Meet our
"Faces of HSS"
The students of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences represent close to 8000 different lives, each one with a unique story about the journey that lead them to Cal State Fullerton and to their academic major our College. To celebrate the diverse stories that our students bring with them and the collection of stories that create the identity of Humanities and Social Science, we will introduce additional “Faces of HSS” throughout the year.
Kate Resnick
American Studies major, Queer Studies minor
Senior
Kate Resnick observed the Outlaw Renegade Rollergirls team for about two months and conducted several interviews with skaters. Her research is an ethnographic study of a local roller derby team. It shows the complexities of derby and the women who play it by analyzing community and passion within the sport as well as recognizing how it ignites self-expression and transformation in the skaters.
“Roller derby is a truly unique combination of sport and leisure, highlighting aggression and athleticism by creating a fast-paced, enthralling event for spectators. The fluidity of renegade roller derby is a reflection of the freedom the sport offers women by enabling them to express themselves without the constraints of a strict rulebook.”
"I have been interested in studying perceptions of gender and how it is expressed for most of my educational career. What specifically drew me to study derby was the performative aspect of it and the ways it breaks the traditional ties of sports and masculinity. I believed that the androgynous and aggressive nature of roller derby made it unique, and I wanted to know if the skaters felt it allowed them to create and express alternate versions of themselves.”
Resnick had never heard of American Studies when she began at CSUF as a Visual Arts major. She took a few AMST courses as electives and picked up more until she eventually switched her major. Resnick states, “AMST intrigued me because each of the courses offered a unique perspective on American culture and historical events that I hadn’t experienced in other subjects.”
Resnick is currently interning for the youth program at the LGBTQ+ Center of Orange County. In her free time, she works as a dog walker in addition to playing bass and reading. She is currently considering a graduate degree in social justice education or gender studies and would like to pursue a career in diversity and inclusion management as well as human resources.
Alexis Lopez
Chicana and Chicano Studies
Senior
Alexis Lopez is interested in the educational pipeline in which Latino youth are highly underrepresented. Having not been taught the history of his culture in his K-12 schooling, he mused, “I am amazed by how much history I can learn and, in the future, possibly teach.”
Lopez’s goal is to teach Chicano studies and influence Latino youth from low-income communities into pursuing higher education.
Outside of school, Lopez is a musician, specifically, he plays the accordion.
“I play Mexican music: Rancheras, corridos, baladas etc. in bandas and norteños. I tour and perform on great stages for many artists."
Jessica Adams
Psychology Major/ Criminal Justice Minor
Senior
“I have always been a pretty nosy person - but more so I had a love for helping others. I enjoy understanding what roles society plays in how someone develops into who they are and in what capacity that person has a role in that same development.”
Jessica Adams is currently starting on research with Dr. Ella Ben Hagai looking at intersectional consciousness and what leads individuals of the majority “in-group” to show compassion and understanding towards those in an “out-group” of a specific conflict.
“I have a true passion for multiculturalism and advocacy. I understand that I have a place in society with many privileges. Being able to understand others and the way social structures work to separate people in society unfairly - I can work to understand how I am using my privilege as well as how I can bring others into the fold of discussion.”
Adams has lived with mental illness for most of her life and has adapted and learned to thrive in spite of it all. She says, “Living with mental illness has proven difficult at times, but ultimately it has taught me that I can still succeed - that a diagnosis doesn’t inherently define my success (though this view is definitely seen through a lens developed through privilege). My journey through life with mental illness has allowed me to view the world in a different perspective. This perspective has led me to further want to help others, especially those who have been told that they aren’t worthy due to struggles with mental health."
Adams wants to one day become a Psychology professor, as well as obtain an M.A. and a license as an LPCC in order to become a counselor. She is part of the Psychology Peer Mentor program.
