Margaret Smith, who came to the College last term as the new coordinator for both Peer Education Programs and Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Programming, said when she initially read her job description she "thought they wrote the job" for her.
Smith, who arrived in September after working as an alcohol and sexuality counselor in Worcester, Mass., has jumped right into College life, advising several campus student groups, including the Drug and Alcohol Peer Advisors, Responsible AIDS Information at Dartmouth and the Dartmouth Rainbow Alliance.
Smith also coordinates the Peer Education Action Corps, an extensive health education training program offered in the Fall and Spring terms.
And she coordinates gay, lesbian and bisexual programming on campus.
Smith has been excited by her introduction to the College and its students and staff.
"You know people are going to treat you well when you start a job," Smith said. "The welcoming and helpful attitude of people at the College has continued as the year has gone on."
Smith said she found preconceptions of the College to be untrue.
"A lot more people in the outside world think Dartmouth is more conservative and close-minded than it actually is," Smith said. "There are dedicated people here trying to figure out how to make Dartmouth great for everyone and making the environment a great place to learn and live."
Smith was drawn to Dartmouth by its reputation as an "academic and intellectual atmosphere" and hopes that through her position she can help add to that atmosphere.
Through the PEAC program, Smith would like to "change perceived norms students have about drinking on campus." Smith said the problems of drinking on campus are of both a legal and personal nature.
"It's not just the number of kegs," Smith said. "I'm more worried about why people make high-risk drug choices and how any person could act differently when making difficult choices. There a lot of people here that make very healthy choices."
Through her work advising the DRA and GLB programming, Smith said she would like to work on changing campus norms.
"I'd like get to more places where they wouldn't know they need me," Smith said. "Although it's very accepting and with a wealth of resources, Dartmouth is not in a vacuum. Society as a whole affects it."
Smith said she considers herself an "eternal student" and said interacting with students and other members of the College community is one of the best parts of her job.
Students who have worked with Smith said they consider it a positive learning experience as well.
Shea McInerney '00, who worked with Smith in both PEAC and Undergraduate Adviser training, and is interning with her this term, said it is fun to work with Smith.
"She has such an amazing love for what she's doing," McInerney said. "She's flamboyant, fun and enthusiastic and brings it to what she's doing."
Susi Kandel '00, who works with Smith through the DRA, said, "Margaret is so happy it's almost crazy."
Kandel also praised her awareness of College life, even after such a short tenure on campus. "Being an out lesbian, she knows what issues are on campus and has a lot of experience," Kandel said.
Smith also cited her happiness and enthusiasm as traits that help her do her job. "I drive to work excited," Smith said. "I really love students and I hope they'll learn from me and that I'll continue to learn from them."
Smith lives in Keene, N.H. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Clark University and her master's degree in counselling at Boston College.
Smith replaced Bart Bingenheimer '94 who left the College in August to pursue a Masters degree in public health at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
