Classical Studies | Computer Science

AINE PIERRE Online Managing Editor

In Latin, the verb ending “bam” indicates something one did in the past. For example, the Latin word vincabam means, roughly, “I succeeded”. In the Classical Studies major, one person who definitely has a right to say she succeeded is Bam Purcell.

Purcell, a Clayton, NC native originally from Thailand, planned to study science at Wake Forest. Her plans changed after taking a Latin prose class with Dr. Michael Sloan.

“We were reading Cicero,” Purcell recalls. “I never imagined myself being interested in ancient texts before, but we were talking about his philosophy on old age and on how to live a good life. And I just found myself thinking about these things outside of class and like seeing how it applies to my life and to everybody’s lives.”

Purcell continued: “I was just really surprised in a pleasant way that I was enjoying these classes. And even though I still liked chemistry and biology, I found they didn’t have that same draw and interest that I found in classics.”

Sloan, for his part, sang Purcell’s praises — and quoted Cicero while doing so.

“Bam is an excellent student; she exhibits all the laudable qualities that occasion great joy in teaching,” Sloan said. “The first Latin text we read together was Cicero’s Pro Archia, so perhaps it is fitting that I paraphrase a line or two from that text to characterize my opinion of her: ‘It seems to me that nature without learning more often leads one to glory and virtue than mere learning. Yet, when one adds a rigorous education to a commendable and kindly disposition, then one becomes a person of singular and distinguished excellence’ such as we find in Bam.”

Another of Purcell’s favorite professors in the Classics Department is Dr. John Oksanish, with whom she took her Latin Seminar on a familiar topic.

“I think it was also on Cicero, which is interesting because my initiation to classics was Cicero,” Purcell said. “But with his class also, I’m just so impressed at how passionate Dr. Oksanish is. He knows so much, and I really like how he’s able to analyze one word for an hour. I feel like that could raise the question, ‘why is that fun? Like, why is it interesting?’ But I think like the energy of the professor is really infectious — when they’re excited, I get excited.”

From his comments to the Old Gold & Black, it appears Oksanish is also a member of the — unofficial, as of now — Bam Purcell Fan Club.

“First, Bam is a really deep and reflective thinker, and she chooses her words with care and precision — both vanishing virtues,” Oksanish said. “Second, Bam has been in at least one class with me every semester since spring of 2020: I’ve valued our conversations about the weird, ineffable experience of living through this global pandemic in its various stages, and how studying ancient texts written in times of crisis could illuminate the sometimes existential questions that the last two years or so have made more immediate to many of us.”

Purcell noted that one of her biggest challenges was identity formation in college.

“I think it was kind of a culture shock to be in a school that is wealthy and predominantly white,” Purcell said. “I was trying to find out a bit more about, who I am, where I stand on social issues and my identity.”

In addition to her work in the Classics Department, Purcell has been involved with the Summer Nonprofit Internship Program (SNIP) and has worked with United Way. Purcell says her classics background informs her work. “I did work with United Way and my supervisor runs the team on housing and homelessness. And so every team meeting, she has to use her language to be clear and concise and really explain why we are doing this so she can motivate her team. I got to connect the way that language is used in classics and see how it’s used in nonprofit and social justice work.”

Purcell’s next position will be close to the Classics Department, as she will be joining the Dean of the College’s Office as a fellow.

Thursday, April 28, 2022 | Page 13 CLASSICAL STUDIES BAM PURCELL

Katie Fox/ Old Gold & Black

JOSIE SCRATCHARD Life Editor

With Zoe Chamberlin having been chosen to represent this year’s class of computer science majors, one would think that she has been interested in the subject for quite some time. Surprisingly, she was originally averse to it and planned to pursue a track in chemistry, her high school interest.

Chamberlin’s mother constantly impressed upon her that coding was the future and that she should see what it had to offer. Despite her reluctance — because women of color are rarely represented in technological fields — she applied to Girls Who Code, a summer program intended to increase women’s involvement in computer science, in an effort to keep her mother happy. Through this eight-week intensive program, Chamberlin discovered the potential that computer science held, as well as the fact that minority women can excel in the subject.

Through this new avenue in computer science, Chamberlin was able to create a website entitled Woke Up, dedicated to informing young adults about social issues and providing them with a platform to discuss them. This project increased Chamberlin’s faith that she really could pursue computer science.

“I really love the creative aspect of it, and most importantly, the fact that I would have the ability to create something that could impact and help populations that I care about,” Chamberlin said.

Chamberlin’s creativity and potential have stood out to her professors, as well.

“Zoe is such an impressive student,” Dr. Abbey Bourdon, Chamberlin’s discrete mathematics professor, said. “So many students give up when faced with tasks that are difficult and unfamiliar, but Zoe has the drive and persistence necessary to do truly innovative work.”

Further, Chamberlin’s computer science interests have led to a great impact in the Wake Forest community. She spearheaded a mentoring program with the faculty called CS for Success. In this program, students in intro-level computer science classes, as well as prospective majors and minors, are able to gain support. Not only that, but the program has created more opportunities to increase diversity and inclusion in the department — an endeavor that Chamberlin holds close to her heart.

“I wish there was more representation not even just in this department, but just in the discipline in general,” Chamberlin said. “But I think that’s just something that’s going to continue to grow over time as we get more exposure or allow people to have more exposure to the discipline.”

Chamberlin also is involved in mentoring programs that increase student exposure to the sciences. She serves as president of Wake Women Lead, a club that mentors and tutors at-risk students. She is also a Friends-in-STEM mentor to elementary students, a tutor for student-athletes and a student leader for the Growth Mindset in STEM summer program. Chamberlin has made a large impact on the greater Winston-Salem community with her leadership.

Along with Chamberlin’s computer science endeavors, she undertook a double minor in entrepreneurship and writing. One of her writing professors, Dr. Keri Epps, speaks highly of her work.

“Zoe is one of those students whose character, drive, patience and brilliance make people want to work with her,” Epps said. “She has worked with me on an important community listening project with the local nonprofit Authoring Action and has co-written part of a recent publication about the project with me.”

Chamberlin’s combination of leadership and mentoring skills in addition to her academic prowess are facets to success, that she will use in the near future. Following graduation, Chamberlin will be working with CitiBank on Wall Street as a software analyst, putting her skills to work in the Big Apple.

COMPUTER SCIENCE ZOE CHAMBERLIN