January Campus & Community Notes: Shay Totten '91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement Shay Totten '91 discusses the important influence Field Work Term can have on students' academic careers and plans for the future.
Happy New Year!
Like many of you, we are following the news of the wildfires in the Los Angeles area closely and want you to know that our thoughts are with those in the area and their families during this challenging time. If you are in the L.A. area and need support, please reach out to Alumni Relations. If you have offers of support for members of the Bennington community in the L.A. area, please email as well.
We are in the midst of Field Work Term (FWT), which remains an important aspect of the Bennington experience. Hopefully, some of you heard firsthand as Michael Pollan ’76 vividly described his first FWT experience and how it shaped his writing career last term. I, too, can say that my FWTs played a key role in finding my career path post-graduation. Two of my FWTs were focused on journalism, and the other two were focused on independent studies related to my creative writing major. I became a journalist shortly after graduation and maintained a journalistic career for more than 20 years.
Last fall, I had the opportunity to sit in on students’ Pecha Kucha-style presentation of 2024 Field Work Term experiences. From theater camps to nanotechnology, the depth and breadth of FWT experiences continues to inspire students to not just find a job but also to explore the world and shape it. I can’t wait to hear the experiences your students will share when returning to campus next month.
That said, while the students are away, campus stays very active. Currently, students in the Bennington Writing Seminars MFA program are on campus, and we’re hosting the Winter Writers Reading Series. If you’re near campus, please come listen in person! Alternatively, each event has a streaming option, too. I hope you can tune in.
In the meantime, please mark your calendars for Family Weekend! Our combined Family Weekend and All-Class Reunion is set for October 3–5. During this weekend, families, students, and alumni will share space and hear more about the Bennington experience. We’ll be sharing details later this year about the fun events, performances, and opportunities in the works. Start by booking your rooms, as fall is a busy time in Vermont. Here is a handy list of places to stay.
Onward,
Shay Totten '91
Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement