Emma Belz
Emma Belz is a community health education major and a women’s and gender studies (WGS) minor. An active member of FLAME and recipient of the WGS Achievement Award last year, Belz is thrilled to be graduating this December. Thanks for all your hard work, Emma!
What is your favorite part of the WGS program and why?
The professors and faculty are seriously so amazing. I can’t even believe I get to hang out with them and talk about cool feminist stuff all the time! Also they are all so knowledgeable and well versed in their specific areas that I adore taking these classes because they always have answers to the questions. Also I love the other students in the program who appreciate the amazing professors and classes as well, it’s so much more enjoyable to sit in a class that everyone else is super into as well.
Describe the WGS program in one word. Why did you choose that word?
10/10 would recommend
How has F.L.A.M.E. (Feminist Led Activist Movement to Empower) affected your collegiate experience?
F.L.A.M.E. has taught me so much: how to work as team effectively, how to coordinate and facilitate events, how to be a leader, but most importantly how to support and appreciate other students for all the hard work they do as well.
What components of the WGS program would you recommend to prospective students?
The whole environment. The program is so supportive of the diversity of majors we have and love collaborating and helping everyone out. Understanding women and other underrepresented groups benefits literally (every) field of study, and I feel like some people don’t quite get that yet.
How have courses for the WGS minor been relevant to other areas of your life?
Public health as a whole is very concerned about working with underrepresented groups or those without the means to access the health care, and wellness programs, and initiatives they need. By having a base knowledge of systems of privilege and oppression at work against these groups helped me in my course work.
What advice would you give other students who are considering taking a WGS course?
DO IT! And then love it and be a minor.
