Gea Brensinger Norvell
Name: Gea Brensinger Norvell
Degree: B.A. in Comparative Religion
Expected to graduate in: Winter 2026
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Why did you decide to take international studies courses during the summer?
I saw the summer as an opportunity to take a single class which allows me more time to spend on the material than I normally would during the fall, when I’m taking multiple courses.
What courses are you taking and how do they relate to your personal/academic goals and aspirations?
I’m taking JSIS 201: The Making of the 21st Century. As a personal goal, I’ve wanted to learn more about international political history so I can widen my perspective of current politics and learn some new tools to filter through the avalanche of political opinions that fill my inbox and newsfeeds.
What inspired you to pursue a degree in international studies?
When I originally applied to UW, I had my heart set on the architectural design program. I am fascinated with architectural history and how the end results are influenced by technology, politics, culture, and the ideas of the time. Through those courses I took notice that architecture that survives through millennia regardless of geographic location and culture tended to be places of worship. I was curious as to why humans are driven to build, maintain, and revere these particular buildings to this extent; the comparative religion program in the Jackson School allows me to investigate these and other related topics.
