Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies

Megan DeVaney (’23), a Women’s Studies and Psychology major, interned with the Alachua County Public Defender’s Office. Through direct interactions with clients in the county jail system, Megan witnessed the glaring flaws within the legal system and the disproportionate impact on minority populations. Drawing on her Women’s Studies coursework, she gained a critical understanding of the broader systemic injustices underlying daily courtroom interactions. As she embarks on law school, Megan’s advice to students is “to make connections with your professors and clearly express your career dreams. The professors, especially in the Women’s Studies depart­ment, are more than willing to provide aid and support your personal goals.”

Kendra Hall (’22), a Psychology major with a Health Disparities in Society minor, interned with Peaceful Paths, an agency serving domestic violence survivors in Alachua County. She wrote that this experience “ended up impacting my future in greater ways than I could have imagined.” With practical experiences changing her understand­ing of classroom material, Kendra reconsidered her career aspirations and embraced the field of social work, which ultimately lead her to pursue a Master of Social Work program at Columbia University. Kendra advises students to network, reflect on career goals, and remain open to discovering new and exciting professions.

India Tater (’22), an African American Studies major with a minor in Health Disparities in Society, experienced a transformative journey with Facing our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE). Through active participation in hands-on research projects, India gained invaluable insights into the intricate complexities of health disparities, transcending the boundaries of textbooks and classrooms. Currently working as a clinical research assistant at a cancer and genetics research center, India credits her experience with FORCE as a strong influence on her current career choice. “FORCE gave me a taste of what to expect while pursuing research and data collection in medical and health careers.”

Madison Weech (’23), a Biology major with minors in Spanish and Health Disparities in Society, interned with Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR). Madison’s understanding of the Spanish language proved invaluable, allowing her to bridge a gap with patients who otherwise faced language barriers. Her classroom-based understanding of social determinants of health enabled crucial insights into real-world encounters during the internship. Madison discovered that addressing health disparities plays a pivotal role in lessening the burden placed on emergency medical systems and hospitals, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This newfound understanding fueled her sense of purpose and illuminated a path forward in her pursuit of a career in emergency medicine. “My experiential learning was easily the most valuable class I took at UF, and it allowed me to gain perspective and a real-world understanding of many of the lessons I had learned in classrooms and lecture halls.”