Class Note 1999
Issue
September-October 2026
Class Note 1999. Hello, ’99s!
I hope your autumn is off to a good start. We have great news to share.
First, I’m pleased to write that Douglas Van Citters was appointed as the 14th dean of the Thayer School of Engineering. Doug continued his education at Thayer after graduation and stayed on. He has been a member of the faculty at Thayer for nearly two decades and served as interim dean for 18 months. Doug began his substantive role on 1 July. He said: “What drew me here, and what keeps me here, has remained the same: a community of people who believe that engineers have a responsibility to ask not only ‘Can we build it?’ but also ‘Should we build it and for whom?’ That philosophy runs through everything we do here, and it’s what I intend to protect and strengthen as dean.” Congratulations, Doug!
Several ’99s came together for a mini-reunion in Boston in May to hear President Beilock share her vision for Dartmouth. Her visit was part of the “On the Road” tour to meet alumni and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Dartmouth and higher education more generally. Class of ’99s attending included Andy Hilton, Roy Wildeman, Pamela Wildeman, Jeff Munsie, Holly Munsie, Lauren Cornella, Meg Lysy, and David Sussman.
Finally, I had the opportunity to meet our adopted class member Marisa Shariatdoust at a Dartmouth event in London. Several alums came together to see the musical The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which tells the inspirational story of William Kamkwamba ’14. Seeing his community in Malawi struggle with drought and famine, William used a dynamo that powered bicycle lights to create a wind turbine that could generate electricity and pump water. William pursued his passion for engineering as a Dartmouth student and now leads the Moving Windmills project, which empowers local communities through innovation. Seeing William’s story reminded me just how special our Dartmouth community is and the opportunity we all have to leave the world better than we found it.
That’s all the news for now. I hope you make the most of the cooler weather and look forward to sharing more updates with you soon!
—Tony Perry, 8 Marlborough Close, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL64LP, England; tony.j.perry@gmail.com
Back to 1999 Class Year
More of 1999 Class Notes
I hope your autumn is off to a good start. We have great news to share.
First, I’m pleased to write that Douglas Van Citters was appointed as the 14th dean of the Thayer School of Engineering. Doug continued his education at Thayer after graduation and stayed on. He has been a member of the faculty at Thayer for nearly two decades and served as interim dean for 18 months. Doug began his substantive role on 1 July. He said: “What drew me here, and what keeps me here, has remained the same: a community of people who believe that engineers have a responsibility to ask not only ‘Can we build it?’ but also ‘Should we build it and for whom?’ That philosophy runs through everything we do here, and it’s what I intend to protect and strengthen as dean.” Congratulations, Doug!
Several ’99s came together for a mini-reunion in Boston in May to hear President Beilock share her vision for Dartmouth. Her visit was part of the “On the Road” tour to meet alumni and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Dartmouth and higher education more generally. Class of ’99s attending included Andy Hilton, Roy Wildeman, Pamela Wildeman, Jeff Munsie, Holly Munsie, Lauren Cornella, Meg Lysy, and David Sussman.
Finally, I had the opportunity to meet our adopted class member Marisa Shariatdoust at a Dartmouth event in London. Several alums came together to see the musical The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, which tells the inspirational story of William Kamkwamba ’14. Seeing his community in Malawi struggle with drought and famine, William used a dynamo that powered bicycle lights to create a wind turbine that could generate electricity and pump water. William pursued his passion for engineering as a Dartmouth student and now leads the Moving Windmills project, which empowers local communities through innovation. Seeing William’s story reminded me just how special our Dartmouth community is and the opportunity we all have to leave the world better than we found it.
That’s all the news for now. I hope you make the most of the cooler weather and look forward to sharing more updates with you soon!
—Tony Perry, 8 Marlborough Close, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL64LP, England; tony.j.perry@gmail.com