A Desire to Transform Lives
Tunisia Riley
Master’s Student
Women’s Studies
Tunisia Riley has a heart that is moved by people who suffer and fervor for justice and social change. That zeal compelled her to leave her communications position at Science magazine in Washington D.C. to follow her passion: a career where she could make a difference in the lives of people who may lack the social or economic resources to succeed in life.
To reach her goal, she decided to pursue a graduate degree in women’s studies at USF. An English and women’s studies major who graduated from William and Mary College in 2000, Riley says taking her first undergraduate class in women’s studies occurred “by happenstance,” yet triggered an inherent connection. An interdisciplinary academic field of study that traditionally focuses on women, feminism, gender and politics, from Riley’s perspective, women’s studies is both political and personal.
“Women’s studies increases the understanding that sexism, racism and all types of oppression are linked and paves the way for breaking down barriers and hierarchies to initiate social change,” she says.
Effecting change is something Riley is already working towards as a member of a multidisciplinary research team focused on improving long-term health in communities. The team is investigating how women receive and exchange knowledge about health issues, specifically cardiovascular health, and how that process can contribute to better health practices. Riley has been assisting with development of a survey instrument for the study, in addition to analysis of the survey data. Drawing on her undergraduate and graduate work in women’s studies, Riley provides the team with insight into why there are health disparities between women of color and the rest of society.
In return, through this unique research opportunity, she is learning how to effectively interact with a multidisciplinary team. “Learning how to talk to each other in a language we all understand takes time,” she says. “I’ve learned to be flexible, more broad-minded and to listen” — all skills she believes will be invaluable to her future goal of transforming lives.
-- Mary Beth Erskine, University Communications & Marketing