Meet Mia Remington ’28

Mia Remington '28

Majors: Global politics and Chinese
Minor:Poverty and human capability studies
Hometown: Medfield, Massachusetts

Why did you choose to come to W&L?

I was first drawn to W&L because of the way the school supports you as a whole person, not just as a student. When I came for Johnson Weekend in my senior year, I fell in love, especially when I learned about the opportunity to join the choir. Ultimately, I knew W&L could feel like a second home to me and provide me with great opportunities and even better community.

Have you discovered a course or topic that you didn't expect to study when you first came to W&L?

I don't think I ever guessed I would take a class about hydrology, but last term I took Earth's Freshwater: Hydrologic System Science with Professor Chakraborty. I loved this class because we learned about how water scarcity and natural disasters can affect different geographic areas, bridging environmental science with poverty studies.

Where is your "home" on campus?

I have two homes on campus - Mattingly House and the Lenfest Center. If you can't find me, usually I am in the Mattingly Living Room, studying or just chatting with friends. I love being able to talk to such driven, like-minded people who want to make an impact on the world. If I'm not there, I'm at the Lenfest Center where I have choir rehearsal almost every day. The opportunity to sing here has been one of my greatest highlights thus far, and I know the people I have met through the music program will stay in my life forever.

What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus?

My most impactful experience at W&L was my internship last summer through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty, which I learned about through the W&L Shepherd Program. I was placed in Greensboro, North Carolina, working with refugee youth at New Arrivals Institute. Through this internship, I created strong, meaningful relationships with refugee children as I helped them adapt to American lifestyle and strengthen their English, and planned enriching activities like music, sports and art. I am so grateful for this summer because it taught me the true meaning of community and supporting one another cross-culturally.

Who is your mentor on campus, and how have they helped you develop as a student?

There are so many people that I look up to on this campus, but I will name a few that have pushed me to be my best self. To start, Professor Howard Pickett, Professor Jon Eastwood, Professor Stu Gray, Professor Yanhong Zhu, Professor Lacey Lynch, Dr. Shane Lynch and Ryan Brink have all supported me in both academic endeavors and extracurriculars. When people say that the faculty and staff at W&L truly want you to succeed, these people are perfect representations. On the student side, Kaitlin Silva '26 and Jaeya Taxali '26 are two amazing mentors who inspire me to take risks and take advantage of all opportunities.

What was your favorite class and why?

My favorite class was definitely Introduction to Political Philosophy taught by Professor Gray. When I first came to the school, I was told I had to take this class by so many students, and I went to Professor Gray's office hours before the registration period for two terms just to try and get in. Safe to say, this class truly changed my way of thinking. I learned so much about both Western and non-Western political philosophy, which I appreciated because often political philosophy is taught through one lens only. I especially loved learning about Chinese political philosophy because I want to focus on U.S.-China relations in the future, and this provided much-needed background.

What are your hobbies/interests?

I love playing music, singing, running, reading, volunteering and playing tennis. One of my favorite parts of the W&L campus is how close we are to both the Woods Creek and Chessie trails. Whenever I need time to unwind, I love running or walking on the trails and being out in nature.

How has W&L helped you develop and pursue those interests?

The Shepherd Program has allowed me to volunteer at so many locations. As part of my POV 102 class with Professor Jenny Davidson, I was able to help out in a third-grade classroom at Enderly Heights Elementary. This made me further realize how important it is for children to grow up with a solid education. Related to this, at Campus Kitchen, we have a backpack program for the local schools where we provide little bags of snacks for the children. Packing, distributing and then seeing these backpacks in classrooms has been an amazing, full-circle moment. Further, W&L has truly helped cultivate my love for music through University Singers. Being able to create a community with such a talented group of people has really allowed me to understand the importance of the arts for communication and connection.

What has been your greatest accomplishment since arriving at W&L?

My greatest accomplishment has been helping to create a SNAP Outreach Committee at Campus Kitchen where we've partnered with Rockbridge Area Relief Association and our Mobile Food Pantry Program to spread the word about SNAP benefits. This is a pilot program, and I've loved getting to know more about SNAP policy through it while also being able to talk to fellow community members. I hope that this program can grow and continue through training SNAP Ambassadors and recruiting more local partners.

Have you studied abroad during your time at W&L? Where did you go, and how was your experience?

I will be studying abroad for the first time this Spring Term as I am headed to Shanghai on a Chinese language-focused trip. I will continue studying abroad this summer with the London Internship Program, where I will be interning at a London firm and taking a politics class called Contemporary Britain. In the fall, I'm off to Beijing with the Middlebury Language Schools to take classes in Chinese and Chinese politics.

How have your experiences at W&L prepared you for post-graduate success?

At W&L, I've learned how to take on challenges and clearly communicate, while also becoming more independent in my learning. I believe these three aspects will take me far in my professional life, and I'm thankful for how much I can continue to learn over the next two years.

Who or what inspires you?

My parents and my grandparents! I truly wouldn't be here without their love and support.