Stella Alexiou

Stella Alexiou (she/her) is a fourth-year in the College of Arts & Sciences studying Global Development Studies with a minor in Global Studies in Education. Outside of school, Stella is involved with several organizations on and around Grounds that she has found incredible joy in. She is a hotline volunteer and ER advocate with SARA, as well as the director of the 4Y5K under the Peer Health Educators. Stella also teaches English as a Second Language at a local elementary school and tutors a Kurdish couple through the Skyline Literacy Program. Regarding research, she is a research associate for the Political Prisoner Initiative: Belarus, Democratic Futures Project; a member of the Nis'to Collaborative here at UVA where she works with the Dakota people of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Reservation; and she conducts research with Professor Rupa Valdez on improving access to healthy diets in Appalachia, where her family is from. She also works with the UVA Center for Global Health Equity – an awesome organization right outside of Grounds!

Stella's favorite class has been LPPS 3330: Education and Conflict with Professor Naseemah Mohamed. Stella says, "It completely reframed my view on education, showing how it's often been a tool for conflict, especially at UVA." Stella also enjoyed KLPA 1070: Engaging Nature for Health and Wellbeing, where she received credit for hiking with friends for three hours a week!

Her favorite spot on Grounds is Student Health and Wellness; Stella says, "I am always there for meetings or studying, and its open-concept study areas help me feel so much more grounded while doing work."

Her all-time favorite book is "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous," by Ocean Vuong, but "Everything I Know About Love" by Dolly Alderton was a recent favorite. As a fun fact, Stella is most proud of raising her puppy, Piper, during her junior year! Piper was a constant companion at every social event (and sometimes even class).