Hello, my name is Natalie Raquel Acuña, I graduated from the Applied English
Studies MA program in May 2024. My MA research project was about
counter-stories that can be found within spoken word poetry, titled,
Countering dominant narratives in community: The many voices in spoken word
poetry. I currently work as Professional Staff on campus at Cal Poly Humboldt.
This MA Program allowed me to make connections with the English Department
and navigate pursuing a career within Higher Education. The writing, facilitating,
and research methods have become skill sets that I use in my current role in
Student Support Services. The professors within this program care about their
students' professional development and allow students to build connections with
their outside world and the classroom.