More than 1,000 students from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences will walk across the stage on Sunday, May 13 as they graduate from West Virginia University , ready to take on the world.
As Commencement is upon us, several of our Eberly College graduates reflect on their time at WVU and their plans for the future.
Nestorville, West Virginia, native Morgan Stemler’s passion for traveling motivated her to major in international studies and Chinese studies for her love of traveling. Despite not knowing the criteria for the major and jumping in blindly, she fell in love with both majors instantly.
“The major is diverse with what you can study,” Stemler said. “I am proud that this major allows you such flexibility.”
Stemler enjoys the diversity international studies offers students at WVU. Students are able to study not only regional emphases but also topics including diplomacy, development and security. Stemler realized early on in her college career that she wanted to work for the U.S. government, and she believes her liberal arts degree has prepared her for that.
“With my liberal arts degree I’ve been able to strengthen my foreign language and communications skills, which has definitely helped me prepare for my future career,” Stemler said.
Stemler chose to concentrate on intelligence and national security with her major, which she chose to focus on East Asia and added a second major of Chinese studies. Stemler will be pursuing a master’s degree in international studies in Taiwan in September 2018 as one of 10 WVU Fulbright Scholarship recipients, a new record for WVU. In 2016, she received the Christopher Belfoure Chinese Studies Travel Abroad Fund to travel to study abroad in China for the spring 2017 semester.
“WVU is home,” Stemler said. “While college in general gives you a place to explore yourself and become who you are, WVU gives you so many opportunities to excel academically and socially. It also has the best people. I have made lifetime friends at WVU and still consider it to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
“The major is diverse with what you can study,” Stemler said. “I am proud that this major allows you such flexibility.”
