Coordinator's Corner: A letter of gratitude to the incoming NSC Coordinator

Dear Kevin,

As I pass the NSC Coordinator baton to you with much excitement and admiration, I want to offer a few words of deep thanks to our NSC community, a few reflections on a wonderful three years, and some playful albeit totally unsolicited advice.

Kevin, I know that the NSC program will evolve and thrive in new ways under your brilliant leadership and care for our amazing students. I’ve cherished your longstanding involvement with the NSC during my time as coordinator—from teaching your over-subscribed “Scientific Opinion Writing” Advanced PWR to the popular gateway course “Intro to Science Communication,” to co-hosting NSC events with some of the country’s preeminent science communicators, to advising and evaluating e-Portfolios to always being available to support the program. It’s meant so much to me to have your steady, wise, thoughtful presence and support over these years.

As the NSC enters its second decade, I also want to give deep thanks to the people who founded, developed, and led it in various ways over the years—from the original Curriculum committee that drafted our first NSC proposal, including Dr. Kim Savelson and Dr. Sarah Pittock, to the visionary planning and coordinating of Dr. Jenne Stonaker and Dr. Russ Carpenter, to Dr. Meg Formato who lead the program with care before and during the turbulent and uncertain Covid years, to all of the instructors who teach NSC advanced PWRs, serve as NSC advisors and ePortfolio evaluators and show up for our events—starting with Christine Alfano, Kim Savelson, Shay Brawn, Sarah Pittock, Norah Fahim, Hayden Kantor, Raechel Lee, Mutallip Anwar, Eldon Pei, Becky Richardson, Kath Rothschild, Cassie Wright, and Irena Yamboliev. The NSC would not be here without them and of course our incredible directors Adam Banks and Marvin Diogenes. I’ve been so grateful to learn from every one of these amazing humans in different ways over the years—whether it’s advice regarding the colors of our new stickers or an idea for a special NSC event, or an innovative science communication activity for our classes. An extra special shout-out with my deepest respect to my Notation comrade Dr. J, who always inspires me with her extraordinary leadership with NCR, her visionary teaching, and her ideas for building community within both the Notations. Kevin, I know you two will stay close too as you plan and dream up possibilities together.

Some additions to the program we’ve seen the last few years have included wonderful collaborations with other programs and departments on campus, which have resulted in an NSC student-led environmental justice storytelling anthology (which some of our instructors have contributed to—thank you Laura Joyce Davis!!) and Stanford’s first environmental justice film festival co-hosted by the NSC. The NSC has also coordinated and hosted two new annual events—our Notations Welcome Back Pizza party and our NSC Student Alumni Panel. The former gives our students a chance to connect with their NSC cohort, welcome excited newbies and learn from the veterans. Our Alumni Panels have included council members, doctors, comedians, the US energy secretary’s speech writer, the communications manager for the Woods Institute, among others. These NSC alumni – who join us from all over the country – have shared the ways the NSC informed and transformed their lives. This event is one of my favorite events of the year, comparable only to our graduation ceremony when we get to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, marvel at their e-portfolios, and send them off knowing they are going to use their science communication expertise in meaningful and impactful ways throughout their lives.

Kevin, I’d love to end this column with some brief words of advice which I am hopeful you might find useful. First, Christine Alfano is an incomparable support and her NSC marketing google spreadsheet will knock your socks off. She is also always on top of the application process. 99 percent of NSC applicants will apply the day applications are due. Please expect an email from Christine the day before the deadline asking you why in the world nobody has applied. This is the sign that applicants will begin pouring in!

​​Lisa Moore Ramee, Michelle Bercow, and Cristina Huerta will be crucial allies for all your NSC record keeping and event planning. Their support will also mean the world to you as you navigate the logistics of coordinating the NSC gift bags, ordering food for events, and of course planning the graduation ceremony. If Michelle brings in ten bags of oranges and she lets you bring one of the bags to an NSC event, they will be the most coveted food there. (Unrelated side-note: Make sure to ride with Lisa in the golf cart at least once! Blasting Bruce Springsteen from your phone while Lisa speeds down the side roads will fulfill a dream you didn’t even know you had.) 

Last but far from least, Jenne Stonaker’s institutional and programmatic knowledge, her technology skills and mastery of digication, and her deep love for our students is as humbling as it is inspiring. You won’t find a better resource for technical, intellectual, or emotional support.

Finally, just to reiterate what you already know: thanks to the students and all the people mentioned here – YOU so valued among them – the NSC community is one of the most vibrant, creative, thoughtful, loving communities I’ve ever been a part of. They know in our current era of intersecting crises and technological advancements how important it is to develop their science communication skills and expertise. They are eager to learn, discover, practice and to support each other in the process. 

Kevin, I can’t wait to see how the NSC will evolve under your leadership, and I’ll be here for you from day one for whatever you need. I wish you a beautiful and memorable run!