Mary Beth Taylor

I am the Librarian at Mount Sackville Secondary School in Dublin, Ireland. We are an all-girls private school, with students aged 12 to 19 (secondary school in Ireland is the equivalent of 7th - 12 grades in the US). I LOVE being a school librarian - it was a long and winding road, but I've definitely ended up in the right career for me. Having graduated with a BA in English, a Certificate in Women's and Gender Studies, and a Minor in Religion from UGA in 1999, I went on to get an MA in Irish Literature at University College, Dublin (UCD). I then got certified to teach English as a Second Language, and taught ESL at Dublin City University (DCU) and UCD for many years, as well as an 18-month stint teaching refugees and migrants in Wellington, New Zealand. I'm currently completing a Master's in Library and Information Management at Dublin Business School while working full-time at Mount Sackville. As a librarian and a life-long lover of books, it's my greatest pleasure to promote reading and literacy among young people. I curate our collection, organize clubs and activities to encourage reading, liaise with teachers to help link students to resources and teach classes in research methods. Additionally, I teach English as a Second Language to our international students, and I teach Irish Dancing as part of our school's arts program. Along with working as a librarian, I run my own business, Irish Dance Dublin, where I teach Irish dancing to adult learners of all skill levels. I started teaching Irish Dancing in Athens back in 1997, with a friend and fellow UGA graduate, Charlene Conley. I've since gained my certification as a qualified teacher through An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (the Irish Dance Commission), opened my own dancing school in Dublin in 2006, and have taught and performed Irish dancing all over the world, including engagements in Corsica, Cyprus, Sweden, Russia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Oman.

Doing the certificate in Women's and Gender Studies really opened my eyes to different perspectives. I had a wonderful, safe childhood, but I was also quite sheltered from the broader world, with differing experiences and perspectives. I loved all of the different subjects available through the Women's and Gender Studies program - I took classes through the English, Religion, History, and Philosophy departments, so I was exposed to gender studies in a variety of disciplines. I also took Gay and Lesbian Studies in 1998 - at the time, it wasn't very common and I feel fortunate that UGA offered this course. Now working in a girls' school, I'm made very aware of the issues facing girls and women today. I'd love to do another certificate in Women's and Gender Studies at UGA to update my knowledge!

I really enjoyed taking classes from Dr. Fran Teague, Dr. Miranda Pollard, and Dr. Victoria Davion (RIP). There was a wide variety of students in our classes, from all different backgrounds, and I loved all of the readings and lively discussions. I also did a study abroad in Belize, through Georgia Southern University, where I completed a research project on gender studies in Belize - an incredible opportunity. Women's and Gender Studies at UGA was a truly inspiring program; I loved the interdisciplinary nature of the program, and it has indelibly shaped my professional and personal path.

Read everything, question everything, and then keep reading. Savor every moment of Women's and Gender Studies at UGA - it is an amazing program and a great opportunity. Don't listen to anyone who says, 'You won't find a job in Women's and Gender Studies' - be creative! Find your opportunities, or better yet, create them. Travel! Explore! The world is so rich, and there is so much we can learn from each other.