Alumni S–Z
Tami Safer ’96
(Click here to email Tami)
I work from home for my father's textile company while I raise my 6-month-old son.
Since graduating in 1996 I have worked in textiles, selling fabric (which has nothing
to do with what I studied at Skidmore). I value the education I received, in particular
all that I learned from my American studies courses. However, nothing I learned prepared
me for a career in textiles, being married, or having a baby.
Whitney Savage Tosh ’93
(Click here to email Whitney)
American studies has followed me in virtually every part of my life since leaving
Skidmore. Upon graduation, I moved to LA and worked for a startup company to produce
a multicultural sitcom for the Fox network. I worked with a diverse group of people
and was able to harness my understanding of cultural differences and perspectives
while on the job. I then worked for Castle Rock Entertainment before moving back East.
Little did I know I would be reading City of Quartz when I took some American studies courses at the University of Maryland a couple
of years later. Although accepted into the University of Maryland, I decided not to
pursue a master's while there and moved back to NYC. I worked in public relations
for a couple of years and then worked for NBC, Lifetime Television, and Primedia.
It was at Primedia that I discovered event planning. I have been an event planner
since 2000, having worked for Gartner in Stamford, Conn., and now at Wings Unlimited
in Darien, Conn. Event planning seemed a natural fit because of the interaction with
people from all different backgrounds, domestic and international travel, and the
research and attention to detail that planning requires. I use my American studies
degree every day in this capacity—particularly when trying to understand the needs
of each client. I married in 2006 and my husband, Stewart, and I are expecting our
first child in July. Life is good and I'm looking forward to the next stage!
Nancy Wagner Schaffer ’83
(Click here to email Nancy)
I received an M.A. in ancient history from the University of Wisconsin in 1986 and
also studied modern Greek language at Aristotolean University and Archaeology at the
University of Pennsylvania. I used my degree to teach ESL to Greeks and Japanese students
in their respective countries. My lessons were usually with a history twist. I married
in 1998 and my first child was born on December 2, 2000: Helena Grace Schaffer. Now
I'm a mom and work part-time as an assistant buyer at New Super Liquor in Clifton
Park, N.Y.
Kacey Schneider ’08
Upon graduating from Skidmore in 2008, I moved to Guancaste, Costa Rica, with another
Skidmore alum. We moved to the town of Playa Grande, where we managed a surf camp
and hostel. My responsibilities included directing the staff, teaching surf lessons,
managing the hostel's business accounts, and generating publicity. After a year of
working at the surf camp, I was offered a job teaching world history at a new private
school that had recently opened in the area. I accepted the position and currently
work there. After being at the school for a semester, I was promoted to head of history.
I teach from kindergarteners through high school seniors. I am also employed as the
English editor and contributing writer to a local newspaper. In addition, I teach
dance to local students. I currently live in Tamarindo.
Daniel Schwenk ’94
(Click here to email Dan)
My life has been a bit of a whirlwind since Skidmore, and my American studies degree
has been helpful in both direct and indirect ways. After I got back from China, I
lived in New Hampshire for a year, then Colorado for two years. In the summer of 1998,
I moved to West Hartford, Conn., with Sophie Markovic '96 so she could attend UConn
dental school. We married in the summer of '99 and had a baby boy (Benjamin John Daniel
Schwenk). In February of this year. I was going for my master's in colonial American
history at UConn, but left to work and take care of my family while Sophie finishes
school. I started working for Wild Oats, a chain of natural and organic supermarkets.
I do marketing for them and I cover twenty stores across ten states. I do advertising,
community relations, promotions, and special events for the twenty stores. It's a
fun job, but very tiring and very stressful. American studies has definitely helped
me in my work. I am able to understand different areas around the country in terms
of shopping trends, values, perspective, etc. This is valuable for me because often
I need to understand different areas of my region as a separate entity in order to
develop marketing plans for them. My degree has also enriched my life because I have
never put my interests in American culture and literature aside. I still read the
same type of books and still watch the same types of documentaries. It has also helped
develop my communication skills, which is very valuable when you need to email and
cell phone so many people on a day-to-day basis.
Andy Scopp ’06
Realizing the value of an American studies degree: After college I spent two years
teaching third and fourth grade at the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford, N.Y. I loved
it but would get bored during the math lessons, so I decided to focus on social studies
full time. I went to Teachers College, Columbia University for the following year
and got an M.A. in teaching social studies (grades seven to twelve). In the summer
of 2009, I was fortunate enough to be hired by PS 175, a small, public, kindergarten–eighth
grade school on City Island in the Bronx, N.Y. City Island is a tightly-knit, beautiful,
nautical community on an island in the very northeast Bronx with no tall buildings
and no chain restaurants. My students are terrific, and my administration and colleagues
are great as well. My classroom overlooks Long Island Sound, which I use to my advantage
when I bring the kids outside to make lessons more memorable (e.g. singing a sea chantey
during a lesson about whaling or pretending we're the Taino people experiencing Columbus'
arrival). I'm the only social studies teacher for about 100 seventh and eighth graders,
and by default, am the department chair and in charge of writing the curriculum. This
task was, and still is, remarkably daunting, and I would not have been able to do
it without the American studies background that I acquired at Skidmore. Seventh grade
covers Native Americans through the Civil War. Eighth grade is Reconstruction up to
the present. I use an excellent series of textbooks (A History of US by Joy Hakim) to help supplement what we cover in class, and I'm able to use so much
that I learned about at Skidmore, particularly when teaching eighth grade. Here are
a few examples that come to mind: In Mary Lynn's Religion in America course I wrote
a paper arguing that the Ghost Dance was a political and social movement in the guise
of a religion, and then re-read that paper right before teaching the students about
Wounded Knee. I found some great primary sources when teaching about the Great Depression
in the reader from Joanna Zangrando's 1930's/Methods course. I remember Dan Nathan's
American Past in Film course when I show images from Birth of a Nation. The 1950s and 1960s courses have provided me with an outstanding background when
I teach about post-WWII America. My eighth graders are required to write an "exit
project" which is a mini-research paper about any post-Civil War topic in American
history. When they write about topics like the Little Rock Nine, JFK's assassination,
and the home front during Vietnam, I think back to my classes at Skidmore. Joshua
Woodfork's Whiteness in America class exposed me to "How the Irish Became White,"
which I mention when teaching about attitudes towards immigrants in New York City.
My favorite lesson of the year is my Babe Ruth lesson. The "aim" of the period is:
How did Babe Ruth represent the mindset of the 1920s? The lesson includes brainstorming
our prior knowledge on the Bambino around a photo of him on the board, discussing
an article that I used when writing my senior thesis, and viewing clips from The Babe, which I reference when writing my thesis. I make a point to consider the 1920s in
general at various moments. I read two short excerpts from my senior thesis to the
kids, and they are impressed when I reveal afterwords that it was my writing and I
got to write it for a class. (This is almost a push for them to go to college because you can specify much more
in your interests and the classes are more fun that middle school.) At the end of
the class, the kids write a letter to the Babe, either as a fan or a critic. As they
are sharing their letters, I hand out Baby Ruth candy bars and mention that kids often
included Baby Ruth wrappers in their letters to Ruth, hoping that they'd be autographed.
I wear my Yankees tie and a pinstriped shirt and it's one of my favorite days of the
year. I learned many of the strategies of how to teach at grad school, and it's totally
possible to pass as a social studies teacher without knowing much outside of the textbook,
but I feel like having such a strong American history background about what to teach allows me to sequence, simplify, and explain historical information in a
way that is accessible and memorable to the students. Having an eye for American cultural history
is something I fully attribute to having been a student of American studies. I love
teaching and plan to stick with it for quite a while. Thanks, Skidmore!
Erica Seifert ’02 (updated 6/04)
(Click here to email Erica)
After two years of teaching American history, women's history, and American government
at a small private school in Raleigh, N.C., for the last two years, I have decided
that I really am a Yankee after all and will head to Boston University in fall '04
to begin working for a Ph.D. in American studies. I intend to focus my studies on
either 20th century political history, 18th century political history, 19th century
women's history, or 20th century cultural history.
Kate Crangle Semerad ’65
I live in Virginia. I have taken additional courses in American studies, without completing
my masters, at Syracuse University. Following Skidmore I lived for a couple more years
in New York State. Then my husband and I moved to the Washington, D.C., area where
we pursued our careers over the next thirty years. At first I worked part-time and
volunteered in political campaigns (we had a daughter). My political interests continued
to build as I was employed in several campaigns at the state level and then went to
work for the Republican National Committee, where I ran two nationwide programs designed
to engage more people in the American political process. In 1980, when Ronald Reagan
was elected, I first went to the White House where I helped with personnel selections
for the new administration. Then, I was selected to run an outreach program at the
Agency for International Development. This ultimately developed into being appointed
by President Reagan as the assistant administrator for external affairs at AID. Here
I ran the public-affairs program for the entire U.S. foreign assistance program, traveled,
testified before Congress, and participated in the policy councils of the agency.
For several years following my government service I had my own consulting firm. I
am currently working on a novel. For thirteen years I have also contributed substantial
volunteer time as a trustee of a U.S. university located in Honduras that educates
students from all over Latin America. While it might not at first glance appear that
my studies at Skidmore had any relevance to my career, I would suggest otherwise.
First and foremost, the design of the American studies major, when I was there, strongly
encouraged independent thinking and what I call "whole" view thinking. For instance,
in seeing an author or artist or politician in the context of their time, in relation
to each other, rather than in isolation, you were urged to see the importance of the
interrelatedness of ideas and (wo)men. This began the development of a critical thinking
and reasoning skill which I believe has served me well not just in my career, but
in my life. Also, because of the small class size and the terrific faculty, we were
pushed to think, not just learn.
Krista Senator ’99
After graduating from Skidmore, I moved to NYC and found work in an art gallery on
the Upper East Side. While my time at the gallery has certainly been enjoyable, I
have decided to leave the art world and to begin a career in education. I have been
accepted into a teaching program here called the New York Teaching Fellows. Chancellor
Levy started the program this summer in response to the city's dire need for teachers.
The program lasts two years, during which time I will be teaching full-time and taking
graduate courses. I am not sure which grade I will be teaching (I am hoping for fifth
or sixth), and I will probably be at a school located in upper Manhattan or in the
south Bronx. So I am taking a deep breath and trying to prepare myself for this change...
I will be moving from working in the wealthiest neighborhood in New York to one of
the most impoverished, and I will be answering to "Miss Senator"—one friend commented
that the title screams authority. Let's hope she's right! I have wanted to make this
career change for some time. I had initially planned to go back to school for history
but when this program presented itself, I decided to take it. I have always desired
to meet the challenges of teaching in the inner city. It is that desire and a sense
of obligation that has lead me to accept this fellowship. I am not sure where it will
lead me. I still would like to return to school to study history and maybe teach at
the high school level but for now, I see this phase of my career as teaching more
for the service aspect rather than for my passion of a subject matter. Perhaps someday
I shall teach in a more academic setting. No matter what happens, I feel that this
will be an unforgettable experience which shall prepare me for any future endeavor.
The program begins January 15, at which time I will begin graduate courses and work
in the classrooms as an assistant. By the end of February, I should have my own classroom.
Lina Senzer ’98
(Click here to email Lina)
Since September 1999 I have been living in Moab, Utah. I work for a company called
Alternative Youth Adventures (AYA). They specialize in wilderness therapy for adjudicated
youth coming from Colorado and Utah. These darling young angels come to our program
with all kinds of legal charges and emotional issues. Our job is to teach them better
coping skills and help them to strengthen thier self-esteem so that when they return
to the community they are ready to take on more positive leadership roles and accept
responsibility for thier life choices. My position focuses on spending time out in
the field with a team of ten or eleven kids and then communicating with thier families
and parole officers on thier progress. I also help to identify what the adolescent's
needs are and to plan their aftercare for when they leave the program. The kids are
awesome and I find the work really challenging and rewarding. I guess the conections
between wilderness therapy and American studies focus mainly on the theoretical idea
of "making connections" and being able to see the big picture. Each day, I am challenged
to see an issue from a different perspective. My success in this line of work depends
on my ability to think on different levels and be creative. These concepts were pretty
central to my experience with American studies at Skidmore. In practice, I often draw
resources for my kids from many different places to try and give them a bigger picture
of how to problem-solve. I often bring in many stories, poems, pictures, and song
lyrics and utilize these items to illustrate different aspects of our lives. I guess
I continue to favor a multidiscplinary approach when I teach hard and soft skills
to these kids. I have also learned a great deal about the southwest land and culture
that I pass on to my kids. The rich history of native peoples is really fascinating
to me. I am now in the process of moving to Colorado to begin working for the new
AYA branch that will be based in western Colorado. My dog, Nisa, and I will probably
be living in Ouray or Gunnison, Colo., as of next month. I look forward to lots of
great skiing and paddling there!
Alex Shapiro ’07
After graduating I moved to New York and interned for a production company that produced
the MTV documentary series True Life. I then was hired as a production assistant for a few episodes at another company
doing the same show. Eventually I was brought on as a PA at MTV News, where I wrote, produced, filmed, and edited news pieces for the channel and website.
I also filmed interviews with a variety of musicians and other celebrities and was
part of the production teams for things like the TRL live finale and MTV Movie Awards. Most recently I have been a PA at MLB Network, where I contribute to the production
of their flagship show MLB Tonight. Mainly I am editing highlights, producing show elements, and creating video packages
alongside the analysts who help break down certain plays or player skills. In the
off season my time is devoted to the production of "best of" and "countdown" shows
and also contributing to our off-season live show Hot Stove.
Lynn Doe Shipway ’70
(Click here to email Lynn)
I live in Arlington, Va., received my M.L.S. in '72 and M.P.A. in '78. I have retired
after about 30 years in higher education as a librarian and administrator at Skidmore
and an administrator at George Washington University. I'm now awaiting word as to
whether Dugan and I will be moving to Australia. I did and do use my American studies
background nearly every day ... especially in these days of "election chaos." It has
always been a wonderful "starting point" and background for conversations, research
projects, graduate programs and even just reading the newspaper!
Paul Sigrist ’82
After graduating as a double major in music and American studies, I spent a year in
graduate school at NYU in the American civilization program. I then returned to Saratoga
in the summer of 1983 and spent two years identifying and cataloging the entire collection
of decorative and fine arts at Yaddo. The project culminated in a public lecture given
at Yaddo in 1985 as well as a written catalog. During these same years I was curator
of the historic costume and textile collection at the Saratoga County Historical Society
at Brookside in Ballston Spa. In 1985 after the Yaddo project was completed, I assumed
the position of curator of the Yates Collection at Skidmore, where I remained until
1989. All during the 1980s I also maintained my own antiques business in Saratoga.
In 1989, I accepted a position at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which at that
point had not opened to the public. I was the director of the Ellis Island Oral History
Project at the museum from 1989 to 1999, overseeing all aspects of the project including
conducting interviews, working with all kinds of researchers, conducting public lectures
about the project, and training student interns from many different academic institutions.
Two of my best student interns over the years were former Skidmore American studies
majors: Mindy Hapeman '97 and Krista Senator '99. After resigning from Ellis Island
in 1999, I returned to dealing in antiques, this time specifically selling 19th century
Staffordshire ceramics. I also work as a professional actor and singer here in New
York. Having been a Bandersnatcher during my Skidmore years, I had a great time participating
in the first Bandersnatcher reunion concert held at Skidmore in the fall of 1996.
Marcie Simon ’97
I received an M.A. in American history and an M.Ed. in secondary curriculum and instruction.
Currently I live in Boston and teach history (world and U.S.) at Brookline High School
in Massachusetts. I think it's obvious how my major affects my work every day!
Nancy Bigelow Sinclair ’64
In the '60s I took graduate education courses at Boston University and received my
M.Ed. in counseling/consultation from Keene State College in 1992 and I am currently
taking graduate education courses at UVM. How does what I do in my work and how does
an American studies degree come into play in my work and life? My Dad kiddingly told
me that my degree plus a quarter would get me on the subway. He believed in a liberal
arts education so it was said "tongue in cheek." My first four years after graduation,
I taught fourth and fifth grade. My American studies major was a helpful knowledge
base to draw and teach from, particularly in the social sciences and history—literature,
too. Today I am a K–6 school counselor in Cavendish, Vt. Developmentally, I work with
a wide range of children. The predominant population in this small rural town is "working
poor." To practice successfully, one needs to be resourceful, flexible, creative,
caring ... all on a very limited budget. I'm not sure how much I use the context knowledge
from my American studies, but I think the horizontal approach to courses helps me
to keep a perspective on the "big picture." In my "other life," I've been a very active
community person ... things like coordinating the first Vermont community-built school
playground, heading up downtown an economic revitalization plan, establishing an environmental
learning program in local (Springfield) schools, coordinator of a school mentor program,
raising a handicapped child, plus soon to celebrate two other children's graduation
from law school in June (Harvard and Penn State). Do I attribute all to my American
studies degree? Ho! Ho! Hardly. I fine tuned it along the way.
Wendy Singer ’98
Currently I live in NYC. I am a second year student at Benjamin N. Cordozo School
of Law. The American studies major gave me the necessary analytical, research, and
writing skills that are so crucial in developing persuasive legal arguments.
Karen Smyth ’05
(Click here to email Karen)
Hello American Studies friends! I look back at my American Studies experience at Skidmore
fondly, especially the awesome mentorship I received from Prof Pfitz. I wrote my senior
thesis on women in the Mormon Church while I was at Skidmore, and I continued that
research through an M.A. in American Studies at William and Mary, another M.A. at
Saint Louis University in American Studies, and finally I received my PhD in American
Studies at Saint Louis University in 2018. My dissertation was titled, "'The Errand
of Angels": Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 1972-2014" and I am currently the Academic Coordinator for the American Culture
Studies Program at Washington University in Saint Louis. I started a good thing in
AMCS at Skidmore and I just stuck with it!
Claire Solomon ’10
I just finished a three-year stint at the Covenant Foundation, a Jewish foundation
that gives grants to Jewish educational projects and awards to Jewish educators. In
the fall I will begin a three-year dual master's program at Columbia in social work
and public health, focusing on aging. For more about me (I recently won the David
H. Porter Award for Young Alumni Service), see https://www.skidmore.edu/reunion/awards/2015-awards-long-profiles.php#solomon.
Ben Soreff ’96
I have been living in NYC for the past year and a half working In television production.
Currently I work at True Entertainment making shows for the Learning Channel. I spent
most of 2000 working on a documentary for PBS's Frontline called "The Merchants of Cool" about giant media corporations and their efforts to
market solely to teenagers. Before New York, I was in Boston working at WGBH, the
largest PBS production facility in the world. So when you talk American studies and
how it was helpful, I would say that in everything I have done it has been helpful,
from shows like Frontline, Nova, and The American Experience, to my current project a documentary on the World Trade Center and September 11,
2001.
Ellen Sprouls ’82
(Click here to email Ellen)
I am the executive director at Impression 5 in Lansing, Mich. Impression 5 (Science Center) is a hands-on learning center (museum). Our mission is to facilitate
learners of all ages in appreciating, exploring, and understanding the wonders of
the physical and natural world. The official name includes Science Center; however,
we use only Impression 5. At Impression 5 we believe that learning is multidiscplinary,
so our exhibits and programs are no longer limited to science. I also serve on the
board of the Automobile National Heritage Area Lansing Corridor. The Automobile Heritage
Area was established by Congress and is administered by the Department of Interior.
Since moving to Lansing I have taken up photography. Last one of my photographs was
included in a show at the Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University and another
appeared at Oxbow in Douglas, Michigan. Oxbow is a summer institute affiliated with
the Art Institute of Chicago. During the month of May 2001 I will have a show of many
of my photographs at the Greater Lansing Visitors Center. I am the featured artist
of the month. The vast majority of my photographs are of buildings. I have also spent
a lot of time working with the preservation planner for the City of Lansing doing
research for several proposed local historic districts. The best program I have developed
at Impression 5 is called Lansing: the Living Classroom. In this program we use the
City of Lansing and all its component parts to teach local history and environmental
science. You haven't lived until you have exposed a group of second-graders to the
concept of reading a building and then you go out looking for clues from the past.
This summer I am also teaching a class for middle school students on local government
and city planning. So I use my American studies degree even though I am the director
of a museum that was a science center.
Peter Steedman ’93
I live in Kingston, Mass., and received an M.A.T. in history at Teachers College-Columbia
University (1995) and C.A.G.S administration at Boston University (2001) I spent the
last five years teaching at the American School of The Hague. Last year I was the
chair of the English and history departments and the dean of students. I am currently
an administrative intern at Norwell Public High School. This includes acting as chair
of the English, physical education, and technology departments. If all goes according
to plan, I hope to be a principal in a few years. My wife is also a teacher in the
disctrict. My American studies degree comes into play every day. I emulate the wonderful
teachers I had at Skidmore. Unfortunately, I will never be able to attain the high
standard they set. I encourage all Skiddies to explore teaching. It is a wonderful
life!
Heather Hartland Steele ’86
I received a master's in philosophy and international relations from Cambridge University,
UK (Pembroke College) in 1989. I worked as a senior project manager at the Washington,
D.C., based International Life Sciences Institute, but I am presently a full-time
mom to Patrick (age 6), Annabel (4), and Peter (1). Although the American studies
degree did not have a direct impact on my future studies or career, it did provide
me with excellent research and writing skills and I loved the course offerings, history,
literature, art history, American culture, etc. The professors were great, too!
Janet Egan Steinmeyer ’73
(Click here to email Janet)
I completed study at the International Institute of Culinary Arts, did an internship
at Al Forno in Providence, R.I., and earned a fellowship at Le Mirador in Vevey, Switzerland.
I've used my American studies degree in my previous career as director of development
for the Rhode Island Historical Society, New England Historic Geneaological Society.
I enjoyed the American studies program at Skidmore, especially Mary Lynn's courses,
and was involved in public relations and fundraising for many years for historical
societies in Boston and Providence. Recently I retired from my position as director
of culinary arts at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence.
Becky Stern '14
I am currently working at full service public relations and strategy firm. My clients
include candidates, elected officials, and nonprofits in the New York City area. Previously,
I worked at the New York City Council where I learned how to navigate government bureaucracy.
I love what I do because it incorporates politics and creativity.
Ruth Ellen Shankman Stern ’71
(Click here to email Ruth)
I always planned to be a teacher, so I'm not sure why I majored in American studies,
other than I always liked history. Or it might have been because Stuart Blumen's parents
were friends of my aunt in Florida. I left Skidmore after my sophomore years and transferred
to the University of Texas at Austin. It was a more congenial climate for a southern
girl. I don't think Texas had an American studies department, so I majored in secondary
education with a concentration in history. After a semester of student-teaching eleventh
grade, I was certain teaching high school was not for me. I graduated as scheduled
in 1971, but proceeded to add an early childhood certification immediately. Then I
taught kindergarten in the public schools in Memphis, Tenn., (my home town) and Little
Rock, Ark., after I married. After two children, a move to Atlanta and a decade or
two as a homemaker, I am working in the health insurance field as an insurance agent
for Humana in Charlotte, N.C. It would seem that I have not really put my American
studies major to any use, or at least any use that pays. But becoming literate about
the country in which we live is always a good thing. I have been active in the National
Council of Jewish Women and have been to Washington to lobby on issues of gun control,
choice, etc. The experience brought back memories of Erwin Levine's class during 4-1-4
in January of '68, taking a parlor and discussing the political process. I have also
been active in the American Diabetes Association and lobbied for fetal tissue research.
Every day affords the opportunity to relate to some topic or another that was introduced
to me in the Skidmore American Studies department ... politics, literature , art,
culture ... and that I have continued to pursue.
Samantha Strauss ’92
I'm living in Washington, D.C., working in the human resources department of a trade
association called the Nuclear Energy Institute. I handle new-employee orientations,
benefits administration, and lots of little things to make sure all 140 employees
are happy little clams. How American studies got me to this point, who knows. I've
worked in insurance, retail, and college admissions! This is probably not what prospective
American studies majors want to hear! However, my liberal arts education—primarily
my coursework in American studies—made me open to the possibilities. Especially in
a city like Washington. There are so many opportunities. You just never know where
you will end up—which is fine by me. It keeps life interesting! I have yet to go to
graduate school, and quite honestly probably won't go anytime soon. I'm getting married
in April (at the Hall of Springs, Saratoga).
Megan Stuart ’05
(Click here to email Megan)
I'm in ye merry olde England residing in Stoke-On-Trent in Staffordshire. I work in
the Department of Engineering and Construction for Stoke-on-Trent College. I just
got a bunny. I am writing for my local paper in Maine about American views from abroad.
I am finding it near enough impossible to keep myself from analyzing everything cultural
and compare it to America. Curse you American studies! I'm kidding, it just gives
me more topics I can use to write my book. I miss Skidmore, but I like this no-classes
thing.
Marc C. Tagliento ’98
(Click here to email Marc)
I moved to Washington, D.C., in 1998 to pursue a M.A. in political science from American
University. After graduation I accepted a management position with the Direct Impact
Co. There I worked on a variety of "hot-button" reform initiatives relating to the
Medicare entitlement program and managed health care systems. After September 11,
2001 however, I pursued opportunities to shape emergency management and incident response
policies and practices. As a program manager with L-3 Titan Corp., I assisted Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with its development of a National Emergency Responder
Credentialing System to document minimum professional qualifications, certifications,
training, and education requirements for select emergency response and incident response
personnel. In 2006 I joined FEMA's Incident Mangement System Division as a National
Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Framework (NRF) program specialist.
Ellen Tanner ’71
(Click here to email Ellen)
My American studies major included an American literature concentration. The literature
courses fostered my continuing love of reading. I can safely say that I always have
at least one book going! After Skidmore, I went on to get a M.S. in recreation therapy
and was the director of a senior citizens center for two years, then worked with the
developmentally disabled. I was given administrative responsibilities at my new job,
as I had at at my senior center position, so I went to school part-time to earn an
M.S. in public administration at Russell Sage College. I worked with the New York
State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities for several years,
then made a move to the state Department of Health, where I now work as assistant
director of the Managed Care Section of the AIDS Institute. We're currently developing
managed-care programs for people with HIV and AIDS. In 1998 I earned an R.N. degree
from a local college. I am active as a volunteer for two animal rescue groups, usher
at SPAC, assist on a local level in some political campaigns, and have at times been
a volunteer for Skidmore. American studies gave me a broad perspective on life, fostered
a wide array of interests, and provided my first taste of the joy of being a "generalist."
It also made me more aware of what's happening around me and the cultural history
of our world that's being made daily.
Helen Thompson ’03
(Click here to email Helen)
I am currently certified by the Unity Healing Center (2004) as a Reiki master-practitioner,
and I am pursuing holistic medicine and energy work as an occupation. As of now, I
am still in Saratoga.
Eve K. Tolpa ’96 (UWW)
(Click here to email Eve)
I write and produce audio programs for museum exhibitions, a job that I am convinced
is about the best one on the planet. I don't think I got my job specifically because
of my degree, but the two are definitely linked. While not all of the subjects I research
are specifically American (I've worked on programs about Russian imperial artifacts,
tropical fish, and Freud, for example) the mental gear-switching necessary to the
work is a skill that can be traced to the multidisciplinary nature of American studies.
Plus, the sheer volume of writing I did in order to graduate has definitely served
me in my job.
Barbara Tsairis ’71
(Click here to email Barbara)
I was an American studies major with a concentration in American literature. I went
on to get an M.A.T. in English (secondary level) and then an M.A. in literature from
the University of New Hampshire. My life has taken many turns professionally: I taught
for a few years, then did some freelance writing, then worked in the New Hampshire
Legislature as a lobbyist for the New Hampshire Women's Lobby for five years, then
took a job as executive director for a statewide writers' organization (The NH Writers'
Project) for five years, and then started a study-abroad program for college students who want to study in Greece,
called Odyssey in Athens, for which I have been the U.S. director for the last five
years (time for another move?). Throughout the years, I've taken an abiding interest
in politics and grassroots political work (I've been on several statewide boards,
including NARAL-NH, NH Peace Action, Women for NH's Future) and have been active in
many national, statewide, and local campaigns. In 1990, I managed a successful campaign
for state Senate, and have done fundraising work for our current governor, Jeanne
Shaheen, in each of her three successful runs. During the Reagan years, I coordinated
a chapter of WAND (Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament) in the Portsmouth area.
My years as an American studies major at Skidmore gave me a broad and interdisciplinary
perspective on life, encouraged wide-ranging interests, and taught me to think critically
about the world. I sometimes wish, however, that I could have been (could be) more narrowly focused and single-minded! Perhaps in my next life!
Audrey Malkary Uchill ’58
Babson College, 1979, M.B.A.; Columbia University, Vassar College, University of Minnesota
and UMass Gerontology Institute Certificate Program. I work at the New England Pension
Assistance Project, a federally funded program of the Gerontology Institute of UMass
Boston. I investigate and resolve problems people experience accessing their private,
union, federal and/or state pensions and help them to navigate and understand the
complex and seemingly arcane world of pensions. These problems include among others
the possibility that the company is no longer in existence, has merged or has changed
its identity; pensions may not be calculated correctly; plan sponsors are unresponsive;
and widows and divorcees may have been adversely affected by rules and regulations
governing pensions. I was one of the first three students in the new American studies
curriculum at Skidmore. It was exciting to trail-blaze a new direction. We had the
unique opportunity to focus on cross-discipline issues in American literature, history,
constitutional law, economics, political science, and sociology. For many years, at
least for me, this was all incubating. Today I am involved in one of the more complex
social, political and economic issues facing older Americans, particularly women,
as they approach retirement. Our federally funded project, one of ten around the country,
was established and funded in the '90s as a demonstration project under the auspices
of the Administration on Aging. This concept represents a pioneering effort to assist
pension recipients who experience a range of difficulties accessing their pensions.
What makes this significant is the fact that there are literally billions of unclaimed
pension dollars out there. The size of the pension frequently precludes the option
of a lawyer. Be that as it may, the pension is often what stands between a relatively
secure retirement and poverty. We have the most successful track record of all the
projects in recovering pension monies for our clients. As of this year, we are now
a permanent project. So I am involved in another pioneering effort as I did back in
the '50s to have the opportunity to impact one of the major and multifaceted issues
facing older Americans, which is the expectation and hope of realizing a secure retirement.
Julie Upham ’65
I'm located in the lakes region of New Hampshire, 30 minutes north of Concord, the
state's capital. Following graduation from Skidmore, I took a summer program in publishing
procedures at Radcliffe College. I am currently news editor for the Citizen, a daily newspaper based in Laconia and serving some two dozen communities in central
New Hampshire. I assign stories, edit copy, work with young reporters, lay out pages
(and compose some of them on the computer), write headlines, etc. Courses in history,
government, and economics, taken in conjunction with my major, provided invaluable
background for covering local news. History also comes into play in my volunteer work
as a trustee of the Belhuap Mill Society, which preserves an 1823 textile/hosiery
mill as an arts and history center, and as secretary of the Laconia Historical Society.
Wendy VanAntwerp ’93
(Click here to email Wendy)
I graduated from Skidmore with an American studies degree in 1993. I currently live
in Breckenridge, Colo. I moved out here in the winter of 1993 and have not left. I
spent quite a few years exploring my ski bum side! I now work for the Summit County
Department of Human Services. I am the intake caseworker. My job requires me to interview
children and their families surrounding abuse, neglect, and welfare issues. My degree
from Skidmore enables me to accept people within the context of their own history
and circumstances. I must admit that my investigative skills are straight from the
teachings of Mary Lynn! Please encourage other grads to contact me at this e-mail
address.
Joan Taylor Vanderbeck ’69
(Click here to email Joan)
American studies is truly a generalist's major. It offers a broad discipline and ultimately
a great base for decision-making and problem-solving.
I'm living in Piffard, N.Y. (near Rochester). I received my M.A. from Bowling Green State University in 1996 and my New York State teaching certification from the University of Rochester in 1999.
I am in my second year as a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Honeoye Falls-Lima Middle School. I teach five classes (about 120 students) American history up to the Civil War. I am also co-advisor of the student council and girls varsity tennis coach in the fall. Of course my degree in American studies comes into play every minute of every day in my work. My education at Skidmore advanced my interest in our nation's past. The information and training I received in the American Studies Department has allowed me to offer my students an interdisciplinary look at American life and culture. I don't have to simply provide the traditional, bulimic learning of American history by feeding my students facts and dates, and asking them to regurgitate them back. History is not just learning about old, dead guys.
Polly Vail Walsh ’76
Wow. How do I use my degree ... I worked in the media business for 18 years. I found
that my background was helpful because it was a broad liberal arts degree. I now live
outside of Washington D.C., am fairly active in politics, and just joined the board
of Presidentail Classroom, a (profitable) nonprofit that brings talented high school
students into D.C. for a high-level and high-impact experiential learning experience.
My degree enhances my interest in the dynamics of how our country runs. In this age
of diversity and multicultural experiences, it's great to know your own history and
use it as a launch pad. thanks!
Kim D. West ’79 (passed away, 2019)
I double-majored in history and American studies with the intent of teaching high
school history. I believed the two majors gave me a balanced perspective on life in
Colonial America, my area of interest. My career path and continued education, however,
took me a different way. I received an M.A. in college personnel services from Teachers
College, Columbia University, in 1983 and a Ph.D. in higher education administration
from the University of Southern California in 1997. I have been a university administrator
since graduating from Skidmore and am currently the director of residence life at
the California Institute of Technology. I also teach in the graduate school of education
at the University of Southern California. I thoroughly enjoyed Skidmore and the opportunity
to know faculty like Tad Kuroda and Dave Marcell, both of whom I still occasionally
see on campus. I have kept all of the books we used (and there were a lot!) and they
are kept proudly on my bookshelves at home. I hope my children will someday explore
them as well as consider Skidmore as they select a college. We have awhile to wait
though: boy/girl twins born on April 28, 2000 will be members of the class of 2022!
I should note that my daughter is named Cady Rutledge, Cady stolen from Elizabeth
Cady Stanton and Rutledge being a family name that can be traced back to a signer
of the declaration of independence (E.S. Rutledge). I keep telling her that she has
a very rich, historical name, but all she does is look at me and spit up. Someday
she'll get it!
Patricia West ’85 (UWW) (updated 8/08)
(Click here to email Patricia)
After completing my American studies undergraduate degree through the University Without
Walls program, I went on to graduate school, completing a doctorate in U.S. history
at Binghamton University in 1992. Building on work I did at Skidmore, I wrote a book
for Smithsonian Institution Press on the history of house museums. I am now a curator
for the National Park Service at the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site in Kinderhook,
N.Y. I also co-direct an academic research center at the State University of New York
at Albany.
Jody Westwood ’97
(Click here to email Jody)
In Munich I work at a school, Wall Street Institute, that does English as a foreign
language training for adults all around the world. We have a franchise system of over
400 schools in 20 countries. We're part of Sylvan Learning Systems, which you may
have heard of. I started out there as a teacher, as I had worked previously for a
couple years as an English teacher in another city in Germany (Halle) to which I initially
moved after graduating. What I do now is much more concerned with acquiring new students
and supporting existing students in their studies. I'm not using my American studies
background at work per se, except for the fact that I am simply a more well-rounded,
perceptive, critical, and learned person because of it. It's often interesting to
be able to explain more of the culture, history, politics, and psyche of Americans
to my students who are curious or who criticize. I'm definitely glad I followed a
liberal arts course of studies, and more specifically that I was a major at the Skidmore
American Studies Department. It's something most college students in Germany don't
enjoy.
Sharon Brant Wharton ’61
I live in Baltimore, Md. I have done graduate work in education and general studies.
Right now I am teaching a course in spirituality at the Renaissance Institute, College
of Notre Dame. It is a program for people over 50. I have worked as a journalist,
teacher, and actress over the years. I would say that the greatest benefit of my American
studies degree has been that the multidisciplinary nature of the program has enabled
me to delve into so many areas of learning along the way.
Tim Whiteman ’98
I am currently an account executive with a sports marketing firm named Octagon Marketing.
We are the third-largest firm worldwide, and we do pretty damn good for ourselves.
I've been with the company since late March of this year, and it has been nothing
but wonderful since. I am primarily in the event-marketing division, organizing and
coordinating golf, tennis, and ski challenges all over the country, so I get to travel
a great deal. The main office is in Stamford, Conn., but I commute from my hometown
of Brooklyn every day. Needless to say the car is earning its keep. But that is not
the best news: I'm going to be a father. Yep. My girlfriend and I are expecting a
little girl. January 30 is the due date. I am excited, nervous, expectant, filled
with wonder, and completely in the dark all at the same time. But needless to say,
I have the shotgun on lay-a-way :0) Her name is going to be Nile Syan-Lael Whiteman
(a mouthful, I know). Nile, for the most beautiful river in the world; Syan, which
means "love made by the hand of God"; and Lael is my girlfriend's mother's name (family
tradition). So we are gearing up for her arrival. I've already bought a "Daddy's Little
Girl" bib for her. Think I'll be a cream puff with this kid? You betcha! Other than
that, nothing else to report. Life is good. I still see some Skiddies around here
and there, but not too often. The real world is kind of bigger than Scribner Village,
I hate to admit.
Sarah Wight ’96
(Click here to email Sarah)
I am currently the promotions director for WROR 105.7 Greatest Hits of the '60s and
'70s in Boston! I actually married Skidmore Alum Brian O'Connell ('95) on July 8,
2001, and had a couple Skidmore students helping out at the reception. When I graduated
from Skidmore I came to Boston and began as an intern at WRKO, AM 680, a talk station,
and worked there for two and a half years as the promotions coordinator. How does
this relate to my major at Skidmore? I went out to reach the people during election
time (gettting their perspectives, putting them on the air) and watched the reaction
to the community during the Louise Woodward case. After Talk, I went to work for a
Classic Rock station, learning about musicians and social influences that we learned
in American studies classes. I helped coordinate interviews with musicians as well
as created events for the station. Two years ago I started as the promotions director
of WROR. Just this past month we celebrated our morning show's twentieth anniversary,
which is a big feat in radio. Part of the celebration included an on-air interview
and concert with Ringo Starr. I remember one of the assignments during one of my last
American studies classes was to pick an influential 1960s song and introduce it and
play it over the air. I chose Beatles, "Revolution"! How weird it is to think that
I was so nervous that night about going on the radio and reading my paragraph out
loud—now I can record commercials with ease! One can tell a lot about a culture through
music—I know a ton about our listeners, fans of '60s and '70s music—people who went
through some of the stuff I learned in my American studies classes.
Megan Williams ’04
Megan E. Williams ’04 earned her MA and PhD in American Studies and a Graduate Certificate
in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Kansas. She is now
the Program Coordinator at the Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity. She
has published a number of academic book reviews, journal articles, and scholarly essays
that explore issues of gender, race, sexuality, and class. She is committed to advancing
intersectional social justice education and advocacy; feminist consciousness raising;
college student activism; and community building practices rooted in vulnerability,
empathy, and love.
Pat Willstatter ’74
What am I doing with my life? I'm selling advertising here in Chicago. Actually, I'm
the Midwest Advertising Manager of the new Rosie O'Donnell Magazine, Rosie. I've been in the advertising business for almost 20 years now. After college I wanted
to be a museum curator (Mary Lynn will remember that) but when I figured out that
it a) paid dog-poop and b) that I needed at least a master's degree to get a decent
job (and with my grades, grad school was out of the question), I looked for another
career. Tripped into advertising sales. Like many businesses in the mid- to late '70s,
advertising was heavily dominated by men, and women held mostly clerical and lower-level
positions. I started as a secretary (which I did very badly) and worked my way into
a sales job in New York. First real sales job was at National Lampoon, and then I moved to Chicago sixteen years ago. I've been with various magazines
since I started including Teen and McCall's (may it rest in peace) and really love what I do. How has American studies helped/impacted
my ventures? Well, sometimes when I am developing a new pitch, I use the fact that
magazines are a reflection of popular culture, and that successful magazines grab
hold of a vision of American life that resonates with its audience. For example, take
a look at the traditional women's service magazines: Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens. Their very titles reflect the era in which they were founded. Does today's young
woman really care if she's a "good housekeeper" or if her life is centered by the
"family circle"? Is she driven to buy a magazine on the newsstand because it has "50
easy chicken recipes"? Probably not. That's why these magazines are struggling today
for an audience and its inherent advertising dollars. The new group of women's lifestyle
magazines, i.e. Rosie, O, Martha Stewart Living—celebrity-focused, with a different voice and vision of life, are designed to be
read by today's younger women. And frankly, the magazine people were among the last
to figure out that the world and its women have changed! So that's what I'm doing
and how American studies has impacted what I do. Haven't gotten any less wordy then
I was at Skidmore, but what the heck!
Judith Allen Wilson ’69
I wrote my thesis on the failure of charter reform in Saratoga Springs. (The race
track controlled the politics of the town at that time, and reform was not something
they were interested in seeing!) I became very interested in local government so I
went on to attend the Maxwell School of Public Administration at Syracuse University,
where I earned a master's degree in public administration. I currently live in Pasadena,
Calif., and I am now director of sanitation for the City of Los Angeles. We provide
service to over four million people in a 533-square-mile area. I have had a varied
and interesting career. I have worked for the New York Port Authority, the U.S. Virgins
Islands, and managed the capital program for the Northern Virginia Transporation Commission
when the Washington, D.C., Metro subway system was under construction. I moved to
California in 1980 to be the assistant city manager of Pasadena, which is a position
I held for ten years. In 1990 I became head of planning for the Los Angeles Metropolitan
Transportation Authority and went back into the transit business. In 1995 I joined
the Orange County Sanitation Districts as the chief administrative officer, and in
1997 I became head of sanitation for the City of Los Angeles. I still retain a strong
interest in American history, and I am currently serving as president of the board
of trustees for the Pasadena Historical Museum.
Christopher Wollen ’96
I live and work in Manhattan for Grey worldwide advertising agency. I am an account
executive on Procter & Gamble. I have had no further formal education since graduation.
As an advertising account executive I am a marketing partner to the client (Procter
& Gamble) and a manager of the creative process to develop advertising. Two main things
have come from my American studies major that I find very valuable in my career. One,
having an understanding of our country's cultural history and the events that have
shaped the American populous gives me strong insight into the consumer culture and
why we are the way we are. Two, by looking at our history through first-party documentation
(not through history textbooks), then developing our own opinions of those events
and the effects they have had, one learns to be strong conceptual thinker and develop
their own analytical process which they can then hopefully communicate to others through
a paper, a presentation, or in my case now an advertisement. The benefits of my American
studies degree in the business world are not external but internal, which in the end
are much more valuable.