Meet Your Departmental Student Advisors
DSAs are nominated by departments or programs. Xander and Natalie know firsthand what it’s like to be a Classics major. They are available via e-mail and at special campus events to answer your questions. DSAs do not replace academic advisors or faculty, but serve as an additional resource at K.
Xander LeBlanc
(he/him)
k21al05@kzoo.edu
Hometown: Forest Park, IL
Major: Classics
Best Adjective to Describe You: Curious
In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
Being a smaller department, you get to connect with your professors much more deeply!
What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Upperclassmen can seem intimidating on a surface level, but your classes will be full of them and you will become friends with some of them! Don’t be (too) afraid to take that inciting step to meet and connect with your peers! Talk to them before or after class, or work with them during! Please also reach out to your DSA(s)! It is literally their job to help you learn about their major and get settled.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
Time management. Classes can and will kick your a**, especially if you are not careful about your time. Take time to be with friends and relax, take a break from academics; but you NEED to make time to do your homework. I know, everyone says this, but don’t ignore the warnings!!! You will drown in coursework if you don’t make time to do it. If you can work while around people, go to the library! Or have a homework party with your friends! If you’re in the same class, maybe you can work together! But don’t neglect your work. You will not have a good time if you do. (And put effort into your classes! Profs are so willing to work with you and answer your questions. They want you to pass their classes! But you need to make sure that you’re doing your part.)
What has been your favorite class at K?
I took Women in Classical Antiquity and Race & Ethnicity in Classical Antiquity together in the same term and honestly had the time of my life. The courses allow you to explore the origins of misogyny and racism, two fundamental issues ingrained in western history and society. I found it fascinating. I left every class and finished every reading feeling angry from what we learn and talk about, but I very much loved it simultaneously. It is deeply informative and I think should be taught to a wider range of students.
How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
The open curriculum has allowed me not only to focus on my major but has also given me the opportunity to try separate courses. My SIP will be a novel, and so I’ve been in a fiction workshop class so that I can kinda get started on it! So I am able to focus on a major AND still be able to take other classes that I would enjoy. It has allowed me to do my SIP in the first place!
What is your SIP?
For my SIP, I am writing a (partial) sci-fi/fantasy novella placed in a post-apocalyptic setting that I am also developing the world building for! I’m making some mutated new creatures and mapping out a real-world route—I’m having a lot of fun.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I’m not entirely sure what I want to do after K. I may veer into Library Sciences. I have thought about museum curation and other work. I may even pivot and go do something with animals—maybe some shelter or sanctuary work? I truly have no clue, haha.
What is a random fun fact about you?
This past August (2023), I got to see a Pearl Jam concert with my partner and their dad! The band has been an integral part of my life and I still can’t believe I saw them.
Natalie Martinez
(she/they)
k22nm01@kzoo.edu
Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
Majors: Classical Civilization and Studio Art
Study Abroad: Rome, Italy – Gabii Project (Summer 2024)
Best Adjective to Describe You: Creative
In 20 words or less, what is the best thing about being part of this department?
All the professors are absolutely amazing, super supportive, and extremely kind and caring.
What is your biggest piece of advice to first years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
Get connected with us early! Take some classes with us! You might find your place in the classics department, and even if it isn’t exactly for you, you would have taken some really great classes!
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at K?
Enjoy exploring your classes, especially in your first two years! Obviously, it’s good to figure out what you want to do, but at the same time, don’t be afraid to explore classes that you think you might enjoy!
What has been your favorite class at K?
My favorite class that I have taken at K has been Analog photography. I personally enjoy doing photography, so learning about some of its history and actually working to develop and create the images, not only that but the results were often extremely rewarding.
How have you taken advantage of the open curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
With the open curriculum at K, I have been able to explore quite a few different classes that I had some interest in, such as Religion courses and Theater courses. I have truly enjoyed these courses and have actually been able to use them to make connections in some of my other courses, which has been pretty amazing.
What experiential education opportunities have you participated in?
This summer actually I was able to visit Rome, Italy to help learn and gain some experience on an archeological site, called the Gabii Project. It was a great way to connect with other classical students from different universities and I was also able to work with some professors as well.
What is your SIP?
For my SIP, I am working with the art department to showcase some of my photography. At the moment I am currently considering working with Cyanotypes and digital photography to capture my two homes, Weslaco, Texas (my hometown) and Kalamazoo, Michigan (my current place to call home).
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
After K, I would personally enjoy working in a museum of some sort, specifically one surrounding just art in general or specifically art in the ancient world.
What is a random fun fact about you?
My favorite animal is a frog!!