Lindsay Lowry

What was the most impactful class you took in your major? 

The most impactful class that I have taken is Gender, Race, Sexuality, and TV (WMST 375) with Dr. David Corwin. This course fundamentally changed my journey at Mason not only because of the content but Dr. David's seminar style teaching methods. In this class we were asked to critically engage with TV shows which forced me to evaluate all of the media I was consuming, not just TV. I am also grateful that I got the chance to be Dr. David's teaching assistant for this class as well. Teaching alongside Dr. David and learning about their framework for teaching inspired me to pursue an career in outreach and education. I cannot explain how much the experience of seeing students expand their critical thinking skills has meant to me.

What activities were you involved in during your time at Mason that impacted you? 

Throughout my four years at Mason I was a part of the George Mason Debate Team as a team member and coach. Debate was the first place that I felt safe enough to express my queerness. I cannot thank Dr. Jackie Poapst enough for giving me the opportunity to coach in my final year at Mason. I was also involved in OSCAR's USRP Summer Program with Dr. David Corwin as my advisor. This research project was the most challenging work that I have ever encountered but Dr. David never failed to guide me through roadblocks in literature and theoretical analysis.   

What is your most memorable “Mason moment?” 

My most memorable moments at Mason were when I was coaching Jay Fuchs and Austin Davis at debate tournaments. I remember introducing Jay to how queer theory can be expressed through performance and seeing her eyes widen with inspiration. I will never forget sitting in hotel rooms with Jay, Austin, Izzy, Pav, Ana, Tiff, and Jackie and participating in the creation of revolutionary theory. Jay and Austin traversed beyond stable categories of academic disciplines and refused to settle on mediocrity. They taught me about passion and anger in the face of discrimination in the community. I am eternally grateful that they allowed me to be one small part of their incredible debate journey.  

As you are reflecting on your time at Mason, what is one piece of advice you would give a student who is just starting off on their Mason journey?

One piece of advice that I would give to students is to never limit your academic journey to one discipline. Integrative Studies and the Honors College Program have showed me the importance of intersectional and diverse knowledge. My core classes were filled with students from across Mason who taught me the importance of "reaching across the aisle". I would have never considered how Women and Gender Studies is affected by biology, computer science, and other areas if I had not placed importance on learning from my peers whose interests are different from mine.

What is your next step after graduation? What are your future plans?

After graduation I plan on taking a gap year before pursuing a Master of Library Science Degree. My career goals are to work in a library or museum as an educational outreach coordinator.