Meet Our Whitties: Liam Twomey '21

Meet Our Whitties is an occasional feature produced by the Office of Communications. It features a Q&A with students from across Whitman College.

Liam Twomey '21
Clinton, Washington
Chemistry

What brought you to Whitman?
I had older friends who had come to Whitman, and when I visited it had a good balance of relaxed, welcoming atmosphere and rigorous academics.

What do you do for fun?
I love the outdoors — especially hiking, mountain biking and sailing. Photography, graphic design and watercolor are also hobbies I enjoy. In addition, I play trombone in several of the ensembles within the music department.

What is the best class you've taken so far?
Organic Chemistry II, closely followed by History of the Ancient Mediterranean, and Data Structures.

What do you want to do after Whitman?
Ideally, I'd like to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry, but otherwise I would get a research or industry position related to chemistry.

How do you connect to the Walla Walla community?
The main way I connect to the Walla Walla community is through the Music Department, as their concerts provide a good space for students and adults with shared interests in music to socialize. The Science Outreach program also does a great job providing spaces for Whitman students, professors and the Walla Walla community to share their enthusiasm for the sciences.

What is your favorite thing about being a student here?
Whitman's student body isn't huge and anonymous. Walking around and feeling like you either know most people you see within two or three degrees of separation makes the college feel like a much more cohesive, welcoming and manageable community.

What's the best thing about studying chemistry at Whitman?
The faculty is extremely skilled at teaching and in their field, very accessible and available, and friendly. The Chemistry Department is a pleasantly tight-knit and amicable community. The student-to-faculty ratio is also very low, so there are plenty of opportunities for research and one-on-one interaction. Overall, it's quite clear that professors are highly invested in the success and learning of their students, and peers support each other in that regard as well.