School of Social Sciences
UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture is now 100K alumni strong. We spoke with some of our alumni who are making the world a better place. Here are their stories.
The gift of sociology
Na’ama’s journey to becoming a sociologist and award-winning teacher at UNSW is how she discovered her passion. While taking some courses in the School of Social Sciences as part of her Fine Arts Degree, Na’ama recalls a transformative sociology class that made her want to change her focus entirely. As she left the classroom, she realised that the discussion and engagement within that space had changed her. “I realised that there were so many elements to the world that were invisible to me. And through the process of studying sociology, I could peel the onion and reveal these different structures and layers to make more sense of the world.” For Na’ama, sociology gave her more than just knowledge but a "deeper understanding of people’s responsibilities and obligations within society and the language to share those ideas with others."
School
Degrees
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) Social Sciences & Policy 2011, PhD Social Sciences 2016
Current Title
Lecturer in Social Sciences and Sociology & Anthropology
In that space, in that classroom, suddenly I found the words. And that’s the gift that was given to me.
Lifelong connections
Na’ama’s passion for sociology grew through the guidance of UNSW educators who shaped her career path. Among her mentors were Dr Peter Hinton, a casual academic during her undergraduate years, and Associate Professor Melanie White, who also supervised Na’ama throughout her PhD.
Building on the foundation laid by her mentors, Na’ama has flourished as an award-winning teacher at UNSW. The formative experiences throughout her studies and the power of sociology has motivated Na’ama to provide a similar transformative experience for students and led her to find a home in the School of Social Sciences, where she has taught since 2015.
“Melanie went from being my dedicated Honours supervisor, to PhD supervisor and now is my colleague and friend.”
Na’ama's dedication to providing her students with transformative experiences has been rewarded with the 2019 UNSW Vice Chancellor Awards for Teaching Excellence - Rising Star in Early Career Category and the UNSW Arts & Social Sciences Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2018. With a recent book publication to her credit (Morality, Violence, and Ritual Circumcision: Writing with Blood 2022), Na’ama continues to apply the wealth of knowledge she gained from her UNSW mentors and her own life experiences to shape the minds of the next generation of UNSW alumni.
Reigniting passions
Throughout her career, Na’ama has witnessed significant changes in the academic landscape for both students and academics. Both manage the delicate balance between following their passions and keeping up with work, study and life demands. Now, in the aftermath of a global pandemic, Na’ama sees first-hand the impact maintaining this balance has had on people's passions, which is why she is currently focusing on rekindling her students’ love for learning.
“It’s up to us as educators to make assessments that are meaningful to students, that they want to complete and that they feel are valuable to their learning.”
Advice for students
Na’ama "embraces imperfection.” She says, "It’s okay not to be perfect,” and hopes that by finding joy in the process of teaching and learning, she can foster an environment where students feel empowered to explore, grow and discover their full potential.
When it comes to students, Na’ama wants to assure them that their teachers understand the challenges they face and that they are here to support them on their journey. “Students are tired. They work so hard to cover their rent in addition to studying. As an educator, I want to make sure that the classroom is a space for them just to feel a bit lighter and more curious so that they can generate some passion about what they study.”
She strongly believes it’s important for academics and students to remember...
What we are doing here is meaningful, it is growing as people, building a community and fostering curiosity about the world.”
Celebrating 100K Alumni
Join us in celebrating the achievements of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture alumni like Dr Na’ama Carlin.
Learn about the evolution of UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and meet the UNSW ADA Alumni who are making the world a better place.