Women's and Gender Studies

Ali Abel

Program Assistant at Girl Scouts River Valleys
UWO ’13 History major, Women’s Studies minor

What do you do during a typical day at work?
At Girl Scouts I’m on the Product Program team (which means cookies!). Half of my job is software systems and data analysis and the other half is girl-focused activity planning. On a typical workday I spend most of my time in spreadsheets, but a little time planning fun activities like blindfolded cookie taste tests.

Why did you choose UWO?
It was a comfortable distance from my hometown and I liked the size and set up of campus.

How has Women’s and Gender Studies influenced your career path?
I’ve worked in a variety of fields, including customer service, youth development, civic engagement, and data management. I find Women’s and Gender Studies at the core of it all, because I always gravitate towards organizations with a clear mission that aligns with my values. My job title and daily work can vary greatly, but there’s always a foundation of equity, inclusion, and innovation.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with current students?
Don’t ever be afraid to start over! All of your education, work, and life experiences will combine and add up over time, and even if you feel like you’re switching fields into something brand new, you’ll almost always have previous knowledge that will apply. Being well-rounded is a great thing!