Student Profiles : Social Thought and Political Economy : UMass Amherst

Student Profile

Sophia Montana

Class of 2028

What was your motivation to major in STPEC?

I started out in a major where the goal was simply to make a lot of money. However, it felt ignorant to learn about the world without acknowledging the underlying structures of oppression, who benefits and who is harmed. I was tired of being a cog in a seemingly never-ending chain of extortion. While politics and social justice were always important to me, I didn't think I could actually make a career out of them. When someone recommended STPEC, I realized it was exactly what had been missing from my academic experience at UMass. STPEC taught me to think freely, not only to imagine a different, non-extortionist world but to develop concrete action steps I can take myself.

Can you describe your working relationships with STPEC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

Within STPEC, my relationships with faculty have played a vital role in my academic growth and integration into the program. When I chose to transfer into STPEC,

professors and advisors took the time to meet with me individually and answer any questions I had. Besides advising, they have consistently supported me intellectually by encouraging exploration of various theoretical perspectives and helping me refine research questions. They are always willing to sit down and chat with me, even if I'm just stopping in to say hello.

What is the vibe of the STPEC department?

The vibe at STPEC is serious, yet relaxed and welcoming. Classes are challenging and discussion-based, where the diverse perspectives encouraged, and thoughtfully engaged with. Professors and students are open to debate, disagreement, and experimentation with ideas, making conversations lively rather than stiff. Overall, the culture combines critical inquiry with warmth, fostering an environment where I feel safe taking intellectual risks and voicing my own opinions.

What do you find most compelling about studying STPEC?

What I find most compelling about studying in STPEC is its ability to connect theory to the real structures that shape everyday life. The program treats political economy, social movements, race, gender, and state power not as abstract ideas but as interconnected systems that organize how we live and work. Its interdisciplinary framework allows me to examine institutions critically while understanding their historical and material foundations, strengthening both my analytical skills and my confidence. STPEC has made me feel that I can make a meaningful difference in the world, especially during challenging and uncertain times. By teaching me how systems function and how change occurs, the program has given me the belief that I am not simply observing the world but can actively contribute to changing it for the better.

Student Profile

Alden Cole-Vieira

Class of 2029

What was your motivation to major in STPEC?

STPEC is really a one-of-a-kind program. When I was applying to universities, programs like STPEC were few and far between, so having a program like STPEC at a public university near me was really a blessing. It's a tightly knit community where all students share a similar passion for solving the same issues, and all look at the world in a similar way, yet all come to the table with different perspectives that allow all to learn from each other.

What are your ambitions post STPEC and how has the inter-disciplinary approach helped to put you on this path?

I plan to go into law school after I complete my STPEC degree, ideally where I can use what STPEC has taught me and where I can give back to my community. STPEC's interdisciplinary nature has allowed me to refine my skills for critical reading, thinking, writing, and speaking, all of which I need for my career path.

Can you describe your working relationships with STPEC professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?

Shemon's classes have been excellent both semesters I have taken them. Allowing students to teach, learn from, and speak with each other has been great for the mutual development of all. I especially have enjoyed this semester's Core II class on revolutions, as it really covers the space between theory and practice.

What is the vibe of the STPEC department?

Everyone in STPEC is extremely friendly and welcoming. When I took my first tours at the University, I could tell that the program was small, but that its size was one of its biggest strengths. When you take multiple STPEC classes with the same peers, same professors, and attend events with much of the major, you almost never feel alone. You feel like you can walk up to any STPEC major and strike up a conversation like family.

What do you find most compelling about studying STPEC?

STPEC's interdisciplinary approach never allows you to think through just one lens. Always, in every reading, with every writing assignment, and through speaking in class, you use and engage with different perspectives you may not have previously considered. The many different ways we can look at the same phenomena is truly eye opening.

Student Profile

Brian Conlon

Class of 2028

Participating in STPEC completely changed the trajectory of my life. Courses in STPEC feel like peeking behind a curtain, discovering the realities of our world in a way traditional academics rarely explore. I find the tight relationship with professors and peers particularly unique. The classes feel personal in a way that challenges you to examine your own thinking. The seminar style classes have helped me improve my ability to articulate my thoughts in a manner that allows for lively class discussion. This is especially apparent in the Core classes. I’ve loved how both Core 1 and 2 have made me into a more well rounded student and thinker. Additionally, the curriculum allows for a number of ways to complete the requirements based on my own interests. I often find that my classes each semester overlap in a way that allows me to constantly update my understanding of the world and aid my performance in other classes. The STPEC internship experience, as well as the support that's come along with it has been valuable in learning how to navigate employment opportunities. STPEC is a unique environment; it establishes a moral framework that creates unorthodox paths for employment. However, STPEC is very equipped in helping its students navigate this. I owe a great deal of gratitude to STPEC for forming my outlook on the world and my development as a thinker, writer, and student.