Ashley Pollock

Bio- I am currently a Master of Liberal Arts Candidate in the Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University Extension School and a Special Student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. I earned my first ALM degree in History from Harvard in 2005 and plan to pursue a Ph.D. with a research focus on U.S. women’s history, allowing me to combine my previous studies. I served as an elected officer of HESA from 2003-2005 in the role of ALM Liaison and now represent the Extension School as an elected Vice President to the Harvard Graduate Council. I have been a Teaching Assistant/Fellow for over fifteen history related courses at Harvard and this past summer, served as an Assistant Dean for Harvard Summer School in charge of Kirkland House.

Position Paper- Greetings fellow Harvard students! This is truly an exciting time of year for the Extension School student body—elections are upon us. You will soon have the opportunity to choose the person who will take the lead of the Harvard Extension School Association. I am writing to you today as a motivated and dedicated candidate willing to take the lead to work diligently, bringing you a better student life experience as an Extension Student.

My platform is simple. I will bring together A Team Committed to Fostering Community. Do you hope to know your fellow classmates when you graduate? I have the experience to help that happen. More social and intellectual opportunities are needed at Harvard Extension with strong modes of publicity. HESA has a number of programs that have been in place since the organization’s inception. First Fridays, the Negotiation Forum, and the end-of-the-year formal are just a few of the events that have histories to build upon.

I know HESA’s history well as a past elected ALM Liaison for two years. In that time I was Co-director of the first Research and Career Forum and went before the Harvard Graduate Council to petition that the Extension School be Represented and allowed to participate. For the past two years I have served as an elected representative to the HGC. http://www.hgc.harvard.edu/about_executive.htm As the VP of Communications, I send out a weekly newsletter and update all aspects of the website.

I believe HESA needs to be revitalized. Communication is a main aspect that needs to change. Many levels of communication need to be available to students. Publicity of events needs to happen on a much greater scale. I also believe that Harvard Extension School needs to be involved in the current discussions about Harvard’s expansion into Allston and thinking about how “space” is appropriated on the main campus. Extension students need space of their own. I have experience working closely with the Dean of Students’ Office at Extension and with the Provost of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. These connections between students and administrators need to be pursued to create positive changes for better student life. My studies in U.S. history have taught me that ‘Participatory Democracy’ is how things change. I am asking YOU to participate in the possibilities of next year’s administration. Choose community, vote Ashley Pollock.

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