"I graduated this past summer with a double major in Women's & Gender Studies and International Relations, and was a member of the Honors College and Citizen Scholars program. I also interned with GenCen, and traveled extensively throughout my time at MSU. As my final class project, I created an international nonprofit in my home country of Kenya--the Dumisha Initiative--which is focused on providing employment and education to teenage mothers."

Naomi Kamitha

Spring 2020 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

International Relations

"I double-majored in Women's & Gender Studies and Human Biology, with a minor in Bioethics. I volunteered with the MSU Center for Survivors and was an intern with the St. Vincent Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program. Now, I am attending the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. I'm so thankful for the WGS program and all that it taught me!"

Alisha Ungkuldee

Spring 2020 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Human Biology

"I've spent the last four years at MSU gaining incredible experiences in leadership, advocacy, and learning. I finished my senior honors thesis, "Gender-Affirming: Trans Organizing and the Opportunities of Community Health," and hope to pursue a career in public health and policy analysis related to LGBTQ healthcare. I am pursuing a Masters in Public Affairs and Public Health."

Jonathan Walkotten

Spring 2020 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Social Relations and Policy

"I graduated with a degree in Psychology and an additional major in Women's & Gender Studies. I also had the opportunity to represent the undergraduate population on the GenCen Advisory Committee from 2018 to 2020. I now attend Oakland University for a Masters program in Psychology, in a lab that specializes in trauma, sexual assault, aggression, and sexual health."

Heba Afaneh

Spring 2020 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Psychology

"I graduated with a triple major in Comparative Cultures & Politics, Anthropology, and Women's & Gender Studies, finishing with a 3.9 GPA. In my time at MSU, I worked with many organizations, one of which was the Center for Survivors, where I volunteered as a part of the Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention (SACI) Team for four years and served as the president of the SACI student organization for two years. In 2019, I won the Tracy Dobson Award for Undergraduate Student Activism for my work at MSU regarding sexual violence. This fall, I will attend the University of British Columbia, Okanagan to get a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies with a theme in Conflict, Power, and Ideas. My research in this program will focus on access and experience with contraception, particularly for fat people."

Katie Paulot

Spring 2021 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Comparative Cultures and Politics

Anthropology

"At MSU, I have been involved in the Honors College, Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity, and served in numerous leadership activities in Alpha Xi Delta. One of the most rewarding internships I completed during my time in undergraduate was working with the Saginaw County Youth Protection Council, which works with runaway teens and teen parents. By shadowing the CEO, I learned how to do community affirming nonprofit work, such as outreach events, grant writing and fundraising. I also worked as an undergraduate learning assistant for GenCen, which was one of my favorite memories at MSU. I have always wanted to teach, and all the students were amazing! It ended up being such an affirming and safe space during the pandemic. After graduation, I will be attending UNC Chapel Hill with a full ride to pursue my Master's in Global Studies. However, I will always be a Spartan at heart! Go Green!"

Kristin Mertz

Spring 2021 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Comparative Cultures and Politics

"During my time at MSU, I conducted research on sexual violence through both independent projects and as a PURI-funded research assistant. I was also involved in the Lansing community as an intern at the Women's Center of Greater Lansing and as an ESL tutor at the Refugee Development Center. I plan on continuing my research this upcoming year in graduate school by undertaking an MSc Gender Studies degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science."

Simone Coverly

Spring 2021 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Interdisciplinary Studies

"I was very involved with the Charles Drew Scholars Program, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. Theta Alpha Chapter, It's on Us, Take Back the Night, POE, the Queer Racial Justice Summit, and MSU Dialogues. I graduated with two degrees: Women's and Gender Studies, BA, and Sociology, BS. This Fall, I will start my Clinical Social Work Master's program working with marginalized populations dealing with trauma. Though I love working in a clinical setting, my goal is to use experience and education to create policy change. In my three years on campus, I will say the best thing that has happened to me was becoming a Women's and Gender Studies major. My favorite classes were WS 201 and WS 304 with Dr. Tim Retzloff--it was in his classroom where I felt safe enough to come out as queer and was fully accepted by my classmates. It is a memory I will never forget."

Arianna Pittenger

Spring 2021 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Sociology

"I recently graduated from MSU with a double degree in Public Policy and Women's & Gender Studies with a minor in Peace & Justice Studies. I am going to law school with the hope of working in civil rights. I loved my time as a WGS major for so many reasons, the biggest being the amazing professors and the relationships that were built. The WGS professors are truly always rooting for you and will be lifelong mentors for me and many of my peers. Go green forever!"

Ava Trevino

Spring 2023 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Public Policy

"My WGS major has served as a springboard for a range of opportunities, including working in the Michigan state legislature and the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services, serving on my hometown's Human Rights Commission, and representing MSU at a summit hosted by Vice President Harris, where she welcomed student leaders from around the world to discuss accessibility of reproductive health services on college campuses. I plan to attend law school to continue my journey into public service. Following law school, I hope to use my degrees to continue fighting for comprehensive reproductive justice!"

Julia Walters

Spring 2023 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Social Relations and Policy

"During my time at MSU, I have been able to experience and achieve monumental moments. I became a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. in spring of 2020 where I was able to grow as a leader. I joined the organization Culturas De Las Razas Unidas (CRU), where I became 2022 Dia de la Mujer chair and held the program facilitator role in 2023. After graduation, I will be working as a college advisor through the MSU College Advising Corps back at home in southwest Detroit."

Michelle Garibaldi

Spring 2023 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

"My favorite class at MSU was my Women's Studies capstone with none other than Professor Aminda Smith herself. She allowed us to explore topics we were interested in and encouraged us to curate our own assignments as to how they would best benefit us. Not only did I get to be creative, but I was also able to expand my professional online network in this constantly evolving technological society. Because of the style of the class, I was able to easily grasp and analyze the concepts. Made a few friends, too! Great way to end my WGS career!"

Matthew Emery

Spring 2023 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Global and International Studies

"My favorite experience at MSU was absolutely attending the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Sexual Politics in Amsterdam study abroad through GenCen. I got to build connections with other WGS students and learn in such a special environment. The trip represented the first time I had truly been immersed in a strong, historic queer culture, and it truly changed my life forever."

Kara MacKenzie

Spring 2023 Graduate

Women's and Gender Studies

Professional and Public Writing