Communiqué 2020

SUMMER 2020

2020 Alumnae

The Only Woman

The Book

Awards

in the Room

Nook

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17 THE BRYN MAWR SCHOOL ALUMNAE MAGAZINE

Communiqué

This is your magazine.

When we set out to redesign Communiqué this year, we wanted it to reflect—and celebrate—the bold voices, lifelong connections and vibrant spirit of Bryn Mawr alumnae. You are a dynamic group of over 3,200 graduates living all over the world and working in every conceivable field. You are leading considered and consequential lives that draw upon your Bryn Mawr education and experiences in ways that continue to unfold with time.

We hope this magazine’s new layout, bright colors and expanded sections (yes, Class Notes are back!) inspire curiosity about the present, nostalgia for the past and excitement for Bryn Mawr’s bright future.

LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL

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Dear Bryn Mawr Alumnae, These are, indeed, unprecedented times. Before you take in this beautifully redesigned issue of your annual alumnae magazine Communiqué, I want to reflect upon how we as a school are living, learning and changing through the historic events of the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement.

For a school that thrives on community, takes pride in our beautiful campus and cherishes tradition, the pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge.

We closed campus in March, transitioned to distance learning and postponed beloved milestones. Just as school was wrapping up, our country witnessed devastating and horrific attacks against Black people, calling us as a nation—and school community—to urgently take action to fight against racism and bigotry.

This has also, however, been a time of incredible collaboration, innovation and compassion. Our community rallied together to identify and act on new opportunities, and to support those in need both within and outside of our immediate circle. While there is more to do, the progress we’ve made, the challenges we’ve overcome and the successes we’ve had are a testament to the strength of the Bryn Mawr community.

Editors

Contributors

ARIELLE AMEGASHIE Assistant Director of Communications

SUE SADLER Head of School

DEBORAH BAUM Senior Director of Communications and Strategic Institutional Marketing DEANNA M. BOYD ’05 Director of Alumnae Engagement

AMY SEAGO Design Manager KIM MORTON Senior Director of Development MEAGHAN WALSH KNAUB ’89 Director of The Fund for Bryn Mawr

EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

As you may know, we started this year with the school-wide theme “Come, Let Us Gather,” intending to celebrate the way Bryn Mawr comes together for learning, sisterhood and fun. We opened the fabulous Student Center and hosted new programs and events across the country. Then, we had to reconsider what gathering really means and were reminded that Bryn Mawr is more than a place. It is a community made up of students, faculty, families and graduates who learn together, grow together and lean on each other every day—even in spirit.

In this issue of Communiqué, I hope you read about and take pride in the way Bryn Mawr students and alumnae are making incredible contributions to the world, and embodying the school mission of living considered and consequential lives. These values are what will ensure the school’s resilience and relevance in times of prosperity and adversity.

BRYN MAWR NEWS

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CLASS IN SESSION

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GOOD TO KNOW

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2020 ALUMNAE AWARDS

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THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM

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SUE SADLER

Head of School

THE BOOK NOOK

RENEE ETZEL Development and Special Events Coordinator

Communiqué is published annually for the Bryn Mawr alumnae community.

PHOTOGRAPHY Patrick Ross Jaime Windon Arielle Amegashie Whitney Wasson Jason Putche

Please send change of address and all other correspondence to the Communications Office, 109 West Melrose Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210 or communications@ brynmawrschool.org.

DESIGN Mission Media

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COLLEGE MATRICULATION

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CLASS NOTES

44 BOLD VOICES

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EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bryn Mawr community found ways to offer help and to lift one another’s spirits during uncertain times.

From an organized effort to 3D print protective healthcare gear to virtual alumnae gatherings and Gym Drill dance parties, the Bryn Mawr network is as strong as ever, even at a distance.

“These unsettling times certainly underscore an important element of Bryn Mawr’s mission statement: resilience in the face of ambiguity, complexity and change. Never has this been more critical.”

Sue Sadler Head of School

EXTRAORDINARY TIMES

Pitching In Amid shortages of critical personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers, Bryn Mawr faculty and students teamed up to 3D print and donate more than 660 face shields. Finley ’31, helping the effort from home, said, “I am happy to help make masks for the doctors and nurses so they can stay healthy when they take care of their patients.” Several students and families, including Julianna Bartlett ’23 (at left), also created hand-sewn cloth masks and uplifting signs for medical workers.

Distance Learning When Bryn Mawr closed for spring break, students and faculty knew it would be some time before they could return to campus. Students at all levels (including Little School infants and toddlers) moved to a Distance Learning program at the end of March, which included a mix of live daily classes and pre-recorded content. Students also continued to meet virtually in clubs, class meetings, small group workshops and even an all-school Spirit Day rally.

Senior Love The school found ways to creatively honor the Class of 2020, whose senior spring was cut short by COVID. Yard signs proclaiming "Class of 2020: Our Spirit Can't be Cancelled" were personally delivered to each student's home. Seniors and their families also celebrated with a spirit parade through campus. A modified graduation ceremony (complete with daisy masks and social distancing) took place on June 26.

Forward March The pandemic didn’t stop the Bryn Mawr community from coming together virtually to commemorate the 116th annual Gym Drill. All-School Captain Gray Purcell ’20 said despite the physical distance and disruption in Gym Drill tradition, she has never felt more connected to Bryn Mawr.

“There is unique power in solidarity, a strength that transcends limitations and gives us the courage to push on in the face of adversity,” she said.

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BRYN MAWR NEWS

Student Center Opens The first day of school also marked the opening of Bryn Mawr’s new Student Center, which added 30,000 square feet of new and refreshed dining areas, common spaces, fitness and changing areas, theater improvements, an airconditioned gym and fantastic outdoor seating.

Mawrtian Athletics

“You have no limits.”

It was a spectacular year for Mawrtian Athletics, despite the heartbreaking cancellation of the entire spring season. Bryn Mawr brought home championship titles in basketball, ice hockey and squash this year, and was the runner-up in cross country and field hockey. Twenty-two school records were shattered by the swim team and another four in indoor track. Fourteen students were named to All-Conference rosters and 12 seniors have signed on to play college-level sports next year. Go Mawrtians!

Those inspiring words were spoken by Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in 1967, during her fall visit to Bryn Mawr. The sports icon spoke to Middle and Upper School students, dropped in on Lower School physical education classes, met with Bryn Mawr cross country runners and sat down for an interview with The Quill.

BRYN MAWR NEWS

Daisy Day The Bryn Mawr community near and far came together for the school’s newest tradition—Daisy Day. Officially celebrated on the last Friday in January, it’s a fun and festive day to show spirit, be of service to the school and inspire others.

Decked out in gold, white and green—and of course, daisy gear—students in each division participated in service projects, while alumnae and friends around the world showed their Bryn Mawr love through a giving day, raising nearly $40,000.

All day long, students and faculty stopped by Daisy Day Headquarters in the Student Center to write notes of thanks to Bryn Mawr’s generous donors.

In the afternoon, the campus community gathered for an assembly to reflect on the day. Head of School Sue Sadler addressed the community, saying “From today forward, I hope that Daisy Day becomes a day of significance in your life —a time each year that you’ll feel connected to the school and the entire Bryn Mawr sisterhood and network that are with you for life!”

As featured speakers during Founders Day, faculty members Dr. Irina SpectorMarks ’04 and Dr. Kimberley Long Riley ’79 recounted their different experiences as Bryn Mawr students and their shared experience now working together on the Bryn Mawr History Project. The alumnae historians have been researching primary sources, conducting oral history interviews and scouring the Bryn Mawr archives for the last three years to help re-examine the school’s past and its evolution to becoming a more equitable institution.

Dr. Spector-Marks shared that the Bryn Mawr she graduated from is fundamentally different from the Bryn Mawr of today.

“What is exciting about Founders Day is that we are reminded of that ever-changing history of the school and we are invited to take part in the process of change,” she said.

A Bold Voice for Climate Change Senior Trinity Eimer (center) took the lead on organizing Baltimore students in the Global Climate Strike in September 2019.

Eimer helped fundraise, arrange permits and lead hundreds of local students in the rally to demand political action. “I want to use my voice and do whatever I can to make a difference so my generation can have a future to look forward to,” said Trinity.

Former Headmistress Barbara Landis Chase waves to students as a special guest during Founders Day.

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virtual

CLASS IN SESSION Course:

Graphic Novels: Literature of Identity Teacher: Leslie Jansen, Ph.D. As a young child, Upper School English teacher Leslie Jansen aspired to be a cartoonist. Her animal drawings even won a few local contests. As she grew up, her interests shifted to a deep love of reading. Her realization that visual depictions could also be considered real literature came in college. Reading Art Spiegelman’s Maus “showed me that educated people read graphic novels, and they aren’t just a watered-down form of a standard novel,” Jansen said.

In the senior elective “Graphic Novels: Literature of Identity,” Jansen’s class explores how art is used to construct narratives and develop characters. They cover often-complex topics, such as the Holocaust, slavery, racism, homophobia and war. Jansen enjoys the way graphic novels engage students in really important issues. “Students are interested in the comic form, but have to stay for the serious conversations,” she quipped.

Students say they appreciate the way they are encouraged to create their own thoughts and interpretations of the texts, and the way Ms. Jansen focuses on technical aspects of graphic novels.

“From previous English classes, we’re used to picking apart words—dialogue and narration come easily to us. But graphic novels have their own language, and she reminds us of that,” said Lex Miller ’20.

As for this year’s transition to distance learning, Jansen says there are some benefits to online classes, but it’s tough to replicate the true human-to-human experience. “I’m grateful that we have Zoom, but nothing can substitute sitting together around a Harkness table.”

Required Reading

The Arrival Shaun Tan

“The books we read...helped me gain a new sense of the versatility of literature.”

Persepolis I Marjane Satrapi

Kindred

Octavia Butler & John Jennings

Lexi Redrick ‘20

Understanding Comics Scott McCloud

CLASS IN SESSION

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LET’S DISH

Purchase The Alumnae Association Cookbook for $18 by emailing: bmscookbook2016@ gmail.com.

LET’S DISH With Raven Brown ’18

We all know food brings people together.

Raven Brown ’18 is a chef-at-heart and shares one of her favorite recipes with the Bryn Mawr community, near and far.

BANG BANG SHRIMP TACOS

What You'll Need

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Yield: 10 tacos, serves 4–6

back into the marinade. Finally, dip shrimp back into the flour mixture and place on a cooling rack. Once all shrimp are breaded, place a sheet pan in a preheated 200°F oven for 5 minutes.

Directions

It’s frying time! When the oil is hot enough for frying, place a handful of shrimp into frying pan. Separate shrimp to ensure they don’t stick together and flip after 2 ½ minutes.

Fry until golden brown on both sides.

Bang bang... sauce! Combine mayonnaise, Sriracha and Thai sweet chili in a bowl. Whisk ingredients until thoroughly combined.

Onto homemade buttermilk. Combine heavy cream, milk, lemon juice and melted butter in another bowl.

Whisk and let rest for 5 minutes.

Will you marinate me? Yes! Marinate peeled and deveined shrimp in buttermilk along with Old Bay, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder and kosher salt for at least 20 minutes.

Prepare your breading mixture. Combine flour and cornstarch in a bowl along with Old Bay, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder and kosher salt.

Bread that shrimp! Dip shrimp into flour mixture with an even, thin layer, then dip

Make it drain! Place shrimp onto paper towels to drain excess oil.

Too much sauce. Put some Bang Bang sauce to the side to drizzle atop the tacos. With the remaining sauce, place shrimp in the bowl and toss lightly until all are coated.

Tacos...assemble! Place cabbage, sour cream and a dash of salt and pepper in a bowl. Lightly toast tortillas, then fill with a handful of cabbage, shrimp and drizzle with more sauce. Garnish with radishes, parsley and cilantro.

Squeeze fresh lime juice to finish!

For the Sauce: ▫ 1 cup of mayonnaise ▫ 1 tbsp of Sriracha sauce ▫ 1 tbsp of Thai sweet chili sauce For the Shrimp: ▫ 1 pound of fresh or frozen large shrimp ▫ 2 tsp of Old Bay ▫ 2 tsp of black pepper ▫ 1 tsp of garlic powder ▫ 1 tsp of paprika ▫ 1 tsp of onion powder ▫ 1⁄4 tsp of kosher salt ▫ 1⁄2 cup of all-purpose flour ▫ 1⁄2 cup of cornstarch ▫ 1 cup of heavy cream ▫ 1⁄2 cup of milk ▫ 1 tsp of lemon juice ▫ 1 tbsp of melted butter ▫ 4 cups of vegetable oil For Serving: ▫ Roughly chopped fresh parsley ▫ Roughly chopped cilantro ▫ 10 taco-sized flour tortillas ▫ Thinly sliced radishes ▫ 3 cups of shredded cabbage ▫ 1 cup of sour cream ▫ 1 lime Cut along the lines for your grocery list

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GOOD TO KNOW

Jen Yeagle ’97

With the current state of the world, planning anything these days can seem daunting, especially when it comes to finances.

Luckily, Allison Brill ’95, P ’27, P ’33, vice president and senior wealth strategist at Hawthorn PNC Family Wealth, and Jennifer Sheff Yeagle ’97, P ’27, P ’30, trusts and estates attorney at Gordon Feinblatt, have teamed up to share advice on how to make smart money moves and plan for your financial future at any age. Here, they’ve compiled their expertise into a top five list of finance and estate planning tips and tricks.

1. ASK YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR GUIDANCE. Don’t have one? Ask for a recommendation from your bank or the institution where you have a retirement account through work. An advisor can help you understand how to set goals and develop expectations as financial and other markets fluctuate. Help is only a phone call away.

2. DEVELOP A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR PERSONAL RISK TOLERANCE AS IT RELATES TO INVESTMENTS IN YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT AND OTHER INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS.

Allison Brill ’95

Risk management strategies will differ from person to person and family to family. Consider your short and long term goals and remember your personal performance needs may be different from others around you. What level of risk are you comfortable with? Comparing your returns to those around you may not be helpful. When you hear someone talk about high returns, think about the strategy behind those goals. Does it fit your personal investment style and goals? You may be able to achieve your financial goals without taking on as much risk. Always ask “why” and “what does this do for my goals” when introduced to something new, such as an investment or insurance-based strategy.

3. REVIEW YOUR BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS AND HOW YOUR ASSETS ARE TITLED. Life insurance and retirement accounts are transferred by beneficiary designation and not by your will. Jointly-held assets pass automatically by operation of law to the survivor. Make sure

GOOD TO KNOW

the way your assets transfer at death is coordinated with your estate plan and that you understand what it means for assets to pass outside of your will or a trust by beneficiary designation or titling.

4. REVIEW YOUR ESTATE PLAN OR, IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE, CREATE ONE. Everyone should have an estate plan, no matter how big or small the estate or net worth. It is important to say where you want your property to go when you die and to designate the appropriate people to handle your affairs. Do not rely on state law to make the decisions for you (it may not say what you think it does). It is also important to plan for your incapacity—who will speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself ? Who will make financial decisions? Who will make health care decisions?

Do those individuals know what you would want? If you have estate planning documents, review them and make sure they still say what you want. If you don’t have them, talk to an estate planning attorney about a will (or revocable trust), powers of attorney for financial matters and health care and living will.

Ask your financial advisor.

Understand your personal risk tolerance.

5. IT’S NEVER TOO SOON TO START SAVING! For recent college graduates, start small but start the habit early.

Does your employer match contributions to a 401(k) type account?

Take advantage of “free” money to amplify what you can save.

“2020 has presented us with many challenges. With the current state of the world, it’s easy to panic, but take a deep breath and try to stay calm.”

Review your beneficiary designations.

Review or create your estate plan.

It’s never too soon to start saving!

Jen & Allison

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2020 ALUMNAE AWARD WINNERS Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were

We held virtual alumnae Zooms and

unable to gather for Alumnae Weekend

a Gym Drill with just as much spirit

2020. While it was disappointing not being

as in years past. We look forward to

together to welcome our alumnae home, the

celebrating with all our alumnae next

Bryn Mawr community rallied to celebrate

year. Mark your calendars now for

milestones, traditions and sisterhood, and

April 30 through May 1, 2021! Read

to redefine what gathering really means.

more about this year's award winners.

The Distinguished Alumna Award The Distinguished Alumna Award is given to an alumna who embodies the highest ideals of the school through her professional or volunteer commitments.

This year’s recipient, Phoebe Kilby ’70, lives Bryn Mawr’s commitment to diversity and inclusion every day. Kilby dedicated her life to working for racial justice, healing and reconciliation between white and Black people in the U.S., after discovering in late 2006 that her ancestors were slave owners. She also discovered a cousin, Betty Kilby Baldwin, a descendant of the people her family once enslaved. Since that time, Kilby has become a leader in the Coming to the Table organization, which seeks to bring the sons of former slave owners and slaves together. Kilby has led workshops and dialogues on racial reconciliation, and uses her bold voice to work towards creating a more equitable and just world for all. Pictured at left are Betty Kilby Baldwin and Phoebe Kilby ’70.

2020 ALUMNAE AWARDS

Senior Alumna Award This year’s Senior Alumna Award is presented to Marka Danielle Fedder Rodgers ’75 for her ability to live out Bryn Mawr’s mission statement and remain resilient in the face of complexity, ambiguity and change. Rodgers suffered a devastating car accident that left her with incomplete paraplegia. A seasoned dance instructor, Rodgers did not miss a beat and continued to lead her ballet classes from her wheelchair. In 2016, she became the first wheelchair user to ever walk Charleston’s famous Cooper River Bridge Run, a 6.2 mile race, using a bendable leg brace. She also started the Purple Legs UP campaign, which raises money for the Roper Rehabilitation Hospital’s Center for Spinal Cord Injury.

Rodgers works to increase understanding and awareness for the challenges people with physical disabilities face.

The Young Alumna Award The Young Alumna Award is presented to Radhika Prabhu ’00 (center). Prahbu is the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary on Women’s Empowerment at the U.S. Department of State. Prabhu is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and co-founder of the India Research Group, a think tank founded to identify policy solutions that support inclusive and broad-based development in India.

In addition to her many accomplishments, she is an active volunteer for Bryn Mawr, serving as a guest speaker for several events, leading student workshops and hosting students at the State Department.

The Anne Edmunds Croker ’58 Alumnae Service Award Joyce Kuhns ’75 (left, pictured with campaign co-chairs Henry Thomas P ’04, P ’06, P ’09 and Lexie Bozzuto Greene ’95, P ’25), this year’s recipient of The Anne Edmunds Croker ’58 Alumnae Service Award, always goes above and beyond for Bryn Mawr. Kuhns is serving her third term on Bryn Mawr’s Board of Trustees and presently holds the leadership position of vice-chair of the Executive Committee. She served on the campaign steering committee that led the This is Our Way Campaign, raised over $21 million and created Bryn Mawr’s new Student Center. Kuhns is a Principal in the Baltimore Office of Offit Kurman. She embodies alumnae engagement and being of service to the school.

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THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM Shirley Chisholm once said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Like Chisholm, the first woman to appear in a U.S. presidential debate and African American woman elected to congress, Bryn Mawr women stand out from the pack. They are unafraid to use their bold voices to claim a seat at the table, even if they might be the only woman present.

Margeaux Watson ’94 and Allison Daniels ’08 share how they found success in often male-dominated fields, and what it’s like to sometimes be the only woman in the room.

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Margeaux Watson ’94 Vice President of Marketing at Epic Records, West Hollywood, California As the Vice President of Marketing for Epic Records, Margeaux Watson knows a lot about being in the room where it happens. From overseeing marketing for some of the biggest names in music—The Black Eyed Peas, Miley Cyrus, Erykah Badu, Meghan Trainor, Khalid, Harry Styles and more—to interviewing A-list celebrities including Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Rihanna during her time as a music journalist, Watson has had a seat at the table where big decisions and careers are made.

Watson attended Columbia University after graduating from Bryn Mawr in 1994. After college, she earned accolades writing for publications like Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone, among others. Before joining Epic Records in 2012, she led marketing teams at Universal Motown Records and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Throughout her career, Watson has led strategic artist marketing campaigns that have resulted in dozens of Grammy nominations, number one albums, and billions of streams and video views for the world’s top artists. In her current position, she works as a top executive at the intersection of music, technology, media and marketing.

ON BEING THE ONLY WOMEN IN THE ROOM:

Watson poses with Chance the Rapper

“It’s definitely a boys' club, but I’ve successfully navigated it for more than two decades by aligning myself with hugely influential mentors—both male and female—who have opened doors for me and helped me chart my unique career path. I also cannot put a price tag on the value of my Bryn Mawr education.

Without it, there’s no way I would be where I am today.

Beyond giving me the courage to speak up and voice my opinion, I took Creative Writing in 12th grade, taught by Susan Smith. Ms. Smith made me feel like I had a special talent that I shouldn’t take for granted.

With her encouragement, I did my Senior Project at Baltimore Magazine—it was a hugely transformative experience that launched me on my career path.”

ON BEING A FEMALE EXECUTIVE OF COLOR: “There’s a tendency for Black executives to only work with Black acts, so as an African American

THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM

executive, it’s always been important for me to demonstrate that I am capable of working with artists of all genres. From overseeing all of Meghan Trainor’s marketing for her first two albums to managing campaigns for the Chainsmokers and Camila Cabello, I’ve jumped at every opportunity to avoid being pigeonholed as an ‘urban’ executive and prevent my career advancement from being limited by race.”

ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY: “The music industry is more

“It’s definitely a boys' club, but I’ve successfully navigated it.”

Margeaux Watson ‘94

than a career, it’s a hectic lifestyle that includes lots of early mornings, late nights, brutal red eye flights, difficult personalities and fragile egos. It is incredibly exciting, no two days are ever the same, and you never know where the day will take you or where you will rest your head at night. My favorite part of the job is helping artists make their dreams come true and witnessing their lives change right before my eyes.”

Allison Daniels ’08 Investment Director for Virgin Management Limited, New York City, New York Allison Daniels says she knew she would love working in the business world ever since her time at Emory University. She interned at J.P. Morgan’s investment bank during college and joined the investment team after graduation. In 2014, she joined the Virgin Group, where she is responsible for investing Sir Richard Branson’s capital in consumerfacing businesses in North America and growing the Virgin Group portfolio, primarily in the travel, leisure, health and wellness spaces. Daniels has also helped build new Virgin-branded businesses from the ground up, including Virgin America and Virgin Voyages. Today, Daniels says it is rewarding to watch the evolution of her projects from a blank sheet of paper to fully operating companies.

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ON HOLDING HER OWN IN A MALEDOMINATED CAREER: "In my experience,

investments tend to be a very male-dominated field. I was the only woman on a 10-person team at J.P. Morgan, and I found the finance and banking classes at Emory to be male-dominated as well, so I’m well-versed in being surrounded by men at this point. My experience in shared classes at Gilman helped me learn to navigate situations with few women because Bryn Mawr gave me a strong foundation. I was able to carry that to college and find confidence in my technical and communication skills, which enables me to be comfortable holding my own—regardless of who else is in the room."

ON THE KEY TO SUCCESS: “My boss once told

me, ‘knowing the information well is irrelevant if you can’t communicate it effectively to other people,’ so communication is a huge part of my job. The skills that I learned in public speaking class at Bryn Mawr, practicing my convocation and researching and writing papers, gave me the tools to communicate effectively with my team and external partners. To this day, my sister and I exchange ‘Thank you Bryn Mawr!’ texts when we have a big presentation coming up."

“My experience in shared classes at Gilman helped me learn to navigate situations with few women because Bryn Mawr gave me a strong foundation.”

Allison Daniels ‘08

THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM

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THE BOOK NOOK

Allison meets with Sir Richard Branson

THE BOOK NOOK With Anne Gardiner Perkins ’77

Q: MY FAVORITE PLACE TO READ IS… In bed before I go to sleep at night, because that’s how I like to end my day. On really selfindulgent mornings, I read a chapter before I get up.

Q: WHAT’S YOUR MUST-HAVE SNACK WHEN WRITING? English breakfast tea, milk, no sugar. My son Mac once asked how many cups I drink a day. 'You don’t want to know,' I told him.

Q: WHAT BOOKS ARE ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? I just finished Geraldine Brooks’ Year of Wonders, a novel about a British town that was quarantined during the bubonic plague. The book has become far more relevant than it was when I started it! Next up, Charles Frazier’s Varina.

Anne Gardiner Perkins ’77 is an award-winning author and historian. A Yale graduate herself, Perkins wrote Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules at an Ivy League Giant, to highlight the stories of the first women to attend the university. Described by The New York Times as, “a lively and engaging account of the college’s first class of female students,” Yale Needs Women highlights the strength, resilience and courage of women whose stories continue to resonate today. Fresh off her book tour, Perkins gives Communiqué a peek into what’s on her bookshelf and up next in her queue.

MY TOP 5:

Respect

Aretha Franklin

Q: A SHOW YOU CAN’T HELP BUT BINGE WATCH? I’m on season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Midge Maisel and her manager Susie are both so funny, and who doesn’t like to laugh at the end of the day? I also like how they are such unique female characters figuring out how to negotiate a world where women don’t play the roles that they have chosen for themselves.

Q: DO YOU READ THE BOOK OR WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST? I’m a reader, so the book always comes first. You are always going to get so much more of the story in the book, for one thing, and I like to see the author’s vision of the main characters and themes before I see how they’ve been translated by the screenwriter, director and actors.

Q: A BOOK YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN AND WHY? I admire books that changed the national conversation and in doing so, prodded us to be a more just and decent country. Quite a few come to mind: Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, Susan Brownmiller’s Against Our Will, John Hersey’s Hiroshima, Sinclair Lewis’ The Jungle, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Q: YOU CAN INVITE THREE CHARACTERS FROM A BOOK, DEAD OR ALIVE, TO A DINNER PARTY. WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Shirley Chisholm— who are all, of course, the subjects of biographies rather than characters. They each have so much to teach about persistence, vision and courage, and it would be a gift to listen in to their conversation with one another.

Songs from my Yale Needs Women Spotify playlist

Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell

Ohio

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

I’ll Take You There

The Staple Singers

America the Beautiful Ray Charles

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CONGRATULATIONS,

COLLEGE MATRICULATION

CLASS OF 2020!

The Class of 2020 stands together for a socially-distant photo before Graduation on June 26, 2020.

Not pictured: Hui Huang, Weiyi Fu, Bingsen Niu, Ruijie Yang, Lila Sachs Zemil and Yu Zhang.

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THE DOOR TO THE FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN Congratulations to the Class of 2020! Students painted the wall of the Senior Room (pictured above) with the logos of the 80 colleges and universities they will attend next year. A complete list can be found on the following page. A school name with an asterisk signifies that more than one student is attending. See where they're going!

COLLEGE MATRICULATION

Barnard College

Mount Holyoke College*

Bennington College

New York University

Bentley University

Northeastern University*

Boston College*

Northwestern University

Boston University

Notre Dame of Maryland University

The Catholic University of America

Pennsylvania State University

Clemson University

Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Berks

Colby College* Colgate University*

Rice University*

College of Charleston

Rochester Institute of Technology

Columbia University in the City of New York

Smith College Trinity College

Cornell University

Tufts University*

Dartmouth College*

The University of Alabama

Davidson College

University of California, San Diego

Denison University

The University of Chicago

Dickinson College

University of Delaware

Drexel University

University of Maryland, College Park*

Emerson College

University of Miami

Franklin and Marshall College

University of Notre Dame*

The George Washington University

University of Rochester

Georgetown University*

University of San Diego

Grinnell College

The University of Tampa

Haverford College

University of Virginia*

Indiana University, Bloomington

Vanderbilt University

Johns Hopkins University*

Washington University in St Louis*

Kenyon College

Widener University

Loyola University Maryland

William and Mary

Macalester College

Yale University

Miami University, Oxford 20

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CLASS NOTES Class Notes are back! We hope you enjoy reading updates from your classmates and friends. To submit a Class Note for the next issue, visit brynmawrschool.org/classnotes.

1930s 1932 ELEANOR REIFSNIDER RIGGS ‘32 passed away in November, weeks shy of her 106th birthday. Known by her classmates, family and friends as “Snookie,” she was an adventurous traveler and assisted her husband in their cattle-raising operation. Active in the Baltimore community, Eleanor was a member of the Friends of the American Wing at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Maryland Historical Society. Perhaps owing to the emphasis on physical fitness at Bryn Mawr, she continued to exercise into her late 90s. As described in her obituary, “When a guest at her retirement community knocked

CLASS NOTES

on her door at Brightwood and received no answer, he went to the front desk to inquire about her. A receptionist said, ‘Mrs. Riggs? Oh yes! I just saw her heading to the gym!’

Eleanor loved Gym Drill and returned to Bryn Mawr each May to lead the Banner March, an honor reserved for the school’s oldest living alumna.

1939 NANCY TALIAFERRO SMITH ’39 regaled fellow alumnae Libby Bagley Gerlach ’44, Mary Waters Niles Shepley ’49, Maggie Farrand ’05, Amy Daniels ’10 and Head of School Sue Sadler with memories of her years at Bryn Mawr at an alumnae luncheon in Newton, MA.

1940s 1940 NANNIE MITCHELL KOPPELMANKOPPER ‘40, mother of Lucy Koppelman Saunder ’63, Elizabeth Koppelman White ’66 and Grace Koppelman Drown ’76 and step-mother to Lula B. Kopper ’67 passed away in February. Nannie was an avid sports enthusiast and sailor, once competing in the US Figure Skating national championships. She played tennis until her early 80s and for many years sailed on the Chesapeake Bay out of Gibson Island. Nannie spent 27 years supporting the work of Planned Parenthood, first as a volunteer and later as staff.

She was one of Bryn Mawr’s most devoted alumnae, serving

as the secretary for the Class of 1940 until her death.

1941 MARY RAGAN WEBSTER ‘41 passed away in April. Mary, known as “Polly,” was part of the transformation of 1950s rural Potomac, MD into today’s vibrant community.

She was one of the founders of the Potomac Almanac newspaper, a founding member of a women’s garden club in Potomac and chair of the board of Homemaker Services, a charity that provided assistance to low-income families in Washington, DC.

Fun fact about Polly: she was good friends with classmate Scottie Fitzgerald, daughter of author F. Scott Fitzgerald.

LUCY BRADY FARRAR ‘41 passed away in March. She is survived by her sisters Virginia Brady Calkins ’42 and Emita Brady Hill ’53. Lucy was a thirteenyear girl at Bryn Mawr. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin and later received a Masters Degree and Teaching Certificate in Early

Childhood Education from Southern CT State University.

Lucy was one of the founders of the Community Nursery School in Guilford, CT and the first teacher in the Guilford Headstart Program. She later worked for many years in the Guilford Public Schools.

Lucy loved her family, music, dogs, hiking, traveling and all children. She and her husband, Bill, traveled the world with friends and family, hiking in France, Italy and Nepal, among other countries.

1942 ALICE IGLEHART MCADAMS ‘42 passed away in March. As a student at Bryn Mawr, Alice was a member of the basketball team and served as president of the student government. She attended Smith College and received a degree in English.

Alice’s love of literature and reading remained constant throughout her life. Even as her eyesight worsened, technology helped her continue to read and, finally, to listen to books.

HARRIET SAYRE NOYES ‘42 passed away in October.

She and her husband, Dick, spent their married life in Connecticut. Harriet was an active volunteer in Hartford where she served over thirty years as Director of the Volunteers in the Continuing Care Unit at Hartford Hospital.

music at Hollins College where she majored in piano.

While at Hollins, she began corresponding with her roommate’s brother, Bob, who was stationed in Europe during World War II. Upon his return, Mary and Bob married in 1947.

NANCY MAYNARD NORRIS ‘43, mother of Laura Norris ’80, passed away in August. After graduating from Bryn Mawr, she trained as a medical stenographer. Throughout her life, she was actively engaged in community and volunteer work. While living in Baltimore, she volunteered with the WISH (Women in Self Help) organization, the Fresh Air Fund and the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, among others. In 1981 Nancy and her husband Allan moved to Dorset, Vermont where they opened a bed and breakfast.

1944 VIRGINIA BAIRD HUNDLEY ‘44 passed away in September.

After Bryn Mawr, Virginia, known by her classmates as “Bunnie,” attended Smith College. During World War II she worked with the OSS in Washington, DC.

1943 MARY CHISOLM MOUNTCASTLE ‘43 passed away in November.

As a student at Bryn Mawr, Mary was president of the glee club and played piano for morning prayers. She continued her study of

Please note that entries shaded in gold represent deceased alumnae.

We honor their memories here.

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ALMA TOY MARTIEN ‘44, mother of Kathy Martien Sullivan ’74, passed away in January.

After college, Alma, known as “Bunny,” returned to Baltimore and worked as an assistant to the dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering, and later was an assistant to university president Lowell Reed. In 1954, she married Bill Martien, a Baltimore real estate executive and developer. Civically engaged, Bunny was an active member of the Women’s Civic League of Baltimore, a member of the English Speaking Union and a patron of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. A benefactor and also a trustee of Bryn Mawr for more than a decade, Bunny received the Anne Edmunds Croker ’58 Alumnae Service Award in 2004.

1945 Mother of Lee Finney Bleser ’77, JUNE EAGER FINNEY ‘45, passed away in May. After graduating from college, June returned to Bryn Mawr to teach. She and her husband, Dr. William H.M. Finney lived in Durham, NC for a period before returning to Baltimore in 1960. Back in Baltimore, June became a co-owner of Ruxton Fabrics Ltd. She was also actively engaged in the community, developing the Union Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board, serving on the vestry at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer and serving as the President of the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association.

HELEN DUKER HUBBARD ‘45, remembered by family and friends as a world traveler, lifelong learner and avid hiker and canoeist, died of ovarian cancer in December.

CLASS NOTES

FRANCES EDMUNDS REMER ‘45, an artist and patron of the arts, passed away in October. While Frankie did not graduate from Bryn Mawr, her connection remained strong as several of her nieces attended.

1948 ELIZABETH CARROLL HOLLYDAY ‘48, mother of Lissie Hollyday Flanagan ’77, passed away in November. Elizabeth, known by her classmates as “Bette,” spent her life working as a fine art conservator. After earning an art history degree from Goucher College, she worked closely with the founding head of the conservation department at the Walters Art Museum.

Bette also worked with the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art on restoration and conservation work. A tennis player during her student days at Bryn Mawr, Bette continued to play throughout her life.

1949 CAREW COTTON LEE ‘49, sister of Nancy Cotton Swindell ’53, passed away in May 2019. In addition to her professional work in real estate sales, Carew was actively involved in her local community. A former regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, she served as chair of the association’s development committee and presided over the expansion of the Mount Vernon Inn complex and restoration efforts. She was also a founding member of the Women’s Committee of the Walters Art Museum and served on the board of the Johns Hopkins Women’s Committee.

1950s 1950 Great-niece of M. Carey Thomas, MARY LOUISE CAREY FABER ‘50, mother of Georgie Smith ’72, Deirdre Smith ’78 and Marnie Smith ’73, passed away in October. A member of the Class of 1950, Mary played tennis, field hockey, lacrosse and basketball while at Bryn Mawr. After college she received a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She was among the first women attorneys to be hired by the firm Semmes, Bowen & Semmes. Later in her career she established a practice in Wilkes-Barre, PA specializing in employment law and women’s discrimination issues.

CHICKIE LOWE WHITCOMBE ‘50 writes, “I now have five great-grandchildren, thanks to Chris (my son Blake’s oldest) and Jodie. It is a very busy time when we all get together and I love it!”

1952 Upper School singers from Dayseye enjoyed meeting CAROLYN OLIVER FRAISER ’52 when they performed at her retirement community in March. Carolyn regaled the current students with stories of her days at Bryn Mawr including how she took a train to school each morning from Harford County.

Club of America, Sandra was a sustaining member of the Amateur Gardeners Club, a member of the Maryland Historical Society, Walters Art Museum and Colonial Dames of America.

1956 Carolyn poses with members of Dayseye.

1953 HALLIE STITH HOWELL ‘53 passed away in January. A civic leader in her adopted hometown of Buffalo, NY, Hallie played a key role in the approval of city development projects throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Hallie also served as the director of the Health Systems Agency of Western New York and as co-chair of the Transportation Subcommittee of the Greater Buffalo Development Foundation, where she helped create a countywide mutual aid arrangement for snowplowing.

1954 JEAN STEIN KOUWENHOVEN ‘54 passed away from pancreatic cancer in November. Jean, known by her classmates as “Sandra,” was an expert horticulturist who enjoyed propagating and collecting exotic plants, trees and shrubs, which she planted in her garden. For her work, she received the Clarissa Willemsen Horticulture Propagation Award from the Garden Club of America, of which she was a member. In addition to her work with the Garden

Staying put at home hasn’t been difficult for HELEN BOWDOIN ‘56, so far. Still living in the same house near Walden Pond for nearly fifty years, she and her husband Nick Reinhardt are grateful for their long walks right from their back door. Last year she self-published a memoir, In No Time at All: A Remembrance of Place and Family. She has extra copies, so let her know if you’d like one. Free and with pictures! You can reach her at hmbowdoin@comcast.net.

Helen’s now working with the Thoreau Farm Trust to establish a one mile trail that will lead from Concord’s Minuteman National Park across fields and wetlands to connect with the house where Thoreau was born. The fun part has been finding everyone so enthusiastic. The not-sofun part will be fundraising, but she’s working with a determined group of friends.

Helen is in touch with some of her Baltimore classmates, but misses seeing them and hopes to come down for a reunion. She’s enjoyed being in touch with Mary Waters Niles Shepley ’49 and Gerry Wolfe Clark ’49, both in the Class of 1949 with her late sister Connie Bowdoin ’49.

Sarah ’89. Mary is a Trustee Emerita of Bryn Mawr.

Never one to give up so much invaluable work, our talented classmate has, for over 15 years, also been a trustee of the Enoch Pratt Library as well as a trustee of the Sheridan Foundation. The Sheridan Foundation helps independent schools, as well as the arts.

Alongside these activities, Mary, previously on the Vestry of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, is now on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

BOBBIE TRAEGER EINSPRUCH ‘56 and her husband are still living in Dallas where they are both enjoying retirement. After more than 20 years of volunteer work, Bobbie, who for many years bred Norwich terriers, is in good enough health to still enjoy the remaining one in that breed. During this pandemic she is fortunate enough to love cooking and gardening.

Bobbie’s daughter Julia and Julia’s husband live in New York with two children and her son Robert and his wife are in California with three girls.

Another son, Alex, has one young child and lives in Dallas.

BOBBIE AND TINA BOULTON QUITASOL ‘56 attended the memorial service of classmate Joan Crutchfield Pfouts ’56 in 2017. Bobbie shared, “Joan was a quiet person whom we did not know well, so it was especially good to be reminded by her family of what we did remember— her loving nature and her warmth as well.”

MARY HUNDLEY DEKUYPER ‘56 is still living in her childhood home with her daughter

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Until recently, PEGGY MOCK OBRECHT ‘56 has continued her teaching in an underserved Baltimore school. With the quarantine now in place, she misses her work teaching art and reading to eight developmentally disabled boys and girls. She’s also missing her work as a chaplain at Hopkins and looks forward to returning to both. At home, she’s been writing a memoir for her children, and enjoys reaching out and keeping in touch with her classmates.

hope!) stopped having lunch with valued ex-colleagues from the National Science Foundation. She thinks of BMS with affection.

TINA BOULTON QUITASOL ‘56 has been back living in Baltimore for about three years now. She and Wendy are living in her parent’s home and Tina is happily working in the garden. Her oldest granddaughter graduated from high school last year and received a full ride to a college in Oneonta, New York.

Additionally, she shares, “I am now working outside (since we ‘older’ people are not allowed out of the house and yard because of the coronavirus!).

Trying to get it done so I can sit back and do my quilting etc. without feeling guilty! I got a valentine from an eighth or ninth grade BMS student which really made me feel good about OUR times and the memories we still hold dear for our days at BMS!”

2. Take whipped cream and put it on top of the coffee.

ELLIE THOMAS ‘56 lives in PA, near her extended family’s old summer house (meaning no heat and no water in the winter), for which she is the sole caretaker. She says that means the caretaking is educational, but kind of half-baked. Ellie enjoys woodworking in the garage there, and loves joining the next generations (4th and 5th) in timeless games.

She has temporarily (we all

CLASS NOTES

ELEANOR ZELL WEAVER ‘56 has recently moved to Blakehurst, a retirement community in Baltimore. Eleanor brought with her a favorite coffee recipe, known as Weaver Coffee, which Blakehurst now offers all of its residents as a treat. Here’s the recipe: 1. Any coffee will do.

3. Drizzle chocolate sauce on top of the whipped cream.

4. Drink it.

5. Weigh yourself and if you have put on no extra weight, you are able to have the drink again at your next meal.

friends and this is a great place to live. Our classmate Sally Swindell Rinehart ’58 has been quite ill for sometime and is bedridden in the Health Center at Westminster Canterbury, the retirement community where she and Jack live.”

1959 ANNE VANDEGRIFT BARKER ‘59 sends greetings from Columbia, MD “where the sky is blue and white, the wine is good and the children and their parents are in quarantine. While all cozied up, I send my thoughts back to the fabulous trip my significant other and I took to Antarctica in December. But my sorrow comes from not being able to visit Rosalie Oster Kerr ’59 and Ann “Pandy” Shoemaker Wyman ’59 in Massachusetts due to what is now happening.”

1958

SILVINE MARBURY FARNELL ‘59 writes, “In 2018, having noticed some deterioration in my memory, I moved into a continuing care retirement community in Boulder, where I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of two poetry groups, giving lectures on Seamus Heaney and Tracey K. Smith and teaching ESL. COVID-19 has of course disrupted all that, but I am deeply grateful to be where I am well taken care of, and where there is a park with a pond right across the street where I can walk every day.”

ANNE EDMUNDS CROKER ‘58 reports that all is well in Charlottesville. She writes, “I’m involved in an organization called One Virginia to fight gerrymandering through new legislation proposed to the state legislature. I have no family here and I still miss Baltimore and old friends there, but Doug and I have made new

CAROL WILSON GARVEY ‘59 believes that “the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to some permanent changes in the way we all live after the acute issues are resolved. As remote learning becomes routine for school children, there will be no need for snow days, so the school calendars will be much more dependable. For

1957 JEAN M. GISRIEL ‘57 passed away in January at her home in Pennsylvania.

A retired educator, Jean held a master’s degree in psychology and education from Boston University. She was an active member of Central Presbyterian Church in Chambersburg, PA.

now, however, my 11th grade grandson’s SATs were canceled, as were all of his college visits.

If the mobility limits persist, choosing and being chosen by colleges will become a lot more difficult. Happily, my son has changed from office medicine to telemedicine and intends to make the change permanent. Obviously it changes the nature of the doctor-patient relationship, but it is much safer for him in his immunocompromised state.

Tommy and I are okay, so far.”

Carol also shared that she found a long-lost cousin and classmate, Dabney Depkin Blaine ’59 through 23andMe genetic testing. Dabney was in the Class of 1959 in Primary School and left Baltimore with her father when he remarried. Carol visited with her in Florida in February and loved reconnecting.

During the pandemic, MADELINE MUECKE ’59 continues to see clients through teletherapy. She also enjoys playing with her toy poodle mix puppy who flies down hallways and into rooms to retrieve toys, always returning them with great gusto, tail wagging and much pride.

Madeline sends “kudos to all using their special gifts helping in this crisis” and encourages everyone to laugh every day!

BETSY ALLNUTT OSHA ‘59 sends best wishes and prayers to the Class of 1959. Betsy is currently in Key West with Wiley, the daughter of Kathryn “Bonnie” Day ’59, “her terrific beau, Ben, and their two great golden retrievers, Desmond and Clive, who go swimming every day.

Ariel Dallam ’79 was with us for two weeks. It is warm here and sunny, so that helps

a lot. I loved our reunion last spring with Pat Fisher McHold ’59. It was so good to see old friends and the beautiful school, my favorite of all my schools, and I felt so proud of Myra Nan Rosenfeld-Little ’59 (Editor’s Note: Myra was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award. Classmate Carol Wilson Garvey ’59 won the Anne Edmunds Croker ’58 Alumnae Service Award).

MYRA NAN ROSENFELDLITTLE ’59 also enjoyed the Class of 1959 reunion. She shares, “I enjoyed tremendously our class reunion last May. It was wonderful to see classmates I had not seen since I graduated from Bryn Mawr and to visit my old haunts like the Cone Collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art. I was honored to have received the Distinguished Alumna Award and grateful to my classmates for nominating me. Since then, I have gotten breast cancer for the third time. I am receiving good care in Toronto and am so lucky to have the loving support of my husband Robert Little.

I just hope we all survive the coronavirus.”

1960s 1960 MARGARET MYLANDER THURSTON ‘60 passed away in October. Margaret, known by her classmates as Margo, had deep family connections at Bryn Mawr. Her sisters Mary Mylander Rickard ’59, Matilda Mylander Kelly ’61 and Martha Mylander ’63 all attended, as did her aunt Mary MacCoun Graves ’28 and her mother, Margaret MacCoun Mylander ’31.

CONSTANCE WOLF FOWLKES ‘60 passed away in May 2019.

A resident of Bangor, PA for 18 years, she tended to many animals, produced goat, sheep and cow dairy products, and was an active board member and participant at the Totts Gap Arts Institute. After graduating from Bryn Mawr, Constance received a BA in drama from Vassar, an MA in English Literature from Georgetown and an MFA in theater from Catholic University. Her theater career included productions at many Washington, DC area theaters.

1962

Myra accepting the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2019.

Tuck Tyler, the beloved husband of DUTCH KENDALL TYLER ‘62, died in early March. We send Dutch and her family deep sympathy and good memories of a “class husband,” who’d become a reunion regular.

The celebration of Tuck’s life took place in the first days of coronavirus social distancing, and we know we missed a raft of wonderful stories.

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HELEN LOCH BARBER ‘62 moved to a smaller house high enough in the Tucson foothills that she can see a vast panorama of Tucson mountain ranges and lots of wildlife. She has gone back to school to learn more in the plant sciences field and works two days a week in a friend’s home nursery, with more than 20,000 plants, especially adeniums and orchids. Life is easier since late 2018 when she traveled to Australia for the osseous-integration bone graft procedure on her left knee. She no longer has to “mess with the socket and all of its problems; the only care is soap and water!”

Margo Lion ’62 Theater producer, Margo Lion ‘62, passed away in January. Known for being fiercely independent, and putting up her own money to mount shows she believed in, Margo was responsible for bringing Hairspray to Broadway and producing Angels in America, among others.

Appointed in 2009, Margo served on the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

CLASS NOTES

On her mountaintop perch in Fremont, CA, ALEX VON STACKELBERG STARR ‘62 feels lucky with beautiful views, plenty of room to walk and definitely no last-minute drop-ins. The new pace helps a lot: Peter is finishing treatments for bladder cancer, with excellent results, as Alex celebrates the 10-year mark free from breast cancer. Daughter Amanda and her husband are living on the ranch while she sets up an equine therapy practice focused on trauma victims. Alex has discovered that her father rode and trained horses for the Estonian army, making Amanda the third generation of horse lovers.

As League of Women Voters volunteers, between 2018 and the 2020 California primary, the Starrs helped register almost 6,000 students!

DEBBY SHEPHARD JENCKS ‘62 frequently speaks by phone with Ann Thomas Brody ’62, so they were delighted to have an actual in-person visit in Baltimore last August. This winter, Ann moved down the hall to a more spacious condo with an expansive view of Biscayne Bay. “It has a way of keeping the world and its travails in perspective,” she says. “Being surrounded with such beauty in the midst of an international setting that is perpetually becoming something new and different makes me hopeful that people will keep pushing onward toward a better life, inspired by their dreams. Survival is our natural talent, but so is dreaming of a better future.”

Debby proudly announces the adoption of rescue dog Gemma, who keeps her humans well exercised and enjoys hosting four-footed neighbors for playdates. Sarah ’92 is Ford’s Theatre’s Director of Education and Interpretation, and Melissa ’96 works both online and traveling widely to assist with the electronics needed for non-profit galas. The Jenckses spend four months each year in Gloucester, MA, in the house they share with Jay and Helen Jencks Featherstone ’62.

Three generations representing both families filled the 2019 Thanksgiving table with ages ranging from 1 to 82.

Once the coronavirus settled into Massachusetts, Jay and Helen followed orders from their youngest daughter and moved from their tiny Cambridge condo out to Gloucester. Jay subsequently suffered two terrifying strokes, leaving him unable to stand or speak, both times. Terrific medics and skillful surgery saved the day and he is back

home, his old self again.

Breaks come in long walks with their daughter Caitlin and 20-month-old granddaughter, along with occasional trips to the store to scoop pre-ordered groceries off the curb. “We are super-conscious of our great good luck,” says Helen, “and count each day as a blessing.”

Pre-coronavirus, MARY HASSETT MILES ‘62 and Bill enjoyed the freedom of retirement: traveling, volunteering, gardening and general peace and quiet.

The Mileses’ annual stay in Cape Cod included daughter Evelyn ’99, her husband and two children (5 ½ and 18 months). In the fall, they traveled to Nicaragua, where Bill supervised the installation of stained glass windows from a shuttered Baltimore church into the newly built chapel of a luxury resort, while Mary basked in its amenities and attractions. “There has never been a more important moment than now for political input!”

Mary says. “Kudos to Alex and Debby for reminding us all to work to get out the vote.”

Like so many of us, BERRY MARSHALL HOAK ‘62 has put most regular activities on hold, but takes long walks and waits out the coronavirus on her porch, soaking up blossoming dogwoods, songbirds and lots of podcasts. She and her granddaughter, a UVA sophomore, read Middlemarch together, via video. Normally, she volunteers at Jamestown Settlement, sewing historic clothing (not facemasks!). But through Zoom she was able to take a William and Mary class on the “Great Patriotic War,” finding its horrors put the virus in perspective. Berry looks forward to our 60th: May 2022!

SUE NAQUIN ‘62 writes that her mother lived at her home on Gittings Avenue until October 2018, when she died at age 100.

Sue’s mother took great interest in our class: who can forget the fabulous luau she hosted for us shortly after graduation? On March 2, Sue was in the balcony of Broadway’s Walter Kerr Theatre along with 600 others gathering to celebrate the life of classmate Margo Lion ’62.

The two-hour program sped by, alternating songs from musicals Margo produced or co-produced with deeply personal reminiscences from theater world luminaries. Brief videos included comments from Debby and Leslie Bedford and a photo of Berry and Margo among Senator Dan Brewster’s D.C. interns in 1962.

As the coronavirus lingers, DORIANNE LOW ‘62 is glad she can connect with her groups through Zoom and have longer, one-to-one phone conversations with relatives and friends. “But I will be happier when people are safe and places like my church, museums and my favorite stationery store can open,” she says.

Trying to find some humor in our current situation, BETSY MASON BAKER ‘62 says, “I’m doing just what most of us are doing—wearing gloves and a mask, holding a mirror in one hand while looking in another mirror and trying to cut the back of my hair and breathe at the same time.”

Sending love to all, BEV DAVIS ‘62 notes, “the disconnect between peaceful and luxurious solitude and the crisis of unimaginable consequence occurring everywhere around us, while birds sing and trees blossom

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pink in the sunshine.” As an introvert, she finds isolation is no problem. Creeping cancellation of events, programs and eventually all volunteering at Cylburn Arboretum has left her with a project right on her doorstep: an enormous bonanza of native plants to fit into her own landscape. “That’s lucky because I’m a failure at Swedish death cleaning (a small cupboard and one dresser drawer so far) and stress baking unless toast counts.”

Writing from Boulder, SUNNY LEVERING BROWN ‘62 says: “From our introverts’ section: I am actually enjoying the interrupted scheduling and finding many obscure and overlooked-for-a-long-time things to do at home. I have the robin returning to sing in the dawn, the noisy construction project, the bees in the apricot trees to distract me. Trying to make myself pull out the old advanced directive file, to see if I still like what it says.” Looking ahead, Sunny is happy that her son has remote work and is studying to become a cook.

“I’m so happy that this is all taking place in the spring when all signs point to wellness.”

TINA JOHNSON DAALDEROP ’62’s part-time job with her town, Caledon, ON, allows ample time for travel. Her love of the Spanish language, people and culture frequently draws Matt and Tina to South and Central America.

“Mexico City is a high-octane megalopolis with intriguing museums and a storied history and wonderful places to explore within a 5-to-7 hour radius.”

The Daalderops bring live music to their community and do presentations for all ages on the benefits of Nordic pole walking. “This time in

CLASS NOTES

isolation conjures thoughts of ‘what am I going to do when I grow up?’” she says.

“Maybe take an online digital course—never stop learning!”

Tina and Cindy Ward Woolsey '62 reunited in St. Louis.

ELEANOR FREY COUNSELMAN ‘62 retired as president of the American Group Psychotherapy Association this spring, after a second and unprecedented term. She was awarded Distinguished Fellow, the AGPA’s highest honor, while her local group therapy society is giving her a Lifetime Achievement Award. “I’m pleased to receive these honors,” she says, “but they also are things you get when you are OLD!” (Impossible, because Eleanor is the youngest member of our class). She uses Zoom in her psychotherapy practice and FaceTime keeps her in touch with her grandchildren, 5 and 4, though “nothing can replace the hugs.” After a surprise diagnosis of multiple myeloma last summer, Eleanor underwent treatment with no major side effects. In March, following the initial protocol, she is in remission. Whew!

JUDY TEMKIN IRVINE ‘62 was just getting used to retirement from the University of Michigan when the state went

into coronavirus lockdown.

Although she’s lived alone for several years and, “as a career academic, lived in her head much longer,” she finds isolation surprisingly hard.

“Skype contacts, a weekly quarantini (a video drink with a friend) and trying not to tune into the news more than twice a day—these things and my cats are helpful.” Still, she knows she’s fortunate to be able to self-isolate, indulge in walks, household projects and “firstworld” worries about snagging a delivery slot from Whole Foods.

The O’Neills (KATE LEBOUTILLIER O’NEIL ‘62) have gone from five months as a three-generations-underone-roof family to our current sequestration. Last July our son Tim, daughter-in-law and their kiddos (5 and 2) moved from Massachusetts to New Jersey, landing on our doorstep.

They bought a house around the corner but stayed with us until mid-November, when the purchase went through. Before the coronavirus slammed into our lives four months later, we were together for meals and did child care, taxi service, story hours, hiking and community programs. No more! Me? I’m one of six women in my chorus' ever-growing, co-ed tenor section. That’s on hold, but I remain very psyched to resume and perform Carmina Burana next June. Thanks for all the notes! (Wash your hands!)

1963 LOUISE ROYSTER BROWN ’63 and ELLEN GOLDBLOOM KIGHT ’63 enjoyed meeting other alumnae living in the Pittsburgh area at a winter dinner organized by Director of Alumnae Engagement

Deanna Boyd ’05. Louise and Ellen, who both came to Pittsburgh for college, enjoyed talking with Dede Acer ’75, Kristen Allen ’08 and Ramsey Neale Lyons ’95 about how the city has changed over the years.

Vermont and Canada and to Mexico for a painting workshop. “Life is good,” says Carole.

Life is good for BARBARA TAYLOR SCHOFIELD ‘64, too, who is still enjoying working four days a week. “It keeps me sane,” she says. “My daughter redesigned my house in Lake Falls and moved her family in. I have a cute little apartment attached to the house with my own entrance.

It’s our nod to ‘what to do with Mom’ as she gets older.

It’s working out just great.”

1967 Classmates Louise and Ellen attended an alumnae dinner in Pittsburgh with Dede, Kristen, Ramsey and Deanna.

1964 KATHERINE MEANS BEARD ‘64 says there’s “not too much to report in the way of changes, but it should be noted that I’m into photography and birds—and taking photographs of birds. And my absence at reunions is explained by the fact that the reunion weekend conflicts with a birding festival in West Virginia that I absolutely LOVE. So... what can I say?

Find me on Facebook so I can keep track of you that way.”

CAROLE NAQUIN ‘64 is still living in Vermont with her husband Steve. She is now retired and making oil and pastel paintings. Carole and Steve are getting in as much travel as they can. They went to Scotland with their daughters last November, cross country skiing in

SANDY PATTERSON ‘67 is still working, which she enjoys. Of working, she says, “I like it and [it] keeps me active as we care for our 13-year-old grandson who lives with us! Who knew I would be a ‘soccer mom’ at my age! We are very lucky to have four grandsons (31, 15, 13, 7) and one granddaughter (10); plus 2 great-grandchildren!”

Sandy also tries to stay active in the local Garden Club and her church.

1968

1969 LEIGHTON KING WHEELER ‘69 reports that the Class of 1969 had a great turnout for their 50th reunion. She writes, “My life ‘B.C.’ (before corona) revolved mostly around my three daughters and their families. Currently staying in touch with my nine grandchildren by hanging out in a driveway or on Zoom— hopefully life in the Twilight Zone will transition back to something like normal soon.”

1970s 1970 MARK ALLEN HOFFBERGER ’70 reports, “I am still working at my commercial moving company in Baltimore with my partner and husband, Michael. Our two sons have lived in California for years.

During the last few decades, my wanderlust and love of trekking have taken me seven times to the Himalayas, to Patagonia, to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Yosemite, CA and I recently hiked in Jordan. I pray this aging body will allow a few more adventures!”

CARROLL ROWLAND BARRETT ‘68 loved seeing so many members of the Class of 1968 at their 50th reunion in May 2018. Since the reunion, she has fully retired from nursing.

She writes, “My last job was with Gilchrist Hospice—a rewarding end to my 44-year career. My three children are in their 30s and doing well.

Thankfully they are on the east coast—Baltimore, Boston and Melbourne, Florida.

Mark celebrates making it to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

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NORMA MURRAY IGLEHART ‘70 passed away unexpectedly in April. Despite having left Bryn Mawr before graduating, Norma was an active and much beloved member of the Class of 1970, welcoming many into her home, serving as a class captain and hosting the 40th reunion dinner. She was an active member of the 50th reunion planning committee and looked forward to celebrating this milestone with her friends and classmates.

ANNE VAN METRE KIBBE ‘70 beloved classmate and sister of Betty Van Metre Domowski ’72, Helen Van Metre Weary ’79, Rosalie Van Metre Baker ’67 and MaryVan Metre Chodroff ’71, passed away in August 2019. She was a talented artist, printmaker and educator who studied at Case Western Reserve and received a BFA from the Cleveland Institute of Art. In addition to her remarkable talents as an artist, her wit and wisdom will be missed by her friends and family, especially her husband Peter and her four adult children.

Like Mark, BROOKS PATERNOTTE NOBEL ‘70 is also still working. Brooks continues to practice real estate but reports major changes due to COVID-19. “Last week I had a first in my career: a closing for a cooperative which took place outside on the seller’s terrace (title rep came to us), everyone standing six feet apart, gloves and all...I’m guessing the next one will entail a title rep running from car to car with disposable pens, or we will just do it remotely. A small adjustment considering what some others are going through!

Our son Billy continues to record at studios in Nashville with various artists, or tour

CLASS NOTES

with Tim McGraw, although that may well be postponed for a while like most events. He is engaged to Callie Cunningham from Alabama, who is in the music management business— so they have much in common to discuss over meals!

So we are fine, although I’m disappointed not to be seeing you all in May...but we WILL get through this and we WILL get together! I send hugs to my dear classmates, one and all.

I send hugs to all of the greater Bryn Mawr family, and hope that we will flourish in the new world that emerges from this trying time.”

1971 BARBARA GROSE CARNEVALE ‘71 writes that there is “nothing new and exciting” to report but that all is good. She is contemplating retirement but a bit nervous about it!

MARGARET PERRY DANIEL ‘71 and her husband, Dabney, recently attended the President’s dinner for Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. “We were seated next to a very interesting, bright student who mentioned she had lived in Baltimore.

When I said I also had lived in Baltimore, she asked where I went to school.

She also had gone to Bryn Mawr from kindergarten to 7th grade, when her family moved to Charleston, SC. We both enjoyed comparing notes about our Bryn Mawr experience. Also, I enjoyed seeing my classmate Lucy Childs Baskauskas ’71 and her husband when my husband and I were in San Francisco in October 2018.”

1972 BETTY VAN METRE DOMOWSKI ‘72 has retired from nursing but is now busy “helping my elderly and not-so-elderly friends” to doctor’s appointments and errands. Betty is active in her church and enjoys babysitting her grandchildren—four boys and one girl so far! She and her husband Bernie have also traveled to Belize every January and June for the past three years. Bernie teaches Bible classes at the Belize Bible College which he helped found. Betty has been “sorting, cataloging, labeling and shelving books for the new library. They need 3,500 books to be accredited,” she reports.

NATALIE WEXLER ’72’s latest book The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System— and How to Fix It came out in August 2019. “There’s been a gratifying amount of interest,” she says, “including appearances on Morning Joe, NPR and an excerpt published in The Atlantic.

But certainly one of the high points was an event at The Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore, attended by a number of Bryn Mawr ‘girls’ and Gilman ‘boys’ —and, looking as youthful as ever, Miss Margolis!”

Natalie stopped by the Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore for her latest book, The Knowledge Gap.

ANDIE YELLOTT ‘72 is still working full-time at JHU/CTY and caring for her 91-yearold mother. Says Andie, “I’m getting too old for this!”

1973 Congratulations to LIZ BOWIE ‘73 who, along with her colleagues from The Baltimore Sun, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting for their coverage of Mayor Pugh.

KATY DALLAM ‘73 shares, “I enjoy running into my former students and teaching some of their children. I decided to retire this year from my position teaching 6th grade English at Calvert, unable to face the coming year of electronically delivered and graded assignments in the midst of necessary changes because of COVID-19. I continue to live in Baltimore during the school week and return to Harford County on weekends and vacations. My son Sam Ackerman is moving back to our farm after working on a huge ranch in Washington State and then taking several months to travel throughout the U.S.; it will be great to have him hold down the fort.

If any classmates visiting Baltimore need a place to stay, I would be happy to host them on Canterbury Road.”

1976 HOLLY BALLARD KREUTTER ‘76 writes, “After repatriating from Asia in 2018 and then living in Washington, DC for a year, Steve and I moved to Old Town Alexandria last summer. We love the area, with so much to do and such close proximity to family and friends.

I’m keeping busy working at a neuropsychiatric clinic and canvassing for the 2020 elections. We’re also busy with grandchild #1 who was born in November, grandchild #2 due in May and a daughter’s wedding in August.”

1978 KATHY FINNEY ‘78 is working as a nurse practitioner on the neurobehavioral inpatient unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

“Our census has decreased in anticipation of needing to help Hopkins with their overflow pediatric patients,” she reports. When not nursing, Kathy enjoys fostering dogs with the Animal Allies Rescue Foundation. “My current foster, Seal, is a special needs dog who has advanced polyarthritis (like rheumatoid in humans). He is a love and is doing so well on his pain medication regime! He is looking for his ‘furever’ home, so visit our website at www.animalalliesrescue.org to meet him!”

1979 GILLY OBRECHT BABB ‘79 shares, “In November, our oldest, Gillian ’07, was married to Chris Miller, and they reside in Dunkirk, MD, where she teaches and he works for a construction firm.

Presently, we have a delayed launch in our house, as our two other children, Olivia ’09 and Andrew are both ill with Lyme disease. While it has manifested itself in different ways, both are struggling with serious health issues. To that end, I am no longer a classroom teacher, instead opting to tutor those with learning differences or health issues, so that I can be

more present in their lives. Bob is in his 42nd year as head JHU baseball coach and recently had the field named after him.

Frankly, I thought that a grave error was made by JHU when they failed to place my name on the field beside his! Thanks to Helen for hosting our 40th: It was a fabulous evening. Hope to see everyone at our 45th!”

This year has been full of change for CLARE MCHUGH LASSWELL ’79 and her husband Mark. “After 35 years of living in New York City, we decided to move to Washington, DC when Mark was offered a job at the Post,” she writes. “It’s been great to be back in this area, reconnecting with friends, and closer to my parents who still live in their house in Guilford. Another big change has been the launch of my new career. After two decades as a magazine editor, I decided to try writing an historical novel, a genre of book I have loved since high school days at Bryn Mawr. My novel, A Most English Princess, about Vicky, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, will be published by William Morrow in September and can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

It’s an amazing story of a dauntless young woman, aged only 17 when she is married to the Crown Prince of Prussia and moves to Berlin. There she battles against autocratic Bismarck and watches as her son, later Kaiser Wilhelm II, is lured into the reactionary camp. I hope to follow up this book one with another.”

The cover of Clare McHugh Lasswell’s new novel, A Most English Princess.

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HELEN VAN METRE WEARY ‘79 writes, “I have sold my house and am moving out of my home in Santa Monica, CA after 22 years, and moving into an apartment in Los Angeles.

It is time to downsize after raising my three kids, who are grown and on their own now. Separately, I was also recently laid off from my job at UCLA, but am applying for other jobs there. I’m not sure how that will go while the campus is closed during the pandemic. These are surreal times. I wish everyone a safe journey through this crisis.”

1980s 1982 BESSIE CROMWELL SPEERS ‘82 reports a “fun BMS moment” during an annual Heads of School meeting in Florida. In addition to Bessie, attendees included Blair Stambaugh, Headmistress of Bryn Mawr from 1973-1980, Lila Lohr, past faculty member and past parent, and current Bryn Mawr Head of School Sue Sadler.”

“I live in Wooster, Ohio with my family and enjoy gardening, running and volunteering. I’m in close touch with my two sisters, Rachel Riedner ’85 and Sara Riedner Brown ’88. My mom and dad retired to Wooster and are active in local politics.”

1987 STACY SIGMAN BERGMAN ’87 has enjoyed reconnecting with her classmates over the past year. “I feel so lucky to have reconnected with so many of my classmates this year.

A bunch of us hung out at Julie Shapiro Mangini ’87’s house in Cape Cod this fall, some of us New Yorkers met for dinner in NYC and we have a growing group chat which has really sustained me during this strange quarantine period (that and the Zoom cocktail party!) I continue to build my independent rabbi business and I am the Yoga Manager at a Life Time Athletic in Chappaqua, NY, practicing and teaching yoga every day.

My daughter Hannah is a senior at UCLA and my twin boys, Jonah and Nathaniel, are juniors in high school."

1986 LAUREN BERKOW ‘86 is a professor of neuroanesthesiology at University of Florida College of Medicine. She writes, “I will complete my two-year term as President of the Society for Airway Management at the end of this year. And my oldest daughter heads to college next year!”

Classmate APRIL RIEDNER GAMBLE ‘86 is enjoying a change in career—from elementary school teaching to college admissions. She writes,

CLASS NOTES

They enjoyed reconnecting with Jane Bierman Seibel ’83 who was in their “Big Sister” class and meeting Jen Ahn ’00 and Brooke Burker Aldrich ’05 who are also in the area.

TONYA UNGER GARBER ‘87 is enjoying her career in workforce development for the Department of Defense as a manager and career coach.

“It’s very rewarding work,” she says. “My son Matthew is a sophomore at Towson University studying business.

My husband Dwaine and I are still in Towson and are adjusting to life as emptynesters taking on new things.

Last year, I started playing piano for the first time. My piano teacher, now retired, was at Bryn Mawr in the 1980s and remembers many of our class from teaching piano there as a new teacher years ago.”

OLIVIA JUDSON ’87 was named a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow in the category of Natural Sciences for her science writing. Her award-winning first book, Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex, has been translated into more than 15 languages and is available for alumnae to check out from the Edith Hamilton Library. She is currently writing a history of life and Earth.

Members of the Class of 1987 gather for an informal reunion in Brewster, MA. Several members of the Class of 1987 are living in the Seattle area. INGRID EMERICK ‘87, SUSAN HOOD ’87 AND HILLARY LISS ‘87 caught up at a luncheon organized by Bryn Mawr’s Development Office.

Congratulations to OLIVIA JUDSON ‘87 for being named a 2020 Guggenheim fellow in science writing.

1990s

high school in the fall. We have two beautiful fur babies, Luna, a yellow lab, and Zofi, an Australian shepherd. Would love to have you visit us.”

1990 In December JEN SMOLEV BARTH ’90 and CAROLINE MATTSON SWINDELL ’90 met Head of School Sue Sadler in Portland, OR, where they both live, while she was visiting alumnae on the west coast.

Joined by fellow Portlanders Anne North ’66 and Kyle Napoli ’93, the group enjoyed a relaxing brunch and discussed Portland’s history and changing demographics, book recommendations and plans to organize regular gatherings for Mawrtians in Portland!

Jen Smolev Barth '90, Caroline Mattson Swindell '90, Anne North '66 & Kyle Napoli '93 gather during a Portland area brunch.

PATRICIA RHEE ‘90 is a partner at Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects in LA and was happy to host a Bryn Mawr alumnae event at the office last year where she reunited with Anne Enna ’90 and Marita de Lara Sobel ’90.

Patti and Marita reconnect at an alumnae gathering in LA. CAROLINE MATTSON SWINDELL ‘90 writes, “About two years ago, I changed jobs and went from working from home to working 10 minutes away in a three-lawyer (including me) intellectual property law practice. I’ve expanded my practice areas out from computer science technology.

My daughters are finishing up 11th and 8th grades. The three of us got our black belts in tae kwon do three years ago. While I don’t practice that anymore, I am focused on strength training and fitness. Other interests include baking, gardening and trying to expose my girls to the greatness of the 80s.”

1991 MICHELE CANAPP ‘91 writes, “I’ve moved once again, and hopefully for the last time.

We’ve moved to our happy place, Windermere, FL, a suburb of Walt Disney World.

We still own our veterinary hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area, and now run them virtually. Jason has also started a new venture, Here with the Magic, capturing the zen of Disney through 3D video. My oldest, Alex, is graduating from high school and my youngest, Henry, is entering

MEGAN REITZ ’91 is working as a family physician in Seattle, WA. At a dinner hosted

by Bryn Mawr for Seattle area alumnae, Megan shared wonderful stories about her recent experience serving as the on board physician for a Semester at Sea boat.

Attendees Debbie Kuttner ’87, Liz Gotterer ’76, Margot Molander ’01 and Jane Bierman Seibel ’83 enjoyed learning about each other’s lives and careers, and hearing stories from Head of School Sue Sadler and Director of Alumnae Engagement Deanna Boyd ’05, about what Bryn Mawr is like today.

Seattle area alumnae connect over dinner.

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1992 In 2016 KISHIA POWELL ’92 was appointed as the Commissioner for the City of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management, a regional water and wastewater utility serving 1.2 million customers a day. Kishia oversees $644M in annual operations and maintenance as well as $126B in capital improvements. Kishia also has a full life outside of work. She writes, “My most important role is dog mom to my seven year-old snorkie, Lord Louis Leo London Windsor or Louie for short. He’s my heartbeat.

I’m also auntie to four amazing boys: Tavon, Noah, Jayden and Corey. I’m now into work/ life balance so I am always down for a great trip!! My most recent have been Cabo with my girlfriends and hiking in Yosemite Valley with my honeydo. I’m looking forward to what 2020 has in store!!”

New Bryn Mawr parent, JESSICA WOLF SURIANO ’92 writes, “I am so happy to have my daughter at Bryn Mawr this year as a member of the Class of 2023! It is JOYFUL to get to experience Bryn Mawr through her lens all these years later.

She and I got to spend time earlier this year with Kirsten Becker ’92 on one of her many trips to the East Coast from California where she lives.”

Jessica and Kirsten welcome Jess’s daughter Julia to the Bryn Mawr family.

1993

University in NYC. In addition to teaching, Molly has been working on her fourth book which will be published in 2021.

She also shares that she and classmate Nancy Kim ’95 live in the same town—Rye, NY!

1996 JEN COSTANZA SHOPKORN ’96 is still working at the U.S. Census Bureau, where she specializes in strategic and crisis communications. “I spent the last two years with a talented and diverse team creating the advertising campaign for the 2020 Census.

It has left me with little in the way of extracurricular activities for the past couple of years, but it has been absolutely worth it. Such an important project and incredibly rewarding and fun,” she says. In addition to work, Jen is enjoying (currently quarantined) life in Alexandria, VA (in the Del Ray neighborhood which she says, “I couldn’t love more”) with her wife Amy and their three beagle mixes Nigel, Michael and Samuel.

KYLE NAPOLI ‘93 writes, “After a rough transition into librarianship following my MLIS, I finally found a full-time role at Reed College, my alma mater. I’m a few months in as the Acquisitions and Serials Specialist and enjoying it very much. It’s hard to believe, but the end of 2020 will make it a decade for my second stint here in Portland, OR.”

Kishia enjoys hiking in her spare time.

CLASS NOTES

1995 MOLLY NESS ‘95 is completing her 14th year as a professor of literacy education at Fordham

Jen and wife Amy pose for a family photo with their fur babies.

MELISSA MARCH SMITH ’96 and her husband Kelly welcomed a baby boy in 2019, Isaac Carrington Smith.

Melissa reports that he is a chill little guy who already adores his big sister!

Melissa’s daughter Chloe loves being a big sister to new baby brother Isaac.

1997 JENNIFER COUGHLIN ‘97 is an associate professor in psychiatry with a joint appointment in radiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She writes, “I treat young adults with mood disorders. On the research side, I validate and implement new brain imaging techniques to monitor aspects of the brain’s immune response and its relationship to mood/ cognition. Doing a lot of imaging of NFL players given the concerns about concussion and brain injury. Oh—and I’m mom to three fab kiddos!

Would love to catch up with anyone passing through Balt!”

Sarah Keogh ’98 P ’27 The Alumnae Association thanks Sarah Keogh ‘98, departing President, for her six years of service. Under Sarah’s leadership the Alumnae Association has launched affinity groups, built stronger connections between alumnae and current students and increased opportunities for non-local alumnae to connect with one another and support the school.

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After 20 years on the west coast, Alden Stoner ’97 recently returned to the Baltimore area along with her husband and son. She is now the CEO of Nature Sacred, an operating foundation in Annapolis that inspires and cultivates green space in stressed environments across the US.

into Middle School). We live in Mount Washington and when I am not at work, I can often be found at Bryn Mawr, where I am just finishing my term on the Alumnae Association Board, including my last two years as president of that group. I am so lucky to have many wonderful BMS friends in town who I get to see often! Please reach out to reconnect, if you are around.”

CARSON SETLOW SAVAGE ‘98 writes, “We were thrilled to welcome Olivia Ann to our family on 12/25/18, the best Christmas present ever according to her brother Craig (13). I am celebrating five years as a nurse with Gilchrist Hospice this March and continue to love my time with this special population of patients and their families.”

Alden takes over as CEO of Nature Sacred in Annapolis.

1998 ZAWADI RUCKS AHIDIANAMASSAC ‘98 recently moved to upstate New York with her family to start her dream job as an assistant professor of sociology at SUNY Albany.

She writes, “I’m so glad to be back on the east coast!”

Since 2017, SARAH KEOGH ’98 has worked as the executive director of a nonprofit called Central Baltimore Future Fund.

The organization’s mission is to stimulate economic growth and attract investment in central Baltimore. She writes, “Jon and I are also kept on our toes parenting Ben (Gilman ’24, about to enter high school) and Emma (BMS ’27, heading

CLASS NOTES

1999 JENNIFER EWING ‘99 continues to live in Baltimore and support first-generation students on their quest for higher education. She was recently named a “Counselor that Changes Lives” by the Colleges that Change Lives organization.

Congratulations, Jen!

MEG ARNOLD STANDING ‘00 and her husband Trey are happily settled in Richmond, VA with their three daughters, Abby (10), Ginny (8) and Emma Grace (5). Meg is sad to miss our 20th reunion but hopes to come to the next one!

2001 JENNIFER BROOKLAND ’01 has been living in Durham, NC for five years now and is “happy that the cost of living here is reasonable enough to allow for some space during times of self-isolation!” She recently met up with other local alumnae including Kelli Anderson ’98, Sara Kolker Morgan ’79 and Courtney Grove Shay ’00 at a happy hour organized by the school this spring. Jen is currently a reporting fellow at North Carolina Public Radio and is enjoying learning more about audio journalism and focusing on stories related to the military and veterans. She has two little boys, one almost five and one who just turned two, and a girl due in July.

2000s 2000 COURTNEY GROVE SHAY ‘00 married Graham Carssow and gave birth to daughter Colette Carssow in the spring of 2018.

After being an operating room nurse for seven years, Courtney now works as a clinical editor for the AORN Journal.

Courtney and Graham recently moved from Denver, CO and are now living in Durham, NC.

Jen is all smiles at an alumnae happy hour in North Carolina with Kelli and Sara.

Congratulations to SABRINA KHAN ‘01 and her husband who welcomed their first child, Suraiya Khan Baset, on December 17, 2019. They are living in Washington, DC, where Sabrina is a civil rights attorney.

discuss the good, the bad and the ugly side of dating.”

Brittany has been nominated to serve on the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Association Board and is excited to begin her service next school year!

2002 JESS AYD ’02 is still living in Baltimore with her husband and two daughters. She says, “I am very fortunate in that two of my closest Bryn Mawr friends, Molly Rice ’02 and Sara Sajadi ’02, live around the corner from me. Call it Smalltimore, but I love it!!”

Brittany with her fiancé.

Jess stays connected with her Class of 2002 friends with regular Zoom happy hours.

Classmates MELANIE LEVY ’03 and JESSICA LONG ’03 reconnected at a Boston alumnae happy hour in October. They were excited to see Maggie Farrand ’05, a field hockey teammate of Melanie’s, as well as meet other local alumnae including Amy Daniels ’10, Linda Jiang ’11, Ellen Russell Lewis ’54 and Kelly Shan ’11.

2003 BRITTANY ANDERSON ’03 graduated with a Masters in Human Resources from Strayer University and is getting married this fall.

Alongside her co-host Charles, Brittany has an online blog “Dating University” that airs on Facebook Live every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. EST. Of the program, she says, “We have sponsors and have been featured on local and national platforms. On our show, we

Classmates Melanie and Jessica enjoy a Boston area alumnae happy hour with Amy, Maggie, Linda, Ellen and Kelly.

2004 2020 is turning out to be an exciting year for ALEX COOK ‘04. She writes, “I am finishing up my medical residency in Lexington, Kentucky. This summer I begin my hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Maryland. My fiancé Brandon and our 2 fur children, Frank and Ed, will be joining me for this next adventure.”

STEPHANIE ILANA FINE ‘04 is loving her job as legal counsel at Apple, where she is practicing commercial litigation. She and her husband live in the South Bay area in California. They have a twoyear-old son, a dog and are expecting a baby girl in May.

2005 ALEXANDRA AARONSON ‘05 has a few remarkable life events to share. She writes, “Professionally, I have been named an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern.

I also accepted a full-time neuropsychiatrist and researcher position at the Hines VA. I was recently awarded a major grant to conduct research—nearly a half million dollars—to study possible neuromodulatory treatments for veterans with traumatic brain injury who are suicidal. Personally, I gave birth to a son Julian in 2017 at 27 weeks after I got quite sick with HELLP syndrome. He was in the NICU for 84 days. Despite this start, he is my rockstar— he is now totally caught up cognitively, behaviorally and physically. He is an extremely cute, funny and kind little guy.”

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In December 2019, MAGGIE FARRAND ’05 was playing soccer in the pouring rain on a dirt field on Tanzania’s Zanzibar island. She writes, “It was part of a week-long trip with Coaches Across Continents and Pathfinder International to help a video production team document the partnership of these two fantastic organizations as they use play and education outside the classroom to share information about sexual and reproductive health with young people. Contraception, HIV, STIs—we talked about everything—all while passing a soccer ball or basketball. And the kids never squirmed with awkwardness; they laughed, sang, yelled and shouted answers to their peer leader’s questions. As an athlete (back at my time at Bryn Mawr too) and a communicator, it was an amazing experience to be a part of. Next up: creating a video to tell the story we saw on Zanzibar. Stay tuned!”

MEREDITH MILLER KIMTIS ’05 is still teaching first grade at Gilman. She writes, “This year has been particularly special because I drive to school with my son Chase, who was born December 7, 2018. In true ‘Smalltimore’ fashion, he shares a nanny on Gilman’s campus with the son of Meredith Monk Ford ’00! Our boys will be 3rd generation friends thanks to Bryn Mawr introducing our moms (Barbie Dunn Miller ’73 and Linda Londeree Monk ’67) in the 60s!”

Meredith and Meredith introduce their sons Chase and Walker.

2006

Maggie plays soccer with local children in Tanzania.

CLASS NOTES

JULIA BURKE ‘06 sends lots of love to the Bryn Mawr community. She shares, “I am (still) living in New York City working as a public defender.

In 2018, I took and passed the Maryland Bar with hopes of getting back down to Baltimore or DC in the coming years. I spent my first five and a half years after law school working for the Legal Aid Society in Queens as a criminal trial attorney. In October 2019, I accepted a position as a senior staff attorney with the Office of the Appellate Defender in Manhattan in the Reinvestigation Project. I am

working as a public defender at the appellate level and am specifically working on wrongful conviction cases.

Outside of work, I am loving life in Brooklyn with my cat, taking advantage of all the culture (and shopping) NYC has to offer. I love hanging out with the Bryn Mawr girls who are up here as well as attending some amazing BMS weddings (that serve as much-needed reunions)!”

In July, Washington, DC-based classmates and friends CADY CLAPP ‘06 and LAUREN HICKEY ’06 attended an alumnae happy hour in Dupont Circle. Cady reconnected with Blair Priest ’97, who was her babysitter when she was growing up!

Alumnae of all ages attended the regional gathering and enjoyed talking about their lives and careers as well as local politics. Other attendees included sisters Amalia Bilis ’16 and Zoe Bilis ’13, Claire Brunner ’07, Kaleena Black ’05, Adonica Blackston ’89, Polly Donaldson ’75, Justine Hong ’10, Danielle Johnson ’04, Jen Costanza Shopkorn ’96, Devon Stuzin ’17, Ellett George Toomey ’03, Natalie Wexler ’72 and Sogand Zamani ’96.

LAURA PAULSEN ’06 married Andrew Pisansky on November 2, 2019, at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. Laura is working at a medical device start-up called Hyalex Orthopaedics developing synthetic cartilage for joints and Andrew is finishing a fellowship in interventional pain medicine and is an anesthesiologist.

They live in Boston, MA.

2008 Until recently, Kelly Newman Crown ’08 was the program director for Virtual Care at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles where she led all virtual care activities available for patients and providers including telehealth visits, virtual consults, remote second opinions and remote patient monitoring solutions.

She also co-led the Digital Health Lab, an early-stage

incubator for pediatric digital healthcare solutions. Now that she’s completed her MBA she is excited to join Deloitte’s Human Capital practice. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two rescue dogs and loves hiking, running, yoga, skiing, entertaining, cooking and traveling.

Laura celebrates her November 2019 wedding.

2007 Emmy Mathews Wachtmeister ’07 and her husband Mark welcomed McEvoy “Macky” Marie Wachtmeister to the world on September 28, 2019.

Macky will be attending the Bryn Mawr Little School beginning this summer, a fifth-generation Mawrtian!

Kelly Newman Crown ’08

Look out world, Emmy’s daughter Macky will be a fifth-generation Mawrtian!

This May, Kelly graduated with her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business with highest honors. She is starting a new job as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte’s Human Capital practice where she will focus on life sciences and health care companies.

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In October 2019, MARGARET COMER ‘08 graduated from the University of Cambridge with her Ph.D. in Archaeology (Heritage Studies). Her dissertation, “The Heritage of Repression: Memory, Commemoration and Politics in Post-Soviet Russia,” focused on the memorialization of Soviet mass repression in contemporary Russia. She shares, “I’m now working as a research assistant for an interdisciplinary research project called ‘Safeguarding Sites: The IHRA Charter for Best Practice,’ which is funded by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and aims to codify best practices for preserving Holocaust sites of violence as sites of memory and protecting them from many different types of risk. Right now, I live in Cambridge, UK and would be happy to meet with anyone passing through the area (once quarantine lifts, of course)!”

Sarah represents Bryn Mawr at her wedding.

2010s 2010

2009 SARAH KILBY NICHOLS ‘09 married Tyler Nichols in November 2019. Classmates Ella Himmelrich ’09, Betsy Mastropieri ’09, Margaret Szczerbicki ’09, Molly Kennedy ’09, Molly Arnold Leonard ’09, Emma Macfarlane ’09, Martha Hill Kelley ’09, Virginia Clemens ’09, Kendall Zaharris ’09, Bridget Ercole ’09 and Molly Caplan ’09 attended.

Sarah’s sister, Lizzy Kilby ’16 rounded out the spirited Bryn Mawr contingent.

CLASS NOTES

EMMA KAPLAN ‘10 is graduating from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and starting her neurology residency at Boston University this summer.

2012 NATALIE ANN HAMILTON ’12 is living in Raleigh, NC where she works as a Client Success Manager at Abrigo. This spring, Natalie joined Lucy Broadus ’88, Director of Alumnae Engagement Deanna Boyd ’05 and Head of School Sue Sadler for lunch in Raleigh to share Bryn Mawr memories and hear from Sue about her vision for the Bryn Mawr of the future.

2011 MARY SOMERVILLE ‘11 is a Ph.D. candidate at Bryn Mawr College, “working” on a dissertation about Imperial Roman male tears. So far she has spent quarantine teaching Latin remotely, texting friends constantly, writing parodies of Catullus with students, writing fake papers instead of the articles she should be publishing and getting into fights with her cat Bo.

Natalie and Lucy enjoy lunch with Head of School Sue Sadler in Raleigh.

Classmates Amna Hashmi ’12 and Caitlin Maloney ’12 reconnected at a dinner with Head of School Sue Sadler and Director of Alumnae Engagement Deanna Boyd ’05 in Wellesley, MA in October.

They enjoyed the chance to meet other Boston area alumnae including Valerie Beilenson ’03, Helen Bowdoin ’56, Ann Gary ’74, Meagan Perry Occhialini ’00, Pam Peedin ’85 and Ann Shoemaker Wyman ’59.

2013 TESSA BABCOCK ’13 hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile footpath from Mexico to Canada.

Tessa at Mt. Hood, a stop on the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail.

Boston area alumnae sport their Bryn Mawr pennants.

NADIA LANIYAN ‘12 moved to Chicago in September of 2019 and started working at a center for child trauma at Northwestern University.

GABRIELLA MICHAELA MILLER ‘12 graduated from the M.D. program at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in May 2020. She has matched to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program.

In March, Gabriella spoke

by Zoom with current Upper School student members of Bryn Mawr’s Medical Club about her experience in medical school and working as a frontline medical professional during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANNIE SADLER ’13 recently moved to Ann Arbor, MI, where she is working at the University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation.

She is a Design Manager and is responsible for building online courses. In her spare time, Annie is climbing and hiking and looking forward to learning how to ice climb this upcoming winter.

2015 HADLEY BROWN ’15 graduated from Vanderbilt in May 2019 and started the MSN/ nurse practitioner program at Vanderbilt in August.

She will complete her studies in pediatric primary care in August 2021!

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BOLD VOICES What is your favorite Bryn Mawr memory?

"The smell of freshly-cut grass on the hockey field in August­— the start of a new season!"

Maggie Farrand ‘05

"The 100th anniversary of the school in 1985!

5th grade was a wonderful year of celebrations."

Corinne Funk Hammons ’93

"On a fall afternoon, out on the wing, running for a ball hit squarely to the corner, feeling free."

Meg Tipper ’70

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NEXT GENERATION

Carol Wilson Garvey ’59

"So many.... friends, great teachers, English class, Latin in the Gate House, and daisies galore!"

Bessie Cromwell Speers ’82

"Visiting Mrs. Murray’s farm in Kindergarten and feeding the sheep with Kirsten Becker."

Jessica Wolf Suriano ’92

"Gym Drill!"

Barbara Grose Carnevale ’71

BOLD VOICES

"Too many to count!"

"The first time hearing ‘Jerusalem’ as an alumna."

Jasmine E. Myers-Duncan ’06

NEXT GENERATION Bryn Mawr is much more than a school—it is a close-knit family, a supportive community and a home away from home. That’s why it’s always special when our alumnae decide to send their own daughters to Bryn Mawr and keep the tradition in the family.

More than 50 of our students have mothers, grandmothers or both who are Bryn Mawr alumnae. From the Little School to twelfth grade, they represent the next generation of Bryn Mawr.

JEN SHEFF YEAGLE ‘97, ANNIE YEAGLE ‘30 AND CAROLINE YEAGLE ‘27

GRADUATING SENIOR INGRID WOEL-NOGUEIRA WITH HER FAMILY (MOM, VALERIE WOEL IS CLASS OF ‘83).

JENIFER GERMAN NUGENT ’92, ANGELINA NUGENT ‘24, MANDY GERMAN FINE ‘95 AND MADELINE FINE ‘31

RHONDA SMITH WRIGHT ’95, DURKE WRIGHT AND AVA WRIGHT ’27

SANDY CHO ‘92, CAITLYN NAVALEZA ‘26 AND MADELINE NAVALEZA ‘28

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109 W. Melrose Ave. Baltimore, MD 21210 www.brynmawrschool.org STAY CONNECTED!

Alumnae Weekend 2021 Friday, April 30 - Saturday, May 1 All alumnae are invited to return for Alumnae Weekend 2021! Join your classmates and friends on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 for a chance to reconnect, celebrate and see what Bryn Mawr is like today. The weekend will include opportunities for you and your family to spend time with friends and former teachers, meet current students and faculty, shop at the Bazaar and show your class pride in the Banner March at Gym Drill!