Grace Stephenson
UW Honors Graduates
Grace Stephenson

International Studies
Global Health
Designation: Departmental Honors
Honors Grads 2018/2019
Proudest Moment: The feeling of relief & happiness from publishing two research reports within the span of three months!
Thesis: Victimization in Post-Conflict Recovery: The Effects of International Language, Media, and Social Identity on Persons with Disabilities in Sierra Leone
grace.stephenson@yahoo.comThese past four years have shaped both my personal and career goals - I have grown immensely and been able to explore and refine my interests in social justice, health, and human rights!
My passion for public health and justice strives from my belief that everyone deserves access to services and health. Yet so many people are systematically denied this right, particularly marginalized communities. I really hope that I can do my small part to push for equity in the US and abroad throughout my life.
Senior year, I was able to do research in two fields. Through the JSIS Honors program, I worked closely with professors and local organizations on research related to persons with disabilities in post-conflict recovery. Through Task Force, I was able to be a part of a lovely team that researched human rights abuses & ICE Air Operations in King County.
When I went to India for three months and worked at a few nonprofits my sophomore year, I knew that if I wanted to be useful I needed to learn Hindi. So I have been taking Hindi at the UW for the past two years. It's been really, really hard but rewarding! I hope to work on issues surrounding human rights in India one day, particularly around sexual and gender based violence.
Working with Its On Us, the campaign to stop sexual assault on college campuses, both nationally and at UW, I have been able to advocate for those affected and provide resources on campus. This continued as I did research on trauma-focused care on campuses with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Center! I have loved dedicating my time to something so important.
There are so many causes I want to work on - but when I'm not working I love to paint, travel, spend time outdoors, watch hysterically bad movies, and eat (a lot).
I am excited to start working in the field & hopefully traveling before grad school in a few years!