Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences celebrates the class of 2023! To commemorate their upcoming graduation, we’ve connected with a few seniors about their time at Weinberg College and future plans. Vivica E. Lewis will be graduating in June and studied Sociology and Global Health Studies.
What did you study at Weinberg College and why? If applicable, please explain if your interests transformed or evolved during your time here.
I studied Global Health Studies and Sociology with a concentration in social inequality (class, gender, race). I chose these majors because I wanted to prepare for a career in public health, specifically sexual health education and services. When I arrived at Northwestern, I was extremely undecided, but my personal experiences and participation in clubs/activities focused on sexual health helped me find this career path and grow my skills and passion.
What has your coursework taught you about yourself?
One of my favorite aspects of academia is that, as someone from these communities that are often discussed, I have the opportunity to learn about phenomena that I have seen in various forms throughout my life. For instance, when we talk about mutual aid in global health courses as a way to improve our initiatives, I can pull from examples that I saw in my communities already. It is so important to recognize that our personal experiences hold value in academia, and they can provide a unique perspective.
What advice would you give to future students?
My biggest piece of advice is to go for any opportunity that sounds interesting to you even if it feels very intimidating. Like many students, I had moments where I was hesitant to take a class or apply for a program that felt out of my depth, and those have been some of the greatest experiences throughout my time in college. For example, I received the Circumnavigators Travel Study Grant as a junior in 2022, and I had very limited experience in research before this. I did not know how to write a research proposal and I had only worked as a research assistant for a couple of quarters, but I received the grant and with lots of support, I created a large, international research project and final report. Classes, research, and academia, in general, have been and continue to be exclusive in some ways, so it is important for students from all backgrounds and perspectives to continue to enter these spaces and improve them for the next student.
Do you have a favorite or transformative Weinberg College course you took? Or a professor that taught you?
One of my favorite courses was a Global Health Studies special topics course called Community-Based Participatory Research with Professor Reyes. It taught me more about the research field and how it works throughout our world, but it also truly transformed my understanding of community interactions in research. We discussed various ethical dilemmas and considered ways to improve the research process to benefit communities more. I have carried this course with me, and it shaped how I conducted my research project, “Birth Control Bans to Contraceptive Care.” I hope to continue expanding my understanding of this approach because I find it so important!
What are your plans after you graduate?
My next chapter will continue at Northwestern–I am pursuing my master’s in public health (MPH) degree at Feinberg School of Medicine through the Accelerated Public Health Program. My concentration is community health research because I am passionate about continuing to improve how we conduct research and interact with communities and promoting greater health equity in our world.