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.
Dartmouth's Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program: Part 3
Who would have thought I would spend my senior fall identifying thousands of bugs that had fallen into our pitfall traps, sleeping under the desert stars, and running statistical analyses using JMP software? These adventures were made possible through Professor Flora Krivak-Tetley '02's course, the third and final one on our Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program (FSP): ENVS 84: Seminar on Environmental Issues of Southern Africa.
My cohort stayed as guests at the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute, nestled in the heart of the hyperarid Namib Desert. Here, we slept in tents along the ephemeral Kuiseb Riverbed (side note: by the end of the FSP, I became an expert in pitching and taking down tents). Over 11 intense field days, we collected data to assess the impact of vegetation type and distribution on invertebrate biodiversity along the Kuiseb River. This involved setting up nearly 100 pitfall traps and meticulously recording thousands of entries in our master spreadsheet—a true test of our teamwork and dedication.
My team and I pose for a photo on the back of one of Gobabeb's vehicles (affectionately dubbed "Gypsy") at one of our sampling sites.
In our classes at Dartmouth, we often study environmental history and laws, but this FSP gave me a newfound appreciation for the on-the-ground data collection that informs evidence-based policies. The course centered around the co-production of knowledge through group-based socio-ecological research. Since this was the first year Dartmouth students had engaged with Gobabeb since 2019, we did not directly partner with the local Topnaar community to allow time for rebuilding connections. As such, all of this year's projects focused on ecology. Our group faced our fair share of challenges, from formulating an ecological research question within our time constraints to familiarizing ourselves with the most common invertebrate and plant species in the local environment. Nevertheless, we managed to overcome these hurdles and produce a report we were proud of in less than three weeks!
The FSP wasn't all work and no play. We celebrated Halloween with a costume contest, where my roommate Daysia '25, dressed as a chicken, and my friend Liam '25, dressed as a !nara plant, stole the show. We played volleyball near our tents, hiked the surrounding sand dunes, and stayed up late at night watching movies in the main classroom. My favorite part of ENVS 84 was an overnight camping excursion without tents under the sparkling Namibian stars.
Watching the sunset from a giant sand dune, sharing a meal and s'mores, and playing frisbee the next morning made for an incredible experience.
After our fieldwork, we returned to Swakopmund for five nights to analyze our data and write our final paper. I took charge of our group's results section and learned how to use JMP statistical software to visualize trends in our data. Nearing the very tail end of the study abroad program, we presented our findings to the Gobabeb community, then ventured back to Windhoek for a couple of nights, where we wrapped up our FSP journey.
It was exhilarating to run down the enormous sand dunes barefoot and experience such a strong connection with nature.
And that's a wrap on my Southern Africa FSP recap! I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into my journey. This experience has not only deepened my passion for environmental studies but also equipped me with practical research skills and unforgettable memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. If you are interested in applying for this study abroad, check out the details here. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!
Dartmouth changed my life. A large part of that change comes from the support I have received from professors. Learn more here about some mentor-mentee relationships I have made!
