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Profiles ArchivesDC internship paves a path
“It was a good time to be in DC,” said Michael Mitchell, CLAS '09, describing his summer internship working in Sen. Edward Kennedy's office. Mitchell and 12 other students last summer stayed at the University of America and spent a month working for the Massachusetts senator handling constituent correspondence and rubbing elbows with the capitol's elite. Mitchell considered it important to be in Washington at the time for two big reasons. First , as a political science and economics major, he got to witness the reaction of people back home who were being affected by the recession. “Hundreds of letters were coming into Kennedy's office,” Mitchell said. “It really showed the magnitude of concern that different people had.” He also felt that it was important as an African American to be in the nation's capitol as history unfolded. Kennedy had just backed Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for the Democratic nomination for President and tightened the race between then-presidential nominee Sen. Hilary Clinton of New York. The internship, which was awarded to him by the Institute for Responsible Citizenship, a non-profit organization that helps African American males find internships in the capitol, also introduced him to one of the front runners of the Civil Rights movement, Congressman John Lewis. Lewis in 1963 was named chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was a keynote speaker at the March on Washington. Mitchell along with 20 other students got to listen to Lewis talk about politics, the civil rights movement and other issues. Mitchell was also selected to work on Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) proposed by Kennedy and Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar. YES provides scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations. As second vice president of the NAACP at UConn, editor and chief of UConn's Model UN and political correspondent for the African American Cultural Center's newsletter , The Vision, Mitchell has already paved his path to Capitol Hill. “I'd just like to help people and make a positive impact on the community and country,” he said. After graduation he wants to become a staffer on Capitol Hill before going to graduate school. Future aspirations include earning a master's in public policy and helping people on a local level. – Eunice Omega, CLAS ‘10
Planning a future in politics
Remember the name Rachael Forker; because there is a good chance you will see it on a ballot someday. Forker, CLAS'09 of Wethersfield, hopes to pursue a career urban planning and then take on the challenge of public office. Surprisingly though, Forker did not start out with her eye on Capitol Hill. The political science and urban studies double major originally had a very different ambition. “I was actually a biology major when I first got to college and I wanted to be a pediatric surgeon,” says Forker. “It wasn't until I took a few intro poli sci classes that I realized how interested I was in politics.” Once that interest was sparked, however, she dove in head first, becoming a CLAS academic senator for the Undergraduate Student Government, lobbying for student rights in Hartford, and working with the UConn Votes coalition. Last summer she interned for Lt. Governor Michael Fedele in Hartford. “It was a really great experience and not your typical internship,” says Forker. “I was lucky enough to gain experience in constituent services and begin to understand the complex web that is government.” “I got to see the inner workings of the life of a politician and it certainly helped me understand what would it would be like if I do decide to take that route.” Before tackling a career in politics, however, Forker wants to explore her interest in urban studies. “I am looking to first get my master's degree in city planning in a couple of years. This will allow me to be an urban planner and move to a really cool city, such as DC, New York City, or somewhere out West.” Forker was inspired by her CLAS general education requirements to look into multiple areas of interest. “The great thing about the general education requirements is that they expose you to so many different types of classes and almost force you to explore your interests,” she says. I had no idea what direction I wanted to go in until I took an intro Urban Studies course and I became fascinated with the subject.” Forker also appreciates the well roundedness of the liberal arts curriculum. “Since it is an interdepartmental major, I get many different perspectives. (Urban studies) incorporates economics, sociology, history, political science, geography and computer courses into the curriculum, which makes my knowledge more complete.” In addition to getting experience in multiple disciplines, Forker has taken the opportunity to get close to her professors and counts them as both mentors and friends. “ Professors like David Yalof, Steve Dyson and Jeff Ladewig, all in political science, have really impacted my UConn experience. I'm taking my second class with Dr. Ladewig this fall and I thoroughly enjoy his teaching style. He makes any subject interesting and encourages student participation and questions.” A Leadership Legacy student, she also took advantage of the opportunity to co-teach a First Year Experience course with First Year Programs director David Ouimette. “Although I have only worked closely with Dave for a year or so, he has introduced me to a whole new side of UConn and myself. I've learned a lot from him and his confidence in my abilities is really great.” Looking forward to graduation this spring, Forker is both excited ready to face the unknown. “I'm not exactly sure what is next for me but I'm ready to start a new chapter in my life. I'm excited to see what opportunities come my way and I feel like UConn has helped make me ready to take the next step into life after college.” – Lia Albini, CLAS '10
MCB major came to science through minority program
At the end of the three months, Silva didn't just come out knowing more about pericyte cells (her research topic) or how to make scientific presentations. She ended the summer with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and for a competitive edge over her peers. “(NEAGEP) made me accept nothing less than excellence,” she says. Silva, a molecular and cellular biology major from New Haven, Conn., was referred to Ruth Washington, program director and associate professor-in-residence in MCB, by a friend. Washington was immediately taken by Silva and told her to apply. While attending the program, Silva worked under Washington and learned that she had to live up to Washington's high expectations. “When Dr. Washington came to see me, she would ask, ‘Are you acquiring knowledge, Serena?'” Silva learned that acquiring knowledge came from many different sources, not just the data she was collecting from her research. “On the first day I had to read academic research, which I had never read before. If I didn't understand something, I had to acquire the knowledge,” Silva said. Although Silva is not pursuing a career in research, the program equipped her with skills that she still uses today. “When I left I knew a whole lot more; partly independently and partly through experience,” Silva said. “I still find that when I don't understand something in my textbook, I make sure I understand it fully. I want to take advantage of my education. “ Back in New Haven among her family and friends, Silva is the only female pursuing a career in the sciences, a stark contrast to the male-to-female ratio in the NEAGEP program. In Silva's research group two of the three graduate students that she worked with were female; not to mention being put under Washington's wing. “I didn't notice it much,” Silva said as she addressed the gender issue. “I just took them for who they were. I was more impressed with them being black,” Silva said. Overall Silva considers it an honor to be the only one of her family in the scientific field, but she feels as though this hinders other minority students from sticking to the sciences. “We start by taking general education courses and (black students) get discouraged because it's hard. They often switch to another major,” Silva said. She applauds the NEAGEP for giving minority students an example of success within their ethnicity. “Once you're exposed to these programs and you see people like you, there's no excuse to drop the major. “ This summer Silva will be looking for a pre-dental program. After graduation she plans to open a practice in her native country, the Cape Verde Islands. – Eunice Omega, CLAS ‘10 Click here for a podcast.
Environmental action, one step at a time
"This is the spoon we use at the Student Union," said Craig Kell, CLAS '08, holding a black plastic spoon. "And this is the one we used at the conference," he said, this time showing a yellowish spoon which - on first impression - felt and looked like plastic. There is one major difference though: the second spoon is made out of potatoes and decomposes in 100 days. "Imagine what difference we could make just by replacing the silverware!" Kell said. "We are not trying to cure AIDS, or halt global warming," said Curran Kennedy, CLAS '08. "But we are all doing small practical things that make a difference." Kell, 22, a political science major, and Kennedy, 21, who is double majoring in sociology and global health and poverty, spent their spring break in New Orleans , attending the first meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University at Tulane University . A branch of the Clinton Global Initiative - which Bill Clinton founded in 2005 to work with government and business leaders to turn good intentions into action - the CGIU intends to do the same by bringing together college students, university officials and global leaders in one network. The two were among 700 students accepted to the conference. They were the only representatives of UConn present. CGIU focused on four areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace and poverty alleviation. To be part of CGIU, every member - student or not - had to make a commitment, no matter how small or big, to take some practical action to bring about change. Click here to see the rest of this profile.
A focus on photojournalism
Many UConn undergraduates look toward the future and wonder how they'll make their mark in the world. Phillis Kwentoh, CLAS '08, is making hers as we speak. Kwentoh, a journalism major with a double minor in human rights and African American studies, has always had an interest in photography. She plans to pursue a career in photojournalism after college. In October 2007 Kwentoh was featured in a juried art exhibit in Brooklyn, New York. The exhibit, which was curated by Kareem Black, a big name in celebrity photography, was the perfect opportunity for Kwentoh to showcase her work. "Showcasing my photography in New York City reassured me that I do have a talent that will take me far." While Kwentoh has always had talent, she discovered her confidence while on vacation with her family to her parents' native Nigeria. Though she was in Nigeria for her mother and grandmother to participate in Onitsha's cultural ceremony Otu Odu, Kwentoh used her camera to capture a part of Nigeria's unique culture. "The picture I like best was taken on the second day of the ceremony," Kwentoh said. "The picture is of a group of kids watching the ceremony take place."
Kwentoh later titled this picture Nwa Ifele, which in her family's native Igbo language means "shy child." It was also the photo that Black chose for the exhibit. Kwentoh, who has not taken an art class since attending Connecticut's North Haven High School, understands the importance of photography. "The ability to tell a story without saying a single word is what attracted me to photography." After working toward a human rights minor with the goal of working for the United Nations, or a non-governmental organization, Kwentoh knows her niche. "I want to be a human rights advocate and use my photography to show people what's really going on in the world. I want to capture powerful moments. I want people to look at my photos and say, 'I understand what you're saying.'" -- Curran Kennedy, CLAS '08
Jumpstarting preschoolers
The debate on how to improve education for our nation's poor has been going on for decades, but Colleen Deasy , CLAS '08, is forging ahead with a new campaign, determined to produce results. Deasy, a human development and family studies and English double major, has brought Jumpstart, a national organization dedicated to enhancing the educational foundation for preschoolers, to the University of Connecticut . "Preschoolers are at a really interesting age and there's a lot of potential to do something beneficial. Studies have shown the importance of early intervention, so we work on language, literacy, problem solving, and social skills," Deasy says. Deasy and 45 other UConn students are volunteering this year, working one-on-one in the classroom with the children. Most of Jumpstart's intervention is focused on children from low-income families. The UConn students work with children in nearby towns. "We work with children whose families are living below the poverty line because studies have shown that these children typically start school behind their more affluent peers," she says. In fact, according to Jumpstart, 50 percent of all children from low-income families start first grade up to two years behind their peers in preschool skills. And 5-year-olds from low-income communities have one-fourth the vocabulary of their mid-income peers. "I've always liked children and what I'm doing is trying to foster my love for reading and writing in these young kids," says Deasy. She sees Jumpstart as a way for her to jump start her own professional career, which she hopes employs a service-oriented approach. "I see myself going to law school and getting a joint master's in education policy. I'd like to represent families with special needs and make changes to the school system so it's more family-friendly and serves children with special needs better." Deasy gives the most credit for her dedication to service to UConn's Community Outreach organization. "Service is very important to me and I owe a lot of my personal and professional growth to Community Outreach. It inspired me to bring Jumpstart to campus, and through it I've learned a lot of valuable skills that have taught me the value of service." -- Curran Kennedy, CLAS '08.
Measuring rainfall's role in climate change
If life is about being in the right place at the right time, graduate student David Hoover , CLAS '08, was in the right place -- UConn's Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering (CESE) -- at the right time. Hoover , who is in the second year of a master's degree through the geosciences program, received one of 25 Multidisciplinary Environmental Research Awards for graduate students for the summer of 2007. "This grant funded my research through the summer, which was great. There's a tendency toward specialization in the sciences, but this award's multidisciplinary approach allowed me to take ideas from different fields and put them together," Hoover says. The CESE grant allowed Hoover to travel to Kansas to do field work on the ecological effects of rainfall changes on tallgrass prairie. "This project examines how predicted changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation may affect plants in the tallgrass prairie. Understanding this response to climate change is important because grasslands cover 40 percent of the world's land surface, feed the world's wild herbivores and livestock, and remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere," he explains. Hoover can simulate these predicted changes in rainfall using the computer program Community Land Model 3.0. "The program uses year 2000 hourly weather data in Kansas as a control to simulate the effects of different amounts of precipitation on vegetation. I compare what the actual vegetative productivity was in 2000 to what the model simulates with a new, hypothetical amount of precipitation." Hoover 's focus on precipitation is a new slant, differing from studies focusing more on temperature and carbon dioxide than rainfall. "Rain isn't studied a lot but is really important to ecosystems. It's important to see how future climate change might affect ecosystems," he says. - Curran Kennedy, CLAS '08
Learning human rights firsthand
Noopur Vyas, CLAS '08, has known human rights were her calling since she was a young girl. A double major in international relations and history fit her focus, but Vyas wanted more than classroom study. She wanted to learn directly from the people who have triumphed over tragedy as well as those continuing the fight. The Semester at Sea study abroad program gave Vyas the perfect opportunity. During Semester at Sea students travel the world via ship for 100 days while visiting eight countries on four continents. "I couldn't choose one place to go, so I made a snap decision to do Semester at Sea, which allowed me to see the most countries and cultures," Vyas says. Accompanying Vyas and the other 650 students on the ship was Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu. "Tutu was such an inspiration and loved talking to and empowering young people to actually change the world, as opposed to just talking about doing it," Vyas says. While in Tutu's home country of South Africa , Vyas participated in Operation Hunger . "We provided nutrition education for people living in the townships and trained them on what was lacking in their diets." In Brazil , Vyas met with officials working toward equal land distribution between Brazil 's affluent and poor. "There's no comparison to going into a township, HIV clinic, or orphanage and seeing things firsthand that you've otherwise only read about. It's a completely different experience," Vyas says. Vyas didn't stop exploring human rights issues when she returned to the States. Over the summer she interned with the State Department's Office of International Affairs: International Organizations. "I conducted a research project on the government's genocide policy and got an insider's view on U.S. foreign policy concerning Darfur ," Vyas said. Back at UConn for her senior year, Vyas is now an Advocacy Project leader examining ways to bring advocacy groups on campus together for networking and to establish common goals. "I've been really inspired and motivated by Semester at Sea to do community work hands-on and get away from just conceptual stuff." - Curran Kennedy, CLAS '08
Migration moves her thesis
Caroline Platkiewicz, CLAS ’08, doesn’t know what the future has in store for her, but she certainly knows how to take advantage of the present. An Honors student double majoring in political science and international relations, Platkiewicz has used her time at UConn to participate in the International Relations Association; Husky Reads, a program dedicated to reading to children in pediatric clinics; various internships; and tutoring at the Writing Center on campus. Platkiewicz also fortified her double major by studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. “I wanted to take my degree a step further and look at cultures and political relationships between countries and development within countries,” she said. While in Europe Platkiewicz examined issues such as terrorism, economic development, and international organizations and law, but she delved deepest into the issue of migration. “I observed the interactions between Danes and political refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq that gave me a deeper understanding of the effects of the U.S. wars abroad,” she said. “Transnational migration is going to be huge and will challenge countries supposedly coming together. It’ll be interesting to see if countries see themselves as separate entities or as part of a whole and how they come together on issues like immigration.” “Studying abroad opened doors and possibilities on what I want to do and shaped my thesis, which will be on transnationalism within the European Union.” “I like the idea of different nations coming together to resolve conflict and examining globalization. Whatever happens on the other side of the world will impact us, and I think it’s important to be aware of what’s going on outside of the U.S.” - Curran Kennedy,CLAS ’08
Arabic transforms her Middle East experience
Suzanne England, CLAS ’08, had an interest in the Middle East long before it became a hotbed for terrorism study. “As a kid I always wanted to go to Egypt and learn Arabic, but as I got older I felt that the culture and religion were being misunderstood,” England says. Majoring in International Relations with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies, England became more than just a student when she studied abroad in Cairo, Egypt. This experience transformed her into a world traveler with a deep appreciation for the customs and values of the Middle East. “Our concept of reality is what we receive from the media. Those who don’t go out and see things have their reality created for them so I wanted to go abroad and create my own reality,” England says. “One of the biggest problems is peoples’ misperceptions and generalizations about others before learning the truth.” England used the study abroad opportunity to dispel myths and gain a deeper understanding of the Middle East while also giving back to her host culture. To give back, England first had to become semi-fluent in Arabic, which paid dividends, as she lived in the city. “Learning the language made me more approachable and I think it made the trip that much better because I was able to talk to the locals. I learned things about them but they also learned things about me, and you learn to differentiate between people and their governments.” England then used her Arabic proficiency to teach English to refugees from all over Africa and the Middle East through the Student Action for Refugees (STAR) program at American University in Cairo. “It was a lot bigger of an undertaking than I thought it would be, but it was completely worthwhile,” England said. “I was put with 15 adult men in their late 20s and 30s mostly from Sudan, Somalia, and Palestine.” England chose to study in Egypt because of its vast geographic features, from deserts to the scenic Mediterranean Sea, but she didn’t stop at its borders. England also described “surreal” adventures to places like Dubai, Jerusalem, and Palestine, among others. Back at UConn, England continues to stay involved as a study abroad ambassador, a member of the International Relations Association, and a volunteer tutor at Kinsella Elementary School in Hartford. England has noticed a common thread amongst her experiences. “We all have different cultures but we have the same hopes and desires. Once you break down the differences, we have a lot in common. I learned a lot about myself being abroad.” – Curran Kennedy, CLAS ’08
Trustee learns the art of political science
When Ross Gionfriddo, CLAS ’09, walks around campus, he represents not only himself but the entire UConn student body. In April, Gionfriddo was elected as the UConn Board of Trustees undergraduate student representative. His term will run for two years, just in time for him to graduate with a double major in political science and economics. Gionfriddo also is a member of the UConn crew team and he serves as vice president of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. In fact, it was a fraternity brother who introduced him to the idea of being the student representative. “A mentor from my fraternity told me about the position and I thought to myself, ‘I could get involved and make some changes,’” Gionfriddo says. Self-described as the student who would complain a lot, Gionfriddo is now in the delicate position of balancing the concerns of 20,000 undergraduate students with an insider’s knowledge that comes from serving on the board. “This job puts me in a difficult space, so my role is to represent the students concerns and interests while also making decisions in the best interests of UConn,” he says. One issue he cites is students’ demands for a sidewalk and weekend night bus services along Hunting Lodge Road to off-campus apartment complexes. Gionfriddo counts campus safety as one of his main focuses. He knows however, that the difficult part will be relaying to students the need to impose increased fees in order to pay for such demands. “One of the biggest problems is people who complain but don’t have all the facts. The students have entrusted in me the power to make the best decisions,” he says. To make sure he still hears the voices of his fellow students, Gionfriddo holds office hours in the Student Union, answers students’ concerns through e-mail, and visits with groups that have interests in particular issues. “I don’t think a lot of students know about this position, but I want to be proactive in getting student involvement,” he says. Gionfriddo also gains personally from the experience. “This is a great way to build connections with powerful people and get experience. The board works like a corporation and I learn a lot just going to the meetings.” – Curran Kennedy, CLAS ‘08
Health care inequities prompt study
At just 21 years of age, Nikita Lakdawala, CLAS ’08, has combined a world of experience with her double major in molecular and cell biology and an individualized field that she created, health care and social inequality. She has studied abroad in London, volunteered to serve the homeless and hungry in Boston, New York, and Willimantic, Conn., and worked with the underprivileged in soup kitchens and farm fields. “Even though UConn is such a large school, I’ve been able to get involved in community service programs. I think students, if they want to be involved, can find things to do,” she says. Lakdawala’s community involvement has given her a new perspective, she says. “It’s not the same thing to read about something in a textbook as it is to see it firsthand.” To this end, Lakdawala has organized her senior capstone thesis around her volunteer work in Willimantic, where she provides acute care and health talks to the underprivileged. “Barriers to health care access and discrepancies between the poor and rich are big issues that need to be tackled,” she says. Ambition to reform U.S. health care led Lakdawala to London where she visited hospitals and interviewed doctors and physicians. “Studying abroad allowed me to compare two different systems and see how they operate,” she said. “With med school on the horizon, this understanding is important since I’ll have to work within the setting as a doctor.” For Lakdawala, hands-on work in communities combined with foreign study has broadened her viewpoint and understanding of medicine. “I think medicine now involves both medical and social aspects and it’s more important now than ever to understand how these parties work together.” – Curran Kennedy, CLAS
Research focuses her on health care
Allison Lemkin , CLAS '08, loves having the power to make changes, whether it is through volunteering or the sciences. Lemkin , a molecular and cell biology major and sociology minor, interned for the Red Cross Children's Hospital in South Africa through UConn's study abroad program. For over three months in the spring of 2006, she researched the beliefs and customs of burn care. Burn wounds are a major issue in South Africa where many shacks are in close quarters, according to Lemkin . "Many burn issues were with children sleeping under a pot of water and it falling over," she said. Along with bonding with the 12 other UConn students on the trip, she was able to play with the children and watch physicians perform surgeries. Lemkin is using this experience in her University Scholar project to discover why different techniques are used for burn victims in South Africa and if they actually work. "I hope this research will help physicians realize why they use these things," she said. For her honors thesis, Lemkin is working in the lab of Margaret Sekellick, professor of molecular and cell biology, and Philip Marcus, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology. She is studying molecules the body naturally produces in response to viruses. Lemkin was chosen as one of UConn's Legacy Students. This leadership enhancing program was designed to gather students interested in helping the community and applying these skills beyond graduation. After graduating, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and obtain a master's degree in public health. "I'd like to travel and do something with healthcare internationally," she said. - Karen McCormick, CLAS '07
Music motivates him
“Originally I wanted to become an actor, but music is my life,” said Adonis Chamble, a communications major who plans to pursue a career in the music industry. Growing up with parents who constantly listened to “Old School love records” resulted in Chamble loving all types of music, including hip-hop, R&B, and music on the other end of the scale, such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Panic! at the Disco. Chamble is not exactly sure what position he would like to have, but he knows that the music industry is for him. “I want to be involved in music. If you have a job it should be something you enjoy,” he said. While on the path of figuring out his future, Chamble is spending his time maintaining a busy schedule and building an impressive resume. Last spring and summer, he gained experience while interning for Lasmouve, an independent record label in Bridgeport, CT. While there, Chamble helped advertise and organize events held by the label. As the Performing and Fine Arts Chairman of the Student Union Board of Governors, Chamble organizes events such as UConn Idol, talent shows, and dance parties. With the UConn Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir, Chamble has the opportunity to perform in different areas of Connecticut, including on campus. Outside of music, Chamble is also a member of the Black Student Association, Impact, and serves as a peer mentor for freshmen through UConn’s student support services. Chamble believes that his experiences at UConn have helped prepared him for the music industry. “It shows me I can hold responsibility while at school and handle different people, so I should be ready,” he said. – Karen McCormick, CLAS ‘07
Family Studies major lauded for family leave proposal
Samantha Sherwood, a human development and family studies major, won first prize for a public policy proposal she wrote on expanding the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993. The prize was awarded by Yale University's Roosevelt Institution. Sherwood, who minors in political science, became interested in family leave while taking a course on public policy and the family taught by Steve Wisensale, professor of human development and family studies. Her proposal would expand the family leave act, extending its requirements to businesses with as few as 20 employees and offering paid leave that would allow an employee to collect 50 percent of his or her wages, up to $800 per week, for 16 to 18 weeks. The benefits would be funded through a federal payroll tax. The current federal law allows 12 weeks of unpaid leave. California is the only state with a law providing for paid family leave. Sherwood worked to combine her proposal with a similar proposal by a student from Union College for an article in a journal of new policy ideas that will be distributed to members of Congress and local government officials. "This experience helped me learn a lot about myself, my interests, and my passions," said Sherwood.
Grad student from Sri Lanka excels in geology
Even after graduating with a 3.95 GPA, Geethika Wijewardena had a lot to learn after coming to UConn from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. Discussing her new life in the United States she said, "Living is adventurous because everything is different. Even road signs are different." Geethika is a geology graduate student and is a teacher's assistant for geology 250. She comes to UConn with an impressive background. In 2003, she won the Memorial Scholarship, an annual award given to the best geology student in Sri Lanka. She was also awarded an academic excellence award in 2005 for her outstanding GPA. Geethika also excelled outside of academia. As a member of Girl Guides, she became a senior guide and won the presidents guide award. In 2005, she was awarded the Duke of Edinburgh's award for three standards: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. The award is focused on youth development. To earn it, she was required to do community service, learn a particular skill, participate in a sport, and go on expeditions. For the Gold standard, she was required to go on an expedition where she walked 50 miles in four days and completed various tasks along the way. She noted that students at UConn are quite different than in Sri Lanka. There, students are directed by parents at home, teachers in school, or the university they attend, while students here are more independent. Along with her students, Geethika is dealing with a busy schedule. "I don't have any free time here!" she joked. - Karen McCormick, CLAS '07 Photo by Teresa Philips
Learning her way around a lab
Sonali Shah is only a sophomore, but her schedule is filled with research in labs, taking 18 credits of classes, and extracurricular activities. Shah, who is a molecular and cell biology major and chemistry minor, began research at the UConn Health Center by assisting a postdoctoral student. There she became familiar with various lab techniques. Last summer she conducted research at the Center for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Infectious Diseases with Dr. Pramod Srivastava. She examined the pathway by which foreign products interact with antigen-presenting cells to initiate an immune response. This year she studied damaged DNA in the lab of Ashis Basu, professor of chemistry. Shah's experiences in UConn labs have given her confidence. She is applying for summer internships for large companies that do not necessarily have the time to train students how to work in a lab. "I have a chance. I feel I can be a valuable addition," she said. Shah also spends her time playing club tennis, volunteering for the Husky Ambassador program and the Honors Ambassador leadership team, and she is on the Honors Council. Eventually, Shah plans to earn an MD and a PhD in immunology, pathology, or oncology. She wants to start off in a lab and eventually branch off to form her own clinical-patient practice. She was recently nominated for a Goldwater Scholarship, a competitive national award for undergraduates in the sciences. "It wasn't something I expected as a sophomore," she said. "It reaffirmed to me why I am here." - Karen McCormick, CLAS '07
Seeking community change
As the president of the College Democrats and a triple major in political science, economics, and philosophy, David Steuber, CLAS '08, spends much of his time trying to influence community change. Even as a child, Steuber was interested in politics. "When I was a little kid I would watch the news and wouldn't get bored with it," he said. At a young age, Steuber became inspired to get involved in politics when an 18-year-old ran for the mayor of his hometown Loveland , Ohio . Although though the candidate did not win, Steuber realized that he could also make an impact, even at a young age. Steuber joined the College Democrats in 2004. As the president, he is required to run meetings, organize events, negotiate and set the agenda, and give introductory speeches at rallies. The club, which continues to grow, has an attendance of nearly 40 people at each meeting. He hopes to get the College Democrats more involved in community service. Although it may appear to some that there is a constant rivalry between the College Democrats and Republicans, Steuber claims that it is more civil. "I get along with the College Republicans," he said, "We have a common interest in politics." Steuber is also the president of the UConn International Relations Association, a club that discusses political topics, cultural events, and sent members to the Harvard National Model United Nations Conference in Boston . Each year the club also organizes WorldFest, a cultural event in which many ethnic clubs and organizations around campus come together in celebration with food and performances. As if being a triple major and the president of two clubs weren't enough, Steuber is also a member of the Leviathan Society, a political debate group, and he also was a part of a UConn Relief Corps trip to revive New Orleans . Currently, Steuber is not sure what the future will bring. He is considering going to law school, working for the Peace Corps, or working the upcoming presidential campaign. "I figure the more I do, the more options I'll keep open for later on," he said. - Karen McCormick, CLAS '07
Tanzania service teaches sociology major
Alyssa Moss, CLAS '08, a sociology major, thrives on volunteering and the results she witnesses. "I feel fortunate and I feel that I have the resources to help other people," Moss said. "Sometimes I feel like I get more out of it than they do." "Some kids, if you tried to hug them, they had no clue what to do," Moss said about her experience volunteering with Cross Cultural Communications, a New York-based nonprofit. She volunteered with the organization for three weeks during the summer of 2006, working at an orphanage in Tanzania. Moss was disturbed to see starving and dehydrated children. Some children would lick their fingers dry after washing them and drank toilet water, while one child drank his own urine because of the lack of water access. "You wonder how the kids survive, but it's normal to them. They don't think anything is wrong," Moss said. While Moss longed for her return to American foods, she found it difficult to return to the United States. "I didn't want to leave because I got attached to the kids," she said. She experienced culture shock upon returning home. It took some time to become adjusted to being able to shop for food and clothing once again. Now, Moss second guesses what Americans tend to complain about. "Is it really worth it?" she asked. She also has volunteered in New Orleans with the UConn Relief Corps and in a Washington, DC soup kitchen and food bank, through Community Outreach. Along with community service, Moss is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and a member of the Connecticut Leadership Legacy Experience, a program designed to gather exceptional student leaders. In the future, she plans to pursue a career in social work.-Karen McCormick
Copperheads captivate biology researcher
Chuck Smith, a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology, has been interested in snakes since the age of 8. As a child he begged his cousin, who was a herpetologist, to send him snakes, which eventually had their own room in his house. Smith's fascination with snakes led him to study the copperhead, a poisonous snake that measures up to 30 inches and can be found in the Connecticut River Valley in the central part of the state. Connecticut is in the northern extreme of the species range. "It was an opportunity to compare the biology here with warmer parts," Smith said. For three years, he researched copperhead reproduction and how hormone levels were related to the snakes' movements. He found that the male's peak of testosterone corresponded with movement and reproductive behavior. "Males expand homeland ranges greatly during mating time," Smith said. He found that the males follow the female's chemical trails to mate. More females caused more trails, and in turn, more offspring. The copperhead uses its tongue to locate these trails. Smith studied the snakes' movements with the help of 30 radio transmitters and permanent microchips. Today, there are 115 copperheads in Connecticut carrying Smith's microchips. He still loves snakes even after being bitten several times. Smith believes that the instances where he was bitten were his own fault. "It was nothing due to the animals," he said, and there were "only a couple of poisoning snake bites." - Karen McCormick Above: Smith with a juvenile green anaconda at a research station in the Paucarillo Forest Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon.
Chem major mixes a high energy schedule
"I personally work really well when I have a lot to do," said Charlayne McStay, CLAS '09. "I look at my undergraduate career at UConn as a job. I think I do a really good job at handling that." As the program coordinator for the Husky Ambassadors, she manages the spring open house for potential students, sets up registration for visitor programs, and assigns volunteers with prospective students. As a chemistry major, McStay enjoys lectures outside of her major, such as human rights, and works with the Global Leadership Commission, a group that helps bring new speakers to campus. McStay is also a member of the Pre-medical society. In the lab of Prof. Ashis Basu, McStay helps with organic and cancer research. She is studying the effects of nitrogen-based compounds on cancer and the effects of ionizing radiation and how it causes cancer. McStay has been dancing since the age of three. She is a member of the UConn Tap Team, competing against other dance schools in locations such as Hartford and New York. Recently, the team won its first bid to the national competition in Las Vegas. Last May, McStay joined fellow UConn students to New Orleans with the UConn Relief Corps. While there, she helped restore homes for those in need. Among the many activities she is in, the Connecticut Leadership Legacy Experience, a program designed to gather exceptional student leaders at UConn, is her favorite. "The people in the program are very similar to me," she said. After graduating UConn, McStay plans to become a pediatric oncologist.
Headed toward a career in conservation
Chris Field's love for birds has grown since he has been in the ecology and evolutionary biology program. Two summers ago he began studying birds while he interned with Audubon Connecticut, a state office of the National Audubon Society, which helps protect birds and other wildlife. Field, CLAS '07, received a People's Bank Community Internship Award to work with Audubon again last summer. There he developed an Important Bird Area Conservation Plan for Lighthouse Point Park in New Haven. This area is a popular spot for migratory birds. As part of his research, Field identified the natural resources of the park and suggested future plans to preserve it. At the end of the summer Field also studied the vocal behaviors of the saltmarsh sparrow with the help of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund, a fund supported by the CLAS Dean's office that enables undergraduates to conduct research during the summer. Field plans to seek a job in the applied conservation science field. He believes his research experience was a big asset. "I definitely think it will play a big role in landing a job when I get out," he said.
Barefoot on the Appalachian Trail: biology grad student takes an extreme hike
For as long as Susan Letcher can remember, she has preferred to be barefoot. While growing up in Maine, it was not uncommon for her to hike shoeless for an entire day. Letcher, a fourth-year doctoral student in studying tropical ecology, took this to the extreme when she hiked the Appalachian Trail barefoot with her sister, Lucy. For 15 months, the young women, who became known on the trail as "The Barefoot Sisters," hiked from Maine to Georgia and back again, totaling 4,336 miles. The trip was not only about a case of dirty feet, but rather, connecting to the earth and "experiencing the trail to another sense," Letcher said. The sisters co-wrote two books, The Adventures of the Barefoot Sisters, Book 1: Southbounders and The Adventures of the Barefoot Sisters, Book 2: Walking Home , about their experiences on the trail. The books were published in September 2006 and can be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/barefootsisters . Many Appalachian Trail hikers are extremely grateful for the hostel owners along the way who are referred to as "Trail Angels." "There are so many great people that I met out there," Letcher said. The trail greatly varied according to the season. During the spring and summer, "We camped with people every night," Letcher said. Winter was a different experience. At one point, the women did not see anyone else on the trail for a month and a half. They encountered severe blizzards and chest-high snowdrifts. Arriving home was much more difficult than the sisters expected. "It was really difficult," Letcher said. "It took a while for me to get used to not moving every day." The sisters returned home soon after the events of Sept. 11 th . "The world I came back to was not the one I left," Letcher said. After experiencing the help of "Trail Angels" it was difficult to come to terms with what happened. "Writing the book was in a way, me trying to come into terms with two aspects of the world," Letcher said. - Karen McCormick
Overcoming obstacles one at a time
Eugene Yeboah, CLAS '07, has not only overcome a language barrier and culture shock, but is also tackling pre-medical courses. Yeboah and his family moved to Connecticut from Ghana, West Africa when he was a junior in high school. "I didn't know what to expect," Yeboah said. "That was hard for me. It took me about a year to settle in." Yeboah began taking classes at the West Hartford campus and eventually came to Storrs. He recommends that other students from different cultures begin at small regional campus to become adjusted. "Start smaller. Become involved," he said. While at the West Hartford campus, Yeboah started an indoor soccer program, a poetry club, and self defense classes. Now, he likes Storrs because there are even more activities he can enjoy. Not only does he love organic chemistry, but Yeboah also loves music. He plays drums, lead and bass guitar, and the keyboards for his church. Yeboah is also a member of UConn's Voices of Freedom gospel choir and Bringing Awareness Into Latino Ethnicities (BAILE). Yeboah hopes to attend the UConn School of Medicine and become a surgeon. "Eugene is a wonderful young man who has overcome many obstacles," said Joseph Crivello, his advisor and professor of physiology and neurobiology. "You talk to him for 30 seconds and are sure he is a student who will succeed. He will make a fine surgeon."
Carolyn Schwarz: Research on a remote island changed her frame of mind
Carolyn Schwarz, a doctoral candidate in anthropology, was surprised to suffer from culture shock upon returning home to the United States. After living on the island of Galiwin'ku in the most remote part of northern Australia while conducting research, she became adjusted to constantly being surrounded by people and sharing her belongings with others. "Kinship is the most important aspect of their society. Being alone is considered a pitiful condition," Schwarz said. Unlike the United States, it was common for large families to live in small houses and share food, money, and clothing. After spending 17 months in Galiwin'ku, she is preparing a dissertation on how the Yolngu view their religious values, behaviors, and identities with one another and with the rest of the world. "I'm interested in religion, particularly how indigenous peoples interpreted Christianity and how Christianity and Western religious system either came together or conflicted with one another," Schwarz said. She studies why and for whom religion and religious behaviors matter in the aboriginal community under a fellowship granted by the UConn Humanities Institute. After her studies and experiences, anthropology has changed her frame of mind. "It forces you to think outside yourself and outside our societal constructs, in terms of what is 'normal.' It makes you rethink you societal norms and values."
Kristine Folkerts: Making a difference in Africa
Kristine Folkerts, CLAS '07, believes big changes can come from helping small communities. "Helping even just a few people is better than being apathetic," she said. Folkerts, a molecular and cell biology major with a minor in African studies, went to Kenya with Operation Crossroads Africa in the summer of 2004. Through this program, she had a major impact on people's lives. She shadowed doctors, gave patients bed baths, and helped run two free health clinics that provided care to more than 3,000 people. After spending time in a hospital where nearly 50 percent of patients had HIV, she realized how much help was needed. "I saw at least two children die from preventable diseases," she said, "Ever since I came back I've been interested in public health and health disparities, especially in Africa." While in Ghana during the summer of 2006, Folkerts studied the malaria care-seeking behaviors of mothers in four different rural communities. With the help of a translator, she interviewed these women to learn about the different treatments used for malaria and to highlight factors that prevented timely and appropriate care. Folkert originally wanted to do graduate work in molecular biology, but her experiences in Kenya and Ghana altered what she wants to do in the future. "It's so rewarding to have personal contact with people and to feel like you are making a direct impact on their lives," she said. Currently, Folkerts is applying for MD and master of public health programs. She hopes to work internationally. She is also making a difference while at UConn. As a member of UConn Caring Internationally, she raises money to donate to programs that help children in need internationally.
Learning about the sea
As the director of education at Mystic Seaport, Lisa Marcinkowski, CLAS '89 creates educational programs about sea life attracting visitors ranging from toddlers to adults. After research and making sure that the programs relate to what students are learning in classrooms, she creates activities including camps for pre-schoolers to teens, school group tours, and overnight stays. She feels the pressure to make sure that the programs are entertaining and educational. "When I first started graduate school, I joked that I had the wrong undergraduate degree, but I am grateful every day that I was an English major because I spend most of my time writing," said Marcinkowski. She spends a lot of her time writing grant proposals, tour outlines, training materials, marketing materials, articles for museum publication, and Web content. After graduating UConn, Marcinkowski worked as a tour guide at the Orchard House Museum in Concord, Mass. She decided to obtain her master's degree in museum studies at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, a premier program for training museum professionals. "I'd always loved history and books," she says "Working at a museum is a great job for anyone who's curious and likes learning new things."
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