During her senior year of high school, Taryn Duncan traveled to Durham from her hometown of Windsor, Conn., with her parents to audition for the music education program at UNH. She vividly remembers the walk from the Paul Creative Arts Center to Holloway Commons, believing this vast, beautiful stretch of campus was the entire length of campus. Little did she know that the rest of campus, with its numerous opportunities, would reveal itself to her as she embarked upon her journey to becoming a Wildcat. As a current UNH senior, Taryn looks back and realizes that swath of campus was a fraction of what UNH had to offer – and she was amazed at the future opportunities the institution would bring her. Upon leaving Durham that day to begin the drive back to Connecticut, Taryn had the realization that she now had two homes and one of them was at UNH.
Taryn’s journey began before she had even started taking classes as a first-year student. Taryn was an integral member of the CONNECT program at UNH, a program whose goal is to support underrepresented students as they complete their undergraduate degree through providing academic assistance, social programming, and collaborations with key UNH resources. This pre- arrival program allowed Taryn the opportunity to build relationships with faculty, staff, and students who would ultimately become some of the most influential people in her life. Taryn leaves a legacy in the CONNECT program as a participant and a leader. Through this leadership experience, Taryn will continue to leave a legacy of inclusion, dedication, and best practices for marginalized students.
During her first year, Taryn was a participant in the Martin Luther King Jr. Summit, now known as the Audre Lorde Summit. This experience led Taryn to further develop her passion for social justice, along with inclusion and equity. By participating in this summit, Taryn was able to develop her own perceptions about listening and engaging. Taryn described how the summit changed the way she became a listener. She stated that prior to the summit, when engaging with someone, she may not have always been fully listening to learn. The MLK Summit taught her to be vulnerable and open to new ideas. She emphasized that “when you listen, you can learn so much more than talking.”
As a Women and Gender Studies major, Taryn has led many initiatives regarding social justice. Her focus on social liberation and intersectionality has allowed Taryn to take advantage of opportunities such as becoming a Treat Fellow, a teacher’s assistant in the Women and Gender Studies department for Joelle Ryan, and a social advocate of the Black Student Union. Early on, Taryn identified the Beauregard Center, formerly known as the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, as a safe place she could turn to after leaving spaces on campus where no one shared her same experiences as a woman of color. Conversations occurring within the walls of the Beauregard Center surrounding fat liberation, race, class, gender equality, and more have helped Taryn further understand ways she can make a difference at her institution of learning. She has noted that the friendships and relationships she has created allow her to feel confident in how her generation will create change at UNH and in the world. Taryn feels as though her generation is on its way to creating a more equitable society.
Taryn shares that her biggest dream and goal would be to work in Human Resources. She sees a vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through an opportunity to work with a company, school, or business. With the ability to be a part of a marketing team, she believes that a role in Human Resources will allow her to recruit a diverse pool of employees. Additionally, she feels that her unique background as a Women and Gender Studies major will allow her to create a safe space for marginalized identities through her future role as a human resources specialist.
Taryn’s advice to new Wildcats? Anything you want to do you can do. If you are interested in something, put yourself out there. College happens in the blink of an eye and new Wildcats should always focus on doing the best they can and taking care of themselves, while still focusing on the high goals they have set for themselves. Taryn urges new students to find the balance between self-care, self-motivation, and self-determination. Learning that balance is important and that is how new students can soak in their college experience. College only happens once, so, instead of taking it for granted, take it in.
When asked to describe her experience as a UNH student, Taryn used the word blessed. “I am blessed to be a Wildcat. I have connections on campus that will last a lifetime.” Taryn will leave an impact on the UNH community – one of hope, curiosity, and open mindedness. Her journey at the University of New Hampshire was one of passion, particularly passion to make a difference. She hopes that the students that follow in her path will continue to make a change at the university. Her legacy of wanting UNH to improve will continue on even when Taryn has shifted the tassel on her cap.
