University of North Texas 
Marija Ivanic
Contact Marija at CLASSambassadors@unt.edu
Degree(s): B.S in Psychology, Minor in WGST
Favorite Course(s): Queer Theory, Intro to Peace Studies
Something I wish I knew as a Freshman: You don't have to be your own worst hater in order to grow as a person. You grow more when you accept the fact that you are flawed. No one is sitting watch to see when you mess up.
Why did you become an ambassador? I have been looking for a way for my voice to be heard, respected and sometimes even feared on campus. Also, WGST has informed my career in Psychology, as experiences of oppression have an inescapable influence on one's cognition. It's pretty hard not to internalize ignorance and hatred, especially when you interact with it everyday. I want to spread the word.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UNT? Everybody loves to hate on dorm life and I don't get it. Some of my best memories take place in dorm rooms, where super wholesome, upstanding, and constitutional stuff went down.
How do you plan to use your degree? Honestly, it's really hard to pin down a niche when I'm interested in so many things, and have had the opportunity to explore so many new ideas at UNT. I've spent a lot of time researching substance use through the lens of psychology, as well as through a political science, sociological and intersectional feminist lens. Maybe I'll write a book on the condemnation of drug users as a tool of oppression once I spend more time researching.
Maria Vargas
Contact Maria at CLASSambassadors@unt.edu
Degree(s): B.S. in Photojournalism with a minor in Women's Gender Studies
Favorite Course(s): JOUR 4250 - Race, Gender, and the Media, WGST 4100 - Womanist and Feminist Theories
Something I wish I knew as a Freshman: I wish I knew that no one is going to judge you or look at you weird for speaking up in discussion based classes.
Why did you become an ambassador? I became an ambassador because I would like to be more involved on campus and am looking forward to networking opportunities.
What is your favorite memory from your time at UNT? My favorite memory is the first time I went to a UNT Women's Basketball game with my friends.
How do you plan to use your degree? I plan on doing multimedia coverage on women's issues or issues within the Latine LGBTQ+ community.