40 Under 40: Anabel Lee Genevitz ’13

I am so grateful to identify mentors at every stage of my education and career experience, but one that particularly stands out is Alex Otieno, instructor of Sociology and International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Alex quickly recognized my love for sociology and passion for social justice and became a huge cheerleader and mentor for me. His influence got me directly involved with housing and homelessness. Alex was the first to say to me, “Anabel, you would make a great social worker.” There are few other sentences in my life that have made such an impact!

Study what makes you angry, and fix it. The most powerful motivator for me is the ability and strength to correct injustice.

I will remain wholeheartedly engaged in anti-poverty and social justice work in Philadelphia. I hope that I will have the opportunity to get involved in a number of transformative projects that address issues such as housing insecurity, access to health care, and women’s health—spearheaded by some of the amazing organizations for which I have worked. At some point, I’m hoping to teach at the university level in order to “pay it forward” to students like me. I would love to write a book about my experiences.