Roads Taken

Recently, ROADS TAKEN sat down to talk with Josh Marks about how his life has been full of happenstances that finally led him to meaningful work within independent schools. What we didn't talk about was his role as college bagpiper. Join Leslie Jennings Rowley as she talks to Josh about how he got into the bagpipes, how it's kept him connected to the college, and what evolution he's seen going back to campus twice a year for the last quarter century. Then, stick around for a special treat to musical tribute to our class and anyone who has called Dartmouth home on this special Bagpiping Bonus Episode of ROADS TAKEN.

Executive Producer/Host:Leslie Jennings Rowley

Opening Music: Clancy Rowley on a theme by Worth Rowley

Closing Music: Dear Old Dartmouth, Harry Wellman 1907, performed on bagpipe by Josh Marks ’96

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Josh Marks, Dartmouth ’96, remembers his college days as being marked by a self-unawareness and a happenstance that exposed him to interesting people, interesting extra-curriculars, and interesting academic pursuits. While it made for an enriching college experience, it didn’t set him up for an obvious path after graduation.

After a handful of jobs that were good enough, and one that paid that for an MBA, he was helping a friend look for a teaching job when serendipity struck again. Looking at jobs for his friend at his alma mater, the Hackley School, he saw an advertisement for a financial officer. He realized what he hadn’t loved about consulting was that he couldn’t see the outcomes of the process improvement suggestions. Within a school environment, he could make strides to improve processes and see the benefits. He also found a sense of community and a greater purpose in helping to transform the lives of young people.

On this episode, find out from Josh how the unexpected, and seeing things with new perspective, can provide unforeseen bonuses…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Josh Marks has spent over 15 years in business operations roles within the independent schools sector. He now serves as the Chief Financial Officer of LREI, The Little Red School House & Elisabeth Irwin High School in New York City's Greenwich Village. He also still plays the bagpipes, serving as Dartmouth’s official piper, presiding over commencements and homecomings since our college days. Tune in for a special Roads Taken episode on June 9—25 years to the day of our graduation—to hear more about that and for a special treat from Piper Josh.

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Tracy Canard Goodluck, Dartmouth ’96, is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and also of Mvskoke Creek heritage and was raised as a strong Native woman in her urban communities of Utah and New Mexico. Freshman year of college illuminated how socio-economic disparities were affecting her beloved Native American communities, and the activist in her got fired up and, after a few terms away to process it all, came back to campus committed to do something about it. After a job in the Hanover After-School Program she knew education would be one route to impact and received a fellowship for graduate study in education. 

She made sure to be near Native communities to learn about the systems that empowered and challenged success.  Wanting to test a style of education that championed culture instead of removing it, she helped start the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When she realized, however, that in telling the students to follow their dreams she was actually saying what she needed to hear herself, she applied to law school to pave her road to public service in the federal government, where the majority of tribal policy decisions are made.

In this episode, find out from Tracy how heeding the fire in the soul sometimes leads to the place where you can do the most good.....on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Tracy Canard Goodluck is a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and also of Mvskoke Creek heritage. Beginning her career as an educator, she was one of the co-founders of the Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She now is an advocate for Native American communities throughout the United States in her roles within the federal government. She recently joined the White House as a Policy Advisor for Native Affairs in the Domestic Policy Council, staffed there on a detail from the Department of Interior where she is the Deputy Director of the Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office.

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Woojin Kim, Dartmouth ’96, didn’t have a clear idea of how he wanted to approach college so he briefly considered being pre-med or pre-law. But after taking a broad range of courses, he realized history spoke to him and enjoyed it so much that he was considering a master’s degree in the discipline after college with an eye toward the professorate.

Back at home preparing applications for the following year, he consulted the list of Dartmouth alumni in his area and planned to reach out to a few for informational interviews to make sure he’d considered a range of options. He reached out first to a doctor who ultimately changed the path of his life.

In this episode, find out from Woojin how even though life’s not a race, sometimes you need help finding the starting line.....on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. 

About This Episode's Guest

Woojin Kim is a triple-Ivy educated gastroenterologist and assistant clinical professor in the Department of Medicine and the director of interventional endoscopy at City of Hope, the comprehensive cancer center in southern California. He is passionate about the prevention and treatment of gastro-intestinal cancers, including both research and therapeutic procedural interventions. 

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Taran Lent, Dartmouth '96, knew he wanted to study engineering, even if he didn't see himself becoming an engineering. Learning how to scope a problem, build a toolkit of tactics and encyclopedia of methodologies, and solve real-world problems appealed to him. As he juggled the coursework and his role as captain of the varsity football team, he found a way to put the engineering mindset to action: He approached a slew of Hanover-area eateries—including the old favorites EBA's, Panda House, Lou's—and built a system that allowed college students to use pre-paid cards in college town eateries, something absolutely new in the late 90s. When corporate recruiting found him with a number of offers at the big consulting firms, he decided to turn them down and to go all in on his business.

In time, the business grew beyond Hanover to other campuses and Taran's company also took over Dartmouth College’s on-campus card system. When he realized he could solve problems at scale, he ended up building enterprise-wide payment processing systems that were ahead of their time and that ultimately paid off.

In this episode, find out from Taran how somtimes you just need to pay attention to see how you can make things better and more efficient...on today's ROADS TAKEN with met....on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Taran Lent has been building and operating payment technology companies his entire professional career from the Hanover Green Card back in the day to his current role as Vice President of Product Development at Transact Campus. When he's not processing your tuition payments, he enjoys windsurfing and spending time with his wife and two kids and extended family in Texas.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Beth (Jordan) Mattingly, Dartmouth ’96, had thought she wanted to be a neurosurgeon so that she could investigate how and why people ended up being different before and after some unexpected event. But when she stumbled upon the field of human geography and how one’s location can have outsized impacts on opportunities, motivations and behaviors she was hooked. Ever more interested in the more expansive questions and implications of sociology, she pursued graduate work in that field and found new ways to investigate the before and after questions that had always piqued her interest. She focused her research and policy-informing work on poverty alleviation and improving family outcomes and continues this work today in her current role with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Of course, this all happened after she met classmate David Mattingly ’96 and they married, both intent on centering their lives on their partnership and parenthood. With five children, there has been a lot of compromise and flexibility.

In this episode, find out from Beth how using longitudinal inquiry can tell us a lot about how things change and need to change for the better...on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Beth Mattinglyhas had a research career that has focused on families, poverty, inequality and how to make things better. She currently serves as Assistant Vice President for Research & Communications, Regional and Community Outreach at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. NB: The views expressed in this episode are those of Beth and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve system, or its board of governors.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Liz Rawson was biologically-minded, but wasn't pre-med in college. The idea of doctoring to people just didn't appeal. Once she realized what was keeping her away wasn't the medicine part but the people part, she set her sights on veterinary school, even if she had to play catch-up a little. She got the work experience and extra training she needed in Boston to be able to apply and enrolled at Tufts. In school, she found what she didn't love (farm animals) and what she did (surgery), but had to stay scrappy to realize the dream.

Her surgical residence ultimately led her to Florida, where she has practiced for nearly two decades. Her tendency to keep her head down and her eye on her career played out in two interesting and different ways over the years—once to get her through things and another against all odds. Though her career has concentrated her surgery work on cats and dogs, she most resembles the Energizer bunny, just going and going, no matter the circumstances.

In this episode, find out from Liz how sometimes just getting through is the way ahead...on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Liz Rawson is a board-certified small animal surgeon who spent nearly two decades in the hospital setting and now works in private practice in South Florida. She’s going to call us the next time she cares for a gator.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Host Leslie Jennings Rowley wanted to take a moment to say thank you to our ROADS TAKEN listeners. "I know you are out there –Dublin to Abu Dhabi, Sao Paulo to Singapore to Vancouver to Rome, and all over the U.S. And I really appreciate that you keep coming back. 

"When I started this podcast, I wanted to share the stories of my classmates and how they’ve navigated their sometimes winding roads since college.  I knew the stories would be as varied as the individuals telling them. I love that these stories and I love how they have resonated with listeners on all phases of their journeys—from newly-minted alumni who are thinking about their first steps, to those farther on who are thinking about what their next chapter might hold. It’s been great to receive your feedback about our interviews and how hearing these stories have affected you.

"Because I’m now greedy for more, I invite you to fill out our survey at RoadsTakenShow.com by clicking the Contact Us page. Let us know what you want to hear more of as we wind down this first full year of episodes and contemplate a potential Season Two. 

"Of course, as much as I want to hear from you directly, it would be so helpful if you could leave a review on your podcast platform of choice.  It makes the platforms like us and helps others find the show. Of course, we’re also gaining listeners by word of mouth through your own personal networks and we appreciate that, too.//

"But again, I’m so glad you’ve been listening and enjoying the show. Next week, I will bring you another great story and I look forward to bringing you more stories in the coming weeks and months on ROADS TAKEN."

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest John Barros journeyed to college from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston and tried to become the best version of himself by participating in numerous activities and leadership roles. He went into the business world at an insurance company right after graduation, thinking that law school could help him further hone his worldview and the best way to be of service. Service came looking for him, though, in the form of a call from home.

The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a community development organization for which John had volunteered since before school, was in need of an interim executive director and he was asked to apply. They asked him to stay and, in his thirteen years at the helm, organization built affordable housing and small business space, designed new schools to reengage the community around them, and ended up creating the largest urban land trust in America. When the city’s mayor decided not to run again, he heard another call: this time to run. Though that campaign did not lead to the position he sought, he was asked to be the city’s chief of economic development and now seeks the mayoral position once more.

In this episode, find out from John how returning to what you know and being comfortable with playing the long game can set you up to make true impact, just when home seems ready for you…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

John Barros, a lifelong resident of Boston’s Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods, previously served as the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for more than a dozen years and the Chief of Economic Development for the city until recently when he made the announcement that he is running to be the next mayor of Boston in November 2021.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Dave Kramer stayed in Hanover after graduation to complete the teacher preparatory program and answered a classified ad to teach in Colombia. He headed to Cali with a mind to reinvent himself but anticipated honing his Spanish and having an adventure. Finding both his life mate and an appreciation for the environment there, he became a passionate advocate for not only the environment but also Colombia as a place and people. But continued unrest at the turn of the century made his wife anxious to get her gringo back home, thus beginning a recurring theme of “back to Boston.”

Dave found his way at a number of environmental organizations, building networks and connections as he went, including through his cohort at Harvard’s Kennedy School. A move to Austin allowed him to branch out on his own, consulting for a variety of organizations, but always keeping an eye to projects that support the people and environment of Colombia.

In this episode, find out from Dave how being an idealist who's a match-maker for ideas can sometimes spark what you need for your next adventures…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley,

About This Episode's Guest

Dave Kramer is an environmental generalist who has skills in grassroots organizing, experiential education, and supporting the next generation of global change makers to reimagine our world. He is currently the program director for Planet Texas 2050, coordinating interdisciplinary climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives at UT Austin. But if you're heading to Colombia for a visit and need a guide, Dave's your man. He is also the founder of the Colombia Rising Project. Follow them on Twitter @RisingColombia. 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]