About Me
My name is Lauren Nieves-Vazquez and I am a current senior at Florida International University where I am majoring in International Relations with a minor in Political Science and a certificate in Women's and Gender Studies.
Throughout my time at FIU and as a member of the Global Learning Medallion Program, I have dedicated myself to gaining a global perspective and giving back to the community through my many experiences documented in this portfolio.
GLOBAL LEARNING
GL COURSE 1
CCJ 4694: HUMAN TRAFFICKING
In this class, I examined issues related to human trafficking and immigration from an international perspective. I learned about human trafficking from an economic perspective and about how the international community has made efforts to combat it. One of the most shocking and upsetting things I learned from this class is how the global economy relies on human trafficking as an industry as it produces billions of dollars annually.
​
GL COURSE 2
INR 3081: CONTEMPORARY INTL PROBLEMS
In this class, I analyzed specific global issues selected by my professor. Since I took this course during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the class focused on examining the pandemic from an international relations perspective. This included discussions about the effects of the pandemic on the global economy, how international perspectives on health and disease control will be impacted for the future, and how developing countries have been affected by the virus.
GL COURSE 3
WST 3015: INTRO TO GLOBAL GENDER STUDIES
This course served as an introduction to gender issues around the world, as well as their intersections with issues regarding race, class, and ethnicity. I examined global gender inequalities from a feminist lens and learned about many issues affecting women, such as lack of access to the economy and education, sexual violence as a weapon of war, and more
GLOBAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Aug. 2020 - May 2020
E-Board Member, PERIOD: The Menstrual Movement at FIU
CHAIR OF EDUCATION
As Chair of Education for PERIOD at FIU, I advocated for period poverty education within the university as well as in the broader Miami community, organized virtual educational events, and developed partnerships with local organizations that work towards eliminating period poverty in Miami.
June 2021 - Aug. 2021
The Washington Center Academic Internship Program
JUSTICE INTERN AT REYETS: SOCIAL JUSTICE NETWORK
During my time as a Justice Fellow for Reyets: Social Justice Network, I conducted research on women’s, immigrant, and family rights advocacy for mobile app development, designed informational and promotional graphics for the company's social media platforms, and established partnerships with local and national immigration justice and women’s rights organizations.
SEPT. 23, 2021
1-point opportunity
UN WOMEN FIU AFROLATINA WEBINAR
The UN Women FIU Afrolatina Webinar was one of my favorite global learning activities I took part in. I learned about the barriers Afrolatinos in Puerto Rico face and how US colonialism affects Afrolatinos on the island.
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP
The United Nations Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship is a semester-long leadership development program that happens on college campuses. The program involves developing a plan of action to tackle an issue in your community in an effort to advance the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
The knowledge and leadership skills I gained from the Millennium Fellowship helped me tremendously in launching my research project. The Fellowship allowed me to make meaningful connections throughout my university and beyond, creating a network of support of like-minded individuals committed to social change and development. I found myself constantly inspired by the other fellows from my university and from all around the world, as well as by my university’s fellowship campus directors.
STATE OF EMERGENCY: FEMICIDE IN PUERTO RICO
For my Millennium Fellowship project, I began conducting an independent research project titled “State of Emergency: Gender Violence and Femicide in Puerto Rico,” which investigates the underlying social, economic, political, and cultural factors that have contributed to the sudden increase in femicide rates in Puerto Rico within the last couple of years. Focusing on SDG #3, Good Health & Well-Being, and SDG #5, Gender Equality, my main question that drove this research was why did femicide rates in Puerto Rico increase so suddenly, specifically after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017 as well as with the COVID-19 pandemic.
I asked myself, “Why did the damage of Hurricane Maria, along with the pandemic, hit the women of Puerto Rico the hardest?”, “How does Puerto Rico’s political status as a territory of the United States hinder the island’s development and thus promote the oppression of Puerto Rican women?”, and “How has government and police corruption in Puerto Rico contributed to the rise in domestic violence and femicide rates?” These questions, along with so many more, were what I began to explore with my research.
REFLECTION
As someone who has always loved learning about other cultures, traditions, and ideologies, holding a global perspective is very important to me, hence my decision to attend Florida International University and major in International Relations. In an even greater attempt to further my global perspective and obtain new, life-changing opportunities, I decided to enroll in the Global Learning Medallion Program, which I can accredit much of my growth as a global citizen to. Throughout this program, I was introduced to many beliefs and philosophies, both similar and different to mine. From my Global Learning classes to the numerous webinars and virtual workshops I attended, I learned that there are so many ways to view the world and society, and that there are strengths to be found in nearly every perspective. Furthermore, through this program, I was able to expand my knowledge on different local and global issues that I was already very passionate about before joining the program, such as gender-based violence, immigration justice, human trafficking, global health, and more. More importantly, the Global Learning Medallion Program provided me with many opportunities to tackle these issues first-hand, as well as serve my community and play a role in advancing the global perspectives of others. Not only did I learn more about myself and the world, but I was also able to pass on my knowledge and teach others, such as in my time serving as the Chair of Education for PERIOD at FIU as well as through my experience as a Millennium Fellow where I launched a research project dedicated to educating others on the femicide crisis in Puerto Rico.
My main takeaway from the Global Learning Medallion Program is that if you are passionate about an issue, there are always opportunities to step in and create change. The Global Learning Medallion Program taught me that leaving an impact can begin in the smallest of ways, such as with an uncomfortable conversation, and that my thoughts and perspectives regarding social impact are valuable. Following this program, I will continue to grow my global perspective and implement it into every opportunity I take. I will continue to use my passion for global development and intercultural dialogue to spread awareness about the issues I care about and to learn more about those that are unfamiliar to me. Overall, I am confident that I will use every experience that I obtained through the Global Learning Medallion Program to guide me through life as a global citizen ready to effect change and inspire others.