Class Note 1997
Issue
Jenn Chen sent greetings from Rome: “Ciao da Roma! I have news I’d love to share. Following eight fantastic years as an expat in Paris and Rome, I’m moving to New York City in July. In Paris I taught the literature option internationale du baccalauréat Français for the American section of the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye; in Rome I taught international baccalaureate literature and served as English and curriculum coordinators at St. Stephen’s School. This fall I’ll assume an English literature teaching position at the United Nations International School in Manhattan.”
Jenn has packed a lot into her time abroad. Her first job in Paris was with a documentary film production company that had just published the first issue of an annual Anglophone poetry journal. She also translated and wrote film proposals, did subtitling, worked with a voiceover artist in the studio, served as an Anglophone liaison on projects in Australia, Malaysia, and the United States and worked as a production assistant and on-the-go interpreter for a Colorado-based production company that toured France for a shoot for the Style network.
“That last gig was the most fun,” Jenn wrote. “I got to spend a day in Provence (and a few follow-up work lunches in Paris) with Olivier Baussan, the very charming founder of L’Occitane and Oliviers & Co.; Jacques Polge, the nose of Chanel (we interviewed him one early morning in the privately owned jasmine fields whose entire output Chanel has purchased since the 1970s for Chanel No. 5); and Philippe d’Ornano, a Sisley vice president and the son of Count Hubert d’Ornano, founder of the cosmetics company. The film job was the only opportunity I suppose I’ll have in this lifetime to encounter celebrity. I’m passionate about teaching and literature and, well, mine isn’t a very glamorous profession!
“I’m thrilled to be returning home and can’t wait to reconnect with friends and settle into one of the greatest cities of the world! In N.Y.C. I’m excited to hang out more often with Matt Clavel and Steve Lee. They were very supportive in my job search and have been good friends over the past several years, despite our not being able to see each other often. Matt’s happily teaching at St. Bernard’s in the city and he and his wife, Liz, have the sweetest little girl, Madeleine. Steve’s married to the lovely and very talented dancer Carolyn Cryer and recently purchased a place in Brooklyn.”
Jenn was off to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Paris before returning to New York.
Thank you to everyone who donated to the Leo Park Scholarship Fund. We raised the $18,000 we needed to partially support a named scholar. Starting this fall a Dartmouth student will receive a scholarship in Leo’s name of approximately $6,000 to $7,000 per year. The scholarship will renew annually until the student graduates or is no longer eligible for financial assistance, and at that point the scholarship will pass to another student.
While future donations to the fund are no longer needed to secure an annual gift in Leo’s name, those who wish to continue to contribute may do so. Such gifts will still have a large impact, as any future contributions to the fund will increase the amount of the annual scholarship awarded.
As I write this, Faye and I are preparing for our first international trip with Ellery, who will turn 2 on our flight to Tel Aviv. What did you do this summer? Any exciting trips or upcoming travel plans? Please send me your news, travel-related or otherwise. Take care.
—Jason Casell, 9209 Donner Lane, Austin, TX 78749; jcasell@aol.com
Sept - Oct 2010
Jenn Chen sent greetings from Rome: “Ciao da Roma! I have news I’d love to share. Following eight fantastic years as an expat in Paris and Rome, I’m moving to New York City in July. In Paris I taught the literature option internationale du baccalauréat Français for the American section of the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye; in Rome I taught international baccalaureate literature and served as English and curriculum coordinators at St. Stephen’s School. This fall I’ll assume an English literature teaching position at the United Nations International School in Manhattan.”
Jenn has packed a lot into her time abroad. Her first job in Paris was with a documentary film production company that had just published the first issue of an annual Anglophone poetry journal. She also translated and wrote film proposals, did subtitling, worked with a voiceover artist in the studio, served as an Anglophone liaison on projects in Australia, Malaysia, and the United States and worked as a production assistant and on-the-go interpreter for a Colorado-based production company that toured France for a shoot for the Style network.
“That last gig was the most fun,” Jenn wrote. “I got to spend a day in Provence (and a few follow-up work lunches in Paris) with Olivier Baussan, the very charming founder of L’Occitane and Oliviers & Co.; Jacques Polge, the nose of Chanel (we interviewed him one early morning in the privately owned jasmine fields whose entire output Chanel has purchased since the 1970s for Chanel No. 5); and Philippe d’Ornano, a Sisley vice president and the son of Count Hubert d’Ornano, founder of the cosmetics company. The film job was the only opportunity I suppose I’ll have in this lifetime to encounter celebrity. I’m passionate about teaching and literature and, well, mine isn’t a very glamorous profession!
“I’m thrilled to be returning home and can’t wait to reconnect with friends and settle into one of the greatest cities of the world! In N.Y.C. I’m excited to hang out more often with Matt Clavel and Steve Lee. They were very supportive in my job search and have been good friends over the past several years, despite our not being able to see each other often. Matt’s happily teaching at St. Bernard’s in the city and he and his wife, Liz, have the sweetest little girl, Madeleine. Steve’s married to the lovely and very talented dancer Carolyn Cryer and recently purchased a place in Brooklyn.”
Jenn was off to Copenhagen, Stockholm and Paris before returning to New York.
Thank you to everyone who donated to the Leo Park Scholarship Fund. We raised the $18,000 we needed to partially support a named scholar. Starting this fall a Dartmouth student will receive a scholarship in Leo’s name of approximately $6,000 to $7,000 per year. The scholarship will renew annually until the student graduates or is no longer eligible for financial assistance, and at that point the scholarship will pass to another student.
While future donations to the fund are no longer needed to secure an annual gift in Leo’s name, those who wish to continue to contribute may do so. Such gifts will still have a large impact, as any future contributions to the fund will increase the amount of the annual scholarship awarded.
As I write this, Faye and I are preparing for our first international trip with Ellery, who will turn 2 on our flight to Tel Aviv. What did you do this summer? Any exciting trips or upcoming travel plans? Please send me your news, travel-related or otherwise. Take care.
—Jason Casell, 9209 Donner Lane, Austin, TX 78749; jcasell@aol.com