Journey to My Major Student Panel

On the fence about your major or thinking about a switch-up? Join us for an informative student panel!

What if you could get the inside scoop from students who have navigated the maze and found their way? Attend this major exploration event to hear from other UIC students who are excited about their majors and future career options.

They will share insight regarding things like:

• How they chose their major
• How they found their fit
• Navigating family pressures related to majors/careers
• Key experiences (i.e., internships, research, student involvement, volunteer work, etc.)

Panelists include:

Zeljana Antic, Rehabilitation Sciences

I am a Senior on a Pre-Occupational Track. I hope to work in assistive tech, mental health, or women's health. At UIC, some activities I was involved in include SSO at UIC, the Serbian Student Organization. This club helped build my leadership skills, helped me get involved in fundraisers overseas, and allowed me to connect with students from Southeastern Europe with the same background as me. I also volunteered at UI Health and Shirley Ryan while exploring my professional education goals. I had a memorable internship/experiential learning opportunity to collaborate with professors in the Rehabilitation Sciences program. I was placed at the UIC Child and Family Development Center where I worked as an Occupational Therapy intern. I developed a final project that benefited the center and its families.

Lillian Holden, Urban Planning & Policy and minoring in Sustainable Cities

While Lillian was working at Openlands, a non-profit in Chicago, IL, she coordinated and implemented environmental education programming called Birds in My Neighborhood that acquaints underserved youth and communities with birds. Ignited by her work engaging individuals in nature using birding as a vehicle, she likes to scroll in her neighborhood park peering up at the birds around her. Currently, she's the Water Trail Specialist at Openlands. As the Regional Water Trails Manager, she oversees Openlands efforts to connect people to Illinois waterways. Lillian has served on the Board of Directors for Chicago Audubon Society, is an Aspen Ideas Fellow, has planned for Black Birders Week, and is a field specialist for Earth Remedies Green Explorers youth program. Lillian is a first generation college student at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She's majoring in Urban Planning & Policy and minoring in Sustainable Cities.

Anthony Lopez, Biology

Hi my name is Anthony Lopez. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, this is my second year and I am majoring in Biology on the pre-med track. A couple college experiences that I have been a part of include Medicina Scholars, Health Career Pathway Program, Latino Pre-medical Student Association (Event coordinator), Student Activities Board, I am part of the LAS Ganas Research Fellowship, and most recently I am a Chemistry 122 Peer Learning Assistant. One goal I have in mind is to become a physician and advance medical techniques specifically in anesthesia.

Ariana Raghian, Graphic / Industrial Design

Hi, I'm Ariana Raghian, a sophomore inter-college transfer student in the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts as well as the honors college. I have always been in the arts from the age of 2, I used to do art competitions where I would win 1st place and people's choice awards for my acrylic paintings and as I grew up I switched mediums and fell in love with jewelry making, now as a college student I love to still use the arts as a de-stressor and always capture memories with photography and videography, but I also realized that the arts are my passion and decided to switch to a major that allowed me to use those skills, design studies. Alongside my creative hobbies I love to do yoga and meditation and keep myself busy with the clubs that I am a part of, I am Historian of the Sigma Sigma chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega service organization as well as a member of the events committee for the Honors College Activities Board. When I'm not studying, at my extracurriculars, or hanging out, I'm at work, I'm an intern for Dr. Miranda's research team, Children's Environmental Health Initiative, as their Graphic Design Intern, with that experience I hope I can learn and improve my skills to eventually work a digital marketing career post college.

Susie Summerlot, Anthropology

I am an active member of both Classics Club and Anthropology Club, a combination that is now going to allow me to present research at a national conference next March. I work for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as Campus Housing as a Resident Assistant (RA) and have an internship at the National Hellenic Museum. After college, I hope to become an archivist in a museum and go on to graduate school.

Yadira Villanueva, Psychology and Criminology, Law, and Justice

I am a Psychology and Criminology major. I hope to work with children. I am currently interning at the LAS Career Development and Internship office. I hope to spend my last few months at UIC being more involved in the events and activities UIC has to offer.