Meet Ellen Orsi (she/they), current MAIS Women and Gender Studies Student
Undergraduate Field(s) of Study and Institution: B.A. in English and Women, Gender, and Sexualities Studies with a minor in Religious Studies – University of Virginia
Graduate Studies: I’m currently pursuing dual master’s degrees: an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at William & Mary and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Women and Gender Studies at George Mason University.
What led you to Women and Gender Studies and what has your experience in the program been like:
I entered this program wanting to gain a deeper theoretical foundation in the humanities—particularly one that would complement my clinical mental health counseling training. Two of the most impactful areas of study for me have been Critical Race Theory and Feminist Theory, both of which I actively integrate into my research and my emerging therapeutic practice through approaches like narrative therapy and feminist therapy.
My studies at GMU have challenged me to reflect critically on systems of power, my own positionality, and the relational dynamics that shape human experience. This program has provided a space to examine how intersectional identities inform both the giving and receiving of care. As a future therapist, I sought out this education to intentionally challenge my own worldviews and to deepen my capacity for empathy.
This degree path has allowed me to connect the personal to the political and equipped me with the tools to be a more culturally competent and critically reflective counselor. I’ve learned to ask hard questions—of myself, of my field, and of the broader systems that shape mental health access and outcomes. Our classes continue to push me to consider how intersectionality, feminist ethics, and decolonial frameworks can inform therapeutic work, particularly with clients from marginalized communities. I see this coursework as essential to both my clinical and advocacy practices going forward.
June 26, 2025