75 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES Catherine Marquez Chioma Njoku AS A FIRST GENERATION student from Chino, Calif., Catherine Marquez is graduating with Bachelor’s of Science in History and Social Science. Marquez is driven by her unwavering belief in the significance of gender, ethnic, and queer studies within the fabric of history. She is deeply committed to shining a light on the often overlooked narratives that shape our collective past. By doing so, Marquez hopes to contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate society. She is honored and humbled to graduate from Portland State, and hopes to continue her education at PSU to pursue a graduate degree in history in order to become a professor. Although Marquez’s academic career at PSU has been a challenging journey, it is also one of the most rewarding experiences and she cherishes those experiences as she looks toward the next step in her academic journey. Further, her passion in education is fueled by the labor of her family and a desire to represent the capabilities and drive within her community. The haunting statistics around Latinas with masters and doctoral degrees lies within the barriers inflicted upon Marquez’s community, and she is grateful for the privileges she has experienced to complete an undergraduate degree and venture further, despite the conditions placed against the Latina community. Looking ahead, Marquez’s aspirations lie in a career that merges her passion for history and social sciences. She aims to make a meaningful difference by fostering a more inclusive world where every individual's story is heard and valued. AFTER 6 YEARS of law school and 1 year of practice, Chioma Njoku decided a career in law was not for her. Motivated by her undergraduate thesis exploring mental health laws in Nigeria, she started considering the possibility of a career in public health communication. In 2021, she arrived at PSU as an international student from Nigeria. Today, she is graduating with a Master’s of Science in Communication. In the last two years, she has increasingly fallen in love with health communication and environmental sustainability. In addition to her role as a graduate assistant, Njoku was dedicated to serving her fellow students at PSU. She served as a student government leader and international student mentor. She also volunteered at the PSU Food Pantry and Student Sustainability Center and is grateful for the opportunity she had to grow at PSU. She came, she saw and she conquered. After graduating, Njoku hopes to gain practical experience before pursuing further graduate education in public health or health communication. She is thankful to her family and friends, especially the ones at home in Nigeria, for all their support throughout her program and is glad for the opportunity to make them proud. STUDENT SPEAKERS
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