Grads

Now that the Upper Valley is plagued with record heat, humidity, violent thunderstorms, floods, washed-out roads, shattered trees and swarms of murderous mosquitoes and black flies—it is time to look forward to fall in New Hampshire. Specifically, it is time to plan for Dartmouth Night on Friday, October 21. The Arts and Sciences Graduate Alumni Association of Dartmouth (ASGAAD) has always believed that graduate alumni should be included in Homecoming Weekend celebrations. This year, for the first time in Dartmouth history, MALS alumni will be marching in the parade, with their own banner. We would love to have all MALS alumni join the ranks. We intend to be a proud and mighty force, and we need all of you to help make this possible. ASGAAD will provide a fortifying wine and cheese reception at the Hopkins Center before the parade, and we invite all graduate alumni to join us or to march with their own banners.

For those of you who are waiting with bated breath to hear the conclusion of Seth Podolsky's (ECS '98) sojourn in Southeast Asia, rest assured that Seth is now safely ensconced in New York City. His three-year residency program in emergency medicine at New York Medical College began in June. Seth finally left Cambodia in frustration at seeing so much that he could do but having his offers to volunteer help rebuffed. From there he went to the tsunami-stricken areas of Thailand. His aid was finally welcomed on Ko Phi Phi, a small island in the Andaman Sea. The resort island had been hit from both sides by waves. There Seth worked at a first aid station and as a laborer. He describes his efforts as "one of the most rewarding experiences of my life."

On Sunday, June 12, The MALS Alumni Council held its annual commencement reception. The event was well attended with a mix of alumni, faculty and graduates with their families and friends. Nancy Silliman '95 (MALS '96) was in charge of organizing the party. She had the help of Judy Chypre (MALS '99), Joan Kersey (MALS '96), Maggie Montgomery (MALS '99) and Phyllis Nemhauser (MALS '03). In spite of the exceptional heat and humidity, the conversation and the champagne flowed. Laura Rollison (MALS '05) told us about her plans for her August presentation at the Society for History of Children and Youth at Marquette University in Madison, Wisconsin. She is also doing historical research for White Mountain Films and intends to continue writing and to teach. Robyn Rost (MALS '05) attended the party with her mother and sister. Robyn will spend another year in the area as she plans her future and continues her work at the Upper Valley Humane Society. Anna Schuleit (MALS '05) was commissioned by the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston for an installation artwork, which she will present in 2007. Nermina Zildzo (MALS '05) will stay with her job at the Dartmouth library but now wants to compile an archive on Bosnian refugees. Work on her thesis documentary gave her new skills and the equipment she would now like to use to explore how people adapt in the aftermath of war and displacement. Alumni Frank Anthony (MALS '84), Mike Beahan (MALS '97) and Susan Doheny (MALS '01) were also at the celebration. Susan is a teaching adjunct at Emerson College in Boston and talked about her proposal for a class on the intersection of film and photography.

Ben Bolger MALS '04) was not able to attend the reception (because of time constraints, which will immediately become apparent) but did make it to the MALS BBQ, which was held at the beginning of the summer term. Ben is currently working on a doctorate at Harvard. While in Boston he has taught economics at Northeastern University and government and urban planning at Boston University and served as a teaching fellow at Harvard, where he won the Derek Bok Award for teaching excellence.

175 Greensboro Road, Hanover, NH03755; (603) 643-3789; m.jane.welsh.adv98@alum.dartmouth.org