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Grad Student Spotlight: Karlie Tessmer
Welcome to the Graduate Student Spotlight, where we highlight the remarkable journeys of our graduate students. Today, we would like to introduce you to Karlie Tessmer!
Karlie obtained a joint Bachelor’s degree (Honours with Distinction) in Sociology and Anthropology in 2020 from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Simon Fraser University. Additionally, she was the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Graduating Student Award in Sociology/Anthropology (Honours).
How did you decide to pursue a Master’s degree in Sociology? What interested you most about it?
I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Sociology when the pandemic began. I had always been interested in families and their struggles; however, when the pandemic started, I was particularly interested in understanding how families were coping with work-from-home and school-from-home as the pandemic went on.
I was most interested in looking at families from a sociological perspective because it offers broad lens into the systemic factors that contribute to family life.
"It was not just a few families that were struggling during the pandemic, it was most families, and it stems well beyond the pandemic."
What is your research about? How you defined your research subject and questions for the thesis?
Although my research has changed considerably since I first applied to grad school, the premise of family struggles and systemic barriers contributing (and often exacerbating) those struggles has remained the same. My current research explores social housing and its role in the lives of women and children fleeing violence. While I initially hoped to argue for more social housing, what I am finding is that state intervention could be doing more harm than good. Using a feminist sociological perspective, I am parsing out what this looks like and how we (as a society) might do better for these families in the future.
What are your plans after completing the master’s program?
After completing the master’s program, I hope to work as a community program coordinator, with a speciality in housing. I would like my future work to contribute to community building and offering better housing for families, particularly at-risk and vulnerable families.
What advice would you give to current/future master students?
My advice for current MA students is to chip away at it little by little. Getting something done each day might not feel like a lot but it all eventually adds up to a completed project.
My advice to future MA students is to network with your prospective department’s faculty. Each professor has their own unique perspective, and they are a treasure-trove of knowledge. Those connections can truly help you as you fumble through your research projects!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
- Email: ktessmer@sfu.ca
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlie-tessmer-a9451788/