Learn more about Laney Zinn, a double major in Family and Human Services and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Quick Facts
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
What are you studying? Double majoring in Family and Human Services and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Favorite books or movies: My favorite movie is Life is Beautiful. It is a story of an eccentric yet selfless father who utilizes his wit and charm to shield his young son from life-threatening danger. My second favorite movie is the live action Cat in the Hat which is a story about a talking cat in a hat.
Hobbies: Collecting vintage troll dolls, riding my bike around campus while listening to tunes, and taking 3-hour long baths every night. My days are also spent in the Dean of Students Office with the department of Sexual Violence Prevention & Education as their student director and working for Protection Connection, a student team from UO Health Services that distributes safer sex supplies and educational curriculum to the student body.
Favorite place in Eugene: My favorite place in Eugene is Toshi’s Ramen. My Eugene-local- freshman-year-dorm-roommate brought me here my first ever days in Oregon and it changed the trajectory of my life. Toshi’s Ramen reminds me of vibrant conversations, good friends, and heavenly post-ramen naps.
Why did you choose UO and/or your program or major? I chose to major in both FHS and WGSS because I had always gravitated towards typically nontraditional subjects, conversations, and projects. These two majors provided me with strong theoretical, historical, and practical education on subjects of sexual health, violence prevention, and public health intervention. This has transformed my prior interest into a strong foundation which has given me the confidence and experience to pursue a career in sexual health promotion.
What is your most memorable experience at the College of Education? My most memorable experience was finishing up the FHS research requirement. When I first learned that all FHS students had to complete a research practicum, I immediately assumed that this would simply not be possible for me. The notion of research seemed incredibly daunting and downright unobtainable. Instead, I left my research practicum empowered in this field, confident in my own abilities, and with an incredibly rewarding research poster to enter in the undergraduate research symposium.
What are your plans after graduation? I am having one last Oregon summer before moving to Boston. I will be attending Boston University in Fall 2023 and pursuing a Master of Public Health with concentrations in Health Promotion and Communication and Sex, Sexuality, and Gender. I was awarded the School of Public Health’s Dean’s Scholarship, a 100% tuition scholarship. I am eager to begin a new adventure and dive into Boston University’s educational opportunities, community, and School of Public Health programming.
What impact do you hope to make in your future career? I hope to be a part of a cultural shift that reforms sexual education curriculum and access to sexual health resources. This fight for sexual health education to be medically accurate, comprehensive, trauma-informed, and culturally competent has been historically advocated for by so many communities. To see tangible change, the fields of sexual health and sexualized violence prevention must seek out, advocate for, and welcome the knowledge of historically underserved populations to create an impact.
Do you have any advice for prospective students? Try not to let the strong narratives of “the typical college experience” guide your life. You know yourself best. You know what sounds like a good Friday night. You know what music makes you groove the most. You know what outfit you rock. Let that true inner voice guide your experiences and opportunities. You deserve to let that person out and the world wants to see it. Be weird, loud, and you.