SIBS Program, Student Director – 2018-2019

Recipient of the 2019 Jan Tarjan Award for Local Community Service

In 2018-19, I served as the Student Director for Dartmouth’s SIBS program, a one-on-one mentoring opportunity that pairs Dartmouth students with children in the Upper Valley area. I was honored to be selected for the position based on my involvement and leadership in other campus social impact programs. I was tasked with familiarizing myself with the program as I led it, which utilized my ability to adapt and also improved my skills in networking, team-building, and problem-solving. I also worked to grow and develop the program by creating more efficient and organized procedures and file systems, increasing and expanding recruitment and membership, improving relationships and communication with community partners, and revamping program materials including training structure and content, mentor and community partner manuals, recruitment and application process timelines, and mentor support materials. I established and built community connections with cultural groups and other outreach organizations on campus to promote a more diverse and inclusive applicant pool to meet the needs of a diverse group of mentees. I was responsible for training all new mentors, my leadership team, and my replacement Student Director for the next year.

Best Buddies Dartmouth, Chapter Co-Founder and Vice President – 2017-2019

Recipient of the Award for Outstanding Organizational Achievement

Best Buddies is an international organization that promotes inclusion through friendship, employment, and leadership opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dartmouth did not have a chapter, but it was something that I felt could benefit the campus and the greater community. A friend and I founded our chapter despite significant pushback from the college and the organization. Each had different expectations, regulations, and policies regarding campus groups. We problem-solved, ensuring all policies were honored, and created a group to bring attention to this marginalized community and promote discussion about false stereotypes and accessibility issues on campus. I was responsible for recruitment, organizing events, fundraising, budget management, and training new leaders.

ASPIRE, Member and Co-Chair – 2015-2019

ASPIRE is a program that fosters friendships between Dartmouth students and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Each Friday the ASPIRE program went to the local aquatic center to swim with the kids and facilitate conversations with and between the children. We encouraged group play and provided an opportunity, outside of school therapy sessions, for the children to practice the behaviors or tools that they have learned. As a co-chair of the group, I was responsible for communicating with parents, other Dartmouth students, and the Special Needs Support Center community partner to organize sessions and ensure a positive and fun experience for all. This role also exposed me further to the ASD community and allowed me to hear their views and understand the ways they can best be supported and included.

America Reads, Tutor and Co-Chair – 2017-2018

As a tutor in this literacy promotion and tutoring program, my role was to teach and motivate students to read. I utilized material from my linguistics and education classes to implement best practices for learning and reading development. In this role I also shared the joys of reading and reading with others; a valuable aspect of early literacy development. As a co-chair, I efficiently scheduled all tutor shifts to accommodate each student’s schedule and shift preferences. I also planned and organized tutor check-ins and workshops to promote self-reflection and improvement both in literacy teaching and in working with children of all ages. These events encouraged goal-setting to support personal growth and encouraged student initiative and leadership.