Alumni Profile: Tara O'Toole '74, Under Secretary for Science and Technology

When looking at colleges, prospective students want to know about results. What can an education at College ABC prepare me for? What will University XYZ do for my future? Occasionally, this blog will profile just one (of more than 36,000 living) Vassar graduates, so that prospective families can glean the incredible launching power of a Vassar education.

Tara O'Toole, a member of the Vassar class of 1974, is one of many Vassar graduates serving in senior positions in Obama administration. Dr. O'Toole was appointed Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security in November 2009.

Like many Vassar graduates, Dr. O'Toole's academic resume is stellar. Raised in Norwood, Massachusetts, she came to Vassar with a strong interest in medicine, studying biology and chemistry. By 1981, she had earned her M.D. from George Washington University, and by 1988, she had received a Master's in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She completed an internal medicine residency at Yale and then a fellowship in occupational medicine at Johns Hopkins. And that isn't even the most impressive part!

Dr. O'Toole came to the Department of Homeland Security from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where she was Director of the Center for Biosecurity. Throughout her career, she has written extensively on biodefense, response to biological attacks, and containment of contagious disease. She is a Coeditor-in-Chief of the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science. She was a principal author and producer of Dark Winter, an influential exercise conducted in June 2001 to alert national leaders to the dangers of bioterrorist attacks. She was also a principal writer and producer of Atlantic Storm, an international ministerial-level biosecurity exercise held in January 2005.

Dr. O’Toole served as Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environment, Safety and Health from 1993-1997, where she was principal adviser to the Secretary of Energy on environmental protection and oversaw health and safety for approximately 100,000 workers in government laboratories. In this position, Dr. O’Toole developed the first overall management and safety plan for dealing with waste left from nuclear weapons production.

A liberal arts education prepares you to solve incredibly broad, thorny problems. Read about some Vassar innovators, and learn about the kinds of world-changing thinkers, movers and shakers that Vassar produces.

Evolutionary biorobic research at Vassar

Prospective students considering careers in science often hear about the importance of research during college. Research experience is key to admission to the most selective M.A., Ph.D and M.D. programs. Your undergraduate work really matters.

So, some ask, why choose a small liberal arts college rather than a humongous research university? Surely bigger labs must translate to better opportunities for research, right? Nope. As I wrote last month, Vassar is a national leader in producing science and engineering Ph.Ds. Our alumni gain admission to the most selective graduate programs in the country. Why? Simple: Access to faculty, both in the classroom and in the laboratory. Vassar science students are able to become research assistants to their professors, participating in cutting-edge projects and often getting co-published in national scientific journals.

To give just one example of this type of work, consider Professor of Biology John Long's evolutionary biorotics lab. Long is an internationally recognized researcher for his work on vertebrates, evolution, and robotics. Essentially, his lab consists of elaborate robotic fish that use sophisticated microprocessors to imitate the physical movement of real fish. With grants from the National Science Foundation and Office of Naval Research, Long studies the evolution of motion in current and prehistoric species. He also has extensive research collaborations with Duke University and the University of California.

Vassar science students are full participants in his world-changing research. Read some of the many projects and papers published by Long's laboratory that carry the names of his students. Not only is this an incredible résumé item for graduate school, but it's incredible hands-on experience. You would be hard-pressed to gain this kind of access to a faculty member at any large research university.

Interested? Come to Vassar, and take one of Long's many classes. In the Biology Department, he teaches courses on animal physiology, biomechanics, and evolutionary theory. In the Cognitive Science Program, he teaches brain architecture and perception. He also teaches an introduction to Neuroscience and Behavior.

Vassar leads in producing PhDs in science, engineering

Each year, the National Science Foundation compiles data on where engineering and science PhDs earned their undergraduate degrees. They then publish a list of the top 50 colleges and universities that produce the most PhDs in these fields, per capita. As always, Vassar is featured on the list. Prospective students might find this data helpful in analyzing career prospects in science and engineering from small liberal arts colleges.

Interested in science and engineering? Learn more about sciences at Vassar by looking at our ScienceWeb and reading about our first-rate science programs, including Astronomy, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science and Geography, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, and Psychology.

One of the primary advantages of studying science at a liberal arts college is the opportunity to conduct research with professors. Science students are able to become Research Assistants to faculty, participating in cutting-edge projects. Vassar's Undergraduate Research Summer Institute (URSI) gives students the option of doing even more intensive summer-long research with faculty, often publishing papers and building their resumes. At larger universities -- which might seem appealing on first glance because of larger faculties or labs -- students have a far more difficulty getting involved in hands-on research.

Plus, Vassar alumni have long been leaders in science. To see just a few examples, read about Sau Lan Wu '63 (PhD, physics, Harvard University), Jeff Sleight '88 (PhD, appled physics, Yale University), and John Carlstrom '81 (PhD, astronomy, University of California at Berkeley).

Watch President Obama give Presidential Citizens Medal to Vassar grad

Obama awards the Presidential Citizens Medal to Class of 1955 Vassar graduate

Check it out on Vassar's InfoSite and on the White House Web site. The prize was awarded for the founding the Student Conservation Association (SCA).

On August 4 in a ceremony at the White House, President Barack Obama awarded Student Conservation Association (SCA) founder and Vassar College alumna Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam ’55 the 2010 Presidential Citizens Medal for “performing exemplary deeds of service for her country and fellow citizens.”

The original idea for the SCA, for which the alum won the award, began as her senior thesis at Vassar. Putnam was a Geology major (a department we now call Earth Science & Geography). Congratulations!

Reader Question: "What sorts of computers do students bring to campus? Do students bring laptops to class? What about accessories?"

Alongside questions about packing and residential life, I've gotten half-a-dozen or so questions about computing at Vassar from incoming members of the Class of 2014. Here, I'll try to provide concise answers to some of the most common questions that 2014ers seem to have.

I would also encourage prospective/admitted students to check out Vassar's Computing and Information Services Web site, which has a special section for incoming students. Note also that the Computer Store at Vassar offers great student discounts on laptops; they are also able to advise students on low-cost solutions, if purchasing a new computer isn't an option. Here's my own take on some of the most common questions I've received from students and parents:

1. Laptops or Desktops?

Many high school students are accustomed to using desktops. But you'll quickly find that laptops are the predominant type of computer on most college campuses. Can you have a desktop in your dorm? Absolutely. But for a couple reasons, if you're buying a new computer for college, I'd suggest choosing a laptop. First, all dorms already provide about 6-8 desktops in their computer labs (located on the first floor of every residential house). Many more desktops are also available in the Library. Second, because Vassar's campus is 100% wireless, many students like to work outside or sit inside academic buildings with classmates. Laptops give them the ability to move around, studying and writing wherever they're most comfortable. Having only a desktop in your room forces you to stay in your dorm.

2. Mac or PC?

The inevitable question! Vassar supports both. It won't matter if you bring a Mac or a PC to campus, in terms of internet access or ability to use Vassar's internet applications/services. We have both types of computers available in the Library and in most academic buildings. With that being said, though, Macs are definitely more common. Most students I know have a MacBook or MacBook Pro. These are certainly the most common types of computers one sees in classrooms and around the dorms. Why? Well, in addition to being stylish (disclaimer: I've been a loyal Mac user and Steve Jobs groupie all my life), Vassar actually has a certified Apple Store and Apple technician on campus. This means that if you ever have a problem with your computer, getting it fixed is very easy. Our computer store also stocks all sorts of software and accessories for Macs.

Anything else to know about the Mac/PC culture? If you plan on studying Computer Science, Physics, or Earth Science & Geography, you're going to end up working with PC software fairly frequently. Academic programs like Biology, Film, and Media Studies make frequent use of Mac software. Outside of the classroom, if you plan on joining The Miscellany News (our student newspaper), The Vassarion (our yearbook), Contrast (our fashion magazine), or Helicon (our literary journal), you're going to end up working with design/layout software on Macs.

3. Computers in the Classroom?

Using a computer in class depends on the course and on the professor. Some classes really lend themselves to laptop use, but the vast majority don't. Vassar classrooms are very discussion-intensive. With very few exceptions, you'll be expected to speak, argue, and defend your opinions—not just passively type notes. You'll be expected to really engage in conversation, much more so than in high school. Vassar really tries to train its students to think on their feet. Laptops, some professors feel, can distract students from doing that. So before you whip out that laptop, check with the professor. Often, they'll explain their feelings on laptop use on the syllabus, which they distribute on the first day of class.

(As a side note, you may find that this changes dramatically when you get to graduate school. From my first day as a law student at Cardozo, I found the norms are very different. Everyone brings a laptop to every class, without exception. Exams are given online, and papers are submitted electronically. Many of the readings are online too. So enjoy that pad and pencil while you can!)

4. Printers? Scanners? CD Burners?

A few 2014ers have asked whether they should bring printers, scanners, external hard drives, and other accessories with them. My answer: most external gadgets aren't really necessary. Vassar provides large printer/copy machines in all dorms and in the Library (color and black and white available). Every student can wirelessly print to these machines. In my experience, having your own inkjet printer is costly and only takes up space in your room.

What about other equipment? In the Library, students also have access to the Media Cloisters. The Media Cloisters is an incredible resource. It's a large room that features computers with very large monitors, state-of-the-art software, high-resolution scanners, CD/DVD burners, and all sorts of video production equipment. (The room is often used by Film and Media Studies students, but all students have access). My suggestion would be to use these sorts of shared tech resources, rather than schlepping tons of computer accessories with you to Poughkeepsie.

That said, I would strongly encourage you to bring a backup hard drive with you. You can buy cheap ones online that can backup your files quickly via USB or Firewire. Every semester, some poor student inevitably forgets to save a term paper and suffers a horrible computer crash. Professors will have little sympathy for students who don't create backups of their work. Don't be that person!

And in general, remember that some crazy expensive/powerful laptop definitely isn't required. More often than not, you'll just be writing papers in Word and researching online. Incoming students shouldn't feel pressure to go out and try to buy a state-of-the-art machine before August. (And remember, student discounts on computers and hard drives).

Hope this helps! Feel free to e-mail me about any other tech questions—although if you have really specific computing questions, I'd suggest contacting helpdesk@vassar.edu.

Reader question: What are Vassar's "strongest" academic departments?

"I was admitted to Vassar! But as I choose between the 'VC Brewers' and several other schools, I'm wondering which academic departments are strongest and weakest. Any insights?"

As perspective students make their college decisions throughout April, they consider each institution's strongest programs. One of the most common questions that I receive asks about Vassar's "best" departments.

The good news about Vassar: there are no weak departments. Each department (or multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary program) is comprised of numerous outstanding faculty members. Are some professors weaker than others? Of course. Have I regretted taking classes with a couple of tiresome or overly-difficult professors? You bet. And one student's inspirational teacher might be another student's worst nightmare. But it's important to remember that you would find these situations at any college, be it Swarthmore, Vassar or Brown. As my adviser in high school once told my friends, "Not every teacher is meant for every student."

What's great about Vassar, though, is that excellence in teaching is universally prized across departments; it's not simply "publish or perish" where the famous professors who write streams of books are automatically awarded tenure. Though we certainly have well-published and accomplished professors (my history professor Bob Brigham is one example), our faculty generally place their teaching above all else. Bob is a commanding lecturer and leads incisive class discussions -- in addition to being a prolific author on Vietnam and Iraq. Unlike at many larger universities, the two are not mutually exclusive. Teachers are evaluated by students at the end of each semester. Those evaluations contribute directly to tenure decisions.

Now of course, some departments at Vassar are especially well known, partly for their size and partly for the success of the graduates they produce. Anecdotally, the College is known for its programs in Art History, Astronomy, Biology, Economics, English, Drama, History, and Political Science. All of these are among the most popular disciplines at Vassar -- the more popular a major is, the larger the faculty will become, and the wider the breadth and depth of the curriculum. More broadly, we have one of the lowest student:faculty ratios in the country (9:1), which virtually guarantees one-on-one attention regardless of your choice of major.

The take-home message: I've never encountered a 'weak' department here. Whatever your chosen discipline, you'll be intellectually stimulated here at Vassar. I encourage prospective students curious for more detail to look through the 2009-10 Course Catalogue.