Name: Andrea Kyan
Class Year: 2000
How long have you lived in Philadelphia?
12 years (since 2002).
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?
Chabaa Thai for their Garden Pad Thai and deliciously peppery fried rice.
What are you up to now?
I opened P.S. & Co. last May in Rittenhouse. We’re showing the city how satisfying 100% organic, gluten-free, plant-based food tastes and feels.
What house did you live in on campus and what was your favorite thing about it?
Emerson. We had an eclectic group of housemates. I liked that there was no main “type”. We were all extremely different and enjoyed each others’ company!
Why did you choose Smith?
I wanted to attend a college with no core requirements, no Greek system and Smith’s formidable alumni network.
What is your favorite Smith tradition and why?
Afternoon Tea. No matter how busy we all were, our house always came together to chat and catch up over afternoon tea – which were on Saturdays at Emerson due to all the athletes.
Who was your favorite professor/what was your best class?
Professor Chris Lupke (East Asian Languages and Literature) taught a class on modern Chinese literature and the Chinese diaspora. I recently reconnected with Prof. Lupke on Facebook! He was an unforgettable teacher.
Do you have a defining/favorite/most memorable/transformative Smith moment?
I remember arriving as a freshman and feeling like I finally arrived. Growing up in a small town with little diversity, I always
felt out of place. Smith was a community I had been yearning to be a part of for so long.
What makes a Smithie unique?
We care about leaving the world a better place. Smithies are compassionate and altruistic foremost.
How did your Smith experience shape your life?
Smith further instilled the belief in myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. College made me more confident and more empowered to enter the real world.
The Smith College Club of Philadelphia 