Tiarra Maznick - 2022 3MT Winner

Tiarra Maznick, Assistant Director and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Holocaust Educational Foundation of Northwestern University (HEFNU) (3MT 2022 Winner)

If you wish, share a sentence or two about how the 3MT impacted your career trajectory. 

I think my confidence as a speaker stems from my experiences both presenting at conferences and competing in the 3MT. It reminds me I can do hard things and that people want to listen to what I have to say.

The experience also put me in a position to learn how to share my research in a condensed fashion. This has since come in helpful in interviews, at conferences, with non-academic crowds, and even in grant proposals. To keep bridging academia and the wider world in which we live, we need to demonstrate that relevance of the university and higher education--else it receive even less funding and support.

Anything else you want to share about your 3MT experience? 

I competed in the 3MT and lost the first time. This, however, was no sad story. It prompted me to think about what I could do differently. And, much like in the rounds of feedback we received, I had to think about what I could do to make my research presentation stronger. I won the second time I entered, and it was a fantastic exercise in perseverance. The win was an affirmation that when things don't go as plan, we regroup, replan, and go again. This could or could not be a metaphor for the job market, too!

It goes without saying that the support and encouragement from those in the Graduate School (Heidi and colleagues) made sure that the space in which we were vulnerable was a safe one. I am forever indebted to those in the Graduate School who heard my spiel in various iterations and continued to listen, and continued to share feedback.

I remember my experiences fondly and with appreciation. It was a wonderful, affirming experience in a sea of graduate school challenges.

Plus, who doesn't want to see their headshot on an Instagram post?! Graduate School can be a trudge sometimes, as rewarding as it is. And seeing yourself highlighted in this way was nothing short of affirming.

I will be delivering the Annual Winter Lecture for the Holocaust Educational Foundation at Northwestern University this month, and look forward to re-deploying the skills I developed as a 3MT competitor. Thank you!