MSU Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) alumna Marnie Hackman is using her HDFS degree to make a difference in people’s lives and travel the world before her next chapter of graduate study.
“HDFS being such a broad major has provided me with the flexibility and freedom to explore diverse career paths, allowing me to pursue my passions and find my true calling,” Hackman said.
She graduated from MSU in spring 2021 with a major in human development and family studies and a minor in leadership of organizations.
“I am incredibly grateful for the practical knowledge and skills I gained from my HDFS courses, as they have proven to be extremely valuable in my personal and professional life beyond the classroom.”
One of her favorite stories to tell from her freshman year was when she was late for her first-ever college exam. She woke up at 10:17 a.m. and was supposed to be in HDFS 145: The Individual, Marriage and the Family at 10:20 a.m.
“Showing up 30 minutes late, in my pajamas, was not only embarrassing but I feared I wouldn’t be allowed to take the exam,” she remembered. “I made my way to the front of the classroom (again still in my pajamas) and asked Dr. Guinot If there was any chance I’d still be allowed to start the exam. She looked at me, smiled, and said, ‘Only if you promise to take a deep breath first.’ At that moment, I realized that I had chosen to pursue a major with passionate professors who cared about their students' success.”
During her four years at MSU, she served as a resident assistant in Mason Hall, a peer assistant in the campus Engagement Centers, a student food service assistant in the Gallery at Snyder Phillips, an assistant teacher at Bailey Preschool and the MSU Child Development Laboratories, a research assistant for the Media, Adolescence, and Sexualities Lab and as server at Harper's Brew Pub.
Marnie Hackman worked as a peer assistant in the campus Engagement Centers. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
“I cherish the experience of working multiple on and off-campus jobs during my time in school, as it not only helped me build essential professional skills but also provided me with a strong sense of community and belonging on campus,” she said.
In between classes and work, she spent most of her time involved in campus’ MSU Hillel Jewish Student Center and her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau.
Marnie Hackman with her friends at an MSU Hillel event. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
“Both of these organizations have introduced me to some of the most amazing friends I have made during my time in college,” she said.
“My best friends and support system at school.” Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
Hackman received the Arizona Bonanza Belle Wimple Academic Scholarship Recipient, Presidential Study Abroad Academic Scholarship Recipient, Go for the Green Financial Literacy Scholarship and the Helen Takken Brink Endowment Scholarship.
“I am deeply grateful for the financial support I received through the department scholarships, which not only eased my financial burden but also motivated me to work harder,” she said.
Hackman felt her study abroad experience was an important part of her college experience and recommends that undergraduates talk to their academic advisor early about study abroad opportunities.
“My academic advisor, Meagan Mitin, deserves special recognition for arranging my schedule to allow me to spend my second-semester junior year in Budapest, Hungary,” she said. “Despite the fact that my semester was cut short due to the covid-19 Pandemic, the time I did spend there was incredible. I believe that everyone should study abroad. I actually saved thousands of dollars doing so since my tuition abroad was significantly cheaper than a semester at MSU. MSU offers so many study-abroad opportunities, explore them. The staff at the study abroad office are very knowledgeable and walk you through all the paperwork needed.”
Marnie Hackman during her study abroad semester in Budapest, Hungary. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
Hackman’s advice for undergraduates includes taking time in between undergrad and graduate school.
“I cannot emphasize enough the significance of this period for personal growth and professional clarity,” she reflected. “This time provided me with valuable experiences and insights which assured me that pursuing a degree in social work is what I wanted to do.”
Following graduation, Hackman spent the summer serving as a youth division leader at Capital Camps, a Jewish overnight camp. As a member of the leadership team, she led a team of 15 college-aged staff members through the camp’s new safety COVID-19 protocols, allowing over 90 teen campers to still engage in meaningful programming, despite the pandemic.
Marnie Hackman with her youth division cohort. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
Two days later, she packed up all her belongings and moved to Israel to serve as an English teacher for 10 months.
“As only one of two native English speakers in the school, my main role was to help the kids develop a positive relationship with the English language,” she said.
Marnie Hackman teaching English in Israel. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
She spent her time outside the classroom serving as a nanny to Hebrew-speaking children. After two months of working with the kids, the parents left for a two-week trip to America.
“Leaving me in charge of the children who still didn't understand English beyond the words ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ ‘banana,’ and ‘skateboard,’” she mused.
“Even though this was a massive responsibility, I was undaunted as it was evidence of the trust they had in me,” she said. “I cultivated a special relationship with these children with smiles, hugs, and high-fives. Soon after the parents returned from America, they decided to ask me if I would accompany them in their move from Tel Aviv to Rochester, Minnesota. Now that I had developed my Hebrew speaking skills, the parents were confident that I would be able to assist them in helping their children acclimate to an American school.”
Before spending the month of September as a live-in nanny in Minnesota, Hackman became a travel Nanny for an American family of four, with two children, ages six months and 22 months. She traveled with and helped them with their journey across four European countries.
Hackman travels as a nanny. Photo courtesy of Marnie Hackman.
"A highlight was being able to communicate with local parents, learning and discussing the differences in parenting styles from around the world,” she said. “When our time together had come to an end, I was asked to work for the family full time. This past February, I traveled with them across Central America for a month. Each day, I find myself applying the skills and knowledge I gained about the family unit from my HDFS courses to my work with the children.”
This upcoming fall, Hackman will be pursuing a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
“I of course credit my interest in pursuing social work to my experiences, both academic and extracurricular, at Michigan State University,” she shared. “One of my biggest takeaways from HDFS is that being a human is really hard. I plan to use the skills I’ve learned throughout my time in HDFS, paired with an MSW, to support others in making being a human being feel a little less hard.”
Hackman shares one last piece of advice to MSU undergrads and grads alike:
“First and foremost, be kind to everyone you meet and try your best at everything you do. Make the effort to get to know as many of your professors and classmates on a personal level. People who choose to pursue a degree in HDFS are like-minded individuals who plan on dedicating their professional work to repairing the world – so they are people worth building a relationship with.”
To learn more about MSU Human Development and Family Studies, visit hdfs.msu.edu.
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By Katie Rose Frey