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 is home to a diverse range of students that will become your lifelong friends. For this blog post, I thought I'd interview a few of my fellow '24s to give you a glimpse into the crazy awesome people that make Dartmouth, Dartmouth!
Name: Ari Garnick
Hometown: Amherst, New Hampshire
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvements: Chabad (Jewish organization), Gospel Choir, TAMID (a consulting and investing club), Timber Team
Favorite class and why?: ENVS 7.15: Future of Food because between agriculture, nutrition, and ethics, this seminar class feels tailor-made to cover the topics I'm most fascinated by.
Favorite spot on campus and why?: I love the Hop (Hopkins Center for the Arts) because it (normally) provides so many opportunities to explore artistic interests. I also love the massive indoor fire pit and elevated chimney.
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: I wanted to be at a place that provides resources that allow me to explore learning about subjects I find compelling, to join and create passionate communities of students, as well as a place that will guide and support my career after I graduate. Plus, I'm a sucker for the outdoors.
Name: Adriana Chavira-Ochua
Hometown: Border (Juárez, Chihuahua and El Paso, Texas)
Major: Economics
Campus Involvements: Women in Student Business, Dartmouth Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, Dartmouth Club Ski Team, Smart Women Securities, Great Issues Scholars, Foundations in Social Impact
Favorite class and why?: FILM 3: Introduction to Digital Arts and Culture with Professor Bell was unforgettable because I learned to appreciate art through technology, specifically augmented and virtual reality. I even made an art piece by coding with Basic. Even though the class was through Zoom, I still enjoyed it.
Favorite spot on campus and why?: Occom Pond because it's a great break from school. I love the nature and peace of the pond and it's the absolute best place for study breaks.
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: Chill and laid back Greek life, close-knit community, lots of outdoor traditions, all the niche traditions like Homecoming
Name: Will Schlachtenhaufen
Hometown: Lake Forest, Illinois
Major: Computer Science
Campus Involvements: Club Hockey
Favorite class and why?: Either LING 1: Introductory Linguistics or CS 10: Problem Solving via Object Oriented Programming because they were super interesting
Favorite spot on campus and why?: The Green because I can play, eat, and not worry about things and the golf course because it's a beautiful place to run
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: I enjoy the work hard play hard environment!
Name: Alexa Warren
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California
Major: Biology
Campus Involvements: Decibelles (a cappella), Global Health Fellows
Favorite class and why?: THEA 7.01: Theater for Social Change (my first year seminar) because I've acted all my life but I've never thought about acting as a social movement. This class highlights the impact that theater can have on society.
Favorite spot on campus and why?: My favorite spot on campus is Novack Cafe because I love to do my work there, eat there, and hang out with friends.
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: I chose Dartmouth because of all the opportunities it has for Pre-Med students like myself. The Health Professions Program (HPP) is super helpful and the same with the Nathan Smith Society.
Name: Emily Masuda
Hometown: Palos Verdes, California
Major: Environmental Studies
Campus Involvements: Snowboard instructor, Women in Science Program intern, Collis Market employee
Favorite class and why?: EARS 6: Environmental Change because it gave me a great overview of the changes that are occurring in the environment on a global scale
Favorite spot on campus and why?: Big Empty Meeting Area (Bema) because I love nature and spending time in the woods
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: I loved the people I met on my tour of Dartmouth, and I think it's really cool that Dartmouth has its own ski slopes and organic farm.
Name: Sidney Marsh
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvements: Real Estate Club, Real Estate Investment Fund, Women in Business
Favorite class and why?: PHIL 1.04: God, Darwin, and the Cosmos because it combines theology with science to help us understand much of people's perceptions of the world and its beginnings
Favorite spot on campus and why?: Novack Cafe because of the people and constant coffee
Why did you choose Dartmouth?: Its small, beautiful outdoorsy, close-knit, and fun culture!
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
