We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Kate Drabinski
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: 5 years
A: Senior Lecturer in Gender and Women's Studies and Director of Women Involved in Learning and Leadership
A: You have the right to be wrong. I learned this in college, and it keeps on being true. We learn better when we risk our ideas, when we make ourselves a little uncomfortable, and when we are willing to change our minds. Learning isn't about what we think and whether or not we're right. It's about learning *how* to think, and letting ourselves change and be changed by that thinking. Still learning over here!
A: My work as Director of WILL has been incredibly important to me. I help facilitate student projects and have organized formal leadership training opportunities for the campus, including the yearly Elect Her workshop. This workshop helps students--especially women students--nail down the strategies and tactics to run successful student campaigns, and hopefully gets them ready to run for office after college. We need more women on our ballots, and to do that, we have to run!
A: The Gender and Women's Studies office has a lounge area and library. Come visit us in Fine Arts 413!
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: 5 years
Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?
A: Senior Lecturer in Gender and Women's Studies and Director of Women Involved in Learning and Leadership
Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?
A: I teach about feminism, activism, and social justice.
Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?
A: I love teaching--and I do a lot of it. My job is basically to read interesting things and talk about them with interesting people who've (hopefully) read it too. I learn so much from students, and I hope they learn from our discussions too.
Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?
A: You have the right to be wrong. I learned this in college, and it keeps on being true. We learn better when we risk our ideas, when we make ourselves a little uncomfortable, and when we are willing to change our minds. Learning isn't about what we think and whether or not we're right. It's about learning *how* to think, and letting ourselves change and be changed by that thinking. Still learning over here!
Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?
A: My work as Director of WILL has been incredibly important to me. I help facilitate student projects and have organized formal leadership training opportunities for the campus, including the yearly Elect Her workshop. This workshop helps students--especially women students--nail down the strategies and tactics to run successful student campaigns, and hopefully gets them ready to run for office after college. We need more women on our ballots, and to do that, we have to run!
Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"
A: ...cats and bicycles. Like, a really, really big fan.
Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?
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