Alyanna McGrath ’25 embodies both academic and community leadership at Occidental College, majoring in computer science while championing inclusivity through her involvement in the Black Student Alliance, Women in STEM Club, and basketball.
Hailing from Coral Springs, Florida, Alyanna McGrath hadn’t originally planned to go to college on the West Coast. “I never imagined myself in LA,” she says, reflecting on how far Occidental College seemed from home, both geographically and culturally. But when she was recruited to play basketball, Alyanna decided to visit campus. “Even though my first visit was during COVID and nobody was here, I fell in love! I knew Oxy was right for me because of the academic rigor, the small class sizes, and the professor-to-student ratio.”
Now a senior, Alyanna is majoring in computer science. She traces her love for STEM back to her childhood, when she would watch her engineer mother working on her laptop. This early exposure, combined with her love of problem-solving, drew Alyanna to the computer science department at Oxy. “I can do anything I want with programming languages and coding, I can be creative,” she says. “I really like all the avenues computer science has led me to, at Oxy and elsewhere.”
Beyond academics, Alyanna has been deeply involved in campus life, working to build inclusive communities through her leadership in multiple student organizations. She’s been on the executive board of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) since her first year, an experience she describes as transformative. “Sometimes it can be hard to assimilate culturally or find the people that look like you,” Alyanna says. “But through BSA I found community with other Black students. We program events, we hold space, we make sure people are having fun... it’s just wonderful knowing that anytime I feel down, there’s BSA.”
As a leader, Alyanna has gone beyond simply participating—she has helped shape the communities she cares about. One of her recent accomplishments was reviving the Women in STEM Club, which had been inactive for several years. Through emails and word of mouth, she has gotten so much positive feedback from club participants. “Hearing ‘we love this, please keep going,’ has to be my proudest achievement because [reviving the club] was something I didn’t think I could do.”
Her commitment to fostering community continues in her role as president of the Computer Science Club, where she and her peers work to create a space that is both welcoming and educational. From social events to career-focused workshops, Alyanna has been instrumental in making the club a space where students can network, learn, and grow together.
Alyanna is also a student-athlete on Oxy’s women’s basketball team. Reflecting on her journey from high school to collegiate sports, she shares, “It’s been really great to finish off something I started when I was 12... Not a lot of people get to play in high school and then transition to a collegiate sport. It’s really amazing to continue to play at such a high level.”
For Alyanna, much strength and inspiration has come from her fellow students. “Everything club-based at Oxy is student-run,” she says. “We do a lot. Academics here are not easy, and being a student-athlete is not easy. But I lean on the support of my peers and everyone in all the various clubs I'm in, so I really appreciate them.”
That’s the beauty of being at Oxy. Not everyone will have the same point of view, but we’re welcoming of everyone’s perspective and lived experience.
Alyanna’s Oxy experience highlights the potential of a liberal arts education. As a STEM major, she has broadened her horizons, exploring (and enjoying) the social sciences and humanities. This interdisciplinary approach has given her a more well-rounded view of the world. Looking ahead, Alyanna’s future plans include pursuing her love for technology. After three summer internships in the field, she’s interested in pursuing a career as a product manager in the tech industry, a role that will allow her to blend her love of problem-solving with a broader strategic vision. She is also considering an MBA.
As her time at Oxy draws to a close, Alyanna reflects on the significance of finding her voice and standing up for what she believes in, which is one of the most valuable lessons she’s learned during the last four years. “If [my classmates] have a differing perspective... they’ll say it. And that’s the beauty of being at Oxy. Not everyone will have the same point of view, but we’re welcoming of everyone’s perspective and lived experience.”