Erich Priest

UConn School of Social Work, Class of 2017

I was born and raised in Seattle, WA and grew up in San Francisco, CA. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington Bothell with a B.A. in Society, Ethics, and Human Behavior. I am a Sex Educator, a MOGA/II (Marginalized Orientations, Gender Alignments/Identities, and Intersex)-Health, Education, and Support Advocate, an Interdisciplinary Researcher in Human Sexuality and Gender Diversity, and a Life-long Community Volunteer.

Currently I am an MSW student at UConn SSW with a focus on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. I am also an active volunteer at the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective and Ann’s Place, which is a community-based cancer support center in Danbury, CT. Working with at risk populations, supporting parents and families, raising community awareness of gender and sexual diversity, and strengthening my skills as a sex educator, an aspiring licensed master social worker (LMSW), and resource guide are what make me want to get out of bed every morning.

The Urban Service Track can help me expand my educational experiences to include the perspectives and contributions from other disciplines and gain a greater understanding of how holistic healthcare can improve lives in our community.

I sought involvement in the UST to gain a broader understanding of how to address complex community issues in a collaborative and interdisciplinary manner so that I may better serve my clients and future clients.