Pima Graduate Trynia Kaufman – Educator, Advocate, Author

By Anne Denogean, External Relations

When Trynia Kaufman moved to Arizona from Ohio in 2008, she came craving the warmth and sunshine. Tucson’s climate did not disappoint. However, the job market, battered by the Great Recession, proved to be far less welcoming.

“I really struggled to find a job and I also wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do,” Kaufman said.

Despite holding a bachelor’s degree in English and World Religions from Ohio University and having a diverse work history in business, she ended up in a customer service job at a national retail chain. She found herself yearning for a career that would allow her to make a real difference.

Trynia’s introduction to Pima Community College came through her husband, who had enrolled in social services classes and spoke highly of his experience. He praised the instructors as caring and dedicated to helping students achieve their goals.

Inspired by his enthusiasm and driven by a desire to find fulfilling work, she decided to explore classes in the same field and enrolled at Pima in fall 2009.

What started as curiosity quickly transformed into a passion. Trynia found the social services courses at Pima to be engaging and practical, equipping her with real-world skills that built her confidence in the field.

“It seemed like a good fit. The classes were great.” she said, adding, “Pima offers a high caliber education and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”

As part of her coursework, Trynia completed a paid internship at a group home for teens in foster care. This experience opened her eyes to the challenges young people face in school, particularly those who need special education services.

This led Trynia to shift her focus to special education. Seeing the struggles of students firsthand, she wanted to be part of the solution.

She began taking courses in Pima’s Post-Degree Special Education Program, focusing on students with mild to moderate disabilities. She was able to implement what she learned in real time as she began teaching in the Vail School District in 2013 under a provisional teaching license even before completing her Certificate in Mild-Moderate Special Education from Pima.

During her time at Pima, Trynia found unwavering support from faculty members, particularly Dr. Rebecca Cohen, who served as her advisor and mentor. Dr. Cohen provided guidance and encouragement as Trynia navigated the challenges of balancing coursework, a full-time job, and financial pressures. The skills and strategies Trynia gained at Pima continue to serve her throughout her career, reinforcing her belief that learning is an ongoing process and that perseverance is key to overcoming challenges.

In 2016, Trynia decided to pursue a master’s degree. She, along with her husband, moved to New York City and she enrolled at Columbia University, earning a Master’s in Neuroscience and Education in 2018.

She later worked with Understood, an organization dedicated to providing research-based resources for families and educators supporting students with learning and thinking differences.

Now employed at Cornell University and living in Brooklyn, Trynia serves as a technical assistance associate, working on grant-funded projects that offer resources, professional development and coaching opportunities for teachers at schools across New York State.

In 2024, Trynia authored a well-received book, based in neuroscience, on how educators can support students with disabilities or other learning challenges and help them avoid being traumatized by the learning environment: “Overcoming the School Trauma Cycle: Academic and Emotional Supports for Struggling Learners.” It’s available from Sage Publications, Amazon and other booksellers.

“Everything in my career kind of led up to that, starting with when I was working with the youth in foster care and seeing how much trauma they had endured, both at home and at school, and then continuing to when I was a special ed teacher. A lot of teachers struggled with how to support struggling learners who might act out or shut down in class. So, I wanted to write a book to help them,” Trynia said.

Reflecting on her time at Pima, Trynia credits the college with helping her find her purpose. “Taking classes and completing paid internships in those fields helped me find work that I find fulfilling and interesting.”

For others considering exploring classes at Pima, Trynia’s advice is simple: “I think that we can learn anything we want to learn,” she says. “If you're interested in something, there are people who can help you develop the skills you need. Even if you’re not sure what you want to do, taking classes in areas that interest you can help you discover your path.”