Development Web: sociology/anthropology | economics | environmental | politics | justice

Helpful People:

(An incomplete list.)

Chris Chiappari--My advisor, a professor in the Sociology/Anthropology department. His knowledge on development, Latin America, and life in general has been incredibly useful throughout this process. He has been supportive and always willing/meet/discuss/ review whatever I happen to be working on. I have benefitted from his willingness to bend over backwards to make things work many a time, which is not only helpful, but reassuring when one is stressed out. It was not I who said it, but I agree, that "the man has a heart of gold."

Susan Carlson--Program director of the CIS department, this woman makes things happen and is really smart. I am amazed at her ability to coordinate when and where and how things work out (ie senior presentations, review commitees), and am also appreciative of her feedback on my senior project.

David Booth--Former director of CIS, the guy who helped me get my major put together. When I finally decided to design a C IS major I ended up in David's office, where we took rapid notes and drew web diagrams. He has this incredible ability to listen to someone's incoherent ideas and then sum up their intent in a neat, calm, respectful sentence. It has a tendency to leave people with a sense of awe (I have this good authority from several sources besides myself). I also took David's feminist theology class, which was profoundly inspiring.

Sherry Saterstrom--A professor in the dance department, she doesn't know it, but her dance classes helped me maintain enough sanity to create my own major, and also gave me plenty of food for thought on the way mainstream society sets up the world and healthy alternatives to it. Things I learned in her class about movement and body mechanics have become a metaphor for how I view the world in which development functions.

Tony Lott--A professor in the political science department. The content from his class, Global Environmental Politics, was what inspired me to design my own major in the first place and gave me some direction. It was one of the important factors in my decisions to do development studies. Tony was the first professor I talked to about desiging my major, his immediate enthusiasm was enough incentive to actually pursue the idea. He has been incredibily supportive and insightful throughout the entire process. A good man and a good professor. If you're an Olaf student, TAKE A CLASS FROM HIM.

Ruth Nervig--Fellow CIS major and friend, we spent many hours together in the computer labs providing moral support and assistance throughout the creation of our websites. Having Ruth around gave me the motivation to finish this thing.

John Erdmann (my dad) and Diane Erdmann (my mom)--For their support in everything, but especially my senior project. Dad did an incredibly helpful editing job on my paper once I translated it into English and both helped set up and run my senior presentation.

Caitlin Daniel--My dear friend from high school. One night over Christmas break my sophomore year, Caitlin and I were cooking at her house (as we often do) and I asked her for advice on what to make this major I was going to design. She was the first to suggest development studies.

Katie Scouten--A St. Olaf alumna and CIS major. While on orchestra tour my sophomore year Katie told me about her CIS major. This gave me the idea to design my own major and she supplied me with advice as I began writing. Look at the mess she got me in.

 

 

 

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