Student Profile: Ruth Douglas
Studying abroad in Ghana ignited a passion in Ruth Douglas for helping disadvantaged third-world women.
Inspired by this life-changing experience, the Williamston junior will return to Africa this summer through a Posey Global Fellowship.
In addition to observing top-level policy decisions in the women’s affairs department in Botswana, Douglas also plans to engage in grassroots efforts in Kenya, teaching and working with women taken out of the sex trade.
“I can’t fix the world, but I can change it,” she says. “I want to empower women by giving them education and resources. I have no doubt I’ll be able to achieve at least a small amount of positive change.”
Douglas, a foreign service major, credits a women’s and gender studies course focused on religion and sexuality for helping her discover the depths of inequality in the world.
“The reading was really interesting,” she says. “Dr. Blanchard is very honest about wanting to make all the students in the course feminists. Because the word ‘feminist’ has many negative connotations, I wasn’t excited about that, but I learned so much.”
Happy to have the ability to navigate her Alma College experience, Douglas, a women’s and gender studies minor, plans to continue enriching her education through courses like this.
“I love that my experience is directly proportional to how much I’m willing to put into it,” she says. “Alma has pushed my boundaries through the development of leadership skills, mentoring and international opportunities.”
