Major: Women's and Gender Studies

Melissa Goan

Bachelor of Arts: Sociology & Women's and Gender Studies

Minor

Law and Society

Honors

Magna Cum Laude

Hometown

Santa Rosa, CA

My Greatest Supporters

My greatest supporters were my parents, professors, mentors, college roommate of three years, Noelle, and my partner, Bryan. Thank you for believing in me and being here every step of the way. Your love and generosity has been such a gift, and I couldn't ask for a better support system.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

My favorite memories are the ones when I felt most connected to the Saint Mary's, Bay Area, and global communities. I loved being a part of 8pm, student-led liturgies and supporting cultural nights on campus. I grew the most serving as a MICAH Summer Fellow, living in Alameda, and I found my vocation while participating in Lasallian Service Internship in the Philippines.

My Next Chapter

For the past two months, I've been serving as the Cal OES Statewide Coordination and Technical Assistance Project Manager at the Child Abuse Prevention Center in Sacramento. I am excited to be doing work that aligns with my interests in violence prevention, advocacy, and social justice, and I am thankful to be employed, despite all the uncertainties of the pandemic. Onward and upward!

Clubs and Activities

Honors Program and Commission
Mission and Ministry Center
CILSA
Collegiate Seminar Program and Governing Board
Center for International Programs (January Term Abroad)
Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology Honors Society)
Liberal Arts Bridge Ambassador
Office of Community Life
Student Coalition Against Abuse and Rape
One Love Campus Ambassador
Peer Advocates for Wellness

Favorite Quote

"May the spirit of love instill honesty and integrity in our hearts forever"

— Former Volunteer at Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center

Julia Hammer

Bachelor of Arts: English & Women's and Gender Studies

Honors

Magna Cum Laude

Hometown

Sacramento, California

My Greatest Supporters

First and foremost this wouldn’t be possible without the support of my family. I would also like to thank incredible professors like Denise Witzig, Kathryn Koo, Sunayani Bhattacharya, Claude-Rheal Malary, Lisa Manter and Jeannine King for being so supportive of me and so fundamental in my experience at SMC. I’ve learned so much from each of them and I’ll be forever grateful.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

My favorite memory would probably be taking Intro to Women’s of Gender Studies and doing our daily WWG sessions.

My Next Chapter

Over the course of the next year I plan to work as a teacher and obtain an emergency credential, and eventually begin applying to PhD programs for graduate school. I aspire to be a scholar and professor in media studies, hopefully publishing more work in the future on science fiction, horror films, superheroes, and The Muppets (among other things).

Favorite Quote

Life’s like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending.

— Kermit the Frog

Jerusalem Garner

Bachelor of Arts: Women's and Gender Studies

Minor

Theology & Religious Studies

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Gabrielle Mitchell

Bachelor of Arts: English & Women's and Gender Studies

Hometown

Orange County, California

My Greatest Supporters

My family and friends

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Studying abroad in London and Jan terming in South Korea

My Next Chapter

See the world

Clubs and Activities

Library Service Desk
Honor Council
Portuguese Club

Favorite Quote

"I’m a believer in the power of knowledge and the ferocity of beauty, so from my point of view, your life is already artful—waiting, just waiting, for you to make it art"- Toni Morrison

Ariana Garza

Bachelor of Arts: Women's and Gender Studies

Hometown

San Jose, CA

My Greatest Supporters

My greatest supporters have always been my family and my roommate. Whenever I am either up or down I know that they are always there for me and I couldn't ask for anything more!

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

My favorite SMC memory was sophomore year when my roommate and I went to Taco Bell one night. It was our first time going there so we had to use Siri and it told us to turn into the parking lot which was not clear enough directions for us because we need up driving up and over the sidewalk, onto the lawn, over a small hill and finally down into the parking lot... We then got the tacos.

My Next Chapter

My next chapter has yet to be written, and I am so excited to see where it takes me!

Favorite Quote

"Love that journey for me" -Alexis Rose

Alyx Carpenter

Bachelor of Arts: Politics & Women's and Gender Studies

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz

Hometown

Happy Valley, Oregon

Award Bio

Alyx Carpenter (they/them/theirs) is graduating summa cum laude with a double major in Women's and Gender Studies and Politics. Serving on the PRIDE executive team for three years, they are passionate about LGBTQ+ rights and gender equity, with an intersectional approach. After graduating, Alyx plans to take a gap year, then pursue either a master's or law degree.

My Greatest Supporters

My Mom, who was always there to listen to my meltdowns, has been one of my greatest supporters. My sibling Fran, who has always been there to listen, along with my loving boyfriend Spencer and my cats Baby and Misaki who made zoom university tolerable. Also all of my wonderful friends, Mayson, Chloe, Alondra, Darc, Marissa, Kodie, Shanali, and Sean who made the college experience bearable :D

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Hanging out in the IC for PRIDE meetings and staying until 9 or 10pm after each general body meeting just shooting the shit with everyone :), late nights at Oliver, and hanging out in the CWGE with my friends Mayson and Chloe (they're the best)

My Next Chapter

Post-graduation I plan to take a gap year then pursue with a Master's degree is Gender Studies or a Juris-Doctorate focusing on civil rights law.

Clubs and Activities

PRIDE Exec Team (Sophomore-Senior years)
The BASH Exec Team (LGBTQIAA+ Cultural Night)
STUNT (Freshman-Junior years)
Phi Kappa Phi Member
IC Street Team (Junior year)
CWGE: Volunteer and V-Day Co-Coordinator 2020
One Act Plays Spring 2020

Favorite Quote

"The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house."

— Audre Lorde