An interview with Aislinn Doherty ’25.
What are the most impactful things you have done over the last four years?
What impacted me the most was my involvement with the Bonner Community Leaders Program. This program, which is a national network of colleges and universities, encourages students to participate in a community that prioritizes a commitment to service, personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship.
As a Bonner Leader, I expanded my leadership skills, engaged with my community in significant ways, and learned more about community engagement through a social justice lens. This opportunity allowed me to build meaningful relationships with like-minded students and connected me with inspirational mentors across the city.
Through the Bonner program, I worked with the nonprofit organization Girls’ LEAP and Orchard Gardens K–8 Pilot School through America Learns. These positions ignited my passion for nonprofit work and introduced me to new skills and knowledge that will make me more successful post-graduation. The Bonner program, as well as support from its Director, Courtney Kramer, has been instrumental in my growth as a student, leader, and individual during my time at Simmons.
Did your course of study entail any internships or travel/study abroad opportunities?
I engaged in a variety of internships across different fields of interest. The two that impacted me the most were my time with the Boston Public Library (BPL) Fund as an Advancement Services Intern and at the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Archives as an Archives Intern.
As I will pursue a Master of Library and Information Science at Simmons, with a concentration in Archives Management, these two positions served as an introduction to my professional career post-graduation. These opportunities provided me with hands-on experience in the fields of archives management and nonprofit administration, helping me to build professional skills in database management, collection processing, and constituent relations.
What was your favorite Simmons course and why?
My favorite course by far has been “Seminar: Arts in the Community” (AADM 390), taught by Professor of Museum Studies and Art History Heather Hole. This course was the capstone for my arts administration major and included an internship component, where I had the privilege to work with the BSO Archives. The hands-on experience in the archives allowed me to directly apply theoretical concepts to the real world. The course itself encouraged us to examine the theory and practice of arts administration and develop professional skills such as curation, event management and marketing, and grant writing.
Professor Hole, now in the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS), was an instrumental part of my arts administration education. Though this was not my first (or last) course with her, it was one of the most impactful as it solidified my interest in the profession and provided me with the baseline to be successful in the field.
Who was your most inspirational Simmons professor/mentor and why?
My most inspirational Simmons mentor has been Courtney Kramer, the Associate Director of the Stephen D. London Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice and the Director of the Bonner program. Her commitment to community engagement and the broader Simmons campus has been inspiring to see and has encouraged me to get more involved in my own communities.
Kramer’s unwavering support, passion, and expertise made her an impactful part of my Simmons experience and I can attribute much of my personal and professional growth over my time here to her. With her guidance, I have become a better leader, community member, and individual. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with Kramer during my time at Simmons and know that I will bring the skills I have developed through her mentorship with me into my future career.
How has Simmons taught you to be a leader?
When I first came to Simmons, I did not consider myself a leader. My work with the Bonner Leaders program has had the greatest impact on my growth, as a major component of the program is focused on developing leadership skills like self-advocacy, collaboration, and decision-making. Additionally, as an Orientation Leader, I was able to develop skills like group management, adaptability, and conflict resolution.
How did you find your community at Simmons?
I made it my personal mission while at Simmons to get involved with as many organizations and opportunities as possible. This allowed me to have a variety of communities spread across the entirety of campus. Prior to coming to Simmons, I was accepted to be a Bonner Community Leader and was therefore part of a four-year program focused on leadership and community engagement.
Academically, I was involved in both the Computer, Data, and Mathematical Sciences and Art and Music Liaisons as a Student Government Association (SGA) representative. Professionally, I worked in the Trustman Art Gallery as a Gallery Assistant and Curatorial Fellow; in the Simmons University Archives as a student worker; and as an Orientation Leader and Logistics Captain through the Jennifer Eckert Center for Leadership and Engagement.
I also joined the Simmons Rowing team, participated in FIT at Simmons classes, and attended many of the events hosted by the University. Being involved in so many aspects of Simmons has expanded the impact the University has on me and made my time here more enjoyable.
In your experience, what was the best part about attending college in Boston?
When I first started looking at colleges, my main goal was to end up in a city. As an arts administration major, I have had the opportunity to use the city of Boston as an extension of the classroom. Being so close to art institutions like the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts has been instrumental in my learning about art history and arts administration.
Additionally, living on campus allowed me to get a BPL library card and utilize all the resources they have to offer. As a Colleges of the Fenway (COF) student, I engaged with students at other schools and got discounted tickets to Red Sox games. Being a student in Boston has provided me with various resources and professional opportunities as well as the chance to visit local museums, go to concerts throughout the city, try out new restaurants, and engage with the Greater Boston community.
What is your favorite Simmons memory?
In my final year as an undergraduate, I joined the Simmons Rowing team. Every March, during spring break, the team takes a group trip to Miami for a spring training camp. During that week, we practiced three times a day, had our meals together, and took trips to the beach or canal.
As I was still new to the team, this opportunity helped me build relationships and gain confidence in the skills necessary for rowing. After not having participated in team sports since high school, this experience was a little daunting at first but ultimately provided me with a strong fitness routine, an expanded community at Simmons, and a new level of confidence.
What advice do you have for current and incoming Simmons students?
The first piece of advice is to get involved. Getting involved across campus and across Boston will provide you with educational and professional opportunities, but will also help you build a community, which is essential when you need support.
College can be overwhelming, and having people to rely on socially, academically, and professionally can make all the difference. Being part of a community will also make your college experience more enjoyable because it isn’t all about school and work.
My second piece of advice is to participate in informational interviews [with professionals] whenever possible. In my first year, I thought they were an inconsequential practice, but I have now gotten multiple jobs from people I interviewed for a class assignment. These interviews will help build your network and expose you to new skills and ideas within your fields of interest.