Welcome to Graduate Stories, where we celebrate the diverse journeys of our post-graduate sociology students at Trinity College Dublin. Each month, our graduates share what sparked their interest, the highlights of their studies, and their advice for future students.
Robyn Collins
Graduated in 2022
What are you doing now and could you provide a brief overview of your career journey since graduating?
I’m currently a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist at EY. Before joining EY, I was working for a diversity and inclusion technology startup called Inclusio. My role was a People Science Associate and I worked with a team of organisational psychologists to deliver client dashboards which gave organisations insights on their diversity data and culture of inclusion. I also developed learning content for the platform, SEO/ marketing content, research/development and set up an employee resource group.
I started working for Inclusio part-time during my master’s degree at Trinity and then progressed to a full-time role after graduation. In November 2023, I joined EY and I've been managing their Refugee Access programme and supporting the DEI networks, among many other projects.
What sparked your interest in the course and what aspects did you find most rewarding?
I was interested in finding a master’s to advance my knowledge in social justice and racial equality. I studied abroad in the USA during my undergraduate degree. I took a sociology module about the history of race and structure of racism in America. It motivated me to conduct my thesis on racism in Ireland. I found it incredibly thought-provoking and wanted to continue learning in this area. That's when I came across the MPhil in Race, Ethnicity and Conflict.
I found the dissertation equally challenging and rewarding. I enjoyed the smaller class size and international students it attracts, which meant I formed lifelong friendships with my classmates. The focus on intersectionality and reflexivity was very impactful, and incredibly important for sociological research.
What advice would you offer to anyone considering postgraduate studies in sociology?
I would highly recommend postgraduate studies in sociology. Coming from a psychology background I felt confident in my foundational understanding of the social sciences, but it was certainly a challenging, insightful, thought-provoking, and meaningful degree.
If you are looking for a degree or discipline that has people who are as deeply passionate as you are about understanding society and how our intersectional identities influence how we move through the world, then I would recommend the sociology programmes at Trinity. They cover a diverse breath of topics and issues that are both fascinating and exciting.
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