Pulse
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT “My goal in life is to die happy.” Kevin Livingston, associate professor of biology
AYNAV LEIBOWITZ (center) poses with her coworker JESSE CLARK (left) and boss ERIC SANINOCENCIO (right) on the field of NRG Stadium before kickoff begins at a Houston Texans game. Photo by MICHELLE WATSON
Trinity alum scored a touchdown after being offered dream job post-graduation Aynav Leibowitz ‘16 acknowledges the impact her friends and professors had on her journey to working for the Houston Texans BY CLAIRE NAKAYAMA PULSE REPORTER Aynav Leibowitz ‘16 is a recent graduate whose impact on the Trinity community is still discussed by peers and faculty. After majoring in communication, Leibowitz found work with the Houston Texans in
their broadcasting and digital media department, where she assists by their team updating all social media accounts and websites. “People think that the Texans are just an NFL team, but the reality is that sports really help the community as well, whether it is through financial help or community service. One of my favorite events was the special Olympic flag football game, where the players interacted with the kids. The two hours not only affected the players, but also gave the kids a great experience, and showed that there’s more to sports than just the actual game.” Leibowitz said. Leibowitz traces all of her skills back to her time at Trinity.
“I loved Trinity; I think it was a fantastic experience, and I implement a lot of what I learned there into my professional life,” Leibowitz said. Leibowitz was extremely active on campus; she was an executive officer for Alpha Chi Lambda, a sports editor for the Trinitonian and an executive producer for TigerTV’s “Not So Late Show,” where she made some of her favorite memories. “I made it a point to bring animals onto the show; we brought two llamas and a sloth onto campus once. It was great seeing the whole crew enjoy hanging out with funny animals and take pictures with them,” Leibowitz said.
Leibowitz made a big impact in her classes as well; Andrew Hansen, an associate professor of human communication and theatre, fondly recalls her presence in his classes. “Aynav was always up-beat, she was incredibly mature and had a sense of wisdom about her. She seemed to be very well-rounded so she could get along with all different sorts of people,” Hansen said. Despite her dedication to school and extracurriculars, Leibowitz maintained a busy social life at Trinity as a loyal friend to many. “No matter what’s going on, Aynav always manages to go out of her way for the people she loves. She is truly the best and most sincere friend that
anyone could wish for,” said Ronja Behrends, a Trinity alum who was Leibowitz’s Alpha Chi sorority sister. “Aynav always reminds me that everything is a learning experience and truly takes that advice to heart. She is the person whose advice I trust the most, and who I turn to when I need guidance or perspective.” Leibowitz suggests students pursuing their dream careers take time to enjoy the benefits of college. “In the real world you have to worry about paying bills, but in college you can take on a lot of crazy things and explore more. Trinity gives you an amazing platform to try a huge variety of things, so take advantage of that,” Leibowitz said.
Degree declaration isn’t majorly confusing The office of the registrar has simplified the selection process BY JULIA WEIS
PULSE REPORTER As the spring semester has steadily persisted, it’s time for sophomores to answer one of the most stressful questions of their college careers: What should I major in?
While some students come in to Trinity knowing what to pursue, others are still figuring it out as they go. The important step towards graduation is not actually as frightening or complicated as students often think. “Students come get the declaration form and they just follow the steps that are written out for them. The department chair will determine whether to accept them provisionally to the major or full acceptance to the major,” said Eve Christoffersen, the
graduation coordinator in the office of the registrar. Many students think the process is just as easy as Christoffersen makes it sound. “It took 20 minutes to fill out the forms and another 30 minutes total to talk with the chairs and get assigned a new advisor. I don’t know how it could be easier,” said Elliot Blake, an environmental studies and geosciences double major. Students thinking of declaring their majors should be aware of required
prerequisite classes and other tasks to complete before declaration. “You get this collection of suggested courses in different subjects, such as psychology and biology. You pick a schedule and then you write down how it applies to your path of neuroscience. Then you have to write a formal draft for it, and then that goes in front of a panel,” said Pallavi Shamapant, a sophomore neuroscience major. Students who have already declared recommend talking to professors
and peers to gain some clarity into what the best path for you is. After seeking advice from Kate Ritson, the interim chair of the art and art history department, sophomore Emme Bettes was able to declare her double major in art history and communication without a problem. “I’m sure the major declaration seminars clarified things; I would just advise scheduling time in advance to declare because in a large department, declaring will definitely not be as easy,” Bettes said.