Humanities Student Spotlight | Xochi Stensaas

Xochi Stensaas recently created a design called “The Transformer” as a commission from the ASUU senator for the School for Cultural and Social Transformation (now the Department of Ethnic, Gender & Disability Studies), and the Registered Student Government president, Juniper Nilsson. Stensaas first switched to Gender Studies as a major, from Illustration, after taking a class on sex and gender. They have always been interested in understanding how people and societies work. Once they realized that there is an entire field of study on gender and sexuality, she knew she wanted to explore that.

“I found that Gender Studies has a really amazing community, and I quickly felt at home. I have been impressed by how passionate, inspiring, and caring the Gender Studies professors are.”

Stensaas has always been passionate about art, magic, animals and nature, theory, and understanding the connections between people, societies, and the world around us. They were honored when a close peer and student senator, Juniper, approached them to create a design honoring the 10-year history of the School of Cultural and Social Transformation. They thought it would be impactful and important to create something that every Transform student and faculty member could keep with them and proudly display.

“I was given a great amount of creative freedom with the design. I decided to combine the mythological symbol of the Medusa figure with a tarot card-like composition titled “The Transformer.”

Xochi described how Medusa can represent a reframing of the stories that shape our collective understandings of the world, shifting and questioning paradigms of gender and power. The Medusa symbol is also a nod to Gender Studies’ Medusa and Manifestos class, which was one of Stensaas’ all-time favorite classes taught by beloved Gender Studies professor, Dr. Kim Hackford-Peer. “The Transformer” is a powerful agent of change, love, and joy that all Transform students and community members can embody every day.

Stensaas said they enjoyed the experience of brainstorming and creating the design; by combining their passions for art and Gender Studies to bring the community together to create something beautiful to represent Transform’s history and impact.  This experience has helped her consider her future and explore ways to find more opportunities to combine art and social change.

The College of Humanities recently welcomed a new Department of Ethnic, Gender & Disability Studies.  You can learn more about the merger here.