Hey all! So excited to see you here. My name is Sydney and I'm a '24 passionate about energy, education, the environment, and economic policy. I grew up in Southern California, but have also lived abroad in Gibraltar, Spain, and the Philippines. When not blogging or working at McNutt as a Senior Admissions Fellow, you can catch me involved in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Energy Justice Clinic, and Greek Life. I hope my blog can give you a window into Dartmouth from a student's perspective.
Academic Program
Majors in Economics and Environmental Studies, Minor in International Studies
Taught by Professor Tine, this class focused on many interdisciplinary topics within the field of education. I loved learning about the significance of early pre-K interventions on long-term behaviors, the layered complexities of the American public school system, the neuroscience behind how the brain processes new information, and much more!
As someone interested in international studies, this course opened my eyes to the complex world of global health – both the biological and social sides of achieving equity. I found this class especially applicable given the COVID-19 pandemic and often transfer knowledge from Global Health & Society into my everyday life.
Searching for Justice is a perfect blend of studying literature and law. Highlights from this course include an op-ed I produced on anti-Asian hate crimes and a fictional short story adaptation based on Japanese internment camps from Korematsu v. United States. This first-year seminar exposed me to many different court cases, and I’m now strongly considering a future career in law!
SummerClaremont, California
I spent my summer back home in Southern California, working at my high school alma mater as a Summer Fellow for their Junior Scholars program. I had a wonderful time designing curriculum for the Journalism program, planning activities for middle schoolers, and providing support in the dorms. I also spent quality time with my cousins and bonded with family by the beach.
I am an aquaphile, a lover of all things related to the water. This environmental studies course on Marine Policy was perfect for me because it dove into how humans have impacted the oceans. From coastal development to deep sea mining, we explored how to think like a policymaker and consider the many different stakeholders involved in global marine issues.
Wow, the Practice of Science Policy and Diplomacy was a blast! I was eager to get to class early every day for this Public Policy seminar. Professor Burkins introduced me to writing effective policy memos, participating in a Model Arctic Council simulation, and presenting our SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy recommendations with a state coalition.
Energy Justice examined issues of culture, power, and inequity in the necessary shift away from fossil fuels. Taught as a Social Impact Practicum, this class deepened my interest in pursuing a career in energy and environmental law. During junior year, I’m excited to continue working with Professor Kelly as a Presidential Scholar researching justice and accountability in corporate energy systems.
During my Sophomore Summer, I really enjoyed studying food systems and accessing Dartmouth’s Organic Farm as our lab for Professor Ong’s Agroecology course. It was an incredible New England summer experience learning to visualize data in R, conducting fieldwork outdoors, and working as a team on scientific research projects. A term highlight was tasting freshly tapped maple syrup from Dartmouth’s very own Sugar Crew!
I was one of six Dartmouth Economics exchange students at University College London this term. All four of my modules—UCL’s equivalent of classes—gave me a new perspective on Economics and Geography through a British lens. Economic History was my favorite as we studied industrialization, the demographic transition, and the East Asian economic miracle after World War II. I grew a deep appreciation for how the events of our past can offer important lessons for us today and into the future.
WinterNew York, New York
Since Dartmouth students typically spend their Sophomore Summer on campus, the D-Plan allows us to take a different term off to develop personally and professionally. I spent my off-term working as a corporate legal assistant intern at a law firm in New York City. It was such a thrill to live and work in the Big Apple! With many fellow Dartmouth '24s also in the NYC area, my days out of the office were full of yummy food, catching up with old friends, and exploring iconic city sights.
Drawing upon disciplines like law, psychology, and popular culture, Writing and Speaking Public Policy was all about becoming more persuasive communicators. Professor Kalish provided us with such thoughtful, detailed feedback on our assignments and arranged for class field trips to the Jones Media Center and Hood Museum of Art. I especially enjoyed the flexibility offered for our small group media campaign project, where I created a children’s book on the benefits of bringing universal pre-K to New Hampshire.
SummerMystic, Connecticut
During my junior summer, I interned as a Yale Conservation Scholar at Mystic Aquarium. Working in the Education & Conservation department, I mentored high school interns about marine science communication and public engagement. Besides attending weekly professional development workshops with the Yale School of the Environment, I also helped out with summer camps, traveling classroom programs, and citizen science projects.
I traveled to Southern Africa for the first time with Dartmouth’s Environmental Studies FSP. From conducting research on invertebrate diversity in the Namib Desert to speaking with community members at Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy, we studied Namibia's socio-ecological systems. Highlights from this incredible trip include experiencing game drives at Etosha National Park, discussing ecotourism at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and learning about Namibia’s integrated coastal zone management approach with government officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Econometrics was a pleasant surprise! While I came into this statistics-heavy course without a Stata coding background, Professor Fetter’s amazing explanations helped me feel confident about the new material. I learned so much about the assumptions required for causality and now feel equipped with the analytical tools to evaluate Economic research papers in an entirely different light.
Without Dartmouth's incredible resources and support network, I would not have discovered and landed my summer internship opportunity. Last fall, Dartmouth's Environmental Studies department administrator, Kim Wind, sent out a link to an info session for the Yale Conservation Scholars - Early Leadership Initiative. After an extensive application process, I was fortunately accepted into the summer program for undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds historically underrepresented in environmental institutions.
My summer started out with a paid-for, in-person opportunity to attend the New Horizons in Conservation conference at New Haven, CT, where I was able to meet my cohort members from around the country, attend workshops on applying to graduate school, and hear amazing panels from professionals from underrepresented backgrounds in the conservation field. It was amazing to see that the majority of attendees in the room were people of color.
A 0.5 selfie with some of my Yale Conservation Scholars cohort in front of the Yale School of the Environment!
Growing up, spending time near the water in the Philippines sparked my passion for ocean advocacy and marine science research. Based on my application, preferences, and interview, I was matched with Mystic Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Connecticut along the Atlantic coast between Boston and New York City. As a kid, I could only dream of working at a site home to over 300 species of marine mammals, fish, invertebrates, birds, and reptiles. Now, I am so happy that I get to work in a place that provides top-notch, constant care to African penguins, beluga whales, California sea lions, sand tiger sharks, and more.
A fun piece of artwork showcasing Mystic Aquarium
On a daily basis, I help manage summer camps and traveling programs, conduct citizen science field studies like horseshoe crab walks and bird surveys, and showcase the beauty of the world's marine creatures. My primary project is to mentor high schoolers interning at the aquarium through the New London Youth Affairs workforce development program. We are working on a project focused on sustainable landscaping and forestry, specifically climate adaptive planting and creating a pollinator garden. Leading this project has allowed me to transfer and build on the hands-on field research skills in botany I learned from ENVS 25: Agroecology last summer at Dartmouth's Organic Farm.
Through Wednesday intern seminars, I have the chance to connect weekly with other undergraduates working in the aquarium and hear from experienced full-time staff from animal rescue, fish and invertebrates, marine theater, and various departments. On Fridays, I attend the Yale School of the Environment's Friday professional development workshops through Zoom. My interdisciplinary social sciences coursework at Dartmouth in Economics, Public Policy, as well as Environmental Studies topics in classes like Energy Justice, Marine Policy, and Urban Political Ecology has prepared me with the knowledge to actively contribute to group discussions with my peers.
I will always remember watching the spectacular California sea lion show on my first day of work.
Mystic, Connecticut is a quaint historic town alive with tourists visiting from all over the country during the summer. There are beaches, seafood restaurants, and plenty of cute boutique shops to spend any weekend exploring. I was fortunate to find convenient housing where I rent a room from a lovely lady named Laura only two miles from work. Fun fact: Mystic, CT is where the famed 1988 Julia Roberts movie Mystic Pizza was filmed!
In addition to my job, working out at the local YMCA, and exploring the surrounding area, I have spent my summer assisting my Energy Justice Clinic research professors Sarah Kelly and Maron Greenleaf to finalize a co-authored academic article with our community partners. One long weekend, I drove two hours north to visit my friend and fellow blogger Dianna in Boston. We cooked tacos at her apartment, watched Disney's new movie Elemental in theaters, enjoyed delicious hot pot on a rainy day, and toured the New England Aquarium for the first time.
Diana and I enjoyed Chinese hot pot in Boston's Chinatown. We both love cooking meats, veggies, and noodles in the flavorful, simmering broth.
On a nighttime walk, Diana and I coincidentally passed Dartmouth Street in Boston! #DartmouthAroundtheWorld
As an Environmental Studies major, working at Mystic Aquarium from Mondays to Thursdays and attending professional development Zooms on Fridays has been a dream come true—a rewarding learning experience and an exciting change of pace from taking classes. In just a couple of months, I will be spending my fall term in South Africa and Namibia on Dartmouth's Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program (FSP). It is the first time the Africa FSP is running in four years because of the pandemic, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to attend. More to come!
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
