We are thrilled to share that GWSS major Rachel Gardner Willson has been selected as a 2025 Bonderman Fellow!
The Bonderman Travel Fellowship offers University of Washington students the rare opportunity to embark on solo journeys across the globe. Each year, fellows design their own itineraries to explore the world with no academic agenda—just the goal of personal transformation through meaningful travel. In 2025, the cohort will travel to over thirty countries across five continents, with each fellow independently visiting six to nine countries over an eight-month span.
Rachel, who is from Issaquah, Washington, has never traveled internationally before. As a student who wants to pursue a career in law, she is especially eager to witness life beyond the United States and reflect on how justice systems across the world navigate equity and human rights. Her itinerary will take her to countries deeply shaped by colonialism and revolution, offering a powerful lens through which to consider historical and contemporary questions of justice. In addition to her intellectual curiosity, Rachel is excited to immerse herself in unfamiliar natural environments and challenge herself to grow beyond her comfort zone.
The Department of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies congratulates Rachel on this well-deserved honor, and we look forward to following her journey!