What they're doing now...

Sarah Lawrence

I graduated from Western in May 2004 and moved to Chicago to begin the Master of Arts Program in Social Sciences (MAPSS) at the University of Chicago in September 2004. I graduated in August 2005 after the toughest academic year of my life! After graduation, I started job searching, and I am currently the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Disabilityworks at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce (what a mouthful!). Disabilityworks is a non-profit initiative that strives to advance the opportunities of people with disabilities in the workforce. Disabilityworks is still in the grassroots organizing stages, so I am learning a lot about how to organize and structure a non-profit, network for contacts and supporters, secure funding, etc. I hope to continue working in the non-profit sector, and I think this job will really give me a lot of good experience to take with me in the future. The Women's Studies Program at Western made me aware of alternative ways of thinking, and I have tried to carry what I learned from my Women's Studies experience with me in my graduate studies and in my search for a job. Women's Studies made me think about people different from me and taught me how to be open to new and different ways of doing things. My women's studies background shaped my course of study in graduate school, and it continues to shape the way I think, behave, and interact every day.

Sarah Lawrence
I am currently working on the campaign to elect Leslie Byrne as Virginia's next Lt. Governor. She's a wonderfully pro-choice, progressive candidate, and while the polls all say we're tied right now, I believe we have a chance. I am working as Deputy Finance Director, so although I deal mainly with fundraising, I am helping a great, progressive candidate get elected. I was placed on this race by a program sponsored by Emily's List called Campaign Corps. It's a great organization that takes 30-40 recent college grads every summer, trains them in campaigns and places them on progressive candidates' races. After next week I will be applying to work on other campaigns and hopefully will be able to start work on another race in January. It has been an amazing experience. My women's studies minor is what originally got me interested in women in politics and has opened my eyes to the inequality in this country and why we need elected officials who also seek equality. It's great to be surrounded by progressive young people who are seeking the same goals I am.

Nicole Dorris

Nicole Dorris

Rachel Robinson
 I am a senior in medical school, and it's interview season. I'm jetting
around the country looking for an internal medicine residency that will
be a good fit for my personality and career goals. My women's studies minor did something for me I didn't expect...it put a smile on the face of a female internal medicine program director. My involvement with girls2science and the Magic show, when those things were just starting to happen, really impressed her. For those interested in my field, there's a group called Women in Science, Dentistry, and Medicine (WISDM). I don't know how extensive they are yet, or in how many cities, but it just goes to show that one does not have to shed one's womanhood to be a doctor, dentist, etc.

Rachel Robinson
Women's studies was pivotal in my decision to pursue a Ph.D. in women's studies at Emory University. Since beginning my Ph.D. work in 2001, I have taught introduction to women's studies courses at Emory and English courses at a local community college; collaborated with local community organizations on grant projects; worked with the Emory University Library planning a national conference; assisted with Board of Trustees events for the President's Office; worked with Kennesaw State University as a Project Coordinator on Holocaust Education for the community; and edited a graduate guide on women's studies programs for the National Women's Studies Association (NWSA). I owe these various adventures to my experiences in women's studies at Western Kentucky University.

Oliva Smith

Olivia Smith

Robyn Trivette (right)
 After graduation I moved to Manhattan, just to get away and play for a while. I was working with a political party for a bit, and I'm joining AmeriCorps NCCC in January. After that, I'm not really sure; we will see where this adventure takes me.

Robyn Trivette
I am currently working at Clemson University in South Carolina, where I am a resident director for a building of 500 freshman women. AHHHHH!!! I supervise a staff of 18 resident assistants, handle judicial cases, and make sure the building is running smoothly.
Ann Carman

Ann Carman

 

Women's Studies Program of Western Kentucky University

Return to Women's Studies Homepage

WKU Homepage