Majors: Psychology, Women's and Gender Studies
Minors: English, LGBTQ+ Studies
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Why did you select your majors and minors?
I decided to pursue my degrees primarily because I am deeply passionate about people and fostering interpersonal relationships. I hope to be an advocate for others, and felt psychology gives me opportunities to deeply understand the way that people function, what motivates them to act as they do, and how best to support the continued development of those around me. Women and gender studies nicely complimented that, and allowed me to expand my own perspectives by taking an inherently intersectional approach to my academic pursuits.
What is your favorite course you have taken from your program(s) and why?
My favorite course that I've taken in my four years was "Body Language: Love, Politics and the Self in French Literature" with Dr. Nora Martin Peterson. Despite me not speaking or reading a word of French, my advisor Dr. Kathleen Lacey suggested this class, and it ended up being one of the most impactful classes I have taken. Dr. Peterson introduced us to a variety of seminal pieces of literature from French authors, and engaged us in meaningful class discussions. Beyond that, she gave us opportunities both to write analytical papers on these readings, but also to explore class theme in creative ways. Dr. Peterson created an engaging and fascinating class, which I recommend to everyone, regardless of your familiarity with French as a language.
Who have been some of your strongest mentors or role models here?
One of my strongest mentors here has been Dr. Katrina Jagodinsky. I took Native Women's History with Dr. Jagodinsky, which allowed me to contextualize my learning in all of my classes and truly understand the degree to which Native stories are left out of high school textbooks. Additionally, her class led me to join her research project, Petitioning for Freedom, which has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my undergraduate years. Dr. Jagodinsky is an amazing person to have in your corner-she is incredibly knowledgeable, endlessly supportive, and exceptionally hard working. I am incredibly thankful to have been able to work with and for her.
Dr. Rosemarie Holz has also been an important mentor in my undergraduate career. Dr. Holz teaches the two required classes for WGS seniors-Feminist Theories and the WGS Capstone Seminar. Dr. Holz has been an amazing source of support for me as I work to complete my capstone project. Beyond that, she does an incredible job of being intentional inclusive within her classes, and creating a safe space for all of her students to truly learn and grow as scholars.
Do you have research experience (UCARE or other)?
I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of the University's Summer Research Program (SRP) as a UCARE researcher, which has continued into this year. I work for Dr. Katrina Jagodinsky. I am part of the Digital Legal Research Lab, working on the Petitioning for Freedom project, a database of habeas corpus petitions between 1812 and 1924. We particularly focus on the ways that historically marginalized communities utilized habeas corpus to fight for their freedom. This lab has given me valuable skills in Airtable encoding, the ability to read and understand legal documents, and a deeper understanding of 19th and 20th century legal history. Beyond that, SRP gave me the opportunity to meet and work with a group of incredibly motivated students from across the United States, and helped build my network of University connections. Working on Pe! titioning for Freedom has been an incredible experience. If you are thinking about participating in undergraduate research, I highly encourage you to give it a shot!
What are you involved in on campus or in the community?
In the community, I am a speech coach and judge for a local high school. I was a speech kid myself in high school, and giving back to the community in this way has been exceptionally rewarding. I mentor high schoolers in public speaking and acting skills, as well as writing and editing skills. Speech coaching has given me an opportunity to hone my skills in and passion for developing the strengths of others. My own studies in psychology and women and gender studies have built my empathy and general knowledge of a lot of topics covered in high school speech, allowing me to be a more effective and informed mentor.
What are your plans after graduation?
Post graduation, I am seeking a job in student affairs and success, as I am passionate about helping students have as impactful of a college experience as I have. I hope to eventually attend graduate school, as my long term goal is to teach at a university level.
