Hi! My name is Rey Lopez-Jensen, and I am so excited to intern with the AMST department this year! I am a senior American Studies major with an Art History correlate from Denver, Colorado. I was drawn to American Studies before my freshman year at Vassar had even begun; combing through the course catalog as a prospective student, I couldn’t believe these were real courses that I could take (and I have now taken several!). My concentrations within American Studies are Resistance and Storytelling. In other words, I examine how art is used in social contexts—to express the hardship of holding a marginalized identity, to sustain social movements, to ignite revolutions. I spent the spring of 2025 studying human rights and grassroots organizing in Nepal, Jordan, and Chile—three countries where American influence is abundantly clear. This summer, I returned to Nepal to intern with the National Network for Disabled Conflict Victims. Before joining the AMST Department, I worked as a tour guide at the Loeb and a StuFel in Joss. Outside of academics, I am an eclectic creative: I sing with VCC, crochet, write plays, perform in student theater/drag, and junk journal.

My office hours are Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the OLB Lounge. I would love to see you there!