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To Prep for Future, Ali Stevens ’25 Engages in the Present and Explores the Past 
Beth Staples

While only 21, Ali Stevens has witnessed a great deal of Colby-Sawyer College’s rich 187-year history.  

The senior has viewed architectural records, admired slalom ski trophies, handled wooden dumbbells used in physical education classes in the early 20th century and read about Eleanor Roosevelt’s college visit in 1941.

Managing donated materials, digitizing records and creating displays for the Cleveland Colby Colgate Archives is a fascinating and fitting job for Stevens, who majors in history and political studies and minors in sociology, women’s and gender studies, and studio art. 

Her favorite part of the job, though, is fielding questions from students, alumni and community members.

“I really like when alums have research requests, because I get to look through old photographs with them and talk about what the school was like when they were here and how things have changed,” Stevens said.

With Commencement approaching, the Essex, Vermont, resident is weighing her next steps, which will likely include pursuing an advanced degree.

“I’ve considered teaching, writing or working in archives,” she said. “I saw an interesting Historic Preservation Program at the University of Vermont. But I want to take a gap year to figure out what direction I want to go in and get a master’s degree that best suits my career path.”

Stevens has a number of options as far as directions go. 

She’s interested in history and politics because she appreciates that answers aren't always clear-cut and that it’s possible for several perspectives to be correct at the same time.

She’s drawn to women’s and gender studies and sociology because of her commitment to social justice and her fascination with people’s behavior. And she enjoys exploring studio art — ceramics in particular — to develop her longtime interest in arts and crafts. 

Her advice for incoming students? 

“Put yourself out there and stay true to who you are, and you'll find the people you're meant to find,” she said. “There will always be people to support you.” 

That advice has served her well.

Ali Archives

Stevens co-authored "Using Case Studies as a Pedagogical Technique to Teach Blue Ocean Strategy” with alumnus Collin Kennealey ’23 and School of Business & Social Sciences Associate Professor Jonathan McCosh. And, she wrote about the history of Austin Hall for the fall 2024 edition of Colby-Sawyer Magazine.

For her Capstone, Stevens is researching how the systems of a gender binary and white supremacy create disparities in healthcare.

She also serves as president of Colby-Sawyer’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action Club, which educates people about reproductive health and rights. And she recently co-founded a student organization, the History and Political Studies Association. On election night, the group gathered at Lethbridge Lodge to track results from around the country.

These myriad experiences have buoyed her confidence and skills. 

“I’ve given plenty of speeches the last few years, which has helped me be more comfortable with public speaking,” she said. “And my writing has improved. I’ve had great professors and classmates who have provided constructive feedback.”

Stevens said she’ll miss a great deal about the college when she graduates in May, including the close-knit community, ceramics studio, hiking trails and stunning natural setting. “I love being able to walk around at night and see the stars,” she said.

Though Stevens will be leaving campus, the work she’s doing will remain. Decades from now, a student cataloging academic journals and school magazines in the archives may learn about some of Stevens’ contributions to this chapter in Colby-Sawyer’s history.