ESP Biography



VALERIE CHEN, ESP Teacher




Major: 17

College/Employer: MIT

Year of Graduation: 2022

Picture of Valerie Chen

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Not Available.



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

X14496: Pursuing Pleasure in Spark 2021 (Mar. 13 - 27, 2021)
What makes me happy? Does this make me feel good? How do I know what brings me ~pleasure~? If these questions resonate with you, we invite you to join us for a conversation centered on finding, creating and prioritizing pleasure !


X14280: Communication & consent in Splash 2020 (Nov. 14 - 15, 2020)
So much has changed this year. For many of us, there have been major shifts in how we interact with those we care about and build our relationships. Essential to any relationship (friends, family, romantic, professional) is respecting boundaries, honest communication and seeking consent, whether together physically or virtually! Join us in a conversation to discuss boundary setting, what is consent, and how to promote healthy communication for yourself and those around you!


C13156: Getting the Gist of GIS aka The Magic of Maps in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Big data! Data visualization! Those are some spicy keywords. Come have a non-programmer show you some cool ways to map large quantities of spatial data and solve complex, real-world problems. There will be minimal to no coding. The goal of this class is to show you how to approach problems across locations and communicate your solution, while providing you with the resources to continue exploring for yourself. Laptop recommended for self-guided exploration at end of class but not necessary for main course material. Slides will be sent out so you can access resources in the future. Ft. lots of globe stress balls and some rad geographically-inspired t-shirts. Puns are guaranteed, their quality is not.


W13326: Keychains!!! in Splash 2019 (Nov. 23 - 24, 2019)
Come learn how to make your own custom keychains! We'll show you how to design your own art, transfer it onto keychain paper, and how to bake and polish and link to chains-- not to mention how to embellish your keychain with crosshatching, 3D manipulation and accents, and more!


B12688: Intro to Ancient Greek in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
Brief overview of Ancient Greek including basic grammar and historical/cultural context!


H12698: Why Read Fiction?--Overview of Novel Theory in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
Explore why we enjoy reading fiction, especially novels: is it to escape real life? To fulfill our imagination? To learn about human nature? We'll examine and compare different types of theories in social, historical, cultural contexts then come up with our own interpretations.


X12708: All About Fonts: an Introduction to Typography in Splash 2018 (Nov. 17 - 18, 2018)
What's the difference between a font and a typeface? Why are some typefaces more popular than others--why do a select few seem to be everywhere? How were they created? After learning about typefaces, you'll never be able to unsee its once-invisible presence all around you.