Five Women to Watch

Taryn Harris: A student leader with a passion for Israel

Student leader Taryn Harris.

By Emily K. Alhadeff, Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound

Taryn Harris has a lot going on.

The University of Washington senior majoring in history and minoring in Spanish and Jewish studies is the president of Washington Students for Israel, a member of the student senate, a history fellow, an intern at Hillel UW, and a civil division intern at the King County prosecuting attorney’s office.

Student leader Taryn Harris.
Student leader Taryn Harris.

But things are calm, at least compared to last spring, when Taryn — with a group of pro-Israel students called Huskies Against Divestment — worked relentlessly to defeat the student-sponsored resolution to get the UW to divest from Israeli corporations. The late nights and strategic planning, not to mention the soul-searching conversations among students with differing views, took a heavy toll on Jewish students at the UW. But the initiative was soundly defeated.

“Working in Huskies Against Divestment last year was a really amazing experience for me,” said Taryn. “To produce such strong tangible results for something we were all passionate about and with people of all different opinions is something I’m really proud of.”

At the same time, “it was quite a process that we went through,” she said. She’s happy to focus her energy on Washington Students for Israel, and not divestment.

Taryn is focused on growing the small Washington Students for Israel group, which has only been around three or four years.

“Our biggest issue is strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. On the student level, it’s more about understanding where we come from” — that is, meeting with student leaders to educate them about Israel issues and promoting Israeli culture on campus.

Taryn’s passion for Israel scored her a competitive internship with AIPAC this summer in the Seattle office. As a Diamond summer intern, Taryn lobbied Sen. Patty Murray on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and put on an intern lunch where she presented before more than 30 people.

“She actually spoke on the issues,” said Lila Pinksfeld, who worked for AIPAC until recently being named regional director of the American Jewish Committee.She was very eloquent. She’s definitely a leader.”

Now as a civil division intern for the prosecuting attorney’s office, Taryn handles public disclosures and helps a deputy with the clemency practice.

“It exposes me to a lot of different situations in life,” she said. But she’s not sure about her next step after graduation.

“I’m passionate about education when it comes down to it,” she said. She’s thinking about academia, Israel-related work, or law, but wants to take some time off to figure it out before applying to graduate programs.

“I feel more mindful that I’m approaching the real world, so to speak,” she said. “I have to get my ducks in a row.”

Though she clearly has little time for herself, when she does have down time she likes reading, hanging out with friends, and hip-hop dance. All the hard work seems to be worth it, though.

“I’m really honored and humbled an award like this,” said Taryn. “I feel gratified that my passions and the work I have been doing the past few years is making some changes and affecting people in a positive way.”