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August 6, 2024
The Advanced Studies Program NH Leadership Institute helps summer students see the role they can play creating positive change.
BY JIM GRAHAM
It’s not often that a high school student can sit down face-to-face with a high-achieving leader and ask the big questions that can guide their success in college and even beyond in their careers and service to their communities. But it happened every week during this summer’s Advanced Studies Program, when notable leaders from across New Hampshire came to campus to share their insights with students — and to inspire them, as well.
Through the program’s Distinguished Speaker Series, every Friday’s chapel brought a New Hampshire-based leader to speak about their work in fields ranging from public policy, medicine and the arts to computer technology, human rights, entrepreneurship, international relations and more.
The series is at the heart of the ASP New Hampshire Leadership Institute, which was launched in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development of virtual offerings to complement online-only major courses. Connecting leaders with students via video chats proved so popular that the meetings were continued with the Distinguished Speaker Series when the ASP’s in-person programming resumed in 2021.
Advanced Studies Program Director Michelle Taffe ASP’85 says that nurturing the college-and-beyond leadership potential of ASP students is one of the summer program’s primary objectives. “These are such talented students and making it possible for them to have genuine conversations with these leaders is a great way to show them that they can be leaders of the future,” she says.
It’s easy to go along with everything. But you aren’t here because you want to go along. You’re here because the future is in your hands… So, go out there. Find the people who will help you to be better. Live a life where you serve others ,and you will be more fulfilled than you could ever imagine.
— Jini Rae Sparkman, impact director for City Year New Hampshire
Following an address in chapel, visiting leaders spend time with smaller groups of students in classes and workshops, where they discuss how to develop the qualities and experiences that will guide their success. Over the past five years, guests have included U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen; New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu: James Collins, a bioengineer and MacArthur Fellow; Kate Bergeron ASP ’88, vice president for hardware engineering at Apple, Inc.; and other distinguished leaders.
In the last week of this summer’s ASP, students heard from Jini Rae Sparkman, impact director for City Year New Hampshire and an educator and consultant who works with organizations and individuals to promote antiracism and anti-oppressive practices.
In chapel, Sparkman shared her story of growing up in a small, conservative town in rural Texas, coming out as queer in college and finding her voice as an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC issues. She went on to earn three masters’ degrees, worked at New Hampshire’s Holderness School, taught at Plymouth State University and co-founded the Network for Independent School Equity.
Sparkman urged the ASP students to recognize their potential as leaders to bring positive change to the world, even if it means challenging the status quo. “It’s easy to go along with everything,” she said. “But you aren’t here because you want to go along. You’re here because the future is in your hands… So, go out there. Find the people who will help you to be better. Live a life where you serve others ,and you will be more fulfilled than you could ever imagine.”
Sparkman also met with students in After the Rally, an ASP major course that encourages students to develop and explore their voices and passions around social justice issues — and to learn how to transform that passion to action and leadership. “The students loved having her in class,” says Tiffany Stafford ‘92, who co-teaches After the Rally with Monique Schlichtman ‘92. “As they were with all speakers, they were curious about Jini’s national service work, with a particular interest in how they can affect change at their ages.”
Other speakers this summer included Dr. Marie Ramas, a family physician, consultant and health equity advocate; Kevin Bell, vice president of marketing at Loon Mountain; and Jozimar Matimano, a fine art painter who came to New Hampshire as a refugee.
“It’s amazing to think about the diverse life paths that these leaders represent,” says ASP Associate Director Donald Anselmi. “For students from all over New Hampshire to come here, and to be able to hear and learn from them, really makes a big impact. It can change the whole course of a student’s life.”
