Hey all! My name is Austin Mueller and I am originally from
Long Valley, New Jersey, though I now live in Vienna, West Virginia. I’m a
senior here at UNC and have a double major in American History and Economics and
a minor in Hispanic Studies. I enjoy hiking, reading creative non-fiction, and
listening to a variety of genres of podcasts. Additionally, I’ll be continuing
to live in the area for the year following graduation, as I’ve accepted a
position to work with the university’s administration.
From
playing in the marching and pep bands to being a teaching assistant for a
Women’s Studies course, I’ve had a plethora of opportunities to get involved in
different activities with the university. In addition to the two aforementioned
opportunities, I’ve also helped to lead Carolina United as a counselor, served
as a Mediator on the Executive Board of our campus’s chapter of Phi Sigma Pi
National Honor Fraternity, and I’ve been involved with Carolina For The Kids as
a Morale and Recruitment committee member over these past four years and as a
sub-chair for the committee this past year. Service-wise, most have my work has
been through the Carolina For The Kids Foundation, which raises money to
support the UNC Children’s Hospital and holds a 24-hour long Dance Marathon in
the spring. I also do service work with Phi Sigma Pi, which has included
working with Special Olympics, hosting a Battle of the Bands to raise money for
local nonprofits, and learning more about our local community and how to better
serve its needs with the Jackson Center.
I took this
course, because I’m interested in the intersection of philanthropy and social
justice. Through learning about the various inequalities inequities facing our
nation from my history and women’s studies courses, as well as my experience
with Carolina United, I’m interested in supporting radical solutions to
addressing poverty, sexism, heterosexism, racism, income inequality, etc. This
course has been wonderful in outlining ways to effect social change and in
breaking the stereotypes surrounding what constitutes “philanthropy.” In the
course, I’ve been a part of the writing committee, and thus helped to write our
mission statement as well as our RFP.
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