Meet Amanda Soden (US’97, C’01), a member of Principia’s Alumni Association Board and a proud Principian. A philosophy and theatre double major and an early member of Lazy Zipper, Soden’s time at the Upper School and College was marked by passion, creativity, laughter, and growth. Soden was elected to the Alumni Board in 2025 as the Pacific Northwest representative.
Get a glimpse into Soden's Principia story, and get ready to celebrate with her at this summer's College Reunion, June 25–28!
What brought you to Principia and kept you here?
I learned about Principia because my mother went to the College. She was the first person in her family to graduate from college in 1967. I had so many opportunities at both the Upper School and College. I came from a family that was struggling financially at the time, and I was able to do things that I could have never normally done: theatre and sports, for example. I was able to have a really well-rounded and grounded education.
A special thing about Prin is the relationship that students can have with the faculty, coaches, and staff. There are so many moments I can think back on—so many teachers who made a huge difference in my life. One of them was Dr. Laura Fisher, who 100% influenced my writing style. Every time I get complimented on my writing, I’m like “yep, that is Dr. Laura Fisher.” I love that the Upper School is where I learned how to write, and I tell that to people all the time.
What's something you value most from your time at Principia?
There was always a lot of support around special projects. When I was at the Upper School, you could do a May project as a senior. I was able to pick a faculty advisor, and I wrote my own monologues and performed them. And then, similarly, at the College, I was a theatre-philosophy double major, and I did a capstone in philosophy and in theatre.
There was always support in anything you had an interest in or wanted to do. It was like there was this instant response, “Oh, you have a lot of interest in that? Great. Let's do it, and let's hold you up while you do it.”
What are some favorite memories from your time with Lazy Zipper (Principia College's improv club)?
I am so delighted that Lazy Zipper carries on! I got to be in the very first show, which was called "Bring on the Millennium." I had always been an actor, but improv and sketch comedy were very new for me. I remember the work being challenging because I wasn't used to working "in the moment," and that was hard on my perfectionism!
What made it so fun was working together closely as a group, coming up with bits and then fine-tuning them together. It takes a great deal of teamwork and trust. I still crack myself up thinking of our Wednesday night testimony meeting skit, which struck the most beautiful balance of honoring a Wednesday night testimony meeting while also finding the levity and comedy in it.
This summer’s College Reunion will be so fun, and I'm excited that there’s also going to be a Lazy Zipper reunion that can bring so many of us back together. Given its rich history, I'm looking forward to meeting other alums who were involved in the club after my days...and all performing together during the Weekend. It also feels like a wonderful way to honor the memory of Dr. Jeff Steele, who was instrumental in getting Lazy Zipper off the ground.
What stands out to you about Principia alumni?
Principia's alumni community is extraordinary! I'm regularly hearing about someone who went to Principia and is at NASA, in government, etc. There's just a high level of excellence amongst our alumni. And the connections are powerful. People really care, even if they haven't been around for a while or been disconnected from Principia. I travel overseas quite a bit, and it does not matter where I go, I can always find a Principia alum. Whether it's France, England, Botswana, or South Africa, you can find a Prin alum, and it's really fun.
What do you want others to know about today’s Principia?
Principia really is leading with love. It's been really magical to see this in action on both its campuses. It is very much a place where folks are being supported, lifted up, and cared for as they are. And it’s done with the recognition that we're all learning and growing.