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Anne Dwyer began teaching at �鶹��ý in 2007 after completing her doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley. Now an associate professor of German and Russian, Dwyer is a comparative literature scholar and has published on literary treatments of the multiethnic Romanov and Habsburg empires, biography and autobiography, and the history of critical theory. While she enjoys teaching Russian language courses, she is especially fond of teaching advanced courses in the literature and cultural history of Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. Dwyer has served as an associate dean of the College and director of Oldenborg Center. She is also invested in international and global education, particularly as it intersects with matters of diversity, equity and inclusion on U.S. college campuses.

As the signer of this year’s winter message for the Pomona Annual Fund, she sat down with us to share her Pomona experience and the importance of philanthropy at the College.

Why did you choose to teach at Pomona? What keeps you here?

My first choice was always to teach at a liberal arts college. I went to Carleton College, and I fell in love with the liberal arts system of education and the exploration it allowed me as a student. I also liked the idea of teaching in a German and Russian department since I speak and do research in both languages.

This is my dream job. I can do research and teach. The students are great. It’s really a wonderful place to be.

What are a few aspects of teaching and campus life that you appreciate the most?

I love working with students in all sorts of ways. I'm a fan of teaching ID1, which is Pomona’s first-year student seminar, because I get to teach broadly outside of my own specialization and explore new topics alongside my students. I like working with students on the nuts and bolts of critical thinking, writing and speaking. One of the things I love about the liberal arts model is that I get to explore many different areas as I continue to learn as a professor. 

In terms of campus life, since I came on as a professor in 2007, the student body has diversified immensely – which is a really palpable and exciting change. I think that this diversity is what makes Pomona stand apart from other colleges of its kind, and it is a strength the College is committed to growing even more. 

How does the study of Russian and German languages, through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, contribute to a more well-rounded international education curriculum? 

German and Russian are just two of many languages. Studying languages matters. We know that it changes the way we think and that being multilingual helps us imagine others’ points of view – even when our language skills are less than “perfect”! I think that's something we really need. So, thinking about this more broadly and the cognitive effects of language learning are really important today.

Why is philanthropic support for Sagehen students important to you? 

When I first chose to teach at Pomona, I asked myself, “Why did I choose to attend a liberal arts college as an undergrad?” It was because even though I grew up in Europe with American parents, with a free university education system available to me, my parents really encouraged my brother, sister and me to try the liberal arts model in the U.S. And though my parents are first-generation college students, and we certainly required a lot of financial aid, they wanted us to be in a rich intellectual environment in a safe, small place. 

This is what our students at Pomona get, and the ongoing engagement from our community supports that experience. Connection back and forth throughout our community is the magic that makes up Pomona. 

From your perspective as a faculty member, how does Sagehen philanthropy impact academic programs, research and other exploration opportunities for students?

I think one of the things that's really amazing about Pomona is our commitment to academic excellence through an international and global lens. Financially, we support our students both when they study abroad and when they are on campus. When I served as director of Oldenborg (2018-2020), it was really wonderful to have designated funds to use for a student to go to a particular country to do an independent research project or engage in immersive, intensive study of a language we don't teach here. These are the kinds of tangible, concrete moments where I think specific types of donations can help. And, of course, the College itself, financial aid and the courses we offer are reliant on our generous donors.

Help us unlock our Winter Challenge gift of $500,000 by December 31, 2024!