Lila Brown ’26 (environmental science, pre-health) is a dual student-athlete who’s highly accomplished in academics, on the field and on the court. Drawn to Dickinson because of its soccer program and its commitment to sustainability, environmental education and active learning, she declared a major in environmental science and also takes pre-health courses. With faculty guidance and a targeted internship, she’s preparing for a career in medicine.
Washington, D.C.
Major:
Environmental science; pre-health track
Clubs and organizations:
Women’s Soccer, Women’s Squash, Environmental Studies Majors Committee, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women (vice president, risk management) and Liberty Cap Society (tour guide).
Honors/scholarships/awards:
1783 Scholarship, Alpha Lambda Delta, 2024 1st Team All-Centennial Conference, 2024 United Soccer Coaches Division III 1st Team All-Region V, 2024 Centennial Conference Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2023 2nd Team All-Centennial Conference, 2023-24 Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll, 2023-34 Centennial Conference Academic All-Conference and Dean’s List (five semesters).
Best thing about my Dickinson experience so far:
The best thing about my Dickinson experience so far has been the people I have met and the supportive communities I’ve found through my experiences in athletics and academics and socially. I’m given the opportunity to learn from other students and faculty who are eager to support those around them. My teammates support me not just in soccer and squash, but in all aspects of my college life. The people around me make it so much easier for me to be myself—and, therefore, be at my best—in every aspect of college life.
Best thing about my major:
The incredible faculty at Dickinson go above and beyond to foster students’ success. I hope to go to medical school upon graduation, which is unusual for an environmental-science major, and I was nervous about how my experiences in the environmental field would be able to shape my future in healthcare. Despite my initial concern, every professor I have worked with has done their best to shape my learning into something that can be applicable in multiple fields. My professors and advisors have also encouraged me to continue pursuing my multidisciplinary interests through research and classes that may have overlap.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… a surgeon.
About my internship:
During summer 2024, I interned at UPMC and had the opportunity to shadow people working in various specialties. At the end of the summer, I presented to the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation Board of Directors. This experience opened my eyes to all that a future in healthcare can offer and also provided valuable experience in communication and public speaking.
I was initially drawn to the internship for the wide variety of shadowing experience it offered, but I found that my most important takeaway was related to the importance of effective provider-to-provider and provider-to-patient communication.
On choosing Dickinson:
I decided to attend Dickinson for a few reasons, but the main two were soccer and the campus’s focus on sustainability. Going into college, I knew that I wanted to study environmental science, and many colleges that offer environmental programs do not have the same focus on actually doing something about current climatic challenges. Dickinson, on the other hand, is extremely active in environmentalism and makes a conscious effort to bring awareness to environmental threats and show students how they can make change on both a small and large scale. I love studying environmental science in a community that truly cares about it as much as I do. I was also recruited to play women’s soccer here at Dickinson, and I was immediately drawn in by the strong team culture and genuine bonds between teammates. Despite going through the recruiting process during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team found a way to make me feel welcome right away.
Post-Dickinson plans:
After Dickinson, I hope to attend medical school and become a physician. Prior to medical school, I plan to take two gap years to take the MCAT and work as an EMT.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
Good sleep changes everything.
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Published January 22, 2025