Student Ambassador Spotlight: Sophia Maynard

Meet Sophia Maynard, a Political Science student from Tallahassee, Florida. Sophia hosts a weekend radio show on campus with KUGS, and in her future, she wants to work on a political campaign and possibly as a committee aid! She also has ambitions to go to law school on the east coast after graduating from Western!

Student name, pronouns, year, hometown, anticipated grad year, major/area of academic interest

My name is Sophia Maynard, my pronouns are she/her, I am currently a 2nd year (sophomore), and I was born in Tallahassee, FL, but I lived in Olympia, WA before coming to Western.  I am anticipating graduating in the Spring 2027 with a degree in Political Science with two minors in Economics and Law, Diversity, and Justice. 

Why did you choose Western?

I chose Western because I felt I had a more diverse environment to explore as many different things as I wanted to. I went from Environmental Science to Film Studies, to Theater, to Political Science and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to try all of those things. It was also more affordable as I had two older sisters who enrolled in college at the same time the year before me, so Western was a better option for me to enter higher education. Also, Bellingham is a beautiful city, and I have a lovely great aunt who lives here who I like to go hiking with. 

What do you like about Western?

I like the incredibly interesting classes available here. This is definitely a minority opinion here, but I really respect the GUR requirement because I get to take a wide variety of courses. My first quarter I took a Humanities of India class, and I still think about it to this day. Alot of the professors here are incredibly engaging and genuinely care about the students. I had a wonderful English 101 professor named Abby Kidd who encouraged me to undertake a project I genuinely cared about with all the time I needed to produce some analysis on Women and Humor Studies (an incredible niche that I became really passionate about). I always feel like there are great opportunities to really excel in the courses I take and go beyond if that is something I want. 

How is your student ambassador experience? What are your duties?

I sign up for whatever events I am available for, but the events I love working on the most are dinners (yum) and games. I just worked my first Scholarship Recipients dinner last week where I got to talk with donors and the recipients of the scholarships they give to, which was an incredible experience to witness that level of philanthropy and gratitude. I like games because I love watching sports, but I do not always have the time to go and watch the Western games so being able to turn that into work is like my own cheat code. 

Which professors do you work with? What is your favorite class? If not in a declared major yet, what is your area of interest?

I am not working with any professors right now per say, but I am mostly taking Poli Sci and Econ classes right now. My favorite class of all time was PLSC 315 Intro to the Law and Legal System with Professor Paul Chen. It made me incredibly passionate about law and it is what led me to apply for my minor. My favorite class right now is my Contemporary Political Theory class with Professor Shirin Deylami. I read The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt which was a really thought-provoking book, and I enjoyed analyzing it in class. 

Are you the beneficiary of philanthropy at Western (scholarship, grant, travel experience, etc)? If so, how has that made a difference for you? If not, are any of your friends or classmates, and if so, what impact has it had on them?

My incredible roommate is the beneficiary of philanthropy at Western. She is a Biology Major, and she is truly able to follow her passions with a clear and supported path in front of her. 

What would you like to say to a someone who has made a gift to support Western students and programs?

My mother is a child of immigrants, she broke through insurmountable systemic barriers to go to college and law school and work her way through her early career to support my sisters and me. One thing she always used to tell me was "Your education is the one thing no one can take from you". The support that our donors have provided to Western's students fulfils my mother's message. Empowering the next generation to gain a post-secondary credential is invaluable. From the bottom of my heart, I am incredibly grateful for the donors who in some way contribute to my education, and to my fellow students. 

What do you do when you aren’t in class?

Usually working. I have a great second job with the university's Office of Civic Engagement where I can fully nerd out about elections. When I am not doing that, I am usually working out at the Rec center, or I am watching movies with my roommate and then being pretentious about them on Letterbox. I also love to explore Downtown Bellingham on the weekends! SI love the Bagelry, Worn Again Thrift, and the Pickford.

Where is your happy place either on campus or in Bellingham?

My happy place is the KUGS DJ Booth. I have an hour-long "Music for the Masses" variety show that I do on Saturdays, and it is just the perfect way to end my week. I discovery new artists and since I have a late show (9-10pm in case anyone wants to tune in) I get to blast the music in the studio. 

What are your professional dreams and goals? Where could you see yourself in five years?

I want to continue to be involved in politics (whether that's local or national). I would love to work on a campaign and then maybe work as a committee aid. I also have ambitions to go to law school on the east coast but we will see how that goes!