Alumni Spotlight: Rachel Roddy, '22

What was your major? Why did you choose it? 

I majored in classical civilizations and chose Latin as my language focus. I came to UC Davis as an undeclared humanities major and planned to attend law school. At orientation, I met with an academic advisor who suggested I major in anything I thought I could get good grades. I am forever thankful she did not simply encourage me to pursue political science. In my first  quarter, I enrolled in Major Works of the Ancient World (COM 001), which whet my appetite for antiquity. However, an online summer 2020 session of Greek and Latin Word Roots (CLA 030) with Professor Brelinski finalized my decision. I had submitted a petition to declare my major before the fall quarter began. I am a far different person thanks to the UC Davis classics  department, and I am so grateful to the luck and impassioned staff that helped me land there. 

What are you up to now? 

I am in the second semester of my first (1L) year at Columbia Law School in New York City. I am pursuing my J.D. and LL.M. in the dual degree program with the Institute of Finance and  Technology in Frankfurt. The course load has been heavy but manageable thanks to the wicked  reading and comprehension skills instilled in me by the Classics Department. 

How did your experience at UC Davis prepare you for the next step in your academic journey? 

My major prepared me to be a speedy, thorough reader of challenging material, expanding my  vocabulary and keeping me accustomed to reading things I did not understand. These skills are priceless in law school, both for class preparation and exams. Additionally, the law borrows quite a few legal phrases from Latin, and my professors and classmates love to keep me on my toes by asking for on-the-spot translations. Though it felt stressful initially, I adore how much law school allows me to continue leveraging my interest in Latin and Rome in my studies. 

Before accepting my offer of admission to Columbia Law School (CLS), Jane Ginsburg (yes, RBG's daughter), a professor at CLS, reached out to say she was particularly interested in enticing classics majors to come to Columbia. She has an ongoing research project involving transcribing and translating Latin documents from the Vatican Secret Archives concerning 16th-century printing privileges (essentially, a precursor to copyright), for which she recruits student research assistants. This offer naturally floored me and greatly influenced my excitement to attend CLS! It’s 16th-century papal bureaucratic Latin, so wish me luck as I branch out of my classical comfort zone. 

What's your advice for someone considering this major? 

If you are considering pursuing law school, make sure you have a passion for your chosen major.  At one point, I was nervous about selecting classical civilizations because I knew most other  pre-law students were tackling political science, and my decision might make me stand out. I  could not have been more right. Not only did classics allow me to stand out in a great way,  but I was able to spend my college experience enthralled with the material.

Do you have a professor you want to shout out? 

Professor Cruz enthralled me from the start in Classical Receptions (CLA 101D). Her enthusiasm, wisdom, and kindness made the learning experience joyful. Seeing Professor Cruz's engagement and delivery made me consider an eventual career in academia, something that law school has only further developed.