She is a Georgetown resident and has roots in the area on both her mother’s and father’s sides. Her father, Dr. Charles Earl Becker (M’64), is a graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, and two of her nieces are current Georgetown undergraduate students. Becker Aronson said that the university saved her life when she was treated at the after being diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma in her lymph nodes. 

“I love Georgetown,” said Becker Aronson, the executive director of the . “I live in Georgetown, and I’m everything Georgetown.”

That was on her mind when she pledged her latest gift from the Bernstein Family Foundation: a $100,000 donation establishing ����������’s Pushke Endowed Fund to benefit the . The fund is named in honor of Becker Aronson’s grandmother, Evelyn “Eppie” Bernstein, and “pushke” is a Yiddish word for a small box used to collect money for charity.

����������’s Pushke Fund will help students conduct research and apply what they’re learning in the classrooms, said , a professor of government and the director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. It will also help students with their capstone projects, provide compensation for part-time student research assistants and support faculty members and their research. 

Georgetown’s Jesuit mission of aligns with the values that Becker Aronson and her family share, and she hopes that the donation will help raise the profile of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.

“I think Georgetown has been a really sacred place for people to learn in such a complex world,” she said. “Georgetown is about opening up dialogue, creating civility, creating new ways to think and creating ways to solve problems.”

A Feeling of Affirmation

The is the first of its kind for the Women’s and Gender Studies Program since Brown joined as director in 2021. In their conversations, Brown could immediately sense Becker Aronson’s passion for her community.

“Ami is just really warm, really outgoing and super full of energy,” Brown said. “To have someone with really positive and uplifting energy is great to be around.”

Becker Aronson said she also reached out to other universities in the DC area. Still, her preexisting relationship with Georgetown University — she for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a fundraising campaign — made communication easier. 

served as a key link to Georgetown University for Becker Aronson. Baxter graduated from the ������̳ of Arts & Sciences, where he studied women’s and gender studies with a concentration in globalization and poverty. He is the founder and chief engagement officer of , a community-based organization focused on eliminating poverty through long-term, place-based investment in families and youth in Southwest DC and Kenya.

The two met at an event for entrepreneurs and became friends over their shared values and connection to DC. Baxter told Becker Aronson how taking women’s and gender studies courses at Georgetown affected the way he approached addressing issues around poverty in DC.

“It pushed me to look beyond surface-level solutions and really examine the structural barriers people are navigating every day,” said Baxter, who is scheduled to be the keynote speaker for the Women’s and Gender Studies Program’s capstone celebration dinner this spring. “At GOODProjects, that shows up in how we design programs alongside the community, not for them, and how we think about long-term investment in families rather than short-term interventions.”

The first thing students learn in the program is how to think critically through social and institutional structures, Brown said. “Having a women’s and gender studies degree, like any other liberal arts degree, teaches you how to think, not what to think,” she said. “We do so in an empowering way that helps people understand who they are, their social location and how they might be of assistance to others.”

Baxter believes Becker Aronson’s donation is a signal for students with interests similar to his.

“If I was a student at Georgetown right now and saw that somebody donated $100,000, that would make me feel more affirmed, like, somebody actually sees us,” he said.

The Power of Giving

Becker Aronson envisions ����������’s Pushke Fund as “an enduring spirit.”

“My grandmother believed in empowering women and girls,” she said. “She taught us to stand up for what we believed in, to care about others and give back to the community.”

Becker Aronson sees the establishment of an endowed fund to the Women’s and Gender Studies Program as more than a gift. It’s a partnership.

“We want to be a brain and heart partner,” she said. “We want to be ambassadors and advocates to support and shine a light on this remarkable program.”

Brown is equally excited about the partnership. “It’s building this community with Ami’s help and increasing our visibility,” she said. “The program will receive more eyes, and that means more support for our students and hopefully more networks for our faculty and students to expand our research and our reach.”

The power of giving, Becker Aronson said, is the ability to change the trajectory of someone’s life, even if they might not realize it at the time. It could be one class, book or lecture that makes the difference. Philanthropy, she said, is also about actively listening to the community and reinvesting in the places you live. 

Becker Aronson believes ����������’s Pushke Fund, an enduring honor to her grandmother and her resilience, will provide students in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program with more tools and access to pursue their dreams.

“We don’t want students to shut down and graduate with fear,” she said. “We want them to feel expansive and dynamic and creative and curious and open. … I just so deeply believe in Georgetown, and because I live here, I want to know my neighbors. I want to know my students. I want to support the broader community to show that we’re an exceptional community.”

(Top photo of Ami Becker Aronson by Brandi Nicole)

The sisters are outstanding scholars, immigration activists and organizers who have moved mountains to attain a college degree. And they’re not interested in pulling the ladder up behind them – the Cruz-Morales twins want to help other undocumented, low-income students navigate the system of higher education. 

The Long Road to the Hilltop

The Cruz-Morales sisters immigrated from Oaxaca, Mexico when they were just 4 years old. As such, they are considered undocumented students who have protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Undocumented students face significant hurdles when pursuing higher education – fewer funding sources are available, some fellowships bar applicants based on their citizenship, and many institutions place additional barriers to entry. Cognizant of the financial and logistical complications associated with a four-year university, the Cruz-Morales sisters decided to first pursue a two-year degree closer to home.

At Bergen Community ������̳, the sisters excelled — making straight As in every single class, gaining acceptance into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, taking courses in the Judith K. Winn School of Honors, engaging in clubs outside of class time, and working three jobs each. Melanie remembers working nearly 39 hours a week as a tutor, a receptionist at a grooming salon and a seller at a farmers market for a local pickle company on top of her 15-credit hour course load.

During all of that, the Cruz-Morales sisters established their own nonprofit organization, ������̳ Access for Non-Citizens, or C.A.N. for short. 

“������̳ Access for Non-Citizens is a community-based organization that helps undocumented, first-generation, low-income students of color attain access to higher education,” explained Melanie. “We help those students with state financial aid applications, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, college application processes and counseling – ensuring that people can access the resources they need.”

Among the many resources that C.A.N. offers, the Cruz-Morales sisters are particularly proud of the fundraisers and mutual aid events they have organized to assist DACA recipients pay for the biennial renewal application fee. 

Their hard work, in the classroom and out, paid off when the sisters were accepted to Georgetown as transfer students. 

Making the Most of Georgetown

The Cruz-Morales sisters transferred to Georgetown in 2020 right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Hoyas were learning remotely. Even so, they built a rich community of first-generation students on campus.

“We were transfers during the pandemic living on campus and doing virtual classes,” remembered Sheila. “Despite that, we were able to cultivate such a beautiful community on campus with other first-generation students.”

The Cruz-Morales sisters immediately hit the ground running when they arrived on the Hilltop. In their first semester, both sisters were elected to the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA). Melanie was elected the vice speaker of the Senate and the following year assumed the role of speaker, and Sheila served as the chief communications officer for GUSA. As part of GUSA, they continued their advocacy for undocumented and low-income students, helping funnel university and federal resources for students adapting to the reality of the pandemic. 

Sheila is a government major and a women’s and gender studies minor. Melanie is a double major in philosophy and government. In their academic paths, Melanie was drawn to the after hearing about “this really cool professor” Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò in community college. 

“When I came to Georgetown, I sought out Professor Táíwò’s class on the philosophy of reparations,” said Melanie. “That has been a very impactful experience to be a philosopher and learn from one of America’s most prominent philosophers. It’s the opportunity that you only get at Georgetown.” 

Sheila decided to minor in women’s and gender studies because of , a veteran political strategist and analyst who has taught a course on women in American politics for more than two decades in the ������̳ of Arts & Sciences. 

“Taking Professor Brazile’s course nurtured my love for gender studies and activism,” said Sheila. “Professor Brazile is empowering and inspiring and she let us know that we can be the people who are shaping this country.” 

Both Sheila and Melanie have worked as teaching assistants in subsequent semesters for Brazile.

“As a professor and strong advocate for civic engagement of young people, I am extremely proud of the Cruz-Morales sisters,” said Brazile. “They are extraordinary women and a great example of women who dare to make a difference.”

The Cruz-Morales sisters have also made a difference outside of the classroom. Melanie received both a fellowship at the and an internship at the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Sheila has completed internships at the Housing Partnership Network and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, advocating for more federal affordable housing opportunities. Both sisters are members of the (GSP). 

“Sheila and Melanie have been so good to Georgetown,” said Melissa Foy, executive director of GSP.  “Whether advocating for students with marginalized identities or for more resources for programs like GSP, I truly can’t imagine Georgetown without them. Their futures are exceptionally bright, and Georgetown will be so proud to call them alumnae.”

Setting the World on Fire

The Cruz-Morales sisters continue to advocate for immigration reform and marginalized identities on a larger stage. In the fall of 2023, Sheila and Melanie were invited to an event at the White House with President Biden. At the event, Sheila spoke with President Biden about the importance of immigration reform, creating a pathway to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants. 

Sheila has even made a cameo in one of Biden’s recent . 

“It was a true testament to how impactful Sheila’s work has been,” Melanie said of her sister. ���� the video, you can see Sheila say ‘immigration reform for all 11 million.’ It speaks to the power Sheila had at that moment to represent an entire community of people.”

After three years on the Hilltop, the Cruz-Morales sisters are glad they decided to transfer to Georgetown. Both sisters are planning to apply to law school, and in the meantime, will continue to live in Washington, DC, and work in politics.

“When we arrived at Georgetown, we wanted to soak up everything in the short amount of time we had,” said Sheila. “I am grateful and humbled to say we accomplished so much more than we ever intended. It’s because of hard work and persistence, but also because of the magic that can only happen at Georgetown.”

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Politico Donna Brazile Celebrates 20+ Years on the Hilltop

Brazile, who previously served as the interim chair of the Democratic National Committee, is a prominent writer, television commentator and consultant, sought after by campaigns across the country for her depth of knowledge and experience. On the Hilltop, however, she takes time to instruct the next generation of political leaders. 

“As a teacher, my responsibility is to share information as well as to listen to my students. Students are my lighthouse in a big ocean,” says Brazile, an adjunct professor in the . “Throughout my 20-plus years, I have come to Georgetown’s campus expecting to bring something to the table by sharing what I know with my students and asking them to do the same.”

In between visits to television sets and campaign headquarters, Brazile has consistently carved out time to teach her trademark course, Women in American Politics. Her class has touched on monumental events as they’ve happened, from the aftermath of five presidential elections and the midterm cycles in between to the 9/11 attacks, the announcement of Pope Francis, the election of Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to Speaker of the House, the election of Vice President Kamala Harris and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson.  

���� each of these circumstances it has been rewarding, albeit difficult, to discuss the impacts of these events on our nation, our university and ourselves,” says Brazile. “My students have always provided thoughtful insights. We have laughed together and we have cried together.”

For Brazile, the classroom has always been more of a roundtable than a lecture hall, providing a forum to connect and bond with younger voters, new ideas and up-and-comers in the political arena.

“I have spent more time interacting with millennials, Gen Y and Zers than having a beer with a bunch of aging boomers like myself,” Brazile jokes. “Spending time with college students keeps me grounded and, yes, it does make me feel like I understand the culture and priorities of the younger generations… Taylor Swift’s new album is now on my playlist because of my students.”

Beyond the surface of popular culture, the classroom has given Brazile insight into the issues at the forefront of younger voters’ minds.  

“Students have expanded my reading list online — and I read everything from the three or four major dailies to Elle, Glamour and more because of my students,” Brazile says. “From day one, I assume my students are more interested in the topics or issues about women’s roles in society than in learning about my partisan points of view.”

Brazile has made a concerted effort to bring in guest lecturers from both sides of the aisle, including GOP strategist Karl Rove, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). 

Mentoring the Next Generation of Movers and Shakers

After two decades in the classroom, there is an extensive list of former students on whom Brazile had a lasting impact.

“I met Donna amidst the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which had devastated her hometown and jeopardized her family,” recalls former teaching assistant Shauna Shames. “I was impressed with her eloquent anger at the botched government response to the crisis and her simultaneous dedication to her Georgetown students — she flew back and forth from New Orleans to DC several times in that first week so she did not miss class!”

Shames, now associate professor of political science and director of the Gender Studies Program at Rutgers University, received early exposure to her areas of expertise through Brazile’s course. 

“I could see immediately that she cared about the subject matter of the course, women and politics, but cared even more about the bright and eager young women — and a few good men —  who packed the classroom,” Shames says. “And of course they loved her.” 

Former students speak to Brazile’s eagerness to provide guidance and mentorship, even after graduation. 

“If there’s a single person who’s most responsible for my career success post-graduation, it’s Donna,” says Chris Pigott (C’12), senior vice president at DKC, a communications and public affairs agency based in New York City. 

After interning with Brazile and working as her teaching assistant, Pigott credits Brazile with helping him secure an internship at the Democratic National Committee, where his supervisor there later hired him at DKC. For Pigott, Brazile’s support has been so much deeper than just professional networking, however. 

“Donna has this disarming way of making you feel important, even though she’s usually one of the most important people in any room she’s in,” Pigott says, recalling running into her at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 when Brazile was interim chair of the DNC. “She’s completely selfless, which is not very common in her industry, and is probably why she’s been so successful and created so many friendships with those on both sides of the aisle.” 

Brazile’s current TA, Sheila Cruz-Morales (C’23), is a government major and a women’s and gender studies minor. But Cruz-Morales met Brazile before she was even admitted to Georgetown. 

“I first met Professor Brazile in 2018 at a book signing for the release of her book For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics,” Cruz-Morales recalls. “When it was my turn to get my book signed, I told Professor Brazile it was my dream to attend Georgetown University. She told me that if I worked hard, anything was possible.”

Two years later, Cruz-Morales saw the realization of her dedication when she was admitted to Georgetown. One of her first priorities: getting into Brazile’s class. Cruz-Morales says she has grown as a thinker and academic under Brazile’s tutelage and that their relationship is an integral component of her Georgetown experience.

“I’ll never forget our first day of teaching together this fall,” Cruz-Morales remembers. “I was recovering from surgery and the first words from Professor Brazile were, ‘If you don’t take care of yourself, I will take care of you.’ That’s who Professor Brazile is, she cares deeply about her students and those around her.” 

“She is brilliant, talented, fierce and powerful, but above all, she is the kindest, funniest, most caring and most supportive professor I’ve met at Georgetown. I hold her in high regard and it is a privilege and pleasure to work with her every single week.”

“I am thrilled and honored to receive the William Sanders Scarborough Prize from the MLA this year,” says Sullivan. 

The MLA award is given in honor of its namesake, one of the first African American classical scholars, the president of Wilberforce University and the first African American member of the MLA. 

Sullivan’s book, The Poetics of Difference, is an academic exploration of the ways that Black, queer women have carved out spaces for themselves in the creative world. Drawing on the works of writers and artists from Audre Lorde to Missy Elliot, Sullivan examines the unique ways by which these artistic products create and sustain communities set apart from mainstream scholarship. 

“The Poetics of Difference is about the theoretical and intellectual capacities of Black queer and feminist creative expression,” Sullivan says. “It has been deeply gratifying to see the importance of Black queer and feminist literary culture recognized, and to share the celebration with the Georgetown community.” 

Sullivan is associate professor of English Georgetown University’s ������̳ of Arts & Sciences. She is also an affiliate faculty member in the and the . She teaches courses in African American poetry and poetics, Black queer and feminist literature and creative writing. 

Her debut novel, , was published earlier this year to critical acclaim and shortlisted for the Center for Fiction’s . Sullivan’s short story collection, , won the Judith Markowitz Award for Fiction from Lambda Literary. Big Girl is currently featured on . 

The , like its namesake course, explores motherhood in all of its cultural dimensions, seeking to understand how literature, media and popular culture define the role of motherhood and impose social expectations on mothers.

Pamela Fox, a professor in the Department of English and a co-teacher of the course, confronted some of the social responsibilities of motherhood when her daughter began school and groups like the Parent Teacher Association organized relied on mothers to sustain its operations.

“Expectations were placed on mothers to do all this work, like fundraising, around the school,” reflects Fox. Experiences such as these informed the structure of the course. Fox states, “I wanted to talk this through. What are these expectations for mothers and why is it that mothers are only doing it?”

Their course not only focuses on the critical understanding of motherhood – the work of feminist theorists and thinkers who have developed frameworks for understanding how systemic structures define the role of motherhood for women. Reading Motherhood also asks students to confront the cultural products that produce and reaffirm those structures.

Elizabeth Velez, a Professorial Lecturer in English and Women’s and Gender Studies, traces its inception to conversations between Fox and herself in 2006 and 2007. The two were constantly exchanging books and discussing how representations of motherhood in popular culture directly led to ideas of motherhood that women would impose on themselves and others.

“There are, in this culture, universal ideas of what a good mother is,” Velez explains. “We look at cultural representations of motherhood since WWII – this upper-middle-class, white-woman ideal of motherhood has been the one that is most culturally prominent.”

For students taking the course, exploring motherhood through a variety of texts broadens their conceptions about how complicated and fraught mothering can be, and allows them to connect their own experiences with academic discourse.

“Reading Motherhood is different from other classes because the readings are so much more interesting and we study almost entirely women authors, poets and artists,” reflects Leila Sebastian (C’24). “The class is this alternate space that prioritizes and privileges the ideas of women from all backgrounds who have different opinions and experiences of motherhood. It is a space that is both critical of the ways motherhood has been depicted in society and also open to hearing about the experiences of all mothers and validating those experiences. It is my favorite class I have taken at Georgetown so far.”

Students from the course have been instrumental in carrying its message outside the classroom and into the public square. Colleen Baer (C’22) helped Fox and Velez get the website off the ground and continues to maintain the site and its content.

The website, much like the course, asks big questions and invites readers to consider how new books, television shows and radio programs depict and constrict the concept of motherhood.

“Every time I walk into the classroom, I know I’m going to encounter an honest conversation that reckons with motherhood both as an individual experience and as a cultural institution,” says Mia Murillo (C’24).

Visitors and contributors to the site can be sure to feel the same.

The class of 2025 is impressive, with 866 students joining us for in-person learning this year. Our first years and transfer students come from 31 countries around the globe and 48 of the US states and territories are represented. 

Over a third of our incoming students have declared a major in subjects like computer science, linguistics or political economy. 

545 students identify as female, 319 identify as male and 2 chose to not specify. Seventy-five incoming students are athletes and participate in one of 22 sports. 

To learn more about this incoming class, we asked some of our students to tell us about themselves and share what they are most looking forward to on the hilltop.

Logan Fong (C’25) 

From: Clovis, California

Major: Linguistics

Three fun facts: I once ate rattlesnake, I have a California boater’s license, and I plan to work with documenting endangered languages in the future.

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: I’m in a first-year program called the Hager Scholars Program, which is a cohort of around 16 students in the FLL who take nearly all of their first-year classes together and fulfill core requirements using classes that have a linguistic angle. I was one of the only people I knew of from my high school who planned to study language, so coming into a community of peers with similar interests was one of the things that excited me most when I thought about starting at the ������̳! I’m also looking forward to applying for the French floor my sophomore year, getting a library card at the Library of Congress, and studying abroad at the Villa Le Balze.

What made you choose Georgetown ������̳? The reasons I love Georgetown ������̳ now weren’t necessarily the reasons I chose it to begin with, but were things I fell in love with once I got integrated into the community. For one, each one of my professors has been phenomenal and caused me to see their subject in a new light— subjects I thought I had an understanding of before coming in. I also appreciate how they actively create space on campus for dialogue between students of different worldviews to foster mutual understanding between groups that may otherwise not interact. I’ve genuinely learned so much in the short time I’ve been here, both in terms of my academics as well as the people around me, and can’t wait for the rest of my college experience.

Dayree Ramirez (C’25) 

From: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Major: I am currently undeclared but I would like to pursue Government, Women and Gender Studies and Spanish

Three fun facts: I am an enthusiast for a good cup of coffee, I am a plant mom of many and I love lavender (the color, the scent, the plant all of it)! 

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: I am most excited to be in a community of driven individuals all working together towards our separate respective goals, I’m also excited that I get to see Jack the Bulldog around campus, as well as looking forward to diving into the Washington D.C world! 

Why did you choose Georgetown ������̳?: I chose Georgetown ������̳ because as I compared it to other schools I found that Georgetown had the highest graduation rate as well as found that students in the ������̳ seemed to enjoy their time in school much more than at the other institutions I was looking at. The student life here at Georgetown offered so much more in terms of activities and available resources than any other school and the fact that Georgetown can offer an elevated education in addition to an enriched social life really drew me in. 

Jaden Cobb (C’25) 

From: Douglasville, GA

Major: Government 

Three fun facts:  I love superheroes, I play chess, and I’m teaching myself my 4th language. 

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: I am excited to get to know my professors, meet new friends, and explore Georgetown and DC. 

What made you choose Georgetown ������̳? I chose Georgetown ������̳ because of the community that it creates. There are so many things that I can learn and the core curriculum allows me to explore all my interests. I also love being in DC, especially as a history buff. 

Erin Davies (C’25) 

From: Sudbury, MA

Major: I am currently planning on majoring in Computer Science, but I would ideally like to double major. 

Three fun facts: I love to listen to a variety of music (I’m one of those people with only one super long playlist – several days long in fact) and I play the french horn. I can’t stand the taste of citrus, especially lemon, even in small amounts, but I still love to cook and bake. History has never been my favorite subject academically, but I absolutely love going on tours of old castles/houses and listening to the stories of people’s lives.   

What made you choose Georgetown ������̳?I feel that computer science is most powerful when combined with another discipline.  That’s part of why I chose Georgetown ������̳. The liberal arts core will help me figure out what I want to combine computer science with and thus how I can best use computer science to help/serve others. Of course, Georgetown’s location in D.C. is pretty cool too!  

Rams-Lyne Thomas (C’25) 

From: Philadelphia, PA

Major: Double majoring in Government and Economics, considering Bachelor of Science in Business and Global Affairs.

Three fun facts:  I have an unhealthy obsession with the moon, it is my favorite celestial object. I love music so much — my favorite genres are R&B, hip-hop and rap. I love trying new foods, but Haitian and Caribbean food will always hold my heart for the best cuisine. 

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: I am most excited to take classes that were not offered in high school. There’s almost a class for anything and everything and I like that I can choose from so much instead of being confined. I also cannot wait to attend sports games and be involved on campus. 

Why did you choose Georgetown ������̳?: I chose Georgetown because of its location in the nation’s capital. Georgetown is surrounded by politics and a plethora of opportunities to network with people who are just as excited as me to help and get involved. And I’m not too far from home. Proud to call the East coast my home. 

Ava Uditsky

From: Chicago, IL

Major: Government and History

Three fun facts: I want to compete in a marathon before I graduate college. I’ve been vegetarian for six years now, and am the only vegetarian in my family. My favorite author is Chimamanada Ngozi Adichie, and my favorite book of hers is Americanah.

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: Now that I’m officially a Hoya, I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the innumerable panels and speakers that visit campus, especially through GUPolitics, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and Georgetown ������̳’s own Speaker Series. I’m equally as thrilled to have the chance to participate in traditions such as the Christmas tree lighting, and join the daily rhythm of campus by running with the Georgetown Running Club and participating in religious services with the campus ministry!

Why did you choose Georgetown ������̳?: Coming from the Chicago suburbs, I knew that Washington, D.C. was the nexus of my passions in government and international affairs. When I chose Georgetown, I made a choice that not only reflected my interests, but was also a wish for the future: I hoped to find friends who share my passions and an academic community overflowing with opportunity. Even after such a short time on campus, I can already tell I made the right choice. Every professor, upperclassman and fellow first-year I’ve met have welcomed me to Georgetown with incredible kindness and enthusiasm. From academics to friends, I’ve already begun to build a true home on the Hilltop. Hoya Saxa!

Laura Liptrap (C’25)

From: Newport Beach, California

Major: Government 

Three fun facts: I always burn my popcorn, I’ve lived on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii and I’m dedicated to helping girls grow strong.

What are you most excited for at Georgetown?: I am most excited to engulf myself in the privilege of education.  

What made you choose Georgetown ������̳? I am honored to be a student at Georgetown University. I chose Georgetown because I know they believe in me as much as I believe in myself.

History of Herstory

In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson. Its ratification came after half a century of activism by suffragists, but its passing was also caused by a huge wave of support from Republicans who were attempting to check the power of the Democratic Party. 

Brown explains that prior to this, many were against universal suffrage, particularly as far as it gave women the right to vote. 

“The right for women to vote was born out of a larger conversation around universal suffrage and what would that look like for the United States,” says Brown. “Those who held power in the US at that time were against universal suffrage, so different groups at different times achieved piecemeal rights to the ballot and the Nineteenth Amendment was one of these.” 

Women of all races and gender identities were involved in the suffrage movement. However, current history education often describes white women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony as being at the forefront of the cause and ignores the contributions and leadership of women of color. 

Brown says that her own Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, which is a historically African American sorority, was founded in 1913 on Howard University’s campus by 22 collegiate women whose first public outing was to walk in a suffrage march. These marches were segregated, though Black activists like Ida B. Wells Barnett refused to walk in the back.  

“While all of the women that marched, regardless of race, were subjected with really vitriolic responses from the onlookers, for the women of color who marched at the back there was no police protection,” Brown explains. “People jeered at them, spit at them, threw bottles at them, pulled their hair — some women were even hit. Black women like Mary Church Terrell and Nannie Helen Burroughs, who were also facing injustices around race and gender, put their lives on the line because they felt that women’s suffrage was so important to them that they had to be there.”

Unequal Access for All

Even after women gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, voting access was still restricted for Black, Latinx, Indigenous and Asian women due to racist voter suppression laws. Though the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a victory in the US for dismantling voter suppression, Brown says that several voting practices in America today still make it difficult for marginalized communities to cast their ballot. 

“The United States sees voting as a privilege and not as a right,” Brown says. “We are the only industrialized nation that puts up so many barriers for our citizens to vote, whether it’s voter registration, which most other Western democracies don’t require, or voting election days, which in the US are held on the first Tuesday in November and in other nations it’s on a Sunday or Saturday or it’s a national holiday so that everyone can get off to vote.”

Brown also notes that America incarcerates the largest number of its population of any Western democracy and subsequently restricts the right to vote for people who are felons, even after those individuals have paid their debt to society.  

Voter ID laws impact numerous people in America including women who have changed their name due to their marital status or for transgender and non-binary folks who use different names than what is listed on their birth certificate. 

In African American and Eastern European communities, children are often named after their parents. This prevalence of seniors, juniors and the thirds can cause complications due to improper record keeping and prevent many individuals from minority communities from voting. 

As part of her classes, Brown pushes her students to question why they think these laws exist, who they think are benefitting from them and who do they think should have the right to vote. She says that many students at first believe that some individuals should be restricted because of the recency of their immigration, their religions or their criminal records, but that their opinions change over time. 

“When I first ask this question, many students have the opinion that there are some people who are unworthy of voting or unworthy of having a voice in government because of their past behaviors or their lack of knowledge,” explains Brown. “I do this as a learning exercise to get them to question why we do this as a society, what groups of people do we think are worthy and how are these tied to historical tropes and stereotypes that are rooted in white supremacist ideals of nationhood and belonging.”

At the core of her research, Brown is dedicated to expanding representation in the electorate. One of the ways that she says this can be done is by removing unfair voting legislation so that all Americans could vote for more diverse representatives. 

Currently, the majority of state legislators are oftentimes white and from predominantly wealthy backgrounds, which ultimately causes policies to be passed or upheld that negatively impact those who are already underrepresented.  

“Many economic policies that have disparate impacts would not happen, or would happen to a lesser extent, if there were different people who had voices at the table, and in order to get those people at the table, you have to have an electorate that looks like them,” Brown explains. “The majority of Congress has never dealt with food insecurity, housing insecurity or domestic violence. So it’s so important that we have people who’ve had those experiences in government and we don’t get them in government unless  people that look like them have the ability to vote.”

After the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, there was an explosion of Black elected representatives because communities that were previously barred from voting effectively due to the poll tax, grandfather clause and Jim Crow-era legislation were suddenly able to effectively cast ballots. Brown says that today we are seeing a new wave of voter suppression legislation being passed and that it is important to fight to ensure that everyone has equal access.  

“I see this as an opportunity to expand the American democracy project and an opportunity to bring more voices to the table,” says Brown. “This is a chance to make us live up to the framers’ ideals of being a more free and just society that gives voice to those who have been persecuted and marginalized and to make this place a better country.”

What project are you most looking forward to working on as the new director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program?

I’m most interested in thinking about how to build the program through buy-in from students and current faculty. I would also like to expand women and gender studies by talking to people who were previously part of the program and by bringing in those who never saw themselves as having a home in women’s studies before. I see this as a collaborative effort – some things will be shaped by my ideas, but I’m really most interested in listening and learning from other stakeholders about what they would like and how we can make something great together.

What unique perspectives do you bring that will help to improve Women’s and Gender Studies and the university as a whole?

My life experiences and the scholarship and research that I do as a Black feminist will inform my approach in this new position. I come with a set of beliefs, pedagogical practices and ethics of care that are inextricable from my identity as a Black woman. As a Black woman who does research on Black women and Black communities, I’m really hoping to push the program to continue to think about the ways that gender is intersected with a myriad of other politically salient identities that matter deeply such as race, sexual orientation, class, ableism, nativity and immigration status. All of these things need to be interrogated when we think about the category woman. 

I know that this is something that feminists are not new to, particularly feminist activists. But I think that when it comes down to our lived practices in the academy, unfortunately, these problems often become these single-axis issues. For example, we often talk about race or gender as though they are isolated topics. That is just not the case. I know from the interactions I have already had with members of the Georgetown community that they also want to examine things using intersectionality as an analytical lens. This is something I hope to develop further. My background makes thinking about this holistically –  almost like second nature. But I seek to find a common ground with others. My goal is to talk with a plethora of other stakeholders about why they should be thinking about women’s studies.

I’m also a political scientist so there is no better place to study politics than in the nation’s capital. I am beyond excited to bring people to campus who are living at the intersections of politics and scholarship, particularly those that will expose our students in deeper ways to feminist policies and practices that are happening on the Hill and within indigenous DC communities. I want us to examine issues around gentrification, maternal health, domestic violence and what statehood may or may not bring for women in the District. These are deeply feminist issues.  I am over the moon to be coming to DC as a political scientist – a feminist political scientist –  and as a Black feminist to do this work. 

What is your focus in research?

I mostly study Black women political elites: candidates, elected members of legislatures, those in city governments and Congress. In my new book Sister Style which came out earlier this year, I examine the politics of appearance. Specifically, this book explores what Black women look like to argue that appearance matters in their elections and their experiences with politics.  For example, I ask in the book if having natural hair or darker skin impacts how voters perceive them?  Most importantly, it looks into how Black women candidates think about how to style themselves in order to relate to different community groups and outreach. The overall message of the book is that their actions are caused by white supremacy. They aren’t styling themselves in a certain way because they are anti-Black. It’s an analysis of how Black women political elites are pragmatic and recognize that in order to be elected or to push a political agenda, they have to fully engage with white supremacy. 

What part of joining the Georgetown community are you the most excited about?

Being back in DC has been a dream of my family for a long time – my partner and I went to Howard and we are thrilled to be back. All of the faculty, the staff and the students I have met at Georgetown so far have been amazing. I can’t wait to be a part of the university.  Being able to work with colleagues who share a similar orientation toward justice is a huge draw for me. I think the leadership on issues that are happening today around racial justice is a big signifier of the values of the institution. 

What are three fun facts about yourself?

I am my family’s mixologist. I make all types of cocktails. I have three little kids, and so I make them mocktails. I’m also a vegan baker – it’s a big de-stressor for me. I don’t use a recipe so I never make the same thing twice. But I often share vegan treats with my neighbors, friends and colleagues. I always make at least three batches of my vegan treats multiple times a week. The last fun fact is that my family does not own a TV! 

“I wrote this book because I never saw myself represented or considered in minority politics in America and felt overlooked and not represented in the media, as well,” says Chun. “My hope is that readers will discover how minority politics, business and the law not only influence each other but also depend on one another.”

About Coloring Ivory

A minor in the Disability Studies Program and Regional Asian Studies, Chun said that she was inspired to write this book after noticing that many of her academic and professional interests as well as frustrations dealt with the intersections of law, business and politics. Using these themes, she explores the question of identity and the power individuals and the public have in upholding institutions. 

The articles Chun uses to answer these questions address topics that are relatable to a wider audience. They include minority influencers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, classist healthcare practices, Asian Americans’ positioning in American consumer culture and politics and identifying as disabled in corporate culture. 

Throughout her book, Chun intersperses academic writings with personal essays, though she says that the individual narratives are meant to humanize the articles rather than serve as a memoir. She also hopes that these essays help to drive home the reality of the lived experiences for many minorities in America and the world. 

“The subjects I chose to write about certainly stemmed from injustices that either myself or my peers have suffered due to over generalist understandings of what it means to be part of a particular minority group,” Chun says. “Growing up in America in New York City, I never saw myself, as an Asian American, in any celebrated piece of literary, historical or revolutionary movement within my curriculum or regular conversation.”

Chun also says that in the wake of increased hate crimes against Asian Americans including the recent deaths of six Asian American women in Atlanta, GA, she “questioned what convinces Americans to ‘remember’ and address a sociocultural wrongdoing toward those not within the black/white binary.”

“I have wondered why it has taken so long for the general public to realize that AAPI hate exists and is overwhelmingly prevalent,” she says. “It should not take a series of deaths to convince a nation that a population is worth protecting institutionally and societally.”

It is for this reason that Chun chose to focus on topics that would be of interest to the largest number of people in order to contribute to the expansion of knowledge around the minority experience and bring awareness to those who are “other.”

As a research and administrative assistant for the disability studies program, Chun became increasingly aware of the ableist structures in our society and at Georgetown, and decided to incorporate this research in Coloring Ivory. The program and its director, Jennifer Natalya Fink, were instrumental in helping Chun develop her book.

���� Coloring Ivory, Irene brilliantly examines the intersections of ableism with anti-Asian racism. She provides new ways of thinking about identity that allows for more complexity and nuance,” she says.  

The senior said that she was also grateful for the Georgetown Preparing to Excel Program (PEP) Fellowship through the Creator Institute, which allowed her to write and publish the book. Coloring Ivory will be available for purchase in August of 2021.