My name is Alyda Dickens, and I am a graduate student from Reno, Nevada. 

I completed my Bachelors of Arts in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a minor in Human Resource Management from the University of Nevada, Reno, in May of 2026. 

I am happy to say that this fall, I will be joining the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University to complete my Masters of Public Administration. 

As an undergraduate student, I have worn many hats and had the pleasure of learning and growing with the guidance and support of numerous professors, mentors, coworkers, and friends.

 I have a passion for higher education, including making it more accessible for all students, regardless of personal circumstances or backgrounds. I took my first step into adult education as a Lead Writing Tutor at the Truckee Meadows Community College Tutoring and Learning Center in 2022, and I have been eagerly guiding students of all levels through various writing and speaking assignments ever since!

In 2024, I had the opportunity to join Nevada Humanities, a local humanities nonprofit, as a student intern. What started as a semester-long internship developed into a long-term professional opportunity and a promotion to Program Assistant. At Nevada Humanities, I have had the pleasure of assisting program managers and administrators in planning and executing large-scale humanities events, such as the 2024 and 2025 Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl. In addition to my skills in event planning and execution, I have developed a strong skillset in data collection and analysis, as well as survey creation and distribution. 

 In 2025, I expanded my horizons and moved to the University Writing and Speaking Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. Here, I have pushed my skills further than ever before, deepening my passion for helping writers at the college level. 

Most recently, in 2026,  I began teaching English and Social Studies for Truckee Meadows Community College's Adult Basic Education program. I have been grateful for the challenging, yet rewarding work of developing and delivering ELA and Social Studies content to adult learners who are working towards completing their General Education Degree (GED) or High School Equivalency (HSE) in order to move on to bigger and better things in their lives. 

As my undergraduate career comes to a close, I am excited to be taking the next step towards achieving my personal and professional goals. I aspire to complete my Masters of Public Policy and Administration in order to enter the workforce as a competent team member who can effectively contribute to developing policy that will improve the lives of women, queer folks, and disabled people in American society. Following the completion of my MPA, I plan on pursuing a P.h.D. in Feminist Studies or Gender Studies, with the ultimate goal of one day teaching at the college level.