Meet Laura Nelms (’20), Treyton Mc-Neese-Polivka (’19), and Mackenzie Griffith (’19), three current Sociology majors in our program. In addition to sharing an interest in Sociology, all three are outstanding Nebraska ambassadors, having been selected to attend the McDonald Conference for Leaders of Character held annually at West Point (US Military Academy) for each of the past three years. Both Trey and Laura (ROTC) are currently active members of the Nebraska National Guard (Laura=Army, Trey=Air), whereas Mackenzie is currently completing a senior thesis on the labor market experiences of veterans with STEM degrees. Her thesis grew out of a collaborative research project funded by the National Science Foundation (co-PIs Dr. Werum/University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Dr. Steidl/UAH [University of Alabama-Huntsville]) on pathways into STEM. One of the major findings associated with this large-scale quantitative study is that military service can provide a valuable alternative pathway into STEM fields and occupations – especially for women.
The experiences Trey, Laura, and Mackenzie have shared here at Nebraska also exemplify the fabulous potential of a liberal arts degree earned in the College of Arts and Sciences. Despite all the ways in which they are connected, they have fundamentally different professional aspirations. Mackenzie, who double majors in Sociology/Global Studies and minors in Spanish, has spent time studying abroad and plans to pursue a career that involves earning a graduate degree and specializing in immigration and public/international policy. Trey, who minors in history and classics, currently serves as an archivist for the Nebraska Air National Guard and plans to pursue this trajectory further. And Laura, who is also earning a minor in Psychology, aspires to combine her passion for both fields by pursuing a graduate degree and becoming a researcher – the sky’s the limit!
