Psychology and biology major to address classmates at 143rd commencement ceremony
For Hallie Cohen, Presbyterian College’s 2026 Outstanding Senior, the liberal arts experience was never about choosing one path.
It was about pursuing all of them.
Over the past four years, Cohen immersed herself in the sciences, public health, psychology, leadership, undergraduate research and campus service — graduating with degrees in biology and psychology, conducting honors research in both the natural sciences and social sciences.
On Honors Day in April, Cohen was recognized not only as Presbyterian College’s Outstanding Senior, but also as the Outstanding Senior in Psychology and Outstanding Senior in Public Health. She also received recognition for her leadership in the Student Government Association.
Now, following a long-standing Presbyterian College tradition, Cohen will address her classmates as the student speaker during PC’s 143rd Commencement ceremony on May 9.
For Cohen, a Columbia native and graduate of Spring Hill High School in Chapin, the journey reflects exactly what she hoped to find in college: a place where intellectual curiosity would be encouraged rather than limited.
“I wanted to be a big fish in a small pond and be able to do my thing and stand out while I’m doing it, and PC was the place,” Cohen said. “I don’t think you can do that in a bigger school.”
Research Across Disciplines
Cohen’s academic work exemplifies the breadth of a liberal arts education.
Her psychology honors research project, “Measuring Stress Due to Recently Changing Reproductive Policies in the United States,” examined how changing reproductive legislation impacted stress levels among Americans.
The project evaluated stress associated with changing reproductive policies following the 2022 Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, returning abortion policy decisions to individual states. Cohen and her collaborators surveyed participants across the country, studying correlations among stress, gender, age, socioeconomic status and agreement with state policies.
Working under the mentorship of psychology professor Dr. Sarah Burns ’01, Cohen said the research challenged her to approach emotionally sensitive issues with both scientific rigor and empathy.
“We wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed,” Cohen said during her Honors Day presentation, noting that mental health resources were provided to survey participants because of the sensitive nature of the topic.
Cohen’s research found that women and individuals within the reproductive age range reported significantly higher stress levels than other groups, while stress appeared more strongly connected to individual beliefs and ideological alignment than state policies alone.
At the same time, Cohen also pursued biology honors research with biology professor Dr. Mike Rischbieter — a project far removed from modern policy debates.
Her biology research, “A Study of the Paleopalynology of the Atokan-Desmoinesian Boundary at the Roaring Creek Locality, Park County, Indiana,” focused on the study of 350-million-year-old pollen and spores.
“I mean, that’s just not something I ever thought I would do research on, but it was pretty cool,” Cohen said. “It was a great experience, and it also gave me a lot of lab experience.”
Together, the two projects reflected Cohen’s wide-ranging academic interests and willingness to embrace challenges both inside and outside her comfort zone.
“I love a challenge,” she said. “If I’m not challenged, I’m super bored, and I don’t like being bored.”
I think PC has really shaped my values and morals and shaped me as a person. I truly got the most out of my experience here.”
Hallie Cohen ’26, Outstanding Senior
Making the Most of the PC Experience
Cohen arrived at Presbyterian College initially intending to major in biology with a possible psychology minor.
That plan did not last long.
By the time she graduates, Cohen will have completed two majors while routinely taking 21- and 22-hour semesters.
“It was never enough for me,” she said with a laugh.
Beyond academics, Cohen became deeply involved in campus leadership and service.
She served in Student Government Association leadership, including as vice president of finance and operations for two terms. She also served as chair of the Honor Council, student ambassador coordinator, treasurer for the American Cancer Society chapter and a member of the executive board of Alpha Delta Pi.
Despite the demanding schedule, Cohen emphasized the importance of discipline, structure and self-care. She also credited Presbyterian College’s close-knit environment and supportive faculty with helping her succeed academically and personally.
“Every single professor I’ve ever had at PC has been the most supportive, encouraging, and caring professor I could ever ask for,” she said.
She said the college’s emphasis on relationships and mentorship played a major role in preparing her for her next step: physician assistant school.
Cohen was accepted into Presbyterian College Physician Assistant Program in October and will begin the program later this year.
“The rigor of the biology degree has been fantastic in preparing me for PA school,” she said. “PC allows you to be involved in all those things while still challenging you academically.”
A Message for the Class of 2026
As Outstanding Senior, Cohen will now take on another important role — addressing her classmates during commencement exercises.
She said her speech will center on a lesson her parents, Melanie and Mark Cohen, instilled in her from a young age.
“If I failed or didn’t win something, they always asked me, ‘Did you try your best?’” Cohen said. “And if I said yes, they would say, ‘That’s all anyone can ask of you.’”
That philosophy, she said, has only deepened during her time at Presbyterian College.
“You don’t always have to be the best. You don’t always have to have a 4.0, but you need to try your best,” Cohen said. “I’ve done everything I can at PC and put my entire heart into it for the last four years.”
As she prepares for graduate school and a future career in medicine, Cohen said she hopes her story demonstrates the opportunities available to students willing to fully embrace the liberal arts experience.
“I think PC has really shaped my values and morals and shaped me as a person,” she said. “I truly got the most out of my experience here.”
