Elena Ross

My name is Elena Ross and I was raised in Los Angeles. I am a third year student at Sonoma State University with a Hutchins liberal studies major and a women and gender studies minor. My pronouns are she/her/hers. Since I was young I have been deeply passionate about being an advocate and using my voice to speak against the systematic inequalities and inequities of our society, specifically those regarding gender, race, class, and sexuality.

At Sonoma State University I have been involved in numerous clubs and leadership positions that have allowed me to follow my passions. This includes being a member of the Vagina Monologues and minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. Women’s and Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes the complexities of cultural power structures. I have learned so much from studying societal power structures and norms through an intersectional and inclusive feminist lens. The experiences that I have had at Sonoma State have allowed me to find and use my voice to advocate for change and help create a more accountable campus and community. I was also a Summer Orientation Leader at Sonoma State this past summer and got to know incoming students and stand as their mentor to help them transition into college. I was able to be a positive role model and demonstrate the deeply rooted values of Sonoma State. I also attend weekly Queer Student Alliance meetings where SSU provides a safe and open space for the LGBTQ+ community to come together, meet new people, and share experiences ensuring that everyone feels valued and validated. Other clubs and resources that I have been involved in at SSU include Improvaholics and United For Success.

Throughout my three years here at Sonoma State, this school has welcomed me with open arms and I have not had many negative experiences while here. However, a challenge that I faced when first arriving to SSU was pushing myself to get involved. Leaving my home and coming to college was a huge obstacle that I overcame; and I knew that in order to make this experience the best it could be I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone and get involved. Though it was difficult at first, I encouraged myself to sign up for different clubs, attend meetings, speak to new people, and really expose myself to all that SSU had to offer. I am fortunate in getting to attend this school, and as a result I have been blessed with many positive experiences, such as being a part of the Hutchins program. The Hutchins program has offered me a way of learning that gives me the opportunity to critically analyze a multitude of texts in an environment that provides an intimate space to engage with my professor and class at seminars with deeper meanings. I have learned to question every aspect of the unknown, ways of living, and my inner self.

Sonoma State has become so much more than a school to me, but rather a second home that I know will continue to support and encourage me as I grow, learn, and thrive in my college career.