Sara Steingruber wants to pursue law school after graduating from VCU, and they used their time in the Departments of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies and Sociology to inform their approach to a future legal career in juvenile defense. Steingruber takes inspiration from associate professor Liz Canfield, Ph.D., who has had Steingruber in a class on six different occasions.

Why did you choose your major(s)?

I chose gender, sexuality and women’s studies (GSWS) after taking my intro class and realizing how much I loved the material. I want to go into law school after graduation and thought that gender studies could provide critical skills for the type of law I want to practice. I originally had a double major in philosophy of law as well, but realized that I enjoyed my sociology classes more and found that they were more relevant to what I was interested in. I had a lot of support from staff on both sides that also made the decision easy.

Favorite class so far? Why?

I have loved so many of the classes I've been able to take, but my favorite GSWS class was my Abolition in Education class. What we learned and talked about gave words to the feelings I have had for a while, and I was able to relate with and enjoy the theory that we read. It led to me changing what I wanted to go into law for, as well as gave me more opportunities to participate in community building and other skills that will help me after graduation. 

My favorite sociology class I have taken was Contemporary Cults and New Religious Movements. I love all things true crime and learning the sociological understanding behind cults was fascinating. The class discussions were amazing, and I always left that class feeling fulfilled and like I had learned something important. 

Favorite professor so far? Why?

Liz Canfield, Ph.D., has changed my college career and my life for the better. I took her course on Race and Racism in the United States during my first semester of freshman year and she never got rid of me after that. I ended up taking classes with her for six out of my eight semesters. She is one of the best professors I have ever had and is kind and caring. She teaches abolition in ways that I hope to be able to do one day. She has inspired me endlessly, and I can't imagine what my college career would have been like without her. 

Most interesting thing in your major's curriculum that you've learned or experience you've had?

This coincides with both of my majors when I took abolition education. I learned about the Stop Cop City movement in Atlanta, Ga., which is my hometown. It was a plan to tear down 70 acres of the Weelaunee Forest, which is native land, and build a police training center and fake city on the land. Once my professor mentioned it in my GSWS class I was able to join the movement that summer in Atlanta. After, I took an environmental sociology class and was able to expand on the environmental issues that Stop Cop City came with. 

I was able to take what I had first learned in class and then in my personal experience to further my knowledge with the environmental concern, and to look at the movement sociologically as well. 

What are you hoping to do after graduation? Why?

I'm hoping to eventually go into law school and do juvenile defense. For now, I am looking at non-profit work and volunteering within my community, and continuing my job as a server as I join Richmond as a citizen and not a student.