Hali Pregnall

Hometown

Poughkeepsie, NY
(Arlington High School)

Major

Biology
Marine Science minor

Why W&M

Whenever I think about William & Mary, I immediately think of the community. When I first came to the campus, I felt immediately welcomed and I saw how supportive and passionate the faculty were. The professors actually want to work and interact with undergraduates, and the work they do is important to them. It was refreshing to be in such a positive and collaborative environment, where people value and recognize each other's strengths. When I walked around campus, I felt encouraged and right at home rather than overwhelmed. Academics and liberal arts are important to me, but beyond that, I can see myself growing as a person both in knowledge, character, and self-awareness here. I also know that I will always have a family at William & Mary. There are opportunities here for everyone, whether your goal is to gain experience, to meet people, or just to enjoy yourself. On Day for Admitted Students, the phrase that stuck with me was, "Those that come here, belong here." I think that sums up William & Mary to me.

W&M Activities

Co-Captain of the Club Field Hockey Team
Vice President of Syndicate, the student-run, student-choreographed hip-hop dance club
Orientation Aide for transfer, exchange, and non-traditional students
Intramural sports
Member of Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society)

Research

My sophomore year, I joined Professor Jon Allen's Marine Invertebrate research lab and got to work on my own project. I raised sea stars from fertilization through larvae until they settled as juveniles and was measuring their growth in natural seawater compared to artificial seawater ("instant ocean").

Summer 2019

I worked as an Undergraduate Intern for William and Mary's Office of First Year Experience. I assisted in preparation for New Student Orientation. After three times being an Orientation Aide, I was able to use my experience to improve the training manual for incoming OAs and help students learn how to lead inclusive dialogues following our mandatory presentations called One Tribe Many Stories and Making a Tribe Choice.

Spring 2019

I studied in Atenas, Costa Rica through the School for Field Studies. The program was called Sustainable Development Studies. We learned about environmental justice and ethics, natural resource management and agriculture, climate change, and tropical ecology. I got a lot of hands on experience and was able to continue learning Spanish. Towards the end of the semester, I joined a professor on a research project about agroforestry and biodiversity on coffee farms.

Summer 2018

I worked as an Undergraduate Intern for the Parks Research Lab under Professor Dorothy Ibes. I helped improve and update our database of greenspaces in the Greater Williamsburg Area. I also worked on several initiatives in the PRL to help students and community members benefit from greenspaces.

August 2017

I had the privilege of traveling to North Wales for a field course in Coastal Marine Ecology taught by VIMS professors. The opportunity to travel and explore while working hands-on in intertidal zones, salt marshes and mud flats was my absolute dream come true.