Tiffany Pollack ’10
Women’s and Gender Studies with a minor in English
F08-S09 D-plan: O(FSP)-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: WGST has so many cross-listed classes that I consider it one of the main reasons that I have chosen it as a major. The cross-listing allows you to connect with professors from a variety of departments you may not have taken a class in, otherwise. Two of my favorite professors also work in the art history and geography departments.

Important info for potential majors: Make sure you get the prerequisites out of the way! Taking lower level classes in your senior year (like I will have to do), while you also take upper-level courses will be annoying. AND, having a general background when you reach upper-level courses will be profitable. Also, do not worry about your concentration too much, since you will be taking classes that you are interested, your concentration will more or less come together.

Talk to me if: if you’re most interested in gender and/in development or women of color. These are my areas of interest and I really like to talk with others and get their opinions on the subject.

Most valuable academic information learned: Be sure to seek out professors if you need help. Most professors do not mind taking the time out of their schedules to set aside periods for students, and you should not hesitate to take advantage of that. There have been times where I had no idea where to start for papers or research, and taking the time to talk to the professor of the class really made a difference to my understanding.

Favorite class and professor: I have two! Women, Gender, and Development with Jennifer Fluri and my freshman seminar Visual Cultures of Gender with Adrian Randolph. Both of these classes introduced ideas of gender in the most interesting of ways and both professors helped me in choosing to become a Women’s and Gender Studies major.

Major classes taken: WGST 10, 16; GEOG 26

Major journey: I have been interested in women’s studies since high school. But, upon coming to Dartmouth I was a little reluctant to declare myself a WGST studies major because I was not sure how I would apply my major to my professional life. Then, I realized that my career did not have to be based on my major in college and being able to apply the skills that these courses are teaching me is just as important as knowing and applying the information from the courses.

Other activities: Dartmouth Free Press- Writer; Programming Board; The University Press of New England- Marketing Assistant

Off-campus program: French LSA+ in Toulouse 08S; Upcoming- English FSP in Trinidad 09F

Internship experience: Parks and People- SuperKids Camp, Teacher/Intern, 07X, Baltimore, Maryland I taught 2nd and 3rd grade campers reading skills using phonics and, also, accompanied the campers on various educational enrichment activities. It was an amazing experience.

Ali Peterson ’10
Women’s and Gender Studies; Premed track
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-(Undecided)

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: Without question, my favorite thing about the WGST program is the sense of discovery that this discipline instills in each of its participants. Studying gender and sexuality often leads us to “discover” how gender and power are incorporated in areas of study such as ethnicity, nationality, gender, and other areas of “difference”. This path of realization can take its students to different places in time (one can study historical, real, or predictive trends and movements) and in different directions (from studies of masculinity, to queer and feminist theory). Of course, the students have to take the intro classes 10, 15, and 16 to get a good grasp of the theory, but after that, the options for study are endless, in terms of temporal perspective, direction of study, or even method of study (you can discover the world through literary study, scientific investigation, archival research, media analysis, and/or cultural/political appraisal through the lens of gender). I love the fact that my major has given me this sort of freedom.

Important info for potential majors: I think the best advice I can give you is to explore! The women’s and gender studies program gives you so many options, it would be a shame not to use them. That said, make sure you settle down enough to figure out a concentration! The major requirements dictate that you should have 3 courses that logically go together. Although it may initially seem a little difficult to come up with something other than media studies or feminist philosophy (as there are a TON of classes that cover these two areas), I would advise that you branch out if these don’t seem to be a perfect fit for your interests. The WGST program is always happy to work with new ideas….so if you want to study something that is not listed as a possible concentration you should talk to the office, they’re probably more than happy to accommodate you!

Talk to me if: You have any questions about scheduling the WGST major, psychology minor, or pre-medical planning. I will do my best to lead you in the right direction…or to find someone who can!

Most valuable academic information learned: Find a topic where you want to raise your hand and use your vocal chords. When you feel comfortable with actively engaging in the learning process, you’ll learn the truth rather than memorizing the facts. In the typical WGST classroom, you are given the opportunity to voice your opinions, and talk through them with your peers. In these classes, you will notice as your opinions mature and you reformulate your understanding of the world around you after digesting the information taught. You learn how the world works, rather than memorize one person’s interpretation. I think this maturation of the self should be the, or at least one of the, primary goals of a liberal arts education.

Favorite class and professor: At a place like Dartmouth, where academic excellence is the norm, it is impossible to find a “bad” professor. Everyone knows their stuff. That said, I would be happy to give specific information about any of the classes I have taken upon request. Just blitz me and ask away!

Major classes taken: WGST 10, 16, 53, 30

Major journey: In Professor Kim’s history seminar, “History of the Body”, I learned that I loved to talk about the different ways we define physical perfections and imperfections via the social messages implicit in the media, economy, and social environment. The way gender studies added complexity and depth to something so deceptively simple as our exterior form engaged me in a way that was entirely new...and I was “hooked” from then on.

Major-specific activities: NSS; Women In Science Program alum and mentor

Tbesis status: I intend to write one, but I have a little while before the planning process begins.

Other activities: Active Minds secretary; Mentors against violence; JFS gallery attendant; Tri Delta; Research intern in astrophysics; volunteer at DHMC psych unit; green corps

Internship experience: Research intern, biology, Professor Sloboda, F07-W08 Research intern, astrophysics, Professor Mueller, S08-present