“As an independent student who is returning to school at 25 years old, I finally feel as though I am back on track in my life and have a chance at pushing all the way through to obtaining a graduate degree, something no one in my family has ever done.”
Tierney Nash
The Rockefeller College Diversity in Public Service Scholarship
Why did you choose to attend classes at UAlbany?
I was interested in the school's connection to internships associated with the New York State legislature.
What is the one thing you love best about UAlbany?
I have had great experiences with all of my professors at UAlbany but I have had particularly good relationships with Zsofia Barta, Steve Hogan, and Giza Lopes, who have all had significant roles in meeting with me, pushing me to work even harder and guiding me to discover the topics I feel particularly passionate about.
What does this scholarship mean to you? How will it help you achieve your degree/dreams?
This scholarship has helped me remain enrolled during the pandemic and begin the BA/MIA program this semester. As an independent student who is returning to school at 25 years old, I finally feel as though I am back on track in my life and have a chance at pushing all the way through to obtaining a graduate degree, something no one in my family has ever done.
What are your plans after graduating from UAlbany?
After completing my Bachelor's degree in political science I hope to go on to graduate school and obtain a combined JD/MIA degree which I can then use to pursue a career in international law and policy formulation at a nongovernmental organization such as the World Bank or the United Nations.
Please share one thing about yourself that you want your scholarship donor to know about you.
Neither of my parents were able to obtain a Bachelor's degree despite both being enrolled in courses at some point or another. I am from the Midwest, where many of my relatives are involved in emergency response, lumber, agriculture, or other blue-collar jobs, while others have started small businesses. Growing up, I always looked up to my aunt, who was an accountant. She served as a source of inspiration through difficult mathematics courses and the more general dream of graduating college.