Grads

In late January the board of trustees approved the creation of the school of graduate and advanced studies—the first new school established at Dartmouth in more than a century. The new graduate school will open on July 1 and will consolidate 16 doctoral programs and 12 master’s programs under an independent administration.

The MALS Alumni Council, in conjunction with the MALS program, organized the winter 2016 Works-in-Progress (WIP) session. WIP is a public, biannual forum that provides students with the opportunity to discuss their master’s thesis research, and receive valuable feedback from faculty, alumni and fellow students. The event was held in the Hayward Lounge at the Hanover Inn on February 24. In 2015 the Alumni Council launched a program that brings MALS alumni back to campus to talk about their careers. The first presenters included MacArthur Fellow Anna Schuleit Haber (MALS’05), award-winning journalist and author Larry Olmsted (MALS’06) and acclaimed children’s book author Elizabeth Atkinson (MALS’95). Our plans to continue the initiative this year are underway. In addition, Linda Landrigan (MALS’97), editor-in-chief of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, began organizing an event called “Meet Ups at Murphy’s on the Green” last October. Its purpose is to connect current students with locally based alumni over casual conversation. The second meet up took place on February 9.

Boston Magazine recently published an article written by Thomas Onacki (MALS’14) on Shelter Music Boston and its work at the intersection of social service and music and art. As a musician himself, Onacki felt drawn to the mission of the organization and composed the article to showcase its message and creative approach. Onacki first learned about Shelter Music during his studies at Dartmouth. For his master’s thesis he wrote an oral history of Shelter Music Boston after spending a year meeting with the musicians and staff and attending performances. Since graduation he has continued his involvement with interdisciplinary education and now works as a mental health counselor in Boston.

174 Deer Run Road, A5, Brownsville, VT 05037; (603) 667-8338; meghan.menon.gr@dartmouth.edu; Jane Welsh, 175 Greensboro Road, Hanover, NH 03755; (603) 643-3789; m.jane.welshgr@dartmouth.edu