Meet Professor Amy Hirschfeld!
Pronouns: She series
Hometown: Winchester, Massachusetts
Department: Gordon Institute
Email: amy.hirschfeld@tufts.edu
Academic Life
Qualities you admire in Tufts’ students
Tufts students are all interested in being part of something bigger than themselves. They come from so many different backgrounds and have had so many different experiences, but the things they all seem to have in common are a sense of intellectual curiosity and civic engagement. They are not at Tufts just to get a degree, but because they want to engage with a diverse community of peers, faculty, and community to make a difference in the world. I always love to hear from students several years after they have graduated and to find out how much they have accomplished and how their experience at Tufts has affected the way they think about the world.
Favorite class to teach
I was an undergraduate at Tufts in the 1980s, so one of the things I especially enjoy about teaching here is the way that Tufts is always growing and evolving to give students more interdisciplinary opportunities to engage with real-world projects and to solve real-world problems. As one example, through the Gordon Institute, undergraduates in all different majors can get a minor in entrepreneurship or engineering management and work with faculty who are practicing professionals. Tufts students are learning from their experience at Tufts not just to succeed in their careers but also to become transformative leaders in their fields and in their communities.
Campus Life
Best place to get food
One of my favorite places to get a quick and delicious meal near the Medford/Somerville campus is Noor Mediterranean Grill in Powderhouse Square.
Recommendations for getting involved at Tufts
Don't be afraid to talk to your professors outside of class! Reach out to them when you are especially interested in their research or something they mentioned in class. Students have so many opportunities to get involved in research projects, community initiatives, and even start-up businesses. Many undergraduate students leave Tufts with not only their degree and wonderful memories but also business plans, patents, published research, and a network of contacts and mentors to support them in their careers.
Fun Facts
Fun fact about me
I was the only archaeology major in my undergraduate year at Tufts, and I worked as an archaeologist in the Sultanate of Oman for two years after graduation on a project that was the focus of a Nova documentary.
Movie recommendation
Vieux Farka Touré from Mali is one of my favorite musicians. Check out his music!