Alice Anderson

Corvallis, OR

What has been your favorite class at COA? Why?

That would be an even split between Mammalogy and Animation. Mammalogy was a treat, mostly because everyone in the class was wicked intelligent, excited, and completely nerdy. We spent almost half of the class taking turns presenting seminars on orders of mammals, and it was impressive how much we challenged each other with thought-provoking papers and stimulating discussions. Another segment of the class was devoted to surveying the mammals on Jay McNally's property via trail cameras and sherman live traps, which provided a great complementary hands-on component to the class.

Animation was hands down incredible. The class as a whole produced quality work and was a wealth of talent and ideas. The projects we had were designed with a lot of flexibility and enough of a time frame that it was easy to couple practicing new techniques and skills with a project that was fun, artistically challenging, and a standalone piece. I have loved every assignment, and see this class as a great springboard for future work. I think animation is an incredibly versatile tool that can be utilized to reflect on and explain otherwise-intangible concepts. Several students have already had luck screening their animations into film festivals.

 

What classes have you taken at COA?

Marine Biology,

Introduction to Arts and Design,

Human Ecology Core Course,

Representing Nature, Envisioning Science

Biology 1&2

2-D Design

Animation 1&2

Turn of the Century: History Since 1990

Classic Shorts: Money Honey

Ecology

Probability and Statistics

International Wildlife Policy and Protected Areas

Evolution

Mammalogy

Neotropical Conservation Ecology

The Art of Natural History
I am currently an Eco-league student at Alaska Pacific University.

Do you work on or off campus? If yes, where?

On campus. I am a Resident Advisor.

What do you see yourself doing after COA?

I hope to join the Peace Corps, and then pursue Grad school. After that...who knows.

Have you had an internship? If so, doing what? Where? If not, what are your plans, if any, for your internship?

I interned as a Lab Technician Summer '09 working through the Penobscot East Resource Center's lobster hatchery in Stonington, ME. We raised larval lobsters for the duration of their pelagic stage, and then deposited them in ideal nursery habitats as a means of supplementing the current populations.

What are your ideas for your senior project?

I think I will probably end up doing a film or animation with some scientific undertones.

What is your favorite food to eat? What is your favorite thing to cook?

I have recently been on a baking craze;making bread and bagels (jalapeno and cheese).

What do you like to do when you're not doing school work?

I am an editor for Off the Wall, the student on-campus publication. That tends to take up a chunk of my extra time. Other than that, I enjoy rummy, sketching, and rolling around in the (sometimes present) sunshine.

What is/are your favorite animal(s)?

Ducks. They are awesome.

What is the motto you like to live by?

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

Why did you choose to come to COA?

I was really drawn to the academic setup. I like to have freedom and cater my interests into a set of courses that truly interest me. I did not want to get caught in a single track without the option of pursuing my multiple interests. I like that COA understands that 'disciplines' aren't reflective of how the world works, and that everything in life cannot be viewed individually - you have to look at the larger picture to truly address challenges and come up with effective solutions.

What do you like to study?

I really enjoy the arts: as far as drawing, film, and animation. I also really enjoy biology, mammalogy and ecology.

Who are your favorite writers? Poets?

Poets: Marge Piercy. Writers: Augusten Burroughs, Steinbeck, Sartre (his plays), Nadeem Aslam, Chuck Palahniuk, Alexandre Dumas, Colin Woodard, Charlotte Bronte, David Ives (short plays)

What talent do you wish you had?

I wish I could play the spoons or the washboard.