Cory Cunningham ’10
Economics/Geography Double Major
F08-S09 D-plan: R-O-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: One of my favorite things about the Geography department is that the courses are so interdisciplinary – they relate to a wide variety of areas and perspectives: economic, political, social, etc. Also, since the department is relatively small, you end up taking classes with many of the other majors in your class, so you become a pretty close-knit group. The same applies for the profs – you get to know most of them as well (chances are you’ll have most of them at some point). However, one of my least favorite things is that because the department is small, some courses are rarely offered, and if they don’t line up with your D-Plan, you might not get to take something that you had hoped to while at Dartmouth.

Important info for potential majors: When planning out the major, be sure to have some idea as to what your specific interests are in the department – the courses have a wide range of the different areas of geography that they cover, and if you don’t pick classes that fall within your area of interest, you’ll probably find yourself somewhat frustrated with your courses.

Talk to me if: You want to know more about the GIS classes – I’ve really enjoyed both Geog 58 and Geog 52 – they’re very specialized in the subject matter

Most valuable academic information learned: It might sound somewhat clichéd, but I have repeatedly found that beyond everything else, the quality of a professor is what makes or breaks a class, so to speak. If you’re ever in a situation where you don’t know what to take, look for any great profs that are teaching, and then worry about the subject matter or course material later – a great prof can make anything interesting!

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class that I’ve taken thus far has been GEOG 58, Intro to GIS, with Xun Shi. Essentially, GIS is a science that analyzes data by creating maps of it, and the patterns and ways in which we learned to evaluate different problems by using GIS were continually fascinating to me. Professor Shi knows his stuff incredibly well, and his TA Jenn was a fantastic resource throughout the course.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, GEOG 5, GEOG 6, GEOG 52, GEOG 58; ECON 10

Major journey: I had no idea what geography even was before coming to Dartmouth – if you had asked me, I would have guessed “The study of maps?” or something along those lines. My first-year seminar, Shopping: Geographies, Histories, Identities, with Professor Mona Domosh, was in the Geography department, and I thought that the material we studied was fascinating. It led me to explore the other courses in the department, and I realized that I wanted to take nearly every single one.

Thesis status: Intended – but no idea on specific details yet.

Other activities: Programming Board – Programming Co-chair, Budget Co-chair; Student Assembly – Committee Co-chair; The Dartmouth Business Staff; 2010 Class Council; Tour Guide

Off Campus Program: Geography FSP in Prague, 09S

Internship experience: I haven’t had any internships as of yet, but I hope to do something involving geography for my off term during my Junior winter (09W).

Sara Brown ’10
English and Geography double major
F08-S09 D-plan: L-R-L

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing about the Geography department is the professors. All of my Geography professors have been incredibly passionate, interesting, kind, and helpful. This winter, for example, I took Geography 58 with Xun Shi, my first computer-science style class at Dartmouth, and ended up loving it, due to his ability to simplify very complicated subjects. My least favorite thing is how underappreciated the department is...

Important info for potential majors: If you want to double-major in the humanities and social sciences, do it! There are lots of interconnections between the fields, and it can be fun to jump from one subject to another on a regular basis. However, if you do want to double-major, get started early!

Talk to me if: you want to double-major, but aren’t sure how to go about it. Also talk to me if you’re debating an off-campus program.

Most valuable academic information learned: Study abroad! My FSP to Prague for Geography has been my best experience at Dartmouth so far. On field trips, we’ve visited a coal mine, intensive care unit for premature infants, winery, bullet factory, Soviet-era panel housing, an abandoned military base, and many other amazing sites that I never would have gotten to see otherwise.

Favorite class and professor: FSP to Prague with Mona Domosh – She’s brilliant, and also incredibly funny and warm.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1; 3; 14; 58; 80; 81; 82

Major journey: I had always been an “English” girl, so I entered Dartmouth wanting to try something else. I fell in love with Geography fall term of freshmen year, when I took Geography 1 with Colleen Fox. The class was challenging, but I loved it. It showed me how connected the world really was, and how vital it was to learn to operate in a global framework. I returned to English in the spring of my freshmen year, though, when I took English 34 with Andrew McCann, and realized how much I’d missed reading and writing about literature.

Major specific activities: Presidential Scholar with Professor Michael Chaney

Thesis status: Planned, very tentative, in both departments

Other activities: UGA, DDS, Prison Project and other volunteering

Off Campus Program: Geography FSP to Prague, 08S; English FSP to Glasgow, 08F

Internship experience: First-Year Office, Student Intern, 07F, Dartmouth

Yacoba Annobil ’10
Geography Major; Spanish and Art History minor
F08-S09 D-plan: R-L-O

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite and least favorite of the Geography department are very similar. I love the Geography department’s size and the faculty. The Geography professors are so knowledgeable and so accessible. You can discuss whatever doubts you have, such as research topic ideas, exam material, general counsel, and they are so willing to help. My least favorite aspects of the Geography department is also that because of its size, compared to that of the History and Government departments, there are not that many classes offered each term.

Important info for potential majors: The Geography department covers a wide range of topics from international development studies to urban studies to physical geography. Since Geography does not cover one particular subject make sure you try a few different classes before you make any decisions about how feel about the Geography department as a whole.

Talk to me if: you are a bit confused about what Geography actual is—it is not the memorization of the countries of the world.

Most valuable academic information learned: Go to office hours! Even if you think your questions are really small and inconsequential, go meet with the professor. Professors, especially in the Geography department, are really excited to get to know the students and really want to help you.

Favorite class and professor: It is difficult to pick just one class from the Geography department because I have truly enjoyed all the classes I’ve taken from the department. I would have to say that my favorite class has been Geography 1 with Professor Coleen Fox because it was the class that really drew me to Geography. The class is a great way to gain great way to gain an understanding of the wide variety of topics that Geography covers.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 6, 13, 40

Major journey: I came to Dartmouth thinking that I would be a Government or History major. I decided to take a random assortment of classes my freshman fall, including Geography 1. I really loved the class but planned on exploring other social science disciplines. After one term without a Geography class I returned to the subject realizing that what I loved about the discipline was its interdisciplinary nature and its focus on current events and human conditions.

Major specific activities: Presidential Scholar with Professor Mollett starting 08X.

Thesis status: I don’t have any definitive details yet but I would like to write a thesis focusing on educational issues in sub-Saharan Africa.

Other activities: Dartmouth Undergraduate Law Journal—Associate Editor; Afro-American Society; Programming Board—Budget Board Committee; Tucker Katrina Trip Relief Volunteer; KDE.

Off Campus Program: Spanish FSP in Buenos Aires 08S, Art History FSP in Rome 09S

Internship experience: Teaching intern for Baltimore City Public School second and third grade students during 2007 summer. I taught and mentored a class of ten students and accompanied them on daily educational field trips.

Jessica Meneses ’09
Geography and Psychology major
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: At first, one of my least favorite things about the department was the requirement to take at least one course from Nature-Society, Human-Social Geography, and Physical Geography themes. I felt very timid to branch out from my human geography comfort zone. However, in fulfilling the major requirements I have come to realize that completing courses in each of the three themes only helps in to expand your grasp of the Geography discipline. Some of the courses I have been most apprehensive of have turned out to be some of my favorites.

Important info for potential majors: Contrary to popular belief, the Geography major is comprised of much more beyond just studying maps and the capitals of countries. It offers tangible ways to learn about human-social, nature-society, and physical geographies. The material is engaging and because its topics are so diverse you have plenty of opportunities to learn more about what interests you.

Talk to me if: you feel apprehensive about fulfilling one of the three themes required for the major or if you are wondering about double majoring or modifying with Geography.

Most valuable academic information learned: Your professors and TA’s are wonderful resources that should never go to waste. Even if you are not looking for help deciphering your next paper topic or lab, make sure to reach out to them.

Favorite class and professor: I would have to say Professor Mollett’s Geography 1 was my favorite class thus far because it nicely presented the intricately varied world of geography academia that once was foreign to me. Professor Mollett is also one of my favorite professors because she really makes you connect with the material with thoughtful assignments that provoke you to examine the world we live in.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 2, 13, 43, 48, 52, 58; PSYC 10

Major journey: I did not take any Geography courses until my sophomore year. Prior to Geography, I thought that I would be a government major but I soon felt dissatisfied in how the material was presented to me. I decided to branch out and after taking my first Geography classes fell in love with how the material is truly brought to life with specific and vivid coursework and discussion.

Other activities: Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority – Risk Management, Philanthropy Chair; Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisor; Special Olympics; David’s House

Internship experience: Thompson Hine, Legal Intern, 07F, NY, NY; The County Seat Newspaper, Staff Writer, 07F, Hackensack, NJ

Elysa Severinghaus ’09
Geography major/Linguistics minor
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I really enjoy the diversity of the department, both in the faculty and in the classes they teach, despite its being pretty small. I also really like how interdisciplinary it is and how a lot of the professors work in two different departments. I love that my classes are so relevant to current events--this past spring, I took Geog 15: Food and Power during the peak of the international food crisis. Probably the single thing I don’t like is flying through my allotted 800 pages of GreenPrint each term, but it always pays off!

Important info for potential majors: Survey the vast number of geography courses and don’t confine yourself to a certain track for any reason other than you love the material you’re learning. The geography major is very conducive to modification so take the time to figure out how you want to mold your major.

Talk to me if: you are interested in the rural development in Latin America or the work of the UNDP.

Most valuable academic information learned: Take classes that genuinely interest you and you will end up on track for a major you enjoy. This seems like simple advice, but with all different sorts of pressures whether parental or self-imposed, you can end up taking classes you think you ‘should’ take and putting yourself through unnecessary academic torment.

Favorite class and professor: Philosophy 9 - The Ethics of Reproduction: an incredible introduction to ethics surrounding a moral debate that is far from over. Timothy Pulju, Linguistics – Almost everyone who takes a class with Pulju will rave about his incredible sense of humor, dry and impressively relevant to class.

Major classes taken: GEOG 1, 15, 17; SOCY 66

Major journey: I came to Dartmouth interested in Neuroscience and Linguistics, then shifted to Cognitive Science. I then had a complete change of heart and decided I wanted to do international affairs. After taking Govt 4, I realized that my international interests were more grounded in economic and socio-cultural development. With a Geography major, I can combine interests in Government, Anthropology, Sociology, Latin American Studies and Gender Studies to make up my course of study.

Major specific activities: Dominican Republic Projects (Small non-profit out of Norwich, VT, We work on rural development projects in the central region of the Dominican Republic)

Thesis status: Intended for W09 and S09 with Professor del Pino (Spanish Department), on the development of the Spanish short story as a literary form between 1980 and the present day (I am currently in the process of narrowing my topic).

Other activities: Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth (SEAD); Club Ice Hockey; Sigma Delta-Philanthropy Chair; Hopkins Center Usher; Active Minds; Student Director for National Service Trips at the Tucker Foundation

Off Campus Program: Linguistics FSP in Auckland, 08W

Internship experience: U.S. Committee for the U.N. Development Programme – Intern, 07S, Washington, D.C. Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth—Staff Member, 08X, Hanover, N.H.