Junior Allison Shook is a girl invested in her education at UCA and the future of the world. Shook has loved nature and the environment since she was a little girl growing up in Rogers, Arkansas. She has also been interested in the structure of society since high school. 

Shook is a student in the Schedler’s Honors College and vice president of Alpha Kappa Delta honor society of sociology chapter at UCA. She also works as the secretary and handles media work for the sociology club. Shook joined both clubs after Douglas George, associate professor of sociology, encouraged her to join. 

“The people in the club are great, and we did a really cool research project on tactics of voter suppression that we presented at a conference spring semester of 2021,” Shook said. 

Shook is a sociology major with a geography minor. Both subjects are ones she is passionate about.

“As soon as I took my first sociology and geography classes, I knew that these were both topics I wanted to pursue,” Shook said.

Fascinated by how both subjects work, Shook said, “My areas of interest really lie in human interaction as well as our interactions with the physical land because they’re both shaping each other whether we realize it or not.” 

Being a part of the honors college has also shaped Shook in ways she didn’t expect. Shook said being in the honors college has been a great experience. It has allowed her to make great friends as well as connections with professors. 

“I really don’t think I would have enjoyed college the way I have if it weren’t for honors,” Shook said. 

The honors classes have been interactive and hands-on, which Shook believes makes her more engaged in school. “Overall, being in the honors college means I have to approach learning and issues in a certain way that is meaningful and progressive, and that’s been a very useful tool,” Shook said. 

Shook plans to use her education to help shape the future of the world and encourage the care that the Earth needs. After graduating, Shook plans on attending law school. “I’m considering environmental law, and I’ve been starting to prepare for the LSAT,” Shook said. 

With environmental law under her belt, Shook hopes to work for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the future. 

While environmental law is her main goal, Shook has other areas of interest that she’s prepared for if things don’t go as planned. 

“There’s also some backup grad school programs I have in mind that focus on urban ecology, coastal management and city planning,” Shook said. 

Shook’s love for sociology and geography fuels her passions in life. She credits her professors for her love of these subjects. 

“Both departments have some great professors that engaged me right off the bat,” Shook said.