Women's Studies - College of Arts & Sciences - Florida International ...

Women’s Studies
Graduate
Maria Lopez­Boada (Women’s Studies/Political Science, Fall 2009).
I knew I somehow wanted to be involved in Women’s Studies even before I
graduated from high school, and as soon as I did at FIU I never looked back. The
education I received was top‐notch, and every professor in the department was just
as passionate about their students’ success as they were about their area of
knowledge. I was also fortunate enough to be involved with the department outside
of the classroom as a member, Vice‐President, and eventually President of The
WSSA, where I worked with students and faculty on various projects to further the
mission of the department. My time with the student group and the department
opened my eyes to various holes in our society’s net that needed patching, inspiring
me to pursue a career in Social Work. With the help and advice of my professors and
fellow students I am pleased to say that I will be starting my Master’s degree in
Social Service Administration at The University of Chicago. I cannot say enough good things about the Women’s
Studies program at FIU, and I know it will only continue to improve and grow.
Vanessa Reyes (English/Women’s Studies Certificate, Spring 2010)
Since graduation I have continued working for the Miami ‐Dade Public
Library system and am moving to Tallahassee, where I will begin my masters
at Florida State University in Library Information Science and Museum
Studies. I have been volunteering at the Miami Museum of Science helping
out with a special project that involves tomorrow’s leaders. The program is
called Young Ambassadors and features students who have won scholarships
with the Smithsonian division of Hispanic heritage in Washington D.C. I love
this project it’s been amazing, we educate the youth on the importance of
museums and libraries in our Nation and, how as a minority they can make
the difference amongst others who have yet to experience such worlds. Also I
want to add a special thank you to the Women's Studies ladies. As a fellow E‐
board member and former secretary to the Women's Studies Student
Association, I was able to connect and share a multitude of ideas, and
experiences engaging with women in our community. I want to thank also the
ladies of the Women’s Studies Graduate Association for making it possible for
me to be a panel presenter at the Women’s Studies Student Conference early in the spring. Overall it was a great
opportunity to share my research on women and unemployment.
Tiffany Yeomans­Benford (Women’s Studies/Africa & African Diaspora Studies Cert., Spring 2010)
Upon graduating, I decided to take a summer break to work and travel. One of my
traveling sites was the U.S. Social Forum held in Detroit. During this week long forum
hundreds of progressive organizations and great minds came together to start sharing
ideas on how to continue a social movement in the U.S. that pushes for transformation
politically, economically and morally. This trip has been a highlight in my life and if it were
not for my extensive education on social and political movements, gained through the
courses and professors at FIU, I would probably not have been there. In the fall of 2010, I
will be attending Barry University to further my studies by pursuing a Master’s in Social
Work. I currently sit on the Women and Youth Committee for the Miami Workers Center
and continue to volunteer with many other organizations.
Women’s Studies Center Annual Report, 2009-2010 21