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Ariana Thornton

Class of 2029
Photo of Ariana Thornton
Bio 

Welcome to my blog! My name is Ariana and I grew up in the DC metro area. In no time at all, Dartmouth has become my home away from home. When I'm not participating in programs at the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship or DALI Lab, you can find me reading voraciously or indulging my kombucha obsession. I hope my blog can give you a vision of the abundant opportunities available to Dartmouth students!

Academic Program 

Cognitive Science Major + Human-Centered Design Minor

Favorite Thing Right Now 

Paddle boarding on the Connecticut River <3

Hometown 

DC metro area

Pronouns 

she/her

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Ariana's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: COGS 1: Introduction to Cognitive Science

      This course was a whirlwind introduction to the field of cognitive science, which is the interdisciplinary study of the mind as an information processor. This field incorporates psychology, computer science, neuroscience, philosophy, and linguistics. I loved how each lecture covered something new, with topics ranging from neurological disorders and optical illusions to language learning, moral decision-making, and AI. The course was fast-paced, yet fun and laidback. I came away knowing much more about what makes people tick, and my experience inspired me to major in cognitive science!

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: GOVT 6: Political Ideas

      What is justice? How do we live well? This course is about the big questions humans have wrestled with since the founding of political society. Reading Plato made me consider philosophy as the only path to stable happiness. Aristotle made me ponder the belief that the purpose of law is to uphold moral virtue. Machiavelli’s “The Prince” felt relevant to today’s politics, hundreds of years after he wrote it. Professor Clarke’s engaging lectures and sense of humor cemented this course as my solid favorite this term. Whether you want to take Political Ideas out of curiosity or to satisfy a Government major requirement, I highly recommend her as a professor!

    • SpringHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: CSDA 21: Foundations of Digital Design

      At its core, good design is about effective communication. This course taught me just that, introducing me to essential design fundamentals such as Gestalt principles, hierarchy, typography, shape language, and color symbolism. I also gained hands-on, resume-building experience with Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, finishing the course with my own portfolio. Professor Mahoney was passionate and inspiring, going well beyond mere instruction in classic design platforms and fostering my love for making beautiful things for others. Paired with ENGS 12: Design Thinking in the same term, this course made me excited to continue pursuing the Human-Centered Design minor!

The mentors are fantastic: computer science and AI at Dartmouth with John Guerrerio '26

Student Interview: John Guerrerio '26 on AI Research at Dartmouth

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Read on to learn about a computer science student's journey in AI and the positive influence his professors have had on his growth!

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Posted 05/1/2026 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts