Political Science Professor Kerry Ratigan grew up in Natick, Massachusetts. She received her B.A. from Haverford College, where she majored in Political Science and Spanish. She completed a Master’s in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics, then went on to receive another Master’s and a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After 15 years of using the same equipment, Campus Police’ is updating its surveillance equipment to meet 21st century standards. On Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, Amherst College Police Chief John Carter sent out a school-wide e-mail announcing the enhancement of his department’s closed-circuit camera system. The new technology’s installation is projected to be completed by the middle of the fall semester.
On Friday, Sept. 13, Amherst’s Career Center launched the Pathways Student-Alumni Mentoring Program, a program that allows Amherst students to select alumni mentors who share their interests.
Pathways is the latest addition to the variety of resources offered by the Career Center which include help with resume building, study abroad, summer funding, and fellowship advising. However, Christina Ramos, the program director of Pathways, believes that many students are not aware of all the opportunities available to them at the Career Center.
While students spent the summer interning at various organizations, exploring foreign countries or relaxing at home or on the beach, the IT Department spent countless hours making improvements around campus. From the new mobile printing and printing release stations to the package notification system, the IT Department has made all different facets of our campus more technologically and environmentally friendly.
This year, Val’s salad bar contains new language. The typical designations still remain. Lettuce is still obviously labeled “Lettuce;” Carrots are still obviously labeled “Carrots.” But, if you look at the glossy white labels a little closer, you might see “Book and Plow” peeking at you in small print. Indeed, the College’s very own Book and Plow Farm has made its dining debut.
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself?
A: I come from Belgium, originally, in the heart of Europe, from near Brussels. In my family I was the first one to go to College. I studied in Belgium, then Sweden and then Switzerland where I got my Ph. D. I studied law and politics, two different degrees, and got my Ph. D. in international relations in Geneva.
The campus was bustling this summer as construction and design teams took over the campus, finishing up major projects before students flooded in for the new year.
The first of the major projects to be completed was Seligman Dormitory. As part of the residential master plan, which has it’s origins dating back to 2001 when the College put a plan in place to update or renovate all of the college dormitories and bring the freshman to the main quadrangle, Seligman Dormitory was renovated and expanded, doubling the bed capacity of the dormitory from 23 to 46.
