Session IV

October 17, 2014

Carr 102 Beyond Internal Structures
What does it mean to perform in a new environment while trying to drive change within it? While architecture, the U.S. Senate, leadership and professional development may seem unrelated, the work these panelists did over the summer ties them together. The changes they sought to achieve were to benefit those without the same opportunities and privileges they were afforded; from the issues of homelessness, to educationally underserved populations in Liberia and sub-Saharan Africa, to college students in need of mentoring. Attend the panel and hear these young women address how they managed expectations, the skill sets they developed and how they dealt with challenges. Most importantly, come learn how they have identified potential career paths for after graduation.
A Summer with the Senate
Architecture for Educational Change: An Outsider’s Perspective
Natasha S. Lewis Preparing for Real Life 
Moreen Tonny Discovering New Career Interests from Experience
Clapp 203 Shattering Barriers around the World:
France, Spain, Uruguay and Nepal
It has been said that “if you don't step out of your comfort zone and face your fears, the number of situations that make you uncomfortable will keep growing.” Over the past summer, these four panelists embarked on their own individual journeys to varying locations: France, Spain, Uruguay and Nepal. Each student challenged herself to step out of her comfort zone in order to advance in a different language and adapt to a new setting, the work environment. Though the fields varied from working in a museum to a non-governmental organization (NGO) and interacting with children in a foreign educational setting, each student faced difficulties with language and cultural barriers as well as customs and traditions in their respective countries. The panelists will each give personal anecdotes about the unique challenges they faced while abroad and shed light on how they shattered barriers in order to get the most out of their unexpected experiences.
Embracing my Language Challenge at Make-A-Wish Foundation in Spain
Michelle N. Bernardino Feminism and Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Uruguay
Julisa Campbell Château de Chantilly: Exploring Art and Culture in France
Sonam Lhaden Expect the Unexpected: Life is Full of Surprises
Clapp 206 Five College Area, Four Science Majors, Three Class Years,
Two Schools, One Panel: Local Hands-on Research
Do you think you need to travel far to conduct diverse and in-depth scientific research?  While there are opportunities all over the world, there are also many opportunities right here within the Five College area. Members of this panel conducted research at Mount Holyoke and at UMASS-Amherst in physics, biophysics, biochemistry, and biology. By researching the origin of the intrinsic electric field within organic solar cells, utilizing ultrasound technology in the diagnosis of cancer, analyzing the effect of small molecules on mutated proteins, and determining properties of genes involved in bacterial competence, these panel members had the opportunity to explore their scientific interests with the abundant resources provided by the Five College Consortium. Come and learn about research close to MoHome!
Conducting Scientific Research as a First-Year Student: Analysis of Small Molecules as Pharmacological Chaperones of NEU1
Audrey V. Eshun Picnics, Ultrasound and Cancer
Shola Marie Wylie Organic Solar Cells: Finding the Origin of the Intrinsic Electric Field
Emma Li Genes of Influence Upon Competence in Bacillus subtilis: a small, stable RNA (SsrA) or YvaG?
Cleveland L1 Exploring the Data World: from Micro to Macro
“Statistics” is becoming a buzzword in our lives nowadays. Everybody talks about it. Everybody believes that it is important. But does everyone know why people are fascinated about it and how to improve their work with creative data analysis and management? This past summer, four Mount Holyoke women utilized the power of data to facilitate their explorations in various fields. Data manipulation has played an important role in studying objects as tiny as plant primordia to as large as national populations. From phyllotaxis in biomathematics research to biomass analysis in energy sectors, from enhanced diagnostic techniques of tuberculosis control to national estimates of medical device-associated adverse events, they collected, processed, and analyzed data sets of different sizes and kinds. Through their summer internships, they applied their statistical knowledge to answer important questions in the sciences and enriched their skill sets.
Never Fear the Unknown: What I Learned from Math Modeling
Fei Wang Ordinary Excel, Extraordinary Results
Siying Chen A Mathematical Journey into Plant Spirals
Indira Rakhimzyanova Data: Mitigate the Climate Change 
Cleveland L3 Our Liberal Arts Education in Specialized Fields
Students with liberal arts education become well-rounded in academia. However, students may feel that they are lacking the specialized skills necessary for certain industries when looking for jobs. This can be especially discouraging when a job description falls far beyond the student’s major and prior experiences. Despite these perceived limitations, this panel will demonstrate how each participant leveraged her liberal arts education in order to succeed in business, banking, actuarial science, and medicine while gaining the concrete skills their fields demanded. Panelists will describe their experiences, challenges, and insights and also discuss how their experiences have played a significant role in shaping their future career paths.
Made in China
Jessica S. Figueroa Exploring a Career as an M.D.
Ridhima Saxena Risk It: Be an Actuary
Sonya S. Gao Break into a Bank
Kendade 107 International Assistance: Our Global Perspectives
How can international non-governmental organizations contribute to the development and implementation of universal human rights? From lobbying for primary education for all children and advocating for women’s equal participation in governance to championing peacebuilding in post-conflict societies and supporting international labor rights, the four panelists traversed four continents to conduct qualitative research to initiate new projects. This panel reflects the experiences of four women working in unfamiliar settings, focusing on issues in Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Liberia, and Ukraine. Over the summer, each panelist had the opportunity to explore her respective interests and gain new perspectives about her future career goals. Through their unique experiences, the panelists will provide a glimpse of the international NGO arena and their specific projects.
Research on Political Aspects of Afghanistan
Exploring Interests in International Development: A Non-Profit Work Experience
Championing Workers Rights Internationally with the Solidarity Center
Madinatou Diallo Saving and Improving the Lives of Children: Where Does The Money Come From?
Kendade 203 Corporate Culture: Yay or Nay?
Corporate environments exist in every type of industry, whether it be fashion, finance, IT, non-profits or publishing. They are often seen as reputable but intense and isolating environments, which usually lead to future success. When we first entered these positions, we expected to find our future career paths and generate a good background for what we eventually wanted to do. However, this was not necessarily the case. We soon realized that our internships were not as satisfying as we wanted them to be. Upon reflection and evaluation, we decided that we would not pursue future careers where we interned. The panelists, with summer experience at Marc Jacobs, LinkedIn China, UNICEF Vietnam and Barron's Educational Series will discuss how their changing perceptions of their experiences and workplaces over time allowed them to realign their career goals.
From the Classroom to the Corporate World: Changing Career Paths
Vera Chen Chinese Financial and IT Corporate Workplaces 
Making It (Work) at Marc: Insights and New Goals After A Summer In Fashion
Ly C. Nguyen UNICEF Viet Nam: Is This the Right Place for Me?
Kendade 303 Crossover: Internships that Build Community and Career Paths 
“Crossover” is a term that recognizes the way commercial, non-profit, and community organizations work collaboratively to expand their potential value as a community resource. The internship experiences of this panel of uncommon women in community education and outreach, illustrate this idea of community crossover. They developed the kind of interdisciplinary skills that lead from a liberal arts education to employment. Their internship experiences will take you from Europe, to the Caribbean, and home to New England. One panelist's path had her reaching out into the Five College Community to find her major, and from that, she was able to participate in an archaeological dig in rural Tuscany. Museums are a vital community resource, and can transform a city or a village into a destination of global interest. Interning for the education department of a major art museum taught a second panelist about the importance of community engagement. As another panelist discovered, an internship can consist of partnering with a museum and its archival resources to frame a unique feature publication and future outreach programming. Working for a community outreach organization in Jamaica was an instrumental way for one panelist to tie her major to her career goals, by developing oral hygiene programs for primary schools. Non-profits are a major source of employment growth globally. The non-profit sector is diverse; it is as qualitative as it is quantitative, and as academic as it is entrepreneurial. The work is interdisciplinary, rewarding, and available. As part of the non-profit sector, community development can reward your capacity to work collaboratively, build your critical thinking potential, pay the rent, and validate your dreams.
Brushing Up One Smile At a Time 
Belle's Table
Poggio Civitate: Excavating in a Modern Community
Gabriela Ramirez Curating Community Engagement: Interning at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Kendade 305 A Learning Experience: Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Non-traditional Educational Environments
Contemporary learning and enrichment extend beyond the classroom into real-world settings. Despite coming from backgrounds in biology, geology, art history and studio, our panelists took on interdisciplinary internships which incorporated different educational aspects of their respective fields ranging from local communities to global outreach. Diverse internships at museums, aquariums, animal sanctuaries and research institutions have challenged us to persuade, to nurture, and to think critically. This panel will explore the importance of the hands-on education experience, and also emphasize the learning processes that can occur through teaching within distinct settings.
Decomposition and Ecology Education
Teaching Horse Sense: The Role of Animal Sanctuaries in Public Education
The Changing Role of Museum Education: ARTstor and Archival Work in the Digital Age
Allison Kepple Jellyfish! Going Beyond the Tentacles: A Summer of Husbandry and Education