🍂 Welcome to Fall for Tufts 🍂
Thanks for joining us earlier this year for our virtual open house, Fall for Tufts! These four weeks of virtual programs occur every year in the fall and are dedicated to illustrating the Tufts community and helping you imagine your future as a Jumbo. The open house schedule allows room to explore various topics in a choose-your-own-adventure format, and you can see recordings for select events below. In the meantime, get excited to check out the events next year!
We hope that these recorded sessions help you understand the Tufts community and maybe even make you...Fall for Tufts (we couldn’t help ourselves!).
Past Events
Jewish Life Panel
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 12th
JT Duck, Dean of Admissions
Naftali Brawer, Tufts' Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain
Join JT Duck, Dean of Admissions, Naftali Brawer, Tufts' Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain, and current students for a conversation on the richness of Jewish life at Tufts and the resources available to the Jewish community on campus.
Welcome!
8:00-8:30PM EDT, September 13th
JT Duck, Dean of Admissions
Ellie Davis, Associate Director of Admissions
Njeri Allen, Assistant Director of Admissions
Valerie Nam, Assistant Director of Admissions
Join us as we kick off our month-long Fall for Tufts open house program featuring our Dean of Admissions, JT Duck, and current students.
Peering Into the Anxious Brain: Using Neuroimaging Techniques to Study Anxiety
8:00-9:00PM EDT, September 14th
Dr. Lisa Shin, Professor, Psychology
What is anxiety and when does it cross the threshold to become an anxiety disorder? How do researchers use brain imaging to better understand the underlying neurobiological basis of anxiety and its disorders? In this lecture, we will discuss the results of recent research that can provide answers to these questions.
Webinar: Understanding Financial Aid
6:00-7:00PM EDT, September 15th
Alicia Bermudez, Financial Aid Counselor
Meaghan Hardy Smith, Director of Financial Aid
Hear from members of the Financial Aid Office on the ins and outs of financial aid, how tufts calculates financial aid, and what that means for you. Bring your questions, too!
Hagia Sofia Through the Ages
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 15th
Dr. Alice Sullivan, Assistant Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, History of Art and Architecture
This is an art history class that focuses on the famed Great Church of Constantinople, Hagia Sophia. It details the innovative architecture of the church, its mosaic and painted decorations, as well as its shifting functions over time. Hagia Sophia is a wonderful case study through which to explore the innovative features of Eastern Christian architecture and the shifting functions and cultural meanings of medieval monuments over time.
Student Experience Panel
2:00-3:00PM EDT, September 17th
Current Tufts Students
Join a panel of current Tufts students (and moderated by current Tufts students!) to hear about Tufts from those who know it best. Come prepared with your questions, as much of the time will be dedicated to an open Q&A and discussion.
Introducción a Tufts en español
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 19th
Paz Pitarque, Associate Director of Admissions
Únete a una conversación sobre Tufts University para familias y estudiantes hispanohablantes. Durante 45 minutos vamos a poder dar una introducción a la universidad y también podremos demostrar quien forma parte de nuestra comunidad. También vamos a poder contestar preguntas de nuestra audiencia durante la sesión. ¡Te esperamos!
Mirror Image Molecules: Chirality and its Importance in Organic Chemistry and Biology
1:00-2:00PM EDT, September 20th
Dr. Samuel Thomas, Professor and Dean of Academic Affairs, Chemistry
Molecules that are mirror images of each other often behave differently in the body. This lecture will give an overview of this “handedness” by laying a foundation for understanding when molecule mirror images matter. We will also review real examples of pairs of reflected molecules, which behave identically on the lab bench, but differ drastically within the body—sometimes with tragic consequences.
Psychology and Law
8:00-9:00PM, EDT, September 22nd
Dr. Sam Sommers, Professor and Chair, Psychology
How accurate is eyewitness testimony? How effective are polygraph tests? What factors influence a jury's deliberations? Drawing on perspectives from various areas of the field, psychological scientists have examined wide range of topics within the legal system, including police interrogations, lie detection, eyewitness memory, jury selection, jury decision-making, and the insanity defense. In this class, we will discuss highlights from this growing area of research, as well as the general benefits and limitations of efforts to apply psychological research to the real-world domain of the legal system.
Human Factors Engineering - Art, Sciences, and Engineering to Make Awesome STUFF
6:00-7:00PM EDT, September 23rd
Dr. James Intriligator, Professor of the Practice, Mechanical Engineering
Human Factors Engineering (HFE) is an area of engineering that does not exist at most universities. Tufts is home to the country's oldest (and perhaps most prestigious) HFE program. HFE is an interdisciplinary approach to design that sits at the intersection of engineering, psychology, anthropology (with bits of comp-sci, marketing, and many other fields mixed in!). HFE professionals design products, services, websites, wear-ables, processes, and experiences. Come learn about this exciting and flexible field!
The Quest for a Cure: Introduction to Drug Discovery
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 26th
Dr. Joshua Kritzer, Professor, Chemistry
Have you ever wondered where new drugs come from, or what’s involved in a clinical trial? What are the challenges facing the drug industry today? In this class, you will learn how drugs are discovered and developed, and we will explore exciting breakthroughs that are changing the drug industry. Professor Kritzer will also answer questions about chemistry, biochemistry, and undergraduate research at Tufts.
Admissions Committee Case Study
8:00-9:00PM EDT, September 27th
Njeri Allen, Assistant Director of Admissions
Have you ever wondered how admissions decisions get made? You’ll join a member of our team and step into the role of admissions officer through this case study. You will make your way through five fictional student applications and vote on who you would admit to Tufts University. Time will be reserved at the end of the case study for a debrief and questions.
In Search for a Firebird: Russian Folklore and Fairy Tales
6:00-7:00PM EDT, September 28th
Dr. Marina Aptekman, Lecturer, International Literary and Cultural Studies
The class will present the most famous Russian folk tales, beliefs, and images, and talk about their later interpretations in Russian culture. Analyzing Russian folklore as a fusion of diverse cultural traditions at the crossroads of West and East, we will discuss the subject while simultaneously comparing Russia with other Slavic countries as well as its Western neighbors.
Understanding the College Basics
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 28th
Ellie Davis, Associate Director of Admissions
Applying to college can be overwhelming; from admissions and financial aid, to finding the right college fit, there's a lot to know. Come learn more about how to navigate this process, one step at a time!
Human-Computer Interaction
5:00-6:00PM EDT, September 29th
Dr. Robert Jacob, Professor, Computer Science
A preview of the Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction course, where we study how people communicate with computers. Reasons for this field, methodology for designing and testing user interfaces, new research directions.
The Power of History—Bias, Silence, and the Individual
7:00-8:00PM EDT, September 30th
Dr. David Proctor, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, History; Senior Lecturer, Classical Studies
How important is the individual in history? Can one individual really change the world and alter the lives and futures of thousands or even millions? Who tells the story and is how the story is told important to determining how that person is remembered? Do the facts shape the history or do historians shape the facts? Whose voices are listened to and whose are silenced? We will explore these questions and many others as we try to define what history is and the power that the historian's pen can wield.
Why the Vietnam War Still Matters
5:30PM-6:30PM EDT, October 3rd
Dr. Mesrob Vartavarian, Lecturer, History
Historians use the past to understand the present. America's long war in Vietnam had an enduring impact on relations between our government and society. This lecture explores the origins and legacies of that war.
Essay Writing Workshop
8:00PM-9:00PM EDT, October 3rd
Beky Stiles, Associate Director of Admissions
Sean Ashburn, Associate Director of Admissions
Writing essays is hard! And writing them for colleges feels even harder. We will help kickstart your essay-writing by providing tools for choosing a topic and getting started. We will also give some insight into how the essays are used in the world of highly selective admissions. Hopefully this session will leave you feeling a little less stressed and a little more empowered as you enter into the full-swing of college application season.
Workshop: Managing Your Time
3:00-4:00PM EDT, October 4th
Student Accessibility and Academic Resource Center (STAAR)
Learn different options for planning systems to find what works for you! This 45-minute session will evaluate helpful strategies to navigate busy schedules and incorporate guided activities for developing your personal planning system.
Visual Art Portfolio Workshop
7:00-8:00 PM EDT, October 4th
Nicole Horsman, Admissions Counselor
Thomas Duncan, Director of Admissions for SMFA
This program is designed to answer all your questions about what goes into a great SMFA portfolio. The portfolio you submit with your application is our introduction to you as an artist and should be as personal as your personal essay. Join us to hear from a current student about making sense of all the portfolio advice out there and from a member of the admissions team that reviews studio art portfolios on how to make your portfolio speak in your own voice. We’ll show some examples and take your questions.
Engineering Biological Therapeutics with a Little Help from Yeast
3:00-4:00PM EDT, October 5th
Dr. James Van Deventer, Bright Futures Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Biological therapeutics, including insulin and monoclonal antibodies, are used to treat cancer, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, COVID, and more. This class will discuss how biological therapeutics can be discovered and engineered with yeast (similar to the yeasts used to make food and beverages).
American Musical Theatre
7:00-8:00PM EDT, October 5th
Dr. Heather Nathans, Professor, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
For more than two centuries, US theatre audiences have clamored for musicals--but why? How do musicals invite audiences to imagine different identities around questions of race, gender, ethnicity, or orientation? Which shows have promoted inclusion and which have supported exclusion? Join us for an exploration of the form and its history.
Life at SMFA Student Panel
6:00-7:00PM EDT, October 6th
Current SMFA Students
In this event, current students pursuing a degree in art will share their perspective on life at SMFA. We'll be sure to cover topics like getting involved in the community, utilizing the Fenway and Medford campuses, and exploring the Boston arts scene, and we'll leave plenty of time for you to ask questions, too.
Introducing Haruki Murakami
5:00-6:00PM EDT, October 7th
Dr. Hosea Hirata, Professor, International Literary and Cultural Studies
This lecture will explore Haruki Murakami’s global popularity and discuss his specific connection to Tufts University, from which he received an honorary doctorate in 2014.
Student Experience Panel
6:30-7:30PM EDT, October 7th
Current Tufts Students
Join a panel of current Tufts students (and moderated by current Tufts students!) to hear about Tufts from those who know it best. Come prepared with your questions, as much of the time will be dedicated to an open Q&A and discussion.
A Conversation with the Center for STEM Diversity
October 7th, 6:00-7:00PM EDT
The Center for STEM Diversity aims to promote the academic success for those historically excluded in STEM. Join us to learn more about the programs, events, and resources we offer to students in the STEM community!
QuestBridge Scholar Panel
8:00-9:00PM EDT, October 11th
Rhiannon Pabich, Associate Director of Admissions
Join QuestBridge (QB) Scholars and an admissions counselor to learn about their experiences as Jumbos. Our QB Scholars will speak to the communities of QB Scholars and first-generation/low-income students at Tufts, along with the resources that helped them navigate their transitions from home to life on campus. They will also discuss the academic, professional, and extracurricular opportunities they have found at Tufts. Much of the session will be devoted to live Q&A.
Free Will - What Is It? Do We Have It?
1:00-2:00PM EDT, October 12th
Dr. David Denby, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, Philosophy
Freewill makes you a person. Without it, you are not morally responsible for your actions and the projects and commitments that your actions express and that give your life meaning would not really be yours at all; at best, you would be a mere conduit for events. On the other hand, it is a fundamental presupposition of science, everyday thought, and perhaps rationality itself that every event has a cause. The problem is that universal causation seems to be incompatible with freewill! Being a person means acting freely; an intelligible world in which rational action is possible means universal causation, but we can’t have it both ways!
Inside the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
7:00-8:00PM EDT, October 12th
Thomas Duncan, Director of Admission for SMFA
In this live presentation, we'll take a deep dive into the interdisciplinary curriculum and all-access philosophy at SMFA. Through stories and images of student and alumni work, our specialized studio spaces and campus resources, and our neighborhood in Boston, you'll learn about how SMFA prepares students to forge their path in the art world. You’ll be invited to ask questions and to join the conversation about how students take advantage of studio access and university resources.
Why Tufts: A Deans’ Panel
7:00-8:00PM EDT, October 17th
Alison Berryman, Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Jim Glaser, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences
Nate Harrison, Dean ad interim of the SMFA at Tufts
Kyongbum Lee, Dean of the School of Engineering
Alison Berryman, the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Tufts, will moderate a panel with the three Deans of each of our undergraduate schools. Learn about the offerings in each program from the people who know them best!
A Conversation with the Indigenous Center
October 18th, 7:00-8:00PM EDT
Join representatives of the Indigenous Center to learn about its commitment to centering Indigeneity in the community and providing a “home away from home” through meetings, events, and programming.
Intro to the SMFA Library
4:00-5:00 PM EDT, October 19th
Darin Murphy, Head of the SMFA Library
Emily Wagner, SMFA Library Special Collections & Programming Assistant
In this session, learn how the SMFA Library team helps students use research to investigate topics that enrich their art practice. We'll share examples from our collections, showcasing a range of materials from handmade artists' books to zines to protest banners to comics to just plain BOOKS.
What Is a Bit?
7:00-8:00PM EDT, October 19th
Noah Mendelsohn, Professor of the Practice, Computer Science
Many people know that computers "have lots of bits", but what is a bit? The answer leads us to information theory, one of the most beautiful and philosophically important developments of the 20th century. Deep understanding of bits and information storage is fundamental to understanding how computers can process not just numbers, but words, pictures, music etc. The material covered is essential for any good computer programmer, and is also useful and interesting to a wide range of audiences (no technical or math background required).
Meet the Tufts Career Center: Your Partner Every Step of the Way
4:00-5:00PM EDT, October 20th
Donna Esposito, Executive Director
Christopher Di Fronzo, Director of Career Services
Susannah Krenn, Assistant Director
Join us and hear how our team at the Career Center helps students become career ready through every stage of their career and personal development journey. We support students of all class years, majors, and career interests and talk with students in many areas including: self-assessment and career exploration, resume and cover letter writing, building your network by connecting with alumni, employers, and others, searching for and applying to internships, jobs & grad schools, and more. Stop by our session to learn more and get your questions answered!
Introducción a Tufts en español
8:00-9:00PM EDT, October 20th
Paz Pitarque, Associate Director of Admissions
Únete a una conversación sobre Tufts University para familias y estudiantes hispanohablantes. Durante 45 minutos vamos a poder dar una introducción a la universidad y también podremos demostrar quien forma parte de nuestra comunidad. También vamos a poder contestar preguntas de nuestra audiencia durante la sesión. ¡Te esperamos!
The Art of the Fake
4:00-5:00PM EDT, October 21st
Kurt Ralske, Professor of the Practice, Digital Media, Film and Video, Sound, and Virtual Reality
Digital Media at SMFA offers courses that provide practical and conceptual skills for artists working with virtual reality, augmented reality, interactive installations, or custom software. It is hybrid by nature and frequently intersects with film, video, and sound, as well as other mediums across SMFA’s studios. This course explores “the fake” as an artistic strategy and a cultural phenomenon by using 3D software to create images and videos that appear convincingly photo-realistic, but have no correspondence to reality. We survey artists whose work involves forgery, false identity, sham narrative, artificial drama, obvious artifice, pranks, and white lies. “The fake” is considered in both its negative dimensions (eg., political manipulation) and positive (eg., the generative power of imagination).
Ethics and International Relations
6:00-7:00PM EDT, October 21st
Dr. Ioannis Evrigenis, Professor, Political Science; Director, International Relations
Examination of issues at the intersection of politics and morality through the prism of international relations. Inquiry into the nature and extent of justice, and of its implications for the conduct of individual citizens and states, with a focus on whether fellow citizens have special rights. Study of influential theories regarding whether it is permissible to kill even in defense of the state, whether human rights exist and, if so, the extent to which they must be protected, and the responsibility or lack thereof arising from poverty in other parts of the world. Application of these theories to contemporary examples, including drones, counter-terrorism, surveillance, and torture.
What’s the Tea at Tufts?: A Conversation with the Diversity Admissions Team
7:00-8:00PM EDT, October 25th
Diversity Admissions Team Students
Are you curious about the diversities of Tufts and how students from underrepresented backgrounds navigate life on the Hill? Join us for a live panel discussion with members of the Diversity Admissions Team. This session is an interactive Q&A, so come with questions!
Life at SMFA Student Panel
4:30-5:30 PM EDT, October 27th
Current Students
In this event, current students pursuing a degree in art will share their perspective on life at SMFA. We'll be sure to cover topics like getting involved in the community, utilizing the Fenway and Medford campuses, and exploring the Boston arts scene, and we'll leave plenty of time for you to ask questions, too.
A Conversation with the LGBT Center
October 27th, 7:00-8:00PM EDT
Come learn about the programming, advising, and educational resources provided by the Center that aim to improve the experience of gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and trans people at Tufts.
A Conversation with the Africana Center
November 1st, 6:00-7:00PM EDT
Join representatives of the Africana Center for an introduction to the center and the important role it plays on campus. Bring your questions, too!
Inside the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
7:00-8:00PM EDT, November 3rd
Thomas Duncan, Director of Admissions for SMFA
In this live presentation, we'll take a deep dive into the interdisciplinary curriculum and all-access philosophy at SMFA. Through stories and images of student and alumni work, our specialized studio spaces and campus resources, and our neighborhood in Boston, you'll learn about how SMFA prepares students to forge their path in the art world. You’ll be invited to ask questions and to join the conversation about how students take advantage of studio access and university resources.
A Conversation with the Women's Center
November 3rd, 7:00-8:00 PM EDT
The Women’s Center is a space open to people of all genders and identities. Come learn more about our mission and topics we investigate, including the impacts of sexism and misogyny, and the role of gender in all of our lives.
Student Experience Panel
6:00-7:00PM EST, November 8th
Join a panel of current Tufts students (and moderated by current Tufts students!) to hear about Tufts from those who know it best. Come prepared with your questions, as much of the time will be dedicated to an open Q&A and discussion.
Mock Class: Maps and Simulations
5:00-6:00 PM EST, November 8th
Cristobael Cea, Professor of the Practice Animation, Digital Media, Painting, Performance, Virtual Reality
For thousands of years, we have used maps to represent the world inside us and around us: during this class we will discover how these perspectives have changed from ancient maps to google earth and discuss the history of cartography through practical exercises in printmaking, 3D computer modeling, and written projects that propose gaming as a world-making practice bridging maps and simulations.
A Conversation with the Asian American Center
7:00-8:00PM EST, November 8th
Join us in learning about the ways in which the Center cultivates an experience that allows you to explore the contributions of Asian Americans, find a sense of belonging, as well as connect with other Centers that represent various cultures and intersecting social identities present in the Tufts community.
A Conversation with the Latinx Center
7:00-8:00PM EST, November 10th
Representatives from the Latinx Center will share insight into the ways students gather, learn, share experiences, show support and appreciation of Latinx identities through the Latinx Center. You will learn about the welcoming community that provides a dedicated environment to engage in research, celebration, collaboration, and dialogue to inspire advocacy, appreciation, and social change within the Latinx community, inclusive of Hispanic, Latin American, and Caribbean students.
Student Experience Panel
8:30-9:30PM EST, November 10th
Current Tufts Students
Join a panel of current Tufts students (and moderated by current Tufts students!) to hear about Tufts from those who know it best. Come prepared with your questions, as much of the time will be dedicated to an open Q&A and discussion.
Visual Art Portfolio Workshop
7:00-8:00 PM EST, November 14th
Nicole Horsman, Admissions Counselor
Thomas Duncan, Director of Admissions for SMFA
This program is designed to answer all your questions about what goes into a great SMFA portfolio. The portfolio you submit with your application is our introduction to you as an artist and should be as personal as your personal essay. Join us to hear from a current student about making sense of all the portfolio advice out there and from a member of the admissions team that reviews studio art portfolios on how to make your portfolio speak in your own voice. We’ll show some examples and take your questions.
A Conversation with the FIRST Center
7:00-8:00PM EST, November 15th
Join representatives of the FIRST Center in learning about the resources that Tufts’ first-generation, low-income, and undocumented populations can find through the Center. Learn more about the ways FIRST assists students in navigating the costs of college life and building community among their peers.