Class Note 2017
Issue
January-February 2024
Emma Hartswick and Dan Finch got married this past June with many fellow ’17s in attendance. Emma graduated from Harvard Medical School this year and has begun her residency in pediatric medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital on the leadership in equity and advocacy track. In the past few years Emma has also been involved with community development initiatives such as advocating for affordable housing and protections for people experiencing homelessness. Dan graduated from Tufts Medical School and Heller School of Business with an M.D./M.B.A. plus multiple research awards. He is now a resident in orthopedic surgery at Tufts.
Mercedes de Guardiola recently published a book, Vermont for the Vermonters: The History of Eugenics in Vermont, based on research she began during Sophomore Summer. After turning that work into her senior thesis, she published her first article with the Vermont Historical Society and later testified in front of the state legislature. Arriving full circle, Mercedes gave a talk at Dartmouth this past October. Eugenics is the pseudo-scientific field of selective human breeding that rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century in Great Britain, was enacted in various forms by the majority of American states, and became the foundation of Nazi Germany—with Nazis modeling laws and policies based on what succeeded in America and elsewhere.
The book examines how failing systems of healthcare and public welfare, coupled with preexisting beliefs on human worth, exploded into support for eugenics at the turn of the 20th century and led to state-supported policies of family separation, sterilization, and institutionalization.
Professionally, Mercedes is a communications manager at Luminary Labs, a strategy and innovation firm in New York City. She helps develop and run open innovation programs for government clients and private foundations on topics such as Lyme disease diagnostics, geomagnetic data collection, and vaccine innovation.
Mercedes also volunteers for the New York Junior League, where she oversees the large-scale restoration and on-demand volunteer programs. Previously, she chaired the Playground Improvement Project, overseeing the restoration of St. Nicholas Park and Seward Park. She loves living in New York City and feels fulfilled in giving back to the community.
Reflecting on Dartmouth, Mercedes is most grateful for the caring and inspiring professors that pushed her to explore her interests. Dartmouth also instilled that learning is a lifelong pursuit. Mercedes’s favorite memories at Dartmouth were a sunrise hike to the tower during senior fall and the class bonding during Sophomore Summer.
—Eric Chen, 24036 Wintergreen Circle, Novi, MI 48374; echen027@gmail.com
Mercedes de Guardiola recently published a book, Vermont for the Vermonters: The History of Eugenics in Vermont, based on research she began during Sophomore Summer. After turning that work into her senior thesis, she published her first article with the Vermont Historical Society and later testified in front of the state legislature. Arriving full circle, Mercedes gave a talk at Dartmouth this past October. Eugenics is the pseudo-scientific field of selective human breeding that rose to prominence at the turn of the 20th century in Great Britain, was enacted in various forms by the majority of American states, and became the foundation of Nazi Germany—with Nazis modeling laws and policies based on what succeeded in America and elsewhere.
The book examines how failing systems of healthcare and public welfare, coupled with preexisting beliefs on human worth, exploded into support for eugenics at the turn of the 20th century and led to state-supported policies of family separation, sterilization, and institutionalization.
Professionally, Mercedes is a communications manager at Luminary Labs, a strategy and innovation firm in New York City. She helps develop and run open innovation programs for government clients and private foundations on topics such as Lyme disease diagnostics, geomagnetic data collection, and vaccine innovation.
Mercedes also volunteers for the New York Junior League, where she oversees the large-scale restoration and on-demand volunteer programs. Previously, she chaired the Playground Improvement Project, overseeing the restoration of St. Nicholas Park and Seward Park. She loves living in New York City and feels fulfilled in giving back to the community.
Reflecting on Dartmouth, Mercedes is most grateful for the caring and inspiring professors that pushed her to explore her interests. Dartmouth also instilled that learning is a lifelong pursuit. Mercedes’s favorite memories at Dartmouth were a sunrise hike to the tower during senior fall and the class bonding during Sophomore Summer.
—Eric Chen, 24036 Wintergreen Circle, Novi, MI 48374; echen027@gmail.com