Abbi Anker '17

An interview with Abbi

What was your hometown when you came to TCNJ?

Sparta, NJ

Where do you currently call your hometown?

Westampton, NJ

When you were studying here, where did you picture yourself after graduation?

I always had dreams to be a special education teacher. My degree in sociology helped me feel even more prepared and ready.

What was your first job after graduating?

Special Education teacher

How do you use your Sociology degree in your current career and other activities?

I think my background in sociology helps me to be a strong and confident advocate for my students with disabilities and their families.

What is your favorite "major memory" from your time as a Sociology student?

I have really great memories of working with Dr. Borland and a team of students for an oral history project about Trenton Then & Now. I remember meeting really incredible elderly people in Trenton and interviewing them about their lived experiences. We paired with a photography class and they took headshots of the people we interviewed. The project came together in a gallery in downtown Trenton where their oral histories and photographs were displayed. Looking back on this project now, I feel really proud of what we accomplished as undergrad students! It was also a really great experience to do research with Dr. Borland and a small team of my peers who were passionate about the project. We had a lot of fun!

What is some advice you would give to your undergraduate self?

Take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way! You will make really great connections that will help you in the future!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

As a special education and sociology major, I felt strongly about my future career as a teacher. So when it was time to have a sociology internship, I was unsure of the necessity. However, interning at the Department of Health with Early Intervention Services was a really amazing opportunity that I still think about today. The perspective that it brought me was really valuable and also showed me what else I could do with my dual degrees.