Class of 2026: Tomorrow's Changemakers
A holistic curriculum. A toolkit for understanding the world. Across CLA, students are learning what and how to think about complex systems. Together, these experiences point to a common thread: knowledge for good and a language to create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.
Cynthia Ghannoum
BA '26, psychology
CLA has given me a holistic curriculum that blends the liberal arts, social sciences, and hard sciences. I think this has helped me view the world around me more consciously and creatively, which is critical to becoming a physician.
I believe that the liberal arts are such a critical part of academics that everyone should have at least a basic understanding of them.
What's next? Upon graduation, I plan to take the MCAT and obtain a Master's of Public Health prior to beginning medical school to pursue my interest in global health and community engagement. Public and global health have been at the center of my passion for medicine and accessiblity.
Kate Kalis
BA '26, strategic communications; English minor
Over the last four years, I’ve grown up a lot. I’ve gained a lot more independence as a young adult here, and the College of Liberal Arts has given me the tools to thrive once I land a job somewhere. Having a well-rounded education through the Core Competencies has helped me a lot in my internships because we get such a diverse class experience.
Through my field research classes working in classrooms with younger children, I learned that so many students have different upbringings and life stories than I do. It was eye-opening for me to learn how to help students of different backgrounds strive for success in the classroom, and those skills will be super transferable to any future job I pursue.
Tell us about your favorite class. JOUR 4243: Digital Content Development and Production for Brand Communications helped me in so many ways because we built up an online portfolio over the semester and got to add so many projects to it. I’m now able to use this portfolio in all my job applications, and it’s truly helped me so much in my job search. Professor Allison Steinke is also just an amazing person to work with, and brings in guest speakers to help us with projects.
Evelyn Cordts
BA '26, psychology; political science minor
I came to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities because I wanted a place that was big enough to really challenge me and also human enough to let me grow and develop connections. Psychology helps me better understand people, empathize, and see individuals at their most vulnerable, while political science lets me see how systems shape our lives on a broader scale. I love this school because it has given me the knowledge and the language to create change.
How did you find belonging as a transfer student? Transferring into CLA from a much smaller institution was scary at first, I felt behind and out of place, but it pushed me to be intentional. Finding my footing in classes that actually excited me and meeting people who shared my curiosity turned my uncertainty into confidence, and CLA slowly became a place where I felt I deserved to be.
Kia Xiong
BA '26, political science
My time in CLA has profoundly shaped how I see myself, my values, and my goals. As a first-generation student, full-time professional, and mom, I often needed flexibility or support to balance my responsibilities. Whenever I reached out, I was met with compassion and respect. Those interactions showed me that choosing kindness is not only impactful but essential, and that even small acts of understanding can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
My political science courses encouraged me to think critically and engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue about the challenges we face in our communities and our world. These conversations helped me recognize my responsibility to contribute to solutions, not just observe the problems. Because of CLA, I see myself as someone who can lead with empathy, listen deeply, and make a positive impact in whatever space I am in.
Which class has the biggest impact on you? Professor Tim Johnson and our TA, Grace, from the political science department had the biggest impact on me. Their class helped me connect what we were learning to real-world events, especially around constitutional rights and the importance of checks and balances in government. The way they encouraged us to analyze current issues through a constitutional lens made the material feel alive and relevant. Their teaching helped me better understand not only the systems that shape our democracy, but also my role as an engaged and informed community member.
George Wellock
BA '26, history
I came to the University of Minnesota later in life, after careers in medical manufacturing, business consulting, and leading a statewide training program for the State of Minnesota. Even though my previous degrees were in business management and organization development, I had always loved history, not just the dates and battles, but the motivation, experiences and rationale behind them.
After serving my country, raising a family and a long career, I realized I wanted to return to something I had postponed decades earlier: studying history in a serious, disciplined way. History felt like the right major because it gave structure to questions I had been carrying most of my life, about war, migration, faith, labor, justice, and the American story. I didn’t want nostalgia. I wanted context.
What's next? After graduation, I plan to continue writing, both historical essays and poetry focused on American history. I am also developing research on long-term health effects associated with toxic exposure during military service. My goal is to contribute meaningfully to conversations about public policy, veterans’ health, and historical accountability. Returning to college in my seventies has confirmed something I suspected but never proved: education is not a phase of life; it is a posture toward life. The College of Liberal Arts welcomed me not as someone finishing a chapter, but as someone still writing one.
Logan Johnson
BA '26, psychology; creative writing minor
My love for the university at such a young age really drove my interest in making this university my final destination. The interest came from growing up in the state of Minnesota and wanting to be a part of such a strong, home-grown institution. My mother was another strong influence for my decision, as she attended the university back in her days and she turned out a highly educated and successful person in her life!
For my major of psychology, I was really inspired by a former teacher back in high school who had instructed an introduction to a psychology course that I fell in love with. With my minor, my advisor suggested for it to be complementary to who I am as a person... I thought about my interests and the little child I was creating my own stories/fantasies all the time, and I decided to pursue creative writing as my minor.
How did you find mentorship within CLA? A lot of my mentorship came from my professors in creative writing. I'll always think of my first professor, Hannah Cook, because her guidance and support of my work didn't discourage me from stepping off the boat. It's important to have professors who'll always be supportive of your work first, then provide constructive criticism to help you grow not only in your work, but also as a person!
Meet the Class of 2026
CLA prepares students to become thoughtful citizens, innovative problem-solvers, and leaders in every sector of society. From healthcare and education to business, public service, media, science, and the arts, CLA graduates strengthen Minnesota’s workforce and communities.
These stories from the Class of 2026 reflect the many ways liberal arts students are preparing to make a difference — in their professions and in the lives of the people around them.
