Grad News Forum

Jessica Johnson (L) and Donna Hay (R)

The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, known on campus as TDI, has hired a new specialist to help students pursue their professional goals – the Graduate Forum would like to welcome Donna Hay to campus.

Hay comes to Dartmouth by way of New York Law School and Berkley College, where she directed programs in employer relations and career services, respectively. After years in the New York metro area, she’s moved north to bring her skill set to the students at TDI.

“TDI presents a unique challenge because of our demographics,” she says. “A third of our students have medical degrees; another third have medical experience – they’re RNs or health care administrators who want to develop a systemic understanding of health care practices. And then some of our students have come to the program right after finishing their undergraduate degrees. So, there are a lot of different types of students to work with.”

We met jointly with Hay and Jessica Johnson, TDI’s Alumni Relations Manager, and the two quickly noted that theirs is a coordinated effort.  The two meet with students jointly, to provide to each not only the counseling of a career advisor, but also avenues to potential connections with TDI alums that had similar goals and aspirations. Together, they are working on teasing out the passions and interests of their students – what brought them to the program and what their hopes are for the future – and leveraging alumni relationships to provide the best support possible.

Hay also expressed excitement about being part of the professional Dartmouth community. “Tuck, Arts and Sciences, Thayer – they all do such a good job with their career programs. I think our students can learn a lot from some of their programming, and I know I can borrow the best practices from their departments. I hope that they can utilize the programming we’ll do here and the support models we’re using.”

The Dartmouth Institute officially began in 1995. Since then, the program has graduated 930 students, many of whom have gone on to exciting careers in medicine and health care delivery. TDI was a testing tank for many of the policies that made their way into the Affordable Care Act, and the Institute continues to be a center of research and applicable scholarship.

Hoping to build on these foundations, Hay is thrilled to be at Dartmouth. “I have a degree in law, and extensive experience in finance and accounting recruiting – marketing is an integral part of my education. I’m excited to bring that knowledge to TDI and to help our students move forward.”

Hay invites students and staff from TDI and the larger Dartmouth community to connect with her on LinkedIn, and to be on the lookout for professional programming in the coming months.

by Zach Williams 

The Graduate Forum is please to announce the new Media Production Intern: Zach Williams.

Zach is a first year MALS student in the General Studies tract. He was brought up in Massachusetts, leaving the state to go to college in Ithaca, upstate New York. There he majored in History and minored in Anthropology, graduating in 2010. In the years between finishing college and enrolling at Dartmouth he split his time between Oregon and Hawaii working in forestry preservation. In Oregon he was a wild land fire fighter, and in Hawaii he was in reforesting to reverse the damage done by ranching. Outside of his classes he is currently planning to raise ducks and cultivate a vegetable and fruit garden.

As the Media Production Zach has a wide-ranging portfolio of responsibilities. These include taking pictures and writing articles for the Dartmouth Grad News Forum. As the position implies, he is responsible for many of the media aspects of the Graduate Office, for instance maintaining the website and the social media, including Facebook and twitter.

Zach is looking to use his position to communicate the achievements of Graduate students at Dartmouth both in and outside the scope of academia. This includes the many awards, publications and conference attendances that Dartmouth students make each year, alongside community involvement in the Upper Valley and the wider community in New Hampshire and Vermont. For Zach, the Graduate News Forum is the perfect place to showcase the many achievements of Dartmouth students.

If you have any ideas for articles or want to see a student highlighted, please feel free to contact Zach at: Zachary.Williams.GR@dartmouth.edu.

Article and photo: Dan Durcan

The newly transformed Hanover Inn at Dartmouth—featuring modern conference facilities, beautifully appointed guest rooms and amenities, and world-class dining—will reopen in June, in time for Commencementand Reunions.

The Inn closed for major renovations last year and will reopen in phases. Work is continuing on schedule for 94 of the Inn’s 108 guest rooms to open in June.

The renovations address a longstanding need for modern, on-campus conference facilities reflecting Dartmouth’s standing as a world-class educational and research institution. The project has also been an opportunity to completely upgrade the building’s guest rooms and amenities.

To learn more about the redesigned Hanover Inn, visit the Dartmouth Now.

When Random House published Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax in 1971, Newsweek magazine called it “a hard-sell ecological allegory.” The book received a lukewarm reception from the public initially, as English Professor Donald E. Pease, the Ted and Helen Geisel Third Century Professor in the Humanities, explains in this video and in his Seuss biography, Theodor SEUSS Geisel (Oxford University Press, 2010).

“Some of Dr. Seuss’s most loyal fans expressed their disappointment at the way the tale’s message supplanted Dr. Seuss’s zaniness for its own sake,” Pease wrote. “The book did not get onto the best-seller lists until the environmental movement picked it up.”

Vist the Dartmouth Now to read the full story.

At this year’s Winter Carnival–beginning on Thursday, February 9th and running through Sunday, February 12th–Dartmouth’s graduate students are invited to participate in the “2012 Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest!”

Dartmouth Students building the 2011 Winter Carnival Sculpture

Feel like participating in one of Dartmouth’s oldest traditions? Then assemble a team of builders from your department, register for the contest by Tuesday, February 7th, and bring your favorite snow shovel to the green on Thursday, February 9th and Friday, February, 10th!

Organized by the Collis Center for Student Involvement Office and Programing Board at Dartmouth, the theme for the 2012 Winter Carnival is “Carnival in Candyland.”

Here’s an outline of the event from 2012 Winter Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest’s offical website:

“Who: Any College-recognized organization (including living units, athletic teams, alumni groups, and academic and administrative departments).

What: A contest held on the Green to select the best sculpture representing this year’s Carnival theme.

When: Carnival is one of the busiest weekends at Dartmouth. In order to allow students and others to participate in all of the various activities, we have limited the hours of building. Starting at noon on Thursday, February 9, organizations may start building a sculpture. Building hours are from noon to 10 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday, February 10. Judging will take place between 3:30-5 p.m. on Friday, February 10. During the judging, the Green Key Society, Winter Carnival Council, and Collis will be giving out hot chocolate and snacks and welcoming the community.

Where: In order to participate in this contest, all sculptures must be built on the southwest quadrant of the Green (corner closest to Collis). Snow will be provided in a large pile on the Green. Large barrels and shovels will be provided to move snow. A hose will also be on-site to get water to wet-down your sculpture.

Why: Why not? Let’s revive a tradition!

How much: 1^st place: $500; 2^nd place: $300; 3^rd place: $200—transferred to your organizational account. The winning organization will also be provided a sculpture trophy for display.“

For more information on the event, including Safety Guidelines, please visit the contest’s website.

The towns surrounding Dartmouth are filled with family-friendly activities. From picturesque recreation areas, to community-sponsored outreach programs, the Connecticut River Valley is a playground for growing minds. If you’re one of the many graduate students with children, or have a mini van full of younger cousins visiting, try out some of these activities!

1.)  Hood Museum of Art and the Hopkins Center for the Arts (HOP)

The Hood offers many programs for families. Selected Sundays are “Family Days,” and the museum’s collection is staffed to accommodate young patrons, and help them create their own works of art! Also, on selected Saturdays, the Hood offers “Children’s and Family Workshops” where families are invited into the studios to create projects.

Housed in the same building as the Hood, the HOP offers a series of matinee performances, family-oriented workshops, and their “HopStop Family Series” each term. All of these programs are designed to introduce young audiences to the world of the performing arts.

2.)  Montshire Museum of Science

Located across the river in Norwich, the Montshire Museum of Science has been accommodating families since 1974. Currently, the Montshire offers a workshop series for children that features events like “Lab-Coat Investigations” and hands-on science activities.

In the summer, the Montshire hosts a series of summer camps. Most sessions are a week long, and are designed for different age groups. Also, throughout the year, the Montshire also offers a “Camp-In” series, where groups of aspiring scientists spend a supervised night in the museum and embark upon guided “Night Walks,” investigate science in “Kitchen Chemistry,” and take a closer look at the night sky in the “StarLab.”

Open 363 days a year from 10 am – 5 pm (the museum is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas), the Montshire offers special admission rates for children, as well as family memberships.

Be sure to check the Montshire’s website for special events like Igloo Building, Earth Day, Space Day, and the Egg Drop Challenge!

3.)  Howe Library

The Howe Library is a great resource for families. In addition to housing shelves upon shelves of books written for young readers, the Howe also schedules Story Times & Programs for children. Though many of these programs do not require attendees to pre-register, the more popular programs—After School Adventures with Books, and Kindergarten Story Time—do require parents to register in advance.

Each year, the Howe also purchases community passes for major museums within driving distance of Hanover, including Mass MoCA in North Adams, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabel Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Boston’s Children’s Museum, and the ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center in Burlington. To reserve one of these passes to get either free or discounted rates to these museums, all you need is a library card!

Finally, the Howe maintains a list of suggested child care programs and preschools in the Upper Valley on their website. If you need more information on any of these resources, just contact the Children’s desk!

4.)  Graduate Student Council (GSC) and On-Campus Events

Many of the events planned by the GSC are family friendly, especially the ones hosted in the summer. Often held at the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) House, summer events like Garden Party and Summer Luau are complete with healthy snacks and beverages for children. Last summer, the Garden Party was “blueberry” themed, and featured farm-fresh produce. If the weather cooperates, attends are free to roam around the lawns surrounding the DOC House.

Also, many of the smaller events hosted by the student groups recognized by the GSC, like the International Graduate Mentoring Program (IGMP) and Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE), provide the setting for families of the graduate community to enjoy themselves. Check out GWISE’s ever-popular Monday Night Tea, and GWISE’s Moon Hikes.

In addition to the events hosted by the GSC, Dartmouth also hosts many on-campus events for parents and families including family weekends and community-building activities. Looking for a fun way to enjoy the winter? The school is hosting a Story Time and Marshmallow Roast from 11 am – 12 noon on Sunday, January 29th at the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) House. At the Marshmallow Roast, stories will be read to children ages 3-8 and their parents by the fireplace in the main room of the DOC House.

Swimming Facilities near the Ledyard Canoe Club

5.)  Storrs Pond Recreation Area, the Dartmouth Skiway, and Ledyard Canoe Club

Located off of Route 10 on the way to Lyme, Storrs Pond Recreation Area has two beaches on its ten-acre pond, a heated swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, and also picnic areas.  Maintained by the Hanover Improvement Society, Storrs is equipped with camping and RV facilities, and offers swimming and tennis lessons during the summer. The improvement society also maintains a network of trails which criss- cross the recreation area.

The Dartmouth Skiway in only a ten-minute shuttle ride from campus! Featuring over 100 acres of groomed trails, the Skiway offers both expert terrain, and gentle slopes well suited for beginners. Not only are all-mountain lift tickets affordable for students ($15 for a half day with a Dartmouth ID) and for children ($23 for a half day for kids between six and twelve), but tickets for the “beginners-area” are only tickets are only $11. Additionally, kids 5 and under ski free all winter long!

Founded in 1920, the Ledyard Canoe Club is five-minute walk from the Green. Offering special membership rates for families, the Club is the perfect facility for family explorations of the Connecticut River. The modern canoes, kayaks, paddles, and life preservers that the club provides to its patrons makes it easy for parents and their children to enjoy part of the day on the water. Finally, the club’s spacious boathouse is the perfect place to relax after a long day of paddling.

Lisa Sprute using eye tracking technology at Merchant Mechanics

This fall, Dartmouth’s Graduate Studies Office coordinated the first “Graduate Studies Externship Program.” Organized by Kerry Landers, Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs, the program paired current graduate students with alumni from many of Dartmouth’s Arts & Sciences Graduate Programs. Over 80 graduate alumni signed up to host current students, and by December, close to 40 graduate students were paired with alumni.

Once paired, the participating graduate students contacted their host and scheduled a date for the daylong externship. Though the experiences of each graduate student who participated in the externship program were unique, most students discussed their professional goals with their host, engaged in career-oriented conversations with the staff at the alumni’s place of employment, received feedback on either their resumes or CVs, and finally, shadowed their host for a full day.

“I’m excited by the number of graduate students who participated in this year’s Graduate Studies Externship Program,” said Brian Pogue, Dean of Graduate Education. “I hope this program continues to be mutually beneficial for both our current student and our graduate alumni, and that in the coming years that more of Dartmouth’s graduate students are able to visit our alumni.”

Lisa Sprute, a student in Psychological & Brian Sciences (PBS), was hosted by graduate alumnus Kimberly Rose Clark at Merchant Mechanics, a market research firm in West Lebanon. While at Merchant Mechanics, Lisa learned how to use the eye tracking technology that the company uses to gather information related to a shopper’s visual attention in various environmental contexts. Also, both Lucy Mukura, a student in Dartmouth’s Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine (PEMM), and Chelsea Boyd, a student in the Microbiology and Immunology department, visited Hillel Cohen GR ’84 in Cambridge, MA at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, a vaccine manufacturer that produces products that prevent over 20 vaccine-preventable viral and bacterial diseases.

“The Dartmouth Externship was an amazing learning experience for me,” states Lucy. “[Dr. Cohen] introduced me to a number of his colleagues with diverse backgrounds who took time to answer questions that I had. This opportunity was an eye-opener—there are certain programs you can afford to miss in graduate school, but this is definitely not one of them.”

Lucy Mukura, Dr. Cohen, and Chelsea Boyd at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics

According to Dr. Cohen, the two externs were a delight to host, and the visit was mutually beneficial for both his company and the graduate students. According to Cohen, while at Novartis, Lucy and Chelsea sat in on a multi-continental meeting and also had the opportunity to speak to several of the company’s staff members regarding both their current jobs and career paths.

“Regulatory affairs in biotech or at the FDA is something I have been considering as a possible career,” stated Chelsea. “My trip to [Novartis] really solidified this for me, as I was able to think about what a good fit for me this type of employment is. I would highly recommend this externship experience.”

In addition to private-sector employers, graduate alumni in education also hosted paired students. In December, Wesley Whitaker, a second year student in Dartmouth’s Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program, visited graduate alumnus Richard Hardej, an instructor at Phillips Exeter Academy. During his day on campus, Wesley sat in on three classes, and had the opportunity to speak with several of the academy’s teachers.

“I really enjoyed my externship at Phillips Exeter Academy,” said Wesley. “Mr. Hardej was a wonderful host, and it was a pleasure observing how secondary education works at the academy. All of the staff members that I spoke with during my day on campus were more than happy to discuss their career paths, and each took the time to explain their roles at Exeter. I learned a lot through my externship, and I think that every graduate student should participate in the program before leaving Dartmouth.”

In 2010, the TDI program welcomed the addition of Jessica Johnson and JoAnna Luiso as Alumni Relations Manager and Career Services Manager working in the Center for Education.

Jessica received her Masters’ degrees in education at the University of Vermont and in project management from Villanova. As Alumni Relations Manager, she will work towards cultivating and maintaining an active alumni community while designing and implementing programs to facilitate connections between alumni, faculty, and current students. Jessica will also manage and organize the TDI Center for Education’s activities and events, and plan continuing education activities for alumni.

JoAnna Luiso received her Master of Science degree in conflict analysis and dispute resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. As Career Services Manager, she will support TDI students and alumni in their career development in the health-care field. JoAnna will provide professional development and communication seminars based on developing job search skills and actively develop relationships with employers with positions appropriate for TDI graduates.

Jessica and JoAnna look forward to unveiling the new TDI Student and Alumni website in the new year, as well as serving the growing population of TDI students and graduates as they seek to fulfill TDI’s mission to improve the US healthcare system.

by Jessica Johnson
pictured Jessica Johnson (left), JoAnna Luiso (right)

The 2010 Graduate Faculty Mentoring award was given to Professor Melissa Zeiger from the comparative literature department, and Dr. James Gorham from the molecular and cellular biology department The award aims to recognize faculty members who maintain outstanding relationships with students at the graduate level. Both professors were nominated for the award because of their unmatched dedication to their students and their ability to provide thoughtful and insightful advice.

For more information, visit the Graduate Studies website.

Jane Seibel

Dartmouth’s Graduate Studies Office recently hired Jane Seibel as Director of Graduate Recruiting and Diversity.

For more information, visit the Graduate Studies website.

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