8 minute read
Spotlights
The Observer Names Madeline Monaco ’11 a “Rising Star” in PR
Madeline Monaco ’11, a senior consultant at APCO Worldwide, was recognized by The Observer as one of 2019’s “15 Rising Stars” in the public relations industry. During her tenure at APCO, she has merged strategic digital thinking with strong project and client management skills. Her work focuses on integrated campaigns in the energy, policy and food sectors, in which she helps clients increase visibility and public awareness. Maddie, as she was called at Sacred Heart, is known to have a holistic set of digital skills, which include everything from building and fostering online communities to amplifying content, all while providing counsel to many cross-office projects.
Ny Whitaker ’93 Recognized for Public Service
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer recognized political strategist Nylissa Whitaker ’93 at the 50th Anniversary of the African American Day Parade. Ny was recognized for her dedication to public service across the city and throughout the state. She accepted the award in the company of her son Taj, additional family members, clients and the Harlem community.
• SPOTLIGHTS •
Two SH91 Alumnae Win Fulbright Fellowships!
• • • • • • • • • • • • Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. It sends Americans to dozens of countries to teach, study, or conduct research, promoting international understanding.
Gillian Coyne ’15, Bates ’19 was a double major in French and francophone studies and in rhetoric, film, and screen studies in college. She is currently an English Teaching Assistant in Luxembourg. Coyne credits Sacred Heart for her deep appreciation of French and cross-cultural exchange, saying “my high school French teacher redefined what teaching a language meant for me by showing the diversity of the francophone world and the relationships made possible through French.” Coyne wants to bring this “human-based” approach to her classroom in Luxembourg.
Renata Miller ’15, Stanford University ’19 majored in International Relations and wrote an honors thesis exploring why Congress placed the first quota on Latin American immigration in the 1965 Hart-Celler Act. In February of 2020 she moved to Brazil to teach English at the Federal University of Pampa. When she is not teaching, she works with sports programs that empower young women.
• AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS •
THE BOLD WORLD by Jodie Patterson ’88
In 2009, Jodie Patterson, mother of five and beauty entrepreneur, has her world turned upside down when her determined toddler, Penelope, reveals, “Mama, I’m not a girl. I am a boy.” The Pattersons are a tribe of unapologetic Black matriarchs, scholars, financiers, Southern activists, artists, musicians, and disruptors, but with Penelope’s revelation, Jodie realizes her existing definition of family isn’t wide enough for her child’s needs. Inspired by her transgender son, Jodie explores identity, gender, race, and authenticity to tell the real-life story of a family’s history and transformation.
In The Bold World, we witness Patterson reshaping her own attitudes, beliefs, and biases, and learning from her children and a whole new community how to meet the needs of her transgender son. In doing so, she opens the minds of those who raised and fortified her, all the while challenging cultural norms and gender expectations. Patterson finds that the fight for racial equality in which her ancestors were so prominent helped pave the way for the current gender revolution.
Look out for Jodie’s paperback of The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation, which was released by Random House in February of 2020. Her children’s book, Born Ready, will be published in 2021. AMAZING THINGS CAME TO BE by Katie Butler Johnson ’58
In her book Money in Your Twenties: Getting Started, Kristen Masterson Jacks ’88 gives twentysomethings the straightforward guidance they need to avoid common money mistakes and to thrive financially. The book covers topics ranging from taxes and student debt to credit reports, retirement plans, and the pitfalls of the “gig economy.” Readers are in good hands with
Kristen, who studied financial planning at
Boston University’s Center for Professional
Education. She started her career at
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine and later worked at Mutual Funds Magazine.
Kristen is a graduate of Duke University.
Written by Katie Butler Johnson ‘58 with art by Amanda E. Wallace, Amazing Things Came To Be is a fable about a young bird’s quest to discover his place in the world. When separated from his flock, he attempts to tailor himself to fit in with others until he discovers his own talent. All proceeds from Katie's self-published book go to a Texas shelter in memory of her late husband, Claiborne H. Johnson, Jr.
• AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS •
TOXIC FEMININITY IN THE WORKPLACE by Ginny Hogan ’09
Ginny Hogan ’09 employs humor and wit to explore themes of sexism, office gender dynamics, and the challenges facing women at work in her first book, Toxic Femininity in the Workplace. The book, which made Vulture’s list of top 10 comedy books of 2019, is loosely based on men Ginny worked with in the tech industry who were, she writes, “by and large, annoying.”
Ginny is a stand up comic and writer who divides her time between New York and Los Angeles. She is a contributor to The New Yorker, The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, The Observer, McSweeney’s, and Vulture. Forbes recently profiled her as satire’s rising star, and she was included in Paste Magazine’s list of top humorists of 2019.
NEAR STARS by Pam Burr Smith Noroton ’68
Pam Burr Smith Noroton ’68 published her second collection of poems Near Stars: New and Selected Poems. Pam lives in Brunswick, ME where she is a mental health therapist. She is an award-winning poet and has published short stories, essays, articles, and poems, in many journals.
SUDDENLY THERE IS GOD: THE STORY OF OUR LIVES IN SACRED SCRIPTURE By Veronica Mary Rolf ’59
Veronica Mary Rolf (née Roni Dengel) has published a new book entitled Suddenly There is God: The Story of Our Lives in Sacred Scripture with a foreword by former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Suddenly There is God plunges readers into the key stories of biblical characters who find themselves caught up in the divine-human drama. With unique insight, it relates these stories directly to the distinct stages of the reader’s life: being created, falling from grace, leaving the childhood ark, hearing God’s call, gaining freedom, embracing covenant, praying the psalms, learning forgiveness, choosing love, and expecting resurrection. The scenes unfold like a riveting play or film, as we discover with astonishment how closely the progression of Old and New Testament stories reflects our own spiritual journey.
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Dr. Jessica Berman ’84 Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Rheumatology • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Dr. Jessica Berman ’84 recently received the 2019 Award for Teaching Excellence from the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr Berman spends the majority of her time teaching fellows, residents and medical students in addition to caring for her patients. Her particular research interests include the assessment of professionalism in medicine and joint injection teaching. This award recognized her efforts to establish a new Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Program and her commitment to the teaching of trainees. She was recently named Program Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship.
Kristie Coleman ’11 Awarded Clinical Research Coordinator of the Year
Kristie M. Coleman ’11 was recognized with the Clinical Research Coordinator of the Year Award by the Northwell Health system. The award celebrates excellence in clinical research and honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the clinical research program. In addition to managing the industry sponsored clinical trials and physician initiated studies for the Electrophysiology Department, led by the Director of Electrophysiology Research Dr. Stavros Mountantonakis (pictured with her), Kristie has co-authored six publications in the last year (two published, four under consideration). After passing the licensure exam, Kristie plans to continue with the Electrophysiology Department at Lenox Hill Hospital as the Research Nurse.
• SPOTLIGHTS •
Alisa Amarosa Wood ’97 Honored for Distinguished Professional Achievement
Jodie Patterson ’88 Appointed HRC Board Chair
Alisa Amarosa Wood ’97 was recognized by Columbia College with a John Jay Award, which honors accomplished alumni of the College for distinguished professional achievements in their respective fields. Alisa, who holds a B.A. from Columbia College and an M.B.A. from Columbia Graduate School of Business, is a veteran of the private equity industry; she currently leads KKR’s private markets product group, spanning private equity, growth equity, and core and real assets. She spends much of her time in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, building client partnerships and providing client solutions. Jodie Patterson ’88 has been appointed Chair of the Board of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. HRC is the world’s largest human rights organization; its board members are a unique and diverse group of courageous, hardworking and talented people who combine strong professional skills with a passion for equality and justice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. Jodie is the first black woman and first black person to hold the position in the organization’s
nearly 40 years of operation.
