Fresh Faculty: Lillian Pentecost

Lillian C. Pentecost is an assistant professor of computer science. She received a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University. She then attended Harvard University, where she received a master’s degree and doctorate degree.

Fresh Faculty: Aisha Yusuf

Aisha Yusuf is a visiting assistant professor of economics. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the American University of Nigeria at Yola, a master’s degree in economics from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a Ph.D. in economics at George Mason University.

Fresh Faculty: Ohan Breiding

Ohan Breiding is the college’s artist-in-residence for the 2022-2023 academic year. They work with photography, video, installation, and collaboration. They hold a B.A. from Scripps College and a M.F.A from California Institute of the Arts.

Fresh Faculty: Ren Wiscons

Ren Wiscons is an assistant professor of chemistry. She received her bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College, and completed a master’s degree and doctorate at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Fresh Faculty: Lee Spector

Lee Spector is a professor of computer science. He received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Oberlin College and attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he earned a Ph.D. in computer science.

Fresh Faculty: Christine Peralta

Christine Peralta is an assistant professor of history and sexuality, women and gender studies. She received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia and a doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Q: How did you become interested in history? A: It's kind of funny. A lot of people who talk about history say they hated their history classes, but I was a total nerd when it came to my history classe

Fresh Faculty: Sally Kim

Sally Kim is an assistant professor of biology and neuroscience. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Haverford College and a doctorate in biomedical sciences at the University of Texas, Houston. Q: Where were you before coming to Amherst? A: I was in Silicon Valley in the Bay Area. I was working at Stanford both doing research and teaching [undergraduates] over there. Q: What is your research and what inspired it? A: I did more bioengineering when I was at Stanford, but my la

Fresh Faculty: Nick Holschuh

Nick Holschuh is an assistant professor of geology. He received a bachelor’s degree in geology and economics from Carleton College and a doctorate in geological sciences at Pennsylvania State University. Q: What led you to pursue your field of study? A: I study the dynamics of the Antarctic ice sheet. As an undergraduate student, I knew I was excited about the earth system. I wanted to do something that was STEM-related [and] felt like it had a connection to human systems, to our health and we

Fresh Faculty: Will Rosenbaum

Will Rosenbaum is an assistant professor of computer science. He received a bachelor’s degree from Reed College. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a master’s degree and doctorate. Q: How did you become interested in computer science? A: I kind of came to computer science by accident through math. So, my undergraduate degree is in math, and actually, my Ph.D. is in math as well. When I was a graduate student at UCLA, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to sp

Fresh Faculty: Rebecca Stephens Falcasantos

Rebecca Stephens Falcasantos is an assistant professor of religion. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Creighton University, a master’s from the University of Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from Brown University. Q: What inspired you to become a scholar of religion? A: When I started college, I thought I was going to be a math major. And then I took an anthropology course, which got me really interested in the way that different people and different groups act and behave. And, so, I toyed with the

Fresh Faculty: Jacob Olshansky

Jacob Olshansky is an assistant professor of chemistry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and chemistry from Haverford College and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He comes to Amherst after completing his postdoctoral research on photoexcited charge transfer and spin dynamics in DNA at Northwestern University. Jacob Olshansky joins the chemistry department as its newest faculty member. Photo courtesy of Jacob Olshansky. Q: How did you begin

Fresh Faculty: Elizabeth Kneeland ’10

Elizabeth Kneeland ’10 is new to the college this semester as an assistant professor of psychology. Photo Courtesy of Amherst College.Elizabeth Kneeland ’10 is an assistant professor of psychology. She received a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from Amherst College in 2010 and a doctorate in philosophy and clinical psychology from Yale University in 2018. After working at McClean Hospital in Boston, she began teaching at the college in July. Q: How did you become intereste

Fresh Faculty: Mona Wu Orr

Mona Wu Orr is an assistant professor of biology.  She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Johns Hopkins University and a doctorate in biological science at the University of Maryland, College Park. She previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Health. She began at the college in September. Q: When did you first know you were into biology? What sparked your interest in the field? A: I’ve always been somewhat interested in just sciences in general. But I d

Fresh Faculty: Jallicia Jolly

Jallicia A. Jolly is a postdoctoral fellow and visiting assistant professor in American studies and Black studies. Before assuming her current positions, she earned an undergraduate degree from Williams College, went on to receive a Ph.D. in the American culture department at the University of Michigan and became a predoctoral fellow at both Amherst College and Yale University. Read her profile in The Student about a lecture Jolly gave on her forthcoming book last spring. [https://amherststuden