Some responses have been condensed for the print edition.
Boromir from The Fellowship of the Ring. Courageous, strong, loyal, regal. But also human with his own baggage.—Karen F Meckel, Bus '88 (BS)
Trillian in The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy. She's smart and adventurous.—Thea Joselow, A&S '03 (MA)
Edna in The Awakening [by Kate Chopin] is one of the best. She showcases how far women have come. Edna embodied the image of a woman, circa 1900. She was a mother and wife but wanted more.—Eileen Corr, A&S '24 (MLA)
My favorite character is Wile E. Coyote from the Warner Bros. cartoons. He would run off a cliff, have an anvil dropped on him, or be blown to smithereens and he would still get back up and keep pursuing his goal. Nothing stopped him!—Paul Jan Zdunek, Peabody '91
My favorite fictional character is Lt. Nyota Uhura from Star Trek. While I'm a Trekkie and I absolutely love the original series, what Nichelle Nichols did both on and off screen was truly remarkable. It was the first time a woman of color was portrayed in a position of authority and with intelligence. Off screen, she partnered with real organizations to develop recruitment and retention programs, especially for women of color in prominent science and engineering roles. On screen, her character paved the way for many.—Michaelyn Thomas, Engr '21 (MS)
Sarah Jane Smith from The Sarah Jane Adventures, a Doctor Who spinoff. She's a journalist who traveled in space and time with the Doctor as a young woman and grows up to defend the Earth from alien threats with her adoptive son and his friends. She is clever but also wise and thoughtful, independent but capable of deep love and care for those around her, compassionate but not reckless, steadfast but also able to adapt and reconsider. RIP Elisabeth Sladen.—Kate Elizabeth Orgera, A&S '14
My favorite fictional character is Santiago from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I admire Santiago's optimism, resilience, and courage to explore new places. His story reminds us that listening to our intuition and following our "Personal Legend" can lead to fulfillment of our dreams.—Martin Powell, Engr '95
Harper Lee's Atticus Finch. He embraced differences with empathy and compassion and challenged the status quo while changing society's mindset to become more just.—Joseph Avila, Engr '22
My favorite fictional character is Penelope Garcia from Criminal Minds. Penelope is the FBI's technical analyst, a cybersecurity genius who can dig through layers of digital data faster than most people can refresh a webpage. But what makes her truly stand out is how she brings her whole self to a field that's often portrayed as cold or rigid. She doesn't fit the typical mold of a "hacker" or tech expert, and that's exactly why she's so inspiring. She's emotional, expressive, wildly stylish, and completely unapologetic about it. She proves that you don't have to sacrifice your personality to thrive in STEM. In fact, your individuality can be your superpower.—Rennisha Virginia Martin, Engr '17
