Putting Theory into Practice

While having class in a room with a stunning view of Cayuga Lake is an experience like no other, many alumni may also recall the times they ventured beyond the lecture hall and put newly learned skills to use in the real world. These experiential learning opportunities take many forms across the college’s five schools and are often made possible through the generous support of alumni and friends.

Students in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance are truly getting an inside look at the human body due to a generous donation of an Anatomage Table from the Baker Foundation. With this donation, the college’s future physical therapists and physician assistants get an industry-leading visual representation of human anatomy.

Founded by longtime IC supporter Robert Baker, the Baker Foundation centers its mission on supporting health sciences education.

“Our founder, Robert Baker, was fortunate enough to have people help him along the way during his educational journey, and he was firmly committed to giving back to the institutions that helped him to achieve his education, his goals, his lifestyle, and, ultimately, his ability to pay it forward to others,” said foundation representative Nancy Baker. “We hope [the Anatomage Table] sparks an interest in continuous learning, creates ideas for new and ‘next step’ analytical tools, and plants the seeds for new medical or research possibilities.”

The Anatomage Table provides an interactive, three-dimensional view of a human body, allowing students to virtually dissect different parts of the body, time and time again. Hyperrealistic blood flow, ultrasound, and birth simulations let users see bodily functions beyond what they could learn in a cadaver lab. The life-sized table also includes case studies for students to test their classroom learning when put into practice and incorporates cutting-edge technology into their studies.

“Health care practice evolves very quickly, so it is critical that our students experience new technology while they are on campus,” said Christina Moylan, dean of the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance. “It is also important that they develop the confidence to incorporate new technology into their practice on an ongoing basis. This is a critical skill as they will be called upon again and again to adapt to new technology.”

On the other side of campus, students in the Roy H. Park School of Communications are getting their time in the spotlight thanks in part to the Park Special Opportunities for Students (SOS) Fund. Established to bridge the gap for students with once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning opportunities, the Park SOS Fund covers expenses related to production, travel, and accommodations. With experiences such as presenting at an academic conference, interning in Los Angeles, or covering the Super Bowl, among many others, the fund ensures students don’t have to let these types of opportunities pass them by because of financial constraints.

In 2023, the Park SOS Fund made it possible for Rebecca Rivera ’23, AJ Pass ’23, Julia Stitely ’24, and Ava Berardi ’25 to travel to Merced, California, and screen their television series, The Universal Truth, at the Merced Queer Film Festival. With support from Jeremy Menard, the college’s manager of radio and television operations, the team developed and submitted their work to the festival, which screens content that is either created by or reflective of the LGBTQIA+ community