Although she grew up moving to different cities as a child of someone in the military, Rachael Tamngin remained connected to her Pacific Islander roots. With close ties to her community, she sought to intertwine her cultural roots with her academic interests.
These interests started with a passion for biology and a goal to enter medical school. During undergrad, Rachael decided to shift away from medical school and explore alternative options that aligned with her commitment to community engagement and creating access. She became involved with a group within the Pacific Islander community dedicated to challenging and reshaping traditional Western research approaches.
Now Rachael is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in sociocultural anthropology and works for the Burke Museum building community-focused interests between the crossroads of anthropology and public health. To help support her academic interests, Rachael applied to the Sinegal Fellowship, a two-year award stipend for Costco Diversity Scholars who are pursuing advanced degrees at UW. As an undergraduate, Rachael had been selected for the Costco Diversity Scholarship, an experience that played a pivotal role in her decision to return to the UW for graduate studies.
“Without a doubt, the Sinegal Fellowship has helped me stay focused as a student and prioritize what I need to accomplish. It’s a financial lifeline that allows me to direct my energy where it’s most efficient—on my studies and mentoring students,” Rachael says. 
Rachael’s work at the Burke Museum addresses the multifaceted challenges that the Pacific Islander community faces. One of her key initiatives involves creating access points for students to explore their educational options within the museum’s collections. The goal is not just to provide academic resources but to allow students to connect with cultural pieces that are often inaccessible to the public.
The Burke Museum’s aims to redefine the historical role of museums, evolving into a space for the correction of stereotypes and the proactive creation of educational opportunities. Rachael’s dedication to building places for Pacific Islanders within higher education realms, particularly in research-focused environments, challenges existing biases and works towards to dismantle stereotypes that often marginalize specific communities.
Rachael’s work addresses the underrepresentation of Pacific Islanders in higher education, particularly on the UW campus, where they constitute only 1% of the population. Through the Burke Museum, she aims to carve out spaces for Pacific Islanders within the academic landscape, ensuring that their voices are heard and their experiences acknowledged.
The financial support from the Sinegal Fellowship has lessened the financial burden of pursuing a Ph.D., allowing Rachael to concentrate on her studies, mentorship responsibilities and engagement with the Burke Museum. It has become essential in her academic journey, influencing not only her current status as a second-year fellow but also shaping the path for her future career path.
As Rachael continues to navigate the intersection of public health, sociocultural anthropology, and museum studies, her work at the Burke Museum stands as a testament to the transformative potential of community-focused research. The museum becomes a canvas for her to paint a narrative that goes beyond academia—a story that explores cultural richness and community empowerment and is impacted by funding opportunities like the Sinegal Fellowship.
By: Tatiana Rodriguez, UW Graduate School
Published on January 9, 2024