Sumita M. Strander
Dartmouth College

Degree: B.A. in Anthropology (modified with Neuroscience)

How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
The Stamps Scholarship profoundly changed my undergraduate experience. The support from the Stamps community has allowed me to delve into a two-year interdisciplinary project studying dementia care for Indian elderly. This project has been one of the most influential aspects of my college career, the independence and mentorship from faculty and peers it awards being equally encouraging. I probably would not have decided on the path I am now on if it had not been for this opportunity.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
Don’t be afraid to make connections between different fields. Sometimes it seems like each department functions within its own world, but often the connections we can draw between them are sources of even deeper meaning.

Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
My professors have had the greatest impact on me. They have challenged and encouraged me both within and outside of the classroom, and much of what I have been able to do is because of the help they have given me.

What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
Attending the 2017 National Convention in Atlanta.

What comes next?
I will be doing clinical research for a year in the Yale neurology department, and then attending medical school after that.

Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi