A Great Addition

Jaime Dodson ’26, South St. Paul, Minnesota
Majors/Minor: Math, Education; Psychology

Please tell us about yourself.

I am a junior from St. Paul, Minnesota, and have lived there most of my life. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, going for walks, and spending time outside in general. My career goal is to be a math teacher in a middle school or high school.

How did you first hear about Concordia? Why did you choose to transfer here?

I first learned of Concordia in my sophomore year of high school. I was offered a spot on a trip to stay at Concordia for a weekend in the fall. I got to stay in the dorms and experience life at Concordia. I immediately liked the small campus and the way connections between students and professors were stressed. Going to a college with small class sizes had always been a priority of mine when it came to finding a school because I knew it was where I would succeed.

What was your transfer process with Concordia like?

I had reached out to a few different schools when I was in the process of applying to colleges I might potentially transfer to, and right away Concordia had the most information available. Even just on the transfer page on Concordia’s website, there is a lot of helpful information to lay out what the process is like. The transfer staff I worked with were very proficient at answering all the questions I had along the way. I appreciated the transparency I got from the transfer representative I worked with. My transfer rep helped me see right away how my credits from my former school would transfer over. Because of this, I felt like I had a solid foundation when I got to Concordia.

What are your favorite things to do in the Fargo-Moorhead area?

My friends and I enjoy going to Atomic Coffee or Twenty Below to do homework. The Red River Market is also a fun place to go on weekends in the fall. Overall, Fargo has fun places to hang out whether it be for homework or for fun. Downtown Fargo also has some pretty good spots to eat; some of my friends like to go get pho occasionally.

Are you involved in any campus activities?

Yes, I am a member of DEIC, which stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. I am also in the Concordia Outdoor Recreation Club (CORC) and I play violin in The Concordia Orchestra.

How did you decide on your area of study?

I have had a love for math ever since middle school. When we first started learning algebraic equations, I was hooked. I love how math is like a puzzle that I get to put together and solve all the way down to a number. Then, in high school, I decided that I want to be a teacher and to teach math because I want to inspire other young girls of color, like me, to pursue careers in STEM and to be someone in their corner to fuel that interest. In high school, I would occasionally help my peers out with their math homework, and I loved watching others start to catch on and become confident in their ability to work through the problems themselves.

I want to inspire other young girls of color, like me, to pursue careers in STEM.”

Do you have a favorite course and why?

I enjoyed calculus a lot, but I think I have a love for algebra. The ways we can think about the world through algebraic expression interest me greatly. On the other hand, I have just recently started clinicals for one of my education classes, and I am learning so much through teaching and observing students in a classroom.

What do you value most about being a Cobber?

The community we have here at Concordia is incredible. The number of clubs, music ensembles, and sports teams at Concordia allows you to find a home away and helps enable you to make connections. Anytime I’m walking across campus it is likely I will see a friendly face or a friend to greet.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering transferring to Concordia?

If you are considering transferring to Concordia, I’d say make sure you do your research and reach out to the transfer staff early. The transfer staff here are some of the nicest people I know and are willing to answer any question you might have. I know the transfer process can be daunting, but transferring to Concordia has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Cobber experience?

Roll Cobbs!

Learn more about transferring to Concordia

^{Published December 2023}