“TO ME, THE MAGIC OF MISS HALL’S LIES WITHIN HOW MUCH WE ALL FEEL AT HOME HERE. IT IS THIS ALWAYS WARM AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY THAT EMPOWERED ME TO TAKE BIG LEAPS AND TRY THE NEW THINGS I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY.”
—Cora Ma ’24, School Secretary
FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT INTRODUCTION THAN THE one I envisioned only a few months ago. Version one was about the progress we are seeing in girl-centered advanced study five years beyond Advanced Placement; about the importance of cross-cultural dialogue at this time of increasingly fractured discourse; about the power of experiential learning in changing students’ lives — about all that is possible at Miss Hall’s, because of you.
And, now, we find ourselves in a state of “yes, and…” Holding two realities at the same time.
As we send forth 46 graduates into the world, we also contend with one of the most profound challenges our community has faced. Two months ago, we heard from multiple alums who experienced sexual misconduct at MHS. We stand with these survivors, and we extend care and compassion to them. As we experience a range of emotions — sadness, anger, betrayal, confusion, fear, shame — we also try to reconcile these with the mission and values we hold dear, with the community we know and love, this small and mighty school that for 126 years has graduated bold and
By Jamie Forbes and Amy Wheeler, co-founders of Learning Courage
IN OUR WORK WITH SCHOOLS ACROSS the country confronting historic sexual misconduct, we hear time and again how difficult it is to process the depth and range of emotions experienced when folks learn about and/or experience harm from trusted adults. Miss Hall’s is currently experiencing this painful and devastating reality as it undergoes historic sexual misconduct allegations and an abuse investigation. It is important to state that words rarely suffice to capture the complexity of these situations for everyone, and still we feel that writing about sexual misconduct in schools and its impact is necessary and worth addressing.
While pain and sadness are common during investigations, many schools become more connected over time.
creative contributors to the common good. It is hard to hold everything all at once.
As Head of School, I am committed to learning the full truth, to supporting survivors and all those affected, and to taking the necessary actions to heal and make our school better. The multi-year partnership we have forged with Learning Courage is one of many steps we are taking toward a stronger community. Simultaneously, I am also committed to centering the student experience, prioritizing community wellbeing, and championing the inspiring work that our students and faculty do every day.
This painful chapter is part of our story now. While it does not define us, how we respond to it does. I know it will be a long and challenging process, and I know we will get through it. Together.
Thank you for being there for each other and for your role in this powerful sisterhood. You make Miss Hall’s stronger. •
For survivors, the range of emotions is broad, deep, varied, and intense. They may be deciding whether or not to come forward and disclose their experience: it’s a big decision. For those who come forward, disclosing their abuse might bring a feeling of relief. For others, it might be the first time they have told someone — even saying the words out loud may be difficult. Many of them may fear that they will not be believed by the school, or their peers, or their families. For all of them, disclosing their abuse brings back painful memories and complex emotions that likely change day to day. Waiting for the results of an investigation can be excruciating.
Classmates just learning about what some of their peers have reported may feel a deep sense of sadness for their peer’s experience. They may also feel guilt for not seeing it at the time. Others may express disbelief that this could have happened at all. Some may outright refuse to believe it could be true, because it doesn’t fit with their own time at Miss Hall’s. While they might have compassion for the survivors, they also might feel resentful that the school they love is being portrayed so negatively in the press.
For faculty and staff who have worked closely alongside the alleged perpetrator (we use the term carefully here, not because we don’t believe survivors, but because the investigation is ongoing), it can be devastating to reconcile the
WE KNOW THAT THIS COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION WILL TAKE time. We also know that many members of our community are hurting now and are in need of immediate and supportive action steps.
To this end, we have initiated a multi-year partnership with Learning Courage, a survivor-led national nonprofit that works with schools to support sexual misconduct prevention, trauma-informed response, and healing. Among their expertise, Learning Courage’s trauma-informed team facilitated sessions during the recent Reunion Weekend to provide a supportive setting for processing the reports of historic sexual misconduct and abuse at MHS. Survivors themselves, they are also acting as a neutral third party who survivors can speak with as they determine whether to reach out to the investigators.
• Amy Wheeler, Executive Director, 508.241.3429, AWheeler@learningcourage.org
• Jamie Forbes, CEO, 603.315.0576, JForbes@LearningCourage.org
While dozens of steps are being taken behind the scenes, this is a high-level summary of what the process ahead will look like
Student support + add’l counselors activated Learning Courage partnership forged
Alum processing opportunities at Reunion Aleta Law engaged
School notified; inquiry launched Trustee Learning Courage workshops WE ARE HERE
Survivor-centered employee workshops
Consider studentcentered partnerships to bolster SEL
Create 3-year action plan
3rd-party review of policies and practices
Virtual and in-person alum workshops
PROTECTING THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING of our students is, and always will be, our primary concern. The appointment in 2023 of a Dean of Wellness, a reimagining of students’ Personal Teams, and more time for social-emotional learning are some of the ways that we work to ensure students are healthy, safe, and supported.
In April 2024, the Board of Trustees authorized a comprehensive external investigation by trauma-informed investigators at Aleta Law into allegations of improper sexual conduct toward MHS students by Miss Hall’s employees. Their findings will inform supportive and corrective measures that will make Miss Hall's stronger.
We encourage anyone with information pertaining to child abuse or sexual misconduct at MHS to contact Managing Director Kai McGintee kmcgintee@aletalaw.com or Director Amber Attalla aattalla@aletalaw.com.
Read more about student wellness and the data-based, proactive programming at MHS today at misshalls.org/safety, including answers to questions like:
• What is MHS doing to help students?
• What processes are in place to help prevent instances of sexual misconduct on campus?
• How can I talk to my student if I suspect they may have witnessed or experienced sexual misconduct?
person they know from the things the individual is accused of doing. This cognitive dissonance comes with having such paradoxical experiences. What is true? What can you believe? Who can you trust? This roller coaster of emotions and perspectives can lead to fractures, pain, and feelings of helplessness within communities.
In this helplessness, it is also common to need someone or something to blame. It is common to feel a sense of guilt, even hurt, and anger at the betrayal. These feelings and emotions are particularly challenging to process and are exacerbated during an investigation when there are news articles in local and national papers. It is hard not to have specifics confirmed. It can also be very difficult to know what to do with all these emotions.
While pain, sadness, and fracture are normal emotions and common parts of the experience during investigations, we have also seen that, ultimately, many schools become stronger and more connected over time. Although there is no prescribed path through these circumstances, we know that when schools are willing to look hard at their past and care for those who were harmed in their care, that builds trust. And, when it’s clear that schools are focused on and committed to protecting today’s students, that builds trust.
We know that it can be uncomfortable not knowing how long the investigation will take or what it will find. We also know that the school is engaged in the process of improving policies and practices while simultaneously creating in-person and virtual spaces for dialogue with MHS alums, family, and friends around the country.
We believe that this community, as we have seen happen at many other schools, will become stronger as a result. •
Jamie Forbes and Amy Wheeler run Learning Courage, a national nonprofit that works with schools to support sexual misconduct prevention, trauma-informed response, and healing. They are both survivors of sexual abuse.
MHS students went on the road this spring, putting classroom lessons to the test in settings across New England.
In partnership with the National Women’s History Museum, students in Dr. Liza Burbank’s Hallmark Women’s History class visited the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, where they compiled information for the Women’s History Museum’s 250 Educator Resource Initiative. That project aims to support educators by filling in history book omissions of women’s history.
To prep, the class visited the Berkshire Athenaeum’s local history room. They Zoomed with the Historical Society’s Library Director, who explained the collection’s catalog. They followed up with research requests, homing in on trails they wanted to explore. When they arrived at the museum, they got to work.
“They were treated like any other professional historian or Ph.D. student,” notes Dr. Burbank. “Every student had their own research table, and the collections staff brought out items they requested.” Selections included records from the Salem Witch Trials, an 1811 portrait of Elizabeth Freeman, correspondence of women who served as nurses in the World Wars, and a range of diaries from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
“I wanted them to experience what it’s like to do archival research — the whole process,” says Dr. Burbank. “What sets Hallmark apart is not only learning the content, but also learning how historians engage with material.” •
In April, students in Dr. Pauline Valentine’s Hallmark French class designed a trip to learn about French heritage in New England, traveling to Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, following the French-Canadian Great Migration of the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.
“I am always looking for ways to engage the class and have them be the actors of their own learning,” explains Dr. Valentine. Students found a website describing the Franco Trail, then built an itinerary, leaving MHS on April 18 for a three-day trip.
They visited the Franco Center in Lewiston; the Dyer Library and Saco Museum in Saco, Maine; and the historic Sainte Marie Church in Manchester, New Hampshire. They spoke in French, blogged in French, and ate French food.
“They really connected in their little family, and that’s very special, because I want them to have meaningful experiences, be intrigued by the cuisine and the culture, and want to explore more,” says Dr. Valentine. “I hope they have such good memories that they want to re-create a similar experience for themselves someday. Ultimately, I want them to remember that they made it happen.” •
Three classes — Hallmark Environmental Science, Hallmark Biotechnology, and the upper-level English seminar Digital Worlds, Natural Worlds — traveled to Project Oceanology in Groton, Connecticut, to study and practice marine biology.
There, immersed in the natural beauty of coastal New England, they took to the water to conduct a seal population study, squid dissection, and a bycatch reduction design challenge. Next, they visited Bluff Point State Park to conduct a salt marsh transect and an aquatic organism survey, followed by a trip to Mystic Aquarium, for an African Penguin lesson, a marine mammal rescue services lab, and biomedical lab experience.
“What inspired this is the department’s belief in the importance of experiential learning,” notes Ms. Raimer. “It helps students better understand what it’s like to be a scientist in the field.” Collaborating with English Teacher Richard Scullin, whose course delves into the human relationship with technology and nature, added a unique cross-curricular element. •
Inyene-Abasi Bell, Deanne McRae, Parker Wright, Alice Kwiatkowski, Gianna Han, and Casey Lai represented MHS at this year’s Model UN Conference at Concord Academy, outside of Boston. The daylong event included more than 200 middle and high school students simulating the United Nations while learning about diplomacy, international relations, and world issues.
History Teacher Dr. Thomas Stock advises the MHS Model UN Horizons site. He works with students on public speaking, helps them hone research skills in advance of conference assignments, and instructs them on Model UN debate. This is the second year for the Model UN Horizons site at Miss Hall’s. “I love global politics and the global citizenship mission at Miss Hall’s, so I was very much interested in leading this program,” explains Dr. Stock, who joined MHS in 2022. “We are an international school, so we should be studying international issues.” •
Editor’s Note: Though not a participant in the Model UN Horizons site, Casey is an experienced Model UN delegate and joined the MHS contingent for the experience. She represented the U.S. on the Human Rights Council and received First Place as the event’s Best Delegate, the highest award (equivalent to 1st place) at a Model UN Conference!
ADVANCED ACADEMICS AHEAD
Miss Hall’s popular Hallmark courses rotate every year based on faculty expertise and student interest. For the year ahead, these Hallmark courses will be offered:
» Anatomy & Physiology
» Art Intensive
» Biotechnology
» Calculus I
» Calculus II
» Communism in Global History
» Craft & Creative Writing
» Democracy
» Environmental Science
» Feminist Literature
» French
» History of Art
» Humanities
» Independent Projects in Art
» Latin
» Mechanical Engineering
» Spanish
» Statistics
» Women’s History
Izzy ’24 looks toward a sustainable future
IZZY HENNESSEY ’24 HAS LONG coupled an entrepreneurial streak with an interest in STEM. As a middle-schooler, she built a website advertising her babysitting services, and she attended the Girls Who Code summer camp at MHS. Now, as a high school student, she has submitted two patent applications.
“I am in the process of waiting, probably about six years,” says Izzy, who submitted patent applications for two products — a Mobile Device Stand and a Cell Phone Charger Cable Box — prototyped right here at MHS. The first product props and stabilizes a cell phone. The second is a case that winds charger cables, solving the inexorable problem of excess cord.
“There is definitely a sense of accomplishment and gratitude for the people who have helped me accomplish this,” Izzy says of her experience. She especially credits Tim Butterworth, Operations Manager at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) in Pittsfield, and Dr. Chris Himes, Director of Engineering & Technology Innovation/STEAM Coordinator at MHS.
“Tim has been a pretty profound influence throughout my direction in STEM, and Dr. Himes has been a guiding force throughout all of this since middle school and has really impacted my direction, nurtured my ambition and brought it along,” she says. “It has also been inspiring to connect with others over a shared interest in technology.”
Izzy’s interest in STEM began with computer science and making games. “I attended Girls Who Code at Miss Hall’s and met other smart girls who were involved in STEM, then I started spending more time in STEM-related activities and camps,” she explains. “When I came to MHS, I had Engineering classes that gave me an opportunity to take these interests that had been building up and apply them in an academic area.”
The summer before junior year, Izzy enrolled in the B[E]TA program at the BIC. The five-week, experiential learning program connects students with local businesses, helps them explore idea development and business strategies, and lets them engage in technologies offered at the BIC.
“That’s when I was really exposed to the breadth of engineering and the avenues it can go — tangible career paths,” says Izzy. It was also her first exposure to the 3-D modeling program Fusion 360. During the program, students were asked to develop an idea for an invention, prototype the idea, create a pitch, and present it to “investors.”
Those lessons came in handy during her junior year when Izzy took Engineering and Society with Dr. Himes. The class focused on Fusion 360, 3-D printing, and prototyping. “Because I had some experience already, it was a good opportunity to push projects a little further and challenge myself,” says Izzy.
One assignment asked students to create a marketable product. Knowing phone and computer charging cords often end up in a rat’s nest of wires, Izzy envisioned a container to hold a charger and allow the user to deploy and retract cord as needed.
She designed her idea in CAD, then printed prototypes with the Hopper Innovation Lab’s 3-D printer. “There was a lot of iteration required to get the right dimensions and so it could accommodate a wider range of chargers,” she explains.
For a previous project, Izzy created a support stand for a cellphone. “My mom loved it,” she says, “So I started thinking, what can I do with this?” With assistance from mom, an attorney experienced in patents and trademarks, Izzy decided to apply for patents.
“In January 2023, I began the meticulous process of preparing technical drawings for the design and function of the two products,” she says. “Now I wait. It’s interesting, too, because the experience feels very rigid, more than you would expect. Innovators and inventors move fast and break things, but the patent process is very rigid, and you have to describe your product as briefly and concisely as you can.”
While she waits, Izzy continues pursuing her interest in STEM. Last summer, she was a B[E]TA intern, helping lead the B[E]TA cohort, and she helped produce the summer 2023 TEDx at the BIC, which is her Horizons site again this year. Ultimately, Izzy hopes to use her skills to make energy systems more efficient and sustainable.
“The sustainability of our planet is incredibly important to me, and I want to gain as many skills and as much understanding as I can to be able to do something about it,” she says. “This experience acts as a springboard to launch me into much more complicated issues in college and beyond.”
And, when she returns for her MHS reunion, Izzy’s products might no longer be “patent pending!” •
GETTING UP AT 6 A.M. DURING LONG WEEKEND BREAK probably isn’t a student’s idea of fun.
When Idia Enoma ’26 was offered the opportunity to take photos at the iconic New York Fashion Week, she didn’t mind the early alarm at all. As it so happened, Idia’s sister, Yuki ’22, a sophomore at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, had been hired by clothing and jewelry brand Tara and I to take video at the show.
“She knew I would be home for the Long Weekend and asked me to come with her,” says Idia, who has excelled in photography since arriving at MHS and is always looking for opportunities to add to her portfolio. “The company looked at some of my photos and gave me the okay to photograph at the show.”
It meant getting up around 6 a.m. and catching a train into the city. First, there would be backstage photos, followed by the show, which began at 12:30 and lasted 2 hours.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to do a different type of photography,” says Idia, a Photography II student this past year. “I usually take my own photos, so I can go with the flow and see what I get. For this, I was taking photos for someone else, which added a little pressure, and I definitely tapped into a more technical side of photography.”
Idia was also using a different camera, so she did her homework before-hand, brushing up on her technical skills. She began the day taking behind-the-scenes photos of models prepping for the show.
“It was definitely hectic, but there were lots of opportunities for photos,” she says, adding that for the first part of the show, she sat near the front row and photographed the runway. “The room was kind-of low-lit, so I had to mess with the camera settings in the middle of the show, and I was a little worried I was not going to get good photos, but everything turned out fine. In the moment, though, I was stressed about the lighting.”
Overall, Idia says she most enjoyed the energy of the day.
“Everyone was very passionate about what they were doing, but they were also supporting each other,” she explains. “I never felt awkward being there with a camera, even though I was the youngest one there. I was expecting some people to not be friendly or talkative, but they were very communicative with me. Even some of the other designers talked to me, so I definitely felt comfortable.”
It was not the first time Idia has been recognized for her photography. Last year, she was one of two MHS students with photographs selected for an online exhibition curated as part of the “We The Place” National High School Open Call, sponsored by the BFA Photography and Video Department at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Read more!
“What I enjoy most about photography is what I envision in my head and how I want the photo to come out is something I can make happen,” she says. “I feel like photography comes pretty naturally for me, and it is something I enjoy doing, even if it is work.” •
Dr. Chris Himes at the intersection of history and innovation
RETURNING LAST SUMMER TO THE AMERICAN Southwest, MHS Director of Engineering & Technology/ STEAM Coordinator Dr. Christopher Himes was struck by the complexity of histories in the region.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Himes studied at the University of New Mexico and lived in Albuquerque, so he was familiar with those complexities, but this time around, the more he learned, the more questions he uncovered. Answers, in turn, led to more questions. It was the kind of professional development he wasn’t going to find at a conference.
“It was a really interesting exploration,” explains Dr. Himes, who shared his experience during a December 8 presentation to the MHS community. “It was the first time I had ever engaged in professional development where I was discovering what to do as we were there, and talking to people about the experience, and as I got more and more information, the experience became richer and richer.”
Dr. Himes and his family traveled in June to New Mexico as the recipient of the 2022-23 Paternotte Family Faculty Travel and Study Endowment Fund Grant. Established by Nancy Brewster Paternotte ’65 in 2015, the grant supports faculty professional development through travel; faculty share their experiences afterward in a community presentation.
The focus of Dr. Himes’ trip was two-fold.
The first was exploring the Taos region’s “Earthships,” off-the-grid, nearly self-sufficient homes built from largely recycled materials and in a climate where water is scarce.
The second was learning more about New Mexico’s rich weaving tradition, particularly the Chimayo style, one of several in a region influenced by the converging indigenous, Mexican, Spanish, and U.S. cultures.
Both aspects of the trip, Dr. Himes noted, have applications in the MHS classroom, whether as part of a unit examining sustainable housing or while thinking algorithmically about math and space, integral parts of the weaving process. There is also room to explore the intersection of history, art, and technology in a truly interdisciplinary fashion.
Sharing photos from the trip, Dr. Himes explained the Earthship concept. The homes use passive solar heating and radiational cooling and heating, while employing an intricate water collection and distribution
system that provides potable water for drinking and recycled water for growing fruits and vegetables. Many recycled materials are also embedded into the homes’ structural elements, such as foundations and walls.
“We spent a lot of time looking at properties, and it’s a really exciting thing that they’ve come up with this idea,” said Dr. Himes, who made the trip with his family — MHS English Teacher Emily Pulfer-Terino ’97 and their son Lyric. “You can have a house that’s self-sustaining, that minimizes its impact on the environment, that uses materials that would otherwise be in a landfill, and that is benefiting the environment as well.”
While in Taos, the family visited the Taos Pueblo, an indigenous community identified by UNESCO as one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth, dating back nearly 1,000 years. Similarities among Earthship and Pueblo designs prompted discussion about how current technologies emerge from previous technologies.
Previous Paternotte Grant Recipients
2019 Sue Lovell
2018 Rebecca Cook-Dubin
2017 Vicky Biancolo
2016 Ellie Kreischer
“It does raise the question, ‘What is an invention, particularly when it’s based on ancient technology?” Dr. Himes posited, adding, “There’s also this fascinating tension — fascinating from an outsider’s perspective — about the vastly different histories that are going on, the indigenous history, the Spanish history, and the American history all clashing in remarkable ways that are challenging and exciting.”
A similar tension can be found in weaving, noted Dr. Himes, who has long knitted and crocheted, and wanted to learn more about weaving. He described several styles — Rio Grande, Saltillo, Vallero, Chimayo, and Navajo — and the
“Dr. Himes’s commitment to young people is unmatched.”
Dr. Himes is also the current Leonhardt Family Teaching Chair, named during the School’s 2023 Commencement.
Bestowed every four years, the Leonhardt Chair recognizes a Miss Hall’s faculty member who possesses the highest personal and professional ethics, who has made a lifelong commitment to young people, whose skillful instruction enlivens the experience of learning, and whose wise counsel and guidance to students extend beyond the classroom. Faculty, staff, and students submit nominations for the honor.
influences of each as the next style emerged. Here, too, he discovered differing histories, based on who told the story.
“I know weaving is a complex process, but I didn’t know that it had such a complex history,” he said. “This is something that I am continuing to explore. How do we listen and how do we find out about stories that are not easily available?”
Reflecting on the trip, Dr. Himes noted that it reinforced important concepts for him.“First is this idea that fundamentally, new ideas are built on the back of old ideas” he said. “When we’re asked to create something new, sometimes that feels hard, because how do I create something new? You start by researching what already exists, and then you try to refine it into something unique for you.”
Second is the notion that science, technology, and engineering are not a-cultural, meaning they are human endeavors and, therefore, subject to human biases and interests. Finally, that technologies are not only digital. The loom is a technology. Weaving is a technology.
Ultimately, lessons from the trip will be shared with students and colleagues, formally and informally, explained Dr. Himes, who is grateful for the Paternotte grant.
“As teachers, we are lucky to be at Miss Hall’s for several reasons, one of which is our ability to engage in professional development that’s not available to a lot of teachers,” he said. “This particular type of professional development, where you can explore your own interests — I didn’t have to sit and listen about engineering for a week, but rather I could explore my interests and tie it back to my work — is a rare and precious thing.” •
Dr. Himes joined MHS in 2016, launching the School’s Department of Engineering and Technology Innovation. During his tenure he has taught nearly all the department’s courses, including Computers & Programming, Engineering and Society, Engineering Projects & Principles, Hallmark Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Introduction to Computer Science, Introduction to Engineering, Robotics I and II, and STEAM.
In the words of one colleague, “He believes so strongly about MHS and always puts students at the forefront. He strives to make sure our MHS program is unique and allows students to explore their interests, meet high standards, and achieve their goals.”
And, in the words of a student and advisee, “He is always striving to care and listen, and always balancing remaining professional while being warm and friendly.”
The first endowed teaching chair at MHS, the Leonhardt Chair was established by the Leonhardt Foundation in 1988 through the efforts of Melissa Leonhardt ’76, a former Miss Hall’s Trustee. Previous recipients include Director of Academic Counseling Rebecca Cook-Dubin, Science Department Chair Donna Daigle, former Spanish Teacher Spanish Teacher Helena Cevallos St. John, former Latin Teacher Mary Quirk, former Math Teacher and Assistant Head of School James K. Ervin, former Math Teacher Dr. Carol J.V. Fisher, and former Expressive Arts Department Chair Gary Miller. •
Miss Hall’s School awards more than $5 million annually to students who have excellent academic credentials, excel in school life, and show great promise. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients!
CLASS OF 1940 SCHOLARSHIP
Established in 2010, the Class of 1940 Scholarship Fund supports a student who has demonstrated a sincere interest in community service. This scholarship has been awarded to EA Peña ’25, of Roxbury, Massachusetts.
BUTLER FAMILY ART SCHOLARSHIP
This partial scholarship, awarded to a student who has demonstrated an interest in and a commitment to the arts, was established in 2004 through the George M. and Pamela S. Humphrey Fund. Trustee Alice Butler Burnham ’65 was instrumental in bringing the Humphrey Fund gift to Miss Hall’s School. This scholarship is held by Honey Fields ’24, of New Marlborough, Massachusetts.
PAMELA HUMPHREY FIRMAN ’31 SCHOLARSHIP
Established in 1991 by Cynthia Firman Webster ’63, Royal Firman, and the Firman Fund, the Firman Scholarship is awarded to a student of outstanding personal and academic promise. This scholarship has been awarded to Casey Lai ’25, of Singapore.
MARY FORTMILLER CORNWELL ’56 BOOK SCHOLARSHIP
Seeded in 2016 and formally established in honor of their 65th reunion in 2021, members of the Class of 1956, led by Sandra Roe Smith and Mary’s family, created this book scholarship in memory of dear friend and classmate Mary Fortmiller Cornwell to honor a student with outstanding personal and academic promise. Throughout her lifetime, Mary Fortmiller Cornwell was an avid reader. Her choice of purse or travel tote would often be based solely on its ability to fit whatever book she was reading at the time. The scholarship is held by Nathania Williams-Jack ’24, of Brooklyn, New York.
Established in 1966 by Suzan Brand Gibson ’52, The Hope Scholarship is named after Hope Walsh, the daughter of classmate Loulie Safe Mauran Groton ’52. The fund was further supported by gifts in Suzan’s memory from her widower, Jim Gibson, and from Mrs. Groton. This partial scholarship recognizes promising students who are related to an MHS alumna. Hope Scholarships are held by Ruby Hauck ’24, of South Lee, Massachusetts; Tyler Norman ’25, of Bronx, New York; and Idia Enoma ’26, of Chester, New York. This year, a Hope Scholarship was also awarded to Jasmine Boinay ’27, of Richmond, Massachusetts.
Ruby is the sister of Emme Hauck ’17, Tyler is the daughter of Quanishia Mosely ’00, Idia is the sister of Yuki Enoma ’22, and Jasmine is the granddaughter of Dr. Matheau Schiff ’79.
LEE AUCHINCLOSS LINK ’61 SCHOLARSHIP
Established in 2004 by a gift from Lee Auchincloss Link ’61, this partial scholarship is awarded to a student who has demonstrated an interest in and a commitment to the arts. This scholarship is held by Eva Sophia Allen Vargas ’26, of Richmond, Massachusetts.
ELIZABETH PERKINS MILLER ’31 SCHOLARSHIP
The Miller Scholarship supports one girl in each of the four grades throughout her tenure at MHS. The fund was established by members of Mrs. Miller’s family, led by her daughter, the late Pamela Miller ’56, and was first awarded in 1990. Miller Scholars are chosen on the basis of strong academic backgrounds and the promise to succeed as scholars and as school leaders at MHS. Miller Scholarships are held by Naomi Hopkins ’24, of Chicopee, Massachusetts; Genevieve Buker ’25, of Lee, Massachusetts; and Noya Samara ’26, of Reno, Nevada. This year, a Miller Scholarship was also awarded to Renet Honderich ’27, of Bennington, Vermont.
DALE SPERRY MUDGE ’67 ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
Established by her family and classmates in 2008 in memory of Dale Sperry Mudge ’67, this partial scholarship helps fund tuition for a promising student who shares Dale’s social skills, native curiosity, academic tenacity, enthusiasm for life, and interest in the arts. This scholarship has been awarded to Sutra Chakma ’24, of Bangladesh.
The NPS Authenticity Scholarship, established in 2015, is awarded annually to a domestic student who demonstrates a commitment to authentic engagement with others, a love of the arts, and untapped leadership potential. This scholarship is held by Ella Tawes ’24, of Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Established in 2003 by Robert de Rothschild in memory of Debra Cohen de Rothschild ’77, this scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior day student who distinguishes herself through academic achievement, leadership among her peers, and service to the community. The scholarship recognizes the qualities Debra embodied: intellect, clarity of thought, loyalty, trustworthiness, ebullience, and consideration of the needs of others. This scholarship has been awarded to Kyla Gore ’24, of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Established in 1984 by Toni and Martin Sosnoff, in honor of their daughter Mindy Wiener ’84, this scholarship is awarded to a student who distinguishes herself in her academic and athletic endeavors. This scholarship has been awarded to Welmerly Maria ’24, of Methuen, Massachusetts. •
IT WAS A JOY TO SEE CLASSMATES TOGETHER AND TO witness enduring friendships as alums across seven decades gathered for Reunion 2024, a weekend designed to make room for conversation, connection, and processing.
LIKE NEVER BEFORE, THE MISS HALL’S community stood up and declared its commitment to the future of our school and our students. In December 2023 we concluded the largest fundraising initiative in our history, with a total of $75.9 million in gifts from 2,250 alums, family, and friends.
Money is not the focus of what we do, but it is vital to provide the transformative educational experience that defines Miss Hall’s. Thanks to the support of so many of you — including more than 1,000 first-time donors! — we will be able to provide this experience for many generations to come.
— BOARD CHAIR NANCY GUSTAFSON AULT ’73
Here are just some of what this remarkable effort has made possible:
» Experiential learning with expert faculty teaching 100 innovative courses
» Unparalleled access to internships in our local community
» An inclusive community from around the globe
» Greatly expanded health and wellness programming for all students
» Renovation of our historic campus to meet the needs of modern students
» Need-based tuition support for more than 70% of families and more...
Construction of Linn Hall, a state-ofthe-art STEM facility
Increased tuition support to make a Miss Hall’s education available to students of all backgrounds
A dedicated Department of Engineering and Technology Innovation
The expansion of our vaunted Horizons program, including internships throughout the community — and more than 100,000 hours of volunteering
10
new student-facing staff positions, including a Dean of Wellness and a Dean of Equity and Inclusion
Countless weekend activities, from lectures to ice skating, from Pittsfield to New York City
World-class facilities for our athletes, including the Class of ’57 NCAA soccer and lacrosse field, and the James K. Ervin Tennis Complex
1,750
student leadership opportunities, including student government, honor societies, athletic teams, and more than
40+
Affinity Groups, Essential Coalitions (like Essence, Spectrum, and the International Student Alliance), and clubs, like Astronomy Club, Criminology Club, Debate Club, Fashion Club, Grace Notes, Model U.N. (see page 7!), Robotics Club, Step Team, and Theater Ensemble
Bold improvements to existing buildings, like the Terry Thompson ‘64 Humanities Wing and the Klein — where students live and play as much as they paint and make
A new dorm, Mars Hall — see page 35!
100
new innovative courses designed and taught by our expert faculty, including our pioneering Hallmark courses
A vital Miss Hall’s community of sisters and friends
1,000+
locally sourced menu options
27
16
Historic preservation of our Main Building courses in Expressive Arts athletic teams
2,480
college and university acceptances
Generators to keep campus going, no matter the weather
This campaign is reshaping our campus and our program in tangible and inspiring ways, supporting the powerful transformation that happens when a girl is given the time and the space to discover her voice and the gumption to use it.
— HEAD OF SCHOOL JULIA HEATON P’24, P’27
WE SUCCEEDED IN DOUBLING OUR endowment over the course of the Be Bold Campaign through outright contributions from alums, family, and friends; planned gifts; and the collective efforts of classmates to give back in a lasting way to the School they love. The results of this high-impact underwriting are already tangible in the form of thriving programs and students engaged at every level in life at MHS.
Leaders in the Class of 2022 launched a fundraising initiative before graduation to seed a relief fund for students in times of need. Inspired by the success of the student-led Community Action Fund during the COVID pandemic, the hope is that this fund will provide reassurance and relief, no matter what comes our way. Visit misshalls.org/ emergency to learn more and help bring their vision to fruition.
Friends in the Class of 1989 came together in 2021 to create a student life-centered endowment in memory of their classmate Niecy Heath Childs ‘89. Providing students of all backgrounds access to the full MHS experience, the class continues to contribute and grow this fund in honor of lifelong friendships.
Founded in 2019 by Alice and Chris Dorrance in memory of their mom Anne Meyer Cross ’37, this endowment supports the rhythms of boarding school life that Anne loved: traditions, athletics, and student enrichment — keeping her warmth in our presence for generations to come.
Established by a generous bequest upon the untimely passing of Susan K. Hamill ’75 in 2022, this endowment ensures the same life-changing opportunities she experienced at MHS are available for future generations. This fund supports experiential learning in Klein Arts Center — where there the central gallery now bears her name — and beyond.
On the occasion of their 60th Reunion, members of the Class of 1960 established a forever fund to underwrite the visual and performing arts at Miss Hall’s. It is their way of paying forward the inspiration of their incredible art teacher Elizabeth Gatchell Klein and making sure that boldness and creativity remain a great strength of the School.
Established in 2019 in celebration of their 55th Reunion, the Class of 1964 Horizons Endowment supports handson learning and moments of practice in community building; leadership, advocacy, and career exploration. It ensures the continuous reimagining of Miss Hall’s signature Horizons program.
Created in response to a strategic challenge by the Edward E. Ford Foundation, the DE&I Endowment ensures that Miss Hall’s remains a truly inclusive community into the future. Major gifts from the Fairbanks Family Charitable Foundation and the Michael and Jane Joukowsky Fund in 2021 brought this remarkable fund over the $1M mark.
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT 125 YEARS WILL bring, but when the Blue and Gold gather for the Miss Hall’s semiquincentennial (250th!) celebration in 2148, they are in for a treat. While celebrating the 125th year of MHS and the completion of the $75 million Be Bold Campaign this fall, MHS students, faculty, alums, and friends were invited to submit meaningful artifacts to fill a formidable time capsule. The capsule will be sealed this spring into the cornerstone of Linn Hall, with instructions — and maybe a map — left for our successors (and our successors’ successors), so they can locate and open the time capsule in 2148! “What’s inside?” you ask. Contributed items include:
» A hand-thrown mug made by members of the Class of 2027
» A message from this year’s all-school leaders to student leaders of 2148
» A tennis ball from the 2023 inauguration of the James K. Ervin Tennis Complex
» Lyrics from the Class of 1965 senior song, found in the pocket of a well-loved Miss Hall’s blazer
» More than a century of news clippings and mementos spotlighting time and place
» A knitted hat from the 2017 Women’s March
» 1923 architectural plans for the Main Building
» A 1961 vinyl Grace Notes record
» A glass signet from a 1957 Miss Hall’s School ring
» Badges, pennants, and memorabilia throughout the decades
» This incredible excerpt from A Backward Glance, a booklet by Mary E. Salisbury and written around the time of the 1898 sale of Miss Salisbury’s School, then located in downtown Pittsfield, to Mira Hall. “Where will the school of the future be, do you ask? Surely we may not look for it here. … I should imagine its location might be nearer Lenox. And the school building? You must remember that you will then be in and of the twentieth century. Instead of one school building there will be a number of buildings. The main building with accommodations for various departments, furnished with telephones and audiphones and many other kinds of ‘phones’ still in embryo, to be born ere long out of Edison’s brain, will communicate with the homes of all the students. Recitations of absentees will be conducted through these ingenious, all penetrating, everywhere pervading ‘phones.’ No matter where girls are, they will be reached by means of wires or without wires.”
Emeritus Trustee Jacqueline B. Mars ’57 with Horizons panelists Nathania WilliamsJack ’24, Helena Braga ’24, Valeria Dediu ’25, and Lily Yao ’24. Below, students in one of the Mars Hall dorm rooms, which MHS students themselves had a say in designing.
THE “NEW” DORM, SO-CALLED SINCE ITS 2016 opening, is now Mars Hall, honoring Miss Hall’s Emeritus Trustee Jacqueline B. Mars ’57.
The building was dedicated during December’s Trustee weekend, with Ms. Mars, MHS Board members, and Miss Hall’s students and adults attending a surprise ceremony in the dorm’s Alice Butler Burnham ’65 Common Room. Head of School
Julia Heaton announced the news after a student panel about their Horizons internship and community service experiences.
“For any organization to thrive, it needs believers who genuinely value its mission, understand that mission’s relevance in the broader world, and couple their belief with a willingness to act,” said Ms. Heaton. “Ms. Mars has supported the School as a Trustee and Emeritus Trustee, always focusing on what’s most important — our purpose and our mission. Every time I talk to her, she asks, ‘How are the students, and what do they need, to have the most amazing experience possible?’”
Addressing Ms. Mars, Ms. Heaton continued, “In honor of all that you have done for Miss Hall’s, your support for students, and your belief in our mission, this building is now named Mars Hall.” The room burst out in applause, then quieted as Ms. Mars spoke, noting the importance of giving back and supporting causes one believes in — ethical cornerstones she nurtured as a Miss Hall’s student. Though times have changed, that ethos carries on in today’s students.
“What we are talking about is that I learned how important philanthropy is to support the causes that you believe in,” Ms. Mars noted. “Miss Hall’s is a cause I really believe in, and I learned — starting with our version of Horizons at that time — how important it is to give back.”
For more than 65 years, Ms. Mars has acted on those beliefs, supporting the Annual Fund for MHS and numerous campaigns, serving as a Trustee and Trustee Emeritus, graciously hosting events, and personifying the MHS mission far and wide. In 2012, she received the Barbara Humes Euston ’29 Distinguished Service Award, recognizing exemplary service to the School.
Mars Hall, on the north side of Perkins Pond, opened in August 2016 and is home to 30 students. The building includes two apartments for faculty families, and the Burnham Common area centers on a welcoming fireplace and a beautiful view of Perkins Pond.
“Miss Hall’s thrives because of people like Jacquie, whose unwavering belief in our mission to inspire and encourage bold and creative contributors to the common good is matched by her willingness to step forward and support that vision,” Ms. Heaton added. “We are deeply grateful to her for making it possible for future generations of students to benefit from our mission, and it is with great love and deep appreciation that we name this building Mars Hall in her honor.” •
by Emily Gorman, Math Department Chair
DURING MY 20-YEAR TEACHING CAREER, THE 2020-21 academic year was definitely the hardest. It was like being a brand-new teacher — because everything I had done previously needed reimagining for a virtual classroom — but worse, because I was by myself in my apartment all day, every day for the better part of six months. Returning to the actual classroom full time for the following year felt better than it had in a long time. I was grateful for every interaction with a dysfunctional copier or coworker, because at least I was being seen. It made me realize that I wanted more. More connection, more involvement, more community. That’s what brought me to boarding school.
I had thought about leaving the amazing pressure cooker that is New York City for literal greener pastures every year for the last five or so years, but I was scared to make the move, intimidated that I would have to make friends again. Besides my partner, who I met online, I have nurtured just two non-work-related friendships as an adult post-college. (I met them at the dog park, and my dog is not that social, so it was not easy.) During the summer of 2022, the dog, the partner, and I moved two and a half hours north for a residential teaching position at this small boarding school in a small city. Yes, we volunteered to live in a dorm apartment, sight unseen, neighbors to about 90 teenagers. I thought a lot about how I would build relationships with the students on my hall as one of their “dorm parents,” but I had given almost no thought to my relationships with the other resident adults. This has been the biggest surprise of my new life, and perhaps, in part, because it was unexpected, a great source of joy.
In college, it took me a long time to make my first true friend, despite the fact that we lived together. Here, it felt much simpler: you’re adults in a space built for teenagers; you’re the outsiders; no one is cool. There have been game nights when the “game” is just talking and eating, which are sometimes more fun. You learn what people feel deeply about: never getting married again, and, unrelatedly (or maybe relatedly?), not sharing food. There have been group outings to
dinner and a movie, when the main attraction is the debrief in the car on the way back to campus. There are the hour-plus brunches in the Dining Room on weekends — I may someday get tired of someone else preparing all of my meals, but I haven’t yet. There are the duty nights, after dinner and before Study Hall, when you bond with your small band of fellow caretakers sharing stories of dates gone bad or really really good. And, there’s “two truths and a lie,” when you learn which of your coworkers (now friends) have met Madonna (or not), and which can summon animals to her like a fairy-tale princess with teaching credentials.
We are a mixed bunch: classroom teachers, admissions officers, administrators, parents, child-free folks, cat people, dog people, members of Gen Z, boomers, single, attached, MHS veterans, and newbies. Living on campus provides a variety of faces and communal energy reminiscent of New York, something I didn’t want to lose, but on a small enough scale that you have an opportunity for support and the openness to flourish that is rare when there are millions of other people clamoring for your acknowledgement. We see our students in so many settings, from the athletic fields to the Dining Room, to Study Hall; and we help them to negotiate everything from math homework to roommate conflicts. We adults also get to know each other across those same different contexts. We bring varied experiences and philosophies to our jobs and day-to-day interactions with students, but we all want them to be happy, healthy, safe, and fulfilled. And, we want those things for each other as well. I was nervous about leaving New York and starting at a new type of school, but being totally immersed in the place from the start may just have been the best way to do it. There is nothing that gets you into the rhythm of a place so quickly as living there. •
ARIEL SIMS ’05 ENJOYS BEHIND-THEscenes roles. “I’ve always been a better spectator than an athlete,” says Ariel, who, as E-Commerce Assistant at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, enjoys being part of the effort that goes into making someone’s day when they receive their order from the museum’s store. “But, I’m also a big proponent of doing things that make you uncomfortable and doing them with people who help and support you.”
It was a lesson Ariel learned early on at Miss Hall’s, where she found the community she was looking for, coupled with just the right amount of challenge and opportunity. “That really sticks with me,” she says, “having room at Miss Hall’s to explore things we liked, or even things that made us uncomfortable, in smaller groups where we could support each other and cheer each other on.”
Ariel’s Miss Hall’s journey began with the desire to find a school where she could find stability. Moving from Oklahoma to
Pittsfield in 1999, on the day before her 12th birthday, and starting a new public middle school was stressful enough, she explains. That the school was in a temporary home while undergoing renovations added to the unease.
When Ariel spotted an MHS Plant Sale advertisement, complete with a note at the bottom about scholarships for accepted students, she eagerly applied, and found a place where she could settle in and be challenged.
“The biggest things that stand out to me from my time at Miss Hall’s are the people — friends, teachers, staff — and lots of little things,” says Ariel. They include managing the 2003-04 volleyball team that played in the New England Championships and joining the Technical Theater crew, working on five productions in all.
She fondly recalls Chemistry Teacher Gary Gray inviting advisees to Witherspoon, where Katie Ross ’03 made pizza. She remembers Latin Teacher Mary Quirk jumping on a table and barking like a dog to make class a little more fun, and that Math Teacher Paul Van Sickle was always available for extra help. “I took math all four years, even though didn’t have to, in part because I could do something that made me uncomfortable, like math, but I could do it in a safe space and succeed,” she adds.
After Miss Hall’s, Ariel attended Richmond American University in London, learning partway through her first semester that her financial aid did not come through as expected. She returned to Pittsfield and enrolled at Berkshire Community College. “It was not what I had envisioned, but it was the right place for me to be at the time,” notes Ariel, who earned her Associate’s Degree in Human Services and a certificate in Social Work, then went on to Mount Holyoke College, majoring in psychology.
After college, she took a position at the Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, then joined the Eric Carle Museum in May 2012, discovering another community that offered challenge and opportunity. She started out assisting with orders, then, in 2016, became E-Commerce Assistant, running the museum shop’s online sales.
The work accommodates her love of reading, allows her to be creative, and is the type of supporting role Ariel enjoys. “I like the anonymity of working behind the scenes, but I also like making someone’s day, like when a 4-year-old receives a surprise bundle of books,” she says.
Ariel has also hosted MHS students at the museum, which was part of a weekend activities outing connecting them with alums in the Amherst/Northampton area. While sharing about
Eric Carle and the museum, Ariel also shared a message of resilience, an important skill in today’s world.
“I told the students about my winding path, and I wanted them to know that it’s okay if things don’t work out exactly as planned, if you can find the place you need to be,” she says. “You don’t have to ‘get it’ right away, it’s okay to not be exactly where you want to be, and it’s okay to take a break, if that’s what you need to get where you want to be.”
Looking back, Ariel credits MHS with putting her in positions to succeed. “Miss Hall’s made me confident taking calculated risks and putting myself out there — more than I would have on my own — whether it was mixing with others to work on a project or finding a group I could connect with and try new things, like Vocal Ensemble,” she says. “There is also comfort in knowing who you are and in knowing who other people are.” •
JENNI JORDAN CAN’T GET ENOUGH HIGH school theater, especially musical theater.
Since joining MHS in 2006, Jenni has directed and produced 40(!) shows, including this year’s stellar Winter Musical Matilda. This spring, Jenni took in high school shows across Connecticut and Massachusetts in her role as an adjudicator for the Stephen Sondheim Awards, which celebrate excellence in high school musical theater.
“I adore the energy high school students bring to theater, especially musicals – there’s so much heart in it,” says Jenni. “I was excited to see these young talents express themselves, and I discovered a few hidden musical gems and innovative approaches to directing and producing shows that may have escaped my usual consideration for our students."
Sondheim Award adjudicators provide feedback and scoring for each production they view, with all feedback shared at the end of the awards season with participating schools. The awards season culminates in May at an annual gala, where awards are
presented in acting, directing, choreography, design, best musical, and best ensemble.
“To advocate for underrepresented voices was one of the key reasons I wanted to do it,” says Jenni. “Many public high school programs are underfunded and unrecognized, and I aspire to amplify some of those overlooked voices.”
The program is administered by Black Rock Theater, of Fairfield, Connecticut, and Jenni discovered the opportunity to adjudicate after receiving an email and exploring whether MHS might enter the contest. After applying, Jenni met with Black Rock representatives to review their rubric and scoring processes, then took online training.
“It’s a pretty intense commitment,” notes Jenni, who, by the way, was knee-deep directing and producing Matilda at the same time she was taking in as many other productions as she could.
And, unlike an MHS production, where Jenni is responsible for untold details large and small, she can sit back and just enjoy the show.
“I got to be a spectator, and I saw some amazing performances,” she adds. “I love the energy around high school students doing theater, it’s contagious. I always leave feeling great, even if the show isn’t perfect. The spirit and feeling of that community is completely infectious.” •
WELCOME TO ISABEL FILKINS ’10, WHO HAS RETURNED to Miss Hall’s as the Director of College Counseling. A Berkshires native, Izzy and her twin sister, Malina, were MHS day students from Cheshire. Izzy comes back to MHS from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, in nearby Great Barrington, where she worked for nearly a decade.
Izzy saw the MHS role as a natural extension of the many hats she wore at Simon’s Rock. “When this position popped up, I didn’t think of applying at first, but then I realized I had done all of the major responsibilities before,” she says. “I just never had that title before.
While at Simon’s Rock, Izzy held roles as an Adjunct Faculty member in the Humanities and the Arts, as an advisor to early college students, and as Director of Title IX and Civil Rights. Her work included developing curriculum, ensuring the early college’s compliance with Title IX regulations, and advising students as they navigated course selection and charted their next steps during and after attending the early college.
“Whatever hurdle was on their path, or where a student was wanting to change their path, I worked with them to help them navigate so they could find their direction,” she explains. “I really like working with students to get at the root of what drives them, then finding a way to connect that with a sustainable way forward.”
Returning to MHS in January, Izzy is eager to add her touch to the School’s personalized College Counseling program. She jumped in with juniors, getting to know them and helping them launch their college searches by putting shape around their dreams and exploring which colleges might help them meet their goals. (Former Director of College Counseling and current Dean of Students Sarah Virden shepherded the Class of 2024 through their senior-year college work.)
Izzy holds an M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College and a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Dance from Bard College. She is a great fit at Miss Hall’s. Welcome back! •
CAMILLE JACKSON ’90, from Durham, North Carolina, is Director of Communications for Duke University’s Office of Information Technology, where she leads the development and execution of strategic communication plans. Camille’s career at Duke spans 16 years, beginning in the Office of News and Communications, where she helped promote faculty research in the humanities and social sciences. She later served in various roles, managing communications, marketing, and event planning for various start-up academic units. Before joining Duke, Camille worked as an investigative journalist and wrote about hate groups and diversity issues at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Originally from Connecticut, Camille holds an M.S. in Journalism from Quinnipiac University and has attended Yale University and Southern Connecticut State University.
MELISSA KILBY, from Hickory, North Carolina, is CEO of Girl Up and a global thought leader on girls’ leadership, youth activism, and nonprofit management. Girl Up, a youth-centered leadership development organization transforming a generation of girls to be a force for gender justice and social change worldwide, has grown exponentially since her arrival in 2010. Melissa also sits on the Steering Committee for Women in Dev and is the past Chair of Girls on the RunDC. Named one of Fortune magazine’s “40 Under 40 Class of 2020,” Melissa appears regularly in the media, including MSNBC, Newsweek, Huffington Post, and Harvard International Review. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Strategic Communication from the University of Missouri – Columbia.
ELIZABETH STUART ZEIGLER, from Cranford, New Jersey is founder of Claremont, a consulting and coaching firm. Elizabeth has been a leading voice globally on high impact giving, especially among women. As a strategist and confidant to CEOs, presidents, executive directors, and Boards of Trustees, she emboldens leaders and donors to strategize transformational gifts, many of the largest gifts ever received by clients or made by donors. Elizabeth was the first woman to lead a global fundraising consulting firm in her previous role. An English and business graduate of Muhlenberg College, Elizabeth holds a master’s degree in adult education and human resource development from Fordham University and a certificate from Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program.
Stephanie Lawlor Kadnar ’90, of Winchester, Massachusetts, joined the Board in 2011 and served on the Development Committee for all 12 of those years. Stephanie also served on the Investment Committee for nine years, as Trusteeship Committee Chair for four years, and on the Safety and Compliance/ Facilities and Compliance, Capital Gifts Steering, and Campaign Steering committees.
Alisha Arnold Foster ’78, of Arlington, Virginia, served 11 years overall as a Trustee, from 2000 to 2003, then rejoined the Board in 2015. Alisha served eight years on the Facilities and Compliance Committee, seven on the Development Committee, and six on the Investment Committee
Stacy Kirk ’90, of Charlotte, North Carolina, joined the Board in 2015 and served eight years, including seven years each on the Finance and Facilities and Compliance committees and Chairing the Master Planning and Divestment/Housing task forces.
Vanessa Stair ’06, of Brooklyn, New York, joined the Board in 2019 and served on the Development Committee and Strategic Partnership Opportunities Team (SPOT).
Kristina Delgado ’09, of New York, New York, and Sheila E. Nutt, Ed.D., P’09, of Newton, Massachusetts, joined the Board in 2020 and served on the Development and Strategic Planning committees.
Thank you to all for your dedicated service to Miss Hall’s School.
JEFF CROSIER P’17 CAME TO MISS Hall’s just looking for a job. He left as an invaluable member of the community.
After 33 years tackling projects great and small across the MHS campus, Jeff stepped down in April as Manager of Campus Services to take a similar position with the nearby Lee School District.
“I just came for a job, and I loved it,” he says. “I loved the community, loved the mission, everything about the School.”
Jeff joined MHS as a summer groundskeeper in 1987 while still in high school. He signed on as full-time groundskeeper in 1991 and kept climbing the ladder — proverbial and actual. He held several titles, including Maintenance Supervisor, Head of Maintenance, Facilities Services Coordinator, and Facilities Manager.
“I most enjoyed working with the facilities crew on group projects,” notes Jeff, adding that less enjoyable was coming in earlier than usual if a third-shift housekeeper called in sick. “I absolutely loved working as a team.”
Looking back, Jeff is impressed by how much the School has grown, both in terms of facilities and in community. Faculty and staff, for example, are one team — staffulty. “We’re just one big group now, and the staff is highly respected as members of the community,” he adds. “And, of course, there are more buildings, and the quality of the facilities has also grown.”
Linn Hall and Mars Hall opened in 2016, and recent projects include a new Holmes Road entrance and the James K. Ervin Tennis Complex. Along the way there was modernization of lighting to LED, installation of wireless Internet across campus, and sprinklers added in all buildings.
As is his style, Jeff credits his coworkers for the accomplishments.
“I have such an invaluable team,” he says. “The people I have worked with and who have been here have done so much for the School, have had great attitudes, and always want to do the best for the students.” •
1. Grand finale of the 10×10 Arts Festival: fireworks on the Common. 2. Students explore wind turbines and state-of-the-art technology at the Berkshire Innovation Center. 3. Student-felted Valentines — all about love! 4. Varsity lacrosse victorious on the Class of ’57 Field. 5. Bundles of self-care love from the juniors, benefiting Class of ‘25 ring scholarships. 6. Awarding the “Culture Vulture” prize for participating in cultural weekend activities. 7. International Student Alliance Lunch Dates: mashup meals that foster cross-cultural dialogue. 8. The whole school came out for the solar eclipse party! 9. Sledding on Flagpole Hill— a winter classic. 10. Five days unplugged as part of a student-led Wellness Week screen time challenge. 11. Students from China, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam share Lunar New Year traditions.
CORNELIA (DICKI) BAEKELAND BAGAROTTI ’36 passed away April 16, 2023, at age 103. The granddaughter of Leo Baekeland, the inventor of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, Dicki was predeceased by her first husband Gerhard von Hessert, second husband Hanns Ditisheim, third husband Giovanni Bagarotti, and son Christian Hendrik von Hessert. Dicki is survived by three granddaughters and four greatgrandchildren. —The New York Times
KATHARINE (KITTY) SPALDING CUNNINGHAM ’52, librarian, dance critic, mother, and wife, passed away November 9. Kitty earned her B.A. from Barnard College and her M.L.S. from Columbia University. Her professional career as a school librarian at the Brearley School, Sacred Heart School, and at Trinity School in Manhattan was balanced by dance. Kitty wrote about and reviewed dance for several publications and co-authored the book Conversations with a Dancer. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
MARIE BIDWELL LEUCHS P’72, P’74, P’76, P’83, P’85 passed away January 16. Marie was employed as a head nurse and assistant nursing arts instructor at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, later an evening supervisor of nursing for the NYC Department of Hospitals/Bellevue, and lastly at Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge. Marie is survived by her daughters, former MHS Trustee Paula Leuchs Moats McNay ’72, Catherine Leuchs Bohrman ’74, Adele Leuchs Odegaard ’76, Mary Anne Leuchs-de la Rosa ’83, and Ellen Leuchs ’85. Her husband, noted stained glass artist and craftsman Frederick L. Leuchs, predeceased her in 1999. The Berkshire Eagle
THE HONORABLE JULIETTE “JUDY” CLAGETT
MCLENNAN ’64 passed away November 15. Judy served as The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women under President George H.W. Bush and was the first to hold the post as an Ambassador.
She was long active in Republican politics, including campaigns for Presidents Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. With a passion for skiing and sailing, Judy co-founded and served as President of the C. Thomas Clagett, Jr., Memorial Clinic and Regatta for sailors with disabilities. She is survived by her daughter, son, and grandson. —Washington Times
SUSAN BISACCA MCNINCH P’81, P’83 passed away January 2. Co-owner and operator of Eastover Resort in Lenox from 1983-2000, Susan was Lenox’s first female Selectman, an instrumental member of the Kennedy Park Committee, a founding member of the Lenox Hound and Hunt Club, a Lee VNA board member, a Fresh Air Mom, and actively involved in the Church on the Hill. Survivors include her sister Ticki Bisacca Winsor ’58 and children Paige McNinch Waugh ’81, Robert McNinch ’83, and John McNinch. Susan’s husband, former MHS Trustee Robert McNinch P’81, P’83, predeceased her in 2018. —The Berkshire Eagle
NANCY LYNNE
SHULMAN ’69 passed away on November 26. Nancy attended Brandeis University (1973) and earned master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts and Marlboro College. She had a long and successful career that took her to many places,
eventually leading her back to Pittsfield, where she enjoyed being a realtor and helping entrepreneurs at the Massachusetts Small Business Center. Nancy was also a passionate member of the Jewish community, living and working on Kibbutz Harel in Israel and studying at Hebrew University in her youth. She is survived by her two sons, two daughters-in-law, two granddaughters, and extended family. —The Berkshire Eagle
MARGERY PLOTKIN ’89 passed away October 25. Many families benefited from Margery’s care and strength. There was not a dog or cat that she did not give her heart and undying love to, and she was proud of her AKC certification as a dog trainer. Volunteering to help animals was her favorite career and some of the happiest times in her life. Among the many organizations where Margery made a difference are Stray Rescue, Dolly’s Dream Home Rabbit Rescue, The Feral Cat Outreach, the APA, and the Humane Society of Missouri. She is survived by her mother, two brothers and their spouses, four nephews and an aunt. —St. Louis Jewish Light
JANYCE JONES ’68 DIED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2024, IN South Orange, New Jersey.
From Richmond, Virginia, Janyce came to Miss Hall’s as a sophomore for the 1965-66 school year. Along with Essie Harris Wade ’68, she was one of the first Black students to attend Miss Hall’s.
Janyce, Essie, Arllen Acevedo ’67, and Gloria Ortiz ’68 all came to Miss Hall’s in 1965 through the School’s partnership with A Better Chance (ABC), a nonprofit organization that assists young people of color with access to educational opportunities. The organization was founded in 1963, and Miss Hall’s began participating in 1965.
In 2019, Janyce was included in Heather Eyong ’19’s research project, “Black Excellence at MHS,” which explored the history of Black students at Miss Hall’s. Heather’s presentation noted that Janyce was active in the Glee Club, made the MHS Citizenship Honor List in 1966 and 1967, and had a vibrant personality, a genuinely inquisitive mind, and was a hard worker.
Janyce studied Psychology and Music at Allegheny College and studied at Columbia University. She was employed as a Mental Health Specialist with the New York State Office of Mental Health. Active in the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion in South Orange, Janyce was a classically trained singer, who sang with her church and who taught singing.
Janyce’s parents, Peter and Lilian Trent Jones, preceded her in death, according to her obituary. She is survived by several cousins, her church family, and other close friends who adored and loved her. •
THIS PAGE: Alums converse in Denver; left side (front to back): Diana Fogliano ’96, Franny Gardner ’72, former Trustee Wendy Sprole Bangs ’63, Phoebe Spare ’15, not seen Jen Perrin Bergstrom ’99; right side (front to back): Trustee Suzanne Wilson ’64, Emeritus Trustee Bonnie Campbell Perkins ’57, Board Chair Nancy Gustafson Ault ’73, Edith Phyfe ’71, former Trustee Alden Whittaker ’87. Sporting their MHS sweatshirts are Emeritus Trustee Stacey Sothiros ’89, Tristane de la Presle ’89, and Sarah Ginn Harris ’89. Cris Cristiano Raymond ’55 displays a book of children's art she helped publish.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Class of 1964: First Row (L-R) Jeannette Watson Sanger, Michele Dobbins Dodge, Margo Marsellus Mosley, Kip Searle Abbott, Marian Bruen Marrin. Second Row (L-R) Trustee Suzanne Wilson, Barbara Crane, Alison Simmons Prouty. Third Row (L-R) Courtenay Compton McGowen, Vicky Phillips Boyd, former Trustee Carolie Rutter Frazer (in the tree!).
1953
Dave Gaddis shares “I wanted to let Miss Hall’s know that my Mom, Nancy Wallace Heiple ’53, passed away last August. She was 88 years old and outlived my Dad and Stepdad (Gordon Gaddis died 1972 and Kingsbury Heiple died 2016). She was always active in golf, tennis, and skeet shooting while raising my brothers and me. She succumbed to Alzheimer’s after an 8-year decline. Mom left behind 3 sons (Dave, Bill, & Bob) 6 grandchildren, 6 greatgrandchildren, 4 stepchildren (Kingsbury Jr.-deceased, Jeanne, Holly, & Caroline) 4 step grandchildren, and 4 step greatgrandchildren.
1955
Cris Cristiano Raymond ’55 had a long career in publishing, working
at Harcourt Brace and at Simon & Schuster, where, as she said, women of the era “crashed open the glass ceiling” for the next generation of women in publishing. Cris was a volunteer at Camp MahKee-Nac, in nearby Stockbridge, which was one of a consortium of camps that offered a weeklong camp experience for children who lost loved ones in 9/11. She was instrumental in arranging for the Norman Rockwell Museum to exhibit artwork that these children made at camp. The artwork then went to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and Cris spearheaded the publication of a book of their work.
1957
Sheila Scranton Childs ’57 shares from Vermont, “The highlight of my 2024 has been the visit here from Missoula Children’s Theatre, from Missoula, MT, which I have been
sponsoring for 17 years. Two young directors came to town on Sunday with costumes, sets, and music, and auditioned local children on Monday at 4:00 and cast the show right then. There were 31 children this year! They hold workshops in local schools all week during school hours, rehearse every evening starting right after school, and give two performances on Saturday!!!
This year it was Jack and the Beanstalk, and they were fantastic. The whole event, which was a little more stressful than usual, dealing with a broken down truck (in Rochester, NY), U-HAUL rental, and illness for one of the directors, but it was still absolutely wonderful. We have one local 11-year-old autistic boy who has been in the shows all the years recently and watching how the others guide him and watch over him on stage is just beautiful. His mother gave me some cards of his
photographs. It all means so much to me. AND, about MCT, the winner of the Golden Globe, Lily Gladstone, this year — in her acceptance speech — said her first role ever was with MCT, when she was in first grade. She grew up on a reservation with no theater per se, and MCT came through every year. My heart flipped when I heard her. I love this program. Having had a children’s theater group here years ago, I love seeing them on stage. It’s so good for them and fun!! MCT is the highlight of my year. It just means so much to me, because I know how much it can help children!”
Susana Pino ’57 from Guayaquil, Ecuador, shares that the country’s youngest President was one of her students at her private pre-school. Susana’s cousin and nieces have attended over the years, Diana ’00, Beatriz ’85, Pilar ’88, and a relative Claudia ’90
THIS PAGE: Polly Baker Beste ’67 with her new husband. Class of 1969: Patricia Casey Shepherd. Class of 1974: First Row (L-R) Lucy Richardson, Marka Neary Deleo, Amelia Winterbotham McGinnis, Mary Mullen. Second Row (L-R) Joanne Quattrochi, Bobbi Holmes Omelenchuk. Third Row (L-R) Jane Patashnick Cabot, Kathy Devlin Kelly; in the tree, Meg Green Wheeler and Catherine Leuchs Bohrman.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Val Demong, former Trustee Valorie Walker Guthrie ’71, Charlotte Stetson ’62, Trustee Laura Harris ’74, former Trustee Gina Breene Wickwire ’67, Mimi Dolph Adkins ’75, Jody Geier Howard ’87, Cynthia Carey Lalone ’77, Director of Philanthropy Jennifer Kerwood P’21, Ben Whiteley, Debby Johnston Magowan ’63, Abbie Breene Hubert ’63, Cinnie Siragusa ’82, and MHS Director of Advancement Merritt Colaizzi P’28 gathered at the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, FL, to tour the exhibition “Presence: the Photography Collection of Judith Glickman Lauder.” (Missing from photo: Hope Geier Smith ’82.) Emeritus Trustee Bonnie Campbell Perkins ’57 and former Trustee Alden Whittaker ’87 together in Denver, Colorado.
Martha Wheelock ’59 is the new Board President of the National Women’s History Alliance, formerly the National Women’s History Project, which is a leader in promoting Women’s History and is committed to the goals of education, empowerment, equality, and inclusion. Martha continued championing Women’s History in March, running webinars, conducting interviews, and making presentations to various organizations, including the American Association of University Women, and at assisted living homes, colleges, and libraries.”
Polly Baker Beste ’67 shares “Fiveplus years ago my dear husband of 40 years passed away. This week, I’m getting married again! Yikes! Never in my wildest dreams! But life is good, if only we could secure some world peace.”
Louise Hamlin ’67 shares “From February 23 to March 31, I held an
exhibition of charcoal drawings at the AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH. The subject was milkweed, in various degrees of representation and abstraction. If anyone wants to take a look, most of the drawings are on my website: louisehamlin.net.
Wickes MacColl ’67 shares “I continue to love and live in the mountains, lakes, and rivers of central Idaho. Grateful for excellent health and joy in my life. Engaged to Paul, best guy for the last 10 years!! Books that have made a big impact: Apeirogon, 1619 Project, and Braiding Sweetgrass. I traveled from Istanbul to Troy via central Turkey for several weeks last year. Amazing.”
Lucinda Ziesing ’67 shares “I was one of six poets reading at the inaugural Camden Poetry Festival in May. Some of you asked to see this. It’s been slow to come. If you just want to hear mine, I am the last of the six poets to read. I read two poems — one about me exploring my father’s closet and the other about living in the mountains of Boulder in my early 20s.”
thepoetscorner.org/festival
Gina Breene Wickwire ’67 shares “We are enjoying our winter in Delray Beach. I am always reminded of my MHS spring vacations here where I met Geoff many years ago. This winter, my sister Abbie, Class of ’63, has been renting in Delray. It has been great to have her nearby. All four of our grandchildren are in college. Our oldest, Breene, graduated in May. Since tickets are limited, and NYU holds its graduation at Yankee Stadium (!!) — the grandparents will happily catch up with the family later. My best to all my classmates — may we continue to thrive.”
Laura Lazarczyk Delmolino ’82 shares “I moved from the Berkshires for a new position about 3 years ago now. I’m a Financial Advisor at Gage-Wiley in Northampton, MA.”
Carolina Medina ’90 stopped by for a visit in November. She had not been back since graduation. She loved showing the campus to her husband and son, Oliver. She is looking forward to her reunion in 2025.
As a consultant with TKC, Susan A. Anthony ’90 served the San Francisco Office of Protocol as Event Manager for the major events hosted by Mayor London Breed. Susan also serves as Vice President Advocacy co-Chair for Zonta International in the Bay Area.
Betsy L. Ames ’93 was recognized for her contributions to the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Industry as a member of the 2024 Class of RESNET® Recognition of Women Pioneers in the HERS® Industry. As Executive Director of the Northeast HERS Alliance, in the past 10 months Betsy has raised a total of $1.55 million
OPPOSITE PAGE: Class of 1989: (L-R) Tristane de la Presle, Emeritus Trustee Stacey Sotirhos, Cornelia Knight Woods, Tish Andresen Slattery, Wendi Rosenthal, Tanya Wiener Mazursky, Sarah Ginn Harris, former Trustee Nina Cabot Whiting, Amy Mesch Favreau. Class of 1994: (L-R) Rachel August Horn, Hannah Thorne Cinelli, Christina Tomeo, Laura Anderson Kontes Ames (in tree!), Sarah Keating, Sarah Bingiel McKeon.
THIS PAGE: Jennifer Dean Durning ’89, Becky McCormack ’89, Rachel Ziemba ’89 (forever in our hearts), and Trustee Becca Hajjar ’89 ran into MHS Director of Advancement Merritt Colaizzi P’28 while on a shopping spree in Northampton, MA. Erica Schoessow Richardson ’89 took a trip to the East Coast to look at colleges with her husband and son, and made a pit-stop at Miss Hall’s before catching up with Francey Fenton ’89 in Boston. Sarah Wilson ’97. Willow, daughter of Cerrissa Fitz ’02, holds her new brother, Cassius.
for two important initiatives: 1) Equity Workforce Development, to create mentorship programming for entry-level pathways into the HERS Industry for Massachusetts residents living in Environmental Justice Communities, and 2) a 100-Home Embodied Carbon study for Massachusetts, to integrate HERS Rating and Embodied Carbon Software Systems and evaluate the current levels of Embodied Carbon in New Construction. She was also instrumental in advocating for a new national RESNET Standard on Embodied Carbon, which took four years to initiate and is now being written. Betsy sits on the national RESNET Standards Development Committee 1500, which will review the final document. She also recently moved into her new home in Northampton, MA, utilizing some of the skills she obtained at MHS doing technical theater to complete the woodworking in her home, including building door casings and baseboards. Upon moving in, she carved a fancy pumpkin, entitled “the Eagle Has Landed” to commemorate her arrival.
Sarah Wilson ’97 shares “I was recently awarded Teacher of the Year at my school and made it to the
TOP 12 in my county! We celebrated this February with a beautiful gala. I am currently teaching kindergarten and have been teaching at my school for the last 21 years!”
The Class of ’98 wants to let our loving MHS community know about our dear Amy Brea ’98 and her courageous fight against lymphoma. Amy was diagnosed with advanced B-Cell Lymphoma last fall and is now coming to the end of an intensive six rounds of chemotherapy. So far, it appears that the treatment is working to shrink Amy’s tumors — which is incredible news — but her journey is far from over. As so many of you in this community know, cancer is a punishing disease, from the excruciating toll that the illness and treatment take on the body, to the hardship that spreads to loved ones and family. Amy’s doctors have told her to expect to be out of work for at least a year, which is a huge financial loss for the family. Amy and Darnell need long-term help with childcare and household support, including bills, groceries, and more.
We have started a GoFundMe and wanted to share it with this incredible alumnae community. We
hope you will consider pitching in to help ease the burden on Amy and her family so they can focus on what is most important: getting Amy better so she can be there for her kids and for everyone else who loves her. And we also hope you will consider sharing the fundraiser with others to spread the word! gofundme.com/f/cmbxa-help-amybeat-cancer.
Bingsol Rhee ’00 shares “I am a metal artist and studying for a doctorate degree in fine art in Hongik University. I got married in 2008 and have two girls who are 8 and 10 years old. I visited Miss Hall’s school last summer with my daughter.”
Cerrissa Fitz ’02 shared the news of her baby Cassius Maxwell Fitz.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Class of 1998.
THIS PAGE: MHS Director of Leadership Giving Lynn Zuckerman ’88, Mette Perkins Coughlin ’88, Gretchen Royle Evans ’88, Judy K. Anderson ’88, Kate Coughlin Dahmen ’88 (taking the picture) and Katherine Sullivan Warming ’82 gathered for a Valentine’s-themed Paint & Sip in Lincoln, MA, at artist Kate Coughlin Dahmen ‘88’s home studio. Celcie Tetteh ’21, Director of Advancement Merritt Colaizzi P’28, Trustee Camille Jackson ’90, Yiyan Dong ’23, and Trustee Mariel Beasley ’02 share a meal in Durham, NC, in February. Head of School Julia Heaton P’24,’27, MHS School Nurse Lisa Loehr P’19, and Viola Quiles ’23 caught up during Holiday Spirit Week!
THIS PAGE: Liz Turcik ’08 and colleagues celebrating the results of the Miss Hall’s clothing drive. Jingtong Zhang ’20 visited during the Winter Arts Showcase and was so impressed by the Expressive Arts all over campus! Evie Monroe ’14 with her fiance. “After five years living in London, I’m moving back to the Big Apple! Lots of life changes in 2023, excited about what's to come in 2024!”
OPPOSITE PAGE: Class of 2004: Danielle Cormier Hoey, Alison Uttermann. Class of 2009: Catie Moulton, Kayla Lawrence Fortier.
Alissa Schapiro ’06 joined the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles in February 2023 as Associate Curator and Collections Specialist. During her first year in this role, Alisssa curated the Skirball original exhibition RECLAIMED: A Family Painting and served as managing curator for This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement. As a scholar, she regularly lectures to academic and museum audiences on twentiethcentury U.S. art, culture, and photojournalism with a focus on World War II, and she consults on projects ranging from films to exhibitions and books about Holocaust history and memory. Her academic research on the relationship between American art and antisemitism has been supported by leading Jewish and Holocaust Studies organizations such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History, and the Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies. Alissa will graduate this spring with a Ph.D. in Art History from Northwestern University.
Okichie Davis ’08 shares “2024 is a year of milestones for me. I am excited to be celebrating 10 years as a mental health therapist, the 4th anniversary of the opening of my private practice, Endeavoring Wellness LLC, which now serves five U.S. states, and the 2nd anniversary of the founding of my gender and racial justice initiative, The Hibiscus Rose Therapy Fund. I remain honored to do this valuable work and energized for what is still to come in my journey.”
Thanks to the Miss Hall’s Maui S.O.S. (Student Organized Support) Girl Up disaster relief effort, 464 pounds of clothing and supplies arrived at Maui Preparatory Academy in time for the holidays. “We had students sift through it who had lost absolutely everything and they found good things! The generosity of the Miss Hall’s community continues to astound me! It really brings new meaning to ‘No matter how far distant we may be!’ Thank you for your selfless kindness and for organizing such a wonderfully touching clothing drive for our keiki (children). This is the true spirit of aloha.” — Liz Turcik ’08, Maui Prep Director of Admissions
Isabel Filkins ’10 is our new Director of College Counseling! Izzy comes to us from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where she was Adjunct Faculty, a College Advisor, and Director of Title IX and Civil Rights. The embodiment of the MHS mission, she has hit the ground running. Welcome back!
THIS PAGE: (front row) MHS Director of Advancement Merritt Colaizzi P’28, Kelly Pham ’22, and Phuong Tran ’22 (and back) MHS Director of Communications David Smith P’20, Samantha Taxter ’22, Yuki Enoma ’22, and Idia Enoma ’26 visit at MHS during a break from college. Cailyn Tetteh ’22 was on campus in January to speak with Hallmark Law students. Cailyn also presented to the full community about college life at Princeton University.
THIS PAGE: The Miss Hall’s Alum Relations Team hosted “Advancement Takeover Weekend,” November 3–5, which offered opportunities to meet alums across various industries. Friday featured Zoom conversations with Jill Paley ’78, Chocolatier and Owner, Tres Gallos; Jen Dansereau ’96, Chief Operating Officer, Demand Justice; Dr. Masha Slavin ’07, Primary Care Physician, Bellevue Hospital; Okichie Davis ’08, Owner, Endeavoring Wellness; Liz Turcik ’08, Teacher & Director of Admissions, Maui Prep Academy; Leah Regan ’09, Attorney, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Saturday featured a trip off campus to meet author and MHS alum Nina Roosevelt Gibson ’60, granddaughter of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Students heard from Nina about her book Growing up Roosevelt. Sunday was a trip to Dottie’s Café to meet Owner Jessica Rufo ’99. Students asked questions about entrepreneurship over coffee and pastries.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Class of 2014: Front Row (L-R) Bekah Spence, Haleigh Quigg, Evie Monroe. Second Row (L-R) Abby Guterman, Miller Fina, Zoe Borghard, Caroline Saltzman, Sara Brennan, Becca Hope, Marlowe Mendez. Third Row (in tree!) Lianna Brown, Sophie Bellemare. Trustee Steve Shindler P’15 shares extraordinary lifetime experience with his son at a University of Michigan game. Go Blue! Board President Nancy Gustafson Ault ’73, Board Vice President Suzanne Wilson ’64, Trustee Jennifer Perkins Speers ’71, and Trustee Emeritus Bonnie Campbell Perkins ’57 toured Denver’s Molly Brown House Museum to learn more about Titanic survivor, suffragist, actor, and “daughter of adventure” Margaret Brown. Beth Welch Gustafson ’88 and Karyl Gordan-Darley ’72 connected in Delray, FL, only to then find out their MHS connection!
THIS PAGE TOP: Anna Ho ’22 with Sarah Rich ’93 at Anna’s choir performance this spring. Sarah writes: “As we all remember our bond to one another no matter what year our sisters are, I thought I’d share my evening with you. I met Anna Ho ’22 at reunion her senior year and learned she was headed to Providence College, and I live in Rhode Island. On April 27, I attended her choir performance. I got to see what an empowered, talented, and beautiful woman she is becoming. Anna’s parents live in Vietnam so it was a treat to be her ‘sister’ sitting in the audience.”
THIS PAGE BOTTOM: Laura Witsenhausen Abruscato ’87, Head of School Julia Heaton P’24, P’27, and Desiré Garza ’16 outside the Clark Street Diner in Los Angeles.
Cornelia Baekeland Bagarotti ’36
Elizabeth Phillips Marshall ’45
Suzanne Morse ’46
Betsy Carpenter ’48
Sarah Winlock Chase ’49
Natalia Young Robinson ’50
Priscilla Haviland Barker ’51
Susan Coughlin Guild ’52
Katharine “Kitty” Spalding Cunningham ’52
Nancy Wallace Heiple ’53
Sally Lonegren ’54
Holly Fall Malarney ’55
Virginia “Ginny” Grose Viola ’59
Judy Clagett McLennan ’64
Janyce Elizabeth Jones '68
Eleanette Maccene Brown-Lyerly ’69
Nancy L. Shulman ’69
Sarah Ainsley ’74
Victoria Miller ’74
Robin Zeig Greenwood ’85
Margery Plotkin ’89
Rachel Ziemba ’89
Calli Yorke Bacon ’03
Former Volleyball Coach Dave Peirce
Ann Manny Beck ’49 on the death of her husband Thadeus E. Beck
Susan Davis Stone ’63 on the death of her son David Francis Stone
Nancy Henderson Hood ’64 on the death of her husband Richard Scott Hood
Patsy McCook ’64 on the death of her husband Sidney Smith Whelan Jr.
Karen Lynn-Dyson ‘75 on the death of her mother
Dr. Brenda Nishimura ’76 on the death of her mother Joyce Nishimura
Lynn Pickwell Kessler ’78 on the death of her father Walter W. Pickwell
Nina Merrill ’87 on the death of her father Robert Merrill
Gaby Evers ’90 on the death of her mother Sharon Feltser
Kate Szpila ’98 on the death of her father Kenneth Szpila
Amy Inglis ’08 on the death of her step-brother Niall Stewart Nordoff
Charlotte Crane ’09 on the death of her grandmother Gale Stanton Crane
Bryte Kiser ’14 on the death of her grandfather James Kiser
Former Trustee Joy Kiser on the death of her husband James Kiser
Robert McNinch ’83, Paige McNinch Waugh ’81, and Ticki Bisacca Winsor ’58 on the death of their wife, mother, and sister Susan McNinch.
Paula Leuchs Moats McNay ’72, Catherine Leuchs Bohrman ’74, Adele Leuchs Odegaard ’76, Mary Anne Leuchs-de la Rosa ’83, and Ellen C. Leuchs ’85 on the death of their mother Gertrude Marie Bidwell Leuchs
Deadline for inclusion of class notes in the fall magazine is September 1, 2024. The Advancement Office retains the right to edit content included in Class Notes. When you submit news, please be aware that information may have to be edited in order to follow format and fit space requirements. Thank you.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Nancy Gustafson Ault ’73, President, Damariscotta, Maine
Laura H. Harris ’74, Vice President, Vero Beach, Florida
Suzanne Wilson ’64, Vice President, Big Timber, Montana
Katie Grace Deane ’05, Clerk, Medford, Massachusetts
Mary Kay Kosnik P’15, Treasurer, Darien, Connecticut
Mariel Beasley ’02, Durham, North Carolina
Martha D. Bullock ’81, Portland, Maine
Reginald Canal P’21, Maplewood, New Jersey
Lee Carbonelli ’95, Bradenton, Florida
Anne Peterson Conolly ’70, South Burlington, Vermont
Susan Danish, New York, New York
Angela W. Fowler ’73, New York, New York
Elizabeth Welch Gustafson ’88, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Rebecca Hajjar ’89, Brookline, Massachusetts
Camille Jackson ’90, Durham, North Carolina
Herbert “Pete” Jaques, Jr., Lambertville, New Jersey
Melissa Kilby, Hickory, North Carolina
Susan P. O’Day ’77, Boston, Massachusetts
Nancy Brewster Paternotte ’65, Baltimore, Maryland
Steven Shindler P’15, Darien, Connecticut
Jennifer Perkins Speers ’71, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sarah Richardson Straley ’71, Tampa, Florida
Yiyan Zhou ’91, Brookline, Massachusetts
Elizabeth Stuart Zeigler, Cranford, New Jersey
EMERITUS TRUSTEE ADVISORY COUNCIL
Lee Auchincloss Link ’61, New York, New York
Jacqueline B. Mars ’57, McLean, Virginia
Bonnie Campbell Perkins ’57, Denver, Colorado
Patricia Manley Smith ’55, Cooperstown, New York
Stacey Sotirhos ’89, New York, New York
Theresa S. Thompson ’64, Lewisburg, West Virginia
Robin Brown Woods ’58, Darien, Connecticut
MISS HALL’S SCHOOL 492 Holmes Road Pittsfield, MA 01201
Tel: 413-443-6401
Fax: 413-442-2874 misshalls.org advancement@misshalls.org
Miss Hall’s School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origins, sexual orientation, or religion in its policies and programs of admission, financial aid, instruction, athletics, or other campus-administered activities.
© Copyright 2024 Miss Hall’s School. All rights reserved.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Julia Heaton P’24, P’27
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
Merritt Colaizzi P’28
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
Joselyn Hearring, Database and Reporting Manager
Cathy Ingram, Director of Development
Jennifer P. Kerwood P’21, Director of Philanthropy
David A. Smith P’20, Director of Communications
Kat Warner, Creative Content & Digital Marketing Manager
Lynelle I. Weaver P’27, Manager of Alumnae Relations and Advancement Partnerships
Lynn Zuckerman ’88, P’27, Director of Leadership Giving
DESIGN
Darrel Frost
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART
Zara Acosta-Chen
Liza Burbank, Ph.D., P’26
Merritt Colaizzi P’28
Idia Enoma ’26
Kenzie Fields P’24
Matthew Grallert P’21
Nicole Hayes
Christopher Himes, Ph.D.
Amy Inglis ’08
Cathy Ingram
Tanya Kalischer
Ellie Kreischer
Kasey Leslie
Jen Morris
Ted O’Reilly
Kennedy Raimer
Risley Sports Photography
David A. Smith P’20
Thomas Stock, Ph.D.
Pauline Valentine, Ph.D.
Katarina Warner
Cover artwork by Mae Bergstresser ’26
492 Holmes Road Pittsfield, MA 01201 misshalls.org
