WGST Alums: Where are they now?
Meet some of the people who have graduated from the program, and find out about the ways in which their work in WGST and QS affected their lives.
Marinda Valenti
- How did you find Women’s and Gender Studies and why did you decide to add the major/minor?
Honestly, I found WGS by looking through the CSUF course catalog one day. I'd had an existing interest in feminism and women's issues without really thinking much about pursuing that interest until I was sitting down and figuring out my credits for the rest of my English major and Film minor. I found that I had a couple potentially light semesters in my future, which would have been fine - but I really like being occupied! So I decided to look into classes to fill up my schedule and women's studies just sort of fit. And of course, once I took the introductory classes, I enjoyed the material so much that I eventually declared it as my second minor.
- What have you been doing since graduation?
Immediately after graduating, I did a lot of volunteer work and internships. For about a year after leaving CSUF, I threw myself into figuring out what to do with my odd collection of degrees. I volunteered at various non-profits in public health and education, and applied to around 50 internships in every field I was slightly interested in until Ms. Magazine decided to take a chance on me. From there, I focused on pursuing publishing, and wrote/edited for a few publications for a while. Now, I live in Brooklyn and I have just completed my M.S. in Publishing from NYU. I just celebrated my first anniversary as a full-time production editor of fiction books at HarperCollins Publishers. >
- How has what you learned from WGST influenced the work that you are doing now?
More than anything, WGS taught me how to think critically about everything I encounter - from the media I consume to the way people behave. For a while, I thought that I could only apply my WGS knowledge to the publishing world by working on blatantly relevant material - pieces with a social justice angle, or women-focused content. But I'm finding that isn't true; WGS taught me to think about all content on a deeper level. A lot of my work involves paying close attention to details, and WGS was a fantastic primer for dissecting and understanding the significance of every word in a message, so going that extra mental mile is something I practice every day.
Alexsandra Canedo
- How did you find Women’s and Gender Studies and why did you decide to add the major/minor?
I found out about the program through my good friend, Alexis Long. I remember it clearly. It was our first semester of college and we were discussing our classes. She mentioned her favorite course (Intro to WGST) and I was immediately intrigued. I quickly decided that I would sign up for a class in the WGST department the next semester. From then on, I took WGST courses until I graduated.
The decision to major in WGST was easy for me. I just couldn’t find the sense of community I found in the WGST department in other programs at CSUF. The faculty, professors, and students truly want to see you succeed. I felt challenged every day to be a better, more informed, and critical thinking individual. The quality of professors in the WGST department and their commitment to their students ultimately pushed me to pursue a joint Political Science and Women and Gender Studies degree.
- What have you been doing since graduation?
Since I graduated in 2013, I moved to Washington D.C. for graduate school and started working at the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). I am currently working on the Latin American portfolio, as well as some local programs geared to help minority journalists in the United States.To this day, I don’t regret my decision to major in WGST. In addition to helping shape my career, the individuals I encountered through this department have had a lasting impact on my personal life.
Zeena Aljawad
- How did you find Women’s and Gender Studies and why did you decide to add the major/minor?
My first encounter with Women’s and Gender Studies was through a course entitled Gender and Globalization. I initially took this course to fulfill elective requirements; after few weeks of attending class, I started to feel a deep connection with most of the content. I decided to take additional Women’s and Gender Studies courses, which led to declaring Women’s and Gender Studies as a minor.
- What have you been doing since graduation?
Since I graduated in May 2013, I have worked for non-profit organizations, concentrating on youth work and ending homelessness. I plan on continuing my education by receiving my master’s degree in social work. I have also joined a few feminist, Palestinian, and Iraqi grassroots movements and organizations.
- How has what you learned from WGST influenced the work that you are doing now?
The Women’s and Gender Studies Department, as a whole, greatly contributed to my political and social consciousness. The professors, courses, and events put on by the department gave me the language, confidence, and critical thinking skills to challenge our problematic world, but they also gave me the historical knowledge of the crucial movements women, people of color, queer folks, and all marginalized folks created and sustained to demand justice and liberation. I am forever grateful to the Women’s and Gender Studies Department for what I have gained and what I will carry with me for the long haul.
Victoria MacDonald
- How did you find Women’s and Gender Studies and why did you decide to add the major/minor?
I entered Cal State Fullerton as an athlete and Professor Christian’s class was recommended to me by my academic advisor. After his course, I began taking multiple American Studies courses as well as Women and Gender Studies courses. I added this as my second major to be more appealing to graduate schools as well as activist centers.
- What have you been doing since graduation?
Since graduation, I started graduate school at the University of Hawai’I Manoa in the fall of 2015. I was accepted directly into the Ph.D program in American Studies and credit a large part of this to my relationships with the Women and Gender Studies faculty at CSUF. Not only were they student-centered lecturers within the classroom, they extended their accessibility beyond the classroom walls. This accessibility allowed me the opportunity to work closely with them to decide what I would do after graduation. This comfort and openness between the Women and Gender Studies faculty and the students made me feel confident after the conclusion of my undergraduate career.
- How has what you learned from WGST influenced the work that you are doing now?
What drew me to WGST was the ability to question, analyze and critique cultural ‘normalities.’ While other majors and minors are focused on scantron based exams, WGST is interdisciplinary in that allows students to utilize and question everyday interactions that cannot be limited to a few answers on an exam. Within the classroom walls at CSUF, professors provided students with tools that can be used in everyday life. Some of these tools include: research, effective communication, critical thinking, engaging conversation between students as well as the professor and writing skills.
I currently am a GA at UHM and co-teach a sexualities course. Throughout my career at CSUF I was asked to engage with textbooks and communicate the information effectively to my classmates, and I have taken these tools and applied them within my own classroom. I attempt to mirror the phenomenal faculty at CSUF.
