineering. She has interned with Anoka County public safety data systems this past year and will be interning with an engineering firm this summer. In the future, she hopes to attend grad school for either mechanical or electrical engineering. She is a member of the St. Olaf Band, Cantorei Choir, and the Society of Women in Physics. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking, baking the best paskas this side of the cannon river, and spending time with her yellow lab, Ziva.

Lily Nestor is a Sophomore Physics and Ancient Studies major with a Management Studies concentration. She will be doing research through the CURI program with Professor Anne Gothmann on cold water coral proxies this summer, and is a contributor to the SPS poster project highlighting the achievements of physicists from underrepresented groups. Lily is also a member of the Society of Women in Physics. In the future, Lily intends to work in aerospace with a possible focus on space settlement. When not watching rocket launches or rambling about Greco-Roman mythology, Lily can be found on the golf course, on a long walk, or overanalyzing movie/TV soundtracks. She identifies as a white cisgender woman.

Noah is a Sophomore Physics and Computer Science major with an Engineering Studies concentration/minor. He has enjoyed his recent lab experiments such as measuring photon emission in mercury atom interactions and investigating positron spectroscopy. In the future, Noah is looking forward to researching magnetic vortices in superfluids over the summer with St. Olaf faculty. He is a member of the Engineering Team and works as a Tech Staff Manager in the Lion’s Pause, a St. Olaf student-run performance venue. Outside of academics, he enjoys performing with the St. Olaf Band, Chapel Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra, German Choir, playing Mario with his roommates, and taking walks through the St. Olaf Natural Lands. He identifies as a white heterosexual man.

Elizabeth is a Sophomore Physics and Math major with a Race and Ethnic Studies concentration/minor. She’s dabbled in a variety of research through an independent project with Professor Amy Kolan, but is currently working on perfecting video analysis techniques for use in a variety of experiments. In the future, Elizabeth is looking for more research opportunities and potentially grad school. She is a member of St. Olaf’s chapter of AIP TEAM-UP and the Society of Women in Physics. Outside of physics you might find her dancing with Vesilica International Dance Company, knitting scarfs, or having Mario Kart tournaments with her roommates. She identifies as a white lesbian woman. 

Cecilia Dean, class of 2023, is a Physics and Math double major with concentrations in Environmental Studies and Engineering Studies. She feels very fortunate to attend St. Olaf where she can delve into the sciences but also ponder philosophical questions and engage in the liberal arts. She is hoping to become a renewable energies engineer (thus all the majors and concentrations!). In the future, she also hopes to be able to travel and/or live abroad. On campus, she sings in a couple choirs, including the vocal jazz group Ole Ave. In her free time, she likes to knit, read, bake, do yoga, and hang out with friends. She’s enthusiastic about Physics and would be happy to share any of her experience and advice with you!