Returning to college as an adult can be intimidating for some. Getting involved on campus and connecting with other students is tough.  

That wasn't the case for Luciana Wieckowski. 

Before moving to the U.S., Luciana taught English as a second language in Brazil. Now a psychology and women and gender studies double major, she immersed herself in UM-Dearborn’s campus community from day one. 

Luciana was selected to join the Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) program, where she serves as the assistant membership coordinator. She also serves as a Supplemental Instructor (SI) leader for the Behavioral Sciences Department. 

As a member of Honors Transfer Innovators, she was a leader of Gulo Gulo 2014, teaching students about gender roles in the media. It’s something she considers a defining moment of her time on campus. 

“I worked hard and, with help from instructors, intertwined the sociological concepts that I wanted to highlight with music and videos that the kids could relate to,” she said. “The kids were very engaged and asked insightful questions. It went wonderfully!”

It’s easy to see that Luciana pours her heart into everything she does.   

“Luciana is a brilliant, motivated student, an outstanding leader and passionate about making the world a better place,” said Suzanne Bergeron, director of women and gender studies.

Off campus, Luciana mentors at-risk teenage girls at Vista Maria. She also participated in a project to profile female leaders in Detroit and in growing a community garden at the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative.

After graduating from UM-Dearborn, Luciana plans to obtain a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in psychology and work as a clinician with women and children.

“I am particularly interested in patients battling addictions or eating disorders," she said. "I’m also very interested in studying and working with non-gender conforming teenagers and individuals undergoing gender reassignment.”