The Wesleyan Connection

After graduating in May, Hannah Lewis ’13 will head to Panama where she has a job lined up as an associate project director with Amigos de las Americas. “Many students here,” she said, “want to—and will—change the world for the better.”

Q: Hannah, what are you majoring in and what are some of your research interests?

A: I’m a Latin American studies major, with a concentration in Spanish. I’m really interested in exploring different avenues regarding community development, poverty alleviation, and social policies in Latin America. For my major’s research requirement, I wrote a paper analyzing Ecuador’s human and social development progress from 1990 to 2010.

Q: What is your personal interest in Latin America?

A: I grew up in Texas, where I was surrounded by Hispanic influences and debates on immigration. But I first fell in love with the culture, language and people of Latin America after spending a summer in Nicaragua when I was 16. I go back whenever I get the chance! I’ve been lucky enough to spend the past two summers working for Amigos de las Americas, coordinating community development and youth leadership projects in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. Besides meeting some amazing people, I’ve also learned to make delicious tostones and dance bachata. I studied abroad in Ecuador my junior year and learned about Andean and Afro-Ecuadorian cultures. And after living in Latin America and collaborating with the people there, I’ve become really passionate about exploring ways to reduce inequality and poverty in the region.

Q: You’ll be graduating May 26. What are your plans after graduation?

A: About five days after I graduate, I’ll be heading to Coclé, Panama, where I have a summer job as an associate project director with Amigos de las Americas. I also recently received a Princeton in Latin America (PiLA) Fellowship to work as the Program Director at an amazing non-profit called Building Dignity next year. I’ll be moving to Lima, Peru in September, which I am very excited about!

Q: So you’re from Texas. What attracted you to Wesleyan? What will you miss most about campus life?

A: I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, but I really wanted to go somewhere new for college. As a pre-frosh I came to WesFest, sat on Foss Hill, and talked with random students about their experiences here. Everyone I met had so much passion, humor and creativity. The people who go here are my favorite part about Wes, and I will definitely miss the inspiration and energy that I am surrounded by daily. So many students here want to—and will—change the world for the better.

Q: What are your favorite classes this semester?

A: I’ve enjoyed all my classes this semester, especially “Sites of Memory and Resistance: Theater, Performance and Political Consciousness in Contemporary Spain” with Professor Bernardo Gonzalez and “Latin American Economic Development” taught by Professor Melanie Khamis. (more…)

Sharon Belden Castonguay

Sharon Belden Castonguay will become director of the Wesleyan Career Center in late May. An expert in career development and strategic planning, Castonguay comes to Wesleyan from Baruch College where she was director of the Graduate Career Management Center for the Zicklin School of Business. Previously, she was an independent career consultant and worked at Harvard University’s Office of Career Services.

A 1993 graduate of Smith College, Castonguay  earned her MA in education from the University of Michigan and her Ed.D. in human development and psychology from Harvard.

Q: What’s the biggest priority for the Career Center, in terms of strategy or policy?

A: I’m the product of a liberal arts education. It never occurred to me to do anything else as an undergraduate … I’m passionate about that educational model. But it’s been under fire lately. There is some kind of tension between how people who are in that world know it, and how people perceive it to be (in terms of producing employable graduates). It’s an unnecessary tension. My background in mostly professional schools may help to reconcile those two worlds; the liberal arts can lead to very successful career outcomes; on the other hand there has to be some accountability. How are we recording the employment incomes of students, for example?

Q: So real data is important.

A: It’s not a matter of measuring whether we are “beating” other schools, but rather knowing for ourselves where our students go after graduation. It’s important for us to have that data. (more…)

Zaida Garcia ’15 is double majoring in African-American studies and feminist, gender and sexuality studies. She’s on the board for Ajùa Campos, she teaches about health sexual attitudes and education to high school students, she is a Latin dancer and a gallery monitor at Zilkha Gallery.

Q: Zaida, where are you from and what attracted you to Wesleyan?

A: I’m from Flushing, New York. Initially, I was attracted to Wesleyan because many students from the program I attend, Prep for Prep, have gone to or currently attend Wes. Since many students I respect went there, I figured that there must be something about this school that keeps bringing us here. I realized through my visits and talks with students that I love Wesleyan’s openness and diversity. Of course, no institution is perfect when it comes to embracing so many views, but Wesleyan offers far more than many other places. Everyone I met was so interesting!

Q: What are you majoring in and why is it important to you to have a liberal arts education?

A: I’m a double major in African-American studies and feminist, gender and sexuality studies. I’m also pre-med! My fields of study aren’t traditionally thought of as routes to the medical world, but I believe the humanities are necessary towards any career path. I find the sciences fascinating and vital, but in medical school they will surround me constantly, and I do not want to ever loose sight of the fact that the job requires that I interact with people. We need to understand why certain populations have unequal access to quality treatment, or why someone may be afraid to report their injuries of domestic violence. Otherwise, a doctor can’t serve anyone fully. Wesleyan’s liberal arts education allows me the flexibility to explore these while still fulfilling my pre-med requirements. I am especially glad to be surrounded by Wesleyan’s amazing visual arts.

Q: Who are some of your favorite professors, and classes at Wes?

A: Last semester, I took Service-Learning at Connecticut Valley Hospital with Professor Jim Donady. The concrete end-goal of the course was to interview our psychiatric patients using the CASIG (Client’s Assessment of Strengths, Interests, and Goals). But it was the intangible that I will never forget from this class: the affirmation of humanity. We are all people, yet some discard those with mental illness as “crazy”, as “other”, literally denying someone’s personhood. You might not think someone else, or even your own self, is interesting or deserving of respect. But you can make a movie out of anyone’s life, it is that important. You can make a life out of your life if you wanted to, you and everyone else is that important. Professor Donady’s stories and quirky ways have affirmed that. Additionally, Leah Wright’s Introduction to Modern African American History is the reason why I am an African-American Studies Major and Leticia Alvarado’s Latina Feminisms is why I’m pursuing FGSS. These amazing women have also taught me to dissect and trace back the chain reactions that create a person.

Q: What do you hope to do after Wesleyan?

A: After Wesleyan, I hope to become a gynecologist for underserved communities. (more…)

Dan LaBonte

Joe Hopkins, Ed Manter and Mike Berzenski from Physical Plant and Dan LaBonte from Residential Life were all recently presented with awards for their outstanding efforts during a February snow storm.

Ensuring the safe operation of the Central Power Plant during a storm is critical to providing campus buildings with the necessary heat during freezing temperatures. Hopkins, Manter and Berzenski made their way to work either by driving in treacherous driving conditions at the height of the storm or by walking to work the next day along roads impassable to cars. They all worked beyond their scheduled shifts in order to cover the power plant during the storm and the days that followed.

Dan LaBonte, area coordinator, worked tirelessly from noon on Sunday until almost 9 p.m. that evening to hand deliver snow shovels to student residences. At some locations, LaBonte waded through waist deep snow to get to front doors to speak with students. Throughout the day, LaBonte shoveled out numerous building entrances around campus.

Joyce Jacobsen

Joyce Jacobsen, the Andrews Professor of Economics, will become dean of the Division of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Programs beginning July 1 for three years. Jacobsen brings to this role substantial experience in Wesleyan’s faculty governance process, having served as chair of the faculty, chair of the Educational Policy Committee, chair of the Economics Department, co-chair of the College of Social Studies, vice-chair of the Review and Appeals Board, and on the governing board of the Center for the Study of Public Life.

A scholar of the economics of gender and employment, she is author, co-author, and editor of three books, more than 35 journal articles and book chapters, and more than 45 essays and reviews.

Jacobsen has taught at Wesleyan for 20 years, and won the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2007.

Makaela Kingsley

Makaela Kingsley will become director of the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

Makaela (Steinberg) Kingsley graduated from Wesleyan in 1998 with a degree in neuroscience and behavior. After a brief stint doing public relations for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, she returned to Wesleyan in 2000 to join the alumni and parent relations team in University Relations.

During the past 13 years, she has collaborated with colleagues in U.R. and across campus, as well as students and alumni. For the past two months, she has been serving as interim director of the Patricelli Center.

Her short-term goal is to expand Patricelli’s existing services and offer top-notch, high-impact workshops and trainings, networking and advising services, and grant administration. Looking to the future, Kingsley will explore additional ways to support students, in particular through faculty and academic engagement and research.

“My personal commitment to social innovation and human rights combined with my experience as a Wesleyan student, alumna, and staff member drew me to the Patricelli Center,” Kingsley said. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to support Wesleyan students and alumni interested in creating and sustaining programs, businesses, and organizations that advance the public good. Through our workshops, networking, and grants, the Patricelli Center will cultivate and strengthen the spirit of social entrepreneurship and civic engagement that is already deeply ingrained in the Wesleyan culture.”

Sharon Belden Castonguay will become director of the Wesleyan Career Center in May. An expert in career development and strategic planning, Castonguay comes to Wesleyan from Baruch College where she was director of the Graduate Career Management Center for the Zicklin School of Business. Previously, she was an independent career consultant and worked at Harvard University’s Office of Career Services.

At Baruch, Castonguay managed the corporate relations team responsible for employer relationships, marketing and on-campus recruiting. She revitalized Zicklin’s career education programming, served on the admissions committee and collaborated with the advancement office to build corporate relationships.

A 1993 graduate of Smith College, Castonguay  earned her MA in education from the University of Michigan and her Ed.D. in human development and psychology from Harvard.

“Providing students with ample opportunity to gain valuable career experience through internships is one of the Career Center’s top priorities, and I’m certain that Sharon will make a big impact in that area, especially in linking students with Wesleyan alumni and parents worldwide,” said Barbara-Jan Wilson, vice president for University Relations.  ”And what better time to begin making those connections than during Reunion & Commencement Weekend, where we will be sure to introduce her to many alumni, students and parents!”

Rachel Berman is the operations and communications coordinator for the Wesleyan Career Center.

Q: Rachel, you are the operations and communications coordinator for the Wesleyan Career Center. When did you come to Wesleyan and what attracted you to the position?

A: I started at Wesleyan in the Career Center in August 2011. As an undergraduate at St. Lawrence University, I had the opportunity to work as a peer career advisor in the Career Services office. I discovered how rewarding it is to work in higher education, particularly in a capacity serving students as they make the transition from college to career. It is extremely gratifying to share in a student’s journey of self-discovery as she or he ventures through the career development process. I have a strong commitment to and belief in the power of a liberal arts education and the world that the liberal arts opens us up to. I knew I needed to be surrounded by those values to be satisfied in my professional life, and I was confident that Wesleyan would be a great fit for me. As a recent college graduate myself, I especially feel the need to be a source of guidance and reassurance to undergraduates trying to navigate the world of work and life after college. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to be here at Wesleyan as a young professional.

Q: What are the main reasons Wesleyan students visit the Career Center, or what are the primary ways the center can help students?

A:  The Career Center serves students of all class years, and we strongly believe that the earlier a student starts the career development proces, the better. We work with students to help them decide on a major, learn resume and cover letter writing skills, navigate the job and internship search, learn how to network professionally and much, much more. We offer drop-in appointments daily along with counseling appointments, mock interviews, self-exploration and skills assessment tools, events and workshops, a robust on-campus recruiting program, opportunities to connect with alumni, and access to an abundance of electronic career resources, including our own jobs and internships database. We strive to help students translate their skills and experiences to match their passions and interests, which leads to a lifetime of meaningful work.

Q: Please describe the “operations” unit of the Career Center. What are your main responsibilities?

A: The operations side of the office supports the overarching as well as day-to-day management of the center and strategically plans to ensure long-term success. In my role, I coordinate and implement office-wide events, manage our marketing and communications, conduct career counseling appointments and supervise our Peer Career Advisors program (more…)

Nick Craven ’13 is majoring in neuroscience and behavior. He’s played hockey at Wesleyan all four years.

In this issue of The Wesleyan Connection, we speak with hockey player Nick Craven from the Class of 2013. Craven signed an amateur try-out contract with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League in March. He played in each of the Senators’ games March 8-10 as they defeated the Conn. Whale, 3-0; knocked off the Rochester Americans, 4-3; and beat the Hershey Bears, 3-2.

Q: How old were you when you first developed an interest in playing ice hockey? How would you describe the opportunity you had to fulfill your ice hockey desires growing up in Ft. Collins, Colo.?

A: I first started playing hockey when I was 6 years old. That was the same year the state of Colorado got an NHL team. This allowed the sport to become much more popular across the state. I was immediately obsessed with hockey. As I grew older, my interest level only increased. Fort Collins had a decent youth hockey program, but by the time I reached the Bantam level, I had to travel to Denver in order to play for the top teams in the state. The older I got, the amount of traveling in order to pursue my hockey dreams continued to increase. In high school, the AAA team I played for traveled to tournaments across the United States as well as in Canada. As a consequence, I ended up missing nearly twenty days of school a year. At this point in my career, I decided to transfer to Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. This decision allowed me to pursue both my athletic and academic desires.

Q: How did you become interested in attending Wesleyan and playing ice hockey for Head Coach Chris Potter?

A: Playing college hockey had always been a goal of mine. During my senior year in high school I did not have a specific college I wanted to attend. I spoke with a handful of Division III and a few Division I schools. I connected with Coach Potter in the fall of that year. He saw me as a player with a lot of potential. I noticed that the team was not very good; however, I saw that as a positive thing. Not only could I receive some playing time as a freshman, I believed I could help the program improve. Following my talks with Coach Potter, I had such a good feeling that I applied Early Decision II to Wesleyan. (more…)

Christine Cruz is the manager of fire safety and facilities administration at Wesleyan.

Q: Chris, you’re the new manager of fire safety and facilities administration for Physical Plant – Facilities. When did you come to Wesleyan and what were you hired to do?

A: I began here as an intern on the renovation of Clark Hall in 2001 working for Lee Kennedy Company. I became a full-time employee at Wesleyan in April 2003, hired as an assistant facility manager for student life facilities.

Q: How has your role changed over the years?

A: My role has changed several times here at Wesleyan. My career started as an assistant facility manager; from there I became the manager of customer service from 2004 – 2005 and was part of implementing SchoolDude, Physical Plant’s work order system. Then I was a safety coordinator from 2005 – Nov. 2012. From that point, I started in my new role, which, in a way, incorporates all of the different roles I’ve had at Wesleyan into one. Some of my job changes had to do with the reorganization of the facilities department and other changes occurred as I became more experienced. My job responsibilities have grown.

Q: As manager of fire safety, do you oversee all buildings on campus?

A: I do oversee all buildings on campus, but I focus a little more on student housing because the risk factor is greater due to behavior, cooking experience, and overall number of students living in a building/house. All together Wesleyan has more than 300 buildings, including all of the wood frame houses.

Q: Do you teach faculty/staff/students about fire safety as well? How does Wesleyan promote fire safety?

A: There are a number of things I do to try to teach fire safety. I conduct training with all Res Life staff (House managers, RAs, etc.), and I offer fire extinguisher training for everyone on campus. We usually set up outside of Usdan when weather permits and whoever wants to try it can be trained right then and there. I also do fire extinguisher training with all CERT members, which include staff, faculty, and students from all over campus. In addition, I teach fire safety seminars for students who receive fire safety violations. Taking these seminars helps students get a credit towards their fines. Wesleyan promotes fire safety with various events throughout the year like the Public and Life Safety Fair – the Middletown Fire Department brings in their smoke trailer for anyone to try. (more…)

Rosalind Adgers joined the Wesleyan Career Center as an administrative assistant on Jan. 2.

Kate Carlisle became the manager of media relations and public relations for University Communications on Jan. 3.

Thomas Diascro joined University Relations as a development officer on Jan. 7.

Jasmine Cardi was hired as a library assistant for Olin Library’s Interlibrary Loan Office on Jan. 7.

Venkat Puvvula joined Information Technology Services as a financial analyst/programmer on Jan. 7.

Adam Krawsczyn became the director of university events and scheduling in Usdan University Center on Jan. 7.

Rui Ni became a research associate in the Department of Physics on Jan. 11.

Amy Bello joined the Wasch Center for Retired Faculty as an administrative assistant on Jan. 14.

Emily Brown was hired as the coordinator for special events and intern for the Center for Film Studies on Jan. 14.

Sara MacSorley became the director of the Green Street Arts Center and Project to Increase Mastery of Mathematics and Science (PIMMS) on Jan. 14.

Melissa Sullivan joined Information Technology Services as a video specialist in the New Media Lab on Jan. 28.

Dashaun Outlaw and Avant DePaul were hired as Public Safety officers on Feb. 18.

Evan Okun ’13 is a Phi Beta Kappa honor society member, a slam poet, an improv rapper and a Senior Interviewer for the Office of Admission. He also teaches classes at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. (Photo by Olivia Drake)

Q&As with outstanding students are an occasional feature of The Wesleyan Connection. This issue we speak with Evan Okun from the Class of 2013. 

Q: Evan, you’ll be graduating this spring. How would you sum up your Wesleyan experience so far?

A: Wesleyan University encourages interdisciplinary inquiry while simultaneously supporting student efforts to put theory into practice. Earlier this semester the Sociology Department (along with other student and administrative groups) sponsored a panel discussion on the education system featuring the brilliant rap duo, Dead Prez. This served as the action component of my Senior Essay, which addressed exclusion in academia and incorporated readings from classes I took in Buddhism, psychology, chemistry, poetry, music and sociology. After four years studying with innovative professors, alongside an engaged student body, interdisciplinary connections have become a part of my everyday thinking. Concepts from organic chemistry facilitate a metaphorical understanding of sociological phenomena, and classes in English help translate these ideas into spoken word poetry. There are classes cross-listed in dance and biology. There are students double majoring in neuroscience and art. Single theses for mathematics and dance. This school is incredible.

Q: What are you majoring in and why?

A:  I am majoring in sociology and last fall completed a Senior Essay advised by Professor Alex Dupuy. This spring I will expand the essay into a longer work, advised by Professor Jonathan Cutler. I have always been fascinated by how the mind works. Sociology links micro level examination of the human psyche to macro level discussion of social phenomena. It allows students to investigate the environment from which they precipitate, all the while supporting efforts to dismantle oppressive systems.

Q: What have been your most memorable classes at Wesleyan?

A: I have taken many life-changing classes at Wesleyan, but the two most influential ones were Introduction to Buddhism and Paternalism and Social Power. These classes were particularly powerful because they implicated my own thoughts and subsequent actions in the perpetuation of suffering. The professors held me accountable for the negativity I brought to the world, while catalyzing class discussions about how to uproot the human tendency to be egocentric.

Q: Through Wesleyan, you’ve taught a class at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown. Why did you get involved?

A:  During my sophomore year, I toured the Connecticut Juvenile Training School and stumbled upon a CD made by residents in the Music Therapy Department. It featured original songs riddled with powerful stories, innovative literary devices, and dope rhymes. (more…)