Bridging Art, Environment, and Public Service Through CELA</h1> <article> <h1>Bridging Art, Environment, and Public Service Through CELA</h1> <p>kviancou — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:34:39 +0000</p> <span>Bridging Art, Environment, and Public Service Through CELA</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-11T16:34:39-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - 16:34">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 16:34</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Nathaniel Liu ’26 understands why 91ֱ��’s motto, “Learning & Labor,” has stuck around so long: it’s because the <a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">Center for Engaged Liberal Arts (CELA)</a> connects students’ academic interests with real-world experiences, allowing the two to inform one another as students navigate college and life beyond 91ֱ��.</p><p>Throughout his time at 91ֱ��, Liu has participated in winter term micro-internships, which allow students to gain internship experience and winter term project credit through 91ֱ��-affiliated activities on and off campus. 91ֱ��’s <a href="/career">Career Exploration and Development</a> office, within the CELA space, sponsors the program.</p><p>First, Liu apprenticed with an 91ֱ�� alumnus at his sculpture studio in New York City. There, he applied his classroom-based photography and videography skills in a professional, day-to-day context. “I realized that while I enjoyed the work, the lifestyle of a professional artist was not for me. It was a valuable lesson: learning what you don’t want to do is as important as learning what you do.”</p><p>With new career aspirations, Liu pursued another winter term micro-internship, writing articles about climate change for the National Park Service. Although the position was cut short due to political tensions in the U.S., he retained his passion for environmental communication. “I learned that unpredictability is often the price of environmental public service, yet it only solidified my commitment to the field.”</p><p>Next, with guidance and support from CELA’s <a href="/fellowships">Fellowships and Awards</a> office, Liu applied for several prestigious fellowships and ultimately earned the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship for Environmental Studies.</p><p>Overall, CELA has honed Liu’s practical skills and clarified his future plans. “CELA has done more than just provide work experience; it has helped me identify and fill the gaps in my skill set, ensuring my education remains aligned with my professional goals.”</p><p>After graduating, Liu—a triple major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" target="_blank">environmental studies</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" target="_blank">East Asian studies</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" target="_blank">politics</a>—plans to pursue a fellowship in Asia. He looks forward to further refining his interests and goals, with the hope of returning to Maine for a long-term career in environmental public service.</p><p>Liu is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through an arts apprenticeship, climate communication, and a Udall Scholarship, Nathaniel Liu ’26 connects experiential learning with a career in environmental public service.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-11T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4074">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4154">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4095">Environmental Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4080">Fellowships</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Finding a Balance</h1> <p>awillia2 — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:59:09 +0000</p> <span>Finding a Balance</span> <span><span>awillia2</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-28T16:59:09-04:00" title="Thursday, August 28, 2025 - 16:59">Thu, 08/28/2025 - 16:59</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Attending 91ֱ�� allowed Daniela Mortazavi ’22 to pursue piano and economics—and make a difference in the college’s business major.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-11-12T12:00:00Z">Wed, 11/12/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kira Goldenberg</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When Daniela Mortazavi ’22 first decided to attend 91ֱ��, she gravitated to a school halfway across the country because she felt excited to continue focusing on piano at the conservatory in addition to immersing herself in the college’s broad coursework offerings.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3925">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4074">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4268">Business</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business" hreflang="und">Business</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Daniela Mortazavi</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-43131" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>“91ֱ�� was the place where I could take academically rigorous classes but also pursue my music alongside other serious musicians,” says the Bay Area native, who has played the instrument since the age of three. “That balance was really important for me.”</p><p>When Mortazavi graduated four years later, she still practiced piano regularly, but she did not end up majoring in music. During her time at 91ֱ��, her academic interests shifted with her exposure to 91ֱ��’s wide array of academic options. Mortazavi ended up majoring in <a href="/node/3386" target="_blank">economics</a>, minoring in <a href="/node/3341" target="_blank">East Asian studies</a>, and completing a then-brand new <a href="/node/413251" target="_blank">integrative concentration</a> in business. </p><p>“I chose econ because I found it to be a very versatile degree,” she says. “It was both qualitative and quantitative at times. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do after college, but I knew that would be flexible enough to open some doors.” </p><p>Indeed, Mortazavi parlayed her college experiences, which included three years leading the 91ֱ�� Finance Club as well as a Winter Term entrepreneurship bootcamp, into a COVID lockdown-era stint at an AI startup and then finance internships before she began her current role as an investment banking analyst at Societe Generale in New York.</p><p>“The job I’m currently in, which is Equity Capital Markets within investment banking, has a lot to do with the concepts you learn in economics,” she says. "But I was able to differentiate myself through the other courses I took at 91ֱ��. Whether that was physics, philosophy, or art history — the whole liberal arts curriculum allowed me to be adaptable in learning new concepts and approach problem solving with a diverse set of perspectives.”</p><p>Mortazavi is among those alumni offering Associate Professor of Business Eric Lin input on curriculum development for the new <a href="/node/322196" target="_blank">business major</a> that launched in fall 2025. She’s also working with Lin to “assemble this bullpen of alumni to strengthen our connectivity” with current students, so Obies interested in finance have more mentorship and networking opportunities.</p><p>“I see how so many of these 91ֱ�� alums go out of their way to help other Obies,” she says. “The nature of those relationships has influenced my desire to give back.”</p><hr><p><em>When you </em><a href="/node/322196" target="_blank"><em>major in business at 91ֱ��</em></a><em>, you have access to powerful networking opportunities with alumni who are as creative and aspirational as you are. Learn more about this course of study, whether you’re diving into the corporate sector, launching a freelance consulting career, or even opening your own business. </em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Haoyuan Gao Wins 91ֱ��'s 2024 Nexial Prize</h1> <p>azaleski — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:13:24 +0000</p> <span>Haoyuan Gao Wins 91ֱ��'s 2024 Nexial Prize</span> <span><span>azaleski</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-10T16:13:24-04:00" title="Monday, June 10, 2024 - 16:13">Mon, 06/10/2024 - 16:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Haoyuan Gao ’24, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" target="_blank">biology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" target="_blank">neuroscience</a> double major with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/book-studies" target="_blank">book studies</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" target="_blank">chemistry</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" target="_blank">East Asian Studies</a>, has been named the winner of 91ֱ��’s 2024 Nexial Prize, an honor presented to an outstanding science student with aspirations for interdisciplinary research.</p> <p>The $50,000 cash award may be used in any way the recipient wishes.</p> <p>“With my background in biological sciences, book studies, and East Asian studies, I would like to dive into understanding the history of science in East Asia, which has long been overlooked,” says Gao, whose hometown is Beijing, China. “My knowledge of critical thinking, book and religious history, and the Chinese language will enable me to navigate through both primary sources written in classical languages and secondary sources written by contemporary scholars in both the West and the East.”<br> <br> For the next two years, Gao will be a research associate at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, as part of a team studying natural variations of the human brain. After that, he plans to apply for PhD programs in biology or neuroscience, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor. </p> <p>At 91ֱ��, Gao conducted independent honors research with Associate Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/christopher-howard" target="_blank">Christopher Howard</a>, using fiber photometry to study the interactions between striatal patches and midbrain dopamine neurons and their roles in locomotor function, reward prediction, and action selection. He also studied the polymerization mechanisms of a bacterial tubulin-homologous protein TubZ with Associate Professor of Biology <a href="/laura-romberg" target="_blank">Laura Romberg</a>. </p> <p>Gao’s knowledge of Chinese calligraphy led him to teach a course on calligraphy through 91ֱ��’s Experimental College, or <a href="http://go.oberlin.edu/exco-catalog" target="_blank">ExCo</a>, as well as a library-sponsored workshop. He was inspired to minor in East Asian Studies and book studies after taking the course Buddhism in East Asia with <a href="/andrew-macomber" target="_blank">Andrew Macomber</a>, assistant professor of East Asian religions.<br> <br> “As a STEM major student with interest in arts and humanities, I used to think that it was hard to find connections between them, but book studies formed a bridge between these two paths,” Gao says. “More importantly, it forms connections between different cultures and opens new angles to view the world…. Books from ancient times opened a window for me to get to know how our ancestors look at the world.”<br> </p> <p>His research and studies focused on the East Asian rare book collections in 91ֱ��’s <a href="https://libraries.oberlin.edu/libraries/terrell-special-collections" target="_blank">Terrell Special Collections</a>, encompassing things like cataloging and scanning Chinese rare books and using the <a href="https://libraries.oberlin.edu/collections/special-collections/mary-ainsworth-collection-of-japanese-illustrated-books/about-the-collection" target="_blank">Mary A. Ainsworth Collection of Illustrated Japanese Books</a> for a final paper in Macomber’s course Haunted Archipelago.<br> <br> “In particular, Haoyuan was looking to reveal how aquatic animals native to the archipelago or imported from abroad influenced the historical imagination of supernatural creatures of the rivers, mountains, and seas in Japan,” Macomber says. “This is a highly original topic, one that creatively incorporates Haoyuan’s knowledge in biology, environmental studies, and East Asian religion.<br> <br> “Haoyuan’s projects are clearly driven by a desire to understand the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, and the ways that humans construct knowledge—whether scientific or religious—to make sense of that world,” Macomber adds. “His highly original and creative investigations into the intersections between nature and culture make him eminently suitable for the Nexial Prize.”</p> <p>Presented annually, the Nexial Prize honors a member of the graduating class whose science studies are complemented by a profound interest in the study of culture and who demonstrates excellence in the pursuit of interdisciplinary research. The prize was created by an alumnus to recognize the influence of 91ֱ��’s liberal arts education on his successful career as a scientist and manager and his intellectual and cultural growth. The winner is determined by a faculty panel.</p> <p>The first Nexial Prize was presented in 2017. Following is a complete list of past winners:</p> <p><a href="/news/college-awards-first-ever-nexial-prize">Adam Chazin-Gray ’17</a> (biology)</p> <p><a href="/news/emilie-lozier-18-wins-50000-science-prize">Emilie Lozier ’18</a> (chemistry and French)</p> <p><a href="/news/jane-sedlak-19-studies-chemistry-wildfire-smoke">Jane Sedlak ’19</a> (chemistry)</p> <p><a href="/news/monica-dix-receives-2020-nexial-prize">Monica Dix ’20</a> (geology and politics)</p> <p><a href="/news/janet-wu-21-earns-oberlins-nexial-prize-2021">Janet Wu ’21</a> (neuroscience, biology, and piano performance)</p> <p><a href="/news/marwan-ghanem-22-receives-nexial-prize">Marwan Ghanem ’22</a> (biology and neuroscience)</p> <p><a href="/news/alli-roshni-wins-nexial-prize-2023" target="_blank">Alli Roshni ’23</a> (biology and economics)</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">$50K award honors a graduating science student with a passion for interdisciplinary research.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-06-11T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4073">Book Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4074">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/andrew-macomber" hreflang="und">Andrew Macomber</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christopher-howard" hreflang="und">Christopher Howard</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laura-romberg" hreflang="und">Laura Romberg</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/book-studies" hreflang="und">Book Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Haoyuan Gao, 91ֱ��'s 2024 Nexial Prize Winner</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>