Welcome to the Gender and Women’s Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies celebration of 2026 graduates.
Find more celebration on the campus Spring Commencement page 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.
Congratul
ations on achieving this milestone! Whether you chose to major in Gender and Women’s Studies or are completing a certificate in GWS or LGBTQ+ Studies, we are glad that you chose to include the study of gender and sexuality as a key part of your college career. As you prepare to graduate, I hope you will look back fondly on your classes with us and take the lessons learned out into the world with you. We can’t wait to see what you do next!
-Dr. Nicholas Syrett, Chair of the Department of Gender & Women’s Studies
GWS MAJORS
Kendall Callery
GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies has taught me...
GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies has taught me so much about the history of rights movements I would have otherwise never known. But above all it taught me how advocate for others and have important conversations regarding people's identities. I am so grateful for this major and minor because it has taught me so many life skills I know I will use in my future career.
Amelia Erdman
With my GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies education, I will...
pursue a career involved in social justice, applying the knowledge I have gained to every area of my life in hopes of making the world a more caring, equitable, and compassionate place. I am particularly interested in becoming more immersed in Disability Justice. I don't know exactly what my future is going to look like, but I am so glad that I chose to study Gender and Women's Studies.
Sylvia Madrosky
GWS has taught me...
The importance of examining issues from various perspectives and lenses.
Shannon Martin
GWS has taught me...
To see the connections among everything and everyone.
Carol Sze
GWS has taught me...
GWS has taught me about the complexities of social systems and how they visibly and invisibly impact the people in my community.
Brianna Carloni
GWS has taught me...
Gender and Women’s Studies has taught me that we are not the measure of all things(shoutout Dr. Kate!). No single person's experience defines the world; we are all moving through life differently, carrying struggles that are often invisible. Everyone deserves to be met with love, empathy, and humanity. This education pushed me to understand that while the world itself can be beautiful, the systems within it are not. There is a quiet kind of peace in recognizing that truth, even when it comes with grief. GWS challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. It is not an education meant to comfort you, it doesn’t bend or soften to make things easier. It forces you to confront, to question, and to sit with discomfort. It hurts, it burns, and it reshapes the way you see yourself and everything around you. But through that, it taught me awareness: that we are all shaped by forces both within and beyond our control, that we are all held back in some way, and that understanding our positionality in this world matters deeply. This program became the foundation of who I am today, reminding me that change begins with education, awareness, and the willingness to see what has always been there.
Madeline Beckmann
GWS has taught me...
GWS has taught me so many things, not only about the world around me but also about me. GWS isn't just about completing classes for course credit, it's about expanding the horizons to create change in the world, imagining a new world where anything and everything is possible. At times things are overwhelming and difficult to comprehend, but with GWS and it's faculty, those conversations begin and it becomes less overwhelming. GWS is about connection, support, mutual aid, love, and so much more. GWS gives me hope for the future and I can say I'm a better person because of this department.
Sarah Task
With my GWS education, I will...
Pursue a career in Psychiatry in which I will use my education from GWS studies to both advocate for and provide supportive, informed, and inclusive care for marginalized communities.
Hannah Cacciapaglia
GWS has taught me...
that the personal is political! I have learned to consider other folks’ lived experiences, and my own, as meaningful truths. Notably, GWS has taught me to leverage my various identities as strengths to connect with others!
Oz Ruchti
With my GWS education, I will...
With my degree in GWS (and my second major in Conservation Biology) I hope to work towards a career which integrates principles of accessibility & intersectionality into conservation & environmental justice.
Brianna Washington
With my GWS education, I will...
With my GWS education, I will work to transform the systems that shape health and opportunity for marginalized communities. My studies have grounded me in an intersectional understanding of inequality, particularly in the context of Black maternal health and reproductive justice.
I plan to carry this perspective into a career in health policy and administration, where I can advocate for structural changes that center equity, dignity, and community care. Whether through expanding access to culturally competent care, supporting community-based health initiatives, or influencing policy decisions, I am committed to ensuring that the voices and experiences of Black women are not only heard, but prioritized.
GWS has shown me that change does not happen in isolation, it happens through collective action, critical awareness, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. With this foundation, I will continue to push for a healthcare system that is not only effective, but just.
Isabella Cialdini
With my GWS education, I will...
I will bring a more inclusive, informed, and compassionate perspective into the medical field, particularly in women’s health. I will use what I’ve learned to advocate for equitable care, recognize and challenge disparities in treatment, and ensure that all patients—especially those from marginalized communities—feel seen, heard, and respected. This education will guide me in providing care that acknowledges the full complexity of patients’ identities and experiences, ultimately helping me become a more empathetic and effective healthcare provider.
GWS/LGBTQ+ STUDIES CERTIFICATES
Kaelyn Heintz
GWS taught me...
GWS has taught me to be more open minded through life.
Kahlila Barnes
GWS has taught me...
GWS has taught me to be aware of how intersectional identities affect individuals' lives. It has taught me to be more compassionate and understanding while still remaining firm in my convictions, and most notably for me, it has made me a better advocate for myself and others.
Maya Dettwiler
GWS has taught me...
the importance of the intersection of gender, sex, and sexuality is almost all various types of spaces such as geography, science, art/literature, politics, and so much more. GWS was a great bridge to be able to explore all these other perspectives in my other relevant studies.
Rayane Prado Nunes
GWS has taught me...
How to see the world through many different lenses, to center marginalized experiences in my thinking, and to identify systemic issues in any given context. Most of all, it taught me critical thinking!
Axel Armstrong
GWS has taught me...
It's taught me how to view the world with more context and understanding. I have learned ask questions about the systems we live in and challenge institutions to be better in order to support marginalized communities.
Nikki Hanser
GWS has taught me...
To always consider other people's experiences before reacting to their actions
Jade Millar
GWS has taught me...
This education has deepened my understanding of what it means to be a feminist in modern society, grounding my perspective in the struggles and achievements of the women who fought for the rights I benefit from today. It has also helped me develop a more nuanced understanding of my identity as a mixed-race Native American woman, allowing me to recognize how my lived experiences are shaped by both privilege and marginalization. Through this lens, I have become more aware of the importance of intersectionality and the ways systems of power impact individuals differently.
Madelyn Jackson
With my GWS and LGBTQ+ Studies education, I will...
continue to find all the ways it is applicable to my future career. As I have pursued my certificates in GWS and LGBTQ+ studies I have found continual interest in the knowledge I have learned and the intersectionality between disability and LGBTQ+ communities. As I pursue a career working with the disability community, I will continue to find ways my knowledge between these two educational experiences overlap and intertwine with each other.
Emily Piette
With my GWS education, I will...
With my GWS education, I will be able to better understand my clients and maintain cultural humility in my future career. As a future social worker, my education will allow me to connect with clients and better understand their lived experiences and how they may differ from my own, while appreciating said differences. Furthermore, with my GWS education, I will be able to work with a more diverse population of individuals and extend help to a larger body of individuals.
Ximena Sanchez
GWS has taught me...
the intersection between gender and sexuality in various other topics and subjects.
Estefany Gamon-Garcia
GWS has taught me...
GWS helped me better understand women’s health by showing how biological, social, and cultural factors all influence health outcomes and healthcare experiences. It highlighted how issues like access to care, gender bias, and social expectations can affect the way women are treated and how they manage their health. This perspective helped me think more critically about patient-centered care and the importance of advocacy in nursing practice. I will carry this understanding into my profession by being more attentive to the unique needs of women, recognizing disparities, and providing care that is both respectful and informed by a broader social context.
Rachel Disher
With my GWS education, I will...
With my GWS education, I will be able to provide more comprehensive and person-centered healthcare to patients in my future career as a physician. My GWS education has taught me that people are more than just their physical bodies, they are manifestations of how that body interacts with the world around them. I hope to provide healthcare that centers the lived experiences of patients as crucial indicators of physical, mental, and social health. Too often, women and the LGBTQ+ community are left behind in medical research and clinical practice. I hope that my knowledge of these medical failures, and my resolve to remedy them, will help me build trust-filled patient-provider relationships with patients of all backgrounds.
Zhixuan Yan
With my GWS education, I will...
With my GWS and/or LGBTQ+ Studies education, I will carry these values into both my professional and personal life. In graduate school, especially as a future teaching assistant in physics/chemistry, I hope to lead by example and help give more confidence to women undergraduates participating in STEM. This goal is deeply personal to me, because as an undergraduate I was inspired by several of my own teachers whose presence, encouragement, and example made a lasting difference in how I saw myself. Beyond the classroom, I will also be more prepared to advocate for my own rights with clarity and courage, and to support marginalized people and communities whenever I am in a position to do so.
India Leinweber
GWS has taught me...
to develop an intersectional mindset when examining and exploring the world. Context and identity are everything when it comes to experience!
Taija Burns
GWS has taught me...
GWS Studies has taught me to critically analyze social structures, particularly how gender and sexuality operate within systems of power and inequality. Through this lens, I have learned the importance of intersectionality, representation, and advocacy in creating a more just society for our future.
Lillian Bulson
GWS has taught me...
GWS has taught me to look beyond individual experiences and think about the larger systems that shape people's lives, especially in healthcare. It has helped me understand the importance of intersectionality and how healthcare, identity, and inequality are deeply connected. It has also taught me to think more carefully about care: who receives it, how it is given, and how social and structural factors shape those experiences.
Chloe Lichucki
GWS has taught me...
My certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies, complementing my business coursework, has encouraged me to grow beyond technical knowledge and broaden how I think about and approach the world. Through writing, discussion, and critical analysis in my GWS courses, I have developed the ability to form and clearly articulate my perspectives while engaging with a range of viewpoints, both similar to and different from my own.
As a result, I am more well-rounded and adaptable in how I approach problems. I can balance analytical reasoning with thoughtful reflection, allowing me to better understand both quantitative data and the human factors that shape real-world outcomes. As I prepare to enter the workforce, this combined skill set gives me confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully and approach challenges with a well-informed perspective.
Dasia Starks
With my GWS education, I will...
Be well equipped to work with a variety of clients in social work, with a particular focus on queer populations.
Teja Davis
GWS has taught me...
that there are many places we need to correct histories of discrimination, even in subjects and areas we may not expect. While the work is hard, and not always apparent, having the courage to stand up for what is right and demand changes is what makes the future something worth being hopeful for. I plan to use my knowledge from this certificate to inform my decisions across subjects and I hope to inspire and uplift others on their path to do the same!
Emma Contreras
GWS has taught me...
Gender and Women’s Studies has taught me to believe in the possibility of a more just and compassionate world. It has expanded my understanding of identity and difference, and shown me that acceptance is something we build together, through education, dialogue, and intentional action. I’ve learned that cultivating a world where everyone belongs requires both critical awareness and radical kindness, and that even small acts of inclusion can create meaningful change. I'm so lucky to have been in the classroom with the wonderful GWS faculty and students at UW-Madison and I look forward to continuing my engagement in the field of Gender & Women Studies.
Forrest Jensen
LGBTQ+ Studies has taught me...
how to connect a wide variety of topics together in order to think critically about them. I am able to think and write about institutions through a feminist and queer lens, and then apply that to real world action.
Katherine Pennel
LGBTQ+ Studies has taught me...
that LGBTQ+ history extends far beyond just Stonewall, and that LGBTQ+ rights are intertwined with many aspects of life. It has taught me to think critically, express myself, and highlighted patterns of hope and resilience to inform my perspective on current times.
Alexandria Stathas
With my GWS education, I will...
help diverse clients navigate financial structures that weren't originally built with their lived experiences in mind. By applying an intersectional lens, I can identify where seemingly 'neutral' tax codes inadvertently penalize non-traditional family structures or overlook the specific economic realities of women. This allows me to provide more accurate, equitable financial guidance that accounts for systemic biases others might miss.
Erin McQuillan
GWS has taught me...
To think critically, ask questions from a place of curiosity, and to actively listen to others when they talk about their lived experience. Also, women are INCREDIBLE!
Madisyn Hasenohrl
With my GWS education, I will...
integrate women’s health and LGBTQ+ health perspectives into public health by advocating for inclusive policies, addressing disparities in access and outcomes, and ensuring that programs reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences of all communities.
GENDER AND WOMEN'S STUDIES AND LGBTQ+ STUDIES GRADS
GWS Majors
Maddie Beckmann
Hannah Cacciapaglia
Brianna Carloni
Abigail Conway
Maia DeWinter
Taylor Decker
Amelia Erdman
Sloan Greenfield
Maeve Haley
Emma Hazelton
Tami Johnson
Carlee Kessler
Sophia Lieberman
Isabelle Liermann
Sylvia Madorsky
Lucille Mccardell
Emily Roemer
Michael Rozier
Oz Ruchti
Sarah Task
GWS Majors (cont.)
Brianna Washington
Sawyer Wisniewski
Kendall Callery
Isabella Ferak
Gabriella Hartlaub
Lydia Miller
Laura Peterson
Anna Ravis
Emma Schaefer
Eden Shimon
Sophia Thomas
Shreya Vattem
Isabella Cialdini
AJ James
Shannon Martin
Katarina Seeger
Madeline Stang
Carol Sze
Jenessa VanCalster
Shiloh Xu
LGBTQ+ Studies certificates
Cali Brown
Kendall Callery
Maia DeWinter
Kiarra Dixon
Amelia Erdman
Katie Fox
Madelyn Jackson
AJ James
Forrest Jensen
Katherine Pennel
Kasia Piontek
Jenessa VanCalster
GWS Certificates
Anjali Agarwal
Madeline Allen
Lisa Amanor
Angelina Armstrong
Taylor Aspinall
Ingrid Aufderheide
Annie Balthazor
Natalie Bannon
Kahlila Barnes
Lola Belchinsky
Arianna Benedit
Juliana Bergman
Charlotte Bittner
Destiny Boone
Cali Brown
Lillian Bulson
Taija Burns
Kendall Callery
Maggie Caraher
Josephina Cefalu
Ella Chacon
Wendi Chen
Emmery Clements
Sophie Cleveland
Emma Contreras
Ailyn Corona
Shelby Curry
Teja Davis
Ananya Deepak
Maya Dettwiler
Chloe Diamond
Rachel Disher
Kiarra Dixon
GWS Certificates (cont.)
Luella Dominguez
Susan Farias
Julia Feest
Ella Folsom
Sierra Fox
Marlee Franquelli
Deanna Frater
Estefany Gamon-Garcia
Sofia Gasulla Swalve
Grace Gehrke
Alyson Geisler
Jana Gharia
Karis Gilbert
Ali Gould
Viviane Graham
Sophia Grams-Weston
Emily Grimes
Jaci Grubbs
Maria Hanes
Nikki Hanser
Ava Hart
Nicholas Hartman
Madisyn Hasenohrl
Celia Heck
Kaelyn Heintz
Greta Houran-Corkum
Madelyn Jackson
India Johnson
Michelle Juarez
Emma Kalstrup
Jessica Kaplan
Natalie Kasper
Sarah Kasper
Meg Kilander
Ellie Krohn
GWS Certificates (cont.)
Anna LaGorio
Amy Laabs
Zachary Lafferty
Genevieve Lambert
Andre Langholff
Sandy Yi Lau
Marcellus Lawrence
Semara Lee
Vivienne Lee
India Leinweber
Lauren Leitner
Christine Liang
Chloe Lichucki
Ella Livingstone
Hope Lowney
Debjani Maitra
Sofia Mardak-Kennebeck
Chloe Martin
Skyler Martin
Valeria Martinez
Kelly Marx
Ameira Matthews
Erin McQuillan
Kieran Meyer
Jade Millar
Moryx Morales
Sofia More
Sierra Muench
Ava Mundt
Rachael Neufeld
Alicia Obiakor
Olakunle Ojo
Eva Ombongi-Shermo
Namrata Pandey
Deisy Perez-Cabrera
GWS Certificates (cont.)
Emily Piette
Kasia Piontek
Hannah Pisarski
Anne Possehl
Jennifer Powers
Rayane Prado Nunes
Isabel Prohaska
Anna Ravis
Adalyn Reichenberger
ALLIE Reichert
Kaya Rollins
Marissa Rueda
Katherine Russell
Olivia Saemisch
Ximena Sanchez
Sophia Sanders
Rachael Schehr
Lydia Seay
Emma Slatalla
Kate Sprinkman
GWS certificates (cont.)
Dasia Lanae Starks
Alexandria Stathas
Delaney Sullivan
Trinisha Sullivan
Josie Tepp
Rose Tyler
Tatyana Wagner
Emily Walner
Audrey Weber
Aleksia White
Angel Wilcox
Lily Wood
Caitlin Wrobbel
Zhixuan Yan
Kayeng Yang
Jasmine Zarate