University of ConnecticutStudent Profiles
Sally Tamarkin
Advanced Year Community Organization Student
Bachelor’s Degree:
BA in Urban Studies, Barnard College
I chose UConn because of the Community Organization concentration. From what I heard about the program and from the research I did via the school website about the CO faculty, it seemed like a good fit. I was interested in a program that would place a heavy emphasis on a variety of social justice issues in relation to social work practice. I also wanted my professors to have diverse real world activism and progressive social work experience, which I have found to be the case.
As a first year student I was trying to stay on top of my school work and learn as much as I could in two different field placements. In the beginning it was overwhelming. Like most students, I commute to West Hartford for classes and to the Hartford area for my placements. Keeping up with everything was a challenge. But as I found my footing in the classroom and started to understand my role at my field placements, everything fell into place. Not only was I able to get my work done and become a valuable member of the staff at my field placement, I was seeing connections between what I was learning in my foundation classes and what I was experiencing at my internships. Everything started to come together.
It was exhilarating to be a part of so many diverse communities. As the treasurer for the Student Organization I attended the monthly Steering Committee meetings and started to learn how student groups planned events and worked to build a school community. In the Community Organization (CO) concentration I met professors with varied intellectual interests and activism backgrounds. There were second year CO students who were working on a wide variety of social justice issues. It was fascinating to listen to them discuss their work and find out how I could get involved, too. At my field placement I was working with a small staff at True Colors and learning about the challenges of being one of the only organizations in the state that works with and provides safe and affirming services to LGBT youth. In the classroom I was hanging out with other first years. We were taking it all in, discussing our different interests, methods, and substantive areas.
This was the best part of my first year—being immersed in the world of social work and finding an outlet for my interests in social justice issues and activism both in the classroom and at my field placement.
I am currently the co-chair of the Student Organization and PRIDE, and serve as a Graduate Assistant to CO Professor Robert Fisher. I served as a Diversity Day facilitator and the co-chair of the Progressive Action Committee. I was also the Charlotte Kinlock Scholarship recipient in 2007. I am also very active in LGBT issues in the New Haven area.
My best advice to students is to take Research 332 over the summer and advocate for yourself and your classmates relentlessly, both in field and in the school. If something doesn’t seem right, ask questions and be prepared to work to make the change you want to see.