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Today at Conn
An internal newsletter for the Connecticut College community
Events Calendars
Featured Events
STEM SYZYGY: Lest We Forget: Slavery, Race, and The Birth of American Gynecology
Dr. Deidre Cooper Owens will present "Lest We Forget: Slavery, Race, and The Birth of American Gynecology." Dr. Cooper Owens is an Associate Professor of History at Queens College, CUNY and the author of the award-winning Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology.
Lectures & Symposia
The Great White Hoax: Donald Trump and the Politics of Race and Class in America
Join us for a screening and discussion of The Great White Hoax: Donald Trump & the Politics of Race and Class in America. The film features anti-racist educator and author Tim Wise, who explores how American political leaders of both parties have been tapping into White anxiety, stoking White grievance, and scapegoating people of color for decades in order to divide and conquer working-class voters.
Arts & Culture
Castalia Series of Student Poetry Readings
Katharine Blunt House Coffee Grounds
Campus Events
Connecticut College in the News
dc:publisher The Post and Courier Blanche McCrary Boyd a finalist for PEN/Faulkner fiction award
Blanche McCrary Boyd a finalist for PEN/Faulkner fiction award
is inspired by her Southern roots. Her works deal with race and politics and much more. Currently, Boyd teaches at Connecticut College.
Read moredc:publisher The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Why do rich men pay for sex when they can get it free?
Why do rich men pay for sex when they can get it free?
on many levels, might feel so good at the moment.” Connecticut College professor Ariella Rotramel, who has done extensive research on sex
Read moredc:publisher Salem News Wenham's Segal starts successful Learn to Skate program
Wenham's Segal starts successful Learn to Skate program
much larger than he ever envisioned. Cam Segal, a junior at Connecticut College who grew up in Marblehead and now lives in Wenham, started a
Read moredc:publisher NBCNEWS.com How Broadway performer Khadija Tariyan helps bring 'King Kong' to life
How Broadway performer Khadija Tariyan helps bring 'King Kong' to life
feel alone or question my worth.” A few months after graduating from Connecticut College, with a major in dance, she landed a role in the
Read moredc:publisher The Day Conn College students compose songs for new musical by professor that takes inspiration from ‘Peer Gynt’ and Madonna
Conn College students compose songs for new musical by professor that takes inspiration from ‘Peer Gynt’ and Madonna
Conn College students compose songs for new musical by professor that takes inspiration from ‘Peer Gynt’ and Madonna
Read moredc:publisher OZY The Trailblazing Black Female Doctor That American History Forgot
The Trailblazing Black Female Doctor That American History Forgot
The Civil War, says James Downs, a professor of history at Connecticut College, “was the largest biological catastrophe of the 19th century.
Read moredc:publisher Associated Press Eight local women honored at Black History Month event
Eight local women honored at Black History Month event
the opportunity.” Now, Dunlap is a professor of human development at Connecticut College. She was one of eight black women to be honored at
Read moredc:publisher The Day Diversifying the ice: Conn students teach immigrant middle schoolers to skate
Diversifying the ice: Conn students teach immigrant middle schoolers to skate
Connecticut College junior Cam Segal created the program as part of his "Cities and Schools" pathway.
Read moredc:publisher Associated Press Oakes Ames, Conn president emeritus, dies
Oakes Ames, Conn president emeritus, dies
department at SUNY Stony Brook before being named president of Connecticut College. At Conn, Ames oversaw the construction of
Read moredc:publisher The Chronicle of Higher Education A College Lost Its Languages One by One. Can 3 Professors Save Spanish?
A College Lost Its Languages One by One. Can 3 Professors Save Spanish?
Madison's French program has followed suit. Other institutions, like Connecticut College and Iowa State University, use add-on courses and
Read moreNew Hires, Promotions and Transfers
New Hire
Robin Bissell
Catering Kitchen Stock Aid
Catering
New Hire
Rachel Stewart
Director of Sexual Violence Prevention & Advocacy
Dean of Institutional Equity and Inclusion
New Hire
Charlotte Kading
On-call Bartender
Events and Catering
New Hire
Monica Franzone
Associate Director Children's Program
Children's Program
New Hire
Jennifer Youngdahl
IT Service Desk Coordinator/Computer Technician
Information Services
New Hire
Emma Dallas
On-Call Exam Proctor
Student Accessibility Services
New Hire
Andrew Rowe
On-Call Zamboni Driver
Athletics - Arena Operations
New Hire
Zachary Baker
On-Call Custodian
Custodial Services
New Hire
Richard Harrison
On-Call Bartender
Events and Catering
New Hire
James Fowler
On-Call Catering Chef
Events and Catering
New Hire
Dana Jean-Louis
Clinical Project Coordinator
Student Counseling Services
New Hire
Lucas Minzy
On-Call Bartender
Events and Catering
New Hire
Triana Portella
On-Call Kitchen Cleaner/Dining Service Aid
Dining Services
New Hire
Nila Ward
Assistant Coach Men/Women's Water Polo
Athletics
New Hire
Kyle Wilson
Athletic Center Evening Coordinator
Athletics
New Hire
Marissa Winslow
On-Call Kitchen Cleaner/Dining Service Aid
Dining Services
New Hire
Rosa Woodhams
Academic Department Assistant
Anthropology
New Staff
Deborah Kloiber
Archivist/Librarian for Special Collections
Library
New Staff
Kathryn Horin
Leadership Gift Coordinator
Advancement
New Hire
Michael Rapoport
Visiting Assistant Professor of Arabic Studies
Classics
New Hire
TJ Proechel
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art
Art Studio
New Hire
Peter Mitchell
Visiting Assistant Professor of Government
Government
New Hire
Anthony Melillo
Visiting Assistant Lecturer in Bioinformatics
Computer Science
New Hire
Jaime Mancilla
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Biology
New Hire
Dana Logan
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Religious Studies
New Hire
Katherine Launer-Felty
Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Chemistry
New Hire
Mathias Elmer
Visiting Professor of Music
Music
New Hire
Brian Dimento
Visiting Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry
Chemistry
New Hire
Michael Cangemi
Visiting Assistant Professor of History
History
New Hire
Benjamin Beranek
Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics
Economics
New Hire
Ann Bertini
On Call/Temporary Administrative Assistant
Human Resources
Promotion/Transfer
Monica Henry-Seifert
Teacher Aide
Human Development/Children's Program
New Hire
Troy Helme
On-Call Teacher's Aide
Human Development/Children's Program
Promotion/Transfer
Amanda Mayfiled
Associate Vice President for Finance
Finance & Administration
Promotion/Transfer
Trina Learned
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Planning
Facilities Management\Administration
New Hire
Lisa Trainor
On Call/Temporary Administrative Assistant
Facilities Management\Administration
Promotion/Transfer
Kyle Berg
Supervisor of Business and Administrative Services
Facilities Management\Administration
Promotion/Transfer
Nicole Byington
Catering Assistant
Events & Catering
New Hire
Rachel Garofalo
Catering Supervisor
Events & Catering
Promotion/Transfer
Merrill Collins
Director of Auxilliary Operations
Events & Catering
Promotion/Transfer
Heather Romanski
Director of Computer Support
Enterprise and Technical Services
Promotion/Transfer
Jean Kilbride
Associate Vice President for Enterprise and Technical Systems
Enterprise and Technical Services
New Hire
Niralee Patel-Lye
Assessment Coordinator & Certification Officer
Education
Promotion/Transfer
Luisa Ocasio
Snack Shop Attendant
Dining Services
Promotion/Transfer
Jean Auguste
Kitchen Cleaner
Dining Services
Promotion/Transfer
Anne Bernhard
Associate Dean of the Faculty
Dean of the Faculty
Promotion/Transfer
Pamela Wrinn
Senior Assistant to the Senior Administrator
Dean of the College
Promotion/Transfer
Jeffrey Cole
Dean of the Faculty
Dean of the Faculty
Promotion/Transfer
Assistant Dean of the College for Connections
Dean of the College
New Hire
Tiffany Thiele
National Media Relations Manager
Communications
Promotion/Transfer
Kathy Gehring
Serials and E-Resources Librarian
Collections & Resource Management
New Hire
Michael Liparulo
On-Call Campus Safety
Campus Safety
New Hire
Christina Kydd
On Call/Temporary Administrative Assistant
Athletics
Promotion/Transfer
Maggie Redfern
Interim Director of the Arboretum
Arboretum
New Hire
Alexis Arancio
Coaching Intern Field Hock/Lacross
AthleticsSocial Media
The Experience
Hacking Harris
The Experience, Samirah Jaigirdar '22
As an international student, there are days when I miss a simple home-cooked meal. There are also days when I miss the freedom of being creative and whipping up recipes from the Food Network. However, I can personally attest that getting creative in a college dining hall isn’t impossible.
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Interview with women's basketball coach Jackie Smith
The Experience, Andre Thomas '20
When you picture a coach, you might picture a one like Sue Sylvester from the TV show “Glee,” Jimmy Dugan from “A League of Their Own,” or even a coach you’ve once had. I think of one of Conn’s newest members to the Camel Athletics family, women’s basketball coach Jackie Smith. Her kindness toward everyone she meets, dedication to the success and growth of the team, and gumption to showcase the team’s talent has helped the team improve both on and off the court. I interviewed Jackie to learn more about her background, love for basketball and dreams for her team.
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Conn is Forever
The Experience, Mark McPhillips '20
Last semester was the first time in two years that I spent the fall months away from Connecticut College. I was anxious to embark on a new adventure but nonetheless ecstatic to explore a new country and schooling system at the University of Sydney. My semester was atypical from the start—I left for my semester abroad on July 19 and returned November 18. A typical fall semester at Conn begins in late August and ends in the third week of December. When I returned from Australia, my peers back at Conn were still engaged in their studies. I had some time to reflect and anticipate what was ahead of me. It was not easy to return from studying abroad. Life had gone on and people expected me to be the same, but I wasn't. My transition period from Conn to the University of Sydney exemplified and elucidated the ways I changed and the things I missed.
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The Touring Clarinetist of Southern New England
The Experience, Saadya Chevan '19
I’m afforded plenty of opportunities to hear my clarinet professor, Kelli O’Connor, perform at Connecticut College. Most recently, she played in two pieces in the music department’s February faculty recital, including Mozart’s well-known “Kegelstatt” Trio, and last December she was a featured soloist with the orchestra’s string section during our fall concert.
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One Step to Trinity Rep
The Experience, Andre Thomas '20
Many of our staff and faculty members live close to school, so anytime I’m off campus, I think about the possibility of running into a professor or other employee. It isn’t a bad occurrence, but it’s somewhat cringey to think about what to say to a professor outside of the classroom or context of a class. Even if it’s someone you admire or are very familiar with, there’s always a moment of silence where neither the student nor the adult knows quite what to say. However, this isn’t always the case. I saw a professor outside of the classroom and instead of it being awkward, it was invigorating. I saw him on a stage, in a costume, transformed into one of the most well-known gods of Greek literature: Zeus. Kinda cool, right?
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The Last Semester
The Experience, David Johnston '19
To register for classes at Connecticut College, we have to meet with our adviser and discuss our ideas for what we want to take for the next semester. I meet with two advisers because I am a double major in American studies and English. This fall when I met with my advisers, Professor Catherine Stock for American Studies and Professor Michelle Neely for English, it started off as a regular meeting. We discussed what was going on in my life and academics during the past semester. We looked at my Degree Works page, the webpage that shows what requirements you have completed for your major and your graduation requirements. To see the page with almost all of my requirements completed was liberating. I had been taking classes in my majors of study pretty much exclusively since my sophomore year. During my first year, I took classes to discover what I was interested in and to complete my general education requirements. To see that I was done with my general education requirements and my American Studies major was a strange feeling. This thing that I had been working on for so long was finished. I did still have a few more requirements to fulfill for my English major but aside from that, I was free to take something else that interested me, a feeling that excited me.
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Connections Matter
The Experience, Mark McPhillips '20
Connections matter. The line has retained relevance my entire life. From the day I entered the workforce at age 17, my mom emphasized just how far a connection can take you in life. Little did I know I would end up at a college where connections are integrated into the fabric of the school’s community. In both the curriculum and Conn’s career office, faculty and staff highlight the value of a connection: academic connections, such as cross-listed classes or concepts; employment connections, such as your mom’s co-worker’s cousin. Connections can be big or small but how you utilize them determines their importance.
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Playing with the Best
The Experience, Saadya Chevan '19
The end of the semester is always a busy time for me, and, as I’ve previously written, one of the highlights of this period are the various music department end-of-semester concerts and recitals that I in. No matter how intense it gets, the end of semester orchestra concert is still a great highlight and culmination of my hard work. This past semester’s performance was particularly special for me as it presented an impromptu opportunity to play with some of the best musicians in the country—three members of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Band’s trombone section led by Sean Nelson, who is the music department’s trombone professor, in addition to Connecticut College’s own Gary Buttery on tuba, who served as the Band’s principal tubist from 1976-1998. The group constituted our orchestra’s low brass section for our performance of Antonin Dvorak’s Eighth Symphony.
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First Semester Reflections
The Experience, Samirah Jaigirdar '22
Sitting on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport, I was frustrated, tired and jetlagged. I had been traveling for nearly 27 hours and plane food has never cheered me up. I was heading back to Conn after one month of winter break and my plane had been diverted to Philadelphia because of the winter storm. I was supposed to land at JFK by 8:30 a.m. and catch the Flying Camel (the College bus between JFK International Airport and Conn) at 1 p.m. It was now 11 a.m. Would I even make it?
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First Flurries
The Experience, Samirah Jaigirdar '22
Experiencing any phenomenon for the first time is always fascinating. However, experiencing something for the first time and being cognizant of it comes with its own set of feelings. For me, this happened when I first saw snow. Growing up in Bangladesh and then eSwatini, I have experienced temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to 110 Fahrenheit. But I had never seen snow.
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Passing the Torch
The Experience, Saadya Chevan '19
As a sophomore, I applied and was accepted to the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology at Connecticut College. The Center is one of the five academic centers on campus that provide resources to students and faculty doing interdisciplinary work on a specific subject. Learn more about my journey as an Ammerman Scholar.
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So, what does a dramaturg do?
The Experience, David Johnston '19
A dramaturg is someone who reads plays and musicals and does an analysis of the texts to help convey messages and historical context to the cast as well as the audience. In November, I worked as the dramaturg for “Life Is a Dream,” the theater department show at Conn. I came on board in September. Most of the work I did early on was independent research, but I went to some early rehearsals when I was able to go. The show was written by Pedro Calderon de la Barca in 1635, the Spanish Golden Age. My initial research about the time period uncovered themes that were also present in the production–the basic themes of which involve religious ideals, honor and the role of women.
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