Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

World traveler, PCC alum Claudia Buchard a rising star at Cornell University

Photos and story by James Hill

Not yet 20 years old, Claudia Buchard is conquering the world in the realm of biology.

The Portland Community College alum, who made the President’s List as a biology major, is working on a bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Sciences in Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Claudia’s positive attitude was persistent,” said one of her former PCC biology instructors, Josephine Pino. “One of the things I remember best is how tenacious she could be, regardless of the challenge she was given. Her strong arsenal of creativity, tenacity, and intelligence will take her far as she pursues her goals.”

This comes after a whirlwind academic career at Sunset High School in Beaverton where she used her language fluency in Spanish and French to travel to Spain. There she was a Huerva Camp volunteer restoring trails, fountains and participated in wildlife research. She also traveled to Barleban, Germany to aid groundskeepers in restoring campsites and farms. While at Sunset High, Buchard earned a 4.14 grade-point average, was a scholar athlete, a member of the National and Spanish National honor societies, and achieved an international baccalaureate diploma.

Today, she’s living the college dream and complementing her impressive studies with games of ultimate Frisbee while volunteering with Cornell Thrift, which aims to reduce waste on campus and encourage recycling of personal items.

Why did you choose PCC to begin your post-secondary journey?

Claudia Buchard: I knew it was the most affordable option. I also knew that I wanted to be able to work while going to school, so going to PCC allowed me to have a much more flexible schedule than I would have had elsewhere. After starting PCC, I also realized the added benefit of smaller class sizes. I got to partake in really interesting labs in my “Principles of Biology” and “General Chemistry” classes that I likely would not be able to in those kinds of more general classes at another school. It was really cool to be able to dissect things, have access to microscopes, and do our own chemical experiments.

Who were the faculty/staff that made a difference in your time at PCC and why?

Buchard: I can honestly say that I really liked every instructor I had at PCC. Everyone was extremely personable and open to students and I felt as though they genuinely cared about our academic development. Looking back at all of my instructors makes me miss the classes I took with them. Specifically, I really enjoyed my Principles of Biology I and II instructor Josephine Pino and my General Chemistry I and II instructor Jessica Daniel. I had both classes back to back early in the morning, but I was always engaged as they made the content interesting. I never felt uncomfortable reaching out for help and felt very welcome in the classroom.

Was there an “ah-hah” moment at PCC that got you into biology or furthered your interest?

Buchard: My time at PCC allowed me to solidify my interests. While I thought I knew the general field of what I wanted to study, I had never really had any hands-on experience with it during high school. I started out my college career with a lot of confusion on whether I would actually enjoy the field I was aiming for. Practicing in biology and chemistry labs really allowed me to visualize a future doing ecological research. I knew that I enjoyed it at PCC, so would likely be able to care about something similar later on as well.

Why biology and how has it enriched your life outside of school?

Buchard: Throughout high school I realized I had a strong interest in the field of environmental sciences, specifically the biological aspect of it. I have always loved the outdoors and gradually found myself nagging people to recycle, waste less, and be more sustainable in general. Over the summer of my junior year of high school, I volunteered at an environmental camp in Germany, which made me further realize the importance of sustainability. Afterward, I knew that I wanted to pursue a degree in the field, and sought out other opportunities to work in conservation and sustainability. I gradually changed aspects of my everyday life to cause less harm to the planet, such as only buying used clothes and becoming a vegetarian. Understanding the biology behind organisms and environmental interactions broadened my interest in a field that I was already passionate about.

Are you from Portland originally?

Buchard: I moved to Beaverton when I was three years old from San Francisco and lived there until I was nine. I then moved to Belgium for three years in order to live closer to my father’s parents in France. My family then moved back to Beaverton when I was 12, where we remained until the year I left for Cornell, when my family moved to Sandwich, Mass.

What are some of things you do outside of studying?

Buchard: I joined the Cornell Wild Roses Club Ultimate Frisbee team after starting school as I always find myself being most successful when I am able to get exercise and take a break from academics. I also joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority at the beginning of the spring semester, so am able to volunteer through them quite often at various events, often specifically related to domestic violence awareness. I also hope to get a regular volunteer position at the Cornell Botanic Gardens sometime this semester.

Was Cornell your first choice or were you considering other universities?

Buchard: After reading about the environmental science program at Cornell, I knew that I wanted to go there if I got in. I applied to their College of Agriculture and Life Science, which emphasizes sustainability. This is a field I want to focus on, so I knew I would be able to find a lot of on-campus opportunities related to my interests. Their Environmental and Sustainability Science program is well respected, and I really wanted to become involved in the research taking place there.

What has the experience been like at Cornell and how does it differ from Oregon?

Buchard: Cornell was a little overwhelming at first but is a really great place to be. There is a lot of student involvement and various opportunities to take part in. I find myself trying out new things that I would have never thought to do in the past. Cornell and Portland are surprisingly similar in many ways. Both have beautiful outdoors, and people in both places have similar values. Having those things made the transition a lot easier.

Is the biology program at Cornell everything you thought it would be?

Buchard: The biology program at Cornell really allows students to explore their different interests. I know lots of students that are studying topics that fall under the realm of biology, and they all have a very diverse array of involvements within it. People are able to choose what aspect of biology they want to explore. My favorite part of the program has been my “Field Biology” class last semester. We were able to do our own research project and learn about relevant ecological field work techniques. We had labs that included hands-on field work related to invasive species, soil dynamics, and limnology. I learned to identify various trees and animals and have more knowledge about ecology and conservation.

What career are you hoping to have after your education?

Buchard: While I am undecided on exactly what I want to pursue, I know I want to build a career in sustainability. This may be doing field work conserving endangered species, engineering methods of powering sustainable energy, or working in a lab to find new ways to naturally fix issues. Virtually all aspects of this field interest me, and I am excited to discover what I will enjoy most and where my skills can best be applied.

What goals do you want to accomplish in the field of biology?

Buchard: I really want to find a way to make the largest beneficial ecological impact I can through the scientific aspect of sustainability. I hope to find a career that I am excited about in my day-to-day life and that’s important, to me, in the grand scheme of things. I think it would be amazing to travel and discover different forms of biology around the world, too.