Ava Reichman, 2026

Ava Reichman, hailing from a close-knit community in California and attending a small high school, eagerly anticipated the vibrant atmosphere of a large university. Upon being recruited to join the UMass Rowing team {link}, she discovered a fascination with the many academic opportunities that UMass Amherst presented. Recognizing UMass as her newfound home, Ava remarked, “It’s a breath of fresh air from what I was used to growing up. It’s nice to have something completely different.”

As an athlete, Ava has gained valuable time management skills that have aided her academic life. Learning discipline through a demanding schedule, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining a routine to ensure the timely completion of her tasks. Drawing parallels between rowing and her academics, Ava emphasizes a strategic mindset: “Whether it be with rowing or studying, my mentality is to do a little bit each day to have a better final outcome.”

Informed by her high school experiences and desire to research and design scientific solutions, Ava recognized iCons as an opportunity to enhance her research skills while participating in collaborative, team-based learning. Ava joined iCons to participate and contribute to STEM applications while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Economics and Political Science – a pursuit that allows her to fulfill her multidisciplinary interests.

In the iCons classroom, Ava finds herself being the mediator, bridging the gap between scientific solutions and the reality of politics, traversing the difficult world of practicality and the challenges of implementation. “Often, students do not understand how policies are enacted and how change is made in politics,” Ava said, “Often, we think a policy would get passed solely because it is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality of politics.” Working collaboratively within diverse teams, she aims to illuminate the workings of the U.S. political system and what to expect from it, discussing how to get a policy passed, and managing realistic expectations. Ava aspires to contribute her practical knowledge of policy and regulations to empower her teams in advancing their scientific pursuits.

Recognizing the importance of diversity within iCons teams, Ava underscores its significance, stating, “Working with people from different majors became very helpful to my own learning. Stepping outside of my major helped me be better prepared for my career, as their perspectives informed my approach.”

Ava hopes to pursue a Ph. D. in Economics, studying human behavior and decision-making patterns to gain a better view of market dynamics.

Profile posted in 2023.