Class Note 2007
Issue
May-June 2026
Class Note 2007. I saw that there was a feature on art history majors in the March-April alumni mag, so I decided to reach out to my Art History 1 teaching assistant, Jess Hodin, who shared a great update about her career in the arts.
She writes, “I now operate in a liminal space between the academic side of art history that I studied at Dartmouth and the legal and intellectual property frameworks that I learned in my master’s work, shaped in large part by the art scene of New York City. Context matters deeply to my work: My experience in New York took the fundamentals I learned at Dartmouth, which formed a foundation of credibility, and brought them to life through real-world encounters with the art market. After college, I applied my art history and art business background at an art advisory and appraisals firm, went on to run a gallery for a year, and later worked at Art Basel, an international art fair, before joining the partnerships team at Frieze Art Fair. My career has unfolded as an extension of the way I first learned to engage with art at Dartmouth—curious, rigorous, and attentive to context—and those early lessons continue to shape how I move through the art world today. Living in New York City with my husband, son Leo, and dog Hugo, I continue to rely on relationships made and lessons learned at Dartmouth.”
Also working in the arts is Yasemin Elci, who shared, “I’m currently based in Luxembourg, where I work as a curator and art advisor. One of my recent projects has been Climate Elders, a photography exhibition created in collaboration with the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) 1in6by2030 and HelpAge International, which opened during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. I also had the opportunity to participate in COP30, learning from country pavilions and exploring how art can spread awareness and inspire action. My career began in Turkey, where I managed a contemporary art gallery and later worked as director of Leica Gallery and Academy Istanbul. Since moving to Luxembourg in 2020, I have continued to work with institutions and NGOs to create social impact through art. Even though I live internationally, I’ve reconnected with wonderful Dartmouth friends during my visits to the United States. Seeing them felt like yesterday. I’m lucky to have one Dartmouth alum in Luxembourg and would love to reconnect with more.”
Laura Pearlstein wrote in from D.C. with some news about a new business endeavor that classmates may appreciate, with a unique Dartmouth connect at its heart. She wrote, “I’m excited to introduce my new venture, Kin Kit! It all started with an idea to pay homage to our family retreat in Maine. I wanted to design Camp Pearlstein caps and T-shirts with a nod to shared pastimes, inside jokes, and a classic camp aesthetic. So I called a talented young designer, Josh Cherner ’21, to help me bring it to life. We’ve founded Kin Kit to rethink the custom merch experience—putting the focus back where it belongs: on the kinship that inspires it. We’re building this ourselves, bit by bit, with no outside funding. It’s been exciting and humbling, and so much fun. We launched very quietly to friends and family before the holidays and were thrilled to show up under a few Christmas trees a few weeks back. So now it’s time to start telling the world that we’re here. I hope you’ll check out our website, www.kinkit.co, follow us on Instagram @kinkitusa, and maybe even place an order.”
—Sam Routhier, 543 W 122nd St., Apt. 25B, New York, NY 10027; samrouthier@gmail.com
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More of 2007 Class Notes
She writes, “I now operate in a liminal space between the academic side of art history that I studied at Dartmouth and the legal and intellectual property frameworks that I learned in my master’s work, shaped in large part by the art scene of New York City. Context matters deeply to my work: My experience in New York took the fundamentals I learned at Dartmouth, which formed a foundation of credibility, and brought them to life through real-world encounters with the art market. After college, I applied my art history and art business background at an art advisory and appraisals firm, went on to run a gallery for a year, and later worked at Art Basel, an international art fair, before joining the partnerships team at Frieze Art Fair. My career has unfolded as an extension of the way I first learned to engage with art at Dartmouth—curious, rigorous, and attentive to context—and those early lessons continue to shape how I move through the art world today. Living in New York City with my husband, son Leo, and dog Hugo, I continue to rely on relationships made and lessons learned at Dartmouth.”
Also working in the arts is Yasemin Elci, who shared, “I’m currently based in Luxembourg, where I work as a curator and art advisor. One of my recent projects has been Climate Elders, a photography exhibition created in collaboration with the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) 1in6by2030 and HelpAge International, which opened during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. I also had the opportunity to participate in COP30, learning from country pavilions and exploring how art can spread awareness and inspire action. My career began in Turkey, where I managed a contemporary art gallery and later worked as director of Leica Gallery and Academy Istanbul. Since moving to Luxembourg in 2020, I have continued to work with institutions and NGOs to create social impact through art. Even though I live internationally, I’ve reconnected with wonderful Dartmouth friends during my visits to the United States. Seeing them felt like yesterday. I’m lucky to have one Dartmouth alum in Luxembourg and would love to reconnect with more.”
Laura Pearlstein wrote in from D.C. with some news about a new business endeavor that classmates may appreciate, with a unique Dartmouth connect at its heart. She wrote, “I’m excited to introduce my new venture, Kin Kit! It all started with an idea to pay homage to our family retreat in Maine. I wanted to design Camp Pearlstein caps and T-shirts with a nod to shared pastimes, inside jokes, and a classic camp aesthetic. So I called a talented young designer, Josh Cherner ’21, to help me bring it to life. We’ve founded Kin Kit to rethink the custom merch experience—putting the focus back where it belongs: on the kinship that inspires it. We’re building this ourselves, bit by bit, with no outside funding. It’s been exciting and humbling, and so much fun. We launched very quietly to friends and family before the holidays and were thrilled to show up under a few Christmas trees a few weeks back. So now it’s time to start telling the world that we’re here. I hope you’ll check out our website, www.kinkit.co, follow us on Instagram @kinkitusa, and maybe even place an order.”
—Sam Routhier, 543 W 122nd St., Apt. 25B, New York, NY 10027; samrouthier@gmail.com