The best journalists see things from multiple viewpoints and have limitless interests. Taraneh “Tara” Tabib-Azar has a head start, as she is also a photographer, performing artist (guitar, piano, bass, and banjo,) 3D visual artist, and activist with an interest in documentary filmmaking, harm reduction, and mutual aid. A candidate for a bachelor’s in Journalism and Political Science, Tara has a 3.8 GPA and has been on the Dean’s List all semesters.
Tara has already taken the first steps toward her career as an investigative journalist. She served co-ops at NBC News Investigations Unit and the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt in New York City. Additionally, she was an intern at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where she wrote articles about humanitarian crises.
Committed to community service, Tara has been involved with several mutual aid organizations in Boston, including Chrysalis Collective where she cooks with fellow members and distributes food and clothing. Tara worked with Program RISE, a harm reduction organization where she helped organize NARCAN (Naloxone) trainings and distributions. She also volunteered her time with the Dorchester Art Project (DAP) as a print intern and in their shop.
In addition to her volunteerism, Tara has proven to be a leader on campus. She was named editor-in-chief for Storybench, NU’s School of Journalism publication and editor of the Northeastern University Political Review. As co-director and political education coordinator with NU SAID (Students Against Institutional Discrimination,) she arranged and moderated a speaker event with New York Times best-selling author of How to Be an Antiracist and director of BU’s Antiracist Research Center, Ibram X. Kendi.
Even with so many other important obligations, Tara still finds time to pursue her passion for photojournalism, fine art photography, and the performing arts. “I am a musician and frequently perform live shows in New York,” she says, “and am currently working on my second full-length album, which will be released in 2022.”
After graduation, Tara will complete a summer internship with USA TODAY’S investigative unit and then apply to The New York Times Fellowship Program. She plans to publish a book on the socio-political impact of memes and viral content.
Tara’s future looks bright. According to Prudence Hkinda Chaiban from the UNFPA, “Tara walked in and lit the place up with a can-do attitude and creativity—and most importantly, with empathy and wisdom. No task was ever too difficult for Tara.”
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Tara walked in and lit the place up with a can-do attitude and creativity—and most importantly, with empathy and wisdom. No task was ever too difficult for Tara.”
UNFPA Member Prudence Hkinda Chaiban