Molly Graiff

Transfer student and Early Childhood and Childhood Education major Molly Graiff ’28 was involved in research and service learning as a community college student. She’s excited to continue to be involved in both at Russell Sage College. 

Graiff recently spoke with Professor of Spanish and Honors Program Director Kate Kagan about transitioning to Sage, connecting service learning with research, and her “Be. Know. Do.” approach to getting involved on campus.

You transferred to Russell Sage and are now in your first year here. What brought you to Sage, and how has your experience been as you settle into a new academic community?

I’ve known since graduating high school that Russell Sage was the place for me. The close-knit community and incredible education program immediately caught my attention. As a transfer student, I was looking for a place to expand my service learning and fell in love with the opportunities at Sage. Although this is my first semester here, I feel right at home. The opportunity to be involved in local school districts and challenged by my coursework has allowed me to build confidence in my future teaching. 

You are already preparing to participate in two conferences: New York State Association for Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT) and the New York Six Undergraduate Research Conference. What inspired you to get involved in these opportunities so early in your time here?

Presenting research is not new to me, and in fact, was a highlight of my time at the Honors College at Hudson Valley Community College. I knew I wanted to present on a fresh topic related to the volunteer work I engaged in with Professor Ali Shaeffing this summer at the Albany International Academy for the Family Writing Project. When I learned about the upcoming conferences, I jumped at a chance to share my experiences working with English language learners (ELLs). As I navigate my education courses, I’m seeing the value of being a culturally responsive educator and this research allows me to dive deeper into understanding best practices. 

What topics or questions in education interest you most? How do you hope participating in these conferences will help you explore those interests?

As a future educator, I believe in supporting the whole student. Many of my research projects have centered around students of low socioeconomic status, especially those experiencing food insecurity. This year, I’m looking to expand this topic into students from various language backgrounds as I grow my love for literacy. I believe that when students don’t have access to food, they don’t have access to a full education. Therefore, I am particularly interested in learning how to best support students facing basic need barriers. I’m looking forward to hearing about the support for ELLs within schools across the state at the upcoming conference.

What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming conferences? What do you hope to learn from sharing ideas and meeting other students and educators?

I am excited to meet other presenters and community members at the upcoming conferences. At Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC) conferences in the past, I have found purpose in hearing new perspectives on my research and understanding a range of concepts from presenters. I always enjoy meeting community members working within the spaces I’m researching. I am particularly interested in connecting with a variety of educators at the NYSAFLT conference.

As a transfer student, how have you approached finding opportunities to get involved academically and connect with the Sage community? Has anything surprised you about the opportunities available to you?

I am always eager to get involved on campus. After attending the club fair, I found many activities that piqued my interest. In particular, the Kappa Delta Pi honor society and Future Educators Club have allowed me to find fellowship with others sharing similar passions. I was excited to see how present these clubs are within the community and have already attended multiple outreach events for local school districts. 

What advice would you give to other transfer students or students who are new to undergraduate research and might be hesitant to get involved? What would you encourage them to try during their first semester?

My advice to other transfer students looking to get involved in the community would be to simply “Be. Know. Do.” Find a topic that interests who you are. Dig to find out more about the topic and how it affects your community. Then, take action and do something to strengthen the community. There’s almost certainly a department, club, or faculty member who can lend a helping hand in navigating how to spread your impact. Take the time to learn about your community and find a way to add more sunshine!