Graduate Student Spotlight | Kelly Esposito ’00

After seeing Saint Hildegard’s nutmeg cookies circulate on social media a few years ago, I was inspired to study the original medicinal recipe and the use of nutmeg as they appear in this fascinating Catholic nun, polymath, mystic and healer’s medical text Physica (1151-1158 C.E.). I assumed that the original 12th century recipe was going to differ from the modern interpretations, but I was not expecting this recipe reproduction to lead me down a path toward a thesis project.

While trying to interpret and reproduce Hildegard’s 12th century recipe, I realized that the “cookie” she was describing was more similar to a Catholic Eucharistic host, so I began to explore that idea. After presenting my findings at SPIRE, I chose to continue working on this topic for a thesis project, which is now being advised by Professor Nicole Pulichene.

The most exciting aspect of working on a thesis project is being able to direct my own research. However, it is also the most anxiety inducing aspect of M.A. work!

There are so many exciting rabbit holes to explore, but there is also a deadline to submit my thesis to graduate in May. It has been interesting to see my project evolve from researching internet famous cookies to learning about the importance of olfactory and visual imagery in the medieval period. I look forward to seeing what the next few weeks of research offer towards my final project.

I graduated from Hood College in 2000 with a bachelor’s in biology, so I thought it would be wonderful to explore something new in a familiar place. Although the campus is always changing, with new people and new buildings, it maintains a strong sense of a shared past, which delights me every time I’m on campus.

Professor Nicole Pulichenehas been instrumental in guiding me through several courses and the start of my thesis work. Her constructive feedback and her endless patience have allowed me to feel comfortable enough to grow academically and personally.

In addition to the mentorship I have received fromProfessor Pulichene, I have had the pleasure of working as a graduate assistant for Jessica Hammack in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). Jessica and the CTL have given me the supportive framework to explore and learn in an active professional environment.

Before working with the CTL, I didn’t think it was possible to combine all of my different personal interests into a single profession. Both Professor Pulichene and Ms. Hammack have given me the opportunity and the incentive to grow beyond my own imagined limits.

As a nontraditional student, I was not expecting to enjoy much of campus life. I am so pleased that I was incorrect! My favorite memory from Hood so far is a quite animated humanities group dinner I attended last year. Since we meet monthly, I know I will leave Hood College with many more wonderful memories from these events.

The best advice I can give to anyone working on a thesis is that you should be willing to be scared. Whether you are scared to go out on a limb with your research ideas, scared to present your findings in public or scared to admit that you need help. Being scared may be uncomfortable, but it is also a necessary part of the growth process. My peers and professors in the humanities program have offered the support I needed to become more comfortable with being scared, which has made it possible for me to grow significantly while at Hood.

Inspired by Kelly’s story? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College's graduate programs, including the M.A. in humanities.