By Rob Franklin T'15
Rob Franklin T’15 is a member of Tuck’s Small Group Dinner committee and an avid cook. Rob is originally from Fairfield, Connecticut and is a graduate of The College of William and Mary where he majored in finance and Chinese. Rob started his career as an English teacher at WorldTeach China. He then worked as the director of research for the Beijing office of Gao Fei Consulting Services, one of China's Leading Alternative Investment Firms. Rob will be heading to Chicago after graduating from Tuck to work as a consultant for Bain & Co.
Small group dinners at Tuck are exactly as they sound—an opportunity for students of the Tuck community to gather for dinner across the Upper Valley. Often times a student, or group of students living together, will open their home up to their classmates, classmates’ partners, and faculty members, and share a home-cooked meal and good conversation.
Each dinner has a central theme and the dinner groups are always a great mix of the student body: single students, married students, international students, American students, first-year students, second-year students, and faculty members. All are welcome and all attend these fun dinner gatherings. Most recently, my housemates and I hosted a small group dinner in our home in Norwich Vt. My four roommates and I cooked a big pot of turkey-chili and warmed up some sourdough for seven of our classmates—four of whom were from a different class and who we had not met before.
Our convivial conversation continued over pasta and a round of blueberry and apple pies. As a result of our gathering, we all now recognize many new friendly faces in the hallways of Tuck. Food is always a wonderful way to bring people together, and this has resonated throughout the community.
The longstanding small group dinner tradition is one that truly sets the Tuck community apart and is often raved about after the Admitted Students Weekend each year. Small group dinners are a testament to Tuck’s close-knit culture and the opportunities readily available to meet so many of your colleagues outside the classroom.