2026 GNS+ Graduates

Majors: History, German

Hometown: Changzhou, Jiangsu, Mainland China

Favorite GNS+ class: German 676, Afrodiasporische deutsche Kultur und Literatur, by Professor Sabine Mödersheim

Favorite course from another department: History 337, History of China from 589 till 1919, by Professor Joseph Dennis

Favorite memory from UW: The view of Lake Mendota under pouring rains in early spring

Something you learned about yourself in college: One can be on his own way and do well 🙂

Future plans and dreams: Plan: get a master in Germany; dream: live in Germany

Any advice for incoming students? Don’t be overwhelmed if the begin is not easy, keep on and it will pay off.

Major: International Studies

Certificates: History, Political Science, East Asian Studies, European Studies, Languages & Cultures of Northern Europe (LCNE)

Hometown: Mountain View, CA

Favorite GNS+ class: Sexual Politics in Scandinavia with Liina-Ly Roos

Favorite course from another department: The Global Game: Soccer, Politics, and Identity with Stephen Young

Majors: Anthropology, Linguistics, Scandinavian Studies

Hometown: De Pere, Wisconsin

Favorite GNS+ class: SCAND ST 401 Contemporary Scandinavian Languages

Favorite course from another department: ENGL 316 Language Variation in the U.S.

Favorite memory from UW: My exchange summer in at the University of Oslo’s International Summer School in 2023! Oslo is so beautiful in the summer, and that program attracts students from all over the world, so I learned so much both in and outside of my class.

Something you learned about yourself in college: I learned how much I love to learn! My education in humanities and social sciences has equipped me with knowledge and concepts I carry into every aspect of my life, both personally and professionally. I’m really excited to carry this into my future career and further education.

Future plans and dreams: I’ve recently accepted a position at a Wisconsin-based insurance company, which I will start in June. I’m excited to dive into a new environment, and continue learning new things and exploring new fields after I graduate! I’d like to start taking online coursework in business following my graduation and explore opportunities to possibly return to Norway someday down the road.

Any advice for incoming students? Be open and willing to exploring disciplines you don’t have experience in, or maybe haven’t even heard of! I took my first anthropology course as a way to fulfill a breadth course, and I had no idea what linguistics really was until I took an introductory course in my sophomore year, and both of these fields have become extremely central to my academic experience.

Major: Neurobiology

Certificates: Folklore and Athletic Healthcare

Hometown: Middlebury, Connecticut

Favorite GNS+ class: Folklore 225: Horror as Expressions of National Angst with Dr. Scott Mellor

Favorite course from another department: Educational Psychology 326: Mind, Brain, and Education with Dr. Edward Hubbard

Favorite memory from UW: Too many to choose from! But if I had to pick one recently, it would be winning Bucky’s Urban Odyssey with my best friends. We competed freshman year, sophomore year, and finally placed for the first time — and won — dressed as bananas. Some of our best friends are on the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board (WASB), so it was especially fun to celebrate with them.

Something you learned about yourself in college: I learned that I thrive around people. Throughout my time in college, I have never lived with fewer than three people, and I have absolutely loved it. I love coming home to a full house, a dynamic that mirrors the way I grew up.

Future plans and dreams: Following graduation, I will be taking a gap year while applying to medical school. During this time, I will be working as a Medical Assistant at a dermatology office in Connecticut, and I am very excited to spend time with my family.

Any advice for incoming students? Be the first person to say hello. Coming into college, I would never have described myself as extraverted, but moving to a new state forced me to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Because of this, I formed incredible friendships that became a strong support system throughout my time in college. The reward far exceeds the initial momentary discomfort.

Majors: Biochemistry and Polish

Certificate: Certificate in Leadership

Hometown: Downers Grove, IL

Favorite GNS+ class: Slavic 361: Living at the End of Times: Contemporary Polish Literature and Culture

Favorite course from another department: Zoology 521: Birds of Southern Wisconsin

Favorite memory from UW: Participating in the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board (WASB) has been such a highlight of my college experience and I am so grateful to have been on this organization for all four years of college!

Something you learned about yourself in college: I have learned that time alone and hobbies are important for me to get a break from school.

Future plans and dreams: I received a Fulbright scholarship for Poland to work as an English Teaching Assistant. After that, I am looking forward to giving back to my community possibly as a nurse, researcher, or teacher.

Any advice for incoming students? Do not be afraid to put yourself out there, it is truly the best way to grow!

Major: English Literature

Certificate: Folklore

Hometown: Hazelhurst, WI

Favorite GNS+ class: Folklore 317: The Irish Tradition

Favorite course from another department: Hemingway, Faulkner, & Cather: Major American Writers

Favorite memory from UW: My favorite memory is organizing and doing the food workshops for the Ukrainian Club. It was so much fun making the different traditional foods with the other exec board members and then sharing the traditions associated with those foods with club members who came to the events.

Something you learned about yourself in college: While studying abroad, I learned that I am able to adapt and work through stressful situations when in another country even though I didn’t know the language.

Future plans and dreams: I will be working at a local art museum over the summer before moving to the Twin Cities for my gap year. I then plan to get my Master’s in Library Science.

Any advice for incoming students? I would recommend participating in a study abroad program. It is a life changing experience and UW offers an incredible amount of opportunities to study around the world.

Major: Russian Studies Major (bachelor’s)

Certificate: CREECA certificate

Hometown: Waunakee, Wisconsin

Favorite GNS+ class: Slavic560

Favorite course from another department: History375

Favorite memory from UW: Finishing my Slavic560 paper that was eight pages in Russian and knowing that I was capable of that

Something you learned about yourself in college: I am old (at least compared to everyone else in my classes). Also I really should come back eventually for an international studies degree.

Future plans and dreams: Work for the government in the DIA, international relations, or helping global relations in some way

Any advice for incoming students? Make the time you need for yourself to succeed – time is a luxury and make sure to make the best use of it. Make sure to have time for relationships, exploring, and maintaining on mental health as well.

Majors: International Studies; Environmental Studies; Scandinavian Studies

Certificate: Educational Policy Studies; European Studies; Global Health; Languages and Cultures of Northern Europe

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin

Favorite GNS+ class: My favorite GNS+ class was Sexual Politics in Scandinavia with Professor Liina-ly Roos. Learning about the history of the AIDS crisis and LGBTQ+ rights in Scandinavia was my favorite section of the course content. This course was a perfect blend of written works and films and I loved the collaborative discussion atmosphere.

Favorite course from another department: My favorite outside course was ED POL 460: Immigration in Education with Professor Edgar Valles. This course focused on how experiences of immigration and displacement impact students in school settings and how teachers and administrators can respond positively to these challenges.

Favorite memory from UW: A big part of my UW experience has been cheering on the men’s and women’s hockey teams each season. A huge highlight was attending the Badger women’s team’s eighth national championship win in Minneapolis in 2025! Not only did my friends and I get to watch the game, we also got picked to participate in an on-ice intermission challenge which was a lot of fun.

Something you learned about yourself in college: Something I learned about myself is, as corny as it sounds, you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it and dedicate your time to things that you value.

Future plans and dreams: After graduation I will be moving to Stockholm, Sweden to join DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia as a First Year Program Assistant. In this role I will help first years students who are spending their first semester in Stockholm adapt to the changes they face.

My future plans include continuing to work in international education, hopefully with a continued focus in Scandinavia!

Any advice for incoming students? Try everything! Take classes in things you’re not familiar with but sound interesting, join random student organizations, and go to community events. Madison has so much to offer both on and off campus, so definitely take advantage!

Major: Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

Certificates: Political Science and German

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

Favorite GNS+ class: GER 372 – Broadcasting Dissonance in German Public Media

Favorite course from another department: Geography 340 – Changing Landscapes of the American West

Favorite memory from UW: Spending sunset at Memorial Union playing cards with friends at the end of the year.

Something you learned about yourself in college: I can’t compare my success to anyone else’s. I am successful in everything that I give my time and effort to.

Future plans and dreams: Joining the Air Force as an Intelligence Officer, hoping to travel the world and experience cultures different from my own.

Any advice for incoming students? Give yourself grace; you are always as ready as you allow yourself to be.

Majors: Psychology, Theatre/Drama

Certificate: German

Hometown: Manitowoc

Favorite GNS+ class: GER372 – Film und Kultur

Favorite course from another department: TD342 – Movement for Actors, PSYCH453 – Human Sexuality

Favorite memory from UW: Last year, I was in a production of ‘Spring Awakening’, and that was a very rewarding experience.

Something you learned about yourself in college: Even when I felt alone, I most certainly wasn’t. You really are among people who are going through the same things as you in college, so reach out!

Future plans and dreams: A little music here, a little acting there, and later on a Ph.D in psychology abroad. I hope to study what it means for the human mind to behave under imagined circumstances.

Any advice for incoming students? Remember that you are a human being! It can be easy to drown yourself in work, but you need to be able to recognize yourself amidst all of it, so don’t be afraid to give yourself a break!

Majors: Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies & Scandinavian Studies

Certificate: Entrepreneurship

Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland

Favorite GNS+ class: Every Danish class!! And ScandSt320: Children in Scandinavian Literature!

Favorite course from another department: CNSRSCI562: The Global Consumer
CNSRSCI360: Sustainable Consumption
DS153: Sewing Construction

Favorite memory from UW: Any sunny day I got to spend outside with my friends 🙂

Something you learned about yourself in college: I love sewing and knitting my own clothes!

Future plans and dreams: Planning to move to Chicago to work in marketing research! But my dream is to work abroad in Denmark again or Australia!

Any advice for incoming students? Study abroad!!

Majors: Data Science, Astronomy-Physics, Physics

Minors: German, Mathematics

Hometown: Hartland, WI

Favorite GNS+ class: German 362 (Graphic Novels)

Favorite course from another department: Curric 277 (Videogames and Learning)

Favorite memory from UW: Ice Skating at Bakke on Saturday nights for Themed Skate Nights

Something you learned about yourself in college: I really enjoy playing Racquetball, which is something I never thought I would even try

Future plans and dreams: Dreams: Become much better at Racquetball than I currently am!

Any advice for incoming students? Try new things and don’t be afraid to speak up in class; you might just meet the best friend of your life.

Majors: Economics and International Studies

Certificates: German and Political Science

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Favorite GNS+ class: Tied between GERMAN 372: German Democracy and Extremism and GERMAN 372: Briefe als Medium

Favorite course from another department: ANTHRO 212: Principles of Archaeology

Favorite memory from UW: Watching the Homecoming parade, yelling to get Bucky’s attention, and then getting lifted up by him

Something you learned about yourself in college: Definitely, the most important things I learned about myself in college were my career goals. I was undeclared for the first two years of college, and I had no idea what I wanted to pursue professionally. While I was undecided, I explored student organizations and enrolled in classes that sounded interesting to me until I eventually discovered the majors and certificates that I wanted to pursue!

Future plans and dreams: I hope to eventually pursue a career in geopolitical consulting

Any advice for incoming students? It sounds cliché, but slow down, be present, and live in the moment whenever you can! It’s easy to get caught up in your responsibilities throughout your college career, but it’s important to stop and enjoy the little things about your time at UW because you’ll miss them once you graduate