‘Buffalo State gave me the courage to start’: Q&A with Sarah Bonk, ’12

When Sarah Bonk, ’12, was presented with an internship opportunity during her time at Buffalo State, she had no idea it was the first step toward her dream job.

“I was able to get the job because of the foundation I had at Buffalo State,” said Bonk, the current Commissioner for Mental Health for Erie County. “Buffalo State gave me the courage to start. That guidance and support is the sole reason why I’m able to be in the job of my dreams—and be successful.”

Bonk uses her degree in applied psychology—as well as workplace skills she developed as a Buffalo State student—as she leads her team in resource planning, equitable fund distribution, and service coordination. 

Bonk gave a few moments of her time to talk about how Buffalo State’s supportive environment set her up for success.

Tell us about the internship that changed everything. 
I was growing very interested in law enforcement and the intersectionality with mental health. Buffalo State linked me with an internship through the City Courts out of Buffalo—the first court treatment court program in the nation—and to be able to intern there was revolutionary for my career. Buffalo State gave me the courage to ask for a job at that placement [once the internship was over]. The placement didn't have a job for me, but because of the work and the training that I had from Buffalo State, they had enough confidence in me to share the skill set that I had with somebody else. They linked me with Crisis Services and other employment, and that was the start of the journey. 

How did Buffalo State’s emphasis on hands-on learning experiences—like internships—help you grow?
The internships allowed my social skillset to blossom. I was a student that struggled with exams and tasks, but if I could demonstrate my knowledge in other ways, through internships or presentations or speaking in public, it really helped. I had those opportunities at Buffalo State. 

What role did faculty mentorship and support play in your success?
The consistency from faculty and the mentorship availability was key from the beginning. Faculty were able to identify how they could support my unique interests, and their doors were always open. Buffalo State was a setting that was impactful and supportive, from professors to my work study supervisors in the Financial Aid Office—they were tolerant and accepting but also taught me office professionalism and how to navigate office culture. Being able to express who I was but doing it in an environment where I was accepted is the reason I fell in love with Buff State.

Were there any other aspects of the applied psychology program that you found especially valuable? 
The curriculum was impactful because it was wide enough in its exposure but tailored enough to pique interest and garner continued education. The faculty was careful in setting the scaffolding in a way that would catapult us in any direction, whether it’s moving on to social work like I did, or psychology, or even going onto psychiatry. The department offers a wide variety of options.

How did Buffalo State prepare you for the real world?
Buffalo State has high expectations for their students—appropriate but firm—and they know how they can support their students to meet not just the expectations of Buffalo State, but also the expectations of culture and community, so that when you graduate, you’re coming out with a skill set that can translate into a variety of different workforces. I didn’t realize that while I was there, but afterwards, being successful in those internships really demonstrated that. 

Photo by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.