Senior Director's

Senior Director's Message

Dear Agnes Scott alumnae community,

Two years ago, when I started at Agnes Scott in this role, I was focused on how all of us, as Scotties, could harness our creativity, ingenuity, and courage to ask ourselves this question: How can we do what we do better?

It turned out to be an opportune moment.

We have lived through a time of enormous transition, and the evolving nature of the pandemic provides us with opportunities to do things differently. Our society is grappling with necessary and important questions about structural inequities. Some are questioning the value of a liberal arts education.

Times like these provide moments for us to reflect; we choose to embrace what is essential and timeless with new clarity and intention, or to adjust and change to meet the needs of the day at hand.

Your Alumnae Association leaders have spent the last year doing exactly what the moment required.

We spent the last year in serious reflection and planning for this next chapter in the life of our college. Members of your Alumnae Board looked at the results of our alumnae survey. We listened deeply and participated fully in the formation of the college’s strategic plan, and we came up with one for ourselves.

In this issue of The Onyx, you’ll see the connections we have in every submission of Class News. Two entries in particular — the kind words from Adele McKee ’48 and the very last entry from new colleague and fellow Scottie Tasida Webster ’21 — remind me of how much it means to be a Scottie. Their words capture so beautifully why what we do matters.

Alumnae Association President Whitney Ott and I encourage you to look at our plan to nurture the Scottie alumnae community at this moment. These Alumnae Association leaders — including every member of the Board and every single class secretary - are serving all of us with such passion and dedication. I couldn’t be more honored to serve alongside them.

The biggest take away? We improve by leaning into our connections, our distinct perspectives, and shared traditions. We are better when we are together.

With warmth and gratitude,

Mary Frances Kerr ’93 Senior Director of Alumnae Relations mfkerr@agnesscott.edu