Name: Zack Thayer
Degree: B.A. in Comparative Religion and Spanish
Expected to graduate in: Spring 2026
Hometown: Snohomish, WA
Why did you decide to take international studies courses during the summer?
In order to graduate by next spring I needed to take 15 credits this summer as well as participate in an early fall study abroad program. The Jackson School courses available this summer seemed like a great fit.
What courses are you taking and how do they relate to your personal/academic goals and aspirations?
In the Jackson School of International Studies, I’m currently enrolled in JSIS 201: The Making of the 20th Century and JSIS A 360: Contemporary Spain. In my Spanish class, I’ve been learning about power struggles, social reforms, and modernization in 1930s Spain that led to their civil war. In my other international studies class, we’ve been studying the Cold War, specifically focusing on the factors that made Asia a region of active conflict, in contrast to the stalemate in Europe. In what ways does understanding the history surrounding WWII relate to my personal/academic goals? I think that becoming historically literate will help me not only refine my post-graduate studies, but also to have a broader, more nuanced understanding of human nature over time.
What inspired you to pursue a degree in international studies?
I was drawn specifically to the Comparative Religion major because I wanted to learn about how humankind has responded to — and explained — the phenomenological world and human consciousness. Studying world religions has been deeply captivating, situated at the center of the Venn diagram connecting philosophy, art-history, literature, psychology, and even music.
Would you recommend a summer at the Jackson School to your peers?
Absolutely. The professors have seamlessly adapted their curriculums to a virtual format that is pretty intuitive to follow.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
While certainly rigorous, I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to double major at UW and to glean from so many experts in their respective fields.
