Costa Rica
Dan Smith `60 has lived the American racial story. He is the son of a slave. He was chased to within inches of his life by the Klan on a haunting night in Alabama. He marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. He attended the inaugurations of Barack Obama. He was screamed at by a white cop as he tried to save a white girl’s life.
Katerina T. Valentin (G'19) is not new to Springfield College, but she recently began in her new role as Program Liaison with the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement. Katerina talks about her journey, including how her Puerto Rican background shaped her academic drive and why being hearing-impaired and "a little different" has never stopped her from achieving her goals.
Alexandra MacPherson has her hands full as a double major in Dance and Physical Therapy, but she loves how the two programs complement one another. Alexandra talks about what sets Dance at Springfield College apart from other schools and how the experiences will impact her future.
As part of our Faces of Diversity series with the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement, Anthony Hill, associate professor social work, shares a bit about his background, how he overcame adversity to get to #SpringfieldCollege, and how he strives to continue making this world a better place for all.
In part II and III of the Biol: 320 International Tropical Field Research, the students and faculty travel through Costa Rica to La Selva Biological Station, followed by Palo Verde National Park. The group wraps up their research and takes in some sights before heading back to the United States.
Led by Assistant Professor of Biology Melinda Fowler and Associate Professor Environmental Biology Justin Compton, Biol 320: International Tropical Field Research is an upper division biology course where students travel to Costa Rica and carry out independent research.
This year, in an eight-part series, PBS investigated some of America’s best-loved novels on The Great American Read. In honor of the investigative and inspiring look into literature, Outreach Librarian Kerri Vautour launched The Great Springfield College Read, a social campaign that went viral within our community.
