2007 Spring Projects and Alumni Fair

            On May 2, 2007, BDIC held its 6th annual Spring Projects and Alumni Fair. Attendees included BDIC students, faculty, and alumni, some of whom traveled hours to be there. The projects being presented were the culminating products of the BDIC Junior Year Writing class, taught by instructor, Andrea Bergstrom. BDIC junior year writing students presented projects related to their concentrations.  Given that areas of study vary so widely in the BDIC department, it came as no surprise that the project topics ranged from “Back Yard Big Cats” by Norman Billip, to “Disney’s Effect of Business Development” by Brianna Benson, to “Real Estate, Construction and Building Percentages” by Jason Kaye. Some interesting visual highlights included Joshua Farrell-Starbuck’s presentation of photographs taken by Honduran children and Shahan Hart’s goddess-inspired line of clothing which her models wore during the reception. Flutist, Lena Jillson, a class of 2009 BDIC student, provided the music for the evening.

            The event commenced with an introduction by Dean Priscilla Clarkson, who described her vision for a future that involves strengthening the BDIC program and fostering closer links between it and Commonwealth College.  Other special guests were Caroline Gould, a Career Services representative and several BDIC alumni.

• Nancy O'Hare, class of 1978, concentrated in Exercise Physiology while an undergraduate, and spoke of her ongoing success in the field. As someone who has worked in the medical field for many years, Ms. O’Hare recently earned an MBA and began a new job in hospital design. She concluded by explaining that her diverse course of studies in BDIC as an undergraduate had prepared her for a smooth transition between many types of careers as an adult.
• Hayley Mermelstein, class of 1991, discussed how her concentration, Health and Healing: A Cross Cultural Approach, prepared her for a successful career in Chinese medicine. She talked about the excitement of opening her own Acupuncture and Shiatsu Massage Clinic in Amherst, MA, and like Ms. O’Hare, expressed to students that they should keep their minds open, and allow themselves to pursue diverse interests.
• Justin Gallant, a 2003 graduate, owns six pizza restaurants in Rhode Island. A BDIC concentration in Entrepreneurial Studies helped Justin succeed in becoming a successful business owner. Justin’s success is evidenced by the fact that his pizza chain, Pier Pizza, has won an award for Rhode Island’s best pizza for two years.
• Lyndsay Tetlow, a 2003 graduate, concentrated in Exploring the Connection between Creative and Expository Writing while in BDIC.  Lyndsay described how her BDIC focus allowed her to expand her writing abilities and to develop a passion for photography.
• John Hersey, a 2005 graduate, pursued a BDIC concentration in Sustainable Urban Planning.  He told all of the current students in the audience to embrace the diversity they are granted as BDIC majors, and reminded them that a self-designed concentration is an excellent preparation for graduate school.
• Marta MacRostie is a 2007 BDIC graduate whose descriptions of her concentration in Puppetry captivated the audience. She spoke of an alternative childhood which prepared her for a life of excitement and constant change and described how BDIC offered her the flexibility that she needed to finish school on her own terms.