Meet Riley Mitchelson ’27 Mitchelson embraces extracurriculars such as volunteering with the Nabors Service League and teaching salsa through Around the Globe.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
January 21, 2025

Riley Mitchelson ’27
Hometown: Greene County, Virginia
Major: Double major in political science and environmental studies

What has been your most impactful experience at W&L, either on or off-campus?
My greatest experience at Washington and Lee occurred last year during our Washington Break. I was able to go on a mission trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, with the Nabors Service League. During this service trip, we worked with local volunteer organizations to help the community of Charlotte. In particular, we worked with Beds for Kids, a nonprofit that gives free furniture to families in need. It was so much fun to see people’s new homes, help them set up their furniture and talk to them about their plans and aspirations. Washington and Lee has a huge volunteer base, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I now serve on the Alternative Break Council for NSL where we plan trips similar to this.

Have you found a mentor on campus? Who is it, and how have they helped you develop as a student?
This past summer I had the opportunity to work with Margaret Anne Hinkle, assistant professor of earth and environmental geoscience in the Earth and Environmental Geoscience Department. We were researching manganese oxidation and its reactions with rare earth elements, or REY. I had never been in a lab before or had any interest in STEM fields, and, despite this, Professor Hinkle still picked me to work on this National Science Foundation-funded project. In the beginning, it was hard — I would mess up and feel bad about the work I was doing. However, Professor Hinkle reassured me that failure is a part of learning. Even though the research was in a field that I was unfamiliar with, Professor Hinkle made the summer one to remember. I am continuing my research with her this semester. Her positive attitude, understanding nature and funny bone inspire me to try my best at every opportunity and work to affect those around me positively.

What book has made a significant impact on your life?
When I was a junior in high school I was in AP English, and one of our assigned readings was “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. The book was a heartbreaking autobiography about Angelou’s experience with homelessness, rape and domestic abuse. However, the book ends on a positive note with Angelou giving birth to her son, representing a new chapter in her life. The book showed me that there are no limits to what one can achieve and that remaining humble will take you far in life. The book is part of the reason that I pursued executive positions in clubs like the Student Association for Black Unity, Nabors Service League and the LEAD Program. The book has become a staple in my household — it is my and my sister’s favorite book.

What are your hobbies/interests? How has W&L helped you develop and pursue them?
One of my biggest hobbies is dancing. I was in a hip-hop group growing up. We had the opportunity to open for En Vogue — safe to say it was a lifelong memory. However, when coming to college, I wasn’t sure there would be an outlet for this passion. Despite my doubts, W&L delivered with the Around the Globe club, an extracurricular that appreciates dances of different cultures and works to teach them to the student body. Through Around the Globe, I have had the honor of performing salsa for school events like Parents and Family Weekend and baile. I have also been entrusted with teaching salsa workshops to interested students, which has been so much fun. Dance has always been an outlet for me, and I am so grateful to be able to continue that at Washington and Lee.