Latest Stories
Aquaculture for a CauseProfessor Pine Shares Agriculture Expertise in Senegal
This summer, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Harvey Pine shared his expertise in aquaculture with agricultural extension agents in Senegal as part of a volunteer project funded by the United States Agency for International Development. And, as a bonus, he donated a set of Colby-Sawyer soccer uniforms to a local youth group.
Forward MomentumColin Turner '19 Interns at Physiotherapy Works
Physical therapists are experts in movement — they help patients restore mobility through exercise and similar treatment plans. Exercise science major Colin Turner '19 received hands-on clinical experience while also experiencing a new culture when he spent his summer working alongside physical therapists in Ireland. The exposure to his discipline in an international setting took his learning to an even higher level, and the transferable skills he learned brought him one step closer to his ultimate goal of helping people improve their quality of life.
Being Seen as Susan
Susan N.T. Sam-Mensah ’18 is a champion among the approximately 1,100 smart, motivated students who attend Colby-Sawyer. Setting her apart is her public and conscious journey to shape her identity in a world that attempts to dictate her self-worth.
Getting Down to BusinessMaliha Azizi '17 interns with PricewaterhouseCoopers
This summer, Maliha Azizi '17 worked as a private company services tax intern for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the second largest professional services firm in the world. As a multinational network, its 223,000 employees help individuals and companies maximize value by providing assurance, tax and advisory services in more than 157 countries. At their office in McLean, Va., Azizi helped the company achieve its ultimate goal of solving important tax problems for clients in local, national and global markets.
Giving It Her Best ShotAlex Danas '18 interns with Virginia Military Institute’s Basketball Program
Alex Danas '18 knows there are plenty of benefits to playing a team sport in college. Not only do student athletes benefit from the regular physical activity, but they also learn time management and leadership skills. And if sports are useful to students like Danas, then they are especially advantageous to cadets studying at military colleges like the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Va., where Danas interned this summer.
Experiencing ScienceStudents Conduct Important Research with Real-World Impact
“Imagine if schools taught baseball the way they taught science,” goes a popular saying. If it were so, students would spend 12 years reading about the game, with a few opportunities as high schoolers to reproduce famous plays. Only as graduates would they have a chance to get out on the field and learn what it means to play the game. Of course, the analogy is a critique of how many schools at all levels teach: out of a book and in a classroom instead of engaged in the scientific process.
On Course:Emily Lopez ’17 Combines a Passion for the Sea, Conservation and Law
Just south of Portland, Maine, Cape Elizabeth juts out into the Atlantic between Saco Bay and Casco Bay. On the southeast edge of the cape is Two Lights State Park. There are no lighthouses in Two Lights State Park, a source of consistent dismay and clarification for the park rangers who patrol the 41-acre park. What there is, instead, is an abundance of wildlife and a well-worn trail whose loops combine for a two-mile stroll that offers glimpses of minke whales making their way up the coast.
My Top Ten(ish) ListLocal Places You Should Know About
Honestly, this is a Top 20 list of places I think Colby-Sawyer students should know about. The college provides numerous opportunities on campus, but there are also lots of activities and adventures to be had in town … and beyond. You’ll really make New London your home when you explore all the town and the area have to offer. These are just my personal favorites — get out there and find your own!
A Dog-Powered SportBailey Friedman '18 Interns at Alaska Heli-Mush
Controlling 30 strong, high-energy sled dogs is an exercise. It is an exercise in flexibility and teamwork, but it’s also just plain exercise. Mushing requires intense and precise physical exertion from both the dogs and people trained to practice the state’s official sport. This summer, Bailey Friedman '18 applied her exercise science major to her canine athletes while interning at Alaska Heli-Mush Inc.
Ready to ResearchJohn Rojas '18 Interns at the National University of Natural Medicine
John Rojas '18 possesses a variety of talents. Last semester, he made the Dean’s List while majoring in health promotion and minoring in psychology and studio art. Outside the classroom, he’s active in the Hispanic-Latino Club and Student Government Association. He’s also known around campus for his expressive breakdancing. This summer, however, he focused on tackling a self-admitted weakness: research.
Ambition Has No LimitOmar Hajajra '18 Interns with U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen
For history and political studies major Omar Hajajra ’18, working in the heart of the nation’s capital this summer was his “dream internship.” As an intern for New Hampshire’s U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Hajajra assisted senior staff, completed clerical duties and, most importantly, was on the frontline of communication with Senator Shaheen’s constituents.
Business of CareBrigitte Ruiz '18 Interns with Genesis Rehab Services
Brigitte Ruiz '18 has found a variety of ways to improve the well-being of others at Colby-Sawyer, such as participating in Christian Navigators Fellowship and the Medical Reserve Corps. A health care management major in the Business Administration Department, Ruiz worked at New London Hospital as a community wellness intern and helped launch the “Healthy Eating Initiative” in the New London community last summer. She wanted to make an impact on yet another community, though, so she secured a second internship. This time, it took her to the other side of the world.
Stepping Up to the PlateChris Hood '18 Interns with the Upper Valley Nighthawks
Baseball is in full swing in the summer. For a lot of students, the season is also the perfect time to complete Colby-Sawyer’s required internship. Chris Hood '18, a sport management major from Goffstown, N.H., paired the classic summer activities as an intern with the Upper Valley Nighthawks in White River Junction, Vt. Baseball is America’s pastime, and it was Hood’s job to make it the pastime of the Upper Valley, too.
First Exhibition in New Center for Art + Design“Inner Visions: Selections from the Collection of Beverly Stearns Bernson ’55” Features Outsider Art
Colby-Sawyer invites the public inside its new Center for Art + Design to view an extraordinary exhibition composed primarily of outsider art. Colby-Sawyer and the Fine and Performing Arts Department is proud to host “Inner Visions: Selections from the Collection of Beverly Stearns Bernson ’55” as the first exhibition in the center’s stunning Davidow Gallery. An opening reception will be held Friday, Oct. 13, at 4 p.m. during Homecoming.
Renaissance WomanMorgan Forrest '18 Interns at Royall & Company
As a corporate events intern with the direct marketing agency Royall & Company, Morgan Forrest '18 of Brewer, Maine, had the opportunity to view higher education from the perspective of her business administration major. At Royall’s offices in Richmond, Va., she worked to improve the performance of higher education institutions, and the experience showed her how everything comes full circle — she helped market colleges to prospective students, which she once was.
Solid Foundations:A Colby-Sawyer Couple Builds a Life Together
When David Rosso ’10 turned 18, his girlfriend Lindsey Brown ’12 whisked him away for his first visit to the Big Apple. Navigating New York City’s grid with confidence, she guided him from one landmark to another with unerring accuracy while he shook his head at the roar, stared up at the skyscrapers and wondered how anyone could ever be part of it. The city was, the Vermonter thought, overwhelming and unreal.
Giving Back with Every CupNishchal Banskota's Commitment to Corporate Responsibility
A cup of hot tea holds more than just a strong, aromatic liquid. In its nearly infinite mutability, the beverage has served as a tonic, a centerpiece to social gatherings and even as the spark of a political revolution. For Nishchal Banskota '15, a cup of his company’s tea holds the product of a small business and its commitment to corporate responsibility.
Research on High A Season in Phenology
Plant phenology describes the science of annual life cycle phases of plants, and collecting this data can help scientists understand how factors such as climate and elevation in influence those cycles. I’m one of several people who do this work for the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which has determined that plants now bloom as much as two weeks earlier in the valley than they have historically, but only two days earlier on the summit. This change is likely connected to climate change. Our data is also fed to the National Phenology Network, and Colby-Sawyer’s Alpine Communities Field studies class uses it as well.
From Theory to PracticeAaron Records '15 Reflects After Year One of Law School
Aaron Records '15 majored in philosophy and creative writing and spent a year after graduating as the Presidential Fellow for College Communications before enrolling at Syracuse University College of Law. This summer, he is working for the Hon. Thomas J. McAvoy, senior judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, at his Binghamton chambers.
Lobbying on Capitol Hill Emily Johnson '16 Leads Students
This spring, nearly 200 volunteers with Save the Children Action Network (SCAN) traveled from across the country to Washington, D.C., to speak with their representatives. The group included two Colby-Sawyer juniors, who lobbied on Capitol Hill for children’s rights. The students, along with the rest of the New Hampshire delegation, were under the leadership of Emily Johnson ’16.
Going the DistanceColby-Sawyer Invests in Students to Make a Private Education Possible
When Emily Lopez ’17 and her mother started the college selection process during her junior year of high school, they had no idea that a small, private liberal arts-based college like Colby-Sawyer could be even more affordable than a public school because of generous institutional aid.
Challenging StereotypesNathaly Abreu '17 Breaks Away from Misconceptions
Communication studies major Nathaly Abreu ’17, the daughter of Dominican-born parents and a native of the Bronx, has spent most her life defying stereotypes. “As a Latina, people think I’m crazy and sassy. Sure, I can be kind of sassy, but I don’t think that is because I’m Latina,” said Abreu. “I think it’s because that’s who I am.”
Everything I WantedWhy I Chose Colby-Sawyer
I discovered Colby-Sawyer as a junior at a college fair in Baltimore, Md. I pocketed the information collected from the royal-blue booth and pulled it out months later, in the fall of senior year, when I began my priority application. On paper, Colby-Sawyer had everything I wanted – a New England location, a creative writing major and small classes. Then my acceptance letter arrived, along with my financial aid award. The college was more than affordable.
Leader of ChangeTheresa Edick ’18 Selected for Emerging Leaders Fellowship
Environmental studies major Theresa Edick ’18 of Dublin, N.H., was one of 20 scholars from around the world – and the only undergraduate – chosen to participate in a week-long fellowship this month in San Francisco with The Unschool of Disruptive Design, an international organization that aims to activate positive social change by facilitating experiential knowledge labs.
On the Right (Pre-Law) Track Jacintha Jackson ’17 helped trauma victims heal
Jacintha Jackson ’17 of London, England, is a history and political studies major and is on the pre-law track. She used the skills and knowledge garnered from her studies at Colby-Sawyer to make a difference through her internship with the Association for Trauma Outreach and Prevention (ATOP) Meaningfulworld. The international organization has chapters in three countries and works with the United Nations (U.N.) in an effort to heal trauma experienced by victims of war and natural disasters as well as transgenerational trauma.
In the Students' ServiceDoug Atkins Reflects on 30 Years of Service
My earliest recollection of being cognizant of Colby Junior College was when I was 10 years old and in New London visiting my grandparents. It was June, and with the house full, my bed was on their porch. At eight o’clock in the morning, I was awakened by the carillon that used to play from the tower on Colgate Hall. Little did I know then that some 50-plus years later I’d be contemplating retirement after more than 30 years of service to that very same college.
Health Beyond the HospitalStephanie Cameron ’11 Helps Health Care Leaders Collaborate
The health care issues that New Hampshire faces are tied up in a complicated knot. Mental health disorders are linked with physical health conditions, and the presence of one can dramatically increase the severity—and costs—of the other. Ideally, treatment should address issues in conjunction, not in isolation. Public health major Stephanie Cameron ’11, a research associate at the Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) at the University of New Hampshire, knows this. It’s her job to make sure others do, too, and to help health care leaders collaborate in order to ensure New Hampshire residents have the chance to achieve their healthiest selves.
Law of the LandIt’s Never a Dull Day for Conservation Officer Christopher McKee ’06
“People just don’t know what we do,” says Fish and Game Department Conservation Officer Christopher McKee ’06, who’s been on the job for more than a decade and a member of the dive team for five years. That may start to change Sunday, March 5, when “North Woods Law: New Hampshire” debuts on Animal Planet. The series shows conservation officers working across the state to enforce laws, protect wildlife, aid the lost and injured, and recover drowning victims. McKee expects to appear on at least the first episode. Regardless of his airtime, he says, the film crew was on hand for some good cases.
Thriving in the ICNElizabeth Abbott ’17 Provides Care for Newborns and Their Parents
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is home to an Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) with a twist: among those providing care for the newborns and their parents are a troupe of Colby-Sawyer alumni, faculty and student nurses, including Elizabeth Abbott ’17.
A Smuggler's PoetryAn Interview with Ewa Chrusciel
Associate Professor of Humanities Ewa Chrusciel’s whirlwind of a sabbatical took her to many European countries, including her native Poland. It also gave her the opportunity to put the finishing touches on her book, Contraband of Hoopoe, released in 2014.
Mind GamesBrandon Legendre '17 Explores His Interests in Psychology and Athletics
Psychology major Brandon Legendre ’17 of St. Johnsbury, Vt., was an intern this summer with the Psychology Department at Columbia University in New York City. There, the captain of Colby-Sawyer’s track and cross country teams was able to explore the intersection of his interests in psychology and athletics.
A Dash of ConfidenceDeveloping Self-Esteem Through Fitness
Running has been an emotional outlet for exercise science major Olivia McAnirlin ’17 of Newport, Maine, since she was 10. “I started running because I had a lot of problems with self-esteem,” she said. “I wanted to better myself and found that exercise is really good for that.”
No Dream Too BigAaron Feng '14 Finds a Home for His Dreams as a Graphic Designer
Aaron Fan Feng ’14 is a graphic designer at Compass, a high-end real estate brokerage that trades in luxury and the promise of guiding buyers home. He’s based at the Fifth Avenue office, where he works on print and digital pieces with marketing and product managers and agents throughout the design cycle. For all his self-professed shyness and diligence, the fact that Feng walks through Compass’s doors five days a week points to his secret status as a bit of a rebel.
The Highest CourtAshley Woodside ' 18 Interns at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
If Ashley Woodside ’18 is not studying, she’s on or near a tennis court – and that includes during her internship this summer at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I.
From the East Coast to the Far EastJon Keenan's Sabbatical Journey
Jon Keenan peered into his wood-fired anagama kiln as the star-filled September sky erupted with plumes of smoke. The hand-built kiln, modeled after the natural firing environment of sixteenth-century Japanese potters, was the centerpiece for the final night of the semi-annual ceramics firing at Professor Keenan's home studio.
Finding Her PassionMeghan Andersen ’03 Makes Her Professional Dreams a Reality
In January 2016, Meghan Andersen ’03 was named creative director at The Boston Beer Company, parent company of Sam Adams, Twisted Tea and Angry Orchard brands. With that promotion, her ultimate professional dream came true. Getting there, she said, was “a very cool progression.”
Richard M. Damas '17Moving Closer to His Goal
Richard Martin Damas ’17 is a communication and media studies major who wants to be a sportscaster on ESPN. Through Colby-Sawyer’s affiliation with the Washington Internship Institute, he had a semester-long internship as a field producer with WJLA-TV ABC7 News Channel 8 in Washington, D.C., that moved him one step closer to that goal.
Siembra Hoy y Cosecharas MañanaWhat You Plant Now, You’ll Harvest Tomorrow
Kevin Salazar ’17 has heard this saying all his life. “My mother used it as a motivation for me,” he said. “She always told me that the hard work and dedication put in today will pay off later.”
Robin L. Mead ’72Lifting up the Student Experience
Gone is the (text)book store of yore that was tucked away in the basement of Colgate Hall and managed by an external partner. In its place is a student-centered, college-run store that offers high-quality branded items and products selected by students, including international foods that meet the needs of a diverse student body.
Lindsey Hebert '17 Travels to Thailand as Elephant Sanctuary VolunteerHelping an endangered species through hands-on learning
This summer, Lindsey Hebert ’17, a biology major with a pre-vet concentration, spent two weeks in Thailand helping animals and learning hands-on what it’s like to be a veterinarian. Hebert, a resident of Parker, Colo., was part of a small volunteer team that provided care at a dog shelter for one week and a second week working with rescued elephants at a sanctuary.
A Newfound AuthorityTravis Yandow '17 interns at engineering firm BSC Group
Travis Yandow ’17 of Franklin, Vt., chose to major in environmental science because of his passion for the great outdoors. This summer, he completed an internship as an environmental monitor for BSC Group, which gave him the opportunity to enjoy nature while working to keep it unpolluted.
Footprint of New Arts Building Makes An Impression
Construction of Colby-Sawyer’s long-planned arts building is underway and continuing at a brisk pace as summer turns to fall.
The Next Generation of LeadershipThe Investiture of President Susan D. Stuebner
When Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D., talks about the impact of higher education — especially the transformation that students can experience in their time at a small, liberal arts-based college like Colby-Sawyer — she gets actual goose bumps.
Sweet Summer ResearchStudents Partner with NH-INBRE to Bring Bees to Campus
In fall 2014, a black bear cub graced our campus. It materialized out of nowhere like a swath of New London mist before loping across the Quad and up a tree. We peered at it from our classrooms in Colgate Hall and took blurry iPhone photos.
The Dreams and Nightmares of a Social PsychologistA New Paradigm for Selecting the Perfect Juror
Over the past 15 years, my primary interest has been teaching Psychology and the Law and related courses. Then, in spring 2014, I taught Group Dynamics and Processes, an experience that renewed my interest in my own research.
A Sojourn to Walden PondOut of the classroom and into literary history.
“It is one thing to read about Walden Pond and have Thoreau describe it; it’s another when you get to walk all along the beach and run into the woods and see where Thoreau’s cabin was.” So wrote one of the students in my course on 19th-century writers of the American Renaissance after our field trip to Concord, Mass.
Welcome, President StuebnerSusan D. Stuebner joins the Colby-Sawyer community.
The Colby-Sawyer community welcomes Susan D. Stuebner, Ed.D., the college's ninth president, as she takes office July 1.
Filmmaker Tim Bradley ’05Inspired by alumni friends, Bradley creates an award-winning love letter to home.
Tim Bradley ’05 grew up in Western Massachusetts and has long been inspired by the region’s natural beauty and cultural richness. His 2015 short documentary “The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow” serves as a sort of love letter to his childhood home. Chronicling five singer-songwriters who come together in a collaborative band, the film overflows with haunting performances set in the rustic wilderness and has garnered much acclaim at film festivals across the country.
First Among EqualsPresident Galligan Says Farewell
In February 2015, Colby-Sawyer College’s eighth president, Thomas C. Galligan Jr., informed the Board of Trustees that he would not seek a third term. His ten years of service will conclude on June 30, 2016.
Taking and Eliminating RisksAmigo Khadka ’14 is working to change the banking industry as a risk regulatory management analyst.
It’s noon on the kind of Monday in July that gives Manhattan its reputation for swampy summers, and the sidewalks are filling with office workers hunting lunch.