In celebration of Pride Month, we asked members of Tuck Pride—the Tuck community’s LGBTQ+ resource and support group—to reflect on their goals, accomplishments, inspirations, and passions.
The Tuck and Dartmouth community’s Pride 2022 theme, The Colors of Pride, represents the endless spectrum of gender and sexual identities, along with the many other backgrounds, that our community represents.
Gender Pronouns: She/Her/They/Them
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
What does Pride mean to you?
Pride means being able to live freely as myself in my most authentic form, without worrying about what others may think. It also means acknowledging how far the community has come for me to have this privilege and for me to continue to support others in being able to celebrate all of themselves.
What keeps you busy? How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I started a nonprofit and a candy brand the summer before business school. Keeping those progressing, and some new entrepreneurial interests, means I’m usually on my computer or a call. Outside of all of that, I love spending time with my friends and family, immersing myself in the Tuck Fabric, and sprinkling in some time for art.
Who do you most admire and look up to? Who inspires you and why?
My mom for sure. She came to the U.S. without knowing the language or having educational equivalents, leaving behind a lucrative career to work in the restaurant industry until she retired.
There were so many cultural, financial, and personal obstacles that she had to face by herself. She had to quickly become independent and humble – swallowing all her pride to make her new life make sense.
Seeing her courage and work ethic, and also the endless love for her kids, inspires me every day to do my most and my best, but to also have patience and care for others. I have the life I have because of the life my mom gave up.
In your opinion, what makes a good leader?
A good leader is someone who both listens to the people and translates what he/she/they hear into a unified passion, voice, and conviction.
Gender Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Wilmington, MA
What does Pride mean to you?
To me, Pride is a reminder of the years of struggle that the LGBTQ+ community has faced in the fight for equality, those that we have unjustly lost, and the continued work we still need to do. Pride is also a celebration of difference, which includes both embracing what makes you different and accepting those that are different from yourself.
What keeps you busy? How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I love staying active. I’m very into running (I ran in college and have since run four consecutive Boston Marathons), but since coming to Tuck I’ve gotten a lot more into tripod hockey, hiking, and skiing as well.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Breaking 2:30 in the marathon.
What do you believe will be the defining issue(s) of the next 20 years?
I believe the defining issue of the next 20 years will be the evolution of First Amendment freedoms—how our political systems and technology companies respond to the continued spread of false information via personalized algorithms as well as the future of Citizens United and campaign finance. Without changes here, I find it difficult to see our country ever becoming less politically polarized.
In your opinion, what makes a good leader?
To me, a good leader is able to earn the respect of a team, collect a diverse array of perspectives, and articulate and execute a vision that serves to motivate others and push an organization to the next level.
What have you recently, read, watched, or listened to that you enjoyed and would highly recommend to others?
I’ve recently been watching Barry. You wouldn’t think a violent show about a hitman-turned-actor would be successful as a comedy, but Bill Hader manages to pull it off quite well.
Many Voices, One Tuck celebrates the stories of our vibrant and diverse community. What's your story? Email DEI at Tuck if you'd like to contribute to the MVOT project.
Note: MVOT is open to members of the Tuck community, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, TEE and Tuck Bridge participants, and MHCDS graduates.
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