After spending much of 2008 living and researching in Cuba, Valerie Dickerson was excited to have the opportunity to finish writing at Dartmouth. Her dissertation, "Are Those Congas in the Pulpit?: Hymns, Alabanza y Adoración Music, and the Evangelical Subculture of Western Cuba," explores themes of religious identity, globalization, and race in Havana's Protestant churches. She was excited to come to Dartmouth because of the access the fellowship provides to excellent faculty and wonderful facilities. Since arriving, Valerie has split her time between the AAAS and music departments-something that has broadened the supportive network that Dartmouth offers. She feels she has greatly benefited from her relationships with senior scholars who have shared advice on dissertation content, job applications, and career advancement. The Chavez and Eastman fellows have also been a source of support. To make her experience at Dartmouth more well rounded, Valerie joined the World Music Percussion Ensemble, became the accompanist for the Morning Glory Community Fellowship, and has given lectures in the Department of Music. She believes that the Thurgood Marshall Dissertation Fellowship allows young scholars to continue their growth and enter into the next stage of their professional lives.
Kendra Field describes Dartmouth as a wonderful place to complete her dissertation. Upon arriving, she discovered that she was infinitely more productive here. Being outside of her usual surroundings, she believes that Dartmouth is a wonderful place to write and is an ideal and peaceful home base while on the rather hectic job market. More importantly, Kendra feels that the Charles A. Eastman fellowship has allowed numerous people and resources to be available to her and the other fellows. Kendra states that this fellowship is unique because it is designed such that the fellows' time is their own, allowing them to bring their projects to completion by the end of the year. She has especially loved being able to walk everywhere and make use of the many resources the campus has to offer. She has also enjoyed the beautiful natural surroundings of the area and short trips to Maine and Montreal.
Albert Sergio Laguna counts his decision to come to Dartmouth as one of the most significant choices of his graduate student career. His dissertation, "The Politics of Pleasure and Play in Latino/a Literature and Performance" explores how culturally specific forms of "play" create empowering modes of discourse that produce critiques of the dominant culture while simultaneously forging community and maintaining transnational ties through a pleasurable narrative economy. Through readings of diverse Latino/a cultural productions ranging from stand-up comedy to novels, Albert's archive demonstrates the centrality and pervasiveness of play in Latino/a cultures. Albert believes that Dartmouth provides the ideal setting for completing his dissertation. He explains, "For me, the most important part is getting into a 'writing rhythm.' The César Chávez Fellowship has given me the opportunity to get into a routine that has been highly conducive to writing." While the first class research libraries and lack of distractions have been instrumental in his progress, Albert cannot say enough about the generous and supportive faculty in the Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Studies Department. Informal talks in the department hallway along with more focused academic discussions have helped him to refine and further develop the critical concepts at work in his dissertation project.
Outside of academic work, Albert has developed close relationships with Latino/a student organizations on campus like La Alianza Latina and Quisqueyanos at Dartmouth through mentorship and active participation in group events and discussions. Working with these students has helped him keep in touch with the communities and questions that inform his work. Writing sessions and frequent nights out with the other dissertation fellows have also enhanced this sense of community. For Albert, the César Chávez Dissertation Fellowship has provided excellent opportunities to not only finish his dissertation but also to work with the outstanding community at Dartmouth College.
