Claire O'Donnell

Claire O'Donnell is a transfer fashion merchandising and psychology double major from Wauconda, IL

Hometown: Wauconda, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2024

Transfer from: Harper College

Why did you choose to attend NIU?
Many of my family and friends are NIU alumni or current students. Visiting campus made me feel at home since I was surrounded by so many familiar faces and friendly new people. I was also excited about the academics and variety of student organizations.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
From a young age, I was always interested in the fashion industry. For a long time, I saw myself becoming a fashion designer. I would always play dress up, sketch designs and even had a “store” in my playroom growing up. As I got older, my fascination with the industry continued, except I started to appreciate a new side of the industry. This sparked my decision to study fashion merchandising at NIU.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am double majoring in fashion merchandising and psychology, and I am also pursuing a minor in marketing. I started my college career as a confused freshman, unsure of what I wanted to do in life. I knew I had passions, interests and hobbies, but I didn't know what to do with them. I started my freshman year at Harper College as a psychology major. I enjoyed a majority of my psychology classes, and I found the content useful and interesting. However, there was always a piece missing. My sophomore year, I transferred to NIU during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was determined to meet new people, form new friendships and explore my career path. I ended up taking two fashion classes to fill space in my schedule. In these classes, I felt excited and motivated to learn each day, and my professors encouraged me to minor in fashion merchandising. My love for and interest in the fashion industry skyrocketed. I declared my minor, joined the Fashion Industries Organization and eventually ended up double majoring in the two subjects I love: fashion merchandising and psychology. Both of my majors inspired me to minor in marketing, which goes hand-in-hand with a lot of the material learned in both fashion merchandising and psychology (such as consumer behavior, digital marketing and more).

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
One thing I really love about NIU is the tight-knit communities and relationships formed in classroom settings. My fashion merchandising classes, for example, allowed me to work closely with other students, which enhanced my learning and social opportunities. Smaller classes allowed for more time to ask questions, get feedback and get to know the people around me.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
I connected with other students through my classes and student organizations. In my classes, I always try to connect with at least one or two classmates, so we can study together or ask each other questions. I also had success with meeting new people and going to events after joining the Fashion Industries Organization (FIO). Not only did I attend meetings for FIO, but I also made connections with other members and made plans outside of class/FIO with them. Going to on-campus events is also a great way to meet people and have fun!

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I have been a member of the Fashion Industries Organization (FIO) since 2021. After being a general member for one semester, I decided to join the executive board as the secretary. Currently, I am serving my second year as president of FIO. My experience in this organization has been nothing but amazing. FIO has helped me meet people on campus, focus on professional development, explore my creativity and grow as a leader. Being in FIO has also allowed me to connect with professionals in the fashion industry, which has helped prepare me for my post-college experience. The Fashion Industries Organization faculty advisor, MaryAnn Lorenz, has also served as an amazing mentor and role model throughout my time in FIO. As an organization, we plan and attend so many fun events, connecting and creating amazing memories in the process. Being in this organization helped me feel at home on campus, allowed me to explore my passions and helped me find my ultimate career path.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
The fashion merchandising department has supported me through my entire time at NIU. The faculty has given me great advice and resources to be successful, and it is clear that they care about their students. This department takes time to get to know their students, and they will go the extra mile to ensure their students thrive. I have truly enjoyed working with the staff in this department.

Are there transfer-specific resources, offices or services that you use to help you succeed at NIU?
Working with counselors helped make my transition from Harper College to NIU smooth. Counselors were easy to contact, and they gave great advice and guidance during my transfer experience.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
My favorite professor at NIU is MaryAnn Lorenz. I have taken multiple classes with her, including FSMD 258, FSMD 272, FSMD 347, FSMD 458 and FSMD 456. In every class I have taken with this professor, she has given great feedback and gone the extra mile to make sure every student understands the content and can successfully apply it. Professor Lorenz has provided so many resources for me and other students that can be utilized to further our understanding of material, such as demonstration videos, previous student work examples and more. In class, she makes herself available for questions, clarification and feedback. Outside of class, she is an exceptional faculty advisor for the Fashion Industries Organization and serves as a wonderful advisor who students can go to for academic or career advice. As someone who has experience working in the fashion industry, Professor Lorenz provides unique advice to students that is crucial to being successful post-college. Since she has experience in the industry, she also shapes her classes to give her students the skills and experience they need to be successful in different roles. For example, in FSMD 456: Apparel Product Development, she applied her knowledge from her experience as a product developer and taught us skills and programs that are used by product developers. She also set up our group project to reflect what it looks like to work in a product development team.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Going to class regularly has helped me stay organized, practice time management and has enhanced my learning. Attending every lecture allows me to take notes, ask questions and encode material I need to succeed on assignments, projects and exams. I have also found that I perform better overall in the classes that I attend the most. Plus, going to class has given me the opportunity to connect with other people in my major or minor.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
My favorite spot in DeKalb is Cast Iron Coffee. They make the best drinks, and the environment provides a relaxing, homey feeling. My favorite drink there is the Mexican mocha latte — you have to try it.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
When researching colleges, I highly recommend visiting campuses and seeing if you feel a connection with the overall environment or different spots on campus. When visiting campus, it is also great to explore the local community. Stopping by a popular restaurant or even asking students about places to check out while you're in town can be a great way to feel out your environment. Connecting with current students and asking them questions can also be helpful when considering a school. I think it is also great to look at course catalogs and explore classes that you need to take, as well as fun electives you may be interested in.

Why is a college education important to you?
Having a college education is important to me for many reasons. For one, I will be the first person in my family to complete a bachelor's degree, which is an important milestone itself. In addition, my college education has helped me grow my knowledge of a field I am highly passionate about and has given me the tools to be successful in my desired career path. My time at NIU has also taught me how to connect with the people around me and helped me achieve skills that are not only helpful in a career, but also in any situation life throws at me.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I manage my time by using planners to map out my week. This helps me visualize when I need to attend to my various responsibilities, whether that is schoolwork, social events or work. Crossing things off my to-do list also helps me feel a sense of accomplishment.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
Following NIU and different organizations on social media is the best way to stay informed about upcoming events and services on campus. I also like to look at bulletin boards around campus to find flyers about upcoming activities.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I like to relax and recharge by hanging out with friends, watching TV shows and going for walks around campus. I love walking on the trail around the lagoon and checking out buildings I have never been in on campus. My friends and I like to have picnics by the lagoon and try new restaurants in the area together during our free time. Going to the gym is also a great way to recharge and stay active. I love sitting in the sauna at the Recreation Center.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I currently work as a keyholder at Kendra Scott, a jewelry store chain. My job allows me to express myself through my love for fashion and jewelry. I really enjoy working with customers and helping them pick out unique pieces for events or everyday wear. As a keyholder, I have enhanced my leadership skills, management style and retail knowledge. I have been at Kendra Scott for nearly three years, and I have loved every minute of it! My position at Kendra Scott has also assisted me with skills I learned through my coursework at NIU, such as visual merchandising, consumer behavior and personal selling. My hobbies include thrifting, styling and interior design. I love scrolling through Pinterest to find style inspiration, clothing upcycling projects or innovative room design ideas. I also love cooking, so I like to try new recipes or experiment in the kitchen.