Hey there!

Hi everyone! My name is Gabriel Ancil. I came to IU as a freshman in 2013.  I had already found my passion in Psychology before coming to campus, but I knew I wanted to explore additional areas.  Within the first week of my first International Studies course, I was hooked.  Culture, human rights, gender, multiple perspectives—it was all right there. I quickly paired International Studies with Sociology and changed psychology to a minor. I loved my classes and found myself encompassed in this whole new world where I finally had the appropriate channels to explore my interests.  Where I come from, people don’t travel.  Some of my wealthy peers used to go on nice vacations, but nobody really “travelled.”  The world wasn’t this place you could explore; it was this out of reach idea.  My time here at IU opened that door for me. I call it my Narnia.  Suddenly the world was accessible.  I loved my work in International Studies so much that I decided to do a five-year program to get my Master’s.  I graduated in May 2018 with a BA in International Studies, a BA in Sociology, a minor in Psychology, and my MA in International Studies.

            I am a first generation college student from Marion, Indiana (about 2.5 hours from Btown).  Growing up, my family really struggled financially.  We experienced some very difficult times.  It felt isolating, like we were the only ones going through it.  Bad things were happening but nobody talked about it because poverty felt shameful.  My time at IU has taught me differently and I now try to take an empowerment approach in everything that I do.  Give everyone a voice and refrain from silencing.  Every experience is valid.  This has truly influenced my commitment to global learning.  Similar issues exist all over the world—locally, nationally, globally.  How can we make these connections to understand what other people are experiencing?  Global learning requires a sense of empathic thinking to truly understand the humanity of the global experience.  This is a critical step in my approach.  My interests are focused on gendered violence and marginalized populations, with a focus on domestic violence, indigenous rights, and international human rights law.  My strongest research interest revolves around Canada’s contemporary Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis.    

          On a more personal note-- I am obsessed with my 4.5 yr old Alaskan Malamute mix, Moose. My fiancé and I adopted him three years ago and he is THE BEST! I spend most of my free time hanging out with him and telling him he's a good boy. 

          I spent summer 2016 in Ghana (short study abroad) and Morocco (volunteering). An incredible experience! 

          I have volunteered at Middle Way House on the crisis line for the last two years. Activism has always been a huge part of my life and I am always looking for new ways to get involved / ways to explore issues from those who experience them firsthand!

          Super excited to be a part of this amazing team! Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!