HDS communications reached out to our 2022 graduating students to hear from them in their own words about their experiences at HDS, the people who've helped and inspired them along their grad school journeys, and their plans for the future.
How I've Changed
Since I started at HDS, my passion for the fight for human rights has increased so much. I came to this program prepared to learn, and I’m leaving prepared to rise by lifting others.
Memorable Moment
A memory I’ll definitely be taking with me comes from the open house for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging where we shared some poetry, including my favorite work by Langston Hughes:
“O, let America be America again—
The land that never has been yet—
And yet must be—the land where every man is free.”
Favorite Class or Professor
I thoroughly enjoyed every class from my two years at HDS, but I think I have to speak about Professor Tim McCarthy here. His class "Queer Nation" presented a well-researched and engaging account of queer history in the United States. It was the first time in 22 years I felt I could see that part of my identity—queerness—properly represented in higher academia. I want to thank Professor McCarthy for helping to feed our creative fires of resistance, and I look forward to keeping up with his work in the coming years.
Message of Thanks
So many people have helped me get to where I am. I’d like to thank Dean Melissa Wood Bartholomew, Amy Marks, Steph Gauchel and the HDS DIB team for showing what a positive work culture should look like. Thank you to all the professors I had the pleasure of learning from over the past two years. Finally, the biggest thank you to my wonderful mother and the real star of the show, my service dog, Nutmeg.
What I Hope to Be Remembered By
The most memorable thing about me is probably my lovely dog, Nutmeg, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
Future Plans
I plan to return the the South to keep fighting for justice in the footsteps of activists like Stacey Abrams.