Grads

The MALS Alumni Association held its annual champagne reception on Sunday, June 8, at the Rockefeller Hinman Forum. MALS faculty, alumni, graduates and graduates' families gathered to welcome the new alumni and honor their accomplishments. Our feelings of celebration were heightened as warm sunlight streamed through the skylights, and we all could finally believe, for the first time in many long and cold months, that Hanover really was going to have a summer. MALS chairman professor Donald Pease began the reception with his presentation of the 2014 MALS Distinguished Service Award and the Nicholas Byam-Shaw Thesis Excellence Awards. An award is given for each of the four MALS concentrations.

Ron Bucca (MALS'14) earned the service award as a cofounder, with Stoney Portis (MALS'13), of the Dartmouth Graduate Veterans Association. This organization unites, mobilizes and advocates for veterans in the graduate stud- ies program. Ron also led a crew to help with re- construction after Hurricane Sandy. His thesis compared the processing and use of the latest technology in the French revolution of 1789 and the Egyptian revolution of 2011. His future plans include working on economic development in New York City.

Meghan Menon (MALS'14) was presented with the thesis award for general liberal studies. Her thesis "Why Not Make One's Own Fashions" examined the intersection between fashion and feminism. She explored the cultures of feminin- ity and material-discursive fashion and aesthet- ics in the 1920's The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton and the contemporary Gossip Girl by Cecily von Zieg'esar. Meghan is an employee in the Dartmouth student affairs administration. Alexandra Sclafani (MALS'I4) won the cultural studies award, and the globalization studies award went to Jacqueline Williams (MALS'I4). Jacque- line's thesis examined the viability of nonprofit investigative journalism in Australia. She has now entered a program at the Columbia Gradu- ate School of Journalism where she will work toward a master's in its investigative program. Paola Ortega (MALS'I4) was presented with the award for creative writing. Her nonfiction thesis on coming of age was titled "One Thing I Know for Sure." Paola would like to remain in NewEngland and is looking for a university teaching position.

Other newly graduated alumni included Me- gan Fallon (MALS'I4), who wrote her thesis on the Greek system and its impact on Dartmouth women. She is currently the director of activities at Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. Laurie Laker (MALS'I4) wrote his thesis on comparing war poetry between the world wars. He will be moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he will work in the communications department at Colorado College. Tyler Walton's (MALS'I4) thesis "Philology and Teleplay" consists of sev- eral episodes and a series bible for a situation comedy. Tyler is headed for Austin, Texas, where he will work on an indie film, Transient, as the production designer. Zachary Williams (MALS'I4) wrote his thesis on the history of patriotism in America. Zach analyzed presidential addresses to explore the idea of patriotism and how it is used in campaigns. He is now working for the city of Claremont, New Hampshire, as the business de- velopment coordinator.

Other alumni at the reception included Judy Chypre (MALS'I4); Kathy Coleman (MALS'OO); Grace Hill (MALS'7S); Nancy Silliman '95 (MALS'96); Lyn Lord '95 (MALS'9B), who is the MALS Alumni Council vice president; and Richard Hansen (MALS'I3), an employee at Dana Biomedi- cal Library who was recently elected vice presi- dent/president elect 2014-16 of the Dartmouth College Library Staff Association. Also celebrating were Anna Minardi (MALS'IO), who taught a MALS program course on writing methodologies in the spring quarter and teaches Italian and French for the College, and Margret Richard (MALS'BS), whose latest book is Power and Tender. There will be more on her book in the next magazine issue.

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