Louisa Goldman wins 2020 Charles W. Bassett Prize

The American Studies faculty are pleased to award Louisa Goldman the 2020 Charles W. Bassett Prize in American Studies. Professor Bassett established the American Studies major at Colby in 1971. This prize honors his intellectual vision and his memory as a beloved teacher at Colby. Each spring it is awarded to one or more graduating seniors for outstanding achievement in the major.

Louisa’s senior honors thesis examines the anti-vaccination movement in Maine, analyzing the role that social media plays in anti-vaxx networks. Louisa is the Editor-in-Chief of the Colby Echo. She has worked as a lab assistant at the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, in addition to volunteering at multiple clinics and hospitals in Maine, and plans to attend medical school in 2021.

Of her experience as an American Studies major Louisa writes, “The American Studies Program at Colby has provided me with a unique set of tools through which to interpret the ever-changing world. Not only has the four-year curriculum allowed me to hone my skills as a critical thinker, but it has dramatically enhanced my ability to clearly convey thoughts through the written word. As I look to enter the field of medicine, I cherish the fact that I am now equipped to better understand the complexities of our modern society.”

Congratulations, Louisa!