Alumni Spotlights Series: Tiffany Farr

Image

What influenced your decision to attend the GLS program?

I wanted a program that had the flexibility I was looking for. I knew that I had a lot of interests, and there were few, if any, master's degrees that rivaled the flexibility I found at GLS.

One of the features of GLS is the ability to craft your curriculum. Can you talk about the path you took with your courses while in the GLS program?

I believe I took more than the required GLS courses because I loved the GLS classes. Yet, I also ventured out and took many policy and law courses. After my time at GLS, I went to law school. I attribute my experience of being able to take varying courses to one of the reasons why I decided to go to law school.

Please tell us about your Master's Project. What did you do? What was that process like?

My Master's Project focused on the North Carolina public education system. I got to conduct firsthand interviews with teachers, principals, state leaders, and parents across the state. I also sent out a survey statewide. My favorite part was the interview process with the different folks in the state. However, my IRB process was very extensive because I had a designated county that I was shadowing for the school interviews. I also had to reach out to county leaders across the state to find one who would agree to the project.

What other opportunities were essential for you in your academic journey?

One of my favorite experiences while being in the GLS program was serving with the Graduate Professional Student Council and the Duke Emerging Leaders Institute.

What are 2-3 ways your GLS experience helped prepare you for your current career role and/or previous roles?

I believe taking some of the courses I did while at GLS prepared me for law school. In terms of jobs I have since taken, my Master's Project that required extensive research has helped me in my Coordinator roles since that time. I've worked for organizations where I have to manage complex projects that require heavy research asks.

What did you do next after finishing GLS/MALS (further education, career moves, etc.)? What are a few helpful takeaways from your first years out of GLS?

After GLS, I went directly to law school and it happened to be the start of the pandemic at that time. Considering my interesting journey going from one flexible program to a program that was very rigid but also during a pandemic, one take away that I'd give after GLS is to go with the flow of where life takes you. You never know what you'll discover about your interests and what path you want to go, after being in GLS. I can honestly say my expectations about what I wanted to do in life were different going into GLS and then upon leaving. Let life be a journey!

What are 2-3 pieces of advice you would offer to new GLS students?

1) Bond with your classmates outside of the classroom and be willing to take more GLS courses than required (during my time, I believe we had to take three, one being Kent's and then two more). 2) Utilize the GLS house as a workspace when you are completing your Master's Project and need a change in scenery. The quiet of the upstairs space is the best! 3) Be willing to be wrong and change your mind -- about people (classmates, professors, coworkers), classes (you never know which class will bring a connection you never expected, and Duke itself (I came from out of state for this program knowing no one at Duke).

PATHS TO SUCCESS: ALUMNI COURSE HIGHLIGHTS 

Discover how our alumni tailored their studies to align with their passions and professional aspirations, and see the wide range of subjects that contributed to their comprehensive liberal arts education.