Ann Garcia

The Full Story

I was born and raised in Hampton Roads and received my high school degree at Granby High School. I was a student of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme and received my certificate. Today, I am a fourth year student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and I am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Professional Writing. 

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My professional background is in health education and community engagement, having worked at my university’s offices of Health Promotion and Counseling Services. I am also passionate about human rights advocacy and thus study sociology and communication in addition to my major.

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I am driven by a desire to help others and to break down barriers to receiving support, especially for those disenfranchised. As such, I find motivation to strive for my best everyday in order to make a difference in people's lives, even if it's so small as to be unnoticeable.

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My professional goals include working with human rights organizations to advocate for marginalized communities. I am especially interested in LGBTQ+ advocacy and have collaborated with the Tidewater Queer History Project, ACCESS AIDS Care (now the LGBT Life Center) and ODU's Safe Space. 

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A Mellon Foundation Humanities Internship Stipend supported my internship with the Office of Counseling Services in the Fall 2024 semester, and with the Tidewater Queer History Project in the Spring 2025 semester. Further reflection from these experiences can be found on the Blog tab of this ePortfolio.

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My personal interests include gaming, horror films, and traveling. I spent the Fall 2019 semester abroad in Seoul, South Korea studying at Yonsei University. I am fascinated by all cultures and languages.​