During her four years at Haverford, Elena Bien ’24 developed a keen interest in disability studies and education as a neuroscience major.
Bien’s senior thesis focused on cognitive neuroscience, and she conducted research off campus at the University of Pennsylvania in a lab specializing in cognitive neural stimulation. Her project investigated the efficacy of using noninvasive brain stimulation with speech therapy to improve outcomes for patients with language loss due to a neurodegenerative form of aphasia.
In July, Bien began a two-year pre-doctoral fellowship at Emory University’s School of Medicine. Her fellowship is in educational sciences, and she will be working at the Marcus Autism Center. Her role has two main parts: working as a teaching assistant at the Louise and Brett Samsky Preschool and conducting research on methodologies and approaches in education for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The preschool operates as a living research lab with an inclusive classroom setting.
“I will work with a lot of professionals in the field, including speech pathologists, pediatricians, teachers, and researchers. I hope this will help inform my next steps after two years,” says Bien.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Bien credits her exposure to a diverse range of knowledge at Haverford for shaping her decision to pursue this fellowship.
“Being introduced to disability studies in my writing seminar, ‘Portraits of Disability and Difference,’ sparked a newly found interest in understanding disabilities, disability justice, and creating accessible spaces and environments,” she says. Her experiences working with young adults with disabilities in the U.S. and Thailand over her college summers deepened her commitment to engaging with and supporting neurodivergent individuals.
Bien fondly recalls her favorite classes at Haverford, including her writing seminar as well as “Organic Chemistry,” which taught her problem-solving skills and the importance of seeking help. She also appreciates the mentorship of Associate Professor of Psychology Laura Been and Director of the College Writing Center Kristin Lindgren.
“Laura is the most wonderful mentor,” Bien says. “I got the chance to work with her in the Been lab for a summer during my sophomore year, and she continued to support me through mentoring my off-campus thesis. She was very supportive of my research choices and interests and showed me what an inclusive and fun lab environment is like. Kristin was a wonderful teacher of disabilities studies, and we remained in contact across my four years.”
During her time at Haverford, Bien worked as a teaching assistant at the Phebe Anne-Thorne Preschool and Early Intervention Center and was also actively involved with Best Buddies, a program that pairs students with adults with intellectual developmental disabilities for social events.
“[Best Buddies] was a highlight of my time at Haverford. It was a great chance to meet other students and to connect with our local community,” she says. Bien also participated in the orchestra, chamber music, and the Sneetches, the Bryn Mawr and Haverford ultimate frisbee team for women, non-binary, and trans athletes.
Looking ahead, Bien is eager to learn more about ASD and the research and therapies in the field. She hopes to travel and explore the intersection of culture and inclusion practices.
“I am excited to follow along with all the amazing things everyone is doing and cannot wait to learn more about how our paths diverge after Haverford,” says Bien when asked about her fellow graduates.
“Where They’re Headed” is a blog series chronicling the post-collegiate plans of recent Haverford graduates.