Class Note 1998
Issue
September-October 2024
Dear, ’98s!
The College welcomed the class of 2028 to our beloved campus this fall. By now members of the class of 2028 have already walked thousands of steps to the Class of 1953 Commons for a meal, across the Green, and to check their Hinman boxes for care packages! For the Dartmouth community every fall marks a fresh start—a new academic year primed for displays of our sense of community. It’s an annual ritual that we all remember. After all, we all have contributed to the fabric of Dartmouth’s community.
I’ve had the pleasure of catching up with several of you these past few months and learning about your efforts to continue to lift each other up. I visited campus in May to attend the 25th anniversary of the Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association (DAPAAA25). DAPAAA25 celebrated the stories, achievements, contributions, and experiences of the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community at Dartmouth and beyond. Belinda Chiu and a team of esteemed DAPAAA alums pull together a memorable event that brought together a multigenerational alumni body that included several ’98s. I got to catch up with Joan Ai, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Priscilla Cham Kam, Rachel Kim, Vikram R. Krishnan, Gim F. Lau, and Min Jung Lee.Diane, who is shaping the minds of Dartmouth students as an associate professor of epidemiology, led a group of alums on a mindful walk around campus. What a grounding experience! Also, I sat on a panel with Joan Ai, Jaha Cummings ’95, and Sarah Gupta ’19 sharing our stories about solidarity and collaboration within and across cultures. Joan and Jaha shared with the audience their incredible work as cofounders of the Blanchard House Institute, which creates best practices in public-private partnerships for local elected officials and all leaders. Their work includes launching an initiative to revitalize more than 250 cities and rural communities across the United States and establishing the Black Wall Street Trail celebrating the legacy of the golden age of historic African American business districts impacted by urban renewal. DAPAAA25 was not only a fantastic event, it also highlighted the leadership of our beloved ’98s with Belinda at its helm. To top it off, Belinda, Diane, and members of DAPAAA curated an exhibit at Baker-Berry Library highlighting DAPAAA25 and celebrating AANHPI trailblazers. For those of you who were not able to make it to Dartmouth to see this exhibit, you can view it online on the Baker-Berry Library webpage. DAPAAA25 captured what it means to build community not only at Dartmouth but also beyond.
As the world turns, I hope you too will carve out time from your busy schedules to be present in the moment. Let’s spend some time lifting each other up and building community.
One love.
—Carline M. (Dorcena) Durocher, 137 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460; cdurocher07@gmail.com
The College welcomed the class of 2028 to our beloved campus this fall. By now members of the class of 2028 have already walked thousands of steps to the Class of 1953 Commons for a meal, across the Green, and to check their Hinman boxes for care packages! For the Dartmouth community every fall marks a fresh start—a new academic year primed for displays of our sense of community. It’s an annual ritual that we all remember. After all, we all have contributed to the fabric of Dartmouth’s community.
I’ve had the pleasure of catching up with several of you these past few months and learning about your efforts to continue to lift each other up. I visited campus in May to attend the 25th anniversary of the Dartmouth Asian Pacific American Alumni Association (DAPAAA25). DAPAAA25 celebrated the stories, achievements, contributions, and experiences of the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community at Dartmouth and beyond. Belinda Chiu and a team of esteemed DAPAAA alums pull together a memorable event that brought together a multigenerational alumni body that included several ’98s. I got to catch up with Joan Ai, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Priscilla Cham Kam, Rachel Kim, Vikram R. Krishnan, Gim F. Lau, and Min Jung Lee.Diane, who is shaping the minds of Dartmouth students as an associate professor of epidemiology, led a group of alums on a mindful walk around campus. What a grounding experience! Also, I sat on a panel with Joan Ai, Jaha Cummings ’95, and Sarah Gupta ’19 sharing our stories about solidarity and collaboration within and across cultures. Joan and Jaha shared with the audience their incredible work as cofounders of the Blanchard House Institute, which creates best practices in public-private partnerships for local elected officials and all leaders. Their work includes launching an initiative to revitalize more than 250 cities and rural communities across the United States and establishing the Black Wall Street Trail celebrating the legacy of the golden age of historic African American business districts impacted by urban renewal. DAPAAA25 was not only a fantastic event, it also highlighted the leadership of our beloved ’98s with Belinda at its helm. To top it off, Belinda, Diane, and members of DAPAAA curated an exhibit at Baker-Berry Library highlighting DAPAAA25 and celebrating AANHPI trailblazers. For those of you who were not able to make it to Dartmouth to see this exhibit, you can view it online on the Baker-Berry Library webpage. DAPAAA25 captured what it means to build community not only at Dartmouth but also beyond.
As the world turns, I hope you too will carve out time from your busy schedules to be present in the moment. Let’s spend some time lifting each other up and building community.
One love.
—Carline M. (Dorcena) Durocher, 137 Walnut St., Newton, MA 02460; cdurocher07@gmail.com