WGSS celebrates Commencement!

 

From left to right: Elly Miller, Amy Sanchez-Difebo, Emily Geesey, Nina Thomas, Amina Abdullah, and Nia Smith

CONGRATULATIONS to the Class of 2024!  On Saturday, May 4 Penn State University’s College of the Liberal Arts held commencement at the Bryce Jordan Center.  Family and friends gathered around in celebration of the achievement of their loved one’s graduation.  WGSS graduated 8 majors and 18 minors in the spring Class of 2024.

Class of 2024 WGSS Majors:

Amina Abdullah graduated with an English (B.A.) and a Women’s & Gender Studies (B.A.) with a Minor in African American Studies, she will be attending a master’s degree in literature, Culture, and Technology at the American University.

Amy Sanchez-Difebo graduated with a Political Science (B.A.), and a Women’s & Gender Studies (B.A.) she will be beginning a career focused in Law, Politics, and Government.

Emily Geesey graduated with a Women’s & Gender Studies (B.S.), she will be attending law school in later years to become a human rights lawyer to fight for justice for survivors of domestic violence.

Elly Miller graduated with a Political Science (B.A.) and a Women’s & Gender Studies (B.A.) she will be beginning the Penn State Public Policy Master’s program this fall.  She will be specializing in health policy and gender equity policy with the intention of developing policies that make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women in the US. 

Anastasia Schechterly graduated with a Women & Gender Studies (B.A.), she will be becoming a Children & Youth caseworker.

Nia Smith graduated with a Psychology (B.A.) and a Women & Gender Studies (B.A.) with a Minor in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies and a Certificate in Diversity Studies, she was also Schreyer’s Scholar in Psychology & McNair Scholar.  She will be continuing her education and intends to get a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology so she can aid in the innovative efforts to decrease child maltreatment and create new intervention and prevention methods.  Nia also served as the WGSS Student Marshal.

Jaina Spatola graduated with a Women’s & Gender Studies (B.A.) and will be graduating in December 2024 with an Accounting (B.S.), she will be working full time as the Project Manager at Highmark Health starting this summer.

Nina Thomas graduated with a Women & Gender Studies (B.A.) with a Minor in History, and a certificate in Diversity Studies.  She will be starting a Master’s in International Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution at the American University.

Class of 2024 WGSS Minors:

Madison Campsey

Giselle Concepcion

Leigh Chamberlain

Kyla Davis

Amita Diarra

Gianna Fazio

Paige Gray

Haleigh Hainsey

Paige Harris

Quinn Malinowski

Shweta Marathe

Miranda Ortega

Anna Parker

Marissa Polding

Meghan Quaid

Jessica Ramsey

Victoria Stark

Lauren Welsh

The future is bright for all these recent graduates, and we couldn’t be any prouder of our WGSS graduating Class of 2024!

 

Caroline Fitzgerald spoke as the 2024 College of the Liberal Arts Guest Commencement Speaker and is a testament to how impactful a WGSS degree can be.  Caroline is just one of our amazing alumni that uses her WGSS experience in her career and everyday life.  Caroline is trailblazing for women in sports with her company GOALS which is dedicated to growing the business side of women’s sports.  The work that is done in WGSS is imperative to creating a more inclusive space and understanding of the ongoing oppression of marginalized peoples.

 

Congratulations again to the Class of 2024!!!