吃瓜爆料

One of the biggest reasons I came to Skidmore was to learn from a professor who knew my name.  
 
Four years later, I鈥檝e had 22 professors. They absolutely know my name. Many also know my personality, career interests, talents and that I鈥檓 from Lake George, New York.  

Sure, I鈥檝e learned plenty of academic things from them. But what really resonates are the lessons they鈥檝e taught me that extend far beyond the classroom.  

Here are three people, and three lessons, I鈥檒l never forget.  

Hope Casto

Associate professor of education

Hope Casto has been with me since day one. As my academic adviser, she ensures I鈥檓 on track curriculum-wise. She also does so much more.  

Professor Casto鈥檚 office has been a second home for me on this emotional roller coaster called college. Whether it was stress, fear or anxiety, excitement or happiness, she welcomed and guided.  

She did her advisor duties, helping me pick out classes I would be interested in, while also stepping in as a caring mentor. She helped me navigate how much I could put on my plate without feeling overwhelmed, while also finding new and exciting opportunities for me to try out.  

What she taught me: To trust myself.  

Even when I couldn鈥檛 comprehend how I鈥檇 get through, she believed I would be fine. In her words, 鈥淟exi, I鈥檓 not worried about you. I always know you will figure it out.鈥�  

A steady voice of reason, her confidence in me grew my own self-confidence. And that鈥檚 something so valuable, I can barely put words to it. 

Learn more about Hope Casto and education studies 

Daniel A. Nathan

Professor of American studies 

I have taken five classes with Daniel Nathan. By choice. As he once said, that鈥檚 enough classes to be 鈥渂oth proud and embarrassed at how well we know each other.鈥� But it wasn鈥檛 all fun and games. Professor Nathan was tough on me, too, pushing me to think bigger, broader, and go deeper. 

What he taught me: Just try. And, it never hurts to ask.  

When I was a junior, I was working on a documentary on the Skidmore men鈥檚 basketball team. It was turning out fine, but I knew it could be better with information from one very important person 鈥� President Philip A. Glotzbach. He鈥檚 certainly approachable, but I doubted he鈥檇 respond. I was ready to settle on mediocre when Nathan stepped in. 鈥淛ust try, Lexi,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he worst that could happen is he says 鈥榥o.鈥欌�� Well, he said 鈥測es.鈥�   

He also taught me: Take one thing at a time.  

The world threw a lot of things my way during my time at Skidmore. Some of them were gigantic papers and historic movie analyses for Professor Nathan. If I panicked, he鈥檇 always say, 鈥淭ake one thing at a time. You may not get an A, but that鈥檚 OK. You can always do better.鈥�

Learn more about Daniel Nathan and American studies   

Jeffrey Segrave

Professor of health and human physiological sciences

First, Jeffrey Segrave鈥檚 cheery, British accent is unforgettable. Second, his passion for the Olympics and sport as a whole is absolutely magnetic. But for me, it鈥檚 more than a casual Union Jack reference or Manchester United score. 

What he taught me: How to be there for other people.  

Segrave is the perfect representation of what Skidmore really is 鈥� a community. And he leads by example, showing up for others no matter how busy he is.  

You鈥檒l see Segrave in the classroom and then again at your basketball game, and again when you鈥檙e giving a presentation, and then again when you鈥檙e receiving that award you鈥檝e worked so hard for.  

While he鈥檚 definitely not alone in this, he鈥檚 a shining example of how Skidmore professors care about more than just academics. They are also interested in your passions and achievements outside the classroom.  

The lesson here is about how he made me feel 鈥� that I matter, that I鈥檓 cared for, that I belong. By sharing in my passions, he inspired me to be more passionate.  

Learn more about Jeffrey Segrave and Health and Human Physiological Sciences

Skidmore鈥檚 X factor: our professors  

As I shared, these are only three of 22 professors I鈥檝e had at Skidmore. And from literary masters and modern-day science savants to passionate social activists and dedicated medical researchers, they have filled my brain with more knowledge than I ever imagined.

But they鈥檝e also filled my heart.  

They鈥檝e been leaders and mentors, confidants and caregivers. They have waved enthusiastically from the stands and walked entirely out of their way so they could keep hearing me talk.  

They nurtured the best version of myself. And that means the world to someone who has the whole world ahead of them.