Laura Hart ’15

Laura Hart '15

Donor Profile

Tell us a little about your career path.

At Dickinson, I majored in English and biology and tutored at the Norman M. Eberly Writing Center. I graduated remarkably unsure of what I wanted, so I dabbled. I TA’d a zoology course that summer, worked admissions at a Catholic women’s college for six months and spent two years in marketing at a dining-services company that serves independent schools and small colleges—all while writing short stories for a language-learning startup. I realized that collaborating with students and teachers was the highlight of each job, so I applied for teaching positions.

Fun fact: My first teaching gig was at West Nottingham Academy, the boarding school Ben Rush attended!

What is your favorite memory from your time at Dickinson?

Spending nights working and chatting with my fellow tutors in the Writing Center—what a great bunch!

How did Dickinson’s useful liberal-arts education help you?

My double major and tutoring experiences were the best possible preparations for a career teaching high school English and biology. My willingness to teach across the science-humanities divide has been a major selling point in the hiring process, as has my enthusiasm for founding peer writing centers.

Why do you feel it's important to give back to Dickinson?

Dickinson has blessed me with some of my best friends and most supportive mentors. I want other students, especially those who cannot afford it independently, to have a chance to build the same rich personal and professional networks.

What inspired your own gift to Dickinson?

I had always wanted to go to college, but it was far from a given in my family. Dickinson’s generous scholarships enabled me to explore my academic passions for four years of full-time residential study. It’s been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy reading, cooking, hiking and writing poems and children’s fantasy stories.

What advice do you have for today’s students?

Meet your distribution requirements early! You may be captivated by a subject you never would have considered, so give yourself time to pursue it.

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Published December 10, 2021