As she strolled across campus, breathing in the crisp North Country air and soaking up the afternoon sun, Annabel Ubeda ’25 knew right away that SUNY Potsdam felt like home. After a five-and-a-half-hour drive from her home in White Plains, N.Y., she arrived for Transfer Weekend and an overnight stay at the College.
“I fell in love with Potsdam as soon as I got here. I liked the small town, somewhat middle-of-nowhere kind of feeling, and I got to explore the school with students that were my age instead of freshman,” she said. “They helped us finish our applications and paperwork, and that’s where I met Karen Ahlfeld [in the Department of Admissions]. She was so amazing! She was almost the turning point that made me come to Potsdam.”
After earning an associate’s degree in business at Westchester Community College, Ubeda sought the kind of immersive, independent college experience she hadn’t had yet, while keeping costs under control.
“I had been at home working full time and doing community college, which is not really the same as a regular college experience. Because Westchester Community College is part of the SUNY system, I thought one of the most affordable ways to get my bachelor’s degree was to go to another SUNY school, and my credits would transfer easily,” she said.
Discovering Anthropology
Not certain what she wanted to study, Ubeda sampled courses in environmental science, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. A single anthropology class immediately sparked her interest, leading her to courses such as Forensic Science, Human Osteology, and Dr. Malit’s Neanderthals: Fact, Fiction and Fantasy.
“I discovered that professors here cover every area of anthropology—linguistics, cultural, and forensic, and so, I tried it all,” she said. “When I took Dr. Malit’s Human Origins course, I thought, ‘Wow, this is really intriguing.’ That’s when I leaned into biological anthropology a little bit more.”
Her curiosity took her abroad in summer 2025, when she attended the Irish Heritage School’s Dead Men Do Tell Tales field program. After landing in Dublin, she and her friend Emmalee Clements ’25, a fellow SUNY Potsdam student, traveled to Birr, Ireland, where they stayed with a host family.
“My host mom was amazing—she cooked for us, did our laundry, and took us in like family,” she recalled.
Days were spent in the lab, studying osteology and forensic anthropology with real human remains, and in the field, conducting a mock excavation.
Photos by Annabel Ubeda
“I was nervous I might be underprepared, but once I got there, I realized I knew more than I thought. It was also the first time I had ever done excavation work, and I really enjoyed it. The experience confirmed for me that this is what I want to do,” she said.
The field school also introduced her to the history and culture of Ireland. Taking a break from their lab work and excavation, Ubeda and Clements, and other students in the program, went on a field trip to visit ancient monasteries around the Emerald Isle.
A Fiscally Responsible Journey
From her first community college credit to her last class at SUNY Potsdam this semester, Ubeda has kept a sharp focus on affordability.
“Finances have always been one of my top priorities. I never wanted my parents to pay for anything. I’ve been paying tuition since community college,” she said. “I get a lot of financial aid from SUNY Potsdam, and whatever I don’t get, I pay out of pocket. Last semester, I worked three campus jobs. The college is really helping me pursue everything that I want to do.”
Her jobs included working in the WISER Greenhouse, serving as a TRIO mentor, and joining the Empire State Service Corps program. Each role gave her financial stability, leadership skills, and the chance to give back.
This semester, she continues her greenhouse work where she's been growing a new assortment of vegetables in the aeroponic Tower Gardens (tomatoes, squash, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and string beans), not traditionally grown there.
“These are all really experimental, as these are plants that tend to grow a little heavy. It’s been a work in progress to make these Tower Gardens accessible to these plants,” she said.
One of her most impactful roles on campus is as a TRIO mentor.... , guiding new students, helping with homework, and offering support. “I’m the person who keeps them on track, and someone they can talk to about any college struggles,” she said.
She also leads as president of the Gaming Club and has been active in Emerging Leaders since her first semester. “This school provides so much, and I sometimes feel like students don’t realize how many opportunities are here. Maybe that’s just because I’ve jumped at everything I could,” she added.
This semester, she is also interning in the Bioanthropology Lab, where she serves as curator for the bone collection—an essential resource used by students across multiple anthropology courses.
“My main job is to create and maintain an inventory of all the remains (real or fake) and items inside the lab. Other tasks of mine are to properly disarticulate, label, and store any new/non-labeled remains that are in the lab,” Ubeda explained.
Looking Ahead
Now completing her degree in anthropology with minors in archaeology and forensic studies, Ubeda is preparing for graduate school. She has applied to programs across Europe, with her top choice at the University of Barcelona.
“I’ve never been, but some of my ancestors are from Spain. My last name is Spanish, and there’s even a town named Ubeda. I want to experience the culture, improve my Spanish, and Barcelona offers one of the best forensic anthropology programs,” she said.
With just a few credits left to complete this semester, Ubeda already walked across the Commencement stage in May, shook hands with the President, and had the chance to reflect on how far she’s come.
“I’ve enjoyed every semester. I came here with the intention to grow as a person, gain independence, and come out of my shell, and that’s exactly what I did,” she said. “I jumped at every opportunity I could find. It makes me sad to think that I’m leaving.”
Article and photos by Jason Hunter