Molly Hamm has credited her education to her successes in life. It was the skills she learned at Kansas State University that brought her to her current job as a monitoring, evaluation and learning coordinator at the DREAM Project in the Dominican Republic.
Hamm majored in English, secondary education and international studies with a minor in leadership studies while at K-State, graduating in 2010. Hamm said that the College of Arts and Sciences gave her critical thinking skills and an appreciation for liberal arts, something that helped her thrive after graduation.
“Classes in the College of Arts and Sciences encouraged me to look at the world around me with a critical eye, understand the systems and structures that are in place that benefit some at the expense of others and identify how I could contribute to the world and my community,” Hamm said. “They fueled my desire to be a lifelong learned in multiple disciplines.”
She always knew she would come to K-State if she chose to study in Kansas, being the daughter of two alumni. Once she firmly decided on K-State, Hamm originally wanted to be an English teacher, thanks for her love of literature.
“It was actually my world literature classes that facilitated my initial entry into international education,” Hamm said. “I became interested in learning more about education systems in different contexts, especially their political, social and economic roles in society.”
Hamm took these interests and passions and applied them to her career. After receiving a masters degree in international education development from Columbia University in New York, she was prepared with the tools necessary for the job that would take her abroad.
“I’ve been based abroad for two years and my work is mostly focused on program design and evaluation, ensuring that we are achieving the outcomes and results that we desire in our four areas of focus: early childhood education, primary education, primary education, youth development and arts, culture and community enrichment,” Hamm said.
In the Dominican Republic, Hamm works with at-risk youths. The DREAM Project is a nonprofit organization that provides educational opportunities to these students. Hamm also recruits K-State students as volunteers to help with The DREAM Project.
Her success has earned her the 2014 Distinguished Young Alumni Award, an honor reserved for K-State graduates under 35 years of age. To receive this award, alumni must excel in their careers using the tools they learned at K-State.
To Hamm, the greatest benefit of being a Distinguished Young Alumni is the connection she is able to maintain and continue to make.
“The best part is being able to reconnect with mentors and faculty who supported me through my own growth and development,” Hamm said. “As well as gaining the opportunity to meet current K-State students and support them in whatever way I can.”
