Class of 2023: GSF Major Credits Department for Shaping her Worldview and Preparing her for a Career in Reproductive Health

Danica Schwartz, a Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies major and graduate, has one major complaint about her time with GSF: that she couldn’t take even more courses in the department.  

“GSF has always been incredibly welcoming and supportive, yet has never hesitated to challenge me and make me think (and rethink) incredibly deeply,” said Schwartz. 

“I've loved the diverse and intersectional schools of thought/feminist theory that I've been able to engage with and learn throughout my time in the department and feel that GSF has really shaped my worldview and given me the tools to navigate and understand the complex issues I hope to someday work towards solving in my career.” 

Schwartz’s work at GSF has focused on reproductive health and justice. As an undergraduate, she has participated in nonprofit work and academic research in that field.  

“I would not be as passionate, informed, or effective in my work without the crucial learning I have been able to do in my GSF courses,” she said. She credits the faculty as well as other GSF majors for helping foster an environment that is both supportive and challenging. 

“A major highlight for me has been being able to get to know my professors and form mentorship relationships,” said Schwarz, noting that she recently turned in her 18th paper to a professor that she has taken three GSF courses with.  

“The professors I have had have cared really significantly about me as a student and a person, and it's been such an honor to get to know them and to learn from them,” she said.  

Schwartz also points to a diversity in course offerings as a major draw to the department, and one of her favorite parts. “I've been able to take courses ranging in topics from sex work to Israeli cinema, which I think is a very unique aspect of the major being so flexible and interesting,” she said. 

After commencement, Schwartz will be working at Epic Systems as a Project Manager working with Stork, Epic's system that is designed to simplify prenatal, perinatal and postnatal care for patients. 

“I hope to work closely with reproductive healthcare providers in this role and potentially work on Epic's new fertility application as well. Ultimately, I plan on working in either reproductive health/justice or fertility,” she said.