Malia Marks - GHC Alum

Writing, Research, and Travel: Lessons from an Academic Adventure

"Welcome to the community of academia. You are worthy in character and achievements,” said Malia Marks, speaking to the Class of 2023 at the commencement ceremony last June. “Your time here at GHC has equipped you to see the world in a different way.”

Just six years before she stood at the podium delivering the address, Malia was seated on the field, preparing to walk across the stage and receive her associate degree. Today, her educational journey can serve as an inspiration for all students, showing that determination and self-belief can unlock limitless possibilities.

Going into her junior year at Aberdeen High School, Malia felt like she needed a challenge. “At the time, less than 50% of AHS students were going on to college. People will either rise or sink to expectations,” she said, reflecting on her decision to enroll in GHC’s Running Start program. “In order to meet my full potential, I had to go somewhere I felt like the expectations were higher. GHC was the obvious choice with the Running Start program.”

As a Running Start student, Malia enjoyed GHC’s English 101 class taught by Darby Cavin, which she credited with honing her writing skills. “He gives you all the tools to be a good writer.” Malia also enjoyed history classes taught by Diane Muir, which she said also contributed to her strong writing skills.

After graduating with an associate degree from GHC and a high school diploma from AHS, Malia went to Harvard to pursue a bachelor’s degree. In her first year at Harvard, she took a writing test to enter a freshman-level writing course. Not only did Malia withstand what she called a “trial by fire,” she excelled. “I was one of the few students who didn’t come from a prep school to place into the highest-level writing class,” Malia said, adding that the skills she developed at GHC helped her succeed in her writing classes at Harvard. "They’re limited to giving out one ‘A’ per semester and I received an A-.”  

The science classes that Malia took as a Running Start student also helped her prepare for success in her educational career. Like many GHC students who get involved in experiential learning opportunities at the College, Malia had the opportunity to thrive in a hands-on learning environment. Dr. Amanda Gunn, a former science instructor at GHC, allowed Malia to work in the Fish Lab where she was able to gain valuable firsthand experience as a researcher. “Amanda gave me jobs in the fish lab to build my resume,” Malia remembered. “Fish Lab was really big in how much I love doing research.”

At Harvard, Malia worked as an undergraduate research assistant, which gave her the chance to continue developing her skills as a researcher as she learned and practiced new methods of data collection and analysis. She graduated from Harvard in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in German and Scandinavian studies. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with highest honors and was named a John Harvard Scholar. Malia earned a 3.9 GPA and was also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.  

After graduating from Harvard, Malia went to the University of Cambridge to pursue a master’s degree. There, she learned about different ideas related to crime and how it affects people, such as criminological theories and victimology. She continued to develop her skills as a researcher, exploring how being a victim of violence during late adolescence can affect a person's mental and emotional development.

While pursuing her master’s at Cambridge, Malia sought out opportunities to grow as a researcher and volunteered with the London Metropolitan Police. Her role involved moderating focus groups with community members and police officers. During these sessions, she collected data and information to help understand the sources of conflict between police and minority communities.

Malia completed her master’s degree in criminological research from Cambridge in 2022. She was awarded the Manuel Lopez-Ray Prize for earning the highest marks in her cohort.

In addition to excelling at writing and research, Malia’s studies introduced her to another passion: travel. During her undergraduate studies, Malia had the opportunity to study abroad in Uppsala, Sweden where she studied the Swedish language, literature, and politics. “Language school was only half the summer, so I was able to travel,” she remembered. Today, Malia has been to 33 countries. “I love traveling,” she said. “This fall I went to all of Eastern Europe.”

As she travels, Malia finds the chance to “experience history firsthand and talk to people who have been through it” particularly interesting. “Most of Eastern Europe experienced dictatorship,” she explained, adding that as a criminology scholar, she can learn a lot from traveling, talking to people, and visiting museums and historic sites.

Today, Malia is pursuing a Ph.D. at Darwin College, Cambridge's first graduate-only college, which was named after one of the University’s most famous alumni, Charles Darwin. While pursuing her Ph.D., Malia works remotely as an adjunct professor in GHC’s Criminal Justice program. Her classes cover criminal investigations, investigation techniques, and law. She also focuses on providing opportunities for her students to develop critical thinking and writing skills.

As she progresses through her education, one of Malia’s biggest goals is to continue to do research. “I would really like to figure out a project to make social sciences more accessible,” she said. “I'm planning to dedicate a portion of my doctoral work to collaborating directly with policy makers and law enforcement agencies to promote data-driven policies and public education.  I especially hope to find some interest near home so that I can continue to give back to my community.”

When asked what advice she has for future students, Malia said, “don’t listen to people who say you can’t.” She added, “no one else can decide what is realistic for you. You are the only person who knows yourself.”