Avery Sirwatka, Class of 2021

Avery Sirwatka.

Graduation Date

May 2021

Majors

Urban and Public Policy; Sociology

Minors

Environmental Design; Public Health

Hometown

Jamestown, NY

Experiential Learning Activities

Research assistant, Food Systems Planning and Healthy Communities Lab; Community for Excellence in Global Health Equity; Study abroad at Queen’s University, Belfast

Campus Involvement

Student Committee for Inclusive Excellence; SPARK program; Champions for Change

Why did you choose Social Sciences Interdisciplinary?

I chose IDP because it allowed me to personalize my university education. Oftentimes, students feel that their education is placed in a ‘box’ … it doesn’t have to be that way! For me, IDP was the best way to pursue my interests in policy development, sociology/social change, and the relationships between people and places while developing a strong background in research theory/methodology and experiential learning.

What has been your favorite class to date?

My favorite class has been Urban Schools and Communities with Dr. Shelley Kimelberg. The class always pushed students intellectually while allowing us to pursue our own interests in assignments. It was also a seminar, which facilitated peer-to-peer discussion and co-learning.

What advice would you give to an incoming UB student?

There is no limit to your success at UB. Keep pushing yourself, finding opportunities, meeting new faculty and staff, and striving more.

What accomplishment are you most proud of so far during your time at UB?

I recently traveled to Kerala, India with Dr. Samina Raja through a grant I submitted to the Community of Excellence in Global Health Equity in order to research smallholder farmer resiliency in the face of climate change. I also applied for and received a grant from the Honors College Research and Creativity Fund to research how Burmese refugees utilize autonomy and relationship building to adapt to new academic institutional environments.

What are you hoping to do in the future?

I plan on pursuing a dual masters in urban planning and public health (MUP/MPH) and later, a PhD, with the hope of being a university professor and continuing to conduct research.

What is one fun fact about you?

I’m a twin!

Meet More Students

  • “When I started at UB, I wasn’t sure what population I wanted to work with or even what type of social work I was interested in. Throughout my time in undergrad, volunteering, and interning with different organizations, I was able to find my passion.”
    7/11/25

    Brendan Quigley

    MSW ‘26

  • Kimberly Kadziolka, Class of 1998
    10/8/20
    My first major was English and Writing, thinking I wanted to go into advertising. Then, I got a job working in a group home, and discovered human services. I really enjoyed the work and when I learned I could have a career helping people reach their potential, I was sold. I switched my major and never looked back. What kept me engaged was knowing I could immediately apply what I learned in class, often the next day or week. Another draw is the range of work that this major reaches. While I started with direct care work, I was able to move up into management positions and still apply the lessons I learned at UB. My career started with individuals with disabilities, however, I was also prepared to work with children, older adults, and people with mental health challenges throughout my career thanks to my education.
  • Stephanie Simeon, Class of 2003
    10/8/20
    I had attended John Jay High School back home which was a specialized high school focused on law. Most go from there and pursue a career in law or law enforcement. I was determined to go from John Jay to the Legal Studies program then straight into law school. Although I made a different choice by going into Urban Planning, I still use the skills learned from the Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Program, specifically all the statistics, demographics, logic/game theory (not sure if they still require those classes anymore).
  • Natalie Doller, Class of 2022
    10/8/20
    I chose to minor in Nonprofit Leadership because I knew I wanted to work in a sector that prioritized making the world a better place over profit margins. What I enjoyed most about it was seeing all the unique ways nonprofits can exist and operate in our world. There is no one size fits all business model for these organizations and it’s cool to see how different organizations take creative approaches to struggles in different communities.
  • Matthania Volmy, Class of 2019
    10/8/20
    I chose to major in Health and Human Services because this field of study’s goal was to inform as well as provide me with the knowledge that I needed which would be beneficial to not only my day-to-day experiences, but to my professional experiences as well. I have gained a holistic perspective from each of these courses which gave me a better understanding of the world around me.
  • Daniel Emblidge III, Class of 2022
    10/8/20
    I was first attracted to IDP because of its interdisciplinary nature. I believe that today’s world is moving towards this direction because problems and events are far too complex to only assess them through a narrow lens. The IDP major allowed me to study not only African and Middle Eastern politics but also language, culture, economics, and history. This comprehensive curriculum made me a well-rounded student, leaving UB confident in the challenges that lie ahead.
  • Jessica (Billick) Mabie, Class of 2005
    4/13/21
    I knew at the time I wanted to pursue a career in Healthcare Administration, and the Health & Human Services program felt like the best fit to prepare me for the field. The program’s foundation in human services laid the groundwork for me to continue to build upon as I progressed into my Masters program and ultimately into leadership roles in not-for-profit healthcare.
  • Clara Cook, Class of 2021
    10/8/20
    I was interested in my psychology courses because I love understanding why we work the way we do, but I did not want to just understand, I wanted to take that understanding and make people’s lives easier, using what I learned. Cognitive Science called to me because it took every academic interest and showed me a real-life application, a means of not just studying people but making a difference in those people’s lives. I love solving problems, and I like to think of cognitive science as a field predicated on the idea that there is a way to make our world interactions better. We just have to figure out how.
  • Lilian Macancela, Class of 2020
    10/13/20
    My experience in IDP has been the highlight of my college career. Each semester, I look forward to the plethora of classes I can take and am excited to learn about different academic disciplines. I really enjoyed being able to combine my interests within IDP: political science, sociology, and law.
  • Brittany Mitchell, Class of 2013
    1/29/20
    I chose to major in Health and Human Services because it went along really well with a Psychology major, and the two programs complemented each other in a great way. I was able to take a more diverse array of classes that resulted in me attaining a more well-rounded education.
  • Connor Carrow, Class of 2022
    10/24/19
    What attracted me to the IDP Cognitive Science concentration was an interest in mind and consciousness, and a disenchantment with how other disciplines go about studying those things.
  • Avery Sirwatka, Class of 2021
    9/19/19
    I chose IDP because it allowed me to personalize my university education. Oftentimes, students feel that their education is placed in a ‘box’ … it doesn’t have to be that way! For me, IDP was the best way to pursue my interests in policy development, sociology/social change, and the relationships between people and places while developing a strong background in research theory/methodology and experiential learning.
  • Zoe Albertinie, Class of 2021
    9/19/19
    What attracted me to the IDP program was the ability to study education … With the IDP program I was able to have a concentration in Early Childhood Studies which then allowed me to take classes focused on my interests.
  • Hope Carroll, Class of 2020
    11/25/19
    I chose IDP because for as long as I can remember, I knew that no matter what I ended up doing as a career or throughout life in general, I wanted to help people. I have always had a passion for making people feel heard, advocacy and offering support when needed; this major seems to encapsulate all of that and much more.
  • Anna Blatto, Class of 2018
    9/19/19
    I was able to take classes in a variety of departments and apply them effectively to my area of study. I think this allowed me a greater understanding of my field through the perspectives of various disciplines.
  • Clarissa Cardarelli
    9/16/19
    I’m from Orchard Park, New York, and I am studying French, linguistics and international studies with a regional focus in Africa.
  • Shontay Barnes
    9/16/19
    Originally from Buffalo, New York, I am pursuing a double major in Health and Human Services/Community Mental Health and Psychology.
  • Cherrelle Collins
    9/16/19
    For me, this major encompassed everything I am. After pursuing nursing, and realizing that clinical work was not “for me,” I started to hone in on my leadership skills and ability to direct, inspire and HELP.