Graduation year: 2010
Majors/Minors: Sociology & Gender Studies majors
I just sort of fell into my Gender Studies major. My FYS advisor signed me up for the Intro to Feminist and Gender Theory course as an elective (because I was an independent woman and he thought I would find it interesting). I fell in love with the class and the discipline and declared my major that semester. It's the best decision I ever made. I have learned to look at the world more critically and not accept the status quo. And I have met the most incredible people who are deeply passionate about these issues and have taught me so many things about life, and about myself. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I weren't a Gender Studies major. I do anything and everything I can that involves gender studies. I work in the office, I'm an officer in the Honors Society, and I've won both the senior thesis and internship grants. Without a doubt, the highlight of my gender studies career has been traveling to Guatemala to do original research in various Catholic parishes and then working closely with Prof. Susan St. Ville to turn that research into an interdisciplinary senior thesis that looks at historical, sociological, and theological impacts of the Church's presence in Guatemalan women's lives. It is an experience I will never forget.