This award recognizes outstanding research, scholarship, and collaborative engagement from Gender and Women’s Studies Students Across UW System. Please join us in congratulating this year’s nominees.
Jacob Reid lives in Menomonie, WI with his partners. He is a third-year student in the Human Development and Family Studies program at the University of Wisconsin – Stout. The focus of his scholarship/advocacy in Women and Gender Studies has focused on queer media, free speech, protecting diverse representation, and outreach/education about intersectional experiences.
Title of project: Intersections of LGBTQIA+ Media, Education, Censorship, and Advocacy
Cassidy Ochowski, (she/her) is a fifth-year senior at UW-Whitewater from Verona, Wisconsin. She’s pursuing a B.A. in Film Studies and Professional Writing & Publishing, a B.S. in Media Arts & Game Design (Technology emphasis), and certificates in Women’s & Gender Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies. She’s also a member of the University Honors Program and College of Letters & Sciences Dean’s Advisory Council. Cassidy’s interests include feminist storytelling, queer and Marxist analysis, and narrative-based game development. After graduating this May, she plans to take some time to work on mental health and further refine many of the projects she’s begun over the course of her undergraduate career.
Title of project: Through Shadow & Light
Olivia Paulson (she/her) is from Andover, MN, and a junior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She is majoring in Psychology and Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Olivia will be graduating in May of 2023. After graduation, she hopes to attend law school with a focus on human rights law.
Title of project: Gender-Based Human Rights Violations in Ireland, Intergenerational Trauma, and Justice
Dean Dvorak is graduating this semester after majoring in Gender & Women’s Studies and Molecular & Cell Biology at UW-Madison. They will stay at UW Madison to begin a Master’s Degree in Counseling this fall, where they hope to continue research about gender euphoria and trans embodiment that they will incorporate into their therapy practice.
Title of project: Mapping Embodiment of Gender Euphoria in Trans Students
Crystal Zhao (they/she) is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They are studying Gender and Women’s Studies and Political Science, with certificates in Asian American Studies and African Cultural Studies. They have been involved in two grassroots political campaigns to elect young queer candidates to the city council and continue to work on equity initiatives on campus. Crystal’s research focuses on Asian American politics, gender, and the media. They are also interested in exploring the political engagement of international students and non-citizens living in the United States. After graduation, Crystal will be working on a political campaign in Madison, WI, with the hope of continuing their research in American Studies in grad school.
Title of project: Asian American Women’s Social Media Activism: Embracing and Challenging Bias and Stereotypes
Alanna Goldstein is a third-year undergraduate studying Gender and Women’s Studies with Honors in the Major, Political Science, LGBTQ+ Studies, and Honors in the Liberal Arts at UW-Madison. They are involved in student activism and appointed to the University’s LGBTQ+ Committee. Alanna works for the Wisconsin Department of Administration in the Office of the Secretary managing legislative and constituent inquiries and casework and has previous experience working in the Office of Governor Tony Evers and on political campaigns.
Title of project: Reimagining Kritikal Debate Policymaking as Collective Care
Maya Cherins (she/her) is a graduating senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, double majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies and Community and Nonprofit Leadership with a certificate in Global Health. Maya is passionate about reproductive justice, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality and mental health awareness. She’s from Maplewood, New Jersey and in her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs, spending time outdoors and cooking.
Title of project: Fatphobia, reproduction and the policing of bodies in medical settings
Avery Dick is originally from Northern Virginia and is a Senior at UW-Madison. She is majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies as well as Human Development & Family Studies. Avery is passionate about sexual violence prevention and activism as well as fat studies. She owes Dr. Kate Phelps her gratitude for introducing her to this rich field of study and advising her throughout her thesis journey. Avery hopes to become a therapist and continuing her research past her undergrad.
Title of project: The Wrong Problem: A Critical Analyses of Fat Panic as a Scapegoat for Numerous Societal Issues
Lizzie Sheil (she/her) is a senior at UW-Madison studying Biology and Gender and Women’s Studies. She will be applying to medical school this spring with the goal of becoming a primary care physician. In her free time she loves to read, paint, play guitar, and spend time with friends and family.
Title of project: Intersectional Feminist Primary Care