It is sometimes a phone call or a conversation during Reunion, more often an e-mail with a link to a newly published paper, news of a recent achievement, or a photo or two from a research trip.
But it happens regularly, these re-connections between alumni and faculty members, and it is gratifying for both parties.
“It means a lot to us to see our students be successful after Colgate,” said Frank Frey, associate professor of biology and environmental studies. “It is interesting to hear what most prepared them for life after Colgate, and how they are applying what they learned here in their studies and jobs.”
Frey recently received an e-mail from Elizabeth Wolyniak DiCesare ’05, who included her research paper that was published this month in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
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| Elizabeth Wolyniak DiCesare ’05 conducts graduate research at Pocono Creek in Pennsylvania. |
“It means a lot to me that former students like Beth think to keep me updated on where they are and what they are doing,” said Frey.
For Nancy Ries, associate professor of anthropology and peace and conflict studies, a Colgate connection was unexpectedly and happily re-established in South Africa, of all places, where she is on sabbatical at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Ries attended a lecture at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research and in the row just in front of her was a former student: Emily Margaretten ’99.
“It was such a surprising moment when she turned around! You can’t imagine how great it was to see her — so far from Colgate for both of us — and to catch up, and to hear from others that she’s become a brilliant scholar,” said Ries.
Margaretten earned her doctorate in anthropology at Yale in 2007 and is working on a post-doctorate at Witwatersrand. Her research focuses on homeless youth in Durban, and she just published an article in the journal Anthropology and Humanism.
Professors get many requests from former students for references as they seek new opportunities, but the contacts often involve much more than that.
Lynn Staley, Harrington and Shirley Drake Professor of the humanities and director of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program, has several former students now in graduate school.
“One student is finishing up her PhD with a specialty in medieval literature, and we stay in touch pretty often,” she said. “I love hearing from all of my former students, and I’m very proud of their successes.”
John Naughton, professor of Romance languages and literature, routinely hears from students, particularly those who went on one of the many off-campus study groups to Dijon that he has led.
“I heard not too long ago from a student I took on a study trip in 1987!” he said. “She just wanted to catch up and fill me in on what she’s doing.”