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Ask a Swattie

Swarthmore students sit in white chairs on the porch of Parrish Hall

Want to learn more about Swarthmore by speaking directly with a current student? We encourage you to reach out to these Swatties ​to hear about their experiences. Prospective international students can find current international Swarthmore students on our Ask an International Swattie page. Prospective transfer students can find current Swarthmore students who transferred to Swarthmore on our Ask a Transfer Swattie page.

Ask a Swattie

Sander Simon ’26

Sander Simon ’26

Sander Simon ’26 is a hometown resident of Swarthmore, PA. He is considering a biology major with a Spanish minor. Outside of academics, Sander participates in the Good Food Garden club, providing food for a vegan cooking club on campus named Herbivores. He is also an avid singer in Chorus and takes voice lessons with the college as well. He is always excited to answer any questions you might have! Sander can be contacted at ssimon2@swarthmore.edu.

Jimin Lee smiles at the camera.

Jimin Lee ’24

Jimin Lee ’24 was born in South Korea but grew up in Saudi Arabia. She is pursuing a special major in psychology and educational studies on the pre-law track. Outside of academics, she is currently a research assistant in the Education Department, Head Tour Guide, Senior Admissions Fellow, and Resident Advisor. You can reach Jimin at jlee16@swarthmore.edu.

Jenna Takach ’24

Jenna Takach ’24

Jenna Takach ’24 (she/they) is a first-gen student from San Antonio, TX. Contrary to the amount of time she spends in the performing arts buildings, she's actually a psychology major with minors in dance and music. On campus, they work as a Student Academic Mentor, Student Wellness Educator, and TA for the Music Department (also known as Supertonics). Her extracurricular interests include Latin ballroom and Flamenco, embroidery, and choral conducting. Ask Jenna anything about Anglican church music or study abroad, and she'll talk your ear off. You can ask them any questions at jtakach1@swarthmore.edu.

Branley Mmasi ’25

Branley Mmasi ’25

Branley Mmasi ’25 is from Kenya. He is a computer science major with a minor in cognitive science. Branley is incredibly passionate about technology and education, and believes that knowledge has the power to transform lives. He is particularly interested in how technology can be leveraged to enhance learning and make quality education more accessible.

On campus, Branley has had the privilege of working with various programs and organizations aimed at navigating barriers to education. As a Multicultural Recruitment Intern for the Admissions Office, Branley reaches out and engages with students from diverse backgrounds. He has also built relationships with affinity and identity groups such as ENLACE (Latinx student group) and Swarthmore Afro-American Student Society/Swarthmore Afro-American Student Society (SASS/SASA), helping to communicate their stories to incoming freshmen. Branley is also a resident assistant (RA) on campus, where he helps maintain the well-being of residents and organize events to address their academic, social, and personal interests. These experiences have not only deepened his understanding of the challenges many face in accessing education, but also fueled his commitment to being part of the solution.

“I’ve learned and grown so much at Swarthmore, and the most invaluable insight has been recognizing the power of sharing our experiences and stories. This practice not only enriches our academic discourse but also challenges our assumptions and binds us together, fostering a deeply interconnected community. And hey, I can’t wait to keep sharing my stories and learning from yours!” You can connect with Branley at bmmasi1@swarthmore.edu.

Emmy Li ’25

Emmy Li ’25

Emmy Li ’25 is from Richmond, Virginia. She is a double major in economics and created a special major in environmental governance and policy. Around campus, she is a tour guide, Green Advisor, student researcher, on the board for FLI Council, and in taiko (a form of traditional Japanese drumming). “I’m a low income student from a competitive high school and can talk about the differences in culture I feel here at Swarthmore and the supportive resources I’ve found. I also like to spend my time exploring nature, especially in Crum Woods." Emmy is happy to to discuss her experiences and you can reach her at eli1@swarthmore.edu.

Yiyang (Iver) Jiang ’26

Yiyang (Iver) Jiang ’26

Yiyang (Iver) Jiang ’26 is from Tianjin, China but has spent his high school years in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. He is pursuing a honors major in economics and a course major in computer science. Outside of academics, he is the co-president of the Swarthmore Chinese Society (SCS) where he helps organize cultural affinity events, festival celebrations and monthly dinners on and off campus. He is also a seasonal worker for the sustainability office. “Originally a member of the Class of 2024 and an intended history and bio double major, I took two years off during the COVID-19 pandemic. After my return to Swarthmore, I found my passion in the fields of economics and computer science and experienced a change in my academic direction. I am more than happy to talk about my experiences in Swarthmore, about my leave of absence, and how I explored my interests here.” You can contact Iver at yjiang3@swarthmore.edu.

Sophia Hitchingham ’25

Sophia Hitchingham ’25

Sophia Hitchingham ’25 is from Yardley, PA and is a double major in linguistics and math. Outside of academics, she is on the varsity field hockey team, a member of 180 Degree Consulting, a resident assistant, a tour guide for admissions, a TA for the math department, and a member of the ice hockey club! She also works on campus. You can reach Sophia at shitchi1@swarthmore.edu.

Fatima Mar ’24

Fatima Mar ’24

Fatima Mar ’24 is from Houston, TX. She is majoring in psychology and criminology. On campus, Fatima serves as a member of the College Judiciary Committee, an admissions tour guide, and is part of the archery club. She also serves as an EMERGE ambassador and SQUAD leader outside of campus. You can connect with Fatima at fmar1@swarthmore.edu.

Curious about engineering? Prospective students can reach out to current Engineering students through the Engineering Department.