Since stepping onto the Colgate University campus, students have likely heard the word “connection” time and time again. Building relationships is essential to creating a lifelong network. The four years of college provide a unique opportunity for students to forge connections with current students, faculty and the alumni community alike. Colgate provides events to foster these relations, with one of these being the Passion Projects Series — and it comes with a free meal.
The Passion Projects Series is a year-long Dart Colegrove Residential Commons initiative with a long-standing tradition. It first began as the Big Questions Series, and was a large passion of the previous co-director of Dart Colegrove Commons, Professor of Biology Engda Hagos. Passion Projects are events where a faculty member shares one of their passions over dinner, allowing students the opportunity to get to know Colgate professors and staff members outside the classroom and to learn what they are passionate about and why, all while enjoying a complimentary meal.
Director of the Residential Commons Program Abby Palko shared more about this tradition.
“Through the conversation that unfolds, attendees get to know about the speaker’s passion and how it motivates them, either personally or professionally,” Palko said. “Often, attendees find their own interest and passion sparked by the speaker.”
These events help to build a stronger Colgate community by bringing together students and faculty to share a meal and a meaningful experience. By listening to the passions of faculty members, it can also inspire students to pursue or explore something similar.
Associate Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies Isla Globus-Harris, the current co-director of Dart Colegrove Commons, described how speakers are chosen.
“We aim to invite a variety of faculty and staff from across campus over the course of the semester,” Globus-Harris said.
There have been a wide range of speakers in the past, from the director of Haven, Charm Little-Ray, to even President Brian W. Casey. Other speakers from this fall include Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences Lauren Philbrook, who spoke about child development, and Assistant Director of the Office of Student Involvement Antonio Ruiz Ezquerro, who spoke on building leaders through play.
Having a large variety of speakers allows these events to cover a broad range of subjects, exposing students to numerous different “passions” that they may be interested in pursuing. The diversity within the Passion Projects Series keeps each event immersive and unique, allowing students to truly get to explore different ideas.
Assistant Dean of Student Conduct, co-director of Dart Colegrove Commons, expressed the goals of the Passion Projects Series.
“The goal with this series has always been to connect students with faculty and staff members outside of the classroom in an informal setting with a meal included,” Kaminski said. “Each presenter has freedom to speak with the group about things they are passionate about. We’ve had presenters talk about things that are connected to their jobs on campus, and others who are just passionate about a topic.”
By giving speakers the flexibility to discuss any topic — whether directly related to their profession or Colgate job or not — the series allows them to talk about anything they are passionate about. This freedom further allows students to get to know their professors or faculty members on a more personal level outside of classroom subjects.
“They are a really nice way for us to connect with students in no stress, informal settings, and share a wide range of things we are passionate about,” Kaminski said.
A lot goes into making these events a success. Typically, students can find information on when these events occur through advertisements on social media or flyers. Extensive planning is also done in advance of an event, including arranging the meal, reserving the space and inviting other guests. The meal provider changes between events, with the food sometimes themed around the speaker’s topic or sometimes kept as a surprise to add to the experience.
Palko also shared other events similar to the Passion Projects Series that students should look out for in the future.
“Each of the four Commons hosts a variety of events designed to spark students’ interest and help them develop their intellectual and creative passions. Students can look for these opportunities in their weekly Commons newsletter, the Commons’ Get Involved platform pages, and their [Instagram] pages,” Palko said.
Students should stay on the lookout for events like the Passion Projects Series, as it serves as a great opportunity to make deeper connections with staff and students at Colgate. Connections truly are built one conversation at a time, so don’t hesitate to attend one of these events to meet new people, discover passions and enjoy a free meal.
