Well, I am currently an International Studies and Philosophy student at Willamette University in Oregon. When I’m not studying, I enjoy reading, biking, yoga, art and cooking with friends. I moved from Nevada to the Pacific Northwest in 2018 after high school and plan on travelling a lot more after I graduate.
June 13, 2023
JSI Scholar: Iris Hankins
Tell us about your story
What made you consider a career in public policy/public service/international affairs?
When I was still attending community college, I took a course in Human Geography and was intrigued by the extent of the content. For the first time, I was encouraged to discuss the current events of people in the developing world and consider how politics and geography merge. Before transferring to my current four-year university, I decided that I wanted to understand the politics and policies underlying various regions of the world and use my resources to help Womyn in developing countries.
Who inspires you to think about public service?
Various anti-colonial and revolutionary activist encourage me to think about public service as a career. I think it is imperative for everyone’s wellbeing to engage in public service whenever they can. And more importantly, to question our policies and who they actually serve.
What are you most excited about the JSI program at UW?
Apart from being able to tour beautiful Seattle in the summer, I am excited to engage in rigorous discourse and study some challenging topics with my peers.