Tanner Riley ’17 is an alum who truly lives out HPA’s core value of “wonder,” finding it in biology, T.S. Eliot, and in the everyday beauty that surrounds him. From Hawai‘i Island to Dartmouth, and now Charlottesville, VA—his journey has been shaped by curiosity and by gratitude for the opportunities in his life, including the financial aid that made both his HPA and Dartmouth experiences possible. Now working as a Science Communications Specialist at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, Riley speaks about his path, the power of transformative technology, and why he gives back to HPA.
What drew you to Dartmouth after HPA?
I applied to a bunch of schools all over the country, specifically looking at small liberal arts schools with good neuroscience/biology programs. Dartmouth fits that description, and when I got in, I realized the financial aid package was extremely generous. My parents are missionaries, so we didn’t have a lot of money. The only way I was able to attend both HPA and Dartmouth was through incredibly generous financial aid.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
People who know me in a science context are surprised to learn how much of an artsy guy I am (poetry, embroidery, mail art, baking, etc!) People who know me in a more artsy context are shocked to learn that my studies and career are entirely in the realm of science.
How would you describe focused ultrasound technology to people who aren’t familiar with it?
You know how you can focus sunlight through a magnifying glass to burn paper? Researchers have found a way to focus ultrasound waves inside the body to target specific tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed. This technology is being used to treat many conditions, including several types of cancer and neurological conditions. Focused ultrasound has now been FDA-approved to treat nine different conditions, including liver tumors, prostate cancer, and an incisionless brain surgery for Parkinson’s tremors. Our goal at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation is to accelerate the widespread use of and access to this lifesaving technology by funding the clinical research necessary to developing and approving the treatments. You can learn more at fusfoundation.org.
You have said elsewhere that you “strive to see the wonder of life.” What does that mean for you?
When I talk about “the wonder of life,” I mean many things: the mundane enchantment of everyday living, the beauty of creation at large, the awe-striking marvels of biological systems, and the abundant life given by Jesus Christ. Hawai‘i is absolutely one of the places that fostered that sense of wonder in me. I still remember walking from class to class at HPA, exulting in the beauty of the Waimea foothills wreathed in swirling clouds. That same awe and wonder propelled me through challenging biology classes at Dartmouth.
Was there a person and/or class during your time at HPA that was particularly influential for you?
Many classes impacted me deeply, but my Biology classes with Mrs. McDowell and my English classes with Mr. Braithwaite stand out. Mrs. McDowell first kindled that spark of wonder for biology in me, which has led me to where I am today. Mr. Braithwaite introduced me to T. S. Eliot, who is now my favorite poet. He also taught a very weird class that I loved, entitled “The Poetry and Prose of Movement,” where we did a lot of contact improv dancing and poetic meditation. So many of the teachers I love at HPA helped cultivate the sense of wonder and curiosity that has fuelled my journey.
You contribute monthly to HPA. What drew you to support HPA’s annual fund as a young alum?
I have been given so much that I didn’t earn—in general, my life, my gifts, and my friends; in particular, things like the financial aid that enabled me to attend HPA and Dartmouth College. Generosity is the only response that makes sense, even if I don’t have much to give. I thought to myself: HPA may not be perfect, but I’m glad I went there. I want to chip in my two cents towards helping other students attend. “For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business.” (From T. S. Eliot’s “East Coker”)
When you think about the future—yours or the world’s—what gives you hope?
“The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharge from sin and error.
The only hope, or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre—
To be redeemed from fire by fire.”
-From T. S. Eliot’s “Little Gidding”