“Throughout my time in the Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS), I had the unique experience of combining the global knowledge of my PICS courses with the creative skills I was learning in my other major, Film, Television, and Media. 

These qualifications culminated rather marvelously when I was offered a position on the production team of the Lenovo: New Realities VR Series, a project of the United Nations' Girl Up Campaign and Ava Duvernay's ARRAY. New Realities is a virtual reality series about ten young women around the globe who are using technology to address today's pressing issues. Women Wolverines were well represented on this project, as the subject of our episode was Kemi Dauda (a U-M senior) and was directed by Erikka Barazza (U-M alum). 

I left this project having gained valuable mentors, technical expertise, and cherished memories and it's thanks to my International Studies major that I could break into this remarkable space!"

Lauren Guido

BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation); BA Film, Television, and Media ‘20

Hometown: Novi, MI

Affiliations: WOLV-TV (I started off as a crew member all the way back as a freshman and now I"m the General Manager of the organization!), Michigan Active Citizens Alternative Spring Break (Native American Social Justice and Immigrant Rights), Detroit Partnership, Lloyd Hall Scholars Program, and working on MANY film productions notably the Lenovo New Realities VR Series (2020), Inhuman (2019), and Weiner Police (2019)

Future plans: “I am currently working as a Producer for a TV show with the Michigan Learning Channel; a statewide public television partnership offering instructional content to support the education of students and to provide alternative resources for families and teachers. I am building my career upon the foundational belief that media's accessible nature allows it to impart meaningful impact and positive social change.”

Fondest memory of her experience in PICS: “This is such a nerdy answer, but the "glow" I would get while reading through all the class offerings during registration. I would always find it so difficult to narrow down what classes I would take since there were so many compelling course offerings. It felt like such a privilege to be spending four months learning and thinking deeply about topics I was genuinely passionate about. Fortunately, I can still look at course syllabi after I graduate so I may continue my learning!”

Is there anything you would like to express to your peers, parents, professors, or others?: “I want to offer everyone... peers, parents, professors, and everyone working behind the scenes... my hugest expression of gratitude! Thank you so much for being a part in helping me gain the precious knowledge I've obtained while in this Program. It truly takes a village and I'm only seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the work that is done to create the learning environment I was so fortunate to inhabit.”