While many members of the Class of 2024 departed for new cities, jobs or schools after graduation, some have also chosen to remain right here in Hanover. Whether it’s working as fellows, interns or admissions officers, a number of recent graduates have found unique opportunities to explore their passions beyond the classroom, all while contributing to the Dartmouth community.
For some new alumni, such as Anthony Fosu ’24, the opportunity to work at the College is an extension of their prior job experience while allowing them to learn more about their chosen field. Fosu, who served as a senior fellow for the Dartmouth College Office of Admissions during his time as an undergraduate, now works as an admissions officer to “read applications, visit schools and help shape the next class at Dartmouth.”
“I’m hoping admissions helps me get a better understanding of the [education] policy landscape, particularly around how institutions can help students from under-resourced and unprivileged backgrounds gain access to quality education,” Fosu said.
Other recent grads have taken up posts related to the academic departments and on-campus activities with which they were involved as undergraduates. After participating in the War and Peace Fellows program as a student, Madeline Sawyer ’24 now works as a Dickey Center Great Issues Fellow for International Peace and Security. According to the Dickey Center website, fellows like Sawyer “work closely with senior leaders on specific projects, conduct research and analysis on key global and international issues and serve as a primary resource for selected finance and administrative functions.”
“[War and Peace Fellows] was a very positive part of my time at Dartmouth,” Sawyer said. “I loved the idea of being able to work with the program another year and serving as a connection between students and the staff at the Dickey Center.”
On-campus jobs can even position recent graduates with opportunities to provide critical input on the direction of the College. Kiara Ortiz ’24 is currently working as the presidential fellow in Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives under the Office of the President, a program that provides graduates with the chance to play key roles in the Dartmouth administration. According to Ortiz, executive vice president for strategy and special counsel Jomysha Delgado Stephen offered her the role after they had worked together last year during Ortiz’s tenure as student body vice president.
“The goal … is to continue adding student perspective into decision-making with top college administrators, and [to have the] opportunity for students who are interested in higher education to learn more about it,” Ortiz said. “We work with different stakeholders of the College to strategically see where we can improve and what needs to work better.”
For these graduates, extending their stay in Hanover has been a welcome opportunity, especially considering that the Class of 2024 began their freshman year at the College during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sawyer said she believes working on campus for a year after graduating will allow her to gain a more holistic Dartmouth experience.
“I felt like I missed out on a good part of my freshman and even part of sophomore year because of [the pandemic], and I think a lot of people in my year felt that way,” Sawyer said. “I came towards the end of my time at Dartmouth and realized that I really didn’t have the full, four-year undergrad experience.”
Fosu echoed this sentiment, noting that freshman year for the Class of 2024 “was certainly challenging” due to the pandemic.
“It’s nice to have another year and to actually get to see and enjoy Hanover, and then build on the connections already made from my undergrad years,” Fosu said.
In addition to staying on campus past the traditional four years, some recent graduates have also continued their undergraduate extracurriculars. Since graduating this past spring, Sawyer has remained involved with the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble, which she participated throughout her time as an undergrad.
“That was a really nice way to continue to be connected to the Dartmouth community and continue an activity that I really appreciated as an undergrad,” Sawyer said.
As newly-minted alumni, those members of the Class of 2024 still on campus each reported a newfound appreciation for the alumni network’s wide-reaching support.
“Dartmouth is for life,” Fosu said. “Not only do I have a lot of mentors who are alumni, I also have a lot of folks who I work with in my office who are alumni.”
As a Presidential Fellow, Ortiz meets with other alumni in order to obtain feedback to better improve the College.
“Dartmouth always boasts about the alumni network, and I’m really understanding why, because it is such a caring network of people,” Ortiz said. “The [Class of 2024 is] kind of embedded and integrated into that caring network.”
While these recent graduates have all stayed in Hanover for another year, each of them are focused on futures beyond the Upper Valley. Sawyer, for one, is currently planning to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree, adding that her work with the Dickey Center offers her the “chance to think about what [she] might want out of a master’s program.”
“I have been fortunate to be able to talk to people who have had careers that look very interesting and very much like what I want to do,” Sawyer said. “It is still my plan to go to grad school, but [I plan to] maybe work for another year after this and just kind of find my footing and get a better sense of what exactly I want to study.”
After completing her fellowship, Ortiz hopes to apply to medical school and work with health policy. She views her time in the President’s Office as a unique “gap year opportunity,” one which has enabled her to spark community change at Dartmouth.
“My thing has always been about breaking barriers for minority students, people of color and low income students, especially,” Ortiz said. “My goal whenever I take jobs or make decisions is through that lens, and I hope to continue that in the future in a different capacity … focused on healthcare.”
For those select few members of the Class of 2024, the opportunity to work and remain in Hanover can provide a fuller Dartmouth experience, transitioning from undergraduate to a determined post-grad — with a thriving career ahead.
“There’s so many [members of the Class of 2024] still around,” Fosu said. “It’s nice to be in an environment where you’re still very familiar with everyone.”
