President's Charge to Talia Young '01

You grew up in New York City, a first-generation Chinese American. After Swarthmore, you learned at a high school in South Philly that teaching science could be magical. It could also wear you out, so you pivoted — perhaps in true Swattie fashion — to a Ph.D. program in ecology.

Fast forward. Your goal in life was never to sell fish. And yet. By brilliantly combining your biology background, passion for working with diverse communities, and commitment to sustainability, you created Fishadelphia, a local, innovative, community-supported fishery program.

In the process, you connected fishing communities along the Jersey shore with inland consumers — and found joy in working with young people on real-world projects. Using fish as a vehicle for justice, you also found that creating community comes not from focusing on programs but on relationships, because that’s where change can really happen.

Talia Young, you have spent your professional life occupying a space that encompasses the environment, science, and social justice — and creating powerful communities along the way. Now, upon the recommendation of the faculty, and by the power vested in me by the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I have the honor to bestow upon you the degree of Doctor of Sciences.