Skidmore College
Creative Thought Matters
Creative Thought at Work. Skidmore College

Who They Are...

David Levine '91: David Levine '91 believes in hakarat hatov, "recognizing the good," and feels strongly about repaying—and paying forward—his blessings.In 2000 Alan Mark '76 introduced Levine and wife Julie to the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco....Read more

Johanna Barr '10: Johanna Barr '10 is busy these days. The English major and government minor is a full-time news editor at the Huffington Post, a leading online news aggregator, while also studying for a master's degree in journalism at Columbia University....Read more

Sharon Anglum-Storrs '71: Sharon Anglum-Storrs '71 describes her new business as "mommy boot camp."  She and her partner will provide labor and lactation coaching, nutrition and childbirth education, and referrals to doctors and counselors....Read more

Zach Gage '07: Zach Gage '07 isn't content to make art that invites audience interaction. His creations demand it....Read more

Nelle Hotchkiss '85: From Hurricane Irene to political storms over energy policy, Nelle Hotchkiss '85 has weathered them all. As senior VP of corporate relations for the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, she works in PR and marketing, education, and job training to advance the cause of co-op electric utilities, which are usually formed by residents of rural areas that commercial utility firms view as too unprofitable to serve....Read more

Jill Durovsik '78: Jill Holler Durovsik '78 has held several corporate management positions for Merrill Lynch and other companies in the Northeast, and in 1988 she founded her own business, Corporate Concierge Inc. But after becoming a mother in 1991, she wanted more flexibility with her time, and she was moved by the isolation that her mother felt when dying of cancer in 1986, so she started working with the Philadelphia Wellness Community, now called Cancer Support Community....Read more

Andrea Roman Alfaro '12: Participation in decision-making is a key priority for business professionals ranging from politicians to educators to corporate partners. It's also a priority for Andrea Roman Alfaro '12, Skidmore student and 2011 United Nations youth delegate....Read more

Andrea Roman Alfaro '12: Participation in decision-making is a key priority for business professionals ranging from politicians to educators to corporate partners. It's also a priority for Andrea Roman Alfaro '12, Skidmore student and 2011 United Nations youth delegate....Read more

Ann Kahl '51: This summer Ann Hammel Kahl '51 started storing away some of the 500 trophies and medals that were overrunning her Florida home. While she was at it, she retired a T-shirt her son had given her when she turned 80 in favor of an updated version that reads "You have just been passed by an 83-year-old....Read more

Josh Nassar '95: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5....Read more

Advice

What advice would you give to young people at Skidmore who might be considering this major?

Majors:

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David Levine '91 (Economics)

David Levine '91"My advice is to delay declaring your major as long as you can. Take courses from as many disciplines as you can and have no interest in majoring in."

Posted: 08/10/2012

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Johanna Barr '10 (English)

Johanna Barr '10"Get to know your professors. Skidmore's English department is one of its greatest assets. The classes are small, the course offerings are interesting and diverse, and the professors are talented and caring people who will take the time to help you improve your work. Take a wide variety of classes within the department. I took a science journalism class with Phyllis Roth, World War II Literature with Daniel Swift, and fiction workshops with Steven Millhauser and Steve Stern. These and others were extremely memorable experiences that made me love college and helped me become a better writer. You should also venture outside the department, because it's the type of major where studying other fields will help you excel. Things I learned in the government classes I took with Ron Seyb and the psychology classes I took with Sheldon Solomon frequently came up in my English classes, occasionally even in the same semester.

And go to the writing center! Seriously. Go. It will help you. "

Posted: 08/06/2012

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Sharon Anglum-Storrs '71 (Foreign Language)

Sharon Anglum-Storrs '71"Learn to speak the language as well as you can, enjoy the literature, and try to learn about the culture behind it. If possible, visit a country where they speak the language."

Posted: 08/06/2012

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Zach Gage '07 (Art)

Zach Gage '07"Make everything you want to make. If you care about something, do it, and don't worry about sacrificing things that you care less about to do the thing that you really love. You'll always be the best at what you love, and the biggest challenge in life (at least in your 20s) is figuring out what you love and how to do it.

But figuring out what you love through your education is an end-run on the whole problem. If you follow your inspiration and excitement, you'll get there just as fast, with a lot less headaches. Use your education as an excuse to have the time to try all the things you love, and get help making your creative dreams as good in real life as they are in your head. "

Posted: 08/06/2012

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Nelle Hotchkiss '85 (Government)

Nelle Hotchkiss '85"Listen to your professors, challenge them, and ask for "real world" experience. You learn more from doing and raising your level of engagement in the learning environment than you will ever glean from a book."

Posted: 08/06/2012

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Jill Durovsik '78 (Government)

Jill Durovsik '78"I am a firm believer in the value of a liberal arts degree. I have encouraged my college-aged children to approach school with an open mind. Experience as much as you can and don't rush to declare a major. Skidmore gave me a broad and expansive view of the world through literature, the arts, history and economics. There is no doubt that Skidmore is providing the tools for the future leaders of our world. My advice, study hard and explore!"

Posted: 08/06/2012

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Andrea Roman Alfaro '12 (Sociology, Government)

Andrea Roman Alfaro '12"I am doing an interdepartmental major on sociology and government and, unluckily, that major does not exist anymore. Nonetheless, I think that if you are looking for something that challenges your way of seeing the world, that makes you more critical about your way of living, about your surroundings, and that provides you with new ideas, then you at least need to take classes in the sociology and government department. You need to get involved in what you really enjoy, read, discover, talk, discuss. This major has opened doors for me because I looked to open them. I was provided with the tools to do so and took advantage of them. I think anyone at Skidmore could do so if they search for it."

Posted: 08/05/2012

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Ann Kahl '51 (Art)

Ann Kahl '51"Go for it! Investigate the commercial side. And, of course, draw. Does anybody draw anymore? So much is done on computer, and I'm not knocking it. But why should it make the other side of creativity disappear? Pick up a brush, pick up a pencil, and draw something from life. "

Posted: 08/01/2012

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Josh Nassar '95 (Government)

Josh Nassar '95"Try to have some time directly working in creating policy – there is no better way to learn the process. And always remember that while your passion is important, there’s always another day. You need to work with people. Treat them decently. There’s no room for disrespect. Never burn your bridges. Look forward and be flexible. Be willing to change."

Posted: 05/31/2012