In Their Words: Kiana Namaki

STUDENT INFORMATION

Name: Kiana Namaki

Department: Feminist Studies

What Scholarship or Award did you receive? Sabrina Greenfield Memorial Award

What year are you (1st year, 3rd year)? 4th Year

College: College 10

Where do you call home? San Jose, CA

What is your field of focus?
I’m a double major in Intensive Psychology and Feminist Studies with a Sexuality Studies concentration. I’m also an undergraduate research assistant for Project SPEAK in the Politics, Culture, and Identity Lab.

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?
The first time I toured UC Santa Cruz was as a middle school student and I was so struck by the experience I knew I would be destined to attend one day. Years later, as a re-entry transfer student, UCSC stood out to me for its proactive approach in making new applicants feel welcome and valued. Shauntay Larkins, a Senior Evaluator/Admission Counselor, built a rapport with me through the UCSC Transfer Prep Program that made me feel like I would be prepared to succeed and that my contributions as a student would matter. Additionally, UCSC has a legacy of outstanding academics and activists such as Angela Davis, bell hooks, Gina Dent, Donna Haraway, Aaronette White, and many others. It is this legacy that I felt would lend to an education that was both critical, interdisciplinary, rooted in activism, and motivated towards transformational change.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?
My goal is to pursue a PhD program in Clinical Psychology to practice, teach, and continue in research. My interests in psychology and feminist studies are rooted in a commitment to serve others and enact positive change through research and clinical practice. I have a desire to create effective mental health interventions, through advocacy and alliance, for marginalized and stigmatized groups within the context of clinical psychology. Through this interdisciplinary approach, I have determined it is critically important to examine and address the unique and complex intersectional experiences of populations that are often ignored or disadvantaged within the field of psychology.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?
One of my most memorable moments of being a student at UCSC is actually just a simple day of studying outside at Cowell. I remember hearing someone practicing cello as I was staring out at the ocean on this incredibly clear day and realizing how amazing it was to have the opportunity to study in this kind of environment. I felt an intense sense of peace with myself academically even though I was studying for a difficult midterm and I realized at that moment I had made the right choice in fulfilling my undergraduate career here. Since then I’ve had many seemingly magical moments surrounded by nature on this campus and I think that’s what made me fall in love with it.

How will this scholarship/award impact your academic life/research?
This award affirms for me the level of work I’ve been dedicated to pursuing as a re-entry, transfer undergraduate. It is a reminder of how far I’ve come and that the work I’ve done as a student is being recognized. This is something I’m most thankful for. This scholarship allows me to continue to fully dedicate myself to educational pursuits this summer quarter. I will be continuing to do research as an undergraduate research assistant and engaging in a new project working on data analysis to assist in improving sex education curriculums in Santa Clara County. This scholarship allows me to focus on preparing for the GRE and researching prospective clinical PhD programs. I will also be preparing for application to graduate programs in the Fall. Additionally, it allows me to work on an independent academic research project for my senior thesis. I’m eternally grateful to be recognized for this award and I hope that my continued academic success with honor Sabrina Greenfield’s memory.