Fall 2006
Welcome
from the Head Dear friends, As a title for the Ashley Hall magazine, Perspectives has never been more appropriate. In this issue we present views of the past, present and future as well as the values that shape the School’s mission, curriculum and its campus. We begin with a retrospective suite of articles about Mary Vardrine McBee, founder and leader of Ashley Hall for a half century. A remarkable woman in any age, her educational, social and moral leadership resulted in astonishing accomplishments and a legacy to Charleston and the Southeast that transcends our school. Miss McBee’s own rigorous academic background, world-wise experience, and spiritual solidity made her uniquely suited for the challenge she set for herself as a college undergraduate: to form a school that rivaled or surpassed all others in preparing young women for higher education and the world. In Ashley Hall Today, we offer a current, concise view of the School, a modern extension of the academic vision enacted by Miss McBee in 1909. Ashley Hall has never been more vital, more diverse, or more in demand than it is today. The heart of the magazine is the unveiling of our new Master Plan, the result of years’ worth of assessment, study and development by the Board of Trustees, administrative leaders, faculty, staff and expert consultants. The outcome of these deliberations is an exciting plan that sustains the McBee vision at its core and positions Ashley Hall for a great leap into its second century. Once completed, the School will be a Jeffersonian “academic village” in its truest sense. The philosophies underlying the new Master Plan are examined in detail in A Community of Purpose, a treatise on the determining influences that guided the architects of Ashley Hall’s future. Elsewhere in this issue are an alumnae update and, lastly, our 2005-2006 Annual Report, two additional perspectives on the Ashley Hall community. Our future, like our past and present, is replete with exhilarating ideas, honored traditions and dedicated people. When I read these articles about our past and prospects, I am reminded of the words of 19th century author James Allen writing in As A Man Thinketh: “Cherish your visions. Cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.” And so we cherish Ashley Hall. Enjoy. Sincerely,
Jill Muti Head of School
Perspectives The magazine of Ashley Hall
EDITOR John Slepetz, Director of Communications
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Nick Bozanic Karen Jenkins Phillips ’79 Susan Robinson ’68
Table of Contents
GRAPHIC DESIGN Julie Frye Design
THE SCHOOL 1 10
Vardrine’s Vision: The Birth of Ashley Hall Ashley Hall Today
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
THE MASTER PLAN
PRESIDENT – Karen Jenkins Phillips ’79 VICE PRESIDENT – Barton A. Proctor SECRETARY – Elizabeth Barone Luzuriaga ’80 TREASURER – Philip L. Horn, Jr.
14 19 25
MEMBERS-AT-LARGE Robert M. Baldwin John C. L. Darby Edward M. Gilbreth Henry B. Gregorie III Brett Hildebrand Helen Turner Hill ’81 Elizabeth Rivers Lewine ’54 Katherine M. Maybank Pamela G. McKinney Kaycee C. Poston Heidi Ward Ravenel ’74 Fred Reinhard Malcolm M. Rhodes Martha Ann Robertson Nella Barkley Schools ’81 Steven D. Swanson Anita Zucker
THE ALUMNAE 36 38 40 41
Planning for the Second Century Design Lanterns A Community of Purpose - The Master Plan Respecting the Roots Where Worlds Collide The Value of Soul-Making Mens Sana In Corpore Sana The Timely and the Timeless The Ashley Hall Woman
Alumnae Activities Alumnae Weekend 2007 Alumnae Weekend Awards Full Circle – Three Generation Celebrate Their Ashley Hall Days Alumnae Profile by Kate Lloyd
TRUSTEES EMERITI Mary Agnes Burnham Hood Martha Rivers Ingram ’53 Patricia T. Kirkland Hugh C. Lane, Jr.
CLASS NEWS
HEAD OF SCHOOL Jill Swisher Muti
49
44
Class News
THE ADVANCEMENT OF ASHLEY HALL 2005-2006 Annual Report
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL, Deanne Lucas Doscher ’79, Elizabeth C. Gordon BUSINESS MANAGER, Deanne Lucas Doscher ’79 UPPER SCHOOL HEAD, Mary Ellen Zeigler MacGregor MIDDLE SCHOOL HEAD, Lois Ruggiero LOWER SCHOOL HEAD, Elizabeth C. Gordon EARLY EDUCATION CENTER HEAD, Dana Van Hook DEAN OF FACULTY, Nick Bozanic COORDINATOR OF FINE ARTS, Judith Yarbrough ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR, Cindy Hay Johnson ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR, Elizabeth Peters ATHLETICS DIRECTOR, Frances Rivers Slay ’80 TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR, John Yarbrough FACILITIES DIRECTOR, Richard Flood
172 Rutledge Avenue Charleston, SC 29403-5821 (843) 965-8482 Fax (843) 965-8461
Ashley Hall is committed to a talented and diverse student population and welcomes students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin.