User:Stephlint/sandbox

Kimberly Benard (born 1977) began her "whimsical career" in the academic world of medieval travel literature with a special emphasis on Beowulf and Vikings at Loyola University New Orleans. She furthered her academic career by coming a full-fledged "medievalist," attending and graduating from the Center Center for Medieval Studies at Fordham University in New York City. Her studies included work on "Romantic Mutterings: A Study of Language in Chrétien de Troyes' Erec et Enide and Yvain." In her time at Fordham University she served in the Dean's Office for Fordham College Rose Hill, and later was recruited to work as the Assistant Director for Prestigious Fellowships. She was vital to the creation of Fordham's Prestigious Fellowships Office. She is now advising fellowship and scholarship applicants at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, where she moved in 2006. Past students include CTOs, CEOs, medical doctors, consultants, founders of nonprofits and successful businesses, research scientists and many recipients of the Marshall Scholarship, Gates Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship and Harry S. Truman Scholarship. In addition to advice, she offers equally valuable teasing about the verbal section of the GRE.

Kimberly was born and raised in Pearl River a northwest suburb of New York City. Although she grew up perilously close to New Jersey and was a regular summer visitor as a child to Northern New Jersey's Action Park one of the more dangerous amusement parks in the US, she is adamant about her New York heritage. She attended Nanuet Senior High School in Nanuet, NY. She was an avid cross country runner and, although maybe not the fastest, her dogged determination always prevailed. She is married to David Mason and has two daughters, Nora and Annika, future child actresses and scientists extraordinaire. Although the girls have extremely busy schedules of preschool, swimming lessons, gymnastics and more kid birthday parties than one can keep track of, they occasionally moonlight as fellowship candidate evaluators.

Once a personality assessment indicated that Kim was both Strategic and Adaptable. Although these qualities together may seem oxymoronic, she successfully combined them in two words: “New plan.”

Awards

 * 2009 DUE Infinite Mile
 * 2010 MIT Excellence Award
 * 2012 Laya Wiesner Community Award
 * Member, Nominations and Elections Committee, NAFA (National Association of Fellowships Advisors)

Quotes

 * "This one will either be perfect for you or it will be a nightmare"
 * "That's what I'm here for. Gunpoint assisted soul searching".
 * "FOR EXAMPLE" (said aloud, sent by text, written on post-its, and probably delivered via owl post if necessary)
 * "Sometimes things go downhill when MIT students begin showering."
 * "Do people in Course 6 wear shoes?"
 * "How about you just get an exotic pet as a rebellious statement. Like a turtle or hog?"
 * "You're very zen."
 * "Becoming clean was the kiss of death."
 * "Advice is like jellybeans. You take all of it. Say thank you. Eat the good ones. And throw the rest away."
 * "Make it happen" (often while waving her hand in the air)
 * "You're a people person. You just won't admit it."
 * "Tell me about yourself. And brag more."
 * "Well, I gave him advice. He heard what he wanted to hear: none of it."
 * "How about Caroline goes for a guy who rides a motorcycle and has one tattoo? Then she won’t have to go into consulting."
 * "Of course I'm having another [kid]. You need a spare."
 * "Pregnancy has made me more emotional. Don’t make me a basket case."
 * "One cannot change him, one can only convince oneself that he is not who you think he is."
 * "Give in. You know you want to."
 * "The whole idea is to go on bad dates because they give you good stories!"
 * "But, if you aren’t willing to be our guinea pig, I guess I’ll just try to get Anjali to sign up."
 * "If you want to go to a May Ball, you have to pay to play."
 * "Don’t expect proper grammar or word choices from me until after October."
 * "Try to get invited to the royal wedding!"
 * "By the way, it is due on Friday, so any comments need to be sent to me forthwith. I'm taking a page from Mr. Cohen's book."
 * "Are you playing Peek-A-Boo with me?"
 * "Ummm, are you still applying??"
 * "Do you have any essays to send to me?"
 * "So, this is all great. But what do you really want to do?"
 * "You don't NEED anymore credibility! Just do what you love and stop trying to prove something to everyone."

Notable Characteristics

 * Uses hand-drawn dogs as coaches for scholarship applicants.
 * Will probably advise you to wear red.
 * Is widely known as the Tom Brady of the two-minute scholarship interview drill.
 * Has received the following gifts from students: a stuffed animal husky with plastic wrap on its paws, bound by rubber bands; a gift certificate for a cure for cancer; a "viking" hat; a regular supply of chocolate desserts; and a scarf to add to her apparently infinite scarf collection.
 * Regularly recruits for over-educated babysitters. See MIT Distinguished Fellowships Office for more details.
 * Her phone ringtone is a hunting horn.
 * Is a lover of all animals and a welcome sight for any strays. In fact, while living in the Bronx she rescued four dogs and, between her and her parents, provided homes for them all--Loki, Isis, Bones and Fluffy. She would have you know that she did not get to choose the last two names, and takes great pride in the first two.
 * Is a fabulous cook and loves cooking a huge Thanksgiving meal (which is meticulously planned with spreadsheets and executed over several day) and cooking Christmas cookies as gifts (a weekend known as the cookie baking extravaganza).
 * Used to absolutely love Bon Jovi and, while Jon and the boys' old stuff still has great appeal, thinks they have "gone country."
 * Is a fan of the Boston Red Sox and has wisely minimized any affection for the Yankees since moving to the Boston area. In her home, there is a baseball detente, and the girls will be allowed to choose whichever team they would like.  This, of course means they will be influenced by their Dad's native New Englander sports obsessions, and their environment, to become die-hard Red Sox fans. She had no football affiliation or particular football interest, so feigns interest in her husband's beloved New England Patriots. Additionally, she ceased caring about the New York Rangers after one too many NHL lockouts.
 * Fancies herself an excellent matchmaker. Her prospective subjects agree that her suggestions are closer to Emma than eHarmony.
 * Is raising a Mini-Me who says gems such as, "Mama, your hair CRAZY," and "Nora can't come out. Nora is hiding."
 * Is the queen of the recommendation letter and regularly leads Independent Activities Period workshops to share her talent with the MIT faculty. (Many a graduate school admissions office has profited indirectly from said workshops.)
 * Is recognized regularly for playing well with others and enjoying long staff meetings and office branding discussions.
 * Is the most likely candidate to write a fellowship advisor's take on How to Win Friends and Influence People. Its proposed title is How to Crush Students' Dreams and Still Make Them Adore You.