WKU News

For Maria Siewers, a junior from Bowling Green, KY majoring in sociology with a concentration in family, gender and sexuality, understanding the world has been a driving force.

“Humans are social beings and there is so much to learn about us when we understand how and why we act the way we do,” Siewers said. This interest is what led her to study sociology and pursue an education both within Potter College and abroad.

Siewers attributes her interest in sociology to the semester she spent studying at Harlaxton College in Grantham, England. While abroad, her interest and understanding of the discipline was piqued as she saw how different societies operated first-hand. Siewers said that this experience has also motivated her to pursue a graduate degree abroad – particularly in Europe.

Siewers links her interest in a global understanding to her experience in Potter College. She started as a gender and women’s studies minor but switched to a sociology major when she discovered her passion for the discipline. Her favorite course has been ANTH 343: Anthropology of Gender, which opened her up to a different perspective on the subject.

Photograph by Jared Zweben.

Along with sociology, Siewers is studying communication disorders in the College of Health and Human Services. Siewers hopes to combine her two majors to pursue a career in speech pathology working with people transitioning genders. Additionally, her passion for ensuring others can confidently and effectively communicate led her to take additional coursework in the Department of Communication. Though she does not pursue a degree in the Department of Communication, Siewers believes helping others communicate the way they want will lead to a more just and fair world.

While her studies may not be confined to one discipline, she said this has only expanded her knowledge and proved beneficial. Siewers believes her experience at WKU has equipped her to be a successful global citizen and changemaker.