Blog
Name: Leah Taylor
Year: Second
Major: American Studies/Media Studies
Hometown: Stamford, CT
What brought you to the Women's Center?
My first year at UVA, I struggled to find a place where I felt like I fit in. When I walked into the Women's Center, I immediately felt like I was at home. My internship at the Women's Center has introduced me to so many strong, empowered women who have encouraged me to be more confident in myself and I couldn't be more grateful.
Tony Reyes studied Accounting and IT at UVA graduating from the McIntire School of Commerce in 2012. Tony was one of the pioneering Big Brothers in the early years of our Men's Leadership Project. We recently caught up with Tony to find out where life has taken him and what's stayed with him from his MLP days.
Where do you work now?
I'm a Financial Accounting Advisory Services Manager at EY helping companies navigate business and accounting change or disruption with an integrated risk based perspective.
Our series on alumni who served as Big Brothers in the earliest years of our Men's Leadership Project continues this week with James Allman-Gulino. James graduated from the College with a Foreign Affairs major in 2008 and earned his Masters in Public Policy from the Batten School in 2009. Today, as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State, James handles Political Affairs and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Whose work inspires you to aim higher or think differently?
Our YWLP Big Sisters are the face of the program, but it takes a village to bring dozens of UVA women in to the local community to mentor middle school girls every year! The interns who help with program operations for YWLP have created a series of posts to introduce you to the students serving as YWLP mentoring group facilitators.
Name: Madeline Speirs
Year: Fourth Year
Major: Media Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Leesburg, VA
1. What brought you to the Women's Center?
Name: Jess Sommerville
Year: Second
Major: English (Area Program in Poetry Writing)
Hometown: Mason, OH
1. What brought you to the Women's Center?
I admire the Women’s Center as a hub of positivity, and I am eager to collaborate with and learn from activist women. I was especially interested to join the Social Media Marketing team because I wanted to use my love for words and interest in multimedia to amplify important voices.
2. What other organizations are you involved with at UVA?
Name: Jessica Meyers
Year: Second Year
Major: Economics and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Yorktown, VA
1. What brought you to the Women's Center?
Name: Linea Fuller
Year: 2020
Major: Biology
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
1. What brought you to the Women's Center?
I want to pursue a career in the medical field with an emphasis on women's mental and physical health. I felt like the Women's Center offered an unique opportunity for me to pursue my passion and work with other people who share similar interests.
2. What other organizations are you involved with at UVA?
Name: Caroline Peters
Year: Fourth
Major: Political Philosophy Policy and Law (PPL) and Government with a minor in Religious Studies
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
1. What brought you to the Women's Center?
I was drawn to the Women's Center because this is a space that prioritizes inclusion, compassion, and kindness, and those kind of spaces at UVA are so important for students that want to take a break from competitive or stressful spaces.
Name: Maeve Hayden
Year: 4th
Major: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Afton, Virginia
What brought you to the Women's Center?
After transferring my second year, I struggled to find my place and voice at UVA. The Women's Center and Iris give me a place to talk to like-minded, passionate people.
What other organizations are you involved with at UVA?
In the past I served on the Transfer Student Advisory Board, as well as working as a Transfer Student Peer Advisor.