The Program in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
I graduated from the College in 2009 and Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice in 2011. I loved the idea of taking what I learned in Gender, Culture and Society and parlaying that into providing therapy for women. However, through my coursework and clinical placements in social work school, I discovered that I was most interested in the “macro” social work track – how nonprofits could provide the most good for the most people. (Click above to read more.)
I graduated from the College in 2009 and Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice in 2011. I loved the idea of taking what I learned in Gender, Culture and Society and parlaying that into providing therapy for women. However, through my coursework and clinical placements in social work school, I discovered that I was most interested in the “macro” social work track – how nonprofits could provide the most good for the most people.
I began in an associate role at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Foundation where I was supporting talented fundraising professionals on the major gifts team. I now serve as a Director of Development at CHOP – overseeing the major gift fundraising activity for the Department of Pediatrics and leading a team of gift officers who raise funds for divisions and programs within that Department. Working in philanthropy gives me the opportunity to work with individuals, families, and organizations or corporations and help match them with a cause that they care about. I have the honor of doing this for a world renowned pediatric institution, and I am constantly learning in my efforts to communicate hospital priorities to prospective donors. It is humbling and rewarding to meet these families who want to give back for reasons that are often deeply personal—from gratitude for the care they received, to coping after the loss of a child. It is matchmaking in the most impactful of ways.
I will always remain grateful for my Penn education, and my women’s studies background in particular. On a daily basis, I consider those lessons when I’m going for that next promotion or navigating gender dynamics within a large institution like CHOP.
I also remain grateful to Demie Kurz—my former professor, thesis advisor, and mentor, who served as Director of the program until recently. She gave me countless pieces of advice and would ask probing questions about how my career choices related to the work we had done together over the course of my time at Penn. There is no doubt in my mind that my career development has benefited from lessons I learned in the Penn Women’s Studies department.