Student Spotlight: Ilca Duarte DRC’27
History major Ilca Duarte DRC’27 found much more than traditional classrooms at Douglass and Rutgers—she discovered the academic field of women’s, gender, and sexuality studies (WGSS), nurtured her love for history, and settled into the Douglass community where her wide-ranging interests in the humanities and social sciences took off. Throughout her Rutgers journey, Douglass’ career-building programs for students in the humanities and social sciences, combined with the academic excellence of the Rutgers History and WGSS Departments, showed Ilca how to turn her love of history into a real-world career.
“I have always been interested in studying history to understand the social inequalities faced by certain groups, particularly women of color. Even though I am passionate about history, I often feel incomplete knowing about social issues but not taking direct action,” said Ilca. “Being a Douglass student led me to discover the field of public policy. I discovered a career path that allows me to actively advocate for the marginalized groups I study in my history classes.”
Ilca has excelled in Douglass programs. As a member of La Casa, a house in Douglass’ Global Village Living-Learning Community, she studies the Latine diaspora in New Brunswick and across the globe. This past January, she traveled with the Public Leadership Education Network at Douglass to Washington, DC where she immersed herself in the study of women’s leadership.
“During my time in DC with the Public Leadership Education Network, I also had the incredible opportunity to network with powerful women
with similar backgrounds who have succeeded in their careers in the policy field, helping me realize that my dream career is truly possible.”
As a junior, Ilca continues to build an impressive resume that combines various aspects of the humanities and social sciences. Recently, Ilca completed a Douglass externship at the Morven Museum and Garden, a historic landmark and the site of New Jersey’s first governor’s mansion, which now functions as a cultural hub and museum. As part of the externship, she attended meetings, learned about nonprofit management, and researched educational programs for children that can be incorporated into the museum’s programming. This semester, she will continue her career journey with an internship at the Oral History Archive, a position she is well prepared for by her time spent in La Casa.
“By coincidence, the final project for La Casa at Global Village also involves oral history, in which I will interview and share the experiences of a Latina woman living in the United States,” Ilca said. “I have always been interested in different educational tools, and being able to interview and transcribe people’s stories gives me a sense of empowerment and a sense of advocacy for others.”
In addition to all she’s accomplished, Ilca is a non-traditional (23+), commuter, and first-generation college student. She is also the first person in her family to attend university abroad. Her passion for education drove her to choose Douglass and Rutgers.
“As the youngest of seven children raised by a single mother in Brazil, I never imagined I would become part of such a large university,” Ilca said. “At Douglass and within the History Department, I found a strong sense of community and received continuous support from my professors and peers.”
Ilca plans to attend graduate school with a focus on social justice and social welfare policy. After, she will begin working in public policy. Throughout it all, Ilca is always finding ways to give back and help others.
“My passion for studying and my growth as a person have inspired my friends outside of campus,” she said. “I have been helping friends who are also immigrants and who have been out of school for a while to navigate the process of returning to college. One is now attending Bergen Community College, and another is about to begin her master’s program at Montclair State University.”
Ilca’s intellectual curiosity, career exploration, leadership skills, and commitment to community embody the ideals of Douglass and Rutgers.
“By joining Douglass, we can find our community. Rutgers is a huge institution, and sometimes it can be hard to create connections,” she said. “At Douglass, we always find familiar faces. It’s a safe space where we can share our ideas and be ourselves. And with the BOLD Career Center at Douglass, we have the opportunity to explore and experience the workforce and career opportunities as undergraduate students, allowing us to put into practice, in real life, what we learn in the classroom.”