Bobcat Stories

By Dr. Scott Crago, Academic Dean

As we start the spring term, Bosque School seniors are preparing to dive into the fieldwork for their capstone projects. This is an exciting time for the seniors as they branch out and engage in research often reserved for advanced undergraduate studies. One of the most common forms of fieldwork for seniors involves interviewing professionals in the Albuquerque community; however, many students find it challenging to prepare for and conduct interviews that meaningfully advance their research.

We recognize that while interviews hold incredible potential, many students have little experience preparing for and conducting interviews. As a result, the five capstone teachers reached out to Bosque School parent Gwyneth Doland. On January 14, Ms. Doland spoke with the seniors about her time as a journalist and how to prepare for and conduct professional interviews. The seniors were captivated by her stories, which included tales of interviewing Anthony Bourdain and of interviews that took new and, at times, unexpected turns. For many of the seniors, this presentation offered critical information on how to frame questions, compose themselves in an interview, maintain professional communication, and, most importantly, what to do with the information gathered. After the presentation, many students set to work rewriting their fieldwork plans to incorporate their newfound knowledge, which will better prepare them to interview and communicate with potential interviewees.

More about Ms. Doland:

Gwyneth Doland has been a professional journalist since 1999, and currently serves as a Professor of Practice in Journalism at the University of New Mexico. Doland is the Senior Political Correspondent at New Mexico PBS, where she leads coverage of the state legislature. She is also a contributor to New Mexico in Depth, KUNM News, and New Mexico Magazine. In 2012 and 2015, she authored reports on government accountability for the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C.; The 2012 State Integrity Report was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Her work covering state government has been honored with a First Amendment Award from the ACLU of New Mexico and top honors from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association. Gwyneth was previously the executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and was a founding director of the renewed Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande Chapter. She is an officer of the Journalism and Women Symposium and the Elections Chair for NAHJ New Mexico. She serves on the advisory board of Press Forward New Mexico