Andie Marcelo

Andie Marcelo has always had a passion for anything related to culture, particularly history and literature. So much so that a visit to a museum marked a watershed moment for her, inspiring her to dedicate her study and career to the humanities.

Visiting The Museum of Innocence in Istanbul, an Orhan Pamuk designed exhibition based on his novel of the same name, she was on her way out of the museum when a copy of the author’s “Modest Manifesto for Museums” caught her eye. Pamuk points out in the work that many modern museums focus on history and culture at a national level and miss the human stories, which he regards as richer and more important.

This struck a chord with Andie, who decided there and then that she wanted to pursue a career in the art world, promoting smaller-scale museums that “touch the soul of an individual” and connect each visitor to the story they’re telling.

The ideal solution for pursuing a career in arts and culture came when Andie discovered the Bachelor in Humanities at IE University. She saw the program as “the perfect blend of both traditional and modern humanities subjects,” which would deepen her understanding of history, linguistics, architecture and more, all through the lens of a digitalized, tech-first world. For Andie, having the tools to grasp the past and present of culture, and bring that comprehension to the modern world, allows her to adapt to today’s fast pace of change.

Although she hasn’t studied politics formally, a keen eye on the news and open discussion of contemporary topics with her family and peers have always been part of her life, and have shaped her understanding of the world. Seeing injustice in her youth, especially in her own country, she resolved to do something about it.

So Andie was already an activist before she came to IE University. She volunteered for various NGOs in Manila and Amnesty International while she was in Norway, raising awareness of global social issues. Now, her studies inform and expand her understanding of what she calls “the agents of society,” and of the wider world.

She cites courses like Foundations of Social Theory, Logic and Algorithmic Thinking, and Arts and Politics as having helped her think critically not just about the humanities, but about politics and the art of locating and solving problems “hidden to the uncritical eye.” Some of her courses—including Arts and Politics—are part of the multidisciplinary IE Impact program that runs transversal to our degrees, developing tomorrow’s leaders of positive change.

The humanities have always been highly valued at IE University and infused in every program. Andie has taken full advantage of the creative and arty activities and clubs that have proliferated throughout the IE Community. She spends a lot of time at the IE Creativity Center in our historic Segovia location, where there’s always something going on: “It has a different art exhibition every week and houses my favorite clubs, such as the Creative Writing and Film Clubs, where I get to meet people from other degrees with similar passions and interests as me. Aside from that, it’s placed in the middle of a beautiful park and is a great place for studying,” she tells us.

The extensive extracurricular opportunities at IE School of Humanities have provided some of her favorite activities. She highlights field trips to learn hands-on from world-renowned artistic institutions including the Museo Nacional del Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Guggenheim Bilbao museums. She’s also grabbed the chance to secure tickets to performing arts ranging from classical orchestras, through jazz to contemporary dance.

All these experiences and more have allowed her to discover new genres that she had always wanted to explore but never had the opportunity—so it’s little wonder she’s so thoroughly enjoying her program. Andie concludes with a piece of advice for anyone considering the Bachelor in Humanities: “If you love reading (a lot of reading!), writing and talking about what you’re passionate about, then this is the perfect degree for you.”