Get ready to reconnect, reminisce, and raise a glass to celebrate! Come back to campus to see what’s new and catch up with classmates. All alumnae and friends are invited. Make some new memories while reliving your favorite ones. It all happens at this year’s Reunion at the Douglass Student Center on Saturday, June 6!
All alumnae and friends are welcome to celebrate at Reunion!
We will herald the Class of 1976 on its 50th Vanguard Reunion and Milestone Classes ending in 1s and 6s. Reconnect and enjoy a look back at your days on campus. Enjoy a wide range of activities.
Stay tuned!
Registration and the Reunion Schedule of Events will be available soon.
No matter where you are, near or far, take advantage of upcoming Reunion Committee Planning Meetings, which are hosted virtually.
Mark your calendars for upcoming meetings, hosted via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 pm ET.
Register for meetings at www.douglassalumnae.org: January 5, 2026 | February 9, 2026 | May 4, 2026
For Reunion updates visit us at www.douglassalumnae.org/aadc-reunion-2026/
Volunteer & Get Involved with the AADC!
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.
Our AADC volunteers get involved where they can make the biggest impact in ways that combine their interests and expertise with vital work that supports our mission. Join an AADC committee, volunteer at the Alumnae Center, help on the Lectures Committee, organize the Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42 Workplace & Professional Development Symposium — plus so much more!
The AADC needs you to help bring our vibrant event and program offerings to fruition. Please contact Associate Director of Programs and Administration Lizethe Martinez ’13 at lmartinez@douglassalumnae.org or (732) 246-1600.
Get Involved and Discover the Value of Community
Message from Associate Alumnae of Douglass College Executive Director Eileen M. Cotter
This holiday season, you are a gift to our alumnae community. I am particularly filled with a deep sense of gratitude for your continued connection to our mission and all that we do together at the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College. Our success is built upon the collective efforts of each woman. I love that about us! You are an important part of who we are and in shaping our future.
Our organization boasts some five generations of alumnae who are involved, across our 103-year history. Your unique experience and enthusiasm plays a crucial role in continuing our work and supporting generations to come. Your accomplishments are an inspiration and have been a source of pride for us all.
The Associate Alumnae is an independent and selfsupporting organization and has several exciting initiatives. Your participation is vital. Get involved or more involved. Experience the value of being part of our community of strong, influential alumnae and friends, where you can make meaningful connections at any stage of life.
Volunteer: Whether you can offer a few hours or a more significant time commitment, your service can make a tangible impact. We have needs across many areas from event planning, mentorship, communications and more.
Participate in Events: Join us for our upcoming events in the new year, including the Black Alumnae Network’s Jewel Plummer Cobb Sisters Conference (March 7), the L’Hommedieu Lecture (March 25), and Reunion (June 6).
Our Cover: Our alumnae
These gatherings are a wonderful way to reconnect with and engage with the AADC community.
Share Your Experience: Your professional and personal experiences are invaluable. We recently launched Community Connects, a new digital “living room” where you can securely connect with others who join our online community. It’s a place to find inspiration and guidance, and to share your experience.
Tell Us Your Story: We love to hear your stories about the impact of our programs, and about your journeys and career successes. During the year, we highlight alumnae, friends, fellowship recipients and even students receiving scholarships in our publications and digital messages.
Make a Gift: The Associate Alumnae is powered only by contributions from our community. We appreciate your support of the AADC Annual Appeal. Every gift makes a difference.
Our goal is always to continue to build a community of alumnae and friends that is relevant, engaged, and supportive for everyone involved. We believe that by working together, we can create a stronger future for our great organization and those whom we serve.
Thank you for being a gift, an integral part of our community and for supporting our mission! We look forward to your continued involvement and to seeing you soon.
Eileen M. Cotter
On
community engaged in impactful events this fall, where we were inspired by one another while building community and connections. From left to right: Top row, Tiffany Toliver ‘04, Bernice Proctor Venable ‘62, Fabiola Paul ‘09, Sangeetha Subramanian ’08, Jesinia Delgado ‘25, Gina Rizza Hersch ‘14, Laisha Perez ‘23, Herrin Fontenette ‘25. Center row: Ikecia Lenese Mapp ‘01, Judy Meyenhofer Musa ‘89, Christiana Foglio ‘84; Executive Director Eileen M. Cotter, Linda Swenton Naselli ‘81, Lisa Dorio Ruch ‘89, Katherine Taylor Clark ’84. Bottom row, Janki Bhatt ’08, Paula Alexis ‘26, Jennie Vila ‘07, Teresa Ugarte ‘28, Jeanne M. Fox ‘75, Elizabeth Mitchell, Zaira Gonzalez, Claire Fabito ‘24, Tracy Ng ‘15, Sharandeep Kour ‘17.
What’s Happening at Your Alumnae Association
n Friday, December 5, 2025
Bunting Connections Holiday Party & Potluck at the Ruth Schilling Hennessy Alumnae Center
n Sunday, December 7, 2025
AADC NJ Regional Connection Group
George Street Playhouse Outing
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Jersey Christmas Show
n Sunday, December 7, 2025
Yule Log at Voorhees Chapel: Celebration at Ludwig Global Village Co-sponsored with Douglass Residential College Traditional Events Committee
n Saturday, December 13, 2025
Black Alumnae Network Holiday Gathering
n Wednesday, December 17, 2025
AADC Sisterhood Book Club Virtual Discussion, via Zoom
“Culpability” By Bruce Holsinger
Save the Date for 2026
n Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Virtual AADC Smart Talk Perimenopause & Menopause
n Monday, January 5, 2026
Reunion Virtual Committee Meeting
n Thursday, February 5, 2026
Black History Month Virtual Program
n Saturday, February 7, 2026
Young Alumnae Network Hosts Annual Cabin Fever at the Ruth Schilling Hennessy Alumnae Center
n Monday, February 9, 2026
Reunion Virtual Committee Meeting
n Saturday, March 7, 2026
Black Alumnae Network (BAN) Jewel Plummer Cobb Sisters Conference
“Still I Rise: The State of Black Women and Girls” | Cook Student Center
n Wednesday, March 25, 2026
L’Hommedieu Lecture with Fabien Cousteau
n Monday, April 13, 2026
Reunion Virtual Committee Meeting
n Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Black Alumnae Network General Body Meeting
n Saturday, April 18, 2026
Spring Alumnae Council
n Saturday, May 2, 2026
Black Alumnae Network
George Street Playhouse Outing: My Lord, What a Night
n Monday, May 4, 2026
Reunion Virtual Committee Meeting
n Spring – to be announced Event to Honor AADC Benefactors
n Spring – to be announced Virtual Zagoren Lecture
n Saturday, June 6, 2026 2026 Alumnae Reunion: Cheers to the Years Celebrating Class of 1976 on its 50th Vanguard Reunion and the Milestone classes ending in 1s and 6s
Connect Through Our Alumnae Travel Program
See the world with Douglass alumnae and friends! Upcoming trips through our vendor AHI (https://aadc.ahitravel.com/) include:
Finland: January 22-30, 2026
Florence: February 27 - March 7, 2026
Greece: May 29 - June 7, 2026
Croatia: August 18-29, 2026
L’Hommedieu Lecture: An Evening with Renowned Ocean Conservationist Fabien Cousteau
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College will feature Fabien Cousteau as the 2026 L’Hommedieu Lecturer. Fabien is a renowned aquanaut, ocean conservationist, and documentary filmmaker, best known as the first grandson of the legendary Jacques Cousteau. He is a third-generation ocean explorer and protection and preservation advocate. His lecture will address climate change, ocean warming and his explorations.
The L’Hommedieu Lecture was established in 1983, honoring Frances Bradley L’Hommedieu ’26. The lecture is free and open to alumnae, friends, the Rutgers community and the public. Event details will be available soon.
For updates and registration scan the QR Code, or visit: www.douglassalumnae.org/upcoming-events
at
Alumnae Accolades
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Angela P. Pettis '93 was inducted into the Rutgers African-American (RAAA), Inc. Hall of Fame in the 2025 class at its 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Ceremony in October. She is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist with over 23 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, D.C. Air National Guard, and U.S. Air Force Reserve, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Her career covered multiple surgical specialties, including treating wounded soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She is Vice Chair, Southern Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross and mentors students in nurse anesthesia.
Julissa S. Germonsen '93, Chief Executive Officer, author of Mariposa lanca, and an inspirational speaker, was named a 2025-2026 Future Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. She will be honored at its Women of Distinction Breakfast on October 29.
Author Eileen Stukane’s ‘66 new book, The House That Held Everything, was published in November. This first-person memoir is about an unexpected inheritance that leads to a shocking house of hoarding and disciplined collection, and a yearlong quest to understand the deep connection between humans and their objects. Eileen says she was driven to write this book sharing an emotional journey of finding compassion for her relatives and her realization that “our possessions become our autobiographies.”
Winifred Quinn ‘86, Ph.D., FAANP(H), FAAN, delivered the commencement address at the 2025 Pennsylvania School of Nursing, where she encouraged graduates to follow guiding principles in their professional lives and to get involved in policy. She recently retired as Director, Advocacy & Consumer Affairs, AARP Center for Health Equity through Nursing.
Jameelah Wright '03, recently completed William Paterson University’s Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship program in the Department of Teacher Education, and was recognized by the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators with its “Outstanding Dissertation Award” for her dissertation, “Understanding the Work Lives and Career Intentions of Black Women Prekindergarten Teacher Assistants.” She is an assistant professor in William Paterson’s Department of Teacher Education and is the Early Childhood Education Undergraduate Program Director, co-advisor of the Education Club, and co-advisor of its chapter of Kappa Delta Pi – an honor society for educators.
Jennie Vila ‘07, EdM, LPC, ACS, CIMHP, recently published “An Interactive Guide Deck + Workbook Bundle for Real Life, Real Feelings, and Real Growth: You’re Not As Broken As You Think You Are.” She offers services through her business, Growth Mindset. Jennie is an AADC Board Member, co-chair of the AADC Douglass Alumnae Mentoring Program, and most recently was a panelist on mental health at this fall’s Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt Workplace and Professional Development Symposium, among other programs she has contributed to as a therapist.
Dori Miller ’17, a Mary I. Bunting Program graduate who is an oil painter, papermaker, installation and teaching artist, did the beautiful designs on the guidebook and card deck working closely with Jennie. She holds a BFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers and an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art.
To share your accolades with us, please email Anne Marie Russo, AADC Director of Marketing and Communications, at amrusso@douglassalumnae.org
We’ve Launched “Community Connects”
Join us on our secure, digital gathering space where Douglass alumnae and friends unlock opportunity.
n Reconnect with a classmate
n Share your expertise
n Become a mentor
n Find your next job
Claim your account in less than 2 minutes and instantly connect with your community. Scan QR code or contact Lizethe Martinez ’13 at the AADC at lmartinez@ douglassalumnae.org
Through our partnership with alumna-owned Nisa Gifts, the AADC is proud to offer Associate Alumnae and Douglass branded products like these and more! A portion of the proceeds support programs, services, networks and lifelong learning opportunities for our diverse alumnae community.
Visit us at douglassalumnae.org/aadc-store/
E v E nt H ig H lig H ts
Alumnae and friends enjoyed the AADC New Jersey Regional Connection Group Outing to the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick for a performance of an “Old-Fashioned Family Murder,” starring Sally Struthers, on October 26.
The AADC Young Alumnae Network hosted its annual YAN O Ween Gathering at the Ruth Schilling Hennessy Alumnae Center with seasonal treats, games, tarot card readings, costumes and signature mocktails on October 10. Right, Lily Juhasz ‘22 (left) and Sandeep Patwalia ‘22 serve as co-chairs.
Douglass alumnae volunteers and leaders hosted our Associate Alumnae activities table at the 50th
Anniversary New Jersey Folk Festival at Davidson’s Mill Pond Park in North Brunswick on August 25. AADC was proud to be an event sponsor. AADC Reunion Chair Elena Anastasiou Rossi ‘78, above, marked two decades as a Festival leader.
The Tenth Annual Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ‘42 Workplace and Professional Development Symposium was hosted at the Douglass Student Center on September 27. It was an inspiring day of workshops and networking, together with a tribute to the late benefactor, Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ‘42. Fabiola Paul ‘09, right, served as chair.
Demonstrating a Commitment to Excellence
Three Distinguished Alumnae Inducted into the AADC Society of Excellence
The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) proudly welcomed three distinguished alumnae into the esteemed AADC Society of Excellence at the 2025 Induction Ceremony Luncheon held at the Neilson Dining Hall Rectangular Room on November 1.
Each of these remarkable women has left an indelible mark on their professions and the Associate Alumnae community, demonstrating a commitment to excellence that reaches far and wide. Thank you to the AADC Awards Committee, chaired by Jessica Bagtas ’15, currently serving as Secretary on the AADC Board of Directors. Visit our website for a full list of nearly 250 members inducted since 1973 when the Society was established.
We recognize these trailblazers for their exceptional careers and service, showcasing the lasting impact of their work on their professions and communities.
Stefanie a. Lachenauer ’06
Educator, Author of “Let The Glitter Settle: Mindfulness for Teens”
Stefanie A. Lachenauer, Class of 2006, is a middle school educator, keynote speaker, mindfulness teacher, author, trauma-informed and resilience practitioner, coach, and trainer. As the 2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, she served more than 100,000 educators across the state, sharing practices in mindfulness, regulation, trauma-informed care, and teacher wellness.
She serves on the Board of Directors of the Attachment and Trauma Network and the Healthy Body Healthy Mind Initiative, a nonprofit founded by one of her former students that advocates for wellness across communities. She is an active community member serving on the Montgomery/Rocky Hill Municipal Alliance. Stefanie has presented nationally and internationally on socialemotional learning, trauma-informed practices, mindfulness, and other neuroscience-based approaches.
Board, a group of high school students who advocate for mental health and designed courses such as Global Leadership and Skills for Success, which empower middle schoolers to honor themselves and bring what is on their hearts into the world to create meaningful, positive change.
Her debut book, Let the Glitter Settle: Mindfulness for Teens, was released in October 2025 and reflects her commitment to equipping young people with strategies to manage stress and thrive. In recognition of her impact as an educator and leader, Stefanie was honored with the 2026 NEA Foundation/Traveler’s Award for Teaching Excellence, representing New Jersey nationally. She has also received numerous local and regional accolades, including the Paul Krauss Award for Professional Excellence in Service to Youth and proclamations from the Montgomery Township Committee.
A leader in both her district and community, Stefanie has created innovative programs that prioritize student wellness and amplify student voice. She founded the Youth Action
Stefanie helps connect classmates with each other and with our alumnae community through her volunteer service as Class Secretary, mindfulness presentations
Continued on next page...
2025 AADC Society of Excellence Honorees
at Associate Alumnae conferences, and as a participant in AADC programs and events.
Stefanie continues to inspire students, educators, and communities through her teaching, writing, workshops, and keynote speaking. She reminds us all to pause, let the glitter settle, and shine, knowing that when we honor ourselves and lift one another up, we create positive change that reaches far beyond the classroom.
chriStiana fogLio ’84
Founder & CEO Community Investment Strategies
Christiana Foglio, Class of 1984, is an advocate for women in civic, New Jersey state policy and affordable housing development. As the founder, president and CEO of Community Investment Strategies, Inc. (CIS), she revitalizes communities by bringing high quality housing for residents of modest income. An industry veteran, Chris is owner of the largest Women Business Enterprise / Minority Business Enterprise (WBE/MBE) Affordable Housing Development Firm in the New Jersey. She founded CIS in 1994 and has grown her company’s diverse portfolio to include more than 4,000 apartment rental units valued at over $600 million. She is determined to be a thoughtful developer, supporting the development of communities purposefully and with people in mind.
Prior to forming CIS, she served in the administrations of Governor Florio and Governor Whitman as Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency (1992-1995), where she was responsible for over $1 billion of multi-family bond financing. During this time, she is credited with creating the Housing Policy for the State of New Jersey as well as national awards for innovative state housing initiatives. She also was appointed to serve as Chair of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing.
As President of a Private Health Care Company, Care ONE from 2008-2010, she repositioned the 1.2-billiondollar company operating in nine states with fully integrated nursing home, assisted living and rehabilitation
(Continued from page 5)
care. Once the strategic restructuring was complete, she returned to CIS full time.
She was named President of the New Brunswick Development Corporation, a not-for-profit real estate development company located in New Brunswick, NJ, implementing over $300 million of urban redevelopment projects. She is recognized for her contributions to New Brunswick's economic rebirth and for developing innovative affordable housing projects.
At Rutgers, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Douglass and a master’s degree in city and Regional Planning, with a concentration in Housing Finance and Economic Development. She is a generous supporter of the AADC Annual Appeal and a consistent attendee and supporter of Associate Alumnae programming. She established the annual Christiana Foglio DC'84 Career Conference at Douglass Residential College.
Christiana is a highly sought-after guest speaker who has garnered numerous business and industry awards, including the PlanSmart NJ Van Zandt Community Involvement Award; Urban Land Institute’s Edward J. Bloustein Award for Exemplary Achievement in Civic Leadership; Affordable Housing Finance Magazine Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers in the Nation; NJBIZ Business of the Year, Top 50 Most Influential People in the Real Estate Industry and 2025 Leaders In Real Estate, Construction and Design Award; ROI-Influencers: 2025 Women In Business Award; and CIANJ 2025 Enterprising Women in Commerce Award.
gretchen
SuLLivan Sorin ’74 Ph.D. Director
and Distinguished Professor, Cooperstown Graduate Program
Gretchen Sullivan Sorin, Class of 1974, Ph.D., is Director and Distinguished Service Professor at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, a training program for museum curators, educators, and directors that is part of the State University of New York College at Oneonta. She is also a Fellow of the New York Academy of historians.
Dr. Sorin holds a B.A. degree from Douglass in
2025 AADC Society of Excellence Honorees
American Studies, an M.A. in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and a Ph.D. from the University at Albany in American history. Dr. Sorin has more than thirty years of experience in the museum profession working for more than 250 museums as a museum exhibition curator and education, programming, and interpretive planning and strategic planning consultant. She has served as a guest curator for many exhibitions. Major exhibitions include, In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service; Through the Eyes of Others: African Americans and Identity in American Art; the nationally acclaimed traveling exhibition, Bridges and Boundaries: African Americans and American Jews for the Jewish Museum in New York; the award-winning Wilderness Cure: Tuberculosis and the Adirondacks for the Adirondack Museum, It All Happened at the Audubon, A History of the Audubon Ballroom for Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Dvorak: Culture and Society in the 19th Century, for the Bard College Center for Curatorial Studies and Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.
Dr. Sorin is the recipient of the Katherine Coffey Award from the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums, the Thurgood Marshall Unity Award from the Oneonta NAACP, the Philip Jones National Ephemera Society Fellowship Research Award, the State University of New York Chancellor’s Research Award, and the Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creative Activities. In 2006 she
(Continued from page 6)
was named to the rank of Distinguished Service professor. In 2018 she was named to the list of distinguished alumni by the State University of New York College at Oneonta. In 2020 she was named SUNY Oneonta Scholar of the Year. For the past 20 years Sorin has worked to broaden representation in the museum field for underrepresented groups and in 2025 received the Tapestry of Diversity award for her work from SUNY Oneonta.
Dr. Sorin writes and lectures frequently on museum practice, diversity and inclusion, and African American history. Her books include Touring Historic Harlem, Four Walks in Northern Manhattan with architectural historian Andrew Dolkart, In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, Through the Eyes of Others: African Americans and Identity in American Art and Case Studies in Cultural Entrepreneurship: How to Create Relevant and Sustainable Institutions. She is the author of Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights published by W. W. Norton/Liveright in 2020. The book was a finalist for the NAACP’s Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work and was a Bloomberg’s best nonfiction book of 2020. She is also co-writer and senior historian with Steeplechase Films and filmmaker Ric Burns on the documentary film, Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility that aired nationwide on PBS.
Scholarships Available for Douglass Students – Spread the Word
Through the generosity of generations of Douglass alumnae, the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College is able to offer significant scholarship support to incoming and returning Douglass students. Scholarships for the 2025/26 academic year are available now. Recipients are selected on an on-going basis until all available funding has been awarded. To be considered, current and incoming Douglass students must submit an online application. This common application allows the applicant to be considered for any of the scholarships for which they are eligible.
Rising Together – Professionally, Personally, Spiritually
The following excerpts are from the dynamic keynote address delivered by Linda Swenton Naselli ‘81, MBA, at the 10th Annual Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ‘42 Workplace and Professional Development Symposium at the Douglass Student Center on September 27, 2025. There’s something powerful about being in a room full of women who understand what it means to grow, strive, and evolve together. My journey since Douglass has taken me through the worlds of finance, strategy, and leadership.
When I consider the Symposium’s theme, the word “elevate” calls me to move beyond comfort zones — professionally, personally, and spiritually.
Professional Elevation
Another aspect can mean mentoring someone while still learning yourself. This has been most rewarding for me — having former employees reach out to let me know that they had a successful meeting or project and the impact of mentoring.
“For me, it has always been about recognizing the opportunity when it arises and choosing to take the ride.”
And sometimes — and this may be the hardest climb of all — professional elevation means choosing to walk away from something that looks like success on the outside but no longer fits who you are becoming on the inside. I’ve made that choice. It came with anxiety, secondguessing, angst, and fear. But in the end, I let go. And that, too, was a form of rising. True professional elevation isn’t just about achievement — it’s about alignment. It’s about saying: My work matters.
Professional elevation isn’t just about moving up, it can also mean expanding outward and digging deeper. I made it a habit to embrace opportunities beyond my formal roles, even when they weren’t part of the job description. Every experience became a brick in the foundation of my growth. Because while roles may change, the knowledge you gain is yours to keep.
Sometimes professional elevation is about behavior. It’s using your voice in a meeting where you once stayed silent. It’s knowing your worth — not just at the negotiating table — but when you’re questioning if you even belong at that table. And always know – you belong. Don’t underestimate the power you emit when you stand your ground.
Personal Elevation
We spend so much time achieving, producing, and performing that sometimes we forget to check in and ask: How am I, really? Maybe your next level is healing. Maybe it’s learning to say “no” without guilt, or “yes” to joy without explanation. Maybe it’s reconnecting with passions and people. You don’t need to make a major life change to elevate personally. Often, the quietest shifts are the most profound: Choose peace over proving. Choose presence over perfection. And choose yourself; you’re worth it.
Elevation here means wholeness. It means being gentle
Continued on page 9
Rising Together – Professionally, Personally, Spiritually
Continued from page 8
with yourself while still demanding growth. It’s about celebrating who you are now — not just the person you’re striving to become. Elevation isn’t always an action. It’s often the brave choice to rest, reset, and reclaim your energy for what comes next.
Spiritual Elevation
This one is deeply personal, but universally powerful. Because at some point, we all ask: What grounds me? What guides me? What gives me the courage to rise — especially when life feels heavy?
Sometimes it’s that quiet decision to trust — when you don’t have all the answers. It’s the stillness before the next leap. It’s the meditative breath, the inner knowing that you were created not just to survive, but to soar. Spiritual elevation reminds us that our worth isn’t tied to productivity, our bank account, or our titles. It’s the quiet inner knowing that you are being guided — even when the path is not clear. It’s also knowing that you’re not elevating alone. For me, it has always been about recognizing the opportunity when it arises and choosing to take the ride.
Whether you call it faith, purpose, intuition, or divine timing — there is something bigger holding you, calling you forward. And when we tap into that, we elevate with intention.
The Next Level
No matter your age, background, or season of life — there is a next level for you. It may not arrive in the shape or timeline you imagined. But make no mistake — it was made for you. It is uniquely yours to claim, to shape, and to rise into.
And as you rise, remember that you do so with the strength of those who came before you. Victoria’s legacy reminds us that our next level isn’t just about where we’re going — it’s about how we carry others with us. Elevation is a daily decision to stand in your truth, lead with your heart and to rise. Here’s to the climb. And here’s to each of us elevating, together.
Follow us now and share our non-profit Douglass Alumnae page with your friends and associates. Let’s expand the network of supportive women throughout our AADC community and beyond! Scan QR code or click link
www.linkedin.com/company/ douglass-alumnae
Linda Swenton Naselli ‘81, MBA, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Douglass College and an MBA in Finance from Rutgers Business School. She held CEO/COO/CFO positions, building value in businesses positioning for transactions. She retired as CEO of Reliance Vitamins, a mid-cap private equity owned vitamin and supplements manufacturer, where her seven-year tenure resulted in a successful transaction to new ownership. She has served as a member of the AADC Board of Directors and on the Symposium Planning Committee.
You Are the Heart of Our Mission
On this #GivingTuesday Join in Support of the AADC
November 10 through December 2, 2025
Spark a Culture of Generosity that Reflects Our Values
Our alumnae give joyfully and meaningfully in ways that reflect their values, uplift others, and invest in the future of our community.
The Associate Alumnae is a vibrant, intergenerational network of women who uplift one another, grow professionally, and become leaders in their professional, civic and community spheres of influence. We offer purpose and connection through a dynamic, inclusive, and flexible community experience.
The AADC is our own alumnae collective. A group of diverse of women who provide each other with support, guidance, and friendship. It is powered only by our shared financial support. Join in support with a gift at any level or consider becoming a member of the Evergreen Society with a monthly sustaining gift.
We invite you to visit our campaign and tell us what you value about our alumnae community. Scan code.
FALL/WINTER 2025
Associate Alumnae of Douglass College 181 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8557
Information filed with the Attorney General concerning this charitable solicitation and the percentage of contributions received by the charity during the last reporting period that were dedicated to the charitable purpose may be obtained from the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey by calling 973-5046215 and is available on the internet at http://www.state.nj.us/ lps/ca/charfrm.htm. Registration with the Attorney General does not imply endorsement. The official registration and financial information of the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1 (800) 435-7352) within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.
Financial Support Available for Post Graduate Studies
Apply for AADC Alumnae Fellowships
Associate Alumnae of Douglass College Fellowships are awarded annually for post graduate study to graduating Douglass Residential College seniors and/or alumnae. These fellowships are awarded solely for financial support and do not include a service component. Recipients are selected primarily on the
“More than anything, this fellowship has reminded me that I’m not alone and that there’s a community that believes in my potential and wants to see me succeed.”
Ishman Chowdhury ’23, recipient of the Class of 1964 Fellowship
basis of academic achievement or aspirations in chosen field of study, and secondarily, on need. Applicants will be considered for all fellowships for which they are eligible. Application deadlines are March 2, 2026 for alumnae, and June 1, 2026 for DRC seniors. To learn more, please visit our website douglassalumnae. org/fellowships/
C all for N omi N atio N s
Awards Nomination Deadline: February 9, 2026 AADC Society of Excellence Nomination Deadline: April 7, 2026
Do you know an alumna or friend of the AADC deserving of recognition by the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College? Consider submitting an AADC Alumnae Awards Official Nomination Form or an Alumnae Awards Nomination Referral Form to our AADC Alumnae Awards Committee today! Each year, we present the Margaret
T. Corwin Award, Alumnae Recognition Award, AADC Medal, Vanguard Service Award, the Young Alumna Mabel Award and the AADC Society of Excellence Award. Learn more about these distinguished awards and download nominations forms at www.douglassalumnae. org/awards-medals/.
AADC Points of Pride
Associate Alumnae of Douglass College
Alumnae-created: Established in 1922 and incorporated in 1927 as the Associate Alumnae of the New Jersey College for Women.
Our Mission: The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College develops and promotes connections among Douglass alumnae by providing programs, services, networks and lifelong learning opportunities that represent the interests and needs of our diverse alumnae. The AADC provides prudent stewardship of the Douglass Fund and other endowed funds held by the AADC for the benefit of Douglass; distributions from these funds contribute financial support to Douglass and her students.
Alumnae-led: Governed by a 21-member Board of Directors.
Alumnae-driven: Executes its mission with the support of nearly 200 alumnae volunteers.
Develops and promotes connections among more than 40,000 Douglass alumnae worldwide.
Hosts traditional programs such as the Zagoren lecture, the L’Hommedieu Lecture, Alumnae Awards, Associate Alumnae Reunion and Women’s Conference and Benefactor celebration.
Created the Women’s Conference, the Women’s Life-long Learning Initiative with the Douglass Alumnae Mentoring program to connect alumnae Mentors and Mentees, the Victoria Dabrowski Schmidt ’42 Workplace & Professional Development Symposium, free AADC Smart Talks, and book clubs.
Launched the AADC Excellence in Inclusion and Equity Initiative to create the space among Douglass alumnae to discuss the critical conversations needed to address how we can advance equity and inclusion in all areas and for all people; featuring virtual “Removing the Veil on Racism” workshops and discussions.
Provides AADC meetings and events through virtual platforms engaging alumnae and friends everywhere.
Connects through our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube; promotes our brand through three annual publications and digital outreach.
Supports regional groups in New York City, Washington D.C., NC, NJ and FL, with more to come.
Partners with the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC, founders of the New Jersey College for Women.
Connecting for more than 40 years through our longest-standing affinity network, the Black Alumnae Network, and its Jewel Plummer Cobb Sisters Conference.
Conducted three successful capital campaigns that raised nearly $80M.
Administers fellowships for post-graduate studies for Douglass Alumnae and DRC graduating seniors.
The Associate Alumnae is able to offer significant scholarship support to incoming and returning Douglass students.
Organizes fun and informative global travel opportunities for alumnae and friends to visit new places.
Informs alumnae and friends via monthly digital AADC E-news | Publishes Class Notes to connect classmates.
Inducts accomplished alumnae into the prestigious AADC Society of Excellence, some 250 since 1973.
Celebrates AADC’s milestone anniversaries with grand Galas.
Over the past ten years, the AADC and the Douglass Fund have distributed nearly $24.6M to Douglass Residential College including funding for student support, programmatic and significant contributions designated for the AADC-led initiative for the Kathleen W. Ludwig Global Village Living Learning Center.
FALL/WINTER 2025 Here You for AADC Magazine for aluMnae & friends
The Associate Alumnae of Douglass College 181 Ryders Lane | New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8557 www.douglassalumnae.org
The AADC is an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The AADC develops and promotes connections among Douglass alumnae by providing programs, services, networks and life-long learning opportunities that represent the interests and needs of our diverse alumnae. The AADC provides prudent stewardship of the Douglass Fund and other endowed funds held by the AADC for the benefit of Douglass; distributions from these funds contribute financial support to Douglass and her students. www.douglassalumnae.org
