Taking College by Storm
Student Snapshot: Amiya Marbles ’26
“I've done everything I said I'd do," says Amiya Marbles '26 (geosciences)—and that is saying something! An active student leader involved with many campus clubs and organizations, this Posse Scholar conducted original research and presented it at the American Geophysical Union, volunteered internationally and worked and interned at Dickinson and beyond. She also took part in a public-history project and attended professional conferences. And now, she's fulfilling a lifelong dream as she studies abroad in Africa. She plans to one day found a nonprofit.
Hometown:
Radcliff, Ky.
High school:
Rancho Dominguez Preparatory High School.
Major:
On choosing Dickinson:
Posse is the main reason I attended Dickinson. Knowing that I would be going from the West Coast to the East Coast with nine other people was comforting.
Best thing about my Dickinson experience:
The opportunities I have received. There are too many to pick just one, but what stands out the most to me are the friendships and professional connections Dickinson has brought me. They wouldn't have been possible without Dickinson.
Best thing about my major:
How tightknit my department is, with long nights laughing and studying together. I love that I know all my professors by their first name—and that they know my character and learning style.
Favorite class:
African American Woman Writers with Associate Professor of Africana Studies Lynn Johnson. Hearing the tales of Black women and reading Black women authors was so beneficial.
Favorite professor:
Associate Professor of Geosciences Jorden Hayes has been by my side through all the challenges I have faced. She has helped me learn to navigate this world as a female geoscientist, and she is one of the most genuine women I have ever met.
On studying abroad:
I am currently studying abroad in Cameroon, Africa. Traveling to Africa has been one of my biggest dreams since I was a little girl, and Dickinson has made it possible for my dreams to come true. I’m definitely enjoying the little things, like getting a taxi on my own and travelling to the west of Cameroon.
About my internship:
I participated in GNOMES, Geophysics of the Near-surface, an Outdoor Motivational Experience, which gave me the amazing opportunity to learn so many skills in geophysics and conduct research.
About my research:
During my time at GNOMES, I researched the critical zone structure at two catchments in Baltimore, using ground penetration. I had the opportunity to present my research at AGU, the American Geophysical Union, which was in San Francisco, Calif., that year. This gave me the inspiration to continue with geoscience.
I also took part in the Craig Cemetery Harrisburg Amtrak Exhibit, which helped shed light on the stories of a family that was once enslaved. The exhibit is still in the Harrisburg Amtrak station.
Post-Dickinson plans:
After Dickinson, I plan to take a year off and gain experience in fundraising and the nonprofit sector before attending grad school with the intention of getting an MPA, a master's in public administration, and starting my own nonprofit to help the Black community.
Proudest accomplishment so far:
I’ve taken Dickinson by storm: taking service trips, studying abroad, doing jobs from driving the safety shuttle to working in the advancement office and participating in many clubs. I did everything I said I would. I’m proud of the woman I have become in the last four years, and I can thank Dickinson for that.
Clubs and organizations:
Black Girl Chronicles, ACE Peer Mentor, Afro Diasporic Cultural Collective, Philanthropy Fellow and the Popel Shaw Center For Race & Ethnicity (student-worker).
Honors/scholarships/awards:
The Henry Hanson Research Prize in Geology, Samuel G. Rose Scholarship and Posse Foundation Scholarship.
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Published December 8, 2025