Featured Alumnae
The Darrah Sisters, Continuing the Legacy Four sisters take a moment to reflect on their IND education and share what paths their lives have taken, all stemming from the bond of sisterhood nurtured at IND. “As a family of sisters who attended IND, we have a special bond having shared in the traditions that made IND not just a school but an experience of a lifetime that will never be forgotten.” Since earning her Bachelor of Science in nursing in 1986, Anita Darrah Hagin '76 has spent twenty-one years as a psychiatric nurse at Sheppard Pratt Health System. Anita works closely with patients undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy, a procedure that uses electrical currents to alter brain chemistry thus alleviating certain mental illness. A mother of husband, Jim, whom she dated while attending IND.
The Darrah Family: Anita Darrah Hagin ’76, Paula Darrah ’78, Paula’s daughter Grace Darrah, Diane Darrah ’79, and Janet Darrah ’81.
Representing clients in complex civil litigation matters,
she advises small businesses and their owners. In addition to
Paula Darrah ’78 is the principal and owner of the Severna
her practice, she is also the Vice President, Tax for PHH, a
Park law firm, Warfield & Darrah, where she also handles
fleet leasing and management company in Sparks, Maryland.
representation in areas of family law and other general business
Currently, she serves on the board of the Saint Elizabeth’s
affairs. Her daughter, Grace is a sixth-grader at Monsignor
School Foundation and has previously served on the board at
Slade Catholic School – a future INDian perhaps. Paula
IND. She is also a member of the loan committee for Women
believes that it is never too soon to recruit a future INDian
Entrepreneurs of Baltimore, Inc.
two boys, Anita has been married twenty-seven years to her
and has brought her daughter along to many IND events where she has already learned the joys of shopping at Sister Hildie’s bookstore and playing “scratch off bingo” with Sister Marie Charles.
“IND teachers and classmates reinforced the ‘bonds of sisterhood’ and the unique understanding of the obstacles and challenges faced as young women striving to achieve success.” The last of the Darrah sisters to graduate from IND, Janet
“When I think about my experiences at IND, what stands
Darrah ’81 is currently employed at Johns Hopkins Applied
out in my memory is the dedication of the faculty in providing
Physics Laboratory as the Administrator for the Office of
us with an excellent education and a solid foundation for
Counsel and is pursuing her MBA/Organizational Development
continuous learning. Our role models were the faculty and
degree at the Carey Business School of Johns Hopkins
staff who exhibited those skills on a constant basis.”
University. Janet’s introduction to the “IND Way” began
Instead of being in the courtrooms like her sister Paula,
as a little girl in 1972 when her oldest sister, Anita, started as
Diane Darrah ’79 has a private tax consulting practice where
a freshman.
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the onyx | winter 2009