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.
A Weekend to Remember: Global Impact at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge
It can be easy within Dartmouth's fast-paced 10-week terms to establish a set schedule of balancing academics, extracurriculars, research, work, and spending time with friends, but it's also incredibly rewarding to break out of your routine and try something new. If you want to learn more about the world by retreating from it, there's no better place to do so than at the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact (DCSI)'s Matariki Global Impact Summit.
Assistant Director for Social Sector Leadership Leah Torrey talks about setting Summit expectations. Graphic courtesy of Michaela G. Lavelle.
This experience was my first visit to the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, a popular haven for through-hikers enjoying the beautiful New Hampshire mountains. The Lodge is a little over an hour's drive from campus and is owned and operated by the College. With no WiFi or cellular service in the near vicinity, we spent 100% of the time in the present moment forging authentic bonds with those around us. The DCSI organized this free inaugural two-day Matariki Summit to get students thinking about international social impact by bringing in guest speakers to discuss topics like mutual aid, global health, and the power of starting local.
My first workshop block was called "From Idea to Impact: Planning and Implementing Community Engagement Projects." Professor Israel Reyes discussed his experience creating the Social Impact Practicum class LATS 37: Migrant Lives and Labor in the Upper Valley, which integrates the needs and interests of community partners in the migrant dairy farmworker community. It was useful to understand how we go from brainstorming an idea to bringing it to fruition, as oftentimes getting the ball rolling on social justice projects can seem daunting. During my second workshop, Dr. Lisa Adams, one of my two amazing professors from INTS 18: Global Health and Society (my favorite class from freshman winter), recounted her personal field experiences with equity in action. We discussed how to create equitable partnerships where neither pity nor power drive how we collaborate in the context of global health and international development. My last session "Demystifying Impact Measurement" with Dr. Zak Kaufman '08 introduced me to how we track change, measure social impact progress, and avoid getting bogged down in piles of excel files. Zak zoomed in from Geneva, Switzerland to discuss his journey from working with a non-profit in South Africa straight out of college to launching his global company, Vera Solutions. Fun fact: Zak created his own special major "Health and Society" while at Dartmouth!
After a panel featuring the guest speakers, I enjoyed one of the best family-style five-course meals of my life created by Dartmouth students and young alumni who make up the friendly, hard-working Lodge crew. Another fun fact: Did you know Dartmouth offers a Bring Your Professor to Lodge Dinner program?
I promise this was the best freshly-baked loaf of bread of my life.
Later that night, we worked collaboratively in small groups to create a global citizenship collage out of National Geographic, The New Yorker, and other magazines. I hadn't made a collage for years, but thoroughly enjoyed the process of snipping impactful words, phrases, and images to bring the concept to life. Sheets, pillowcases, and blankets were provided free of charge for all 23 student attendees as we stayed overnight snug in bunk beds at the Class of '65 bunkhouse.
My group mates and I have fun working on our global citizenship collage.
I definitely arrived back in Hanover with a stronger sense of myself, feeling energized and motivated to start Week 4 of my Sophomore Summer term. I had been introduced to the DCSI as a first-year through the Foundations in Social Impact Program (you can read about my experiences here!) and served as a Sophomore Summer Mentor for Strengthening Educational Access with Dartmouth (SEAD) for local high schoolers in the Upper Valley as they begin their college application process.
Until next time, blog! I look forward to getting involved with future opportunities with the DCSI as an upperclassman.
My wonderful cohort of 2022 Matariki Summit participants! Graphic courtesy of Michaela G. Lavelle.
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