Dr. Alison Dagnes
Dr. Dagnes is Professor of Political Science. She teaches Honors U.S. Government and the Honors Elections Seminar.
All About Dr. Dagnes!
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: We have a Buick-sized dog named Mel, who has destroyed everything in my house. She's friendly, but ruinous. See picture attached.
Mel
Q: What is your favorite at-home hobby? Do you have any musical, artistic, athletic, or intellectual pursuits that students might not expect?
A: As I am musically, artistically, and athletically challenged, I tend to stay close to my kitchen. This means that I cook (badly, but I enjoy it), I bake (I'm better at that), and I play games with my daughters in the family area which includes said kitchen. I run and exercise a lot, but only because I eat so much. I'm as athletic as a stapler.
Q: Do you have any wisdom to share about staying sane in a situation such as this?
A: Are you kidding? Of course not! But I suppose that's my wisdom: We're all figuring this out together because it’s never happened before (at least, not in our lifetimes). This means that every day I try to be nice to the people I see (from a distance) and the people with whom I communicate (over email) and the people closest to me (in my kitchen). I try to find something funny every day to make me laugh, because laughing is fun and it’s good for you. But when it all starts to feel scary or overwhelming, I also let myself go there. It's okay to visit sadness: You just don't want to live there.
Q: What do you miss most about being on campus?
A: This is an easy one: The People. From our students (who are fantastic) to my colleagues (most of whom are fantastic) to the staff and the administrators, I miss my Shipmates. And I miss them a lot.
Q: What type of music do you listen to the most? Do you have any band/singer/song recommendations?
A: I am a sucker for several bands that will identify me as old: All-time favorite is Death Cab for Cutie, I love Mumford & Sons, The Paper Kites (very soothing), and the Hamilton soundtrack. But when I run, it's total pop. I cannot run if Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift aren't contributing to my hearing loss.
Q: What movie / TV shows have you been watching lately?
A: My older daughter and I watch "Psych" on a loop. It's hilarious and fun. We try to watch movies as a family, and I have a series of documentaries I should watch... and will as soon as I'm done watching "Psych" over and over again. 😊