Zoe Albertinie, Class of 2021

Zoe Albertinie.

Graduation Date

May 2021

Major

Health and Human Services: Early Childhood Studies

Hometown

Bronx, New York City

Experiential Learning Activities

Internship with the Partnership for Afterschool Education, NYC

Campus Involvement

College of Arts and Sciences Ambassador; Resident Assistant; Job in the Graduate School of Education’s Dean’s Office

Why did you choose Social Sciences Interdisciplinary?

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.

What has been your favorite class to date?

My favorite class would have to be Introduction to Education taught by Amanda Seccia. Amanda challenged us to become critical thinkers through our weekly discussion boards and class discussions. As a class, we all felt comfortable speaking on topics and challenging great works through our article critiques. By the end of the semester, I became a better student and individual. I not only grew as a student but as a thinker.

What advice would you give to an incoming UB student?

My piece of advice for an incoming freshman would be that it’s ok if you’re undecided … As a freshman, it’s important to try things out and find out what really works for you. Discover your passions and what truly makes you happy. As the saying goes, “you can overcome failure and rejection, but there’s no cure for regret.” So just do it!

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

I have accomplished many things at UB, but my most recent is being able to attain a 3.938 GPA in my spring ’19 semester while juggling five courses in my concentration, as well as securing an internship and college ambassador position.

What is one fun fact about you?

I am secretly a hopeless romantic who loves reading romance novels and watching drama-filled movies.

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.