The unique academic backgrounds of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students Laura Quinonez-Lara and Lindsey Loyd will surely set them apart from others in the ever-evolving job market, upon achieving their degrees on Friday, May 4.
Quinonez-Lara and Loyd are the first to achieve a master’s in integrative studies through the SIUE Graduate School, the only such interdisciplinary program in the St. Louis metropolitan region. Through the program, they each blended their interests to produce a unique academic plan that would prepare them for diverse and emerging career fields.
A native of Barranquilla, Colombia, Quinonez-Lara’s areas of focus were diversity issues and global affairs.
“Among the reasons I decided to pursue this program was my personal interests in the different processes of cultural exchanges and interactions that occur around the globe,” Quinonez-Lara explained. “Usually this interaction results in a majority consent and minority exclusion. I wanted to understand and analyze some of these processes and evaluated how they define the identity of an individual and a group.”
Quinonez-Lara holds a bachelor’s in finance and international relations from her home country. By combining her degrees and professional experiences, she aspires to work with a non-profit organization that helps immigrants and minorities.
“During my academic journey, I have grown as a person and learned to respect even more people’s different struggles,” she said. “We live in an era when social division is more present than ever. I feel it’s my duty to help others have the opportunities that I have had so far.”
Loyd, of Edwardsville, integrated anthropology and historical studies through the cultural heritage and resources management program. In the future, she hopes to work for a museum. She notes the most impactful learning experiences during her studies were two internships.
“With bachelor’s degrees in English and theater, I knew I wanted to continue my education and pursue a master’s. It was just a matter of deciding what to study,” Loyd explained. “I jumped at the chance to learn more about SIUE’s integrative studies program, and after meeting with Program Director Dr. Zenia Agustin, I knew I would be applying.”
“Through my internships, I had the opportunity to work closely with the director of the Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House and, through them, at the Missouri History Museum,” said Loyd, who also earned a museum studies certificate. “I was also able to work with the executive director of the Edwardsville Children’s Museum. I helped plan and execute the annual museum fundraiser.”
“A master’s of integrative studies can lead to a multitude of career paths, as well as entry into doctoral programs,” said Agustin. “Each student’s carefully designed plan of study provides them with a unique combination of skills and knowledge that will be advantageous in today’s dynamic job market.”
SIUE’s array of high-quality graduate programs provide a range of opportunities for a student to tailor their graduate education to their specific career goals. Other approved curricula in SIUE’s integrative studies graduate program, include, but are not limited to:
- Applied environmental and communication studies
- Cultural education advocacy
- Engineering management
- Marketing communications
- Sustainability
For more information on SIUE’s growing integrative studies graduate program, visit siue.edu/grad/integrative-studies.
Photos: Laura Quinonez-Lara
Lindsey Loyd