Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming
lindquae@jmu.edu
Contact Info

Region: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Education: Bachelor of Science in Media Arts and Design and minors in Political Science & Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication from James Madison University

Hometown: Portsmouth, VA

What JMU means to me: Opportunities. I came to JMU from a community college as a first-generation college student who had only ever been on any university’s campus twice before. I knew getting a degree would open doors, but my mind was blown wide open by how many opportunities JMU offers. Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow. Take advantage of it. That’s what college is for.

Advice for students: Ask questions and get started early! Even if you think you know what you want to major in, take some time to explore your other interests and options. Also start to think about what college environment you want and try to get exposure to lots of different kinds of campuses and institutions – small, large, rural, urban…the list goes on! And make sure to take advantage of visit opportunities, whether those are in-person or virtual.

As both a first-generation college graduate and a transfer student, I understand the difficulties of navigating the college experience without having familial knowledge or a traditional path tofollow, as well as how hard it can be to advocate for yourself when you don’t speak the higher ed language. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, seek out answers, challenge assumptions, and reach out for help. We’re here to support you!

Go Dukes!