We Are Mount Holyoke

The community at
Mount Holyoke College
is remarkably diverse.

As one student says, “It feels like a sample population of the world, like little pieces of cities around the globe have migrated onto campus.”

Yet the community is also surprisingly like-minded in the best of ways: It’s inquisitive, inclusive and encouraging. It’s a hub for the reflective, the expressive and the approachable. It’s a place where thinking deeply, engaging in dialogue and driving for change are the norm.

Meet some of the students who call the community at Mount Holyoke home — or MoHome.

“The athletics department has greatly shaped my college experience by pushing me to achieve my best every day.”

Julia Criscione (L)

Bernardsville, New Jersey

Simone Jacob (C)

San Francisco, California

“Mount Holyoke empowers women to be fearless and gives them the tools necessary to achieve their goals in or out of the classroom. The professors are beyond phenomenal and truly care about the success of students.”

Michelle Serrano (R)

Los Angeles, California

Risha Dewan (L)

Singapore

“A shoutout to the entrepreneurship club. It is such a great place for people to connect who are interested in changing the world by starting their own businesses.”

Kate Meacham (R)

Evansville, Indiana

“Mount Holyoke taught me to change. If you change nothing, nothing will change.”

Jessie Du

Beijing, China

“La Unidad has helped me meet and become best friends and family with other students who identify as Latinx.”

Virginia Guerra

Miami, Florida

“Mount Holyoke has been a warm and welcoming environment for me since day one. I’m constantly surrounded by peers and professors who embrace my mistakes and empower me to be the person I want to become.”

Ashley Huang

Los Angeles, California

Emilia Nobrega (L)

Paxton, Massachusetts

Deanna Kalian (C)

Haverhill, Massachusetts

“The ACE house and its orgs have given me a chance to explore my Asian identity with my peers, which is something I’ve never had before.”

Olivia Hobert (R)

Framingham, Massachusetts

“Shirley Chisholm Living-Learning Community and The Betty Shabazz Center are where I’ve made friends and family for life.”

Tess Tuitoek

Nairobi, Kenya

Rahael Rawson

Seal Beach, California

Ariel Fry Demetria (L)

Berkeley, California

“Everyone here is working toward something they are passionate about. Students are engaged, critical thinkers who are not afraid to express themselves and their beliefs.”

Daniella Hanelin (R)

Newton, Massachusetts

“Shoutout to Jewish Student Union! As a student of faith, it’s important to find support and community during the religious holidays that I can’t celebrate with family.”

Jessie Maier

Rahway, New Jersey

“The Frances Perkins Scholar Association has taught me discipline, leadership, humility, sisterhood, perseverance and the power that stems from women forming like Voltron to bring forth much needed change.”

April Graham FP

Chicago, Illinois

Kierstyn Lau (L)

New York City, New York

Katy Gore (C)

Londonderry, New Hampshire

“Mount Holyoke Koinonia Fellowship has been an integral part of making MHC truly feel like ‘MoHome.’ I have never before been a part of a group that made me feel so immediately welcomed, loved, and valued and that nurtured the growth of my faith so richly. ”

Wenjie Li (R)

Guangzhou, China

“I’m part of Asian American Students in Action and we represent the ACE house. Being part of the AASIA has really provided me with a sense of community.”

Jai Pemmaraju (L)

Iowa City, Iowa

Amaka Onyewadume (C)

Onicha-Olona, Delta State, Nigeria

Eleanor Stewart (R)

Great Barrington, Massachusetts

“Every student has a reason to be here: To demolish expectations, to make social change, to be the first of their family to go to college, to name only a few.”

Priscilla Soares

Boston, Massachusetts

“Shoutout to Chorale for making me feel welcomed and giving me a place to meet new people who share my interests.”

Anya Chatfield

Hartford, Connecticut

Linh Le (L)

Hanoi, Vietnam

“Mount Holyoke is full of powerful, smart, warm people.”

Tien Dao (R)

Hanoi, Vietnam

Leila Kouakou

Northampton, Massachusetts

“I came for accepted students weekend and I was so excited to be in a place where finally it was fun to love school.”

Kira Yates

Bedford, New Hampshire

Iliana Enriquez (L)

Los Angeles, California

Genesis Lara Granados

Bronx, New York

“The community I found through the cultural centers has been my rock. MEChA has changed my life both as an activist and a person.”

Kimberly Mota (C)

New York City, New York

Luciany Capra

Parkland, Florida

Diana Jaramillo (R)

Greenwich, Connecticut

“Shoutout to Mi Familia — you are awesome!”

Key Estime

Maddy Skrak

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sorawan (Tammy) Vesvarute

Bangkok, Thailand

“Being here? It has challenged me to think deeper and see the humanity in everyone.”

Vickie Victor

Miami, Florida

“We are surrounded by so many international students at Mount Holyoke. World affairs become so much more real when you know people from so many countries.”

Javeria Kella (L)

Karachi, Pakistan

“My first impression of Mount Holyoke? I could see myself wanting to be like the people here.”

Donari Yahzid (R)

Atlanta, Georgia

“Shoutout to Model UN!!! They are my family away from home on this campus, and my time here at MHC would not have been the same without them.”

Rebecca Piperno

Rome, Italy

“I feel like the connections I make with the community here, professors, staff, students, etc. are genuine and built out of a desire to achieve as a whole.”

Melissa Curran (L)

Pembroke, Massachusetts

Lynn Shen (C)

Suzhou, China

Zhuoran Yu (R)

Shanghai, China

“When I first came to Mount Holyoke during Experience Diversity Weekend, I went to the open house for the Asian Center for Empowerment and met the Liga Filipina org. I met students who looked like me, came from similar backgrounds as me, were strong and independent, had something to say and weren’t afraid to say it.”

Kalea Martin

Waddell, Arizona

Whitney Lapic

Shillington, Pennsylvania

“The Ortega House is a great resource for Latinx students on campus to feel safe and welcomed.”

Xiomara Núñez

Boston, Massachusetts

“I have said this since the first time I visited campus: It feels like I have found my educational home! I am surrounded by so many who cheer each other on and go out of their way to make connections and be a friend!”

Susan Cooper Daigneault FP (L)

Newfane, Vermont

Kate Ouimette FP (C)

Holyoke Massachusetts

Sarah McNamara FP (R)

Fairfield, Connecticut

“The Jeannette Marks House has helped me meet awesome people.”

Caralyn Esser

Olney, Maryland

Victoria Yan

San Francisco, California

“I think being a part of the Betty really taught me what it means to be a black woman and really come into my blackness because coming from a predominately white school or high school didn’t really give me any opportunities to explore my black excellence.”

Anpa’o Locke

Denver, Colorado

“Listening with compassion is the key to understanding difference.”

Kyley Butler (L)

Gorham, Maine

“The Antique Clothing Collection has been incredible and truly shaped my experience here as well as my plans post-graduation.”

Lily Williams (C)

Arlington, Texas

Samantha Snodgrass (R)

San Diego, California

“Mount Holyoke has taught me to resist against whatever pushes me down—including those with a narrow view of what women can and can’t do.”

Sajia Darwish

Kabul, Afghanistan

“This love at first sight was meant to be.”

Lisa Garrity

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Adrianna Ke

Wuhan, China

Celestelle Webster

Pembroke Pines, Florida

Genesis Lara Granados

Bronx, New York

“The Mount Holyoke outing club has been a great way to experience the community.”

Emma Wolff

Spirit Lake, Iowa

“There is no where else that focuses on women and welcomes trans and gender-non-conforming students that also has the same level of diversity — in all meanings of the word — and produces strong, independent, passionate and competent world citizens.”

Emet Marwell

Washington, DC

Linh Nguyen

Hanoi, Vietnam

Isabel Crane

Camden, Maine

Swexya Panta (L)

Kathmandu, Nepal

Mahima Ghale (C)

Kathmandu, Nepal

“What makes our community unique is its diversity and inclusivity. The community is very supportive and welcoming to all its members.”

Aastha Niraula (R)

Kathmandu, Nepal

“We all come from such different paths, but there’s always something to be found that we share in common.”

Liz Tucksmith

Chatham, New York

“The Marks House helped me find a community that I never had a chance to be a part of and it helped me discover more about myself as well as make incredible friends!”

Maya Reinstein

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Chantelle Brigham-McMillan

Northfield, Massachusetts

Miranda Schmidt

East Northport, New York

“I am affiliated with the Betty Shabazz Cultural Center through my participation in the Association of Pan-African Unity. This space has enriched my MHC experience by being a space where I can fully express myself and find support from other students of African diaspora. It's where I've been most comfortable and supported as a black woman at Mount Holyoke.”

Olivia Lucas

Oakland, California

“Shoutout to Mount Holyoke News! Being surrounded by intelligent, eloquent students who publish great work every week has impacted me in every positive way.”

Chloe Jensen

Eugene, Oregon

MoHome is, in a word? “Everything. It's where I truly found myself and my passions, it's where I've made my best friends.”

Sam Tressy (L)

Simsbury, Connecticut

Advika Mukherjee (C)

Delhi, India

“The moment I stepped on campus, I felt like I was home, and I've felt that way ever since.”

Lyssi Joseph (R)

Cary, North Carolina

Lorena Cacho (L)

Cary, North Carolina

Katherine Guinee (R)

Topsfield, Massachusetts

Marwa Mikati

Beirut, Lebanon

“It feels like a place where anything is possible and within reach. The environment is always positive and full of energy.”

Olivia Chandler

Cross River, New York

“Mount Holyoke feels like one of the safest real-world classrooms you could ever make mistakes in.”

Relyn Myrthil

Miami, Florida

“Mount Holyoke has allowed me to learn alongside some of the most brilliant people from around the world.”

Adelita Simon

Los Angeles, California

Lukachi Okonji (L)

Lagos, Nigeria

Nana Aba Aprewa Turkson ’21 (R)

Takoradi, Ghana

Zoe Zelkowitz

Scarsdale, New York

“It’s a life-changing experience to be here. It’s liberating and empowering. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without Mount Holyoke. I became a totally different person from when I came here—I became more confident.”

Sarah Hwang

East Meadow, New York

“I refuse to define myself as solely a scientist or an artist or a feminist. Mount Holyoke has given me a platform to explore that intersectionality.”

Misha Oraa Ali

New Delhi, India + Manila, the Philippines + the Hague, the Netherlands

“One thing I learned from Mount Holyoke’s community? Listen, listen, listen. Everyone has a story.”

Kimberly Ho (L)

Walnut Creek, California

“I have learned about acceptance, understanding, and patience.”

Mira Kelly-Fair (R)

San Francisco, California

Shikha Thakali

Kathmandu, Nepal

Allegra Dufresne

San Jose, Costa Rica

“There was something calling me here to Mount Holyoke, and I am really glad I followed that call. Every day this is where I want to be. The people, the community, the classes—I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.”

Claire Houston

Hopewell Junction, New York

“Shoutout to the College’s radio station, WHMC! It allows me to step out of the chemistry lab into a fast-paced, exciting world full of people from every aspect of campus.”

Emily Graham

Salt Lake City, Utah

“I feel very comfortable here. I love that when I pass by strangers and smile, I receive a smile back in return.”

Stephanie Calas

Bar Harbor, Maine

“At Mount Holyoke, you can be yourself and express that however you like.”

Kalyani Kannan

Logan, Utah

Raziya Bryant

San Diego, California

“What does our community feel like? Home.”

Ally Tessier

Coventry, Rhode Island

Shay Lahon (L)

Watervliet, New York

“Mount Holyoke is a diverse community that allows me to learn about cultures and ideologies that are very different from my own.”

Shante Henderson (R)

Jamaica, New York

“I’ve never felt so comfortable with so many people. Everyone is approachable, friendly, and always eager to learn.”

Violet Gehr (L)

Brooklyn, New York

“At MHC, I’ve been surprised by the range of interests and passions. And how no matter what yours are, they are supported.”

Monika Sharma (R)

Amherst, Massachusetts

Sadikshya Bhattarai

Bagmati, Nepal

Jamesa Allen

Orlando, Florida

“Everyone is so incredibly focused on doing what they love, and they go to great lengths to share what they love with the Mount Holyoke community.”

Camila Mirow

Miami, Florida

“It’s refreshingly surprising how the process of thinking deeply and being aware of our community is so common.”

Sofía Rivera Negron

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

“I’ve never found another place with so many like-minded yet mind-bogglingly diverse and encouraging human beings.”

Cassie Peltier

Williamstown, Massachusetts

Ewurama (Abrefi) Cann

Princeton Junction, New Jersey

India Murphy

Fayetteville, North Carolina

“You feel privileged because you get to meet people from different places and hear their stories.”

Angela Hamati

Amman, Jordan

“What does the community at Mount Holyoke feel like? Your biggest, loudest cheer squad. By being here, I’ve learned that everyone has their own struggles. Not better, just different.”

The community at Mount Holyoke College is remarkably diverse.

Julia Criscione (L)

Bernardsville, New Jersey

Simone Jacob (C)

San Francisco, California

Michelle Serrano (R)

Los Angeles, California

Risha Dewan (L)

Singapore

Kate Meacham (R)

Evansville, Indiana

Jessie Du

Beijing, China

Virginia Guerra

Miami, Florida

Ashley Huang

Los Angeles, California

Emilia Nobrega (L)

Paxton, Massachusetts

Deanna Kalian (C)

Haverhill, Massachusetts

Olivia Hobert (R)

Framingham, Massachusetts

Tess Tuitoek

Nairobi, Kenya

Rahael Rawson

Seal Beach, California

Ariel Fry Demetria (L)

Berkeley, California

Daniella Hanelin (R)

Newton, Massachusetts

Jessie Maier

Rahway, New Jersey

April Graham FP

Chicago, Illinois

Kierstyn Lau (L)

New York City, New York

Katy Gore (C)

Londonderry, New Hampshire

Wenjie Li (R)

Guangzhou, China

Jai Pemmaraju (L)

Iowa City, Iowa

Amaka Onyewadume (C)

Onicha-Olona, Delta State, Nigeria

Eleanor Stewart (R)

Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Priscilla Soares

Boston, Massachusetts

Anya Chatfield

Hartford, Connecticut

Linh Le (L)

Hanoi, Vietnam

Tien Dao (R)

Hanoi, Vietnam

Leila Kouakou

Northampton, Massachusetts

Kira Yates

Bedford, New Hampshire

Iliana Enriquez (L)

Los Angeles, California

Genesis Lara Granados

Bronx, New York

Kimberly Mota (C)

New York City, New York

Luciany Capra

Parkland, Florida

Diana Jaramillo (R)

Greenwich, Connecticut

Key Estime

Maddy Skrak

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sorawan (Tammy) Vesvarute

Bangkok, Thailand

Vickie Victor

Miami, Florida

Javeria Kella (L)

Karachi, Pakistan

Donari Yahzid (R)

Atlanta, Georgia

The community at
Mount Holyoke College
is remarkably diverse.