Senior Profile: James Herring '14

The Rockefeller Center encourages its outgoing seniors to reflect on their experiences at Dartmouth as part of a series called Rocky and Me. 
 

“The Rockefeller Center has provided me with leadership skills, management principles, hands-on experience, and has helped to prepare me for a lifetime of success. I strongly urge all undergraduate students, not simply those interested in Government and Public Policy, to become involved with the Rockefeller Center in one way or another.” -- James Herring '14

Upon entering Dartmouth, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I sought a major that would allow me to develop academically, personally, as well as professionally. After discovering the Government department, it immediately led me to the Rockefeller Center. I knew that the combination of the two would allow me to thrive in all of my pursuits while opening doors and allowing me to establish beneficial, meaningful, and lasting relationships. The Rockefeller Center has provided me with opportunities for hands on learning while allowing me to blend together my interests of government, business, and economics.

My first experience with the Rockefeller Center was my participation in the Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP). Through group projects, lectures from world-renowned speakers, and a host of other initiatives, I was afforded a series of tools that will allow me to thrive in my professional career and beyond. Furthermore, during MLDP I was introduced to Rocky’s Public Policy Minor. I was able to tailor the minor to suit my interest in economics, and minored in economic policy thereby taking such interdisciplinary courses as the International Political Economy (Government Dept.) and The Making of the Modern World Economy (History Dept.). Finally, the Rockefeller Center afforded me the opportunity to engage in a public policy and advocacy internship through direct funding from Rocky’s Public Affairs and Public Policy Internships program, and I was able to accumulate invaluable real-world experience while working at the Citizens Union of the City of New York. This was my first time in a professional office environment, and it would not have been possible without the help of the Rockefeller Center. I have continued to attend various lectures and events put on by the Rockefeller Center, and these serve as an excellent supplement to my studies.

Ultimately, the Rockefeller Center has provided me with leadership skills, management principles, hands on experience, and has helped to prepare me for a lifetime of success. I strongly urge all undergraduate students, not simply those interested in Government and Public Policy, to become involved with the Rockefeller Center in one way or another. The Public Policy Minor is customizable to suit ones interests, MLDP cultivates fundamental leadership skills, and sponsored speakers touch upon important subjects in an engaging manner. Looking back on my time at Dartmouth, my involvement with the Rockefeller Center has undoubtedly been a highlight, and I hope that future students take full advantage of Rocky and all it has to offer.

James Herring was born in Munich, Germany and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. At an early age James fell in love with the game of basketball. His hard work on the court would pay dividends as it took him to Phillips Exeter Academy (’10) as a Phelps Scholar Athlete, and he would ultimately get recruited to the Dartmouth Men’s Basketball team by legendary coach Terry Dunn. At Dartmouth James is a Government major with a concentration in International Relations, and Public Policy Minor with a concentration in Economic Policy. He is also a co-founder of the Dartmouth Caribbean Connection, graduated the Rockefeller Center’s Management and Leadership Development Program with distinction, and received a grant from the Rockefeller Center to undertake a public policy and advocacy internship with the Citizens Union of the City of New York. Next year he will be back in New York working for PepsiCo Inc. as a financial analyst.