Alyssa Colen

Mercersburg’s newest Biology Fellow, Alyssa Colen, comes to Mercersburg with a passion for teaching, curiosity, and even a few adventures involving poison dart frogs.

Colen graduated from Emory University, where she majored in environmental science and minored in architectural studies. While she loved science, she found the traditional lab setting too impersonal. “I always wanted to pursue teaching,” said Colen. That curiosity led her to the University of Pennsylvania’s teaching program, which eventually brought her to Mercersburg.

Her first impressions of campus were glowing. She was struck not just by the beauty of the grounds but by the students themselves. “People are helping each other, and the vibes are excellent, and I’m so happy I was chosen to be hired,” said Colen, describing the sense of empathy and community she noticed right away.

This fall, Colen is teaching Biology while continuing to refine her teaching style. She hopes her students will leave her classroom with a sense of wonder and an eagerness to keep asking “why?” Her biggest goal this year is completing her teaching program and graduating next year, while letting her career path unfold naturally. “I really like it here,” said Colen, and she is excited to see where the future takes her.

Outside of class, Colen has a creative side; she loves charcoal drawing and has a lifelong passion for animals. In Atlanta, she fostered cats, and she is thrilled to finally adopt one of her own, a cat named Sweetheart, who keeps her company just down the street from One North Coffee Shop.

And for students looking for fun facts, Colen once caught poison dart frogs by hand while studying in the Amazon, and yes, rapper Flo Rida actually follows her on Instagram.

With her adventurous spirit and warm approach to science, Colen is already making her mark at Mercersburg.