Dr. Tawanna Saxton: From York Graduate to Social Justice Advocate

For Dr. Tawanna Saxton, York College will always be more than just her alma mater—it is the foundation that shaped her career, her character, and her calling.

A proud graduate of the Class of 1998, Saxton has gone on to earn a doctorate in social work from Long Island University and now serves at the New York State Office of Mental Health. Yet, no matter how far her professional journey has taken her, she carries York in her heart and in her work.

Raised in Queens and still deeply rooted in her community, Saxton credits York with giving her both the structure and the grit that propelled her forward. “York really embodied for me the belief that I can do anything,” she recalled. “When I walked through those doors as a young person, I didn’t yet know who I was. York gave me that foundation to begin believing in myself.”

Her commitment to social work stems from that same sense of purpose and identity. For more than two decades, Saxton has dedicated her career to housing advocacy, particularly for people experiencing mental illness. She has traveled to Albany to meet with legislators, championing funding opportunities for housing providers and ensuring vulnerable populations are not forgotten. “At the core of who I am as a social worker, I believe in social justice,” she explained. “If we don’t provide spaces where people can heal, the entire community suffers.”

Saxton’s work is not confined to policy. She also mentors students and young professionals, many of whom are from York, guiding them on how to transform classroom lessons into practical tools for change. She often seeks out York students at job fairs, knowing firsthand the quality of preparation they bring. “York students have the grit,” she emphasized. “They graduate with real tools and real resilience. That’s why I always look for them.”

Her story is also deeply personal. As a first-generation college student, Saxton says her degree was not only a milestone for herself but for her entire family. With her mother employed in education and her father a Vietnam veteran, she was raised to value learning and perseverance. Now, she hopes to pass that legacy on to her young son. “I tell him often that one day he’ll attend York,” she said. “Not just because I went there, but because of what York meant to me.”

Despite the challenges of her field, Saxton finds fulfillment in the transformative power of her work. “The human spirit cannot be broken simply by policies that don’t promote humanity,” she reflected. “People want to change. My efforts may not shift how someone feels today, but maybe tomorrow they’ll see themselves differently. That’s the work.”

As she looks back, Saxton describes her journey as a full-circle moment. From walking the halls of York as an unsure student to returning decades later as a recruiter and mentor, she remains grateful. “York will always be a very special place for me—always,” she said.