With its 215 faculty members and 2,141 students, Trinity offers a distinct advantage over larger schools. This ten-to-one ratio provides many opportunities for students to work closely with the faculty, not only in the classroom, but also on one-to-one projects that often include real-world involvement with people and organizations away from campus.

Trinity’s faculty members combine their passion for teaching with a passion for discovering new knowledge and engaging with the world outside the College. In their research projects, scholarly interactions within their disciplines, and in their work with community groups in Hartford and beyond, the faculty welcomes and actively seeks collaborative engagement with students.

These efforts often result in extraordinary opportunities for all involved. It is not uncommon to hear of a Trinity student who has been the only undergraduate to present a research paper at a national professional conference. Some have published the results of their projects in juried scientific journals. Others work with faculty mentors on projects where they have an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people in the city of Hartford and beyond.

The energy doesn’t flow in just one direction. Faculty members readily acknowledge that working closely with bright, highly motivated students is one of the joys of teaching. New perspectives, new questions, and fresh insights flow into the equation from both sides.

In the following pages, we highlight five groups who are working closely on particular projects. Sometimes they are pairs, sometimes they include three people, and one group includes a representative from a Hartford-area organization. While we have concentrated on these five, there are scores of similar stories everywhere on campus, in all subjects and disciplines.

Kerry Kincy '09 and Professor Judy Dworin

Kerry Kincy ’09, came to Trinity as an adult student and designed her own major in movement, learning, and social development. Working with Professor Judy Dworin of the Department of Theater and Dance, she developed a program called “A Story in Movement,” which she taught at the Children’s Home of Cromwell, a treatment facility for at-risk children and their families. She also joined Dworin’s professional dance group to assist in a residency program at Connecticut’s York Correctional Institution for Women as well as becoming first an assistant and then a teaching artist in their Moving Matters! residency at Parkville Community School.

Kerry: “When I first came here, I felt intimidated–I hadn’t attended prep school–but the movement classes I took with Judy helped me find my voice. Trinity taught me about education, psychology, theater, and dance—but more so, it gave me an opportunity to find out who I am. I’ve taken all I’ve learned here and put it out there. I understand a lot of the troubles the girls have, and I can give them a sense that they can succeed too. That’s the most rewarding part of this.”

Professor Dworin: “Kerry started out as a student and then became a teaching artist. She showed real skill in working with kids. She has been able to reach the young girls in the residential facility at a critical point in their lives. They are not an easy group, and she’s had amazing success. Kerry is ready to go out there and make a difference in the world.”