Gabriella Giese

Taking a Stand

Gabriella Giese wanted more than a typical college experience of lectures, textbooks, and exams. She wanted to find a way to make a difference.

“Being involved with SAR has given my IUP education a new meaning,” she says. “I have learned many things in my classes, but SAR has also provided me with skills including leadership, benevolence, and the ability to step out of my comfort zone so that I can be the best version of myself, which will benefit my students in the future.”

She found what she was looking for when she joined IUP Students Against Racism (SAR), an organization that empowers students to take a stand against racism, bigotry, and other forms of hatred in our world. The group holds regular meetings and discusses topics so that the challenges racial minority groups face are brought front and center.  As president, she is in position to develop leadership skills while being an active member of SAR.

“Seeing IUP students from different backgrounds come together to have the difficult conversations and to fight racial injustice is a beautiful sight,” she says. “It’s what SAR is all about.”

A biology education major with a minor in chemistry, Gabriella plans to become a high school teacher after graduation.

“Being involved with SAR has given my IUP education a new meaning,” she says. “I have learned many things in my classes, but SAR has also provided me with skills including leadership, benevolence, and the ability to step out of my comfort zone so that I can be the best version of myself, which will benefit my students in the future.”