Interview by Safiya Hafiz
The Department of Sociology has selected Tatum Scacco as the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Sociology Senior of 2025. Faculty praised Tatum for bringing first-rate insight and participation into classes. Tatum also displays leadership and strong collaboration skills with her peers. Her impressive work ethic has also contributed to her securing positions as a Peer Financial Advisor with Invest in Cougs at WSU and serving as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant with the Department of Human Development for the past two years.
After graduation, Tatum plans to pursue a master’s degree in social work, with a focus on working with juveniles. Before beginning graduate school, she will acquire in the field experience in a prestigious internship this summer with Youth Villages in Nashville, Tennessee.
The department is thrilled to recognize Tatum as an outstanding representative of the sociology department. Learn a bit more about Tatum, her interests, and future plans below.
Safiya: Tell us a bit about yourself!
Tatum: I am double majoring in sociology and criminal justice and criminology. I’m also double minoring in at-risk youth and human development. I grew up in Maple Valley, Washington, and I love baking and cooking, hanging out with my friends, traveling, and reading. I’m a big reader.
Safiya: Have you traveled anywhere recently that left an impression?
Tatum: Last summer, I studied abroad in Barcelona, and we also went to Florence after, and it was amazing. My study abroad course was on family diversity, so we visited numerous social services and family services in Spain and Italy, trying to differentiate—culturally—what happens in the U.S. and what happens in other places. I was there for a month, and once I was done studying abroad, I solo backpacked through Europe for another month. I went to Italy, France, Croatia, Greece, Malta, lots of places.
Safiya: Do you have plans after graduation?
Tatum: I really want to be a social worker. I hope to get my master’s in social work when I’m done here at WSU. I have an internship this summer in Nashville working in a group home, and I am super excited for that. I think it is going to be really illuminating to get in there and get my feet on the ground to home in on exactly what I want to do.
Safiya: Are there things you’ll miss about WSU?
Tatum: There is such a community here. No one really enters Washington State University with a family, so they have to make their own while here. I never had a big friend group growing up, but I really found my people here. There is so much support in the community, and you’re never really alone here, whether it is friends, faculty, or just the general community. It is really amazing.