Senior Salute: Connor Mangan

Throughout the spring and summer, we'll be honoring our senior student-athletes with a "Senior Salute" series. Today's featured senior is Connor Mangan, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Sewickley, Pennsylvania. Mangan is a member of the men's lacrosse team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: Wooster has a strong science program with a research emphasis that is attractive for medical school acceptance. The opportunity to play lacrosse was also an attractive feature.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Fighting Scot student-athlete?
A:  It means I represent the school when we travel off campus, and I am a student first. It means I take my academics seriously and have a duty to work hard both on and off the field.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: One of my favorite memories is when it snowed during practice last year in January or February. We ended up staying outside for practice and conditioned by running up and down the field and sliding through the snow.

Q: What's the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: Having a community and team to go to whenever you need a group. The lacrosse team is like a family to me. I know if I ever have a hard time with anything that my teammates have my back and will support me.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I am a member of The Community Care Network health coach program, a member of our campus chapter of Beta Beta Beta, and I'm on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. I also work as a STEM Zone intern and am a peer tutor.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. Mark Snider has made the largest impact on me. He has taught me a lot about how to conduct research in a biochemistry lab and how to write a thesis.

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people/resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Coach (P.J.) Kavanagh has had a large impact on my success at Wooster. He has made lacrosse enjoyable and my favorite activity to do on campus. He also has regular meetings with his players that keep us on track with academics and everything else.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am researching a metabolic pathway in a bacteria, Bacillus niacini, and how it breaks down a class of compounds that have toxic effects on the environment.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I think spring break trips with the lacrosse team were the most fun. Spending a lot of time with your teammates on a bus and playing games is a real bonding experience.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what is one piece of advice you would give your first-year (freshman) self?
A: Get involved in things early. I wish I took more initiative as a first-year to join more clubs or get involved with research, which I have found to be something I love to do.

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