MORE ABOUT LIZA
Graduation Date: November 2007
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
High School: Minneapolis South High School
Awards & Achievements:
- Dean’s List
Campus Involvement:
- Assocation of Public Policy Students
Current Employment:
- The Urban Institute
Liza Getsinger
Area of Study:Public Policy with a concentration in Urban Studies
I chose my major because… it just felt like the right fit. I have transferred schools and majors, so I am proof that it is not always an easy decision to make. After taking Dr. Sampson’s Urban Issues class, I realized that becoming a public policy major meant that I get to study all of the issues that I feel passionate about in my personal life in an academic setting. I am able to say I truly love what I study and that has made a huge impact on my success as a student.
My favorite thing to do on campus is… to take advantage of all the wonderful and educational lectures that DePaul has to offer. DePaul and many of DePaul’s student organizations make a priority to bring in guest lecturers. It is such a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of because it has allowed me to open my horizons to new authors and subjects that I may have never found on my own. And the best thing is that they are free!
I decided to transfer to DePaul because… I was excited about learning in an environment as rich and diverse in culture, race, religion and so many other areas as DePaul is. I was also drawn to the idea of having the city of Chicago as the backdrop to my learning and, in a way, acting as a learning experience all in itself.
The learning environment here at DePaul is… one that welcomes people from all backgrounds while at the same time encourages and nurtures these varied interest and experiences. This creates an environment where discussion is encouraged and allows students to learn from one another as well as from the diverse faculty.
The class I most enjoyed here was… Urban Poverty with Dr. Sampson. It was an experiential learning class, which meant that although there was a classroom component there was also an outside learning requirement as well. Dr. Sampson used the lecture periods to engage students in a meaningful discussion about the leading theories behind the causes and effects of poverty, as well as the possible policy solutions. Although the lectures were fascinating, the most fulfilling part of the class was having the privilege to work one-on-one with low-income families throughout Chicago. This opportunity allowed me to understand first hand the ways in which living in poverty affects families and children. That class and the family that I worked with have left a lasting impression on the way I view the world and the United States’ policies regarding poverty.
When I have free time, I like to… spend my days walking around Lincoln Park and downtown Chicago. I love being able to walk outside and have museums, parks and the lake right at my doorstep. There are so many things to explore in a city like Chicago and being at DePaul places you right in the center of all that. There is no excuse to ever be bored in Chicago.
One thing I didn’t know about DePaul before coming was… that even though it is a Catholic university, most people don’t seem to be Catholic. The religious aspect of DePaul is reflected most in their commitment to service learning, community service and social justice, and not in the student body.
Here, the diversity of students, faculty and staff… has enriched the quality of education I have received. Sitting in a classroom next to students from very different backgrounds than myself has helped me to grow as a student and in my outlook on the world. At DePaul, diversity of thought, race, ethnicity and socioeconomic background is embraced as a major component in receiving a quality education.
The greatest thing about going to school in Chicago is… being able to enjoy all the amenities that Chicago has to offer. Great sports teams, cultural events, nightlife, shopping and outdoors activities provide something for everyone here. Personally, catching a night game at Wrigley and wandering around downtown are two of my favorite Chicago experiences.
At DePaul, service learning is… part of the curriculum. DePaul places a very high value on service learning because it allows students the opportunity to learn from experiences outside of the university setting, which creates not only educated students, but also well-rounded individuals. My experience with service learning at DePaul has been invaluable to my learning experience.
My experience at DePaul as a public policy major… has been wonderful. The entire public policy faculty is so invested in seeing all of their students succeed that they go above and beyond for each of them. The faculty, Dr. Sampson and Dr. Tzoumis especially, have been such important resources for helping me see what is next for me after I finish my degree at DePaul.
After graduation, I plan to… work for a year or two before I go back to graduate school. I’m still in the process of job hunting, but my experiences at DePaul have left me feeling excited and confident about what’s next after graduation. For now, the next stage of life is to be determined.
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