Four former Bears are returning to the Mountain this winter to participate in the 2019 Pro Vita Winter Session as guest teachers. During Pro Vita, students pursue non-traditional courses within the areas of art and design, sustainability, philanthropy, diversity, and sense of place. With a unique opportunity to explore the world beyond Berkshire, students find themselves in an environment where they can discover new interests while further developing their love of learning.

Dr. Rosemary Fitzgerald ’82, a leader in the digital marketing and media industry for over 15 years, is eager to challenge students to consider the future impact of cryptocurrency and technology on our society in the course The New Digital Economy and Technical Revolution. Kris Govertsen ’15, a graduate student at Northeastern University studying Sustainable Building Systems, looks to inspire students to more carefully consider their individual and collective footprint on our environment through Bears Being Better and Building Better: Introduction to Daily Sustainable Practices and Building Design. Lionel Shaw ’85, president and founder of Caritas Advisors, hopes to awaken in students an appreciation for and understanding of the deeply rewarding virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy in the course The Power of Giving. Lizzy Steiner ’10, a writer, teacher, and tutor who studied at Wesleyan and Columbia, is excited to share her enthusiasm for nonfiction writing while simultaneously leading students to reflect upon, think more critically about, and begin to express their own personal story in The Personal Essay.

Earlier this month, we had the opportunity to reach out to Rose, Kris, Lionel, and Lizzy in advance of their return to Berkshire. The passion they have for their work is remarkable, and the values and ideas embedded in each of their courses align perfectly with our mission and core values. It’s gratifying to hear about their fondness for Berkshire and their deep appreciation for the ways in which this experience has positively influenced their lives. We couldn’t be more proud of them and excited to have Bears teaching Bears! 

Read below to learn what they had to share about Pro Vita and Berkshire. 

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Dr. Rosemary Fitzgerald ’82

Can you tell us about your background in digital marketing and what trends you see in the industry? I have been in the digital marketing and media industry for over 15 years, providing strategic guidance for business leaders on the newest solutions for brand and product development. We are witnessing a steady transition away from value embedded in brands and the pressure to change the paradigm among companies, marketing, and consumers. The opportunities for a new way of thinking and valuing communities as a result of the cryptocurrency and blockchain waves has resulted in a new invigorated marketing and media community, which I hope to share with the class.

Did your Berkshire experience have an impact on your career path? Berkshire has had a lasting effect on the evolution of my career, instilling an energy to continually challenge my ideas and my assumptions. Similarly, the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain is challenging business norms, presenting new ways to think about how communities and societies interface. While economists and digital innovators are divided on the role that cryptocurrency and blockchain platforms play in our financial systems, their impact in my own field is already evident. Brands are embracing these technologies for new digital marketing experiences which elevates the relationship they can provide to consumers.
  
What do you hope Berkshire students will take away from your Pro Vita class? I hope students will be instilled with a curiosity and a new perspective on the implications of cryptocurrency and blockchain on our economic system. I hope they will be inspired to immerse themselves in how technologies such as the phone, the internet, and now new economic technologies can transform our world. And I hope they gain inspiration to explore this growing and changing field and to embrace its impact on the future of society.
 
What is your fondest memory from Berkshire? My fondest memories from Berkshire were a result of the wonderful diversity of experiences that are unique to the school. From meeting students from all over the world, tracking fox prints in the snow, winter camping and making maple syrup, racing across the lacrosse field, and putting on musicals, to gaining a true appreciation of literature, science, and the arts, Berkshire brought to me a new world to explore and enjoy. But it was the people who have left the most vivid, lasting memories. Teachers became family, and I carry my Berkshire friends with me always.

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Kris Govertsen ’15

What are you excited to share with your Pro Vita class? I am a graduate student at Northeastern University studying Sustainable Building Systems. I want to incorporate some of the fundamentals of my coursework and sustainability life lessons I have completed so far into my Pro Vita class to encourage students to become more sustainable in their own lives. I also hope they’ll share their sustainability experiences to create a better indoor and outdoor environment for the people in their lives.

Did Berkshire play a role in your decision to study sustainable building? I was a student at Berkshire for the duration of the construction of Bellas/Dixon Math and Science Center. I was captivated by the construction process and the concept of LEED, so I decided to pursue a career that would enable me to engage with that industry.

What do you hope students will take away from your class? You matter. Each of us is a piece of a larger puzzle, and we are all integral to its success. As individuals, we have the ability to leave positive and negative traces in our paths. No matter how small or insignificant we think these traces are, they actually mean something. I want students to build self-confidence and to be motivated to leave positive marks in their paths and be able to share that confidence and motivation with their peers.

What is your favorite Berkshire tradition? Mountain Day! There is nothing more paramount to Berkshire than the Mountain. The Mountain is important because of the shade it provides, the water it sheds, the creatures it houses, and its ethereal ability to draw students, friends, and family of Berkshire outside to appreciate the natural environment that we are so fortunate to have. Enjoy it while you are there!

What advice would you give today's students? Breathe. Life, especially in high school, has a way of piling up on you. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the health of your body and mind. Be sure to take care of yourself first and foremost. Sports, homework, clubs, applying to college, jobs, and relationships will never be as important as your well-being, and the sooner you realize that and start taking better care of yourself, the happier you will be. All of the extra things mentioned above and more will fall into place in time, do not worry.

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Lionel Shaw ’85

How has your career informed what you hope to convey in your Pro Vita class? My career has been molded by my ancestral heritage of giving back to the community, which dates back to the 1880s when my great-grandfather sailed from Boston to Hawaii on the clipper ship named Averick to share his missionary beliefs with the people of Hawaii. He built an agriculture and shipping conglomerate that exists today, and I am the steward of his great efforts. I understand the importance of giving back and therefore founded the "finanthropic" index-only investment firm named Caritas, which means "charity" in Latin. The private family foundation I founded in 2009, the EACH Foundation, is a community-based organization that hires everyday people to volunteer to give away the funds generated from decades of success on the part of my ancestors with their work on pineapple and sugarcane plantations in Hawaii years ago. My hope is that this Pro Vita course will instill the Power of Giving in the students and get more people to appreciate the aspect of giving without expectation of financial reward for their efforts. Volunteerism in philanthropic giving is the key to our success at the EACH Foundation, and I hope to share that with the students at Berkshire.

Did your Berkshire experience impact your career? My experience at Berkshire did, in fact, have an impact on my career as a manager of the EACH Foundation. Twiggs Myers (Hon. '57), my track and cross country running coach, always taught me the importance of "Giving Thanks." He also taught me to appreciate nature and to learn about how we engage in the environment around us. Hiking up to Black Rock, mountain biking around Berkshire (when a mountain bike was something people were not too familiar with, in the mid-1980s), and just running through the woods on all the various cross country courses in the area taught me an immense appreciation for the beauty of nature.

What do you hope students will take away from your class? As the title of our Pro Vita course states, there is Power in Giving, and I hope the students take away the realization that giving is truly rewarding in and of itself, and that the community needs gifts of time and energy, as well as financial support.

What is your fondest Berkshire memory? Running was my happy place at Berkshire, and Twiggs Myers brought that to multiple crescendo moments through his coaching and support of my efforts on the cross country and track teams. I took away lessons of teamwork, personal growth through focus of energy, and perseverance to reach goals.

What advice would you give today's students? Advice to students today, I would say, is simple and hasn't changed from when I was in school: You get what you give. What you give to others, to the community, and even to yourself (in the sense of treating yourself with respect and proper health and fitness).

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Lizzy Steiner ’10

Can you tell us about your background in writing? I'm a writer, teacher, and tutor. I write mostly fiction (my MFA is in fiction), but I also love nonfiction, so I love that this class will be an opportunity to take a deep dive into the personal essay form! During my time at Wesleyan and Columbia, I discovered nonfiction writers like Joan Didion, James Baldwin, Mary Gaitskill, and Truman Capote, so I'm excited to share their works (and many others!) with students in my Pro Vita class.

Did your Berkshire experience have an impact on your career path? Yes, definitely. During my time at Berkshire, I developed a love of literature and writing through my English classes. I was also on the editorial team for The Dome, Berkshire's literary and arts magazine. These two experiences influenced my decision to major in English in college and pursue a career as a writer.

What do you hope students will take away from your class? Each of us has so many stories to tell, so I'm hoping that my personal essay class will provide students with an opportunity to think deeply and critically about these experiences—and how we can use the tools of creative nonfiction to tell our own stories!

What is your fondest memory and/or tradition at Berkshire? Mountain Day!