Opportunity, Growth, Support

Allison Kustic ’21, a political science major in the School of Liberal Arts and Education, was nominated by Dominican University of California and selected as a participant in the 2020 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. In a normal year, she would have attended the institute’s two-week orientation in Monterey and spent three months interning in a U.S. House of Representatives office in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the D.C. portion of the internship was canceled due to COVID-19. However, Allison learned from public servants, academics and policy experts in several fields during the two-week remote orientation program. Following this abbreviated program, Allison wrote a 20-page policy paper on a topic of her choosing. Allison recently talked with Domincan’s Communications and Media Relations office about her Dominican Experience, which included interning with Sen. Kamala Harris, working with the Marin County Board of Supervisors, studying abroad in London, and serving as president of the Dominican Political Science Association. And how, along the way, she has been supported and inspired by her faculty mentors.

Politics has been central to your experience at Dominican. What are some of your more memorable moments both as an intern and as a student?

I joined the debate team my first year because it was the first opportunity I was presented to get involved on campus. I have learned so much about public speaking, thinking on my feet, being a teammate, and crafting creative arguments. I’ve met some incredible people and been on fun adventures in the process. I also had the opportunity to study abroad in London, which created memories I will hold onto for a lifetime. I learned about new cultures, adjusted to a new way of life and learning, and explored the world. I also will always cherish the small moments at Dominican: sitting with friends in the Gazebo, fellowship after Sunday night masses, sharing my love for DU as a student ambassador, and too many game nights in Edgehill Mansion with friends to count. I bombed an interview for an internship in the Governor’s office after my first year, but I learned from the experience and landed an internship in the Sacramento district office of Sen. Kamala Harris the summer after my second year. In the spring of my junior year, I interned with the Marin County Board of Supervisors, where my main focus was organizing grassroots social media messaging for the 2020 Census with more than 150 community partners. I enjoyed both internships and learned different things in each. I learned what sorts of issues Californians care about, as well as the intricacies of the legislative process and federal casework in Harris’ office. At the Marin County Board of Supervisors, I loved how hands-on my work was, and I felt like I was really making an impact in my local community. When we were still going into the office at the beginning of my internship, my supervisor and I met with a community member and traffic planner about a dangerous blind curve. By the end of my time there, safety measures had been put in place to protect pedestrians.

When did you first develop an interest in politics, and why?

I grew up in Sacramento and have been surrounded by state government all my life, and I’ve always strived to stay abreast of the news. I think I knew I wanted to study political science my senior year of high school, while participating in a mock state legislature and court program called Youth and Government through the YMCA. Nearly 4,000 high school students from across the state participate in the program every year. I had the opportunity to write a bill, lobby, perform legislative analyst work and speak on the California State Senate floor. Through that program, I learned about the deliberateness of the legislative process, and I was hooked. I find politics engaging, but what really interests me is public service. I see politics as the arena in which we sort out who is most qualified to represent others and serve their communities through government. So, while many people find politics exhausting and frustrating, I see it as an opportunity to create lasting change for the problems we face.

Tell us about your faculty mentors? How have they supported you?

When people ask if I like going to such a small school, I say yes, because the community is tight-knit. My professors know me by my first name, even if I’ve only had one class with them — professors at Dominican care about me as an individual.

During my first year, I had some health issues and had to be absent from class for a while. When I emailed my professors to let them know, not one focused on the academic aspect and instead wished me a speedy recovery and told me we would sort things out when I was well. Three professors stand out in particular as incredible mentors: Amy Young, Christian Dean and Alison Howard. I had only one general education course with Professor Young, but her class was one of my favorites. She expanded her Bay Area Rocks class to encompass local geography and taught us how to be global citizens who connect science to business, government action, volunteer work, etc. She pushed us to think about how academic disciplines intersect and took us on field trips to learn firsthand. Christian pushed me to read more in a constitutional law course than I have for any other class, asked me to ponder moral reasoning in an ethics class, and look at the other side of every issue I encounter through debate. He saw my passion for expanding my horizons and further mentored me as a TA and encouraged me to apply for the Panetta internship. I often refer to Alison as my Dominican mom — that’s how much of a family Dominican is. Alison reaches out to each and every one of her students with more opportunities to intern, attend lectures, tune in to webinars and read articles to augment their formal learning. She knows me personally, not just as a student in her classroom. Alison directs me toward opportunities during summer in my hometown, makes sure I have housing figured out each year, and asks about my family. Alison encouraged me to become involved in the Dominican Political Science Association during my first year, and I was elected as president for two years. That club has become one of my closest circles at DU.

Our first-year students begin their studies this coming week. What do you recall about your first year at Dominican, and what would be your advice to them?

I have loved every year at Dominican, and my first year was no exception. My number 1 tip for new students is to never stop saying hello. I met new friends throughout my first year and am still meeting new people! You are not limited to the people in your orientation group or the first two students you talk to. Some of my best friends at Dominican are not in my year, and a bonus to making friends in classes above you is that they are often incredible mentors and friends. Find at least one way to get involved on campus. I recommend debate to everyone, regardless of your major. You do not need any previous experience and you will learn so much. But truly, find something that will give you community and keep you on campus more weekends than you go home. At the same time, don’t overdo it and know when to say no thanks. It is good to have some free time to spontaneously walk to Double Rainbow or hike the Gold Hill Grade fire trail behind campus.

What do you have planned for life after Dominican?

That’s a big question. I am graduating a semester earlier than expected because of the changes with Panetta, so I don’t have everything sorted out yet. I will apply for the Capital Fellows program and would like to work with the California State Legislature. Law school has been at the back of my mind for a while, but my experiences at the Panetta Institute are making me consider it more seriously. Further down the road, I would like to pursue a job focused on environmental policy, and plan to one day run for office.

Dominican in three words?

Opportunity, growth, support.

OT Graduate Students With PPE Doing In-Person Lab Work

Graduate students in the Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) have adapted to both the expected and unexpected challenges brought by COVID-19. Mastering the hands-on skills vital to their profession while wearing layers of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been tougher than expected. An October heatwave, during which temperatures soared throughout Northern California, did not help. “Fun fact: PPE retains more heat than I previously thought imaginable,” said graduate student Brianna Baisch. “Sweat dripping down your back in the lab has become a regular occurrence. However, our cohort’s perseverance and excitement to learn is contagious. We continue to stay hydrated, focused, and just happy to see each other’s faces — even through a mask and face shield.” When Dominican’s fall semester began in August, the University offered various delivery modes, including online, hybrid and in-person instruction. State of California guidelines permitted some essential workforce and experiential learning courses, including occupational therapy classes, to be delivered in-person on campus. “As an essential professional program, the OT department continues to selectively choose essential in-person experiential learning that cannot be substituted with online learning, and brings students back to campus,” said Dr. Kitsum Li, program director and associate professor of OT in the School of Health and Natural Sciences. To ensure that students returned to the Meadowlands Hall labs in a safe and organized manner, a team of dedicated faculty and staff worked tirelessly throughout the summer to ensure that safety and flexibility would be woven into all in-person interactions. Li credits the team of Associate Professor and Chair Julia Wilbarger, Instructional Resources Coordinator Claire Murphy, Program Administrator Diane Griffeath, and Director of Clinical Simulation Services Barbara McCamish for planning detailed risk mitigation strategies to bring students safely back to their labs and classrooms. The team developed a guiding document that classifies lab activities into low, moderate and high risks, with corresponding mitigation strategies. According to the classification, students are provided with PPE — including procedural masks, face shields, disposable gloves, and disposable gowns — as appropriate. Table-top standing shields are used as another layer of protection, and students are kept in a "pod" of consistent partners to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Student Sabrina Anne Cezar praises the Dominican faculty for continually supporting students during these times of uncertainty and unrest. “As we transitioned back to in-person labs, the OT department has been dedicated and on top of making sure we take the proper precautions through COVID testing, daily health screenings, providing students with full PPE, and most importantly, by respecting our autonomy,” Cezar said. “It has been a joy to be reunited with professors and cohort members. I can't emphasize enough how, even in a time of uncertainty, in-person labs continue to feel natural and so fulfilling — even with all the PPE.” Kristin Jones, assistant professor of OT, has been impressed by the students’ attitudes and flexibility. “They took the precautions very seriously but didn't let it get in the way of their learning,” Jones said. “Even on some of the hottest days, they did not complain about the heat or that they had to be in class, but were supportive of each other and spent time focusing on their learning. I have immunocompromised members in my family, and I was comfortable teaching because I experienced how conscientious the students were during in-person learning.” Student Quyntz Ellenwood sums it up nicely: “If you look at our situation, it is just so ‘OT’ of us to adapt to our environment. We face uncertainty and choose to make friends with it. We ask it, ‘What can we do to better embrace your presence?’".

Wearing PPE in the classroom prepares OT students on how to use these materials and become comfortable when working with patients in the future. Whether it's navigating PPE and focusing on coursework or wearing PPE and guiding patients toward recovery, adaptability is key. — Rena Ribeiro