Trinity professors are teachers, mentors, advocates, and inspirations to students. They help students succeed at Trinity and beyond, and, in so doing, they often shape lives. As we celebrate the Class of 2019, The Trinity Reporter highlights the bonds between 10 seniors and their most influential professors.<\/p>\n
Seth Markle<\/strong> \u201cProfessor Markle has taught me the importance of discipline in the learning process and of creativity to uncover the stories of the past. While systems of inequality work to erase the complex histories of marginalized societies, I have learned that as a scholar, I can highlight their struggles and provide a platform to build a more just society.\u201d<\/p>\n Michelle Kovarik<\/strong> \u201cProfessor Kovarik has been positively pivotal in my personal development. She\u2019s at the cutting edge of science teaching and fully invested in supporting the successes of her students\u2014truly an irreplaceable force at Trinity.\u201d<\/p>\n Diana Aldrete<\/strong> \u201cProfessor Aldrete is an invaluable member of the Trinity community. I am fortunate to have a genuine relationship with a professor who engages in passionate class discussions and is deeply invested in my education and success. Her literature courses and mentorship have helped cultivate my growth as a student and my self-awareness as an individual.\u201d<\/p>\n Alison Draper<\/strong> \u201cAlison Draper is the reason I came to Trinity and the reason I stayed. She took me as I was and told me I could be more, pushing me into opportunities I felt unworthy to pursue until I could envision a different life for myself. Thank you for changing my world.\u201d<\/p>\n Ewa Syta<\/strong> \u201cProfessor Syta has been supportive of my decisions and guided me on the right track, in computer science and in life. They say women empower each other, and what is better than two #WomenInTech? She taught me to be a better student and a better person, and I am ever grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n John Mertens<\/strong> \u201cSince meeting Professor Mertens my first year, I have learned more from him than any other professor I can think of. Not only did he thoughtfully teach engineering concepts but also invaluable lessons about professionalism and a variety of other topics. He remains one of the most insightful people I know.\u201d<\/p>\n Dan Lloyd<\/strong> \u201cProfessor Lloyd has inspired me to always search for new ways to analyze the same data in my research, and he has been kind and motivational in pushing me to continue being productive with my thesis writing and pursuit of jobs after graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n Xiangming Chen<\/strong> \u201cDean Chen has continuously inspired me to strive for academic excellence. Our research projects challenged me intellectually and allowed me to learn from his expertise on China\u2019s affairs. I have enjoyed our conversations, which further encourage me to consider pursuing a career path closely related to international economics and China\u2019s development.\u201d<\/p>\n Irene Papoulis<\/strong> \u201cIrene Papoulis has always been in my corner. Whether it was helping me adjust to life at college, inspiring me to venture further with my writing, or listening to me when I\u2019ve struggled, I have always been able to rely on her for advice. She\u2019s helped me to make better sense of the world we live in, and I\u2019m lucky to have her as a mentor.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/reporter-spring2019\/files\/2019\/06\/PP-markle.png\")
<\/a>Tshion Assefa<\/strong>
\nConnecticut General Insurance Corporation Scholar<\/em>
\nGarland, Texas
\nMajor:<\/strong> international studies: African studies; minor:<\/strong> urban studies<\/p>\n
\nAssociate Professor of History and International Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Jessica Duong<\/strong>
\nIllinois Scholar<\/em>
\nLake Bluff, Illinois
\nMajors:<\/strong> chemistry, history; minor:<\/strong> marine studies<\/p>\n
\nAssistant Professor of Chemistry<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Elizabeth Patino<\/strong>
\nD&L Scholar, Class of 2019 Paul E. Raether \u201968 Scholar<\/em>
\nHolmes, New York
\nMajors:<\/strong> Hispanic studies, international studies: global studies; minor:<\/strong> Arabic<\/p>\n
\nVisiting Assistant Professor of Language and Culture Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Michael Zarra<\/strong>
\nJoslin Family Scholar<\/em>
\nCheshire, Connecticut
\nMajor:<\/strong> neuroscience<\/p>\n
\nDirector of the Center for Interdisciplinary Science and the Interdisciplinary Science Program<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Simran Sheth<\/strong>
\nSwiss Reinsurance Company Scholar<\/em>
\nMumbai, Maharashtra, India
\nMajors:<\/strong> computer science, mathematics<\/p>\n
\nAssistant Professor of Computer Science<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Luke Duros<\/strong>
\nIllinois Scholar<\/em>
\nWillmette, Illinois
\nMajor:<\/strong> engineering<\/p>\n
\nProfessor of Engineering<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Nat Bush<\/strong>
\nJosh P. Kupferberg Scholar<\/em>
\nWaterford, Connecticut
\nMajor:<\/strong> French\/neuroscience<\/p>\n
\nBrownell Professor of Philosophy<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Nikola Kostic<\/strong>
\nIsaac Toucey, Hon. 1845, Scholar; Daniel Burhans, Hon. 1831, Scholar<\/em>
\nBelgrade-Zvezdara, Republic of Serbia
\nMajor:<\/strong> economics, international studies: global studies; minor:<\/strong> Italian<\/p>\n
\nPaul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of Urban Global Studies and Sociology and Dean and Director of the Center for Urban and Global Studies<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Alex Steel<\/strong>
\nWeston, Massachusetts<\/em>
\nMajor:<\/strong> theater and dance, concentration in acting; minor:<\/strong> writing, rhetoric, and media arts<\/p>\n
\nPrincipal Lecturer in the Allan K. Smith Center for Writing and Rhetoric<\/em><\/p>\n