Student Testimonials

Riley Abbott, 2006

I find myself in Washington DC looking for continued work in International Development.  I've just returned from a 27 month service with the Peace Corps in El Salvador.  There I worked in Municipal Development and community organizing, increasing citizen participation and strengthening civil society groups as well as institutions.  It was exhilarating work and I want to continue it.

My great education from St. Thomas and the American Cultural Studies program was in no small part helpful for me in my ability to do such things.

I started working in technology sales after graduation and realize that it has been beneficial having a better/deeper understanding of the world we live in after participating in the American Culture and Difference program.  The fact that the program is interdisciplinary helps give you a well rounded world view which comes in handy when interacting with a variety of different people and situations day to day.  I find that having the ability to talk about a variety of different topics really helps break the ice and develop relationships by having at least a  basic understanding of many topics that affect the culture(s)/society I/we live in.  It is pretty common that people think I was a psychology, sociology, poli sci, history, or English major since we studied all of these subjects (directly and indirectly) in cultural studies; I was really an entrepreneurship major with a minor in ACST.  I would say the cultural studies program is the millennial generation's History major.  I expect it to have a positive influence when applying for grad school because it encapsulates such a vast variety of subjects/knowledge which I believe is important in the world we live in and will continue to be of value throughout the future.