Doubling the Impact: Q+A With Holly Winn '25

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Holly Winn

Class of 2025

Sociology/Anthropology, BA
Women’s and Gender Studies, BA
Queer Studies minor
Psychology minor

How did you become interested in pursuing both a BA in Sociology and Anthropology and a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies?

A passion for sociology seemingly runs in my genes, as my father minored in it in college, and I was also intrigued that Pace’s major combines both sociology and anthropology, which none of the other schools I looked into offered. I selected this major with the intention of going to law school but was excited to learn about the wide range of other options it offers. At Pace, it is very easy to customize your course load for your major based on career interests. With a passion for reproductive health advocacy, I have had the opportunity to fulfill multiple major requirements with classes that are preparing me for my career.

Why did you choose to attend Pace?

My Pace Path is absolutely the definition of unconventionality and how things can (and often will) change. When I graduated high school, I committed to start Pace in the fall, but placed that on hold due to a relationship, instead enrolling in my local community college in North Carolina for a year to complete some general courses. When the relationship ended, I again decided to enroll, so I love to say I got to choose Pace twice. In both cases, the additional draw was not just the city, but the comfort of a small school in a large city.

What have your experiences been like with the Sociology/Anthropology and Women's and Gender Studies departments? Have certain faculty been instrumental in your journey?

The faculty at Pace truly invest in their students' success in the classroom and beyond and are always willing to go the extra mile. Two of my learning community sociology/anthropology professors, Ida Dupont, PhD, and Judith Pajo, PhD, are established researchers who allowed me to build strong connections in both sociology and anthropology and opened countless doors for me. Currently, I am working with Professor Pajo as part of the Summer 2024 Dyson College Student-Faculty Undergraduate Research Initiative on a project entitled, "Unscripted Scripture: Interfaith and Intrafaith Dialogue in Local Communities after October 7." The focus of my work on this project is on members of the LGBTQIA community within Christianity specifically.

The faculty at Pace truly invest in their students' success in the classroom and beyond and are always willing to go the extra mile.

In addition, a monumental contributor to my feeling seen in the classroom and discovering my passion for women’s and gender studies has been Professor Jay Muir and their Men and Masculinity course. Their classroom environment strongly resonated with me because of their ability to engage students in the content with so many different perspectives, and they were the reason I added a double major in Women’s and Gender Studies. I am currently taking another one of Professor Muir’s classes and working alongside them on my Honors thesis.

What other activities and organizations have you been involved with as a student?

While many may think it impossible to double major, double minor, be on a path to graduate within three years with Honors, and sleep eight hours a night, I am living proof that it is. I am also active on campus as a peer educator for the Office of Sexual and Interpersonal Wellness (OSIW), staff writer for The Pace Press, and, starting fall 2024, executive media coordinator for the Student Government Association. These activities have brought me a plethora of friendship and networking opportunities, but more importantly, made Pace feel like home.

What would you like to do upon graduation/what are your career goals?

I have had a lifelong struggle with mental health, specifically anxiety and depression, but it has truly changed my life, as I have transformed this into activism and passion as I look at career paths working with communities I feel connected to. After graduating, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in the social sciences, and truly feel that Pace has prepared me for very competitive graduate programs because of cutting-edge opportunities received. I ultimately want to work in the nonprofit sector, specifically with gender-based violence survivors, on issues related to substance abuse, and on sex education/sex work policy and education.

What advice would you like to give to our current students?

It always gets better and many things that are so stressful currently will not matter to you nearly as much in a year's time. Push yourself in your classes and give the energy you have to give, but recognize when burnout is looming and engage in self-care. Beyond academics and career opportunities, seize the endless options in the city to explore; no successful student can continue to work hard without a healthy balance between school and socialization.