| In high school, I loved the process of learning: going to the library, finding books, reading the books, and organizing the information. At Wellesley, I realized that one could build a career out of being a bookworm: one could become a college professor! Professors, I realized, are paid to learn and to share that learning! Moreover, Wellesley professors are dedicated to developing their expertise, and their passion inspires their students. I quickly found my professional role models in the Political Science, Spanish, and Women’s Studies Departments.
Wellesley also expanded my horizons about what could be learned. Courses in political science showed that democracy is neither universal nor simple. In the United States, we celebrate our democratic history—while other countries fight wars over ballot box results. Courses in women’s studies offered a feminist perspective, leading to questions about whether democratic liberty can exist where women’s unequal rights persist. To connect democratization and gender equality, I chose the inter-disciplinary major of Latin American Studies. I drew from courses in political science, Spanish, and women’s studies to develop a comprehensive understanding of the history and culture of a world region.
Wellesley provided me with excellent research opportunities. The summer following my sophomore year I received a multicultural research grant from the Dean’s office; I spent three month studying how the Cuban Revolution affected the literary production of female writers on the island. I then studied abroad in Costa Rica during Spring semester my junior year. I returned to Wellesley to write my senior thesis on how Costa Rican democracy integrated women as political activists and as elected officials.
My senior year, I won a Gates Cambridge Fellowship, and earned my M.Phil. in Latin American Studies at the University of Cambridge. While some asked why I traveled to England to learn about Latin America, this multicultural and multinational approach followed naturally from Wellesley’s inter-disciplinary education. After England, I began a Ph.D. program in Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. As a political scientist, I use my training in Latin American Studies to provide background and context for studying Latin American politics.
My current work builds upon my courses at Wellesley. My dissertation analyzes the effects of Argentina’s “Quota Law”—an affirmative action measure that forces political parties to nominate 30% women to the national legislature. I participate in a network of scholars, extending from Canada to Sweden, who research whether electing more women leads to more gender-balanced policies. I teach courses at San Diego State University where I ask undergraduates these very questions: Do women have unique perspectives on reproductive rights? Do rape laws treat female victims fairly? I hope to inspire in my students the same love for critical thinking that my Wellesley professors inspired in me. As researcher and a teacher, I have combined the best aspects of learning: gathering, sharing, and discussing information and ideas. |
