Emma O'Polka Armah ’12

Hometown: Grinnell, Iowa

Degree: B.A. (Grinnell College)

Undergraduate majors: Gender, women’s, and sexuality studies & theatre and dance

What I love about my territory: I love meeting students with such a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, even from nearby. My territory has deepened my understanding of the American Midwest, and I enjoy helping shed a new light on Grinnell for students who may not have considered attending college somewhat close to home. When I travel to states like Texas and Wisconsin, it’s a treat to spend time by big water and eat ALL the seafood.

What I love about Grinnell: It is just such a unique place! Grinnell has a cosmopolitan campus environment with a rootedness in — and strong ethic of service toward — rural issues.

Hobbies/activities: Growing plants brings me so much joy. During the Iowa growing season, you can often find me in the vegetable garden or tending to prairie pollinator patches around my home. I also enjoy cooking (and eating!) the food that I grow, biking on Iowa's endless gravel roads, reading sci-fi, and cuddling with my cat, Circe.

Advice about searching for schools: When you're researching schools, sign up for opportunities to connect with current students; those interactions will give you the most authentic sense of a college’s community and culture.

Advice about applying to schools: Ask your high school teachers early on for those letters of recommendation! No matter how much a particular teacher likes you, the first 20 letters they write will be better than the last 20