Dan Chambliss, Ph.D.
Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Hamilton College
How College Works: The Primacy of Personal Connection
With the cost of college nationwide reaching unsustainable heights for many families, students and parents alike are asking what benefits colleges really provide to their students. For their book How College Works, Dan Chambliss, Ph.D. and his former student Chris Takacs, Ph.D. closely followed 100 students from Hamilton College in New York State throughout their undergraduate careers and for years afterwards. They discovered that personal relationships – networks of friends, mentors, even passing acquaintances –played a decisive role, often more than majors or formal programs, in the academic and personal gains that students make. Relationships matter, and some higher education institutions foster them better than others. Prof. Chambliss’ talk will explain how colleges create strong friendship and mentoring bonds, and how students can – with modest effort – dramatically increase what they gain from their undergraduate experience.

Upcoming Events
The Collective Edge: Unlocking the Secret Power of Groups
Colin M. Fisher, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Organisations and Innovation at University College London's School of Management
Amy C. Edmondson, Ph.D.
Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School
ON ZOOM
Robin Hood Math: Take Control of the Algorithms That Run Your Life
Noah Giansiracusa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bentley University
Karen Saxe, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Government Relations, American Mathematical Society
ON ZOOM
Validation: Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life
Caroline Fleck, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist, Author, and Corporate Consultant
Kelly Leonard
Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development at The Second City
ON ZOOM