Name: Alyson Bean

Degree: Women's Studies - 2006

Works in: So. Portland Maine in the SP School Dept as their substitute coordinator and Volunteers of America @ their Bayview Heights location

E-mail address: alyson.bean@yahoo.com

Future aspirations: Pursue a master's in literacy

Q1: Why did you choose Women's Studies? Honestly... I thought it would be easy (I was wrong about that). After my 1st intro class I was hooked on the curriculum.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? At Bayview Heights their residents are mostly low-income elderly women (there are a few men). I learned a lot about class issues in my WST studies, and I feel I see that every day in my work for Volunteers of America.

Name: Cara Bilodeau

Degree: Women's Studies BA, with a Sociology Minor, December 2002

Works in: Augusta, Maine

Current employment: Maine Women's Lobby & Maine Women's Policy Center

E-mail address: organizer@mainewomen.org

Future aspirations: Professionally, I want to continue to connect with people and advocate for women and girls in the state of Maine.

Personally, I would love to buy a house and remain happy and healthy.

Q1: There are many reasons I choose Women's Studies in school.  The strong network between the professors and students created a great environment to learn and make friends.  I also enjoyed learning about the history of women's rights and the emphasis on how we can improve the lives of women today.

Q2: I work to develop leadership skills and protect the rights of women and girls in Maine, so feminism is very present in my work.

Name: Erin Brown

Degree: Women's Studies & Criminology, 2004

Works in: Lewiston, ME Position/employer: Community Educator & Trainer for the Abused Women's Advocacy Project

E-mail address: ebrown@awap.org

Future aspirations: Continue to do feminist work, empower women, and maybe run for office in state government.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? I felt inspired every time I took a class. I enjoy reading, studying and Examining gender. I love feminist theory and applying it to life.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? I work for a feminist organization. Our philosophy and mission is to empower women and understand oppression and feminism. When I train the general public I often cite books that I read while a WST major, and I've begun to incorporate feminist theory into my trainings.

Name: Carolyn Cunningham

Degree: Major WST, Minor English, 1998

Works in: Austin, TX as a Graduate Student

E-mail address: carolync@mail.utexas.edu

Future aspirations: I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin. I am also working toward a Doctoral Portfolio in Women's and Gender Studies. Most of my research focuses on media and telecommunications policy, including strategies for bridging the gap between those who have access to communication technologies and those who do not. My goal upon graduation is to conduct research that contributes to social change.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

I was inspired by my professors in my first year at USM who challenged me to think critically about history, culture, and society. The classes were

interesting and personally relevant.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

I focus my research on how gender influences media production and policy. This summer, I also interned at the National Academy of Engineering on an initiative that encourages girls to become engineers (since only 11 percent of engineers are women).

Name: Melissa Dupont

Degree: Political Science, minor, Women's Studies, 2003.

Works in: South Portland, Maine

Position/employer: Master's candidate in USM Extended Teacher Education Program

Future aspirations: To become a High School Social Studies Teacher.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

I took Intro on the advice of a friend, and was hooked after that. It

really validated some of my long-held beliefs.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

As a Social Studies teacher, I will strive to incorporate feminist and

multi-cultural experiences into my curriculum. I hope move my curriculum beyond Western, Male, and Caucasian-centric interpretation.

Name: Nancy Foss

Degree: WST Major, 1987

Works in: Portland, Maine

Position/employer: women's reproductive health activist

Future aspirations: international women's public health projects

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

Women's studies chose me really! I started out as an English major, but after I took my first WS course (intro), I switched my major! Some of the women I met during those early years remain my best friends today.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

There is no separation between my current work and women's studies. my course work not only prepared me, it inspired me to work for social justice. my professors and colleagues were a great source of stimulation and support. I feel like it is my obligation to help create positive changes for women who have not had the same privileges and opportunities that I have. In my daily work, I touch a lot of women's lives. In this way, my women's studies degree from USM has touched the lives of many women in Maine and beyond.

Name: Megan Goudey

Degree: WST Major, Grad 2005

Works in: Portland, Maine

Position/employer: Maine Department of Health and Human Services/ Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services – Aspire Case Manager

E-mail address: Megan.Goudey@maine.gov

Future aspirations: MA in Women’s Studies

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

I was given a stack of cookbooks by my grandmother when told her I would be taking a Women’s Studies class…there was a copy of The Feminine Mystique hidden on the bottom. The idea that my grandmother thought women’s studies consisted of the old home economics classes bothered me to no end. The idea that she thought it should be something else inspired me. Intro to WST did the rest.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

I do case management for refugees in a welfare program. I work with poverty stricken women who have been forced to flee their own countries due to genocide and war. Every aspect of the lives of people I work with are affected by gender, race, class, religion, and being a refugee. I work with women have been victim to female genital mutilation, domestic violence, rape, and torture. Understanding culture, gender, and religious roles are integral in job.

Name: Martha G. Huestis

Degree: Women Studies Major, 2001

Works in: Alfred, ME

Position/employer: Food Services Director, York County Shelter Programs, Inc.

E-mail address: marthagrace@gwi.net

Future aspirations: To retire at my present job - continuing to do work to help the homeless and disenfranchised.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

I wanted a well rounded education that looked at issues of oppression for all groups of people. I had considered going into ministry and felt this would be a good prerequisite to getting a masters.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

I look at issues of oppression every day. WS has given me the ability to have empathy for people who are homeless, hungry, and have mental illnesses. I oversee feeding 60 homelss clients every day; 2 meals kithens; a food pantry; and incubator kitchen for people starting their own businesses.

Name: Joanne E.A. Joy (Meiser)

Degree: Women's Studies major, 1992

Works in: Gardiner, ME 04345

Position/employer: Healthy Maine Partnership Director, doing community organizing and policy and environmental change to decrease exposure to tobacco, increase access to physical activity and healthy eating. Chair of the Women and Heart Health Committee of the Maine Cardiovascular Health Council.

E-mail address: joannej@suscom-maine.net

Future aspirations: Develop meaningful research methodology to find out more about low-income women's experiences with tobacco use, physical activity, nutrition. Use the research to create more effective ways low-income women can enhance their own quality of life.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

Women's studies caught and held my attention, challenged my intellect, and helped me make sense of the world in which I live. It provided an ethical underpinning for my work, life and expectations.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

Redefining tobacco use as a woman's issue; integrating gender-based analysis in health promotion program planning; prioritizing gender specific health/disease data collection and reporting; designing women specific interventions for healthier aging; working to reduce tobacco use among pregnant women; creating over 40, lesbian specific support for healthier eating and increasing physical; etc.

Name: Karen Lipiatos

Degree: Women's Studies, 2001

Works in: Bridgton, ME

Position/employer: I work for PROP, Cumberland County's CAP agency. I work with families over the county. I am a home visitor in the Early Head Start program.

E-mail address: joannej@suscom-maine.net

Future aspirations: I am satisfied with my vocation at this time.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

My goal was then and is still to help prevent child abuse and neglect. I decided that Women's Studies was the best discipline for me to learn to become a better
advocate.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

I treat all involved client family members with respect. I meet my families where they are in all areas, regardless of their skill levels. My approach is strengths-based, and I help the people I work with to recognize their own and strengths, children and adults alike. I help adults clarify their goals, and provide support and resources for attaining them. I assist families' efforts toward escaping poverty, rather than blaming them for being there. I help mothers, fathers, and other guardians to be the best parents they can be. And I am sure that through my work with families, child abuse and neglect have been reduced.

Name: Jenna Mehnert
Degree: Women's Studies, 1993

Works in: Harrisburg, PA

Position/employer: Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers

Name: Steffan Morin
Degree: Women's Studies, (minor) Philosophy, 2007
Works in: San Francisco, CA

Position/employer: Pursuing MA in Human Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University
E-mail address: steffan.morin@gmail.com
Future aspirations: After finishing my MA, I plan to pursue a PhD in Sociology and to become a professor as focused on providing excellent teaching as my professors in Women's Studies were.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? I began as an art major at USM, later moving to social work. I wasn't being intellectually satisfied--I was being trained for a future career, but that didn't improve my thinking and writing skills. So I came to women's studies and found the challenge that I needed: to expand the way I thought about the world. Women's Studies became the single most important factor to my success at USM.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? During my time as an undergraduate, all of the work that I did on campus and in the community (political and social activism) was all inspired and informed by my women's studies education. In my current work, I'm working with amazing people and learning to do my own feminist research. This is tremendously important to me since I see, so often, social and scientific research being done to strengthen gender and sexual stereotypes about women and men. I'm learning to bring feminist theory into my research so that I can avoid these mistakes.

Name: Ashley Newton
Degree: Women’s Studies, 2004
Works in: Currently live and work in New York City.
Position/employer: I am an Extended Job Coach for the Blind/Visually Impaired Program at Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ. Previously employed as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the same employer.
E-mail address: new_ash@hotmail.com
Future aspirations: I am currently in the process of applying to Graduate Schools to pursue a Masters in Social Work.
Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? After a year of frustration, trying out various courses in the social sciences, the Intro to WST class was recommended to me by a friend.  I too asked myself, “What could I possibly learn from a course like this?”  To my surprise I was drawn in during the first class by the infectious enthusiasm and knowledge of my professor and it was from here that I found the right path for me.  I loved the interdisciplinary aspect of the program as it encouraged taking courses in different departments while keeping issues of feminism the central focus.
  To me it’s not about what I can do with the degree, but more of what the degree does for me as an individual.  Viewing social problems in terms of gender, race, class among others, allows for a completely different interpretation for why things are the way they are in society today.  Being aware and able to analyze such things is the only way anyone can be prepared to initiate change, which I think is the main reason most of us choose to go into the social sciences in the first place.
Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? Not only is it present in my work, but it’s had profound impact on the ways in which I live my life and how I perceive the world around me.  My background in Women’s Studies taught me the importance of societal values such as community and helping those in need and I believe that I most likely would not have gotten into my line of work if it weren’t for the experiences I had during my undergrad at USM.

Name: Amaris Sittinger

Degree: English/minor WST, 2000

Works in: San Diego, CA

Position/employer: Counselor for Domestic Violence Shelter, MSW candidate SDSU

Future aspirations: to complete my MSW, and get my LCSW to provide therapy to families in recovery from drug abuse and/or physical abuse

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? Women's Studies consistently asked those questions other disciplines did not.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? Feminist practice comes up everyday in my work: working to educate women on their own power and abilities, providing community outreach to prevent the diffusion of stereotypes of battered women--and what battering is period, being able to examine the factors at work that make self-sufficiency difficult for low-income women.

Name: Allison Turrell

Degree: Women's Studies/English, 1996

Works in: Austin, TX

Position/employer: graduate student in digital arts at Maryland Institute College of Art

E-mail address: alincolnt@earthlink.net

Future aspirations: create evocative images and teach

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? It was accidental. I came to USM to major in English because I was a writer and fell in love with the curriculum after taking an Into to Women's Studies class. It was eye opening, liberating, inspirational, and provided me with practical and critical tools to understand and move in the world.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? I transitioned to visual arts about 6 years ago and have strived to photograph images with a feminist perspective. I've pursued projects and ideas that are very much part the work I did as an undergraduate. I'm currently a master's student in digital arts and hope I can challenge peoples' ideas and assumptions visually and viscerally.

Name: Lauren Webster

Degree: B.A. Women’s Studies, minor Criminology, 2002; Masters in American & New England Studies, 2007

Works in: Portland, Maine

Position/employer: Assistant to the Director of Women and Gender Studies, USM

E-mail address: lwebster@usm.maine.edu

Future aspirations: Change the world one day at a time.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies?

I chose WST because it’s interdisciplinary nature gave me the freedom to examine all of the subjects I was interested in (Criminology, Sociology, History, Literature, etc.) while simultaneously studying feminism, equality and activism.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work?

Since getting my BA in WST, I have helped run the Women and Gender Studies Program here at USM. I don't think there could be any more clear a link between my BA and my work helping other people find their pathway through University education by way of Women and Gender Studies. The gender studies, feminism, and activism I learned through my BA played an important role in the coursework I completed for my MA and will continue to play a role in my work regardless of where I am.

Name: Francesca Gilkey

Degree: Double Major in Sociology & Women's Studies Fall 2001

Works in: Tewksbury, MA

Position/employer: Graduate Student in Sociology at Northeastern

University in Boston, MA

Future aspirations: Received my M.A. in Spring 2004 at NEU, and am

pursuing my Ph.D which I hope to complete by Spring 2009.

Q1: Why did you choose Women’s Studies? My mom developed my initial feminist beliefs, but the women's studies courses and professors at USM gave me a more critical eye and more structured purpose to pursue actively working against gender inequalities.

Q2: How is Women’s Studies/feminism present in your work? Most of my graduate course work was related to gender and women's studies; and if they weren't, my papers within the class were. My areas of interest in my Ph.D work are all informed by feminism:

Inequality-Gender/Race/Class/Sexuality, Women's Reproductive Health- Disparities in Health Care Access & Health Outcomes, Grassroots Organizing, and Social Policy, and The U.S. Women's Movement-The Women's Health & Reproductive Rights Movements. I am also currently a research fellow at the Institute for Urban Health Research (IUHR) at NEU and all of their research holds sex and gender as highly significant variables.