“I’ve had opportunities at Gettysburg College that I don’t think I would have received at another school,” Jules Blech ’24 reflected. “That’s the value of a liberal arts education—you have to put yourself outside of your comfort zone and try so many things.”
Blech is an economics and political science double major with a minor in peace and justice studies, and the liberal arts environment at Gettysburg College drew her to enroll, as well as immersive experiences offered by the Eisenhower Institute (EI).
Now, Blech is an EI Fielding Fellow, where she and a group of selected students are reviewing the relevance of UN Human Rights Council special procedures.
“The Fielding Fellows program has been really amazing,” Blech said. “It’s nice to be with a group of friends and working professionally. We’re learning from each other in areas we may not be as familiar with, and we’re able to do work that matters and has consequences in the real world.”
Another experience that has been meaningful for Blech is The Women’s Network (TWN), an organization that she helped bring to campus during her sophomore year. TWN serves female students by helping them grow professional skills through experiential events, where members can network with peers, industry experts, and guest speakers.
“We wanted to build a space where students could have open conversations about how things may impact them differently in career fields if they’re a woman. Being able to address these topics and combat them together has been important to me,” Blech explained. “It’s been really rewarding for me to gain confidence and feel supported by a really great group of women.”
Through these opportunities and other campus involvements, such as being a member of the sorority Alpha Delta Pi and studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, Blech has benefited from the encouraging and accomplished community of Gettysburg College.
“Gettysburg is such a tight-knit community, and I’m very grateful for that. It’s a home here,” Blech said. “I can officially call it that now, and I couldn’t have done that without the help of my professors and fellow students who are so kind and welcoming.”
Learn more about the high-impact learning opportunities available to students at Gettysburg College.
By Laken Franchetti
Photos by Sofia Gutierrez ’26
Posted: 04/10/24