Senior Spotlight: Amelia Donnellan
Amelia Donnellan is a senior in Kinesiology who plans to work as an EMT after graduation before applying to PA school.
Who are some people you feel have contributed to your success at UMass?
My academic advisors Leeanne Leclerc and BZ Catalano in the Kinesiology department were incredible in helping me balance a dual degree in Kinesiology and Psychology, a Spanish minor, Honors College requirements, and the pre-PA track through their scheduling flexibility. Dr. Sofiya Alhassan, head of the Pediatric Physical Activity Lab, expanded my understanding of healthcare by assigning Medical Apartheid, which revealed medical disparities as deliberately built into the system rather than accidents or individual biases. Professor Richard Van Emmerik also made an incredible impact by sponsoring my honors thesis, "Bilingualism as a Neuromechanical Intervention," allowing me to explore connections between kinesiology, psychology, and bilingualism in relation to Alzheimer's progression. Without these mentors, I could not have completed all my academic goals or graduated with honors.
What is your favorite UMass memory?
It is so hard to choose just one, but I guess I have to choose taking late-night walks on campus. There was something so calm about walking for hours after dark, talking about everything from existential crises to stupid inside jokes. The skies in Amherst are so clear and full of stars, and I loved finding shortcuts around campus with my friends. To be honest, I have no idea what we even talked about on most of those walks, just that I was making connections with people in a way that mattered.
What surprised you most about your major?
What surprised me most is how broadly applicable Kinesiology is. I came in thinking it was just for physical therapy or athletic training, but I quickly met peers on completely different paths, like pre-med, pre-PA, OT, PT, AT, and nursing. I even met someone recently who is using Kinesiology as a foundation for radiology school. That flexibility made me feel like I didn’t have to lock in my career at 18, and it opened my eyes to how many ways there are to help people.
What’s next after UMass?
I plan to work as an EMT for a few years to gain hands-on clinical experience, then apply to PA school. But I’m keeping an open mind. My time at UMass, juggling a dual degree, a lab position, rugby, peer advising. etc., taught me that the best paths are often the ones you don’t plan. So while PA school is the goal right now, I’m excited to let my EMT work shape what comes next.
What made your UMass experience special or unique?
At UMass, I am not just a Kinesiology major; I am also a Psychology major, a Spanish minor, an Honors College student, a peer advisor, a lab researcher, a pre-PA student, and a rugby player. Each of those roles introduced me to people from different backgrounds, with different goals and different ways of thinking. Instead of being stuck in one bubble with people who all thought the same way as me, I learned to translate between worlds, bridge different perspectives, move between different circles, and find common ground across them. I want to carry this forward into healthcare, where you have to understand patients, colleagues, and systems that don’t always speak the same language.