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The following feature story appeared in the campus publication Mosaic in March, 1996.
Mali Barkman '96
A "quiet leader" excels on the field and in the classroom
Senior Mali Barkman's unflagging dedication in all that she does, and her ability to excel, are evident in her many achievements: she is this year's President's Fellow for the mathematics department, the recipient of a prestigious Beinecke Fellowship, and an All-American field hockey player. "Not many people can do so many things well," said David Mauro, associate professor of mathematics.
Barkman has been an outstanding member of the field hockey team during each of her four years at Trinity, and J. Ronald Spencer '64, associate academic dean, notes that she is "a scholar-athlete in the fullest sense of the word."
Making a difference
"There wasn't a single practice or game in four years in which Mali did not give 100 percent both mentally and physically. The success of the field hockey team happened not only while Mali was on the team, it happened because she was on the team," said Field Hockey Coach Robin Sheppard. Since Barkman's arrival as a first-year student, Trinity's field hockey team has made it as far as the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) playoffs once, won them the next year, and then advanced to the NCAA Final Four playoffs.
A four-year starter on the team, Barkman is often described by her coaches as a "quiet leader." As a sophomore, she was recognized as an All-American, and last fall she was named to the ECAC North-South All Star team. She was also co-captain of the team last fall. "Though she's unassuming in person, Mali is forceful on the field," Sheppard said.
Mauro noticed Barkman's talent for math early in her first year at Trinity and encouraged her to become a mathematics major. Barkman, who was initially undecided on a major, considered focusing on computer science or philosophy. "But math was a challenge and that is what I favored," said Barkman, who has been elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
"Mali is a very talented student of mathematics. Most students approach problems on a calculational or algorithmic level," Mauro said. "Very early on, Mali was able to persevere and to grasp topics at a theoretical level. She always had good insight into mathematical theory."
Last spring, as a result of her outstanding academic achievements, she won a Beinecke Scholarship to support graduate study in the future. Trinity students are eligible to apply for a Beinecke only in alternate years, and even then only 15 Beineckes are awarded nation-wide. "The competition is very tough," Mauro said. "It's difficult even to be nominated. Mali was awarded a Beinecke because she deserved it."
A love for books
Barkman's favorite hobby is collecting books of poetry and literature, especially short stories. During high school she and three close friends used to frequent a favorite bookstore, called On the Road. "Whenever I had free time, I would look for books. I love browsing through the rare and used books," she said. Among her favorite authors are Raymond Carver, Hermann Hesse, Pablo Neruda, and Laurence Ferlinghetti. Barkman's particular interest in collecting rare and first edition books was sparked in the ninth grade, when a friend gave her a book which became the basis of her collection.
Barkman is also keenly interested in computers and has completed a minor in computer science. "I was initially interested mostly in programming, but I soon became interested in learning about the development of computers," she said.
"Trinity allowed me to pursue, discover, and expose myself to new and different things," Barkman said. She was drawn to the College because it is a small school in which she "could excel in both field hockey and in academics. I also love the fact that everyone knows who one is at Trinity."
Even when field hockey is not in season, Barkman keeps busy. In addition to a full schedule of four courses, this spring she is pursuing an actuarial internship at Phoenix Homelife Mutual Insurance Co. in downtown Hartford, where she also worked last summer.
Barkman, who is now weighing several job offers, has decided to work for a year or two before pursuing her Beinecke, in order to get more practical experience and to focus her interests.
- Monique Lee '97