Testimonial

"I started off in PreK-12 education shortly after earning my bachelor's degrees. My first career path allowed me to apply skills I learned from WGSS in a way that meaningfully impacted student growth and educational success. WGSS taught me to see the whole person, to listen and understand where students are coming from with empathy. As a teacher, I was able to take these communication skills and mentor students to understanding their sense of identity over time. Guiding students towards empowerment and resilience gave them the tools to find that they have strength to accomplish their goals. WGSS was the next step in my academic and personal identity journey the continued growth across a multitude of platforms. Thanks to my WGSS major, I felt welcomed and was able to lean on my peers, mentors, and find community. Without the skills that I developed through internships, research projects, and presentations with WGSS, I would not be who I am today. I can truly attribute much of my success to the applicable growth from this WGSS program. To this day I still use the skills I have learned as I wrap up my doctoral degree and enter new leadership roles."

Testimonial

"I work as a Ph.D. candidate in New York City and teach as an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College. WGSS gave me the supportive academic community and critical thinking and research skills necessary for me to enter my Ph.D. program. The faculty, staff, and other students in WGSS, as well as the other resources on campus like the Writing Center, were instrumental in developing my skills as a budding scholar and educator. The critical feminist pedagogical philosophy and analytical skills I honed through WGSS are highly valued in my work as an educator and researcher, and I credit the mentors I had in WGSS for getting me to where I am today. My advice to current WGSS students is to take full advantage of all the resources available to you at the university, take on as many classes and internship opportunities as possible to broaden your mind and professional spheres, and take the initiative to forge community with your peers. Be kind and generous with yourself, as with others."

Testimonial

"My background in WGSS continues to play a valuable role in my daily interactions with colleagues and my overall career. As the leader of a department with 50+ employees, I am responsible for upholding Indeed’s mission of creating the best working environment and fostering inclusivity within my team. Recognizing the intersectionality of the individuals I oversee lies at the heart of leading with empathy and ensuring my team's well-being in the workplace.

In addition to my leadership role, I actively participate in Indeed’s Inclusion Business Resource Group, Women at Indeed. The goal of this group is to establish Indeed as the model for gender equality in both culture and product offerings. This blends together the functional work I do in the business with my own personal passions and ideals.

My foundation in WGSS has been pivotal in helping me understand my role as a woman in leadership and in supporting other women in my workplace. I consider myself fortunate to work for a company that prioritizes inclusion and places these conversations at the forefront of our work. For students considering WGSS coursework, there are valuable skills that can be applied to career advancement, distinguishing oneself in the workplace, and fostering a better environment for colleagues."

Testimonial

"I am very grateful for my journey into the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at UConn. I came into college with a very broad, generalized idea of what I wanted to study. I knew I wanted to be in a client serving role and interact with others on a meaningful scale. I thought coming to UConn as a declared Psychology major would give me a substantial background for my potential career interests in these types of paths (ex: counselor, coach, therapist). I did feel like I had a strong framework and found success in my Psychology classes, but I still felt something was missing. I had a stronger desire to learn more about society and the inner workings of how people experience the world. I was encouraged by a friend to try an introductory WGSS course during my first year. To say it was a transformative experience and a perfect fit into what I was missing from my educational path is an understatement. I decided to quickly declare WGSS as a second major and excitedly looked at the course catalog for all the upcoming classes I could take throughout college. In my courses, I learned everything from the history of activism and social movements, read impactful and progressive literature, and questioned my own place in the world. My WGSS courses also helped my confidence outside of the classroom and I became more involved in volunteer work and activism both on and off campus. Now as I explore different career options and enter the professional world, I know that my background in WGSS will set me apart from others as I have learned to see and analyze the world differently. I always think of intentionally and authenticity in embracing all social identities (gender, race, religion, sexuality, etc.), which helps me better understand and offer services to a diverse range of communities. The WGSS program at UConn will forever mean more than its title: it means continuous growth towards seeing the world as a more equitable place, regardless of how you identify. To any potential student thinking of entering the WGSS program, even if it's one course, please try it out. I promise you will walk away forever changed in ways you never imagined. "

Testimonial

"During my 7 semesters at UConn, I was undeclared for at least 2 years, and floundered through 4-5 different major and minor combinations to find the ones that fit. As a student who excelled in the sciences and writing, constant noise from peers, mentors, and family about choosing a STEM major vs a social science major felt divisive and counterproductive. In the midst of this pressure to choose the ‘right’ major and career path, the WGSS program helped foster my appreciation for a multidisciplinary degree, subsequently wedding my humanities skills with my fascination with data and addressing social justice issues. WGSS prepared me for a more advanced degree in public health, and helped qualify & prepare me for unique and exciting jobs. Many of these roles showed me to bridge science & public health with lived experiences to improve people's lives—among them: serving as an enumerator for the US Census Bureau, a Public Health Investigator for one of the largest public health departments in the nation, and a Project Coordinator for a UCLA-affiliated worker health and safety program designed alongside community worker organizations. My WGSS major laid the foundation for my career by shaping me into both a thinker and a problem-solver, one who asks questions beyond "why" and considers the perspectives of each person's world view. My advice to WGSS grads is to know your worth, and to remember Ralph Waldo Emerson's words: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." Go forth and be brilliant!"