The following email was sent to the Barnard community on February 6, 2018:
Dear Members of the Barnard Community,
I am pleased to announce Beyond Barnard, a new initiative that will expand and integrate the resources we provide to prepare students and alumnae for life beyond the College and success in their chosen fields.
We have both an opportunity and a responsibility to show the value of our distinctive liberal arts education by ensuring our students have the tools they need to put that education into practice—whether in academic, industry, government, or nonprofit roles. By more effectively connecting classroom experiences with co-curricular activities such as internships, research and field placements, we will create a stronger pathway for students to achieve their goals after college and throughout their lives.
Beyond Barnard will be jointly directed by Provost Linda Bell and Dean of the College Avis Hinkson. Their two offices will collaborate to integrate five areas of student support – career development, graduate and professional school preparation, research and competitive fellowships, internships, and student employment – into one unified office and initiative. Our goal is to combine faculty engagement with intentional and consistent graduate and career advising and programming, creating a seamless experience for students. As a result, students will have a clearer understanding of the pathways they can navigate to pursue their interests and next steps, and will be able to access the full array of Barnard resources regardless of their starting point.
From the day they arrive at Barnard, students should be offered academic and career opportunities based on their interests and goals. These may range from fellowships and research opportunities to internships and community engagement projects in New York City and around the globe. These rich experiences should be informed by faculty input and connected to what students are learning in the classroom. Alumnae, too, will be able to access these resources. Alumnae will also be a tremendous resource to connect our students with new opportunities. As students plan for life after graduation, they will be part of an expanding Barnard network and will be able to apply their new intellectual skills in a variety of settings with confidence.
Beyond Barnard will be co-directed by newly appointed Associate Deans Nikki Youngblood Giles and A-J Aronstein. Over the next six months, they will be working to structure their teams and to fully develop the suite of integrated services for our students. Dean Youngblood Giles joined Barnard in 2008 and most recently served as associate dean for pre-professional advising and special adviser to the senior class, supporting students as they consider the next stage in their educational and professional careers. She also has directed Barnard’s Academic Success and Enrichment Programs aimed at recruiting and retaining students underrepresented in higher education.
Dean Aronstein comes to Barnard from The New School for Social Research, where he was Director of Communications and New Initiatives. Previously, he was the inaugural director of graduate and postdoctoral career development at the University of Chicago, where he played a central role in designing career development resources, internship opportunities, and employer relations initiatives. I know you will provide them with your encouragement and support in their new roles.
You will hear more about Beyond Barnard as the work develops. In the meantime, please visit the Beyond Barnard website for more information and share your questions or ideas with us by writing to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu.
Sincerely,
Sian Leah Beilock
President
