In Her Own Words

Board of Trustees member Dodie Sutro Crawford ’89 shares her thoughts on Connecticut College and her participation in the Hale Scholarship Initiative.

Why did you decide to participate in the Hale Scholarship Initiative?

Rob Hale was a year ahead of me at Connecticut College and I remember him as the guy whose summer storage business was a lifesaver. And today, I’m grateful to Rob and his wife for creating this initiative. This scholarship effort has inspired members of the Conn community to come together to share the magic of Conn with talented individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.

Conn was transformative for me and I wish all people who have the academic background, talent and potential to thrive and contribute could have the same opportunity. The Hale Scholarship Initiative is the best way we can help.

Conn helped me find my voice and changed the trajectory of my life. As an Art History major, I assumed economics wasn’t for me. I tried out macroeconomics during the second semester of sophomore year. The material captivated me and so did the dynamic classroom environment where the professor encouraged lively debate. I went on to Italy to study Art History in the fall semester of my junior year and when I returned to Conn I was encouraged by my professor to take a risk and declare a second major in Economics–something that felt unachievable to me. I know I wouldn’t have had the confidence to pursue this if it weren’t for the support of my professors and the small class sizes where I felt seen and known. I graduated with a double major in Art History and Economics and went on to get an MBA and work in business, which likely would never have been an option had I not had my Economics degree.

Beyond the classroom, Conn gave me the opportunity to live in a microcosm of a real world community. I learned that complaining about a problem had no value; instead you step up and you make change happen. It’s possible at Conn, and very empowering. I think my involvement in activities outside of class were as much a part of my growth as the academics.

What possibilities do you want to ignite with your new scholarship fund?

To build a community of “doers” that’s reflective of the broader population at large, where open discourse and learning flourish.

What do you want the beneficiaries of the scholarship to know about the people the scholarship is named for: you and your spouse (Peter Crawford)?

That it’s a real passion of ours to help people rise up who are in circumstances that don’t allow them to have the privileges we were given. Talent is not correlated with one’s socioeconomic situation. There are many people who have potential waiting to be unlocked. They just need a little help in the beginning to get them there.

Conn Economics Professors Visgilio and Pack opened me up to being an Art History/Economics double major. That kind of out-of-the-box study gave me the confidence to jump into the emerging internet in the late ’90s. My liberal arts background gave me the skills to solve problems by analyzing a situation through multiple lenses and Conn’s culture imbued me with the confidence and desire to take the lead and make things happen.

Why is alumni giving so important?

Four years spent at Connecticut College are some of the most formative in one’s life. We owe so much of who we are to the institution. It is our responsibility to give back and honor that impact. Alumni giving enhances Conn’s reputation, both from a participation standpoint and as a representation of the dynamic and broad set of individuals who believe in the mission of the College.

More info on the Hale Scholarship Initiative