MA in Global Affairs

Cecelia Kimes

Cecelia Kimes

 

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Manassas, VA.

What was your undergraduate major, and from which university did you graduate?

I majored in National Security Studies (and minored in Russian Language Area Studies, Criminal Justice, English, Global Studies and Sociology), and I graduated from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.

What are some causes/ issues you care about? Why?

LGBT+ issues are the main issues that I care about because they’re very close to my heart. LGBT+ representation in the media, bisexual erasure, and violence towards trans women are topics that I care about. I became much more involved in social justice issues during my four years of undergrad.

What work/intern/volunteer experience do you have and how has it prepared you for your studies?

I have done research regarding violence in the Middle East during my time at the Center for Analytics, and it made me aware of situations abroad that may not be evident in the American news media.

What aspects of Mason made you choose to study here?

Being close to home while also being the school that my brother and best friend graduated from was a big selling point for me. The correspondence I had with the various departments during the admissions process also gave me a good vibe.

What do you hope to accomplish while at Mason?

I hope to truly figure out what I want to do with my life and see if social justice is the path I want to take.

What are your hobbies?

I enjoy doing creative makeup looks, cooking, reading (anything from comic books to non-fiction), and running.

What are you most looking forward to while living in the DC area?

I’m looking forward to finally being home! And no more awful New England winters, which is phenomenal.

What is your favorite thing about being a student?

I love learning from my peers, classroom discussions have taught me so much more than a textbook ever could.

Which languages do you speak?

English, along with elementary Spanish and Russian.

What was the last book you read? Do you recommend it? (Why/why not)

Abroad by Liz Jacobs, I would 100% recommend it to my peers. It took on issues such as the bisexual erasure and immigration in such a well thought out way that I haven’t really experienced with other novels.