Jim and Doreen Hogle have been married nearly 30 years, and their warm relationship sets a tone that helps define Dudley House. For the Hogles, who are celebrating their 10th year as House masters in the same year that brings Dudley’s 20th anniversary as the graduate student center, it’s important that the House feels welcoming. “Everything we do is to send the message that this is an open, friendly place,” says Jim Hogle, the Edward S. Harkness Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. “We try to reinforce that with the [Dudley] Fellows every year — that this is a family.” Along with Doreen, who is a partner in the intellectual property law firm Hamilton, Brook, Smith and Reynolds, Jim Hogle is an informal counselor and a voice of reason for graduate students. Both Hogles take a common-sense approach to helping students navigate the pitfalls of their programs. Most problems are straightforward, Jim Hogle says, but he greets even the thornier ones — problems with an advisor, say — with a reassuring pragmatism. “It’s satisfying when you can say, ‘Have you talked to your advisor about this?’ The student usually says no, and then it’s, ‘OK, let’s start there, and figure out how you’re going to approach it.’” Below, the Hogles reflect on their roles at Dudley.
Why is Dudley House important to GSAS and to Harvard?
Dudley passes along a key message to students: that it is OK to continue to pursue activities that you like that are outside of your graduate program — that it is OK to live a well-rounded life while in graduate school.
Many students arrive in graduate school wondering what’s expected of them. And faculty might send the message that they’re expected to work all the time. Having Dudley House makes it obvious to students that that’s not the case. The very fact that we’re in this building, that we put these events on, that we have a budget to do so, and that many of our events are attended by faculty, the dean, the administrative dean – all of that makes it clear that we as a graduate school buy into the idea that students should be encouraged to continue to do the things they’ve enjoyed in the past. We know that ultimately students are more productive when they can occasionally put something down when it’s not working, take a break, have an enjoyable weekend, and come back refreshed on Monday morning.
How do you interpret your role as House masters?
We view our most important role as helping to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment for our students. There are a number of aspects to this — part of it is working with Susan [Zawalich, House Administrator] to create the team and a framework that allows the Fellows to plan student-organized activities for fellow students. Part is serving as hosts for major events. And part is serving as representatives of student interests to faculty, administrators, and alumni.
Jim, what has Doreen brought to this role?
Professionally, Doreen has brought a knowledgeable view of Harvard and student life from an outside perspective. Personally, she fosters an atmosphere of accessibility. She is a great listener and especially enjoys engaging students and alumni in conversations. We are very complementary in our personalities. Doreen is always calm and steady, very personable; I’m probably a little more comfortable getting up in front of people, schmoozing, more prone to having a wacky sense of humor.
Doreen, what has Jim brought to this role?
An extensive understanding of the Harvard system provided by years of interacting with students and faculty, including twenty years as the chair of the Biophysics program. He brings an appreciation for the importance (and challenges) of student-faculty interactions, and of course a sense of humor.
What is your favorite Dudley event (and why)?
The Host Student Dinner, because it’s an opportunity to really get to know our international students across all disciplines and a chance to make them feel welcome at the Graduate School and Harvard in general. Or Discover Dudley, because it’s a great chance to meet students in a fun atmosphere and familiarize students with all of the unique opportunities Dudley House provides. Or Commencement, because it is such a happy time and a chance to meet the family, friends, and loved ones who have supported our students.
Your best Discover Dudley costume?
Dudley Do-right and Nell (especially fun because that was our first and it introduced a number of students to characters they may not have heard of). Or maybe Jim diving into the role of being a pirate.
Describe your most treasured Dudley memory — or your most hilarious one.
Our most treasured memory is the Fellows Reunion [last April], which gave us a chance to go back and meet fellows from the early days of the House and see past and present Fellows interacting. The most hilarious — kicking off our first Winter Waltz after a demonstration by one of the Harvard dance groups of the classical Vienese Waltz. They looked so tall, elegant, and graceful — and we were laughing at the sharp contrast we provided.
Why the heck did you sign up to do this in the first place?
[Jim:] My first exposure came when one of my own students, who was a Dudley Fellow, started inviting me to the student-faculty dinners. I was very impressed with the House and enjoyed the opportunity to meet students from other disciplines. When [Administrative Dean] Margot Gill approached me, I thought it was really worth looking into, and as Doreen and I met Susan and got a better idea of how the House worked, it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up, and a very nice opportunity to do something together professionally.
What will you take with you from these years?
A great admiration for the talents of our students (academic and otherwise) and an appreciation for an administration that truly recognizes the importance of the overall quality of graduate student life — academic, social, and personal.