Giselle Lora
Giselle LoraMacalester College, anthropology and Latin American studies
GSEF Fellow, Cohort 1
Research Placement: Michigan State University
“One of the highlights of my summer was having the opportunity to conduct research within my own community. I was able to interview women who had the same ethnic background as I do, and many of their experiences really resonated with my own family’s.”
How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?
I come from a Salvadoran family, so beans and corn tortillas are my life! During my free time I like to draw, lose myself in nature, binge watch Insecure, and expose my tastebuds to new flavors. As I finish up my last semester in college, I am excited for all the possibilities the future has to offer. I hope to always find myself in a new place, working through new challenges, and meeting impactful people along the way.
What kind of research are you working on this summer? Who are you working with?
Last summer I was placed at the Michigan State University SROP, and I worked with Dr. Delia Fernandez from the history department. I conducted oral history interviews in Grand Rapids, Michigan to gather data for Dr. Fernandez’s upcoming book. The interviews were conducted in Spanish, and done with first generation immigrants from Central America and the Caribbean.
What have you learned so far?
One of the highlights of my summer was having the opportunity to conduct research within my own community. I was able to interview women who had the same ethnic background as I do, and many of their experiences really resonated with my own family’s. Through my work this summer, I realized my passion for doing research that teaches me something about where I come from and who I am, while having the opportunity to make a positive impact within those spaces.
What part(s) of this experience will benefit you most? How so?
I came into SROP having no clue what graduate school meant or whether I even wanted to go. By the end of the program, I not only have an in-depth understanding of the application process, but also more sure that this was a path I wanted to pursue in the near future.
