Courtney Stephan
By Alicia Hopkins
eNEWS Editor
This week’s A&S Spotlight is on Courtney Stephan ’17, Co-President for the College of Arts & Sciences Student Ambassadors and a junior majoring in Anthropology, with a minor in Sociology and a certificate in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. If you would like to suggest someone for a future edition of the Spotlight, email eNEWS Editor Alicia Hopkins (ah828712@ohio.edu).
What year are you? What are you studying?
My name is Courtney Stephan and I’m a junior with a major in Anthropology, a minor in Sociology, and carrying a certificate in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
Why did you choose this field of study?
I have always known that I loved archaeology; however, once I came to college I found my passion in culture. From there it has led me to where I am now, with a focus on the intersectionality of culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, and class.
What drew you to Ohio University?
I was lucky enough to experience Sibs Weekend through my sister who went here, as well as visiting Athens in the summer, which truly added to the feeling of “hOUme”.
Can you tell me what the Ambassadors program is, and what they do?
The College of Arts & Sciences Ambassadors is a great organization of campus leaders. We represent the college as a whole through our differing perspectives and experiences as Bobcats. As Ambassadors, we also work closely with prospective students during OHIO Discovery Days and OHIO Up Close Days. We even participate in a lot of fun events around campus such as Athens Beautification Day, as well as Relay For Life. Currently, we are working on becoming better student leaders through the Professional LeadershipCcertificate program offered by the Career and Leadership Development Center.
Why are the Ambassadors important to the College of Arts & Sciences?
As Ambassadors we not only encompass vastly different majors, but we come together to encourage students to contribute to the community, meet some new friends, and also to be passionate about our endeavors here at OHIO.
Why did you become an Ambassador?
Well, when I first started I had just been looking for clubs to join. Since then I have worked my way up from vice president to co-president, and I have loved every part of it. Not only is it fun to plan all the activities we do, but also it’s rewarding to see other students that feel just as passionate as you.
For A&S students who might be interested, what is the process involved in becoming an Ambassador?
Currently, we warmly welcome anyone who is interested to come and see what we’re all about. However, we do require a 2.5 GPA. We meet every Sunday from 6-7 p.m. in Baker 226.
What has been your favorite part of being a student at Ohio University so far?
The opportunity. I know that the clubs, classes, memories, and experiences I’ve made here, I would not be able to make anywhere else. I believe there is ample opportunity to get involved in a ton of different things and it’s really worth it.
What is the most interesting class, or your favorite class, that you have taken so far? What makes the class stand out in your mind?
Last semester I took a course called “Gender of Cross-Cultural Perspectives.” The course discussed how gender is viewed in cultures all around the world. We explored social taboos, norms, etc. It was fascinating to me how different societies view gender and gender movements differently and how many things are changing in the world as we learn.
If you could tell your pre-OHIO self one thing, what would it be?
I would tell myself to be open to everything and enjoy every minute. You never know where you may find a friend, a great memory, or a lesson and a chance to grow.
Any tips or advice for other students?
Work hard and take every opportunity given to you. Even if things don’t always work out, or if they feel weird, always step outside of your comfort zone, because that’s where great things happen, too.
What experiences have you had, or are you planning, in the following: internships, study abroad, clubs/organizations, volunteer work or service learning, and undergraduate research?
I’m currently in the process of weighing all my options, before I pursue either research, a thesis, study abroad, or an internship. I definitely plan to, though. For now I can say that. I am a member of I Am That Girl, which is an organization all about giving back. We plan to pursue local service opportunities and create a nexus with My Sister’s Place here in Athens. We are also looking at reaching out to the community through possible mentorship opportunities, either with Girl Scouts here, Athens Middle/High School girls, and maybe even within our own OHIO community. We have a few other ideas in the works, but as we are a fairly new organization, we are still developing our budget for everything. As far as experiences go, through CASSA I have participated in OHIO Discovery Days and OHIO Up Close Days, and I really love the opportunity to engage with future “bobkittens”.
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