Wayne Ndlovu ’22

Describe your major completely incorrectly.
We go for hikes, eat our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Oreos then take lots of random pictures of streams, fossils, rocks and soils then call it a day. Nothing too sciency.

What would you do with your major if you knew you could not fail?
I would come up with a solution to provide everyone with clean and safe water.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share about your time at Smith?
Throughout my time at Smith, I have seen that the professors/instructors and work supervisors here care a lot about us and are always ready to give me advice. If you ever need advice, never hesitate to talk to them!

Professors, instructors and work supervisors here care a lot about us and are always ready to give me advice. If you ever need advice, never hesitate to talk to them!

Describe one moment with friends or classmates that particularly sticks with you.
I attended Trevor Noah’s show that was at UMass a couple of years ago with my friend Matlhabeli ‘22. We didn’t have the best seats, but we had an amazing time.

What has been your favorite spot on campus to brainstorm great ideas? What spot will you miss the most?
I don’t think I have ever used this spot for brainstorming any great ideas, but I love the two benches behind College Hall. Those benches have a beautiful view of downtown plus you can just sit there and listen to music.

What’s your all-time favorite Smith memory?
Summer 2020: My friend Sakaiza ‘21 and I would go for long walks around the valley every Saturday afternoon. We got to see some cool places.

What was the most challenging moment in your time at Smith?
My first year was the hardest: I was homesick and trying to adjust to the weather. I remember wanting winter to be over after the first snow, but I am slowly getting used to the winters.

A lot of Smithies talk about their mental health and it creates a safe space for people to share what they’re going through.

Which professors have had the greatest impact on you during your time at Smith?
My research advisor, Prof. Amy Rhodes, who welcomed me into her lab my first summer at Smith and has continued to mentor me throughout the years. My academic advisor Prof. Jack Loveless made sure I took classes that I would enjoy and helped me think a lot about what I want to do after graduating. Prof. Ben Baumer always gave me the best advice and his classes helped me become a better data scientist. Prof. Katherine Kinnaird and Prof. Will Hooper who I took my first statistics class with and encouraged me to double major. My goal is to become a hydrologist and I have had the chance to take classes and be advised by two amazing hydrologists, Prof. Bob Newton and Prof. Drew Guswa.

What was the best advice about your major that you were ever given?
Take good field notes!!!

What do you think has been the most “Smithie” thing you’ve done in life so far?
Talking about self-care with almost everyone. I think a lot of Smithies talk about their mental health and it creates a safe space for people to share what they’re going through.