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Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Alumni Spotlight

 

Photo of Christie Martin

Christie Martin, BA '02 and MS '07, SOC

After graduating in May 2002, I started working in the Honors Program at Illinois State University, where I have held various positions and am currently the Associate Director.  
 
As part of my undergraduate major in Sociology, I completed an internship with the Honors Program during my senior year.  I am thankful that Sociology promotes experiential learning in such a broad context.  Being able to experience the Honors Program beyond my role as a student gave me a unique perspective and was integral to my path after graduation.  Earning a master's degree was essential to expanding the opportunities in my job, so I am also appreciative of the flexible nature of the master’s program, which allowed me to take classes part time while working full time.  
 
I entered Illinois State as an Undeclared student.  I had a great deal of interests and strengths, but focused too much as a student on the idea that a major has to lead directly to a specific job.  Once I became comfortable with career options being a little fuzzy, I could focus on my interests.  Sociology offers a broad range of interesting and important topics as well as potential options for life after graduation.  While I knew I wasn’t going to be a Sociologist, I started to see that my classes translated to skills and abilities that would be useful in the future.  
 
Upon reflecting on my time as a student, it’s much clearer how those skills I developed and strengthened through my coursework and thesis set the foundation for my career and are part of my work on a daily basis.  Critical thinking, statistical analysis, and research methodology (among many others) have impacted both my personal and professional growth and I know have contributed to the advancement of the Honors Program.  My experience with a quantitative thesis certainly gave me confidence to handle a great deal of data and information that often requires thoughtful consideration and long term attention. The breadth of my coursework has been valuable as I navigate interactions and various types of communication with a wide variety of people from both on and off campus.  Whether or not a major leads directly to a job, it’s necessary to be aware of the skills you have attained and look for the opportunities that match. 

Read past  Alumni Spotlights.