Through internships in high school, Cassie discovered her passion for criminal justice, leading her to pursue a degree in criminology that supports her career and personal growth. She also has a love for math!

One of her favorite classes has been the Honors Seminar: Women, Crime, and Violence. Cassie chose the University of Iowa for its highly ranked criminology program, particularly wanting to work with renowned researchers like Karen Heimer. When she visited the campus, it felt like home to her.

One of her standout experiences was attending a reading by one of her favorite poets, Hanif Abdurraqib, for free as an Iowa Honors student. She was thrilled to hear him discuss his creative process in person.

As a sophomore, she had the memorable opportunity to be an undergraduate research assistant, gaining hands-on experience while working on a project she is truly passionate about.

Cassie’s advice to incoming students is to “join all the different clubs that interest you. Not every one of them will stick, but I promise you will find your people!”