In undergrad, I majored in Speech and Hearing Sciences to prepare myself for a career as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). I was passionate about advocating for patients, research, and diversifying the field, but I found I did not enjoy the clinical duties. I decided to take a break after graduation and served with the NC State College Advising Corps. I loved my time working to provide high school students with the tools to develop their college and post-graduation plans.
While with the corps, I recognized the policy issues that impact college access. I was able to make connections between my undergraduate studies and my advising position, and saw the same barriers to speech and hearing services were evident throughout education and college access. To understand these inequities, and learn how to construct meaningful solutions, I came to Sanford to study the intersection between education and social policy.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Carolyn Barnes’ Social Policy class. It gave me an in-depth understanding of the factors that impact poverty, education, and social welfare. I am also excited about my graduate assistantship with Sanford admissions where I will work on DEI initiatives. I am glad that I’m finding classes and opportunities that are shaping the type of policy practitioner I want to become.
I have really enjoyed the BIPOC community and support network amongst my Sanford cohort and the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGPSA). Particularly, I appreciate the spaces the Black women in my cohort at Sanford have created to support one another. We share resources, have organized hangouts, and encourage one another. I’m proud to be part of this group of emerging policy leaders.
If anything, I want to be an advocate post-graduation. My passion lies in making impactful and positive changes in the communities I serve. Whether I am a policy writer or an on-the-ground worker, I will prioritize connecting with the community I work for. – Aliaha Austin #HumansofDukeSanford #MPP