Class Year: 2024

Major: Media Studies

Hometown: Richmond, VA

Program: Social Media Marketing 

1. What brought you to the Women's Center?

I was looking for ways to get more involved on grounds and dive into the UVA community and the Women's Center has been just that! More specifically, I wanted to find a way to combine elements of advocacy and non-profit work with an exploration of social media communication.

2. What is your favorite memory of UVA so far?

I've got too many to count! Some of my favorites have been different dinner parties my friends and I have been throwing since our second year here. We've covered homemade dumplings, charcuterie, curry, low-country boil, gingerbread houses, etc. I've joked that if my friend group was a room in a house we'd be the kitchen. It's been so nice getting to bond over the years and enjoy each other's company over really good food.

3. Who is a woman that inspires you?

So many women, but the first that comes to mind is my Nana. She's been at the forefront of the push for the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia since she moved to the state in the 70s/80s. Even today, she still treats it with the same dedication as when she started. Her energy and passion for the cause, and the love she shows other people despite all she's endured, have been really inspiring for me throughout my life. I grew up going to ERA events with her and my mom, and went to my first protest with them in 2017 in DC (the Women's March!). She's a big part of why I want to go into advocacy and non-profit work and why I want to do something that really helps people.

4. What is one thing you do after a stressful day?

I'm such a proponent of a "treat yourself" mindset. It can range from getting myself something to snack on in between classes, taking time to unwind and decompress, giving myself space for non-academic hobbies that I enjoy, or just putting on a face mask and doing my nails. I try to work variations of self care in pretty regularly, but especially after stressful days.

5. How does your work at the Women's Center motivate you?

It definitely helps that the work I'm doing with the Social Media Marketing Team is adjacent to the kind of work I'd like to be doing after graduation. I think what really motivates me is getting to hear about the work that everyone is doing with the center and around grounds (both within the SMM team and from the other internship teams). We've got a really cool group of people who do really cool work and I'm always excited to promote the things that everyone has worked so hard on.

6. What is a podcast/TV show/book, etc. that's grabbed your attention recently?

For the past week and a half, I've been listening nonstop to Laufey's new album Bewitched. My personal favorites off the album are Dreamer, While You Were Sleeping, and Promise. I always associate jazz music with colder weather, so it's been nice to listen to as Charlottesville starts transitioning to Autumn.