Welcome to the Gender and Women’s Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies celebration of December 2022 graduates. You will find a few words from Judy Houck, the Department Chair, and Keisha Lindsay, Director of Graduate Studies. There are also loads of wonderful quotes and photos from graduates, faculty, and staff.
Find more celebration on the Commencement website and remember to hashtag your social media with #UWGrad. Best wishes as you graduate. Stay in touch. We love to hear how you are doing and what you are doing in post-graduate life.
To All of Our Graduates –
Congratulations on your graduation! I encourage you to reflect on all you’ve learned and accomplished during your time with us. The articles read, the papers written, the questions asked, the beliefs reconsidered, the deadlines met. The path has not always been clear or easy, and yet you have arrived at this moment. Celebrate your terrific work!
We love that you have included the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies on your journey. Your passion, determination, and resiliency have inspired us all. We can’t wait to see what you do as you take on the next big thing! Forward!
– Judy Houck, Evjue-Bascom Professor and Chair in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Professor in the Department of History
To Graduating MA Students –
Happy Graduation! I wish you much success as you work toward your GWS-inspired dreams and goals. Go into the world and do well, but most importantly, go into the world and do good!
– Keisha Lindsay, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Gender and Women’s Studies and Professor of Political Science
Alexandra Alberts
With my GWS education, I will... combine my knowledge from these classes with my passion for physiology and involve myself in research that either analyzes hormone therapies and their interaction with other health procedures or at the very least ensures more equal representation in sample populations in my future research. I will also try to implement change within my own field regarding unnecessary gendered terminology in STEM. Finally, I hope to be able to spread my knowledge with family and friends because it is important to implement change on the personal level as well as in career fields.
Maia Giles
GWS has taught me... that each of us is responsible for the change we want to see in our society's perceptions of gender and sexuality. While community growth and individual improvement are exciting, we should continue to strive for a world that celebrates everyone equally. Each soul we meet is beautiful and worth being here. I learned to not take that for granted.
Ciara Hassinger
GWS has taught me that... GWS has truly opened my heart and mind. I’ve learned how absolutely necessary it is to view the world through an inclusive lens. We need to empower, support, and give a voice to those who are underrepresented. With my GWS degree, I hope to continue to learn more, and expand the ways that I can advocate for others. I hope to be apart of the cohort that will lead this next generation, and play my part in continuing this fight for change and equality for all. Thank you to all the GWS professors who have made such a tremendous impact on my education here at UW!
Alanna Goldstein
With my GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies education, I will... continue to organize and mobilize in my community and political institutions.
Quinn Hinaus
GWS has taught me... that different systems impact people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and the importance recognizing intersectionality when analyzing the impact of ablelism, queer phobia, racism, and patriarchal ideologies.
Madeline Walaszek
With my GWS education, I will... apply what I’ve learned in the field of public health, where I hope to focus on sexual health education and women’s access to health care!
Amelia Feuerer
With my GWS education, I will... use my education to ensure that everyone feels seen, heard, and present in their healthcare.
Destiny Huven
GWS has taught me... how to be a decent and inclusive person
Molly Pistono
With my GWS education, I will... use the knowledge I have gained to bring a conscious awareness of disparities mediated by gender, race, and disability to a future career in medicine. As an aspiring doctor, it was important to me to understand the histories and present inequalities that exist in healthcare settings in order to be the most equitable doctor I could be. I want to make a difference not just through healthcare itself, but also through influencing public health policy.
Faculty and Staff Appreciations
Lecturer - Dr. Kate Phelps
Our students are just the coolest. Dynamic. Humble. Hilarious. Brilliant. The way our students show up, engage, and hold themselves and each other accountable in their learning is something we can all continue to learn and grow from.
Resilience continues to be laughter! Taking our content seriously and the work seriously but not ourselves too seriously. Resilience is flexibility, openness, story telling, and connecting with one another in class!
Undergraduate Advisor - Lachrista Greco
You have had to make it through school during a (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and that is no small feat! Please take care of yourselves and each other during this time!
I'm super new here, but I think GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies students are the bees knees!
Assistant Professor - Kelly Marie Ward
I'm proud of how thoughtful they are in the classroom. They are so supportive of each other!
My wish for you is to get some rest and enjoyment after working so hard!
Graduate Program Manager - Susan Nelson
I send so many well wishes to GWS and LGTBQ+ Studies graduates. You are amazing. We will miss you and we are so excited to learn about your next steps.
Associate Professor - Sami Schalk
GWS students make me proud because they are eager and earnest in their belief that we can do things better. GWS students are creative, innovative, and impressive.
Students have remained committed to community care in my classes and have continued to question and challenge the ways state and university policies in a pandemic disproportionately impact disabled, working class and racialized communities.
I wish the graduating class strength, joy, and a better future. I hope you use everything you've learned to make impacts, big and small, every chance you get.
GWS MA Students
Jesikah Leeper
GWS Majors
Alanna Goldstein
Cyrus Guderyon
Ciara Hassinger
Anna Lied
Grace Tiedt
LGBTQ+ Studies Certificates
Alanna Goldstein
Cyrus Guderyon
Ningyan Ma
Asa McFarland
GWS Certificates
Alexandra Alberts
Sierra Block
Tiana Brown
Nina Cicero-Soles
Caitlin Dolan
Amelia Feuerer
Maia Giles
Maggie Hanner
Kianna Hess-Jones
Quinn Hinaus
Maryn Johnson
Kelly Keenan
Kristy Lloyd
Asa McFarland
GWS Certificates (cont.)
MACK McKellips
Kathleen Murphy
Hannah Nygaard
Molly Pistono
Miranda Rasmussen
Marlee Reischl
Ishana Sharma
Ella Shatzky
Morgan Snyder
Emmakate Thelke
Talia Thielbar
C.N. Trainor
Colette Vitiritti
Madeline Walaszek
Leigha Young