Cole with chemistry professor John Welch

Junior Lesley-Ann Cole has a tip for new organic chemistry students: don’t bother trying to cram. It won’t work.

“If you try to cram for ‘orgo,’ you’re not going to make it,” she warns. “You can’t possibly remember everything, but you can try to remember how to solve the problem. That’s the best way to prepare.”

Cole, from Brooklyn, seems to have that formula down cold. A veteran of two semesters of general chemistry and two semesters of organic chemistry, as well as a class in biochemistry, she had an overall Grade Point Average of 3.19 at the end of the spring 2002 semester and a 3.36 for the semester. She’s done it the old-fashioned way.
“Chemistry is not as hard as most students think,” she says. “You just have to put in a lot of

time and dedication. It’s very time-consuming. You just have to know the material and understand the problems.”

When Cole enrolled at the University at Albany in the fall of 2000, she planned to double-major in biology and psychology and to pursue a career as a neuropsychologist. By last spring, however, she had decided to change her major to biochemistry, saying she felt chemistry was more interesting and challenging. Fascinated by the brain, she is now also considering a career in forensics or medicine.

Over the summer, Cole carried out a research project with psychology Professor Cheryl Frye as part of the University’s Ronald E. McNair program, which encourages students to pursue M.D. or Ph.D. degrees in science and technology. Their goal was to try to determine the mechanisms by which estrogen and progesterone mediate anxiety and depression, especially among women.

For a break from her science-heavy curriculum, Cole turns to photography. A member of the University Photo Service, which produces The Torch yearbook, she frequently takes her camera to class. She has shot concerts, podium scenes and campus sports events. “It’s something that’s outside of science, and kind of an escape,” she says. “It’s something I enjoy, and I hope I’ll get better at it.”

The hard-working Cole says that while she has set high standards for herself, she has had solid support during her academic career. “One of the things I like about the University is the support — from my advisers and from my friends. I still have my friends from summer bridge school (a freshman orientation program designed to ease the transition to college), and they push me. The support keeps me on track and focused.”

— Christine McKnight