“I decided to pursue graduate school because my work in education felt reactive, not proactive,” said Natasha Moodie. The Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development will soon welcome Moodie as an Applied Community and Economic Development Fellow in sociology.
Moodie earned a B.S. in movement science from the University of Michigan. Reflecting on her experiences of the U.S. education system led Moodie to AmeriCorps service. First, she was a high school graduation coach with the Hillsborough Education Foundation in Tampa, Florida. Moodie then joined Teach For America to teach high school science in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. After her AmeriCorps terms, she taught in Florida as well.
During these years teaching and working in schools, Moodie observed that her students’ challenges often came from structural, systemic issues outside of the classroom. She is pursuing a master’s degree in sociology to gain a deeper understanding of these inequities and how they can be addressed.
“I chose the Stevenson Center because of the explicit focus on community and economic development, the multidisciplinary approach, the opportunity to complete a thesis, and last, the year of fieldwork. No other program that I considered offered this well-rounded approach to completing a degree in sociology.”
Moodie is a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and old Star Trek series, and she’s always on the lookout for good gluten-free, dairy-free, pescatarian dining options. She enjoys swimming and traveling when she can.
Through its applied, interdisciplinary graduate programs, the Stevenson Center cultivates leaders in public service. The center welcomes those who have at least one year of full-time experience in community development or social services, whether through employment or programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps. The Stevenson Center also manages the Peace Corps Prep program for undergraduate students interested in Peace Corps service or careers in the public sector.
Shaylin Quaid is the Stevenson Center’s public relations intern.
