Women’s Studies major, Chemistry and Critical Studies of Race and Ethnicity minors
Undergraduate Day
The idea of women’s college first attracted Kelsey Hjelmeland ’07 when she visited St. Kate’s as a high school student. “I visited other colleges, but I always found myself comparing them to St. Kate’s,” she says.
Today, as she applies to medical school, Hjelmeland recognizes her first impression was correct. She believes St. Kate’s fosters an open atmosphere in classes and encourages students to work closely with professors, and she plans to apply the lessons she is learning here as she works to realize her dream of providing medical care to underserved women.
“Academic departments from Chemistry to Women's Studies have sparked my passion for women’s health and have given me the knowledge to effectively work in this field,” Hjelmeland says, noting that on-campus opportunities from volunteering to leadership positions have given her the confidence and drive needed to succeed in medical school and as a physician.
For example, Hjelmeland says her work with the St. Kate’s chapter of Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) opened her eyes to the plight of battered women, an experience that eventually led her to join Women Helping Women, a group of St. Kate’s students who volunteer regularly at St. Anne’s women’s shelter. “St. Kate’s has motivated me and provided me with the tools to become the most outstanding student, leader and community member that I can be.”