A Publication for Alumnae and Friends of Meredith College
M a g a z i n e
Summer 2011, Volume 36, Number 2
Meredith Welcomes New President Dr. Jo Allen, Class of 1980
Meredith Magazine Volume 36, Number 2 Summer 2011 Executive Editor Kristi Eaves-McLennan Managing Editors Melyssa Allen Karen T. Dunton Assistant Editor Gaye Hill Art Director Vanessa Harris Senior Designer Mary Rose, ’01 Designer Lauren Sumner Alumnae Connection Editors Hilary Allen, ’01 Amanda Oliver, ’02 Contributing Writers Mike Johnson Editorial Assistant Kaye Rains Photographers Flagship Media Katie Dow Christopher Ferrer Jon Gardiner Lisa Gotwals Gary Knight Brian W. Lynn Lauren Mann Megan Morr Mary Rose Lauren Sumner David Timberlake Christine Webb Steve Wilson Michael Zirkle
Contents Features 12 Meredith Welcomes New President Jo Allen, ’80, Becomes First Alumna President 16 Places We Love Celebrating the Timeless Beauty of Meredith’s Campus 20 How Well Do You Know Meredith? Test Your Meredith Knowledge
News 8 Meredith Faculty Member Helps Discover New Barrier Islands 8
Twyla Tharp Brings the Creative Habit to Meredith
10 Wanted: Avenging Angels Who Desire an Excellent Education 11 Alumna Samantha Cibelli Earns Fulbright Grant
in every issue 1
Meredith Campus News
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Meredith Experts in the News
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Dateline Meredith
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Newsmakers
22 Alumnae Connection Meredith Magazine exists to serve the Meredith community by providing readers with insight and information about the news, activities, events, programs, plans and people of the College. Meredith Magazine is published three times a year by the Meredith College Department of Marketing. Questions or comments may be submitted to marketing@meredith.edu. © 2011 Meredith College. The Meredith name and word mark are registered trademarks of Meredith College and may not be used without permission. All rights reserved. 11-061
33 Cultural Events
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ampus news
An Update on the Events and the People of the Meredith College Campus
Newly named president Jo Allen, ’80, is introduced to the campus community on April 18. Allen (center) is welcomed by trustee Sam Ewell, Jr., and seventh president Maureen Hartford.
Alumna Jo Allen, ’80, Named New President of Meredith College By Melyssa Allen
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n April 18, 2011, Meredith College made history when alumna Jo Allen, ’80, was named the College’s eighth president. She is the first Meredith College alumna to be named president in the College’s 120-year history. Sam E. Ewell, Jr., 2010-11 chair of Meredith’s Board of Trustees, made the announcement in Jones Auditorium to a full house that included faculty and staff members, students, alumnae and guests from the community. Allen returns to Meredith from Widener University, where she served as senior vice president, provost and professor of English. A North Carolina native, Allen has also been an English faculty member at East Carolina University and North Carolina State University. “It’s both an honor and a privilege to be selected as the eighth president of Meredith College,” Allen said. “This is the position I’ve aspired to and prepared for my entire career.
As an alumna, I know firsthand that Meredith is a special place, one that for more than a century has produced women leaders who have made their mark in education, business, government and, perhaps most importantly, with their families and communities. “
“If the last two decades of the 20th century were about ‘women’s ways of knowing,’ the first two decades of the 21st century are clearly about ‘women’s ways of leading.’ We have the skills, knowledge and passion to help solve many of the challenges cur-
In his introduction, Ewell called Allen “a believer in what Meredith is all about.” “The fact that she’s also an alumna was icing on the cake,” Ewell said. “In short, she is the ideal choice to shepherd Meredith College into the future.” After being welcomed to the stage, Allen recounted her time as a student at Meredith, praising the College for putting her on the path to become both an educator and leader.
rently facing our country while providing an unparalleled academic experience for our students,” Allen said. “Obviously a number of things have changed at Meredith since I was a student here,” Allen said, “but the core of what makes this College so special has not. I must say that it’s good to be coming home.” Learn more about Meredith’s new president in “Meredith Welcomes New President,” pg. 12.
“This is the position I’ve aspired to and prepared for my entire career.” —Jo Allen, ’80
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Meredith College Celebrates 2011 Commencement By Gaye Hill
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eredith College’s 2011 Commencement took place on Sunday, May 8, in nearby Dorton Arena, where it was moved because of inclement weather. This year’s commencement was notable on several counts. Among those graduating were the first two Alumnae Legacy Scholars, Sarah Beth Phelps and Erin Huber, who both earned two degrees. The prestigious Alumnae Legacy Scholarship covers all costs for four years including tuition, room and board and funding for international study. In addition, Meredith’s first engineering dual degree student, Amanda Bragg, graduated with a B.A. in chemistry and a B.S. in chemical engineering. Meredith’s engineering dual degree program is a collaborative effort with NC State University. This commencement was also historic in that it was the last one to take place under the leadership of Maureen Hartford, the seventh president of Meredith College. Hartford retired in June after 12 years at Meredith. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Commencement Speaker
The commencement address was given by U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Sally BriceO’Hara. In her remarks, she described how all four annual campus themes from the graduates’ time at Meredith were encompassed in the children’s book “Horton Hears a Who” by Dr. Seuss. The themes were ethical leadership, environmental sustainability, catalysts for change and critical thinking for critical times. “Enabling the success of others is fundamental to good leadership,” said Brice-O’Hara, as she encouraged the graduates to maintain their sense of integrity and to discern their own unique way of serving others. “Meredith College is printed prominently on your ticket to a bright and adventurous future,” she concluded. Brice-O’Hara is the second woman to serve as the U.S. Coast Guard’s second in com2
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mand and chief operating officer. Her personal awards include a Distinguished Service Medal, five Legions of Merit, a Meritorious Service Medal, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation. Brice-O’Hara has over 36 years of active military service. She holds a B.A. from Goucher College, an M.A. in public administration from Harvard and an M.S. in national security strategy from the National War College. About the Class of 2011
The Class of 2011 was composed of 496 students earning 501 degrees. Of those degrees, 393 were bachelor’s degrees and 108 were master’s. Members of the Class of 2011 ranged in age from 20-55 years old. Thirty-eight students, including undergraduates and graduates, completed their academic work with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, while 24 undergraduates graduated summa cum laude. Approximately 30% of the graduates studied abroad while at Meredith, and
more than 100 have held leadership positions on campus. Meredith conferred the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Social Work, as well as master’s degrees in business, education, music and nutrition during the commencement exercises. What’s Next
Members of Meredith’s Class of 2011 entered the workforce for employers including Credit Suisse, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Wake County Public Schools, Walt Disney World, The Goddard School and the Universite Catholique de l’Ouest in Angers, France. Other members of the Class of 2011 are pursuing graduate and professional study at Yale Medical School, UNC-Chapel Hill, College of William and Mary, NC State University, Pratt Institute, Appalachian State University and many others. Their areas of study are varied, ranging from accounting, medicine, speech and language pathology, pharmacy, psychology, social work, education, business and more.
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Seventh President Maureen Hartford Honored By Melyssa Allen
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he Meredith College Board of Trustees has established an endowment in honor of Maureen Hartford, who retired in June 2011 after 12 years as president. Members of the Board of Trustees have funded the President Maureen A. Hartford Endowment for Leadership. The endowment will be used to support leadership across campus, including student leadership development, faculty development, and creative experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. Hartford is the first woman to serve as president at Meredith. The College honored her with a special reception on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Earlier this year, Hartford was selected to present a lecture on “Critical Thinking in Women’s Education,” as part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College. Hartford’s lecture, which was a look at
the history and future of women’s education, commemorated the College’s Founders’ Day. Other Honors for Meredith’s First Woman President
At a reception held in Hartford’s honor, North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue presented Hartford with the Order of the Longleaf Pine, an honor for service to the State of North Carolina. Perdue noted Hartford’s leadership in higher education and her work as an advocate for women’s leadership. While serving as Meredith’s president, Hartford’s leadership was recognized through awards including The Triangle Business Journal’s 2002 Women in Business Award, the 2002 Distinguished Scholar Award from the NC College Personnel Association and the 2003 Woman of Achievement Award from the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs of North Carolina. In 2005, she was inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women in the Education category. In 2007, she was chosen by Business Leader magazine as one of the publication’s “Women Extraordinaire.” In
August 2008, she received the inaugural Humanitarian Award as part of Women in Business Awards presented by Triangle Business Journal. Hartford received the 2008 Alumni Achievement Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Education. In 2010, she was one of five women leaders chosen by Cary Magazine for its Women of Western Wake issue. Sam Ewell, 2010-11 chair of Meredith’s Board of Trustees, said as the College’s first woman president, Hartford had helped transform Meredith and served as a positive role model for students. “Even though her tenure as president [concluded] on June 30, Dr. Hartford’s influence will continue to affect future generations of Meredith students, as young women are prepared for leadership responsibilities in a rapidly changing world,” Ewell said. For more information about how to support the President Maureen A. Hartford Endowment for Leadership, contact Cindy C. Godwin, ’74, director of development, at (919) 760-8206 or godwinc@meredith.edu.
Faculty Granted Emerita/Emeritus Status By Melyssa Allen
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he Meredith College Board of Trustees granted emerita/emeritus status to seven retiring members of the faculty. This honor was approved at the board’s spring meeting. The following faculty members received emerita/emeritus status: • Professor of Art Rebecca Bailey • Professor of English Susan Gilbert
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• Associate Professor of Education Ellen Graden • Professor of Psychology Rosemary Hornak • Professor of Psychology Jack Huber • Associate Professor of Political Science Barbara Graden True-Weber • Professor of English Betty Webb Retiring faculty members were honored during the College’s annual Faculty/
Staff Awards and Recognition event on April 15, 2011.
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Meredith Experts in the News Meredith faculty and staff have served as
By Melyssa Allen
media outlets such as CNN.com, Forbes.com,
eredith College is launching three new academic programs to provide graduates with skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce. These new programs include graduate and post-baccalaureate options. For college graduates, Meredith is adding a Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialty in teaching English as a Second Language; a Business Foundations Certificate Program; and a Pre-Health Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program. Each post-baccalaureate program is open to both women and men. “We have expanded our offerings for people with college degrees who are interested in making a career change or would like to enhance their skills in ways that will make them more in demand in their current field,” said Elizabeth Wolfinger, vice president for academic planning and programs. “We look at the economic drivers in North Carolina, and determine how Meredith can best meet the areas of need in the state’s workforce.” Meredith’s new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in English as a Second Language is the first of its kind in North Carolina. The MAT program serves people who have bachelor’s degrees in disciplines other than education, who are committed to becoming teachers, and who are seeking initial N.C. teaching licensure. Graduates of the new MAT in ESL program will be prepared to fill greatly needed ESL teaching positions in North Carolina. Teachers who hold licensure in other areas can complete ESL licensure at Meredith in order to diversify and adapt to North Carolina’s changing educational system. In addition to the new MAT in ESL, Meredith College now offers a new “5+ Plan” option that allows students to complete an undergraduate degree and the MAT program with one additional year of study. Qualified undergraduate
creates content for sites such as the blog for PaneraBread.com.
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Women are often more physical in their emotional responses and in a ‘power situation’ it may not seem as acceptable, but times are changing and the Situation Room needs to change, too. Her emotions were more obvious, but I am sure many of the men in the room felt the same way she did.” —Associate Professor of Sociology Lori Brown, in CNN.com analysis of the White House Situation Room during the May 1, 2011, operation to capture Osama bin Laden. Brown was commenting on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s show of emotion in the photo. Brown was also quoted on the topic by Forbes.com.
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A lot of islands don’t have any published literature describing them. Our study gives at least a starting point.” —Assistant Professor of Geosciences Matthew Stutz, to The New York Times about his study that discovered more than 600 barrier islands around the globe. (Read more about this research on pg. 8)
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An efficient, well-organized countertop sends a signal that says, ‘What would you like to do today?’ It sets a tone for how you feel about the space and probably influences what you do there.” —Associate Professor of Foods & Nutrition Susan Fisher, in a Rodale Press article on kitchen organization tips that ran on PaneraBread.com.
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Quiet time is restorative, both physically and mentally. We are ultimately more productive when we’ve had time to clear the deck mentally and start refreshed.” —Professor of Psychology Cindy Edwards in a Rodale Press article on how to find opportunities for relaxation that ran on PaneraBread.com.
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Meredith Offers New Options to Meet Workforce Needs
experts in a wide variety of news articles, in The New York Times and Rodale Press, which
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seniors will be able to take MAT courses during their senior year. This program is open to Meredith students and to students at other colleges. College graduates who want to increase their business skills will benefit from the Business Foundations Certificate Program. This program is appropriate for recent college graduates from non-business backgrounds who would like to gain business expertise. The certificate is also attractive for prospective MBA students who do not yet have the two years of work experience that Meredith’s MBA program requires. These students can complete the Business Foundations Certificate Program while gaining work experience. If medical school or another healthrelated graduate program is a person’s objective, Meredith’s new Pre-Health PostBaccalaureate Certificate Program will lead to success. This program offers two distinct tracks: a pre-health careers preparation track that is designed for students who have a baccalaureate degree but do not have the prerequisite coursework for admission to medical school or other healthcare educational programs; or an enhancement track, designed for students who need academic enhancement for their medical school application. For more information on graduate programs, visit www.meredith.edu/ graduate.
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Assistant Professor Jim Waddelow Receives Ida Friday Award By Melyssa Allen
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ssistant Professor of Music Jim Waddelow is the 2011 recipient of the Ida H. Friday Award. The award was presented during Meredith’s commencement exercises on Sunday, May 8, 2011. The Ida H. Friday Fund at Meredith College was established in 2010 by former UNC System President William Friday and his family in honor of his wife, Ida Friday, a 1941 Meredith graduate. The fund supports faculty development, with preference given to faculty members who are early in their careers. The recipient each year is able to use the funds to support the faculty member’s general advancement, through travel or study of the topic of his or her choice. Waddelow joined the Meredith College faculty as director of instrumental activities in 2007. He conducts the Meredith Sinfonietta and serves as musical director for musical theater productions. He is a member of the Conductor’s Guild, College Orchestra Director’s Association, American String Teacher’s Association, Music Educators National Conference and The College Music Society. He is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the South. Other 2011 Faculty/Staff Award Recipients
The following faculty and staff were presented with awards during the College’s annual Faculty/Staff Awards and Recognition event, April 15, 2011 PAULINE DAVIS PERRY AWARDS • Emily Burkhead, assistant professor of mathematics, Award for Research and Publication and/or Artistic Achievement • Jane Barnes, associate professor of business, Award for Excellence in Teaching The Pauline Davis Perry Award for Research and Publication and/or Artistic Achievement is given to a faculty member who has done exceptional research, publication and/or artistic achievement. The Pauline Davis Perry Award for Excellence in Teaching is given to an outstanding teacher at Meredith.
ACCESS AWARD • Gwynn Morris, assistant professor of psychology The Access Award honors a member of the faculty or staff at Meredith College who has made significant contributions toward the advocacy, support, encouragement and success of students with disabilities. Nominations are collected from students with disabilities and are voted on by the Disability Services Panel. ALLEN AND BARBARA PAGE PRESIDENTIAL STAFF AWARD • Donna Knott, assistant to the associate vice president for enrollment management
Jim Waddelow LAURA HARRILL PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS • Mary Kay Delaney, associate professor of education, in recognition of her leadership of Meredith’s education programs, including the expansion of Meredith’s graduate programs in education. • Cammey Cole Manning, professor of mathematics, in recognition of her leadership of Meredith’s engineering dual degree program. The Laura Harrill Presidential Awards are presented to two faculty members each year, in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to the advancement of Meredith College. HARRY AND MARION EBERLY FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AWARDS • Warner Hyde, assistant professor of art The Harry and Marion Eberly Faculty Development Awards are given to deserving faculty members for the purpose of helping them progress in their area of expertise.
Established in 2002, the Presidential Staff Award is given in recognition of exemplary service to the Meredith community. The Meredith College president chooses the recipient. The awards were renamed this year in honor of former vice president for academic programs Allen Page and his wife, Barbara Page, ’54. STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS • Cailen Waddell, production supervisor • Miranda McCall, assistant director of financial assistance Staff Recognition Awards are presented annually to two staff members who, through their job performance, have demonstrated initiative, teamwork, extra effort and outstanding customer service to the Meredith community. JANICE COFFEY SWAB SUSTAINABILITY AWARD • Meredith College Art Department Established in 2010, this award recognizes a full-time employee or department who exemplifies Meredith’s sustainability vision. The award name is in recognition of Professor Emerita Janice Swab’s consistent and long-standing advocacy for environmental awareness and sustainability at Meredith and beyond. M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m er 2 011 /
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Author Tim Tyson Visits Meredith College “Blood Done Sign My Name” author Tim Tyson was the featured speaker at a special event on Wednesday, March 23, 2011. Tyson was on campus to promote the stage production of his book, which was presented the following evening in Jones
Meredith College Begins Partnership with NC School of Science & Mathematics By Melyssa Allen A new Meredith partnership with the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) will strengthen the relationship between the two institutions. NCSSM is a statewide residential magnet school for students with a strong aptitude and interest in math and science. Established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1978, NCSSM is the first school of its kind in the United States. One element of the partnership is an articulation agreement that will allow 6
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Auditorium. The production brings to life his bestselling memoir of civil rights struggles in Oxford, N.C. In a wide-ranging talk, Tyson discussed civil rights in North Carolina and the influence of Southern culture on the arts worldwide. The lecture was supple-
students at NCSSM to enter Meredith College with credit for specific courses taken during high school. In addition, the partnership will allow for increased interaction between Meredith faculty and those at NCSSM, including lectures by Meredith faculty at the school, and campus visits by faculty from each school. Meredith College also plans to offer scholarships to NCSSM graduates. “This ongoing, substantive engagement between the two schools will be productive for both and is likely to yield new student prospects,” said Meredith College Vice President for Academic Planning and Programs Elizabeth Wolfinger. The agreement was signed in April 2011.
mented with a powerful performance by gospel singer Mary D. Williams. The lecture and play were presented by The Thomas F. Staley Foundation Lecture Program. Proceeds from the stage production supported the Methodist Federation for Social Action.
Meredith Hosts Carolinas Psychology Conference By Melyssa Allen Meredith College hosted the 36th annual Carolinas Psychology Conference (CPC) on April 9, 2011. The conference, which began in 1976, is one of the longest-running undergraduate conferences in the nation. The Carolinas Psychology Conference is a meeting of undergraduate students in psychology and related fields. Students travel from across the Southeast to attend the conference events and to present papers. Approximately 200 people attended, with 73 presentations by students from 22 different colleges and universities representing North
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Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland and New York. Jennifer Etnier, professor of sport and exercise psychology in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, delivered the keynote address,“Can Exercise Make You Smarter?” Other highlights included a Psychology Jeopardy Competition hosted by NC State University Professor of Psychology Jim Kalat; and a panel discussion titled “Psychology Across the Lifespan: Careers Working with Populations of All Ages.”
Meredith College Efforts Support Tornado Victims By Melyssa Allen The Meredith College campus was spared damage by tornadoes that tore through North Carolina on April 16, but the College took action to support those affected by the storms. The College held a Tornado Relief Drive, collecting funds and items such as clothing, non-perishable food, and toiletries. Items collected were provided to Meredith College community members affected by the tornadoes, and donated to tornado relief efforts by The Salvation Army of Wake County and The Interfaith Food Shuttle. Proceeds from the Office of Student Leadership and Service’s annual yard sale were also donated to this cause. Meredith College volunteers participated in a volunteer cleanup event at Shaw University in downtown Raleigh. Shaw University sustained extensive damage during the April 16 storm, and closed the campus for the remainder of the spring semester. Meredith students, faculty and staff joined volunteers from other Raleigh colleges to remove debris and damage caused during the storms.
Students Tackle 30th Annual Vivian Kraines Competition By Mike Johnson, assistant professor of mathematics Sixteen Meredith freshmen and sophomores kicked off the spring semester in
January with a unique challenge —The Vivian Kraines Mathematics Competition, which has been held annually for 30 consecutive years. First place winner was Miller Chetham; second place went to Mary Rawls and Lauren Allen won third place. The competition is a formidable set of “puzzle” type questions in two parts. Between the halves, students unwind in camaraderie and conversation over a pizza supper before returning to fulfill the challenge. This year student participants had a memorable break when Kraines, a professor emeritus of mathematics, stopped in to help celebrate the 30-year milestone. Kraines, who retired from Meredith in 2003, enjoyed chatting with students as she offered her encouragement. The competition was “a way to encourage the top students in beginning mathematics courses to consider mathematics as a major,” Kraines said. “I am very pleasantly surprised that it is still going strong.”
cause each stage required collaboration with a variety of others. “This is our form of publication. Everything that went into the project, the liner notes, artwork, the whole creative process, took time and so many different people,” Williams said. “This was a chance to champion something that deserves to be heard.” Williams has been a member of Meredith’s faculty since 1992. In addition to her role at Meredith, Williams is a performing artist and a member of the North Carolina Opera Board of Directors. North Carolina Opera was formed in 2010 from the merger of Capital Opera Raleigh and The Opera Company of North Carolina. The CD, presented by Centaur Records, is available at Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh, and the project can also be purchased on iTunes or on www.centaurrecords.com.
Professor of Music Ellen Williams Completes Mahler CD
By Melyssa Allen
By Melyssa Allen Meredith College Professor of Music Ellen Williams has completed a new CD of Gustav Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde.” The project features Arnold Schoenberg’s arrangement of Mahler’s work. The six songs were originally scored for a large orchestra, while Schoenberg’s version is for 14 instruments. Williams’ collaborator was tenor Tim Sparks. The project was completed “ten years after we sang it for the first time during Meredith College’s 2001 Year of Music,” Williams said. “We fell in love with the piece and never gave up on the idea of recording it, because this version is not as available as the original orchestra version.” The performance was recorded in 2007 with the Duraleigh Chamber Players at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Durham, N.C. Completing the project took time be-
Meredith Student Participates in Reach the World Program While studying abroad for the spring semester at Scotland’s University of St. Andrews, Lauren Casteen, ’12, also served as a travel correspondent for a program called Reach the World (RTW), an organization that connects classrooms in the U.S. with volunteer world travelers. Casteen was one of 30 college students selected for the program. She was paired with an elementary school in Hope Mills, N.C. A Teaching Fellow, Casteen is earning a degree in history and 9-12 licensure. As a future teacher, the educational aspect of the RTW program appealed to Casteen. “Reach the World Travel Correspondents get paired with a classroom in a Title 1 (low income) school,” Casteen explains. “Over the course of the semester, we will blog, email, and videoconference with the students using the Reach the World website. The goal is to inspire these students to have an interest in other cultures, history, geography, etc., through the use of technology.” Visit www.reachtheworld.org/journals/9156 to read the journals Casteen posted during her semester with Reach the World. M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m er 2 011 /
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Twyla Tharp Brings The Creative Habit to Meredith By Melyssa Allen
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ony and Emmy Award winner Twyla Tharp brought the lessons in her book “The Creative Habit” to Meredith College on April 13, 2011. Tharp presented the 2011 Woman of Achievement Lecture, which is part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College. One of the book’s lessons is how to conquer fear in the creative process, which she said could be one of the major barriers to accomplishing goals. “To counteract your fears, acknowledge that they are there,” Tharp said. “But mostly, it is about ‘get over it.’ Don’t worry about whether it is perfect or not.” Tharp used Meredith College student volunteers to illustrate some of the book’s concepts. These exercises included having students and the audience practice a simple dance until it was in their muscle memory, and having a student practice a self-isolation method Tharp calls “The Egg.” One chapter in “The Creative Habit” covers how to recognize one’s creative DNA.
Tony-winner Twyla Tharp (center) leads Meredith students through creativity exercises. “All of us have certain gifts, all of us lack certain gifts,” Tharp said. “We need to recognize the differences.” However, Tharp said a creative person has to avoid only doing those things for which he or she has natural skills. “You can’t just do the things you love. You
need to be willing to engage in your lesser forces, to address some of your weaknesses,” Tharp said. Tharp has choreographed more than 135 dances, five Hollywood movies, directed and choreographed four Broadway shows and written two books.
Meredith Faculty Member Helps Discover New Barrier Islands By Melyssa Allen
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ew research that found the Earth has 657 more barrier islands than previously known has a Meredith College connection. Matthew Stutz, Meredith College assistant professor of geosciences since 2007, conducted this global survey with Orrin H. Pilkey, Duke University James B. Duke professor. The research, which was part of Stutz’s dissertation at Duke University, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Coastal Research. The project is “a one-time snapshot of the world’s barrier islands,” Stutz said. “Islands break up and move. These images don’t tell you the history of the barrier
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islands – that is the piece that is missing.” Stutz said the study is significant because barrier islands are important economically and environmentally. His study, which took several years to complete, shows that barrier islands are found in virtually every geographic area on earth. Most of the islands identified are inhabited and most are more than 1000 years old, but haven’t been scientifically studied because they are in remote areas. Improved access to satellite imagery made the project possible. “All earlier coastal classifications had been done using much less accurate tools,” Stutz said. “Satellite images now available allowed us to
make much more precise identification.” The next step in this research is to try to identify what factors can be used to predict where barrier islands are vulnerable. “We know that islands have disappeared in the past,” Stutz said. “Each setting is different, and they won’t all react in the same way. We want to know what will happen, and what happened in the past is not necessarily predictive of what will happen in the future.” The research has gained media coverage in news outlets around the world, including The New York Times, NPR, Discovery, The Christian Science Monitor and MSNBC.com.
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Interior Design Students Gain Experience Through Community Partnerships By Melyssa Allen
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ecent partnerships with local businesses and organizations have given Meredith College interior design students opportunities to develop design concepts for environmentally friendly corporate offices, downtown Raleigh retail stores, and historic houses in Goldsboro, N.C. “These projects are great learning opportunities that give students a chance to work with a real space and to develop Danielle Sundt, ’11 (left) and Lauren Hays, a concept. It also gives them the chance ’12, won for their Akorn design. to present to industry professionals,” said Professor of Human Environmental Sciboutique included a real oak tree in the ences Martha Burpitt, the interior design center of the first floor. program coordinator. “Working with an existing space and Meredith’s designation as the Triangle the many challenges it presents has been area’s only interior design program accred- an incredible design experience for the ited by the Council for Interior Design students,” said Burpitt. “Researching who Accreditation (CIDA) makes the College the target market would be, the location a popular partner. Highwoods Properties, and the merchandise offered, were the bathe largest owner and operator of subsis for the overriding concept, store name urban office properties in the Southeast, and store design.” invited Meredith students to participate While the Highwoods projects alin two design competitions. lowed students to work with new spaces, In 2010, 11 interior design students students were able to create renovation prepared environmentally responsible ideas for historic homes in partnership with interior designs for a 5,200-square-foot Preservation North Carolina. The organizaoffice space for a Highwoods property tion asked students in Meredith’s Interior known as 3600 Glenwood. Design II class to help with an ongoing Danielle Stott, ’11, was chosen as the renovation project in Goldsboro, N.C. competition’s winner, based on criteria in- Eighteen students were asked to recluding space plan, creativity and realism imagine how some of Goldsboro’s Victorian of concept. homes could be renovated as single-family Based on the success of that project, homes while maintaining historic character. Highwoods invited Meredith students to Three teams developed ideas for six homes, participate in a retail design competition. and presented their work at Goldsboro’s city Seven student teams submitted design hall, to an audience including local officials, concepts for a 2,200-square-foot retail Preservation North Carolina members, and space at Highwoods’ RBC Plaza, Raleigh’s local homeowners. This project was featured tallest building. on Preservation North Carolina’s website. The project helped Highwoods gener- “These experiences are wonderful opate ideas for potential shops for the space. portunities for students to have that kind of Danielle Sundt, ’11, and Lauren Hays, exposure, and to build their resumes,” Bur’12, won the competition, which offered a pitt said. “The companies and organizations $500 prize. Their design, Akorn, was ingain ideas that they can share with potential spired by The City of Oaks. The concept clients, so it really benefits both sides.”
Newsmakers Professor Emerita Rebecca Bailey served as a juror for the Congressional Art Exhibit sponsored by Representative Brad Miller. This exhibit featured the work of high school students from the region. Bailey was also a grants panelist for the grant category, Youth Art Programs, for the United Arts Council, and a consultant to the Education Department at the North Carolina Museum of Art for the review of their “What’s in the Box” program for preschool children. The program is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Professor of Political Science Clyde Frazier wrote a book review titled “How ‘Feminine Mystique’ shaped lives in the 1960s” that was published in The News & Observer and the Charlotte Observer on Sunday, March 26. It was a review of Stephanie Coontz’ book “A Strange Stirring,” which was an assessment of Betty Friedan’s classic “The Feminine Mystique.” Assistant Professor of Sociology Amie Hess recently had a book review published. Her review of “The Politics of Virginity: Abstinence in Sex Education” by Alesha E. Doan and Jean Calterone Williams was published in “Social Forces” 89(3), in March 2011. Professor Emeritus Jack Huber has been named the 2011 recipient of the Greek Alumni Chapter Distinguished Alumni Award by the Kent State University Alumni Association and the Greek Alumni Chapter. Assistant Professor of Art Warner Hyde was featured as part of a presentation on “Wood Firing in U.S. Academic Institutions” at the first International Woodfiring Conference in Germany, and in the April “Ceramics Monthly” magazine, the largest circulating magazine in ceramics. The presentation and article included Meredith’s ceramics program, and the wood kiln Hyde and his students built. Hyde was also selected as one of 12 artists who were invited to work with the Japanese ceramics master Shozo Michikawa. Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Erin Lindquist and Amanda Powell, ’08, published a paper in the current issue of the journal “Southeastern Naturalist” titled, “Effects of Power-line Maintenance on Forest Structure in a Fragmented Urban Forest, Raleigh, N.C.”. The research was conducted primarily by Powell as a senior research project in the Meredith Forest. M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um mer 2 011 /
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Wanted: Avenging Angels Who Desire an Excellent Education By Gaye Hill
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ecruitment of athletes at the college level is an important, if at times controversial, topic within higher education. At Meredith, there is no doubt that student-athlete recruitment has helped to build strong teams that continue to improve. Even more importantly, however, active, intentional recruitment efforts connect talented students with a school that they might otherwise miss, but that is a great fit for their athletic and academic goals. Volleyball player Clarke Glendenning, ’14, said she would never have considered Meredith if it weren’t for volleyball. The smaller size and the fact it was an all women’s college made her rule out Meredith initially. “When I was contacted by Coach Barkley about possibly playing volleyball, I looked into the school and found it was a perfect fit for me. When I visited I fell in love! So I guess I can say Meredith came looking for me—and it was through the volleyball program,” said Glendenning. Glendenning is a typical student-athlete in that playing sports has enhanced her educational experience, helping her to manage her time effectively and to develop friendships with her teammates. Research shows that athletic participation boosts student-athletes’ grade point averages, confidence, leadership skills and ability to work cooperatively. Such benefits are important, as recruiting athletes consumes a significant amount of the coaches’ time and energy. Soccer
phone or in person. They also facilitate student visits to campus, often giving multiple personal tours. As a Division III school, Meredith does not offer athletic scholarships. This puts an even greater onus on coaches to locate athletes who truly want to both play their sport and attend Meredith. And, as Meredith’s level of play continues to increase, it becomes ever more challenging to identify athletes who fit the team level and meet the College’s academic profile.
“Meredith has the strongest academic credentials of any school in our conference. So I look for great volleyball players who are also great students.”—Fiona Barkley coach Paul Smith estimates that it takes a minimum of 21 hours per week to recruit in a way that keeps the soccer program strong. Recruitment activities include attending games and tournaments, connecting with students via recruitment websites and going to talent showcases. Once contact is made, coaches and assistant coaches communicate with students on an ongoing basis by email, 10
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“The level of the team is very high now. Some players we do not even pursue recruiting in 2011 would have started in earlier years,” said Smith. “We have to recruit better players each season and increase our strength to have a chance to attain the high standards and goals of previous teams.” Volleyball coach Fiona Barkley said she has also seen a change in recruiting for Mer-
edith. “Our admissions academic standards continue to strengthen so I have raised the academic credentials I look for in a studentathlete,” said Barkley. “The club volleyball programs in our region are also traveling to more regional and national tournaments. This gives them exposure to more college coaches. There is more competition for any one player as they are now being recruited by and considering more colleges.” Coaches at Meredith work hard to convey the entire educational experience to prospective students. As a result, even those who choose not to play sports all four years typically choose to stay at Meredith. “Meredith has the strongest academic credentials of any school in our conference. So I look for great volleyball players who are also great students,” said Barkley. According to Smith, the athletes he recruits have committed many years and sacrificed many weekends to become great soccer players. “It is an important part of their life and they are choosing Meredith because of our soccer program,” said Smith. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege to experience being an NCAA athlete.”
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Alumna Samantha Cibelli Earns Fulbright Grant By Melyssa Allen
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lumna Samantha Cibelli, ’10, has earned a Fulbright grant for the 2011-12 academic year. While associated with L’Universita’ Degli Studi di Firenze in Florence, Italy, Cibelli will conduct a psychology research project in migrant studies. Cibelli is interested in exploring how young adult migrants in Italy develop a sense of self, and will explore whether their feelings about themselves differ from those of traditional Italian youth. At Meredith, Cibelli earned a degree in psychology and completed a minor in Italian, and studied abroad twice in Siena, Italy. She explored identity formation in her Honors thesis at Meredith, and her awareness of the
modern history of migration in Italy began during her study abroad experiences. Cibelli continued this interest through independent research at Meredith. As a senior, she began working toward her goal of earning a Fulbright. “The Fulbright appeared to be the most ideal route to connect all of my passions together and to provide me with a platform to interact with the community,” said Cibelli, who spent three months after graduation in Italy preparing her proposal, studying Italian and meeting with professors, researchers and community groups with which she could create affiliations and earn recommendations for the Fulbright. Cibelli plans to attend graduate school once she returns to the United States. “I am most excited about starting my career as a researcher and to get into the field with this project,” Cibelli said. “There is so
much potential for growth in the world and an adjusted perspective on all sides of the [migrant] issue could benefit all communities.” Cibelli said her Meredith experience helped her succeed in earning a Fulbright grant. “I feel like obtaining the grant is less of a statement of my individual achievement and more of one related to the potential of any individual within the community,” Cibelli said. “There was a community behind me that, although small in size, inspired me to push myself toward my potential.” The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Professor Emerita Completes Holocaust Survivor Book By Melyssa Allen
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eredith College Professor Emerita of History Carolyn Happer is the co-author of a new book, “Chosen for Destruction: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor.” The book tells the story of Morris Glass, Happer’s co-author. Glass is a Holocaust survivor who was 11 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland. He spent four and a half years in ghettos in his hometown and in Lodz (the longest lasting ghetto), two months in Auschwitz-Birkenau, and eight months in five camps that were part of the Dachau camp system. During those years, he lost his youth, his home, and his father, mother, and two sisters. Out of 42 close family members only he, his brother, and a first cousin survived. “The book is a mix of memoir and history,” Happer explained. “He tells his story,
and I explain what happened to him in a historical context.” Happer, who has taught history at Meredith since 1986, met Morris Glass in 2007 when he spoke at the North Carolina Holocaust Commemoration service, which was held at Meredith College. “His narrative was so compelling and he was so charismatic that I said to myself, ‘his is a story that needs to reach a wider audience,’” Happer said. Glass agreed to work with Happer on the book, a project that took two and a half years to complete. Intended for the general reader, “Chosen for Destruction” is also suitable for high school and college classes. The book is available in the Meredith Supply Store, and in Raleigh at Quail Ridge Books & Music, and at NOFO. It can also be purchased on Amazon.com.
Meredith Faculty on Bookshelves
Jeane Joyner, research associate in Meredith College’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, is the co-author of a new book on informative assessment that has been published by Scholastic, Inc. and Math Solutions. The book, “INFORMative Assessment: Formative Assessment to Improve Math Achievement,” will serve as a resource for K-6 mathematics educators. The book provides a foundation of formative assessment used to guide instructional decision making. Visit www.meredith.edu/academics/ published-books.htm to see other books by Meredith College faculty members.
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President Jo Allen, ’80, met Tori Downs, ’13, while on campus in April following her appointment as the eighth president of Meredith College. With extensive experience both as a faculty member and administrator in academic and student affairs, Allen’s background speaks to her affinity for working with students.
Welcomes
Meredith new president As Jo Allen, ’80, joyfully assumes the helm of her alma mater, the Meredith community welcomes back one of its own. By Gaye Hill
Q: What do you see as Meredith’s
On July 1, 2011, Jo Allen, ’80, became the first alumna to serve as Meredith’s president. Here she shares her thoughts on Meredith’s strengths, its challenges and where she sees the College going in the future.
greatest strengths? What makes Meredith special?
A: A deep commitment to academic
quality is the linchpin of Meredith’s strengths. We have a history of diversifying programming while remaining focused on the liberal arts, on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Our history and traditions, our service to women and to the community, and our national and global perspectives are also key. When you layer that with studies in leadership and provide opportunities for students to practice through study abroad, undergraduate research, and other experiences, you really have something special.
Our rich learning environment also sets us apart, this campus and our location in North Carolina. Being near both state government and Research Triangle Park with all that goes on there in terms of research and technology—Meredith is ideally situated between these two entities. As a rising senior I did summer coursework at East Carolina University. It was my first opportunity to work with graduate students and I was extremely pleased by how prepared I felt. I was also surprised at how small that world felt. Even being on a large campus, it felt like a smaller experience than what I was used to at Meredith, because I was only really exposed to people within my discipline. Meredith has a beautiful balance because it’s small and personal but feels big in M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m er 2 011 /
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“I am excited that we are on the front edge of a new strategic plan, bringing all of these partners together—alumnae, students, faculty, staff, community members—to determine where Meredith College is going. We have the opportunity to think about what our mission means in the 21st century, and figure out how to build on our strengths while still retaining our roots, values and traditions.”—Jo Allen, ’80
terms of your exposure to people from other areas of study, other residence halls, other geographic regions. And, of course, the lasting connections we enjoy are dear to so many of us: our relationships with other students and faculty and, after we graduate, with other alumnae.
Q:
What are Meredith’s greatest challenges?
A: When thinking about your chal-
lenges, I think you always have to look at the underside of your strengths. So, if one of our strengths is a really strong liberal arts tradition, that needs to be balanced by opportunities for experiential learning. Another challenge is the economy and what to do about resources. Higher education is an expensive enterprise. It’s also a business, and one of the most competitive out there. We have to enhance the public’s understanding of what higher education means for them and their futures. And,
we need to make the case for donors to encourage their support for scholarships and other resources. It’s critical that we take steps to ensure that Meredith is a nimble institution. For example, we’re just now getting data from the 2010 Census—where are the pockets of opportunity that we can identify using that information? How can Meredith position itself to be seen as an emerging leader? Higher education is universally about change. You come to us and we can help you become more empowered, better educated, more in charge of your destiny. Too often, we ascribe that power to a formula of going through classes and graduating, when really, it’s about the whole package.
Q: What unique skills and gifts do
you bring to Meredith?
A: First, my academic background—my
real love of learning and playing with new ideas. In particular, having a liberal arts back-
Jo Allen | Bio A native of North Carolina, Jo Allen graduated from Meredith in 1980 with a B.A. in English literature. She went on to receive her master’s degree from East Carolina University and a doctorate from Oklahoma State University. Both her M.A. and Ph.D. were in English literature, with an emphasis in Technical
Beth Howard, ’11, Jennifer Prince, ’12 and Ida Githu, ’12, gathered to congratulate Dr. Allen, as did faculty, staff and other members of the campus community.
and Professional Communication.
University and tenured associate profes-
Smith, and historical fiction. Allen also con-
sor at North Carolina State University.
siders higher education one of her hobbies.
nior vice president, provost and professor
“I truly enjoy talking with other educators
of English at Widener University. There
member, Allen has served in a number
about it, reading about it and seeing what
she oversaw academic and student affairs
of leadership positions at the universities
other schools are doing,” said Allen.
at Widener’s main campus in Chester,
where she taught, including special assis-
Pa., and for satellite campuses in Har-
tant to the dean and vice chancellor, as
hot air ballooning. Allen’s brother-in-law is
risburg and Exton, Pa., and Wilmington,
assistant dean and interim vice provost.
a pilot and she crewed for him for 10
Del. She has also served as tenured asso-
years. “I haven’t done much of that lately
ciate professor of English at East Carolina
especially southern women writers like Lee
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Most recently, Allen has served as se-
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In addition to her duties as a faculty
In her free time, Allen enjoys reading,
One of her more unusual pastimes is
but hope to get back to it,” said Allen.
ground combined with my emphasis on business, scientific and technical communication. I also bring to Meredith my experience with different kinds of institutions. I’ve been at large and small, public and private, southern and northeastern. As a result, I’ve been able to form a unique perspective on the importance of an institution’s mission. Without a strong connection to the mission there is a tendency to tie our activities to resources, and an institution driven by resources instead of by its mission will quickly lose its way. I have been part of an institution that has gone through the process of looking at its services and mission, reallocated resources and created assessment tools to track progress. Having lived through that process, I can see how Meredith’s mission should guide us through the same process, resulting in a higher profile. Meredith can’t afford to be the best kept secret anymore.
faces. I don’t have to look them up in the yearbook, I know them. That’s powerful.
Q: You are the first alumna to serve
A: As a women’s college, Meredith is in
as president of Meredith. What impact do you think that will have on your presidency?
A: Well, I know Meredith’s traditions,
from the curricular format to the engagement with student organizations to those that are unique to Meredith, such as Cornhuskin’ and Alice. I’ve been where they are, and I think that allows me to connect with students in a different way. As an alumna, I also have a unique ability to connect with other alumnae. I am so amazed by the messages I have already received. Many are from my own class of 1980 and when I read them, I can see their
Q:
What are you most excited about as you embark on your role as Meredith’s president?
A: I am thrilled to be coming back to my
comfortable for us and advocates for change. Too many women are falling through the cracks, and we have the opportunity to play a leadership role. Women’s colleges have not been about access for a long time. Most schools went coed 50-60 years ago. The real strength of women’s colleges is not about access, but about mission. The education they get here should be different from what they’d get at a coed institution.
alma mater, to Raleigh, and to North Carolina. I love this state—its complexities, its progressiveness. North Carolina is such a jewel and I’m so happy to be back here. I’m also excited because I think that Meredith is poised to be the next force of women’s education.
As you look to Meredith’s future, what new directions do you see the College taking?
Q:
A: We have an opportunity to enhance the
You attended both coed schools and a women’s college—how did your experiences differ? How would you respond to critics who argue there’s no longer a need for women’s colleges?
a unique position to look at how women are making a difference in a multitude of contexts today. Yes, there is still a glass ceiling, although it’s thinner than it used to be. But when you look at what is happening globally, the roles and plights of women, that really calls us to something beyond ourselves. And, much to our consternation, the brutality and limited opportunities are also present here in our own country. We can’t be complacent or adopt some kind of antiquated social attitude about women. Meredith has to be the kind of institution that both seeks out opportunities for women and capitalizes on them, that shines a light on those things that are not
Meet Jo Allen
| Videos
As a way of introducing herself to the community, Jo Allen has prepared some videos in which she talks about issues that are significant to Meredith, such as the value of women’s colleges. She also speaks directly to Meredith constituents such as alumnae and students. In addition, you can watch a video of her remarks following the announcement of her being named president. Go to www.meredith.edu/president/videos.htm.
Q:
profile of Meredith College in higher education circles, to clarify what Meredith is all about. We also have an opportunity to build stronger relationships with other colleges and corporations. Meredith has a really good laptop program, but I’d like to talk further about technology, things like Flickr, YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook. Part of it is how we work with the most current technology to engage our students. On the educational side, we have the opportunity to talk to our students about their responsibilities with regard to social media, about respecting others and themselves. Our students are constantly discovering new platforms like Animoto, which is a great way for student organizations to promote themselves, but they need to practice good judgment. We can create a culture that is selfreflective, and teach students how to embrace opportunities to see what they’ve learned from their failures. I’d like to build a culture where that kind of reflection is encouraged and taught. I am excited that we are on the front edge of a new strategic plan, bringing all of these partners together—alumnae, students, faculty, staff, community members—to determine where Meredith College is going. We have the opportunity to think about what our mission means in the 21st century, and figure out how to build on our strengths while still retaining our roots, values and traditions.
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places
we
love Celebrating the Timeless Beauty of Meredith’s Campus By Melyssa Allen
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any of the new students who arrive at Meredith College each fall are leaving home for the first time. As the College becomes their home away from home for four years, students discover their own special places on campus. Some of these places take on significance right away— McIver Amphitheater, where the Honor Code Ceremony is held, and where students can already imagine graduation four years later, for example. Other places allow a student to feel she discovered them on her own—like the rose garden by Joyner, or the Margaret Craig Martin, ’30, Garden, which is tucked beside the Science and Mathematics Building, offering a relaxing place to study or visit with friends between classes. Jones Chapel is a special place for many, including the dozens of alumnae who marry there each year. In the introduction to “Meredith College: A Portrait of the Experience,” a keepsake book given to Meredith graduates, Vice President for College Programs Jean Jackson, ’75, wrote about the role special places on campus play for each alumna: “When we who love Meredith College think about our time here, we do so with a host, a tumult, of images…we nestle once more into our favorite spots to study in the library or Joyner or Jones, or Science and Math…We are startled still by the beauty of the azaleas around the lake in the springtime. We are made happy by the pleasures of sharing our favorite campus places with a friend. That is Meredith at its best—changing, unchanged, timely, timeless.”
“I love the main courtyard. It has such a relaxing feeling to it and is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and complete assignments.” —Anna Williams, ’12
“I go on walks on the greenway a lot. It’s a really beautiful trail in the spring and fall. I love that I can walk just around campus or all the way to the NC Art Museum.” —Emily Pappas, ’12 M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m er 2 011 /
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“I prefer hanging out under the umbrella shades (near the library or Cate Center) on warm days. They are perfect reading spots and also cool spots to hang around in between classes.” —Rodda Akelo Ouma, ’14
“My favorite place on campus would be a certain little garden—but you’ll have to find that on your own!” —Kristen Gallagher, ’13
“My favorite hangout spot on campus is definitely the Meredith Beach … It’s a great place to hang out with friends, catch some rays, maybe work on some homework. It’s nice to get outside with friends and have some fun in your own ‘backyard’.” —Christina Cole, ’13
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Alumnae: What places at Meredith do you love? Visit Meredith’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/
meredithcollege and share the special spaces on campus that mean a lot to you. What memories do these places evoke?
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How well do you From Chaucer lines to the verses of the alma mater, there are many unique things a Meredith woman learns. But how well do you really know Meredith? Test your knowledge of Meredith College with these trivia questions. Compiled by Melyssa Allen
1
2
How many graduate programs are offered at Meredith? A. None B. One C. Three D. Four
3
Meredith College has one of the oldest student government associations in the South. True or False
4
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When did the first students graduate from Baptist Female University (which is now Meredith College)? A. 1891 B. 1899 C. 1902 D. 1910
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Which of these Meredith student traditions is the oldest? A. Cornhuskin’ B. Crook Hunt C. Alice in Wonderland D. Stunt
5 6
What is the newest building on Meredith’s campus? A. Johnson Hall B. Science and Mathematics Building C. The Oaks Student Apartments D. Jones Auditorium What athletic conference does Meredith belong to? A. Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) B. USA South Athletic Conference C. Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) D. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)
7
Meredith College is one of only two women’s colleges to hold AACSB accreditation? True or False
8
What percentage of Meredith College students participate in undergraduate research? A. 15% B. 27% C. 34% D. 41%
know Meredith? Answers 1) C. The first students graduated from Baptist Female University in 1902. These students are known as the “Immortal Ten.” Baptist Female University became Meredith College in 1909. 2) D. There are four master’s degree programs at Meredith: Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching and the Master of Science in Nutrition. Meredith also has several post-baccalaureate certificate programs, including a paralegal program and a dietetic internship. The College’s newest programs, a post-baccalaureate pre-health program and a business foundations certificate, begin this fall.
3) True—The Meredith College Student Government Association, which began in 1905, is one of the first student governments in the South. 4) B. Crook Hunt is the oldest of these Meredith traditions. It was started in 1906 by a drama professor who brought the tradition to Meredith from Adrian College, a school in Michigan that had a similar tradition. Stunt began in 1915, Alice in Wonderland in 1924 and Cornhuskin’ in 1945.
Scoring 5) C. The newest building at Meredith is The Oaks. This apartment-style housing for juniors and seniors opened in August 2009. The newest academic building is the Science and Mathematics Building, which opened in 2003. 6) B. Meredith College joined the USA South Athletic Conference in 2007. Since that time, the Avenging Angels have earned conference championships in soccer and tennis. 7) True—Meredith College’s School of Business earned Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) accreditation in 2010. Meredith is only the second women’s college to earn this distinction, which is considered the gold standard for business schools.
7-8 Correct: Great job. You are a Meredith College expert! 4-6 Correct: Not bad. You are well-connected to Meredith College’s past and present. 0-3 Correct: Your Meredith knowledge is a little rusty. Come back to campus or visit www.meredith.edu to refresh your memory and learn more. Meredith history facts can be found at www.meredith.edu/ library/archives and the latest news is on our homepage.
Sources: “A History of Meredith College” by Mary Lynch Johnson Meredith College Archives, www.meredith.edu/library/archives
8) D. According to the most recent National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), 41% of Meredith’s Class of 2010 participated in undergraduate research. The national average is 20%.
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lumnae Connection Notes and news for Meredith alumnae
Highlights 2011 Alumnae Award Winners Announced.......... ................ 24 Where in the World is Meredith?....... 26 Alumna Profile: Holland Muscio, ’93... 27 Alumnae Reunion Recap............... 28 Alumni Profile: Brad Worley and Erin McGraw Worley................. 31
Elizabeth Dove, ’84, (left) receives the Alumnae Association president’s gavel from outgoing president Deborah Jordan Matthews, ’74.
Message from the New Alumnae Association President Greetings Meredith Alumnae, As president-elect of our Alumnae Association, I recently had the honor of chairing the committee selecting recipients of the Meredith College Alumnae Awards of 2011. All of the nominees were exceptional women, and it was genuinely difficult to ultimately select the winners. From community leaders to international diplomats, to business executives and university professors, all of these women had one thing in common: they proved that the power of one person to make a difference in the lives of the people and the communities around them is a force multiplier. I’ve thought quite a lot about this term lately; The Power of One. In 1992, The Power of One was first portrayed in the film version of the book by Bryce Courtenay. It’s the story of a young English boy named Peekay and his passion for changing the world while a student in South Africa of the 1940s. While Peekay must overcome almost insurmountable odds to change the society around him, he never gives up hope that he can make a difference. While Meredith does not face the same difficulties Peekay encountered as a young student in South Africa during apartheid, we are still in the midst of much change in the life of our college; change that will require each of us to continually assert ourselves as proud recipients of Meredith degrees. As we welcome our eighth president and fellow alumna, Dr. Jo Allen, class of 1980, we are reminded that the essence of our college is ultimately her students and their regard for Meredith after graduation. As an alumna, you can do much to help keep Meredith the strong and highly relevant school it has always been. Speak to prospective students in your communities, businesses, churches and families about the proud heritage of Meredith and encourage qualified students to apply. As always, we must support Meredith financially. We number more than 20,000 alumnae around the globe and growing; the power of one reflected by the many. I am proud to represent a long line of Meredith alumnae in my own family: my mother, Sue McDonald Dove, class of 1947; my sister, Deborah Dove Smith, class of 1980, former Alumnae Association president and current trustee; my great aunts Nelly Page Smith, class of 1917 and Marjorie Spence, class of 1920; and my cousin Melissa Bryan Mohan, class of 1991. I am honored and humbled to have been elected president of our Alumnae Association. I look forward to representing you and meeting with many of you over the next two years at chapter events and reunion weekends. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss your ideas for Meredith and how we may be of service to the amazing institution that binds us all. As Always, Elizabeth Dove, ’84
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class notes Compiled by the Office of Alumnae & Parent Relations from February 1 – May 25, 2011. Information may be edited for space limitations and content restrictions. Submit class notes to your class agent, online at www.meredith.edu/alumnae, by email at alumnae@ meredith.edu, by fax (919) 760-2818, or by phone to the Office of Alumnae and Parent Relations at (919) 760-8548. Deadline for the Fall 2011 issue is September 19, 2011. Submissions received after this date will appear in the Spring 2012 issue.
’47
Emily Hine Allen runs and maintains a wildflower
garden on 5.5 acres in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Emily Allen Wildflower Preserve Friendship Garden just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
’59
Jan Mercer Mason is living in Wilmington, N.C., and
remains active in her church as well as Bible Study. She and her husband spend a good deal of time on their boat or at their cabin near the Outer Banks.
’63
Jerrie Preston Bibb Oughton has four new e-books
out on Amazon and Barnes Noble. Her first two adult novels are “The Good Hostage” and “Dancing With the Come Back Kid.” Her two new Young Adult novels are “The View From Here” and “Stand Above a Midnight Fire.” Oughton also has three hardcover books in print from Houghton Mifflin: “How the Stars Fell Into the Sky,” “Music From a Place Called Half Moon” and “Perfect Family.”
’66
second time, at the end of 2010. She is enjoying having more time for golf, visiting with friends and family, gardening, and reading. Kay Lambeth is showroom manager for her brother’s furniture company in High Point. Marshall Moore Marchman has retired from public school work and is traveling, visiting with her grandsons ages 9 and 7, and enjoying life. She looks forward to seeing more members of the class of 1966 at the 50th reunion in 2016. Judy Riley Matlock and her husband want to do some traveling, particularly to Normandy to find her father’s grave. They have been taking care of elderly relatives for the past several years. Her husband retired two years ago, just before their only daughter got married. Matlock is doing volunteer work with children. Jean Lyles McLeod is enjoying retirement traveling, visiting with friends and family, and spending as much time as possible with her six year old grandson. Shirley Tarleton Napier writes that “Meredith is in the core of me. I thank God for all my Meredith sisters and the impact my Meredith experience has had on my life.” Anne Parker Phillips lives in upstate New York with her husband of 45 years. They have three grown children and six and a half grandchil-
dren. They are very involved in Rotary International, both locally and internationally. They are active members of their local Methodist Church. In June, she will be chair of the foundation of their local hospital. They travel extensively, abroad through Rotary, and trips with their grandchildren. Betsy Scarborough Pierce’s husband retired a year and a half ago and they are enjoying spending time with their four grandchildren, as well as traveling. A highlight of each year is spending five days with Candace, Louise and Alice. Candace Welsted Ramseur has lived in Greenwood, S.C., for 30 years. She has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys volunteer work, gardening and reading. Dee Barrier Rodgers retired after teaching high school math for 32 years in Kannapolis, N.C. She has three sons, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She and her husband have been on seven mission trips to Kenya, where they work at a school. Janet Grogan Shepherd writes “It was wonderful to see classmates during our reunion weekend. What fun! Start making plans now for our 50th!” Carolyn Griffin Shepherd and her husband are now retired and living in Valle Crucis, N.C., near Boone, after living in Goldsboro for 35
Judy Alligood Bailey lives in Chocowinity, N.C.,
and teaches English and reading at Beaufort County Community College in Washington, N.C. Fran Rabon Bartlett is still living in Columbia, S.C., where she runs an art glass business, Accents by Fran. Her fused and etched glass is displayed and sold in The South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro, S.C. She has one son, three stepchildren, five step grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Nell Wilkerson Chesley is an artist living in Richmond, Va. Her husband is retired and they enjoy their three grandchildren in Richmond. They have two more grandsons in Santa Barbara, Calif. Their son is recently married and lives in Atlanta, Ga. Johnette Ingold Fields lives in Wilmington, N.C. She is enjoying travel and four grandchildren. Barbara Watson Hawkins lives in Wilmington, N.C., and has a great part-time job as an accountant for three sporting goods stores. She has two grandchildren, plays golf and bridge, and participates in fundraisers. Martha Mills Hoover and her husband both retired, for the
Admissions Open Days Do you know a prospective Meredith student? Bring her to campus! The Office of Admissions sponsors visitation days throughout the academic year that allow prospective students to learn more about academic, co-curricular, social and cultural opportunities at Meredith. The dates for the 2011-12 academic year are: Senior Visitation Days September 16, 2011 October 31, 2011 January 23, 2012
Junior Visitation Days February 18, 2012 March 17, 2012
For additional information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 1-800-MEREDITH or admissions@meredith.edu.
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alumnae Connection
2011 Alumnae Award Winners Announced By Melyssa Allen
I
n addition to their Meredith degrees, the 2011 Alumnae Awards recipients share a commitment to education. Three of the winners have had extensive careers in higher education, and the recent graduate award winner is a staff member and mentor at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Recipients of the Career Achievement Award are Jenny Taylor Bond, ’61, and Robin Morgan, ’77. The Distinguished Alumna Award recipient is Suzanne Reynolds, ’71, and the Recent Graduate Award recipient is Sue Anne Lewis, ’03. Jenny Taylor Bond, ’61, has had a distinguished career on the human nutrition faculty at Michigan State University. After decades of service, the University named her a professor emeritus in September 2000. She also served as acting assistant dean of international studies and programs from 2005-08. Bond is an active member of many nutrition organizations, including the American Dietetic Association, the Michigan Dietetic Association and the Michigan Dietetic Association Institute. Bond is one of 100 Meredith College graduates featured in the College’s Park Mural. Robin Morgan, ’77, serves the University of Delaware as dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and as professor of molecular biology. A recognized expert in animal science, Morgan’s research interests focus on the molecular biology of Marek’s disease, a virus that causes infectious lymphomas in chickens. She holds a patent for a Marek’s disease vaccine, and is the author of more than 100 published research papers, book chapters and academic presentations. She has earned numerous research grants from funding organizations including the U.S. Jenny Taylor Bond, ’61, Sue Anne Lewis, ’03, Department of Agriculture. Suzanne Reynolds, ’71, is a legal Robin Morgan, ’77, Suzanne Reynolds, ’71, scholar who has served on the faculty and Maureen Hartford. at the Wake Forest University School of Law since 1981. A professor of law, she is currently serving as the School’s executive associate dean for academic affairs. Reynolds is a widely recognized expert in family law, and is the author of Lee’s North Carolina Family Law, a three-volume treatise surveying family law topics, with emphasis on the law of North Carolina. She is the co-founder of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Center of Forsyth County and the Women in the Profession, Long-range Planning chair for the N.C. Bar Association. Sue Anne Lewis, ’03, serves as a student life instructor (SLI) at the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, N.C. In addition to her professional role, Lewis was the leader of the School of Science and Mathematics’ successful 2011 effort to break the Guinness World Record for collecting the most food in a single location on a single day. Under Lewis’ leadership, the food drive collected more than 550,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Lewis organized a 2010 food drive that collected nearly 320,000 pounds of food. The Meredith College Alumnae Awards were presented during the College’s annual Alumnae Reunion Weekend, May 13-15.
years. She was a travel agent in Goldsboro for 24 years and now is enjoying life in the mountains. Joy Daniel Todd continues to live in Tampa, Fla. Her daughter is married, has three boys and lives in Georgia. Her son lives in the Tampa area and has been a real help to her since her husband passed away. Ruth Ann Sloop Whitener sings in the choir at First Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, Va., where her husband is serving as the interim pastor. She teaches two of their seven grandchildren in Sunday School and in children’s choir. She is also helping to serve tornado victims in Pulaski. In September 2010, she and her husband went to Oberammergau for the historic “Passion Play” that is presented once every ten years. She writes that it was “an awesome experience touring Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.”
’72
Suzanne Pomeranz is listed as a top guide for
Jerusalem, Israel in the new “Frommer’s Jerusalem Day by Day” guidebook.
’73
Claudia Hayes Stowers was named the vice president of advancement by The American College, a financial services educator. The American College is the nation’s largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services.
’76
Janet Michael Rippy was voted 2010-11 Teacher of the Year at Marshall Elementary in Newport News, Va.
’77
Beth Leavel is starring in the musical “Baby It’s You!”
playing at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.
’78
Celia Brown Mitchell ran the 115th Boston Marathon on April 18. Mitchell has been a competitive runner since 2007.
’81
Rebecca Correll McClendon is the senior vice
president of information technology at FedEx Freight.
’86
Angela Moore Sintef was promoted to the posi-
tion of administrative officer III in the Department of Correction in July, 2010. She has been with the Department of Correction for 25 years.
’87
Nan Henry Keel was honored as the Teacher of the
Year at Kingsley Charter School in Atlanta, Ga., where 24
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alumnae Connection
“
Memorable
Moment
“
Walking into the commencement ceremony was a surreal and overwhelming feeling. At first when the graduating class was notified that the ceremony had been moved to Dorton Arena we were all pretty disappointed. In the end, however, having the ceremony inside made it all the more special. The graduates sitting in the ground level were literally surrounded by cheering friends, families, and other guests in the seats above them. I don’t think any of us will ever forget how loved, supported and proud we felt that Mother’s Day morning.” –Kathryn Thomas, ’11
she is the teacher-librarian. She has been at Kingsley for four years, and her youngest son is a third grader there. Her middle son is in middle school, and her oldest is a high school senior who will be heading to Western Kentucky University in the fall.
area female executives who have displayed exemplary leadership in business and was presented with the award at the luncheon. Burch was also recently appointed to the Executive Committee of North Carolina Horse Council.
’88
’90
Dottie Bass Burch was recognized as one of
the Triangle’s top businesswomen by the Triangle Business Journal at the Women in Business Awards. She was honored as one of 25 Triangle
Tammy Holder is working as the music director for a show at the York Theatre Company. Amanda Shelton Houser was recently named co-president of Shelton Vineyards.
’91
Kimberly Corcoran Moore and her husband
completed the Kiawah Island Marathon in Kiawah Island, S.C., in December 2010. This was their first marathon.
’96
Christian Hunt Arbogast has written two Chris-
tian based children’s books: “Over the Rainbow,” which helps children deal with grief and the loss of M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m e r 2 011 /
25
alumnae Connection
Class Day 2011
Class Day 1980 a loved one and “Heaven’s Dentist,” which instills the values of forgiveness and acceptance. She is also the author of the Meredith College keepsake book, “Good Ole MC,” which details the many traditions of our alma mater, as told through the eyes of our beloved Class Doll. “Good Ole MC” will be available for purchase through the Office of Alumnae Relations this fall. Tina Cotton Pearson is now
living in Alexandria, Va., and was recently promoted to the position of director of visitor services at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.
’98
Rebecca Huffstetler was named principal of Rhyne El-
ementary School in Gastonia, N.C. She was also named Gaston County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year.
Where in the World is Meredith? Shearon F. Roberts, ’76, traveled to Haiti to work with a grass roots organization called Mission MANNA. The North Carolina-based group provides medical care for malnourished children and continuing healthcare education for adults in and around the Haitian town of Montrouis, which lies north of Port au Prince. This trip was her third with the group; it has become one of her greatest passions. She serves on the Mission MANNA Board and writes, “I am happy to share our story with anyone who will listen. For me, this entire experience has been lifechanging. It is a true example of ‘you get more than you give’, and that we can make a difference, no matter how small we sometimes feel our efforts may be.”
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Chassie Deitz-Felouane is the national ambassador
for Today’s American Woman Pageant. She appeared on a September episode of “Glee” with Gwyneth Paltrow. She finished her master’s in education with curriculum instruction in English as a second language. Amanda Bunn Miller is the lead teacher for elementary English as a second language for Wake County Public Schools. Elizabeth Bondurant Spires is working with GMAC Insurance Company in Winston-Salem, N.C.
’02
Jordan West Bostic received her Ph.D. in applied math from NC State University.
’05
in ere Wh is orld h? w e edit th Mer
Meredith alumnae travel far and wide. As you travel with your Meredith friends, we encourage you to take Meredith with you. Just let us know where you’re going and what size shirts you need and we’ll send them to you. Once you return, send us a photo of your group wearing your Meredith T-shirts. We’ll display them in Meredith Magazine or in other alumnae publications for your classmates to see where you’ve been. If you have photos to share, please send them to alumnae@meredith.edu. 26
’01
Megan Arnold received a promotion to portfolio specialist in the Commercial Real Estate Special Assets Division of SunTrust Bank. Holly Oates-Barker is a laboratory manager at Howard Hughes Medical Institute/California Institute of Technology - David J. Anderson’s Neuroscience Laboratory. Alicia M. Baucom completed an M.S.Ed. TESOL degree from Shenandoah University in December 2010. Kathryn Cushwa graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a M.Ed. in early childhood intervention and family support in May 2011. She began a new job at Children’s Developmental Service Agency as an infant and toddler specialist in Durham, N.C. in June, 2011. Hannah Pollet Edens is an international board certified lactation consultant and works as a lactation consultant at UNC-Chapel Hill. She graduated with a Master of Public Health from UNC in maternal and child health. Edens was
alumnae Connection honored by being inducted into The Order of The Golden Fleece, one of UNC’s honorary societies. Rachel Chilcot Findley received her Master of Science in Nutrition from Meredith College. Leigh Ann Tedder Freeman received National Board Certification in teaching. Stenisha Green is a human resources advisor at Quintiles, Inc. Jennifer Harrower received her Master in Education from Meredith College. Meredith Heinisch Huie is a Critical Care Nurse at Memorial Health University Medical Center in the Medical Surgical Intermediate Unit. Lormarev Jones is a sales associate at Ecko Home Furnishings in Raleigh, N.C. Cyndi Keller received her Master in Education/Administration and Supervision from Liberty University. Whitney Lamm received National Board Certification in teaching. Allison Trask Lawhorn received her Master of Arts in Education from East Carolina University. Abby McAlister Littlefield is an advising and student services specialist at Wake Tech Community College. Carmella Blakney Melton is a diversity and inclusion consultant at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Meredith Kizer Robertson is a senior bid desk specialist at Red Hat, Inc. Denice Ryan is the principal/administrator at Ambergris Caye Elementary School in San Pedro, Belize. Amanda Schardt is the director of development for Paper Crown by Lauren Conrad, and she is also a freelance consultant for fashion design development and branding. Carla Sorrell received her Master in Middle Grades Education with a mathematics concentration from East Carolina University. Renee Zelenka is a category manager at The Pantry.
’06
Jill M. Rogers graduated with an M.Ed. in Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2011. Amanda Gupton Lancaster is the Teacher of the Year at Middlesex Elementary School.
’08
Lindsey McEvoy is working as a graphic artist at L3 in Alexandria, Va.
’09
Adrienne E. Holland recently moved to New York
City and is working as the assistant manager of a high-end clothing boutique in the Upper East Side. Aubrey Jones is working as an assistant at MKG, a marketing firm in Soho in New York City, NY. Whitney Rains graduated from East Carolina University College of Nursing in May 2011 and is working as an R.N. at Duke/Raleigh Hospital in the OR.
Balloon Art is Alumna’s Business By Melyssa Allen
B
alloons and flowers are tools of the trade for Holland Muscio, ’93, owner of Balloonacy in Atlanta, Ga. “We provide a wide range of décor, so every day is different. Some clients book up to 18 months out, but some are within three or four days,” Muscio said. “Some clients call and know exactly what they want, while others call and say ‘These are my colors, this is my space, and here’s my budget…what can you do with it?’.” Muscio has owned the company with her husband since 2005. She designs the décor, does installations, orders the supplies and preps the materials before the team leaves for the job site. “After seven years in sales and marketing at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, I was looking for a new opportunity that would give me a chance to use my creativity daily,” explained Muscio, who seems to have gotten her wish. “Balloons have taken us to some amazing places we never thought possible,” Muscio said. “The homes of celebrities, corporate headquarters of some of the largest companies in the world, the locker room of our NHL team, the unveiling of NASCAR partnerships, and even movie sets.” A challenge for her work is “that in the event industry, we work while you play” on weekends. But the response from clients makes the hard work worthwhile. Holland Muscio, ’93, with one of her “We do a lot of bar and balloon creations. bat mitzvahs, and it is pretty hard to impress a 13 year old,” Muscio said. “So when the guest of honor comes up and says ‘I love it!’ that really makes our day.” Muscio was a theatre production major at Meredith, and she got some early experience in event planning during her senior year. “I was the special event chair for our senior class, so I think that definitely helped to point me in the right direction,” she said. “Having to learn budgets and be creative at finding resources early on definitely helped me today. I just feel that the education both in and out of classroom made me the woman I am today.”
Class notes continued on page 30 M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m e r 2 011 /
27
alumnae Connection
Forever Meredith: Alumnae Reunion Weekend 2011 Recap
T
here is something special about being on Meredith’s campus during Alumnae Reunion Weekend. It’s a mixture between a family reunion and homecoming because both seem to be taking place on this special weekend. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your Meredith family and return home to a campus we all hold so dear to our hearts. This year marked my 10th class reunion, and it was hard to grasp that fact. How has it been 10 years since the daisy chain was made in our honor, since our class numerals were formed on the island and since I turned my class ring to signify I was an alumna? Alas, the clock and calendar do not lie. With jobs, spouses, partners, children, pets, tasks and responsibilities left behind for the weekend, my friends and I were able to return to college. Much has changed since that Mother’s Day in May of 2001, but much remains the same. Upon returning to campus, it felt natural to fall back into those same routines with dear friends. Roommates and suitemates were reconnected in the residence hall. Our doors remained open throughout the weekend. Jewelry and shoes were borrowed and shared. The parlor once again became the sitting area and center of socialization. Updates were given, photos were shared, stories of events and times at Meredith were recounted and more memories were once again made with this wonderful group of women. As I watched alumnae celebrating 25th, 50th and even 65th reunions, I saw that the relationships and memories are consistent across the decades and through the years. They say that friends are the family that you choose. Lucky for me, I was able to acquire a few more sisters during my Meredith days. These women, much like the word LUX in our college seal, truly are the light of my life. Alumnae Reunion Weekend once again brought us back home to celebrate our lives, ourselves and the fact that Meredith College brought us together. - Hilary Allen, ’01
28
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alumnae Connection
M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um m er 2 011 /
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alumnae Connection Class notes continued from page 27
’10
Nance to Richard Navarro, 6/5/08.
1995
2002
Meredith Taylor Berard, a son, John Austin, 1/9/11.
assistant for Kayser-Roth corporation brands Hue and No Nonsense.
Jamie Tunnell to Brian Carter, 9/10/11.
1996
2005
Jennifer Sharp Noonan, a daughter, Brooke Noelle,
Nakia Bennett is working as the merchandising
Katherine Dorton Harrall to Andrew Crisp, 9/18/10.
Marriages
Margaret Hudson to Corey Cameron, 4/30/11.
1978 Sherry Singer Edgerton to Kenneth Dunbar, 4/16/11.
1994 Shannon Willis to Jasen Hedrick, 5/23/10.
2009 Megan Douglas to Weston Coggins, 10/9/10.
2010 Aleah Ham to Justin Darnell, 5/28/11. Hannah Sanders to Charles Robinson, 3/26/11.
1995 Joy Michelle Smith to Michael Cowan, 9/25/10.
1999
Births & Adoptions
2/11/11. Susan Mathews Oliver, a daughter, Meredith Alexandra, 2/9/11. Elisabeth Bailey Priester, a son, Wyatt Andrew, 11/17/10.
1999 Rebecca Barksdale Holt, a son, Hayden Thomas,
11/18/10. Natalie Thompson Brincefield, a son, William Nelson, 2/14/11. Jennifer West Freeman, a daughter, Eliza Grace, 3/26/11. Jackie Lynn Schmidt Setliff, a son, Bobby Ray Hall, 3/18/11.
2000
Elizabeth Dobbins to Joseph Smith, 3/12/11.
1993
2000
Tarsha Garland Garvin, twin daughters, London
beth and a son, William Miles, 4/15/11. Kellie Odom
Grace and Kegan Hope, 1/21/11.
Huffman, a son, Banks Harold, 12/29/10.
1994
2001
Camille Hatch Frederick, a daughter, Leah Gray,
Carrie Flowers Burns, a son, Caleb Luke, 3/4/11.
10/31/10.
Debi Leonard Calhoun, a son, Isaac Hill, 3/2/11.
Kelly Tetterton to Stephen Casey, 3/19/11.
2001 Chassie Deitz to Hicham Felouane, 3/10/09. Ashley
Two-Week Tuscan Intensive Course – Spring 2012 Have you ever dreamed of studying in Italy? Meredith College is offering a two-week minicourse, Following the Piero Trail (April 12-25, 2012), at our beautiful Tuscan Palazzo in Sansepolcro. The course will be taught primarily by retired faculty, and we have kept the costs affordable to allow for as many participants as possible. Where else can you study in Italy for two weeks while living in a 16th century palace, go on excursions to neighboring towns, and eat gourmet Italian meals prepared by the Palazzo chef for our very affordable price? For more information, visit the study abroad website at www.meredith.edu/abroad/italy/twoweek. htm or contact Betty Webb, Office of International Programs, at webbb@meredith.edu.
Alumnae Win Italy Trip Pamela Mitchell Riley, ’73, and Ruth Ann Walters Dyer, ’69, won this year’s trip to Sansepolcro, Italy, through their support of The Meredith Fund. The winners will take their trip in June of 2012. A similar contest will take place next year. For more information, go to www.meredith.edu/million. Grazie! 30
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Jenna Burlington Fitch, a daughter, Audrey Eliza-
Natalie Thackston Gilliam, a daughter, Margaret Carolyn Madison, 2/7/11. Robin Naylor Higgins, a daughter, Whitley Ann, 3/5/11. Emily Whittle Medlin, a son, James “Brody”, 1/28/11. Amanda Bunn Miller, a daughter, Riley Anne, and a son, Coleson Lane, 3/10/10. Rebecca Carpenter Scott, a daughter, Claire Rose, 10/6/10.
2002 Brandi Drda Francia, a daughter, Delaney Emersyn,
7/22/10. Ginger Moore Harrell, a son, Luke Michael, 4/2/11.
2003 Allison Lowrey Duncan, a daughter, Charlotte Anne, 5/26/10. Lisa Wilson Harmon, a son, Daniel Watts, 1/22/11. Renn Baker McMurray, a son, Baker Carson, 1/7/11. Hassie Hughes Ruger, a daughter, Shelby Helen, 2/10/11.
2004 Morgan Ralph Colmenero, a daughter, Sloan
Leigh, 2/27/11. Amy Cornett Penny, a son, Cole Alexander, 12/19/11.
2005 Nicole Armstrong Cockerham, a son, Levi Conner,
2/28/11. Emily Mitchell Drake, a daughter, Elaine “Lainey” Kathryn, 3/10/11. Kristin Smith Harris, a son, Phillip Emory Harris III, 4/16/11. Sara SeagoBlanton Illig, a son, Nash Anderson, 1/22/11. Allison Trask Lawhorn, a daughter, Kathryn Ruth, 5/2/11.
alumnae Connection 2006 Talley Rouse Evans, a son, Charlie Preston,
2/14/11. Sarah Hicks Frank, a son, Nathanael Jason, 11/11/10. Jennifer Pearson Taylor, a daughter, Camdyn Cate, 4/22/11.
2008 Nichole Ecklund Miller, a son, Owen Asher,
12/20/10. Brooke Thomas Lupton, a son, Finn Thomas, 4/21/11.
Deaths 1935 Nellie York Philips, 3/10/11.
1936 Mildred Eaton Cathey, 1/20/11. Marjorie Gregory Montague, 5/7/11.
1938 Charlotte Wester Cate, 5/12/11. Evelyn “Tina” Fallon, 1/27/11.
1940 Sarah Pope Shoop, 5/10/11.
1942 Virginia Greene Rhyne, 2/25/11. Dorothy Cole Vass, 7/4/09.
1944 Catherine Powell Maultsby, 3/15/11.
1949 Violet Hundley Martin, 3/6/11.
1951 Ann McRackan Revels, 9/8/10.
1953 Gwen Snell Rowe, 2/3/11.
1954 Jane Cutts King, 2/19/11. Jane Condrey Williams, 4/20/11.
1968 Brenda Carole Jones Chenery, 5/5/11. Ann Hill Daniel, 4/18/11.
1986 Cynthia Faye Eskins, 3/26/11.
1992 Billie Sue Stewart, 2/27/11.
1998 Karen Dixon Parker, 5/15/11.
Meredith College a Landmark for MBA Alumni Couple By Melyssa Allen
M
eredith College is the site for numerous weddings each year, and for one recently wed couple the College is a special place in more ways than one. Brad Worley and Erin McGraw Worley met in Meredith’s MBA program, got engaged in McIver Amphitheater, and married in Jones Chapel. “Brad was the first person I saw when I walked into my first MBA class back in 2008,” Erin Worley said. “We had lots of classes together but it was a presentation I did in Capstone that got his attention.” Since their courtship began at Meredith, it made sense to Brad Worley that he should propose on campus. “I wanted to pick a place that was very special to us,” he said. “I knew that the island [in the amphitheater] would make for a beautiful setting that Erin would never forget.” The couple continued their connection to Meredith by holding their wedding in Jones Chapel in April 2011. Deciding to earn an MBA at Meredith has paid off personally and professionally for both of the Worleys, who completed their MBAs in 2010. Brad Worley owns Worley Reporting, a court reporting business, and Erin Worley is a case manager at Biogen Idec. Erin Worley, who earned an undergraduate degree from Meredith in 2004, said it was an easy decision to choose Meredith’s MBA program based on her prior experience at the College. “I had so many great memories and met wonderful people during my time there,” Erin Worley said. “I knew I’d get an excellent education.” Brad Worley calls Meredith’s MBA faculty top notch, and says the program is a great value. “I use my MBA education every day in operating my small business,” he said. “The program gave me a framework for leading people and problem-solving.” While meeting each other was an unexpected reward, the Worleys count networking with other professionals as a benefit of their MBA experience. “The MBA program was a great opportunity to work with like-minded professionals in a collaborative environment,” Brad Worley said. “But of course, my favorite memories are of the times spent with my wife.” Photo Courtesy Flagship Media
Jessica Erwin Coates, a daughter, Jo Ellen, 5/8/11.
M er edi t h M ag az i n e / S um mer 2 011 /
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alumnae Connection Sympathy 1941 Myrtle Edna Bailey Lasley in the death of
her husband.
1946 Jean Brooks Lockett in the death of her husband.
1947 Nancy Gates Dale in the death of her brother.
1949 Margaret Lamb Dorsett in the death of her daughter. Betty Jo Pitman Williams in the death of her husband.
You Are One in a Million This year’s Be One in a Million campaign has been a huge success. Thanks to your support, we:
• Launched Meredith Mayhem—a new challenge that builds on our tradition of class competition
• Experienced a 203% increase in online gifts • Re-engaged alumnae and friends of the College Be One in a Million continues in 2011-12. Stay tuned for more fun, more competition and more opportunities to support your alma mater.
Thanks a Million!
1952
www.meredith.edu/million
Ruth Ann Simmons Shaw in the death of her son.
1955 Leah Scarborough Barton in the death of
her husband.
1968
Pennington Melvin in the death of her mother.
Elizabeth Mahler Havens in the death of
1976
1958
her husband.
Mona Fay Horton Dean in the death of
1969
her husband.
Karen Hyland Williams in the death of
Lisa Williams Phipps in the death of her father.
1977
1959
her husband.
Carolyn Pennington in the death of her mother.
Jan Mercer Mason in the death of her daughter and in the death of her mother.
1971
1979
1961 Betty Walton Frye in the death of her son. Emily Dunn Joyce in the death of her mother.
1963 Norma Baker Cook in the death of her stepfather.
1965
Susan Hooker Metts in the death of her husband.
1972 Marilyn Hough Brooks in the death of her sister. Dorothy Cate Hamby in the death of her mother.
1973 Dorothy Vaden Ashworth in the death of her father in law.
Judy Griffin Threatt in the death of her husband.
1975
1966
Lynn Ennis in the death of her stepfather. Kay
Anita Hauser Ogburn in the death of her mother-in-law.
Smith Jones in the death of her mother. Leila
Billie Jo Kennedy Cockman in the death of
her father.
1982 Virginia “Ginny” Porter Bateman in the death
of her grandmother. Sandra “Sandy” Shelley Stephens in the death of her father.
1986 Lucia Revels Lindsey in the death of her mother.
1988 Jennifer Vick Catellani in the death of her father.
1995
MC in NYC: November 18-20, 2011 Make plans to join Meredith College alumnae and friends for a fun-filled weekend in the Big Apple! The trip will include air travel, transfer, hotel accommodations, tickets to the current Broadway hit Anything Goes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular as well as optional tours. The trip is open to family and friends. For pricing and additional information, please contact Hilary Allen, ’01, director of alumnae & parent relations, at (919) 760-8751 or allenh@meredith.edu.
Aubree Atkinson Sledge in the death of her grandmother.
1999 Amy Price Attayek in the death of her father.
2001 Christian Cole Melvin in the death of her grandmother.
2003 Tricia Mitchell Strong in the death of her husband.
2005 Meghan Rasmussen in the death of her father.
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ultural events Fall Calendar for Meredith College
Meredith College cultural events are open to the public and free unless otherwise noted. We invite you to visit www.meredith.edu/community for more information about these and other events.
August Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition Through August 24 Rotunda Gallery
White Iris Light Opera production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” Friday, August 26, 8 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 3 p.m. Jones Auditorium $5 donation
Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Sonia Nazario Monday, August 29, 7 p.m. Jones Auditorium
“Our Stories/Our Dreams” August 29-November 13 Opening Reception: September 11, 2-4 p.m. Rotunda Gallery
“Rhymes In Time” September 11-October 30 Opening Reception: September 11, 2-4 p.m. Frankie G. Weems Art Gallery
“The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, a production of Meredith Ensemble Theatre Wednesday-Thursday, September 28-29, 11 a.m. Friday-Saturday, September 30-October 1, 6 p.m. Sunday, October 2, 3 p.m. McIver Amphitheatre Tickets: $10 general; $5 students/seniors Reservations: boxoffice@meredith.edu
Extra Theatre Company Showcase Friday-Saturday, September 30-October 1, 8 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall
October Convocation Beth Murphy Tuesday, October 18, 7 p.m. Jones Auditorium
November “Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage, a production of Meredith Ensemble Theatre Tuesday-Saturday, November 8-12, 8 p.m. Sunday, November 13, 3 p.m. Studio Theatre Tickets: $10 general; $5 students/seniors Reservations: boxoffice@meredith.edu
Meredith Dance Theatre Friday-Sunday, November 18-20, 8 p.m. Jones Auditorium Tickets: $10 general; $5 students/seniors Reservations: boxoffice@meredith.edu
Faculty & Guest Recital: Carol Chung, violin, and Tyler Wottrich, piano Monday, November 21, 7:30 p.m. Carswell Concert Hall
Senior Art Exhibition November 20-30 Opening reception: November 20, 2-4 p.m. Frankie G. Weems Art Gallery
Meredith Fall Choral Concert
September North Carolina Dance Festival Jones Auditorium Tickets: $15 general; $10 students/seniors; $5 children under 10; $25 festival pass Reservations: boxoffice@meredith.edu
Touring Concert A
Friday, September 9, 8 p.m.
Touring Concert B
Saturday, September 10, 8 p.m.
Children’s Dance Festival
Friday, September 9, 3 p.m.
Sunday, October 23, 3 p.m. Jones Auditorium
Meredith Sinfonietta Fall Concert Thursday, October 27, 8 p.m. Jones Auditorium
December Directing Scenes Thursday-Friday, December 1-2, 8 p.m. Studio Theatre
Winterfest Concerts: Meredith Chorus, Chorale and Sinfonietta Sunday, December 4, 3 & 8 p.m. Jones Auditorium
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC Permit No. 369
Department of Marketing 3800 Hillsborough Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27607-5298 www.meredith.edu
Hold Your Next Event at Meredith College Meredith is known for its historic, beautiful campus. Our well-groomed grounds and friendly community make it the perfect location for a variety of events, such as: Weddings Meredith is available for weddings of alumnae as well as couples not affiliated with the College. Meetings and special events A range of meeting rooms make our campus suitable for all types and sizes of professional groups. Catering is also available. Conferences and performances Meredith regularly hosts academic conferences. Several auditoriums and recital halls are available for theatre, music and dance performances. Priority is given to groups that connect with our mission and our students. If you’re interested in holding your next event at Meredith, please contact the Events Office at events@meredith.edu. Meredith Events Office 3rd Floor, Johnson Hall Telephone: (919) 760-8533 www.meredith.edu/events
