Newcomb Magazine 2023

CELEBRATING 130YEARS of the NEWCOMB ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

From the DIRECTOR Dear Friends,

I

am thrilled and honored to be writing you in this first quarter of my new role as Executive Director of Newcomb Institute. Fall is always a time of new beginnings and rejuvenation at Tulane, and at Newcomb we are working to rejuvenate our activities and scholarship to meet the needs of our changing society and ongoing efforts toward gender equity. In the coming year, I will be hosting receptions in New Orleans and across the United States to learn more about our strong alumnae network, and the work and impact of Newcomb. I will also be working with my team to increase recognition of the scholarly impacts our faculty, staff, and students are having on issues of gender equity, locally and globally.

“This year we

also celebrate the 130th

anniversary of

the founding of the Newcomb Alumnae

Association,

and the courage

of alumnae who paved the way for others to

advance their

communities. ”

The past year has resulted in many accomplishments. We awarded more than $200,000 in grant funding to students, faculty, and community members to support gender equity-focused research and community engagement. We had 34 students participate in our Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health internship program, where they were paired with community partners such as the Maternal and Child Health Coalition and Lift Louisiana. Dr. Clare Daniel, Administrative Associate Professor of Women’s Leadership and Assistant Director of Community Engagement, co-authored a research paper with Tulane Public Health graduate student Grace Riley on the impacts of the program, which has demonstrated success in developing young leaders’ civic engagement and impactful scholarship. We continue to support community participatory action in our local community and with our partners to strengthen New Orleans and Louisiana, while building the capacities of our students doing this work.

We also had 45 students work as technology and digital research interns, where they engaged in initiatives benefiting Newcomb and the greater Tulane community. The work of our incredible interns and student organizations, such as the Feminist Alliance of Students at Tulane, Equity in Technology, and Tulane’s chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (TAMWA), give me confidence that solutions to the intractable problems sustaining gender and other social inequalities are well within our reach. Our growing efforts to build the evidence base on these issues and strategies to mobilize change in our local communities can serve as a model nationally. We continue to prioritize the autonomy and leadership of women and girls, while collaborating and allying with those working toward elimination of social and health inequalities for all people, regardless of gender.

This year we also celebrate the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Newcomb Alumnae Association and the courage of alumnae who paved the way for others to advance their communities. Still today, as our world changes and new crises emerge, Newcomb remains relevant, drawing inspiration from the progressive values upon which we were founded, while continuing the traditions that have supported women and girls for generations to lead equitable progress with humanity and humility. I look forward to meeting you in the near future and invite you to visit us when you are in New Orleans.

Sincerely, Anita Raj, Ph.D., MS Executive Director, Newcomb Institute of Tulane University Nancy Reeves Dreux Endowed Chair & Professor, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

NEWCOMB Executive Director Anita Raj, Ph.D., M.S.

Contents

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Managing Editor Lauren Gaines (LA ’20, PA *23)

2

Graphic Designer Rebecca O’Malley Gipson (PA ’21) Contributors Julie Henriquez Aldana, Ph.D. Cara Becker (LA ’15) Clare Daniel, Ph.D. Audrey Davis-Brand (B ’26) Bernadette Floresca Lauren Gaines (LA ’20, PA *23) Rebecca O’Malley Gipson (PA ’21) Jacquelyne Thoni Howard, Ph.D. Laura Kreller (PA ’22, *25) Emily Kreller (LA ’26) Chloe Raub (NC ’07) Aidan Smith, Ph.D. Annika Vanderspek (LA ’25) Laura Wolford

To make a gift, visit giving.tulane.edu/nci or use the QR code to the left. @ncitu

Image Above: Newcomb Trailblazer Shirley Ann Grau (NC ’50) examines the leaves of potted plants at her home in Metairie, La., in June 1965.

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Newcomb Trailblazers

21 22

Conceiving Equity 2023 featuring Kimala Price (NC ’92)

In Memoriam

Donor Honor Roll

y

The H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Institute (Newcomb Institute) is an interdisciplinary, academic center of Tulane University.

2022 Florie Gale Arons Poetry Forum: An Evening with Kiki Petrosino

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NEWCOMB is published by Newcomb Institute of Tulane University.

NEWCOMB is printed using income from interest-bearing endowed funds at the Newcomb Institute, including the Newcomb Alumnae Periodical Fund, established through the kindness of Ann Hodge Macomber (NC ’47). Mailing costs are supported by proceeds from the Mignon Faget Newcomb Jewelry Collection.

2023 Zale-Kimmerling Writer-in-Residence: Min Jin Lee

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Website Miranda Diaz (SSE ’25) Rebecca O’Malley Gipson (PA ’21)

NEWCOMB is an annual production of the Newcomb Alumnae Association and the Newcomb Institute. To print a PDF version, visit newcomb-magazine.tulane.edu/.

Newcomb Alumnae Association Board of Directors

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Photography Associated Press Stephanie Berger Malcolm Crowther Cheryl Gerber Getty Images Howard-Tilton Memorial Library/Tulane University Digital Library Laura Hanifin Marinaro Gallery Newcomb Archives and Nadine Vorhoff Collection Nancy R. Schiff Kristen Hatgi Sink

Address all inquiries to Newcomb Magazine Newcomb Institute | Tulane University Malkin Sacks Commons, Suite 301 43 Newcomb Place, New Orleans, LA 70118 Phone: 1-800-504-5565

A Message from the Newcomb Alumnae Association President

In this special issue of NEWCOMB, Newcomb Institute and the Newcomb Alumnae Association recognize those trailblazers who, through their incredible professional and community achievements, show the importance of feminist education in practice.

This year’s cover features six trailblazing alumnae, N.K. Jemisin, Jane Davis Doggett, Olga Merediz, Deidre Dumas Labat, Lindy Boggs, & Mignon Faget. Graphics on the cover feature a wayfinding design inspired by the work of alumna Jane Davis Doggett (NC ’52). Doggett passed away in April 2023. Design by Rebecca O’Malley Gipson (PA ‘21).

The abbreviations below are used throughout * - Master's Degree ’ - Bachelor's Degree SLA - Tulane School of Liberal Arts B - The Freeman School of Business at Tulane University

PHTM - Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine NC - Newcomb College SSW - Tulane School of Social Work

NT - Newcomb - Tulane SSE - Tulane School of Science and Engineering L - Tulane School of Law

G - Graduate M - Tulane School of Medicine

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We later endured the pandemic and separation. We pivoted to meeting online, always leaving time to check in on each other. This deep connection and shared concern for alums, current Newcomb students, and each other helped us weather that difficult time. When it was safe, we were elated to be together again.

There was so much hugging.

A Message from the Newcomb Alumnae Association President As I prepared this letter, I reflected on my time with the Newcomb Alumnae Association and how the connections I have made have impacted my life. I arrived at my first board meeting in 2019, filled with nostalgia for Newcomb, but nervous and unsure of my role. I was instantly impressed by the care and compassion that this diverse and talented group showed for each other. Members were checking in about both joyful and difficult circumstances: weddings, job changes, moves, caring for family members. There was hugging. I knew I was in the right place.

While recently at a garden, I noticed a display about “Companion Planting- the close planting of different plants that enhance each other’s growth or protect each other.” Our Association is like a garden filled with graduates from different backgrounds and experiences that both enhance and protect each other.

In 1893, a group of Newcomb women challenged the contemporary gender stereotypes by studying physics and physiology, and learning to support themselves independently in careers. Moreover, they recognized the need to form an association that would forever connect and support them after graduation. We are thrilled to celebrate the 130th anniversary of this Newcomb Alumnae Association, a verdant garden which now includes 30,000 alums from around the globe.

Lift a glass at our 130th Anniversary Champagne Reception on Friday, October 20th in Malkin Sacks Commons, Newcomb’s gorgeous space in the heart of campus!

The celebration continues with this commemorative anniversary edition of the Newcomb Alumnae Magazine.

We bring together the past, present, and future of our Association by honoring trailblazing alums whose work and lives have lifted the generations of Newcomb grads. We will also reflect on the annual events that connect alumnae to each other and to current students.

Throughout the year, we are digging into our artistic and thoughtprovoking traditions like Book Club and cultivating new virtual events like Newcomb Networking Night, which will be held for the second time on November 8th. In March, Newcomb co-sponsored Women Making Waves, Tulane’s in-person networking event. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee has been finding opportunities to make our events more accessible, like offering free childcare at a recent New Orleans event. In addition, we will be e-mailing a survey to all members of the NAA this fall to further evaluate how we can best serve you as we develop our strategic plan.

In May, I was honored to participate in Newcomb’s Under the Oaks ceremony during Commencement Weekend. The extraordinary Class of 2023 received distinctions and awards. The accomplished class of 1973 celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Newcomb College graduation. Moreover, the staff and students’ behind-the-scenes care and dedication to maintaining Newcomb’s heritage left me feeling certain about the future of our beloved alma mater.

We are also overjoyed to welcome Dr Anita Raj, a fellow Newcomb alumna, as the new Executive Director of the Newcomb Institute. While she completed her degree at another university, she experienced the transformational experience that is Newcomb, and we are confident we’ll see the next generation of Newcomb students flourish under her joyful tutelage.

Please know that whatever level of involvement you had while in school at Newcomb or even in the years since graduation, the Newcomb Alumnae Association is your garden, filled with encouragement and resources. We urge you to seek us out at every stage of your life.

Andi Schippert Richardson (NC ’99) President, Newcomb Alumnae Association

The Newcomb Alumnae Association Board of Directors Immediate Past President Helene Sheena, M.D. (NC ’87, M*91) Vice President of Alumnae Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel (NC ’09) Vice President of Students Maggie Herman (PH ’15) Secretary Emily Greenfield (NC ’98, L*03) Treasurer Ashley L. J. Smith (LA ’10) 130th Anniversary Chair Heather Yanak (NC '97) 2

NEWCOMB FALL 2023

Julia Broussard (LA ’10)

Betsy Lopez (LA ’10, PA *18)

Jasmine Brown (SE ’09, CS*11)

Robin Lovell, Ph.D. (NC ’03)

Chelsea Cipriano (LA ’10, PH*11)

Allyson Mackay (NC ’08)

Kim Frusciante (NC ’05)

Helen Marsh (LA ’19)

Samantha Goldstein (NC ’04)

Robyn Mazur (NC ’92)

Laurel Hanson (LA ’11)

Tina Nguyen (LA ’18)

Rachael Kuntz (NC ’98)

Tammy Thaggert, M.D. (NC ’91)

Sarah Jones (LA ’20)

Janice Killebrew VandenBrink (NC ’74)

Sharan Lieberman (NC ’99)

NEWCOMB

I

by Lauren Gaines (LA ’20, PA *23)

nnovators. Reformers. Pathfinders. Over the last 130 years, the Newcomb Alumnae Association (NAA) has been a hub for feminists that seek to push the envelope and eliminate workplace and societal boundaries rooted in gender discrimination. In this special issue of NEWCOMB, Newcomb Institute and the NAA recognize those trailblazers who, through their incredible professional achievements, show the importance of feminist education in practice.

Though their expertise span different industries, specializations, and generations, the individuals featured in the following pages have in common their rejection of the status quo, and their unwavering courage to be unapologetically visible and vocal when society demanded—and stills demands—that they remain silenced. From visual and performing arts to education and scholarship, Newcomb alumnae have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of the fight for gender equity. Their work challenges us to place no arbitrary limits on our own ambition and to consider today those who will follow us tomorrow.

As we commemorate the 130th anniversary of the Newcomb Alumnae Association, we look to our Newcomb Trailblazers, both those whose stories are recorded here and those beyond these pages, for inspiration and insight as we continue our charge of finding solutions to the intractable gender problems of our time.

Graphics in this section feature wayfinding designs inspired by the work of alumna Jane Davis Doggett (NC ’52). Doggett passed away in April 2023.

Design work by Rebecca O’Malley Gipson (PA ‘21).

NEWCOMB FALL 2023

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Literature N.K. Jemisin (NC ’94) From Newcomb alumna to critically acclaimed author, N. K. Jemisin has been heralded by The New York Times as “the most celebrated science fiction and fantasy writer of her generation.”

N(ora). K. Jemisin was raised in Mobile, Alabama and New York City. Uprooted from two places, her childhood anchor was fiction; she spent hours at the local library, and self-published her own handwritten books with cardboard covers and yarn binding.

Despite writing since childhood, she considered it to be just a hobby until her early thirties. After attending the Viable Paradise writing workshop, she began seeking publication in earnest. Although she acquired an agent in 2005, her first novel (The Killing Moon, eventually published in 2012) did not initially sell, as the fantasy genre at the time was significantly less welcoming to inclusive works and authors. Rather than giving up, she rewrote an old “trunked” novel

from scratch — which sold for six-figures at auction to become The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (2010) and its sequels. In 2016, her novel The Fifth Season (2015) won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, making Jemisin the first Black person to have won in this category. In 2017, she won again for The Obelisk Gate (2016), and then a third time in 2018 for The Stone Sky, making her the first author in genre history to have won the Best Novel Hugo three consecutive times. In all, her short fiction and novels have won Hugos, a Nebula Award, and two Locus Awards, and have been translated into more than 20 languages. Her current Great Cities trilogy is ongoing, beginning with the New York Times bestselling book The City We Became.

In 2019, Jemisin returned to Newcomb as the Zale-Kimmerling Writer-in-Residence. In addition to taking part in a public reading and Q&A, she also offered her time to students, including a manuscript review for Newcomb Scholar Riley Moran (LA ’20).

“Hanging out with Nora for the afternoon was a dream. I inhaled The Broken Earth Trilogy and was as nervous as I was excited to meet her, but felt so at ease as soon as we sat down together,” Moran recalled. “Aside from being a fantastic writer and thoughtful reader, Nora is also a kind and cool person. We've since emailed back and forth a few times, and I'm more than grateful for her advice, stories, and general awesomeness.”

Jemisin is a 2020 recipient of the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship. Her most frequent themes include resistance to oppression, the inseverability of the liminal, and the coolness of stuff blowing up. She has been an advocate for the long tradition of science fiction and fantasy as political resistance, and previously championed genre as a New York Times book reviewer. She lives in Brooklyn.

The covers of Jemisin's novel's The Fifth Season (2015), The Obelisk Gate (2016), & The Stone Sky (2017)

Shirley Ann Grau (NC ’50)

Author of six novels and four short story collections, novelist Shirley Ann Grau found immense inspiration in life in the Deep South.

Grau was born in New Orleans and grew up in Mobile, Alabama, the daughter of a physician. In a 2003 interview with The Associated Press, she recalled that as a child she was fascinated by Greek and Latin, but also loved roaming the woods.

Critics would later note in her fiction meticulous descriptions of flowers, plants, and trees.

The cover of Grau's novel The Keepers of the House (1964) 4

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In 1950, Grau graduated with honors from Newcomb College and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, the prestigious academic honor society. She said she pondered careers as a Classics professor or lawyer, but found sexism too pervasive in academia and the law. Grau enrolled in Tulane’s graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in Literature, but she withdrew when the English department chairman said he wouldn’t hire women as teaching assistants.

Nevertheless, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of a writing career, and her first book, The Black Prince and Other Stories, was published in 1954, when she was 26.

In 1965, Grau won the Pulitzer Prize for her fourth book, The Keepers of the House. Grau said she first thought the call telling her she had won was a practical joke from a friend.

"I was awfully short-tempered that morning because I'd been up all night with one of my children," Grau told Deep South Magazine in 2013. “So, I said to the voice I mistook, 'Yeah, and I'm the Queen of England, too,' and I hung up on him."

The Keepers of the House drew critical praise, but also threatening phone calls for its depiction of a long romance and interracial marriage between a wealthy white man and his Black housekeeper in rural Alabama. Ku Klux Klansmen, angry over the book amid the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, tried to burn a cross on her yard. Grau and her family were not home at the time.

Throughout her career, Grau resented being pigeonholed as a Southern writer, even though her novels and short stories are set in the South.

“No novel is really a regional novel,” she said in a 2005 Washington Post interview.

“A novel has to be set somewhere.

A Southern writer has a harder time because everybody says immediately 'Southern regionalist.' … I would love to get away from the Southern label. I would like once in my life to have something I write taken as fiction, not as Southern sociology.”

Grau, who passed away in 2020, certainly achieved acclaim beyond the ‘Southern label,’ with her work receiving praise across the United States and globally for nearly seven decades.

Photos provided by The Associated Press and the Newcomb Archives and Vorhoff Collection.

130 YEARS of the 2022 Florie Gale Arons Poetry Forum: An Evening with Kiki Petrosino Newcomb Institute was thrilled to host Kiki Petrosino as the featured poet for the 2022 Florie Gale Arons Poetry Program. The program was established by the daughters of Florie Gale Arons (NC ’50) in 1999 in honor of their mother's 70th birthday.

Kiki Petrosino is the author of several books of poetry, including White Blood: a Lyric of Virginia (2020) and Bright: a Lyric Memoir (2022).

Petrosino holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. Currently, she directs the Creative Writing Program at the University of Virginia, where she is a Professor of Poetry. Petrosino is the recipient of a MacDowell Artist Residency, a Pushcart Prize, a

Fellowship in Creative Writing from the National Endowment for the Arts, the UNT Rilke Prize, and the Spalding Prize, among other honors.

During her campus visit last fall, Petrosino conducted a creative writing workshop, visited classes, and gave a public reading from Bright: a Lyric Memoir.

“I first encountered the work of Kiki Petrosino last fall in Professor Kohler’s course on contemporary U.S. poetry,” remarked Tulane senior and Newcomb Scholar Khira Hickbottom (SLA ’23) during her introduction of Petrosino at the reading. “I devoured White Blood: A Lyric of Virginia in

2023 Zale-Kimmerling Writer-in-Residence: Min Jin Lee

NEWCOMB ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

one sitting. It was electric and slippery and intimate. I spent the days leading up to this event reading and re-reading all over again, reminding myself of Petrosino’s command of her audience–how, in many ways, attention to her music precedes understanding, creating a body of work that is compelling and utterly disarming.”

Both Petrosino and her time as the 2022 Arons poet will be remembered for her warmth, brilliance in wordsmithing, and her impeccable ability to merge the realms of artistic expression, social awareness and commentary into poetry that compels all who experience her work to expand their worldview.

Poet Kiki Petrosino reading from White Blood: A Lyric of Virginia

for the Arts Hall of Fame and the

author. I am endlessly grateful

New York State Writers Hall of Fame.

to Newcomb Institute for the

Currently, Lee serves as Writer-in-

opportunity to partake in this

Residence at Amherst College and

event.”

serves as a trustee of PEN America

Min Jin Lee & E.M.Tran sit together in the audience before interview (left), & Karen Huang embraces Min Jin Lee after event (right) The 2023 Zale-Kimmerling Writer-

the Wall Street Journal‘s Juggle Book

in-Residence Program featured the

Club. Pachinko was a finalist for the

brilliant and candid Min Jin Lee as its

National Book Award, and runner-up

featured author.

for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. It

and a director of the Authors Guild.

Lee stayed long after the reading to

She is also working on her third

introduce herself, take photos, and

novel, American Hagwon, as well as a

sign books for those in attendance.

nonfiction work, Name Recognition.

In the days that followed, she visited

Newcomb organized a series of events

classes across the university, spending

for this year’s Writer-in-Residence

time with students in Tulane’s Asian

program, all highlighting Lee’s engaging

Studies and History departments, and

and charismatic personality. The

the Newcomb Scholars Program. Her

events included a public reading and

class visit to Professor Jana Lipman’s

interview with E.M. Tran, author of

course on immigration history in the

Daughters of the New Year (2022). Lee

United States included a particularly

was introduced at the public reading by

meaningful conversation about Lee’s

Tulane senior Karen Huang, who also

work and history. Lee also attended

had the opportunity to dine with both

two very meaningful small group

Lee and Tran.

events: a dinner with members of the Asian Studies faculty, and a book group

“[Lee] is a beautiful woman, who is

conversation with students, organized

on-campus visit.

unapologetically curious about the

by the Newcomb Institute.

and Pachinko (2017). Free Food for

Lee has received fellowships from

was very refreshing and inspiring

Lee’s ability to connect with each

Millionaires was named one of the

the Guggenheim Foundation, the

to meet her,” reflected Huang. “I

person she interacted with is

Top 10 Novels of the Year by The New

Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study

[also] enjoyed meeting E.M. Tran,

unmatched, and her time on campus

York Times, a notable novel by the San

at Harvard University, and the New

who is also a child of immigrants

was a reminder of the ways in which

Francisco Chronicle, a New York Times

York Foundation for the Arts. She is an

from Vietnam, and speaking to her

literature can bring us together and

Editor's Choice, and was a selection for

inductee of the New York Foundation

about her experiences as a new

foster big conversations.

also served as the focal point of Lee’s Lee is the author of the novels Free Food for Millionaires (2007)

world and dedicated to her craft. It

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Visual Arts Jane Davis Doggett (NC ’52) Jane Davis Doggett was a pioneer in environmental graphic design, also known as wayfinding. Her graphics helped people find their way through busy public spaces.

Doggett received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1952 with a special commendation from Newcomb College.

In 1956, she received a Master of Fine Arts degree with top honors from the Yale School of Art and Architecture, where she pioneered the field of architectural and environmental graphics design.

She had a lifetime career creating thematic graphic identity and wayfinding systems for mass public projects, including 40 international airport projects, more than any other designer worldwide. Examples of her work at airports include Tampa, BaltimoreWashington, Miami, Cleveland-Hopkins, and George Bush-Houston. She also consulted on the expansion of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Doggett’s designs have earned distinguished honors such as the American Institute of Architects' National Award of Merit, Progressive Architecture Design Award, American Iron and Steel Institute's Design in Steel Citation, and two Transportation Design Awards co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

In additon to her professional work, she served multiple elected terms as the Jupiter Island, Florida, town commissioner. She was a founding board member of the Arts Council of Martin County and co-founder of the Jupiter Island Arts Committee.

year, she received the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Newcomb Alumnae Association.

Her three-dimensional artworks have been exhibited in museums and venues nationwide, from the Yale University Art Gallery and Tennessee State Museum in Nashville, to the Tampa International Airport.

Doggett passed away in April 2023. She was an innovator in a male-dominated industry, and her philosophies and techniques in wayfinding graphics have become the best practices for generations of designers and those yet to come.

In 2007, she released Talking Graphics: A Book of IconoChrome Images, an art and literary book in which she expresses philosophically profound messages in color and geometric designs, which include a selection of Roman proverbs and passages from the Bible. The same

Example of Doggett's art: Concord Installation, Tennessee State Museum

Ida Kohlmeyer (NC ’33) Renowned Southern artist Ida Rittenberg Kohlmeyer created paintings and sculptures categorized by exuberance and vivacity.

Born in 1912, Kohlmeyer was a native New Orleanian, and one of four children of Polish immigrants Joseph and Rebecca Rittenberg. She graduated from Newcomb College in 1933, and upon visiting Veracruz and Mexico City, Mexico in 1934, became inspired by and interested in the art of South and Central America.

Following World War II, Kohlmeyer returned to New Orleans with her family and studied art in the French Quarter at the John McCrady School of Art until she became pregnant with her second child. In 1950, Kohlmeyer returned to Newcomb College to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree. After graduating in 1956, Kohlmeyer attended the Hans Hofman School in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Each of these experiences was formative to Kohlmeyer’s aesthetic and abstractionist development.

Kohlmeyer held the first exhibition of her career at the New Orleans Museum

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of Art in 1957; however, she broke into the national gallery scene after her 1959 show at the Ruth White Gallery in New York City. Thereafter, Kohlmeyer’s art traveled across the country in museums and galleries such as the Henri Gallery (Washington D.C.), and the Heath Gallery (Atlanta). Kohlmeyer was often encouraged to relocate to the East Coast to enhance her art career, but she insisted on staying in the greater New Orleans area. During this time, Kohlmeyer taught art at Newcomb College from 1956 to 1964, and built her own studio at home.

She also taught at the University of New Orleans from 1973 to 1975.

Kohlmeyer reached the height of her career later in life, completing several major commissions, including a project for the Equitable Life Assurance Society building at 1515 Poydras Avenue, and a still-standing major installation of twenty painted metal sculptures for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, titled “Aquatic Colonnade.”

After her death in January 1997, Kohlmeyer’s daughters, Jane Lowentritt

and Jo Ellen Bezou, mobilized funds from the Ida and Hugh Kohlmeyer Foundation to establish the Ida Kohlmeyer Study Center at the Ogden Museum in New Orleans, consisting of 24,000 items from the Kohlmeyer estate. In 2004, the Newcomb Art Museum organized Systems of Color, an exhibition and accompanying book, dedicated to Kohlmeyer.

Photos provided by the Newcomb Archives and Vorhoff Collection.

Kohlmeyer's sculptures: Rebus 93-1 (1993), Rebus 90-P (1990), & Conversation Piece #8 (1988), Arthur Roger Gallery in New Orleans

130 YEARS of the

Lynda Benglis (NC ’64) Lynda Benglis has made a significant impact within the realms of sculptural and contemporary art communities, with mixed-media works that explore themes of feminism, gender identity, and the relationship between art and the body.

Benglis studied ceramics and painting at Newcomb College, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1964. She also matriculated at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Benglis gained prominence for her experimental sculptures that challenged conventional notions of materials and form. One of her most famous works from this period is "Fallen Painting" (1968), a poured latex sculpture that blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture. In 1974, she sparked controversy and attention when she placed an advertisement

in Artforum magazine featuring a provocative image of herself posing with an erotic toy.

Benglis has continued to push artistic boundaries and explore new media throughout her career. She has worked with materials such as wax, foam, glass, bronze, and ceramics, creating a diverse body of work that ranges from abstract and sensual forms to more politically charged and conceptual pieces. Her sculptures often incorporate organic shapes and vibrant colors, inviting viewers to engage with art's tactile and sensory aspects.

Benglis has extensively exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions in renowned institutions and galleries, such as the Venice Biennale, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and many other prestigious venues.

Lynda Benglis's groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art have earned her widespread recognition and numerous awards. She received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1975, and in 1987, she won the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Newcomb Alumnae Association. In 2001, she was selected to join the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also recieved an honorary doctorate from Tulane University in 2016.

NEWCOMB ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

As a pioneering artist, Benglis has made an indelible mark on the art world, challenging conventions, and pushing the boundaries of what art can be. Her unique voice and unwavering commitment to her artistic vision have made her a prominent figure in contemporary art history. Her work continues to be celebrated and analyzed for its innovative approach to materials, form, and themes.

Harriet Joor (NC 1895) Harriet “Hattie” Coulter Joor was a ceramics designer and pottery decorator known for being among the earliest and most prominent Newcomb Pottery artists.

At the age of thirteen, Joor, the daughter of a botany professor at Tulane, enrolled in art courses at Newcomb College’s preparatory school where she demonstrated a highly developed artistic aptitude and affinity for sketching plants and flowers. She attended Newcomb College focusing on both science and art, and after graduating in 1895, she was one of the first nine students enrolled in the Newcomb Pottery program. Between 1895 and 1900, Joor and her fellow ceramicists produced vessels using a range of techniques in surface decoration, reflecting the pottery’s early experimental years.

After earning a graduate degree in art in 1901, Joor was selected to attend Arthur Wesley Dow’s Summer School in Ipswitch, Massachusetts, making her the first Newcomb alumna to attend the prestigious program. She spent two years teaching wounded World War I veterans in Washington D.C., and went on to teach at Newcomb College and the University of Chicago before finally settling at Southwestern Louisiana University in Lafayette, where she remained for fifteen years. In addition to her work as a professor in Newcomb’s art department, Joor was an artist working in embroidery and photography.

Aside from academic teaching, Joor had a productive career as an artist and as a creative writer. She was a staff writer for The Craftsman magazine but also wrote articles in publications like Harlequin and

International Studio. During the 1910s, she became a homesteader in South Dakota, where she lived in a sod house on the prairie.

In 2019, Newcomb Archives acquired approximately eight linear feet of Joor’s personal papers consisting of documents and correspondence from her time as a student and art professor at Newcomb College, photographs and documents about her homesteading adventures in South Dakota, popular poetry books, a portfolio of student artwork, various personal writings, and other miscellaneous documents and ephemera associated with her escapades as one of Newcomb College’s most popular artists.

Image of selected work provided by the Tulane University Digital Library.

Joor's Jar with Lid & Dewberry Design

Phoebe Washburn (NC ’96) Phoebe Washburn is an American contemporary artist known for her intricate and large-scale installations that often incorporate recycled materials and explore themes related to ecology, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of natural systems. Her installation art reuses discarded industrial materials to create largescale architectural environments. Her work focuses on material and process. “The shapes are less about form than they are about the activity involved in amassing and assembling the forms.”

Born in 1973 in Poughkeepsie, New York, Washburn received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Newcomb College in 1996 and her Master

of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 2002.

Washburn’s artworks are complex and laborintensive constructions, often resembling ecosystems or self-contained worlds. She frequently employs salvaged materials and discarded objects. For example, for each box she reuses, she keeps the outer labels and stamps on the box intact, but paints the inside flaps with discarded pastel mistints and custom-mixed latex paint colors. Her installations challenge viewers to consider the delicate balance of nature and human environmental impact.

Washburn considers her use of cast-off materials to be, in effect, a shift of perspective. Washburn

draws attention to the importance of an alternative way of looking at things by sometimes including a viewing platform in her installations.

Visitors may climb up, then look down to get a visual surprise, for instance, a swirling vortex of color in a cardboard canyon.

Phoebe Washburn has exhibited her art widely, both nationally and internationally, and has received critical acclaim for her innovative approach to sculpture and installation. Her work has been displayed in prestigious institutions and galleries, contributing to meaningful discussions about art, ecology, and the environment.

Washburn's installation Pressure Drop for Richard Stands

Artwork image provided by Marinaro Gallery.

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Dramatic & Performing Arts Olga Merediz (NC ’78) For over forty years, acclaimed Broadway, television, and film actress Olga Merediz has dazzled audiences as a double threat in acting and singing.

Merediz graduated from Newcomb College in 1978 and made her film debut in 1984's The Brother from Another Planet. In the decades that have followed, she has built a prolific career onstage and on-screen, appearing in numerous films and plays, such as Evita, Man of La Mancha, Mamma Mia!, and Les Misérables.

Merediz has also appeared in dozens of television series, including Law & Order, Orange Is the New Black, George Lopez, Diary of a Future President, and more.

Carlin Glynn (NC ’61) Tony Award-winning actress Carlin Glynn graduated from Newcomb College in 1961. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Glynn and her family relocated to Houston, Texas when she was nine. In Houston, Glynn attended Lamar High School, where she met Tommy Tune, choreographer and co-director of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Glynn married Peter Masterson, an actor and co-director of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, in 1960. They resided in New York, both pursuing acting as members of the Actors Studio. In the

In 2008, Merediz landed a featured lead in the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, In The Heights. Her role of Abuela Claudia, which she also reprised in the musical's 2021 film adaptation, has been acclaimed internationally and earned Merediz a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. In 2021, Merediz received critical acclaim once again for her role as matriarch Alma Madrigal in the Disney film Encanto, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture–Animated, and the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Despite decades-long success, Merediz is just getting started. In 2022, she directed My Two Moms: A Story of Separation, a documentary film exploring Merediz’s childhood in Cuba. For her work on the film, she was awarded Best Director in a Feature Film by the South Cinematographic Academy of Film and Arts, while the film itself was awarded Best Feature Documentary Film at the 2022 L.A. Indies Film Festival.

Merediz as Abuela Claudia in In the Heights

earlier days of their marriage, Masterson strengthened his career while Glynn cared for the couple’s three children. During this time, Glynn held more minor roles in television commercials and co-hosted a program known as “Today’s Health.”

She made her theatre debut at age 38, playing the titular ingenue in the Lerner and Loewe musical Gigi at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. Glynn’s breakthrough came with her 1979 Broadway performance in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Glynn’s first Broadway appearance lasted nearly two

years and landed her a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

After The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Glynn continued her career in theatre, appearing in many off-Broadway productions throughout the United States. She was also a successful performer in various television shows and films, such as “Three Days of the Condor” (1975) and “Sixteen Candles” (1984). Glynn reminisced on her Tony Award as a “game changer for her,” saying, “I’m someone who’s considered an actress.”

Odaline de la Martínez (NC ’72) Known internationally as one of the brightest personalities in classical music, Odaline de la Martínez, or Chachi as she is known professionally, has been pushing the industry forward for decades through her award-winning work as a composer, conductor, record producer, and event curator.

Martínez studied both music and mathematics at Newcomb College before going on to earn her Master of Music in Composition from the University of Surrey.

She honed her craft through additional training from Dartington Summer School, the Accademia Chigiana di Musica in Sienna, Italy, and the Royal Academy of Music in London. Martínez’s affinity with opera was initiated in 1984 with the composition of Sister Aimee: An American

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Legend, which was premiered at Tulane University. In the same year, Martínez became the first woman to conduct a BBC Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.

Today, Martínez serves as the music director of the London Chamber Symphony and founder and music director of Lontano, a contemporary ensemble based in London. Her works have been showcased across some of the world's most prestigious classical music venues, including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Southbank Centre, St John's Smith Square and the Royal College of Music. Martínez has also appeared as a guest conductor with the San Diego Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Australian Youth Orchestra, and Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, among others.

In 1983, Martínez was honored as the Outstanding Alumna by the Newcomb Alumnae Association. In 2023, Martínez was honored by Tulane University as a Tulane Trailblazer. As part of the Trailblazer honor, the Odaline de la Martínez Award will be awarded by the School of Liberal Arts’ Newcomb Department of Music to outstanding students in performance, composition or music scholarship in the Americas.

Photo by Malcolm Crowther.

Education & Scholarship Deidre Dumas Labat (NC ’66, G *69) A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Deidre Dumas Labat is not only the first Black graduate of Newcomb College, but also a celebrated scholar and administrator in higher education.

Labat’s experience as a student at Newcomb College is a reflection of the contemptible racism and prejudice of the Jim Crow South. In the fall of 1963, Labat was a first-year student at Xavier University of Louisiana, a prominent Historically Black University in New Orleans, when she learned that Tulane University, and subsequently Newcomb College, had integrated, creating an opportunity for her to enroll. Her undergraduate experience was marred not by only racism and hostility within the Tulane academic community, but also by the institutional and social challenges she faced. As Labat recounted during

Tulane’s Conversations in Color event in 2019, she took an English class during her second year at Newcomb, and her professor consistently graded her work lower than the rest of the class. When Labat asked her professor how she could improve her grade, she was met with scorn.

“She recalled, ‘You knew before you came here that you couldn’t compete,’” Labat quoted. “‘You knew you couldn’t handle these girls here.’”

Despite constant ostracization and demoralization, Labat graduated from Newcomb College in 1966, earning a Bachelor of Science in biology. She went on to graduate from Tulane again in 1969 with a Master of Science degree in biology. Labat also holds a Ph.D. from the Louisiana State University Medical Center.

Labat’s story does not end with the harsh experiences she faced during her time at Newcomb College. She went on to become a celebrated faculty member in the biology department at Xavier University, eventually being appointed Senior Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the institution before her retirement.

In 2019, Labat, alongside Mr. Reynold T. Décou (A&S ’67, *79), was honored by Tulane as a Tulane Trailblazer, and as a result, Décou-Labat Residences were named and dedicated for the pair as the first African-American undergraduates to earn degrees from Newcomb College and Tulane University.

Tania Tetlow (NC ’92) Tania Tetlow, Newcomb College graduate and former Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at Tulane, has made history as the first woman and first layperson to serve as president of not only one, but two religious universities: Loyola University New Orleans and Fordham University.

Tetlow completed her Bachelor of Arts in American studies at Newcomb in 1992, and went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Harvard Law School, where she was a Harry

S. Truman Fellow. After working as a federal prosecutor, she joined the faculty at Tulane Law School in 2005. Tetlow became Tulane’s Associate Provost for International Affairs in 2015, and was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff later that same year.

In 2018, Tetlow became the 17th President of Loyola University New Orleans.

She was the first woman and the first layperson to lead Loyola since the Society of Jesus founded the university in 1912.

Tetlow was also the fourth, as well as

the youngest, woman to lead one of the 27 colleges and universities in the U.S. that make up the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

In 2022, Tetlow made history for the second time, becoming the 33rd President of Fordham University in New York. Her appointment marked the first time in the Jesuit university’s 181-year-old history that it is not led by a priest.

Martha Crenshaw FBA (NC ’67) Esteemed globally for her research on terrorism, Martha Crenshaw FBA is a political scientist and scholar who serves as a professor of political science at Stanford University since 2007, as well as senior fellow emerita at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Center for International Security and Cooperation.

Crenshaw earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Newcomb in 1967. In 1973, she obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Government at the University of Virginia. She is one of the pioneering scholars in terrorism studies, and has written extensively on the issue of political terrorism. She served as the Colin and Nancy Campbell Professor of Global Issues and Democratic Thought at Wesleyan University,

where she was on faculty from 1974 to 2007.

During this time, Crenshaw served on the Executive Board of Women in International Security, as President and Councilor of the International Society of Political Psychology, and as a Guggenheim Fellow. Following her move to Stanford, Crenshaw worked as a lead investigator with the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism at the University of Maryland from 2005 to 2017. In 2011, Crenshaw published Explaining Terrorism, a collection of her previously published work.

She also published Countering Terrorism with co-author Gary LaFree in 2017. Recently, Crenshaw authored a report for the U.S. Institute of Peace, “Rethinking Transnational Terrorism: An Integrated Approach.”

Crenshaw is the 1989 recipient of the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Newcomb Alumnae Association. She has served on several committees of the National Academy of Sciences and was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 2015. Crenshaw is also the recipient of the International Studies Association International Security Studies Section Distinguished Scholar Award, and an honorary doctorate from Ghent University. She serves on the editorial boards of the journals International Security, Security Studies, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, Orbis, and Terrorism and Political Violence. Crenshaw is currently affiliated with the National Counterterrorism, Innovation, Technology, and Education Center.

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Education & Scholarship Gwendolyn Midlo Hall (NC ’49) A New Orleans native, renowned historian Gwendolyn Midlo Hall revolutionized teaching about slavery in Louisiana by applying computer technology to information she unearthed in archives and courthouse records throughout the state.

In 1949, Hall graduated from Newcomb College, where she studied European and American History. While pursuing her education, she participated in and helped organize direct-action community groups, including the New Orleans Youth Council, Young Progressives, Civil Rights Congress, and the Southern Council for Human Welfare, whose interracial membership roster defied the status quo of the Jim Crow South.

After completing her undergraduate studies, Hall earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Universidad Nacional de México. She taught briefly at Elizabeth City State College in North Carolina, until her attempts to organize students against the Ku Klux Klan and American military intervention in Vietnam resulted in an investigation from the

Kimala Price (NC ’92) Kimala Price is a leading scholar in reproductive politics with ongoing research on the intellectual and political history of the reproductive justice movement, Black women’s reproductive justice activism, and the “queering” of reproductive justice.

Price earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Newcomb College in 1992, and also holds a Ph.D. in political science and graduate certificate in women’s studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Today, she is a Professor of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she has also served as Co-Director of the Bread and Roses Center for Feminist Research and Activism since 2014. Prior to her position at SDSU,

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Federal Bureau of Investigation and her dismissal. In 1966, despite her inclusion on the FBI’s blacklist, Hall enrolled in the University of Michigan’s doctoral program in Latin American history and completed her Ph.D. in 1970. Her first book, Social Control in Slave Plantation Societies: A Comparison of St. Domingue and Cuba, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 1971. The same year, Hall joined the faculty of Rutgers University, where she would remain for 25 years.

During her career, Hall published numerous books and academic resources, most notably Africans in Colonial Louisiana: The Development of AfroCreole Culture in the Eighteenth Century, which was published in 1992 by Louisiana State University Press. This work was the culmination of a decade of research into archival findings from Louisiana court, census, sacramental, and notarial records to create a database dedicated to recovering the identities of enslaved individuals. The book won numerous national awards, including the American

Price was a post-doctoral research fellow at Ibis Reproductive Health, an independent research center based in Cambridge, MA. She is the author of the book Reproductive Politics in the United States and has published several articles in academic journals such as Politics & Gender; Politics, Groups, and Identities; Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism; Women’s Health Issues; and Sexuality Research and Social Policy.

Price has also written commentary for the Washington Post and The Conversation.

Studies Association’s John Hope Franklin Prize and has become a canonical work for students and scholars of African, American, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Latin American history. Throughout the 1990s, Hall continued to add to the database, utilizing a research grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, University of New Orleans, and The Historic New Orleans Collection.

In 2000, she released the first version of what would become the Louisiana Slave Database, a searchable collection of more than one hundred thousand records tied to enslaved individuals and free people of color.

Hall published her final book, a memoir entitled Haunted by Slavery: A Southern White Woman in the Freedom Struggle, in 2021 and passed away in 2022 at the age of 98. In 2023, Tulane University announced spaces within Hébert Hall, an academic building on the Uptown campus, would be named in honor of Hall and the Desegregation Trailblazers, the first students that integrated Tulane in 1963.

justice movements, including working for a number of national women’s rights organizations in Washington D.C. and Atlanta, GA. Price has also worked as a legislative fellow on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. She currently serves on the board of directors of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, and has been an active member of SisterSong Women of Color for Reproductive Justice Collective and founding advisory board member of Women, Action and the Media (WAM!).

In addition to her research and scholarship, Price has held a strong commitment to feminist activism and policy advocacy. For more than two decades, she has been active in the reproductive rights and reproductive

Photos from Conceiving Equity 2023: Photo of participants listening to Price giving her presentation (left). Price listens to student Maya Neiberg (PHTM ’25, SLA ’25), presenting their research (right).

130 YEARS of the NEWCOMB ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

Conceiving Equity 2023 featuring Kimala Price (NC ’ 92) On January 26, 2023, Newcomb Institute held its eleventh annual Roe v. Wade lecture, notably for the first time since that landmark court decision was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case on June 24, 2022. Our speaker, Dr. Kimala Price (NC ’92), Professor and Chair of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University, spoke to a packed house about the implications of Dobbs for states where abortion is now banned, including Louisiana, and for our nation as a whole.

The Roe v. Wade lecture is part of Conceiving Equity, a yearly event that also showcases our Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health interns’ work

and includes advocacy activities created by our reproductive rights, health, and justice-related student organizations. During a reception before Price’s lecture, attendees perused a poster gallery featuring the work of 18 interns who were placed in paid positions at organizations and with faculty members who work on reproductive rights, health, and justice.

Dr. Price’s lecture, “Reproductive Justice in a Post-Roe/Post-Dobbs World,” provided a powerful overview of our new political and social context. A renowned scholar of reproductive justice and author, Price first outlined the various ways that the right to abortion was restricted prior to

the Dobbs decision, noting that 1,381 restrictive states laws had been passed since Roe v. Wade.

She then explained that in this post-Dobbs world, more people seeking abortion will be crossing state borders, self-inducing pregnancy terminations, obtaining medication abortions, and coping with increased surveillance and pregnancy criminalization. She then outlined the history of the reproductive justice movement and one of its most important interventions into mainstream thinking on reproductive rights: that the right to not have children is fundamentally tied to the rights to have children and to parent them in safe and healthy environments. She illustrated this by pointing to racial disparities in

maternal mortality and morbidity, noting that these disparities are likely to increase now that pregnant-capable people are denied their bodily autonomy.

In addition to the Conceiving Equity event, Dr. Price spent several days with Newcomb Institute, attending lunches with several New Orleans community leaders, researchers, and students interested in reproductive justice.

In all, students, faculty, staff, and community members benefited from the opportunity to join in conversation around the topic of reproductive justice at this crucial turning point in our nation's history.

Reflections from a Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health Intern

By Annika Vanderspek (LA ’25)

For my third semester interning with Lift Louisiana, I had the incredible opportunity to work with a dedicated team of advocates committed to advancing reproductive justice in Louisiana. This spring, I worked closely with Lift’s executive director and co-founder, Michelle Erenberg, focusing on the 2023 Louisiana legislative session.

One of the key aspects of my internship with Lift Louisiana was organizing and attending the weekly ‘Women on Wednesdays’ events, hosted

by Lift Louisiana and 10,000 Women. ‘Women on Wednesdays’ aims to establish a continuous

advocacy presence at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge during the Legislative Session. These events offer a platform for advocates to stay informed about proposed legislation, comprehend its possible effects, and explore avenues to affect the legislative process. As an intern, I organized logistics, created materials to promote these events, and ensured each event went smoothly in Baton Rouge. Throughout the session, I attended committee hearings and press conferences, met with legislators and their staff to discuss key issues related to reproductive rights and health, and fostered community with state leaders and activists.

Working alongside passionate and dedicated individuals who were committed to the fight for reproductive rights and health was an incredibly inspiring experience. I was constantly energized by the resilience and determination of the advocates I shared space with, who showed up day after day to make their voices heard and push for change.

One of the most impactful aspects of my internship with Lift Louisiana was seeing the power of community mobilization. I witnessed firsthand the power of solidarity and collective action through events like Women on Wednesdays. While fighting for reproductive justice and trans rights is challenging, the community I was surrounded by during my internship with Lift Louisiana gave me hope and inspired me to continue this important work.

Overall, my internship with Lift Louisiana was an incredibly rewarding experience. I learned valuable skills, gained insight into the world of activism and advocacy, and had the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the fight for reproductive rights and health.

I am grateful to the Lift Louisiana team for their guidance and support throughout my internship, and I look forward to continuing to engage with this important work in the years to come.

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The Newcomb Alumnae Association Past Presidents As we celebrate and reflect on the past 130 years of the NAA, we recognize and acknowledge the visionary and resilient leaders who have guided our association through challenges, triumphs, and pivotal times. We thank them for their leadership, courage, and dedication to Newcomb that have made us the strong, resilient network that we are today.

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1893-1906

Helen DeGrange McLellan, NC 1891*

1951-1954

Dorothy Nungesser Davenport, NC ’39, G *55*

1993-1995

Karen Deener Depp, NC ’66

1906-1908

Abbie Richmond Armstrong, NC 1897*

1954-1956

Tolley Cook Davis, NC 1929*

1995-1997

Patricia Ann Greene, NC ’67 *

1908-1912

Florence Dymond, NC 1891*

1956-1958

Margaret "Peggy" Roemer Read, NC ’40*

1997-1999

Andrea Arons Huseman, NC ’82

1912-1913

Lydia E. Frotscher, NC 1904*

1958-1960

Adele Redditt Williamson, NC ’45*

1999-2001

1914-1915

Viola Sirera Ransmeier, NC 1896, G 1898*

1960-1962

Jane Kelleher Riess Barkerding, NC ’38*

Martha McCarty Kimmerling Wells, NC ’63

2001-2003

1916-1918

Elizabeth Hurt Robinson, NC 1891*

1962-1964

Myrtle Gastrell Miller, NC 1929*

Heather Pelofsky Rittenberg, NC ’89

2003-2005

1918-1920 Anna Many, 1907, G 1913, H 1955*

1964-1966

Ethelyn Everett Verlander, NC ’41*

Lea McIntosh Ellison, NC ’69

2005-2007

1920-1921

Fannie Florence Fulham, NC 1895*

1966-1968

Louise "Weesie" Peterman Prosser, NC ’44*

Sharon Kozlowski Bourgeois, NC ’61

2007-2011

1922-1925

Anna Many, NC 1907, G 1913, H 1955*

1968-1972

Carolyn Robbert Davis, NC ’42*

Carter Dudley Flemming, NC ’70

2012-2015

1926-1927

Jeanne Laughetee Ritter, NC 1918*

1972-1974

Olive Moss Sartor, NC ’57

Catharine Haggaman Edwards, NC ’72

1929-1932

Miriam Lemann Polack, NC 1900*

1974

Nadine Robbert Vorhoff, NC ’41* (May - Aug)

2016-2017

1932-1934

Irma Leucht Rosen, NC 1894*

1974-1976

Jane Kelleher Riess Barkerding, NC ’38*

Meredith A. Beers, NC ’07, PHTM *11, PHTM *16

2018-2020

1934-1935

Laura Josephine Fry Alves, NC 1930*

1976-1978

Margaret Bosshardt Pace Willson, NC ’43*

Andrea Mahady Price, NC ’98

1978-1981

Sybil Muths Favrot, NC ’56*

2020-2022

Lisa D. T. Rice, NC ’83

2022-2022

1981-1983

Susan Rosenthal Mintz Kantrow, NC ’69

2022-2024

1983-1985

Karen Oser Edmunds, NC ’67

Helene Sheena, NC ’87, M *91 Andrea "Andi" Richardson, NC ’99

*[Deceased]

1985-1986

Carolyn "Pani" Goldsby Kolb, NC ’63

Updated: 8/1/2023

1986-1987

Winifred "Wendy" M. Delery Hills, NC ’75, L *78

1987-1988

Carol Downes Cudd, NC ’59

1988-1990

Regan Alford Forrester, NC ’71, SW *72

1990-1992

Polly Phelps Durham, NC ’52

1992-1993

Harriet Barry Schupp, NC ’59, G *70 *

1935-1938

Beatrix Meyering Riedel Day, NC 1910*

1939-1940

Anne Delie Bancroft, NC 1915*

1940-1942

Ethel Bauer Ramond, NC 1926*

1942-1943

Rietta Garland Albritton, NC 1917*

1944-1946

Berthe Lathrop Marks, NC 1921*

1946-1948

Adele Parsons Conselyea, NC 1917*

1948-1949

Elizabeth Hughes Freret, NC 1925*

1949-1950

Marian Lloyd Nash, NC 1942*

1950-1951

Anna Jane Dohan Warriner, NC 1932*

The Newcomb Alumnae Association Past Award Winners

Outstanding Alumna Award 1974 Elizabeth Wisner NC 1914 1975 Bessie Margolin NC 1929 1976 Corinne Claiborne Boggs NC ’35 1977 E. Lucille Smith NC ’35 1978 Ida Rittenberg Kohlmeyer NC ’33 1979 Ruth Rogan Benerito NC ’35 1980 Betty Werlein Carter NC ’31 1981 Lanier Allingham Simmons NC ’50 1982 Mary Lou Mossy Christovich NC ’49 1983 Odaline de la Martinez NC ’72 1984 Evalyn Stolaroff Gendel NC ’43 1985 Betty Stevens Sherrill NC ’44 1986 Hilda Arndt NC ’32 1987 Lynda Benglis NC ’64 1988 Rosa Freeman Keller NC ’32 1989 Martha Crenshaw NC ’67 1990 Marion J. Siegman NC ’54 1991 Barbara Y. E. Pyle NC ’69 1992 Deirdre Melessa Phillips, M.D. NC ’69 1993 Vivian Gussin Paley NC ’50 1994 Lois E. DeBakey NC ’40 1995 Eugénie Ricau Rocherolle NC ’58 1997 Susan Gold Willard Schorin NC ’67 1998 May Hyman Lesser NC ’47 1999 Martha Walters Barnett NC ’69 2003 Marsha Sidel Firestone NC ’65 2004 Cheryl A. Nickerson NC ’83 2005 Elizabeth A. Weaver NC ’62 2007 Jane Davis Doggett NC ’52 2008 Carol Lavin Bernick NC ’74 2009 Florence Weiland Schornstein NC ’56 2010 Berthe Lathrop Marks Amoss NC ’46 2011 Dee Unglaub Silverthon NC ’70 2012 Marlene Eskind Moses NC ’72 2013 Margaret Burr Leonard NC ’63 2014 Merri Steinberg Ex NC ’73 2015 Regina Rogers NC ’68 2016 Jennifer Brush NC ’78 2017 Sally Kittredge Reeves NC ’65 2018 Meria Carstarphen NC ’92 2019 Marcela Villareal de Panetta NC ’67 2020 Carter Flemming NC ’70 2021 Dr. Mara E. Karlin NC ’01 2022 Pamela A. Geller, Ph.D. NC ’88 2023 Alexandra “Ally” Coll, J.D. NC ’07

Young Alumna Award 2005 Jennifer Grotz NC ’93 2007 Melissa Ekin Kizildemir NC ’02 2008 Erica Trani NC ’06 2009 Rebekah Dobrasko NC ’01 2010 Theresa Schieber NC ’95 2011 Meaghan K. Callahan NC ’08 2012 Karoun Bagamain NC ’01 2013 Elizabeth Bellino NC ’98 2014 Johanna Gilligan NC ’03 2015 Jane Kellum NC ’01 2016 Dr. Mara E. Karlin NC ’01 2017 Demetria Christo NC ’06 2018 Lindsey Childs-Kean NC ’04 2019 Paula Eichenbrenner NC ’04 2020 Nicole Hutchinson SLA ’07 2021 Mwende "FreeQuency" Katwiwa SLA ’14 2022 Saira A. Mehmood, Ph.D. (SLA ’08, SLA *09) 2023 Brittney Sheena (SSE ’18)

Newcomb Community Service and Loyalty Award 1987 Sybil Muths Favrot NC ’56 1988 Jane Kelleher Riess NC ’38 1989 Nellie Mae Bartlett Kelleher NC ’30 1990 Carol Downes Cudd NC ’59 1992 Louise Hoehn Hogan NC ’35 1993 Winifred Delery Hills NC ’75 1994 Polly Phelps Durham NC ’52 1995 Harriet Barry Schupp NC ’59 1997 Regan Alford Forrester NC ’71 1999 Carolyn Robbert Davis NC ’42 2000 Andrée Keil Moss NC ’59 2001 Helen Schneidau NC ’67 2002 Patricia Greene NC ’67 2003 Karen Deener Depp NC ’66 2004 Virginia Niehaus Roddy NC ’60 2005 Barbara Bartlett Haddad NC ’53 2007 Cynthia Roosth Wolf NC ’68 2008 Eugenie Jones Huger NC ’53 2009 Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin NC ’54 Community Service Award 2010 Adele Redditt Williamson NC ’45 2011 Sharon Kozlowski Bourgeois NC ’69 2012 Suzy Guichard McDaniel NC ’83 2013 Newcomb Sisters & Friends Build 2014 Sylvia Klumok Goodman NC ’62 2015 Julie Schwam Harris NC ’74 2016 Roberta Guillory NC ’59 2017 Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise NC ’92 2018 Millibeth Currie NC ’89 2019 Lisa Helfman NC ’96 2020 Nancy Godecke NC ’81 2021 Isabel González Whitaker NC ’94 2022 Amy Gatzemeyer NC ’06 2023 Susan Friedlander Keith NC ’68

Outstanding Alumna Award 2023 Winner Alexandra “Ally” Coll, J.D. (NC ’07)

Young Alumna Award 2023 Winner Brittney Sheena (SSE ’18)

Community Service Award 2023 Winner Susan Friedlander Keith (NC ’68)

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Business & Entrepreneurship Carol Lavin-Bernick (NC ’74) A philanthropic leader and advocate, Carol Lavin Bernick serves as CEO of Polished Nickel Capital Management, a privately held company that manages diversified investments, and is the founder of Enchanted Backpack, which provides school supplies, books and winter coats to over 20,000 pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade students annually. She is also the second woman to chair the Board of Tulane in the university’s 185-year history.

Bernick graduated from Newcomb College in 1974. Shortly after graduation, she joined Alberto-Culver, a beautyand-household-product business that her parents founded in 1955. During

her career at Alberto-Culver, Bernick created several products: Mrs. Dash, Molly McButter, Baker’s Joy, and Static Guard. In the 1990s, she re-energized the company and consumer businesses, dramatically increasing sales growth rates and profit margins while instituting a nationally recognized cultural overhaul. Bernick led the Alberto Culver Consumer Products business for over 10 years and succeeded her father as executive chairman in 2004.

In 2011, she initiated and oversaw the sale of the company to Unilever.

Foundation to renovate and expand the 47-year-old University Center on McAlister Drive. The Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life was dedicated in December 2006 – the first major university building to open in the postHurricane Katrina era. In 2023, Bernick established an $8 million fund for a major landscaping and streetscaping effort on Tulane’s expanding downtown campus, encouraging collaboration, socializing and community in the heart of New Orleans’ BioDistrict and commercial corridor.

Bernick and her family gave a generous donation through the Lavin Family

Photo by Michael Parra.

Mignon Faget (NC ’55)

A legendary artist, jeweler, designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Mignon Faget masterfully melds the distinct artistic processes of jewelry-making and sculpture.

Faget graduated from Newcomb College in 1955 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She credits her time at Newcomb under professors and mentors like Pat Trivigno and James Steg, as well as a class entitled "Design in Nature" taught by Robert Durant Field, for sparking her interest in environmentally-themed design.

Today, Faget’s name graces the storefront of three successful galleries, two in the New Orleans area and one in Baton Rouge. Her designs are strongly inspired by the culture and environment of Southeast Louisiana. Her collections

include iconic Louisiana and New Orleans symbols such as red beans, king cake, snowballs, crawfish, honeybees, irises, Fleur de Lis, and more. She also designs non-jewelry items like ornaments, serving trays, coasters, and stemless glasses.

Faget also created a custom Newcomb College collection, inspired by the famous oak trees that adorned the campus during her time as student, and its proceeds support the Newcomb Alumnae Association.

In the philanthropy sector, Faget is widely known in local art, preservation, and nature conservation communities. She raised over $150,000 in sales to support local artists and art organizations after Hurricane Katrina and contributed over $100,000 to aid recovery efforts after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Marsha Firestone (NC ’65)

Marsha Firestone (NC ’65) has been a trailblazer for women throughout her distinguished career. The university recognized her accomplishments at the 2015 Tulane Alumni Awards Gala.

New Zealand, Johannesburg, Istanbul, Mexico City and the Middle East/North Africa, where women are achieving unprecedented levels of success and hitting the multimillion-dollar revenue requirement for membership.

Firestone is founder and president of the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), which began in 1997 as a peer advisory organization for women who own multimillion-dollar businesses. She is also the Founder and President of the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization, dedicated to increasing access to business opportunities for women’s business enterprises.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, her current role is just the latest chapter in an impressive biography. She previously served as Vice President of Women Incorporated and as Vice President of Training and Counseling at the American Woman’s Economic Development Corporation (AWED). Her career also includes positions as President of a for-profit educational institution; National Executive Director of Women’s American ORT, a volunteer organization; and a faculty member at the American Management Association Competency-Based Management Development Program, at City University of New York, and at Adelphi University. In addition to her work in the corporate sphere, Marsha is the author of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Successful Self-Employment and has published research

Under her leadership, WPO has become a transformative organization that promotes women business leaders across industries and interests. It now has over 115 chapters on six continents, and more than 1,700 members from around the world. In 2013 alone, the WPO expanded into new markets, including Australia,

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Faget continues to use her talents to design special collections that have raised thousands of dollars for local non-profits.

She has designed uniquely inspired jewelry lines for many organizations, such as the Audubon Zoo, the Preservation Resource Center, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Her talent, hard work, and dedication to the city of New Orleans have not only established Mignon Faget as one of the most recognized and respected names in jewelry design in the South, but have also led her to be honored with several accolades, including Tulane's 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Photo provided by Newcomb Art Department.

in business and educational journals on adult learning theory, nonverbal communication, and managerial competency. Marsha earned a master’s degree in communication from Teacher’s College of New York and a Ph.D. in Communication from Columbia University, where Margaret Mead sat on her dissertation committee.

As Firestone built her impressive dossier, she still found time to serve her alma mater. She served on the Tulane Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 1999-2000, the Newcomb Dean’s Advisory Council in 2006, evolving into a role on the Newcomb Institute’s Director’s Advisory Council. She was also a vital part of the Class of 1965’s fundraising efforts in honor of its 50th Reunion. In 2003, the Newcomb Alumnae Association honored Firestone with the Outstanding Alumna Award.

Media Gwen Thompkins (NC ’87) Gwen Thompkins is a prolific New Orleans-born journalist and writer known for her coverage of the standard-bearers of the Louisiana music scene and the art of making music.

Thompkins graduated from Newcomb in 1987, with a dual degree in history and Soviet studies. After graduation, Thompkins worked as a reporter and editor at The Times-Picayune. From 1996 to 2006, she was senior editor of National Public Radio (NPR)’s Weekend Edition with Scott Simon, and later NPR’s East Africa bureau chief, based in Nairobi, Kenya. In this role, Thompkins reported on the toppling of the Islamic Courts Union government in Somalia,

ethnic violence in Kenya, insecurity in Darfur and Sudan's first nationwide elections in a generation. She has also written a series on the Nile River, traveling from the shores of Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea. Heading south, she has reported stories from South Africa and Antarctica. Following a fellowship at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, she returned to New Orleans full-time.

Since 2012, Thompkins has been the executive producer and host of the public radio program Music Inside Out, which showcases the unusually varied musical landscape of Louisiana. Her interviews and stories have been featured in The

New Yorker, The Oxford American, NPR Music, WXPN’s World Café, The Strangers Guide, Tulanian Magazine, and The Massachusetts Review.

Today, Thompkins is writing a book based on the interviews she has conducted for Music Inside Out. Past interviewees include Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Galactic, and Big Freedia.

Photo provided by the Tulane History Department.

Elyse Luray Weshler (NC ’89) Alumna Elyse Luray Weshler turned her passion for art and history into a career as an appraiser, an auctioneer and an educator.

After graduating from Newcomb College with a Bachelor of Arts in art history, Weshler surrounded herself with fine art and collectibles, working as an expert appraiser auctioneer for Christie's Auction House and appearing on popular programs like PBS’s Antiques Roadshow and History Detectives. Weshler spent eleven years at Christie’s, eventually

becoming Vice President of the Popular Arts Department. During her tenure at Christie’s, Weshler started many new markets including Western Memorabilia and Arms and Armour. In this role, Elyse was responsible for many world records for memorabilia and for appraising famous collections. Some collections she appraised include the archives of Lucas Films, Dreamworks, Chuck Jones’ personal collection, Warner Bros., HannaBarbera, Hard Rock Cafe and more.

Today, Weshler is busy working on her appraisal business, helping clients in need of an insurance, fair market value, donation, estate, damage claim/loss or market appraisal. She stays engaged with her alma mater as a member of the Newcomb-Tulane College Dean’s Advisory Council.

Photo by Stephanie Berger Photography.

Barbara Y. E. Pyle (NC ’69) For over four decades, Barbara Y. E. Pyle has bridged the work of the entertainment and news industry with that of the environmentalist movement as an executive producer, filmmaker, photographer, media innovator and environmental activist.

After graduating from Newcomb College in 1969, Pyle worked as a photojournalist producing photo essays for NBC News nationally and locally in New York. After meeting future collaborator Ted Turner, Pyle was hired as Vice President of Environmental Policy at TBS. This appointment made her the first corporate executive in the world to have ‘environment’ in their title. Pyle served over two decades in this role, and was responsible for creation of the Turner Environment Division and setting the company's environmental broadcast agenda. Simultaneously, Pyle served

as the Environmental Editor at CNN, where she introduced and oversaw environmental news reporting and programming on both CNN and TBS. Notably, Pyle worked as executive producer of the award-winning show People Count, which put a face on global issues addressed by a series of United Nations summits.

In 1989, Pyle and Turner created the series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, an animated series that could yield a generation of environmentally-literate youth. The series launched in September 1990 and ran for six seasons with a total of 113 episodes. Featuring celebrity voices such as Whoopi Goldberg, LeVar Burton, Meg Ryan, Jeff Goldblum, Tim Curry, Ed Asner, John Ratzenberger, Martin Sheen, and Dean Stockwell, the series was met with critical acclaim and became massively

popular amongst youth. The series was No. 1 in Nielsen ratings for five consecutive years, was syndicated in 220 U.S. markets, and aired in over 100 countries. Pyle required that the series' merchandising was made sustainably.

Pyle has traveled the world documenting reallife solutions in support of the United Nations Global Summits and Conferences. In 1997, she became the only non-scientist to be awarded the prestigious United Nations Sasakawa Prize for her lifelong global contribution to the protection of the environment.

Photo provided by the Captain Planet Foundation.

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Sports Gloria Asumnu (NT ’07) A four-time All-American and 19-time NCAA Regional qualifier, former Green Wave track and field star Gloria Asumnu set the bar high during her time at Tulane, crushing previous records and setting five school bests in track and field.

Asumnu's path to the top was far from easy as she balanced her studies, her sport, and being a young mother during her time at Tulane. It was through her daughter, Kailyn, that Asumnu found her motivation to train and win. During the 2005-06 track season, Asumnu and her teammates displayed commendable perseverance while experiencing setbacks completely alien to student-athletes in other parts of the country with the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. The storm made play impossible for eight of Tulane's

sixteen varsity sports programs that school year.

The state of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina only inspired Asumnu to come back stronger and better than ever, as she went on to claim the C-USA 100m dash title only a year later in 2007, also garnering a No. 9 national ranking in that event and placing No. 8 nationally in the 200m sprint. For her efforts, Asumnu was recognized as 2007 Tulane Female Student-Athlete of the year and C-USA Track and Field Women's Athlete of the Year in 2008. At the conclusion of her time at Tulane, Asumnu was a three-time Conference USA Champion (Indoor 60-meters twice; Outdoor 100-meters) and a 10-time all-conference selection.

She qualified for NCAA Regionals in the

100m twice, as well as the 200m in 2005.

She still holds the Green Wave school records for the indoor 55m, 60m and 200m events.

Today, Asumnu boasts appearances in four separate World Championships - 2011 in Daegu, South Korea and 2013 in Moscow, Russia and indoor championships in Istanbul, Turkey in 2012 and Sopot, Poland in 2014. Notably, Asumnu represented Nigeria, her parents' home country, in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In 2014, Asumnu was inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame.

Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images.

Linda Tuero (NC ’71, ’02, *04) A childhood tennis prodigy turned international champion, Linda Tuero is the first woman to receive an athletic scholarship from Tulane University, and the first woman to play on a varsity sports team at the institution.

A native Louisianian, Tuero began playing tennis at the age of ten, winning her first tournament, the New Orleans City Championships sponsored by New Orleans Recreational Department, within six months. She started taking lessons from Emmett Paré, the men’s tennis coach at Tulane and went on to win six junior national titles in singles and doubles, as well as the Girl’s National Interscholastic Championship, by the time she graduated from St. Martin’s Episcopal School in 1968.

When Tuero was awarded her athletic scholarship, Tulane did not have a women’s varsity tennis team, so Linda played on the men’s varsity tennis team.

She did not travel with the team to away matches, and she only played when both the visiting coach and player who she would be matched against consented.

Not all schools agreed to play against a woman, especially when her reputation for defeating visiting male players became

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widely known. Tuero’s limited schedule netted a collegiate record of 8-1 over a three-year period.

Tuero was allowed to play on the women’s professional tennis circuit but maintain her amateur status while studying at Newcomb College, and during those years, she won 3 amateur tennis championships: 1969 US Amateur Championship, 1970 US Amateur Championship, and the 1970 US Open Clay Court Championship, with a semifinal victory over Nancy Richey, then the #1 clay court woman player in the world.

In 1969, she was ranked the #1 woman in the world under the age of 21. Linda graduated from Newcomb cum laude in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and began her professional tennis career.

In 1972, her first year on the professional tour, Tuero won the Italian Open Singles title in Rome and the first International Tournament of Madrid (Madrid Open), and was a semi-finalist in the Canadian Open, WTA German Open, the US Open Clay Courts, and the Western and Southern Open. Representing the United States, Linda played on the Wightman Cup and Federation Cup Teams in 1972

and 1973, serving as Federation Cup Captain in 1973. Other tennis highlights include reaching the third round of the US Open in 1968 and 1971, the quarterfinals in the French Open, as well as the third round at Wimbledon in 1971, and reaching the No. 10 world ranking for women in 1972. After finishing out her Fed and Wightman Cup responsibilities in 1973, Tuero retired from the professional circuit. Since her retirement, she has been inducted into the Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame (1983), the Louisiana Tennis Hall of Fame (1985), the United States Tennis Association Southern Tennis Hall of Fame (1995), the St. Martin’s Episcopal Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame (2010), and most recently, the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (2015).

Linda returned to Tulane in 2000 to earn a second bachelor’s degree (2002) and a master’s degree (2004) in anthropology, specializing in paleoanthropology. She applied this knowledge when she went to Africa to excavate with Rutgers University in northern Kenya, where the earliest hominid discoveries have been made.

Photos provided by Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.

Tulane Tennis Team 1969

Science Ruth Benerito (NC ’35) This article was originally published in NEWCOMB Magazine on October 24, 2016.

Ruth Rogan Benerito enrolled at Newcomb College at the age of 15, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1935 and almost immediately after earning her M.S. from Tulane University in the same field.

Benerito later received her doctorate from the University of Chicago, also in chemistry. Her success was fueled by the camaraderie and encouragement of Newcomb College. She was mentored in the lab by Newcomb alumna Dr. Rose Mooney (NC ’26) and later by Clara de Milt (NC ’11), another alumna and then head of the Department of Chemistry, who later hired Benerito to teach at Newcomb and to build up the Department’s collaborative research efforts. Benerito worked as a professor of physical chemistry at Newcomb for ten years, simultaneously earning her doctorate over summer breaks and leaves of absence. She rose within the department and upon de Milt’s death in 1953 was offered the position of head of the Department of Chemistry. Benerito declined the promotion, choosing to seek innovation beyond the walls of academia.

Her success as an academic was enough to make her stand out, considering the scarcity of women educated in the sciences in the first half of the twentieth century. However, it was her entrance into the world of textile sciences that made her name widely known. Benerito started working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southern Regional Research Laboratory in 1953, where she began experimenting with cotton fabric. It was there that her most widely recognized contribution to the field of chemistry took place: her research on cross-linking in cotton molecules was one of the prime chemical revelations that led to the invention of permanent press (or wrinkle-free) fabric, as well as stain and flame-resistant cotton fabrics.

While many collaborated on this effort, as Benerito herself often admitted, it truly was Benerito’s research that made the discovery possible. As noted by The New York Times, she said that wrinkle-free cotton was the result of teamwork.

“I don’t like it to be said that I invented wash-wear, because there were any number of people working on it, and there are various processes by which you give cotton those properties,” she said.

“No one person discovered it or was responsible for it. But I contributed to new processes of doing it.”

Her achievements skyrocketed as her career in chemistry continued, gaining her over fifty patents and an array of prestigious awards, including the Lemelson-MIT Award for Invention and Innovation, as well as induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2008.

Benerito remained with the U.S.D.A. until retiring in 1986, after which she joined the faculty of the University of New Orleans and continued teaching until the age of 81.

Even as her career grew, her life remained in New Orleans, always connected to the innovation that a Newcomb education inspired.

Benerito passed away in 2013 at the age of 97. Her nephew, William Rogan, donated records of her lectures, manuscripts, patent files, honors, and awards, with the hope that researchers might find a complete record of Benerito’s accomplishments at a single repository.

Photo provided by Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.

Dr. Ruth Benerito receiving an award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Dee Unglaub Silverthorn (NC ’70) Dee U. Silverthorn, PhD, FAPS, FAAA, FAAAS, is a pioneering physiology educator and professor emerita in the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Silverthorn earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Newcomb College in 1970.

She then went to the Baruch Institute at the University of South Carolina for her graduate studies in marine science, and received her Ph.D. in 1973. With a teaching career spanning over 40 years, Silverthorn became a leading expert and scholar in the field of physiology. She instructed both undergraduates and medical students on the subject in both lecture and laboratory settings at the Medical University of South Carolina and

UT Austin. During her tenure, Silverthorn also wrote Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, which would go on to become the #1 best-selling human physiology textbook worldwide and is currently in its eighth edition. In addition to her teaching and research, Silverthorn is also a past president of the American Physiological Society, where she also served multiple terms as editor-in-chief of the journal, Advances in Physiology Education. She works with colleagues nationally and internationally to improve physiology education through workshops and conferences.

Teacher Award from the Society for College Science Teachers, the American Physiological Society’s Claude Bernard Distinguished Lecturer, and the Arthur C. Guyton Physiology Educator of the Year, as well as multiple awards from UT-Austin, including the Burnt Orange Apple Award.

She is also the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Alumna Award from the Newcomb Alumnae Association.

Photo provided by the American Physiological Society.

Silverthorn is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and honors, including the 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Science

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Politics & Government Danielle Conley (NC ’00) Danielle Conley, Newcomb College graduate and Partner at Latham & Watkins, LLC, is a trusted legal adviser with deep experience in the public and private sector, represents clients in high-stakes, multifaceted legal challenges at the intersection of law, government policy, and business.

Conley graduated from Newcomb College in 2000 and went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the Howard University School of Law in 2003. Prior to joining Latham, she served as Deputy Counsel to the President in the Office of White House Counsel. In that role, Conley advised the President, Vice President and other senior White House officials in the Biden-Harris Administration on a wide array of legal issues related to voting and democracy, policing and criminal justice reform, reproductive rights, tech accountability, and judicial nominations. She established

and led the first-ever White House Counsel’s Office team dedicated to civil rights and advancing racial, gender, and LGBTQ equity. Under Conley’s leadership, the team worked closely with senior officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and agency general counsels on policy, regulatory, and litigation matters related to the administration’s equity agenda. Among other high-profile efforts, Conley helped shepherd Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Before her appointment to Deputy Counsel, Conley served as the deputy on the Biden-Harris Transition’s DOJ Agency Review Team. During the Obama administration, she served as Associate Deputy Attorney General at the DOJ, where she provided strategic counsel to the Deputy Attorney General and other senior government officials on a wide range

Maureen Quinn (NC ’78) A renowned diplomat and ambassador, Maureen Quinn has made an indelible mark on politics with her unwavering commitment to fostering diplomacy and cooperation on the global stage.

Quinn studied French and Economics at Newcomb College and received her Bachelor of Arts in 1978. Afterward, she pursued her passion by studying international relations at Georgetown University, where she excelled academically and received a Master of Science in Foreign Service.

Following her graduation, Quinn embarked on a remarkable diplomatic career. She joined the United States Foreign Service serving various diplomatic missions worldwide, including Coordinator for Afghanistan, Acting Chief of Mission in Kabul (2004- 2006), and Ambassador to Qatar (2001 to 2004).

Her diplomatic career also included being the Deputy Chief of Mission, then Chargé d’Affaires in Morocco (1998-2001). Quinn served as the Economic Officer and Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, and was Vice Consul and General Services Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, Pakistan, from 1982 to 1984. From 1990 to 1991, Ambassador Quinn was a Pearson Fellow at the U.S. House of Representatives.

She served in the Economic Bureau’s Office of International Development Finance from 1988-1990 and the Western Hemisphere’s Bureau of Regional Economic Affairs from 1986 to 1988. At the International Peace Institute (IPI) in New York, Maureen led global programs and professional development seminars in partnership with governments and multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, from 2011 until 2016.

of litigation and policy issues and managed some of the agency’s most significant and high-profile civil rights enforcement matters. Prior to Conley’s government service, she was a partner in another international law firm’s Washington D.C. office, where she led the firm’s antidiscrimination practice.

Conley is a Director of Graham Holdings Company. She has also previously served on several nonprofit boards, including for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Earlier in her career, she was a fellow at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Conley has repeatedly garnered recognition for her work in the public and private sector, including from the National Law Journal, the Washington Business Journal, the Diversity Journal, The Root, and Essence Magazine.

Today, Quinn serves on the adjunct faculty of New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and the City University of New York’s Baruch College Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. She teaches courses on post-conflict governance and development and Middle East politics.

Beyond her professional achievements, Quinn is known for advocating for gender equality and supporting initiatives that empower women internationally. For example, Quinn worked with the Girl Scouts of the USA as the Vice President of Global Girl Scouting to establish global service-learning and civic engagement programs for girls across 90 countries. In service to Newcomb, she served on the Director's Advisory Council from 2016 to 2023.

Lindy Boggs (NC ’35) Marie Corinne “Lindy” Morrison Claiborne Boggs was no stranger to making history at local, state, federal, and international levels as the first woman from Louisiana elected to serve in the United States Congress, the first woman to chair a political convention, and the first woman to act as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Before she began her impressive career, Boggs attended Newcomb College, enrolling at only 15 years old. While at Newcomb, she served as the women’s editor for The Tulane Hullaballoo, and it was during this time that she met her husband, Thomas Hale Boggs.

After graduating in 1935, Boggs worked as a school teacher while Hale attended Tulane Law School, earning his Juris Doctor in 1937.

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Boggs entered the political realm in 1940 when she began organizing her husband’s campaigns for his seat in the United States House of Representatives. As manager of Hale’s Capitol Hill office, Boggs quickly, became an admired and valuable player in the D.C. political scene. Hale served as the U.S. Representative for Jefferson Parish until his tragic disappearance in 1972, and upon a special election for her husband’s seat the following year, Lindy Boggs was elected as U.S. Representative, a seat she would hold for almost 20 years. During her tenure in Congress, Boggs added the provision that banned discrimination due to sex or marital status to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, and was the only white Congressional Member representing a majority-Black voter

district at the time. In 1976, Boggs served as the chair of the Democratic National Convention.

Boggs declined to run for re-election in 1990 to take care of her terminally ill daughter, but her legacy is seen in many forms. The women’s meeting room in the U.S. Capitol is named after Boggs, making it the only room in the building named after a woman, and she received 19 honorary degrees and innumerable awards, including the Outstanding Alumna Award from the Newcomb Alumnae Association in 1976.

Photos provided by Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Article by By Emily Kreller (LA ’26).

Endowments & Service

Newcomb Institute is fortunate to have funds functioning as endowment supporting our work. These amounts are now valued at approximately $46 million and generate almost $2 million for our programs each year. Other endowment funds generate an additional $1 million for our programs annually. The Newcomb Foundation Board ensures that Newcomb Institute spends that money wisely.

Endowments and funds functioning as endowments do not meet the full financial cost of operating Newcomb Institute, which also funds in part the activities of the Newcomb Alumnae Association. Annual support from alumnae and friends provides critical funds to enhance the services and opportunities necessary to continue our work of feminist education and knowledge production at Tulane University.

A gift of $2,500+ to Newcomb Institute’s Annual Fund earns membership to Tulane’s Associates program. Tulane Associates are alumni, parents and friends who invest in the university's mission by making annual unrestricted leadership gifts. Additionally, named gifts support a variety of other activities, including the Newcomb Archives, grants, and our annual lecture series. Learn more at newcomb.tulane.edu/annual-programs.

The Florie Gale Arons (NC ’50) Poetry Forum

The Alberto-Culver Lecture Series The Alberto-Culver Lecture Series, established by Carol Lavin Bernick (NC ’74), invites distinguished, nationally recognized professional women to campus to meet with students and discuss pertinent topics about women in business. In recent years, the selection of the annual Alberto-Culver lecturer has become a highly anticipated collaboration between the Newcomb Institute and the Tulane Women in Business student organization, which the Institute supports. Recent Alberto-Culver lecturers include: Anne Segrest McCulloch, Barbara Jones, Nina Compton, Angela Rye, and Amanda Zuckerman.

The Betty Werlein Carter (NC ’31) Lecture The Betty Werlein Carter (NC ’31) Lecture, established by the family and friends of the alumna, provides students with information, training, experience, contacts and involvement in the public policy arena.

Recent Carter lecturers include: Rebecca Campbell, Angela Tucker, Dalton Tiegs, Rebecca Merton, and Wagatwe Wanjuki.

Since 1999, the annual Florie Gale Arons Poetry Program has brought a distinguished woman-identified poet to campus for a poetry reading and workshop. The program was established by the daughters of Florie Gale Arons (NC ’50) in honor of their mother's 70th birthday, and family and friends assure that it continues today in her memory. Recent Arons Visting Poets include: Kiki Petrosino, Khadijah Queen, Layli Long Soldier, Morgan Parker, and Anne Boyer.

Bonquois Postdoctoral Fellowship

The Custard (NC ’91) Lecture

The Newcomb Institute hosts postdoctoral fellows whose work aligns with our mission in Women's history. For the Bonquois fellowship we invite applicants whose research is intersectional and engages with priority interest areas, including women and politics, feminist social and political movements, gender-based violence, and/or sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The Custard Lecture, funded

by Marla Custard (NC ’91) brings speakers connected to the LGBTQ+ community to campus. Recent Custard lecturers include: Libby Sharrow, Alyssa Lederer, Katherine Johnson, Regina Kunzel, Alicia Gariza, and Elizabeth Alexander.

Adele Ramos Salzer NC ’40 Lecture and Reading Series

The Zale-Kimmerling Writer-InResidence Program

The Adele Ramos Salzer NC ’40 Lecture and Reading Series was created by a donation from this dedicated alumna and volunteer and has been generously strengthened through gifts in her memory from her family, friends, and classmates. The series supports academic programs focusing on women's experiences in higher education. Former Salzer lecturers include: Nancy S. Niemi, Lisa Wade, Anthony Jack, Caroline Heldman, and Susan Komives.

The Zale-Kimmerling Writer-in-Residence Program provides a unique opportunity for students and members of the university community to meet with a notable woman writer as she spends a week on campus. The program was established by Dana Zale Gerard (NC ’85) and made possible by an annual gift from the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation of Dallas, Texas. In 2010, the program became fully endowed through a gift from Martha McCarty Wells (NC ’63). Recent Zale-Kimmerling Writersin-Residence include: Min Jin Lee, Brit Bennett, Valeria Luiselli, Lauren Groff, and N.K. Jemisin.

Emily Schoenbaum (NC ’88) Grant

The Emily Schoenbaum Grant was initiated by a 1988 Newcomb College graduate, to encourage and support projects that will benefit the lives of women and girls, particularly those in the New Orleans area.

Emily attended Newcomb College in 1984. After earning a B.A. in Women's Studies and Sociology in 1988, she worked for Greenpeace, recieved a master's in Elementary Education and a graduate degree in Environmental Policy.

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In Memoriam

The H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College Institute remembers the Newcomb College alumnae who have passed away in the last year.

Jeanne Antoinette Fernandez Bruno graduated from Newcomb College in 1947, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduation, she continued supporting the College as a dedicated and loyal volunteer.

Ballet was Jeanne's lifelong passion, and she was an accomplished ballerina. During her summers at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City, she graced the stages of New Orleans as a soloist in productions by the New Orleans Opera House Association and the Summer Pops. Jeanne's love for ballet even took her to Bogotá, Colombia, where she performed and taught as a ballet instructor.

While Jeanne served her country as a dedicated Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) member for over a decade, her heart always belonged to the arts. She redirected her

Isabel Ochsner Mann Emily Elizabeth Lackey Cox Patricia Greco Parentela Anne DeRussy Leonard Ursula Anne Von Rydingsvard Jean Brandin Hall Shirley Ann Bell Kruse Judith Ellen Meister Reich Carole Joy Rambach Breen Jeanenne Pridgen Riecken Margaretha Yvonne Laan Viguerie Cynthia Marie Perrone Margaret Virginia Stewart Dickey Shirley Bernice Tanenbaum Seelig Aysen Kutalp Young, Ph.D. Betty Bloch Kohn Mary Carolyn Thomas, Ph.D. Linda Lee Ineichen Geiermann Bobbie Sue Blanchard Miller-Honour, Ph.D. Peggy Ann Mullen Kruger, Ph.D. Mary Freeman Keller Zervigon Barbara Mooney Abaunza Gibbons Fyrne Marie Francioni Bemiller Sylvia Ann Seiferth Brannen Joyce Mildred Myers Dixon Sylvia Earline Viavant Mason Patricia Henican McIntyre Rose Pearl Fraser Jacobson Mollie Blakeney Fraser Frances Preston Smith Graves Etheldra Smith Scoggin Mary Minor Bush Fargason Sabina Sumintra Ramdas Kathryn Anne Eckerlein Errington Adrienne Davis Mary Alice Harrington Tucker, Ph.D. Emilie Russell Dietrich Griffin Dorothy Bass Grant Poitevent Suzanne McLeod Moorhead Hess 22

Grace Hirn Pelton Rose Margaret Fratello Nicole Suzanne Granet Friedlander Nancy Fink Leeds Grace Marie Puls Santa Cruz Rachel C. Gee Nuttall, DVM Elise Elizabeth Hamlett Peavy, Ph.D. Winifred Margaret Kelly Delery Kathryn Elizabeth Bohnstorff Evans Catherine Louise Fritchie Franklin Margaret Burr Leonard Betty Turner Treen Jessie Morse Hebert Heitzmann Irene Buchanan Norris Kathleen Delery Baxter Kitty Bliss Haspel Virginia Colebeck Mond, M.D. Lynn Carnahan Carey Dazet Lipsey Ninette Perrilliat Webster Roberta Lynne Haddock Harris Cecelia M. Hemphill Krefft Martha Hayes Hunter Katherine Pope Livingston Elizabeth Williams Andrews Charlene S. Podas Levy Sonia Lee Winer Young Bettina Euart Muelling Barnes, Ph.D. Marie Eleanora Battalora Seiler Julia Elaine Hixon Johnson Salome Thoman Hein Jean Hirsch Frank Gloria Virginia Johnson Irvin Joan Helene Renken McKee Gladys F. Gay LeBreton Carol Ann Curet Suhren Ann Katharine Fothergill Wiklund Mildred Olive Webb Campbell Natalie Edith Alexander Greenberg Dolores Sturcken Cheairs Caroline Lyman Hartt

creative energy and boundless enthusiasm to enriching lives in New Orleans and beyond. Her volunteer efforts extended over five decades, benefiting organizations like the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony, Delta Festival Ballet, and many more.

Mrs. Bruno served as a liaison between the Newcomb Alumnae Office and the community at Lambeth House for over a decade, organizing teas, luncheons, and other events in support of connection with her alma mater.

Jeanne will be greatly missed, but her legacy of love for the arts, dedication to the community, and boundless warmth will forever inspire us.

Flora McIver Kelly Penelope Fox Brown Sally Foster Melba Denesa Weinberger McSwain Anne Winston Thomas Phillipy Eve Egger Margaret Anne Greene Robin Dale Berckes Richmond Wilma Baker Malhiot Jane Biederman Emling Jeanne Marie Cavaroc Ryan Rosalie Woolfley Johness Marjorie Leverich Moran Regan Grace Carney Holly Ann Chetta Florence Lanier Hall Dolores Josephine Culotta Craven Patricia Joy Boudreau Calhoun Lillian Oden Breard Julia Bonita Lewis Miller Carolyn Strong Woodson Suzanne Stamps Rheinstein Nancy Covington Jackson Bulloch Albertine Avice Wyler Verlander Norma Vaughan Lewis Freiberg Sandy Goldberg Schwartz Deborah Hitt Lane Frances Weaver Nohren Marianne Lipscombe Marshall Natalie Spigel Winowich Jane Davis Doggett Elizabeth Rhodes Holloway Judy Dorothy Ann Conley Talbot Harriet Hyman Handelman Virginia Elizabeth Lind Dekker Phyllis Alexander Kaplan Anna-Katrin Roth Flora Talmage Landwehr Anne Saunders Porteous Vickery Helen Cassanova Bieda

Julia Frances Callaway Aline Waguespack Davis Denise Marie Rita Reinecke Mary Helen Allen Patrica Ann Herrington Dickmann Sheehan Janice Kay Reinders McArdle Calista Anna Rault Schneidau Christine Holcomb Mitchell Margaret Eileen Booker Susan Jo Tipery Deter Dolores Krasne Neustadt Julanne Rose Isaacson Esther Ewing Harriet Hardin Mccallum McCallum Theresa Lillie Gardner Burnes Mary Nix Hartel Anderson Judith Lewis Lemoine Elizabeth Sarah Spencer Ruppert, M.D. Sara Hall Nelson Sybil Muths Favrot Ann Giraitis Queen Helen Elizabeth Zurad Wetzel Mary Beth Elizabeth Von Oehsen Jenkins Ruth Radin-Legum Martha Lillian Armistead McHale Carolyn Nancy Odell Patricia Ann Patterson Langhorne Clemence Elizabeth O'Kelley Palcso

Alumnae are listed in order of their passing. This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of August 1, 2023.

NEWCOMB FALL 2023

Thank You!

NEWCOMB

Donor Honor Roll

We appreciate the financial support of alumnae, parents, and friends. We proudly announce the donors to Newcomb Institute, including those that have made gifts to the Newcomb Alumnae Association, during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Thank you for your support. The Newcomb monies benefit today’s Newcomb Institute programs, just as they benefited students who attended Newcomb College. The names listed below are of donors who donated over $250.

Kenneth J. Ackerman & Kimberly Ackerman Catherine Bentivegna Adami & Jeven B. Adami Amie Hurst Adams & Gregory E. Adams Laura Gaige Albert, MD & Justin S. Albert Anissa Albro Allbritton & J. Lee Allbritton Jr. Vanann B. Allen Sabina Abrahm Altman Kathryn Miller Anderson & Larry S. Anderson Bethlehem K. Andrews Elsa Freiman Angrist Gina Arons, PsyD & Ronald Siegel, PsyD Nancy J. Aronson & Virginia F. Besthoff Teresa White Auch & Michael D. Auch Amy L. Averbuch & Anthony J. Carriuolo David L. Baff & Jessica K. Baff Rebecca Rey Baker Jeffrey Balkind & Françoise M. Le Gall Brian T. Barcelo, Ph.D. Diane Andrus Bartholomew & Bruce M. Bartholomew David Barton, M.D. & Lynn Palmer Barton Diane Walker Baum & John E. Baum Emily S. Baum, Ph.D. & Joshua A. Burke Nina E. Baumgartner Dr. Kathy Harmon Baxter and Mr. Johnny Lee Baxter Joanna L. Bean Alison Taich Bedell, M.D. Elizabeth C. Bellino, M.D. & Peter H. Towns Joan Durland Benjamin Jennifer Balanky-Fisher Berne, EdD & John Denis Berne, MD Larry E. Bernstein & Amy B. Bernstein Lisette M. Betancourt Rita K. Bloom & Herschel M. Bloom Lucile Bodenheimer, PsyD & James W. Holiday, DMin Mary O. Bostick William H. Boswell III & Lori Perry Boswell Margaretta Moore Bourgeois & Lionel J. Bourgeois III, Ph.D. I. Alex Bowman, M.D. & Valerie M. Blanco Eleanore Kuhn Boyse & Matthew G. Boyse

Kathleen T. Branley Lindsay Brice Emma S. Brick-Hezeau Barbara S. Bridges Deborah Brown Britt & Corbett H. Britt Ashley L. Bromagen & Evan Schmitt Amy Posner Brooks & Joshua D. Brooks Julia A. Broussard & Daniel A. Thompson The Honorable Paula A. Brown Katherine A. Brucker James L. Bruno & Tosca M. Bruno-van Vijfeijken Shannon C. Burr-Ruddy & Billy Ruddy Jessica A. Burt Nancy Williamson Cadwallader & Daniel Compton Cadwallader Katherine Plauché Cain & Gordon R. Cain Shala C. Carlson Beth Bonart Carvell Susan Story Cator & David C. Cator Jane Hardy Cease Phillippa L. Chadd Bonnie Wallace Chapman Victor H. Chen Bonnie Mutnick Chernikoff & Robert L. Chernikoff Chelsea B. Cipriano & Taylor S. Conrad, M.D. Adele Cohen Wendy L. Conrad & Neal K. Aronson Jeannette Schaleben Cook Susan Blackford Cook, PhD & Clayton B. Cook, Ph.D. The Honorable Charlotte M. Cooksey Martha Riser Cooper Heather J. Corbett & Todd Bamford Brian J. Corrigan, Ph.D. Mary Ann Bivens Couch & Ellis P. Couch, M.D. Rachel L. N. Couper & Eric A. Couper Kaye N. Courington Mary N. Cox Lisa E. Cristal & Bruce S. Cybul Adrienne Miers Crozat & Matthew P. Crozat Mildred E. Currie & William T. Basco Jr., M.D. Ann Lampton Curtis Rebecca Coleman Curtis, PhD & Philip H. Curtis

Barbara Breckinridge Cusachs Jeri K. D'Lugin Clare Daniel, Ph.D. Jennifer R. Daniel & Sara J. Slaughter Andrea Rosen Daniels & Michael S. Daniels Suzanne L. Danilson Robert M. Danos & Barbara Umbach Danos Nicole F. Darrow Frank A. Daspit Perrin Aikens Davis & Jake Reed Davis Reginald D. Davis & Rebecca J. JoslinDavis Frances Bethea Day & Richard Allen Day, M.D. Megan Smith Demicco & Brad Demicco Mary Kock Dickson & Brooke S. Dickson Allyson Mackay Dombey & Benjamin H. Dombey Robert J. Donovan & Joan M. Donovan Annette Ruckstuhl Doskey Georgia Houk Downs & J. Crawford Downs Jr., Ph.D. Clare Hooper Doyle & James Walter Doyle Marian Ham Durfey & Allan P. Durfey Jr., M.D. Elizabeth E. Dwyer David F. Edwards & Catherine Hagaman Edwards T. Wilson Eglin & Ellen L. Eglin Paula Eichenbrenner Lauren S. Elkin & Matthew P. Jasie Krista Marie Ernewein Michael C. Etheridge & Stacie Goeddel Merri Steinberg Ex & Mitchell C. Ex Caroline Blake Faris & Stephen George Faris Ann de Montluzin Farmer Laura Penick Felt & Robert Y. Felt Sydney A. Fleischer, LCSW & Norman M. Camp, M.D. Carter Dudley Flemming & Michael D. Flemming Chrissy Hayden Foderick & Paul Peter Foderick Victoria E. Forbes & Paul F. Prather Robin Forman, PhD & Ann L. Owens Allison M. Foster Sally Carney Fox & William Fox Allyson L. Funk & Brad Baker

Nancy L. Gajewski Emily E. Galik, Esq Brian C. Gamble & Henry T. Harbin, MD Naomi A. Gardberg, Ph.D. & Suzanne Franchetti Gloria Gargiulo Pedrelli, D.D.S. & Adriano Pedrelli Mary D. Garrard Amy Carden Gatzemeyer & Garrett Gatzmeyer David S. Gehr & Katherine Anderson Gehr Lisa F. Gellman & Bruce D. Gellman Preeya Patel Genz, DDS & Daniel L. Genz Elizabeth Day Gerhart & Stephen R. Gerhart The Honorable Robin Michaels Giarrusso Taylor H. Gilbert & Kimberly A. Frusciante Elizabeth Blampied Gilmartin & J.J. Gilmartin Jacqueline Goldberg Gold & Melvin H. Gold Jr., M.D. Janice I. Goldberg DeAnn Blanton Golden Samantha Burns Goldstein & Scott Goldstein Abbey Moore Graf & Jason B. Graf John Grayson & Lori McWilliams Grayson Emily K. Greenfield & Aaron L. Viles Julie I. Greenwald Linda M. Griffith, MD, PhD Ann Kendall Haack Anitha A. Halka Allyson R. Halperin & Farrar Hudkins Joshua A. Hanna & Sharon L. Funk Laurel J. Hanson Courtney P. Hardie & Stephen L. Hardie Amanda V. Hardy, MD Beatrice R. Harley George J. Harley & Gwen Coulter Harley Shanna Connolly Harper & William Harper Ann B. Harris Julie Schwam Harris & Seth Harris Cynthia Lay Harter & John Harter Jane Nelson Henning Julie Henriquez Aldana, PhD & Mynor E. Aldana

Margaret K. Herman Vicki L. Herman & Mark Herman Jenna A. Hiestand, MD & Eric C. Witham Daphne Wahl Hill Gayle Carp Hill & Robert A. Hill Winifred Delery Hills & John F. Hills Nancy Goldstein Hoffman & Phillip H. Hoffman, MD Reva Aronson Holmes & Michael Holmes Mary Lynn Wells Hopps & David C. Hopps Melanie E. Horowitz David C. Howard & Jacquelyne T. Howard Suzanne LeMay Howell & Russell M. Howell Charlotte Beyer Hubbell & Fred S. Hubbell Emma G. Hurler Patricia A. Hurley, PhD & Kim Q. Hill Mark S. Hutcheson & Shannon Harpold Hutcheson Mary Lynn Hyde & Steven S. Rossi, PhD Melanie L. Hyer Lanier Scott Isom & Hugo C. Isom Howard E. Jeffries, MD & Talya Limon Jeffries Melinda Woods Jones Amy Thienel Jortland & Brett Jortland Janell E. Kalifey & Merritt Ayad Joel S. Kanter & Ricki Slacter Kanter Susan R. M. Kantrow & Byron R. Kantrow Jr. Robin F. Kaplan & Abram J. Kronsberg Elizabeth Shoss Karkowsky & Frank Karkowsky Esther Goldstein Kelly & Francis E. Kelly III Ann Schudmak Keogh Jeila M. Kershaw Pamela Dobie Key & Thomas Fisher Key Elaine Wilkinson Keyser & Joshua T. Keyser Suzanne Bradley Kinney & David S. Kinney Samantha H. Klein Melrose & Mike Melrose Mary Foster Kock Molli E. Kuenstner Monika Kumar, MD

* deceased This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of July 31, 2023.

NEWCOMB FALL 2023 2022

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Rachael Kennedy Kuntz & Shawn M. Kuntz Mitzi I. Kuroda, PhD & Stephen J. Elledge, Ph.D. Katherine Haines Kusner & Michael Kusner Jacklyn Villars Lane Mari Anzai Lanin & Ari Lanin Andrea Ricards Lapsley & Robert E. Lapsley Constance Zendel Larimer Billie Willis Laughland & John C. Laughland Mathew A. Lazarus Mary E. Leban & Kevin Price The Honorable Susan Lebow Edward Legum Blaine Legum-Levenson Mary Ann Leo The Honorable Cindy Lester Lerner & Irving M. Lerner Lisa Reed Lettau Andrea M. Leverentz, Ph.D. Linda Lewis-Moors & Patrick S. LewisMoors Sharan E. Lieberman & Jordan J. Karlitz, M.D. Barbara Druck Lief Nia T. Lizanna & Teruo Iwai Leann F. Logsdon, Ph.D. Elizabeth A. Lopez Irene Briede Lutkewitte & Thomas J. Lutkewitte Katie Lentz Lynn Janet L. MacDonell Carolyn Gray Mahady Amanda H. Mahnke, Ph.D. Debra Siegal Maier & CJ Maier Sarah M. Mallonee Denise Bartizal Malone, PsyD & Thomas D. Malone Julie W. Mandell & Robert Mandell Barbara Weil Mansberg P. Marshall Maran & Lori Maran, M.D. Diane Perlman Marcus Mariana Zanotti Martinez & Adam C. Martinez Shirley Rabe Masinter Robyn C. Mazur & Joseph Penachio Jerry Burford McAninch Sonia M. McCormick & Daniel McCormick Anne Segrest McCulloch & Edgar H. McCulloch Judy Stewart McEnany & Michael V. McEnany E. Fionuala McGlinchey & Charles N. Monsted IV

Elizabeth R. McHugh & Patrick C. McHugh Meredith C. McInturff Sandra Rohde McNamee & Douglas R. McNamee Patricia Fuller Meadows & William W. Meadows James P. Merrell & Katharine Ross Merrell Leonora S. Meyercord & John Sweatlock Charles R. Meyers & Kimiko W. Meyers Naomi A. Meyers Joan Roehl Michel Elaine R. Miller, Ph.D. & Aaron Stambler Stacey P. Miller, Ph.D. Priscilla A. Mims Steven R. Moffitt & Andrea Turner Moffitt Carter Stevens Molony Marie Shannon Monroe & James Monroe III Randi Zinberg Morgan & Curtis Morgan Lamar Riley Murphy, Ph.D. & William M. Murphy, Ph.D. Alison Sanders Nelson & David B. Nelson Antenique Chambers Nevarez Danielle Dutrey Newlin & Clifton W. Newlin Katherine T. Nichols & Steven S. Nichols Jane English Nighbert & Richard G. Nighbert Lisa Norris Colleen S. O'Donnell Anneke E. Olson Joanne B. Omang & David B. Burnham Linda Berger Orbach & Alexander Orbach Statira J. Overstreet & W. Corey Rich III Lieutenant Audry T. Oxley, USN Kerry Barnett Parker & Paul H. Parker Jr., M.D. Rachelle G. Parker, EdD & Nathan N. Parker Alexander G. Passikoff Robert Passikoff & Marilyn Davis Sybil T. Patten Cynthia Senter Patterson & James P. Patterson Marilyn Sanson Pecsok Mimsy Fitzpatrick Perrien & James L. Perrien, M.D. Jessalyn Wilscam Peters D. Melessa Phillips, M.D. Joel A. Picker & Paula Teles Picker

Suzanne Valtierra Plaisance & Autrey J. Plaisance Jr. Leslie M. Polson & Imre R. Juhasz Bernard J. Powers, MD & Paula T. Powers Rebecca T. Powers The Honorable Linda Raspolich Pratt & Richard E. Pratt Andrea Mahady Price & Todd Arthur Price Kimala J. Price, Ph.D. Virginia King Pruitt Maureen E. Quinn Mary W. Radford & Robert P. Dana, Ph.D. Kathryn Eshleman Rapier Dana L. Ray Carolyn S. Renshaw Jill Ingram Reynolds Lisa D. T. Rice & Thomas Thompson Christopher F. Richardson & Andrea Schippert Richardson Amanda Sheldon Roberts & Sean Roberts Jeffrey B. Roberts & Shelley Dorfman Roberts Jasmine M. Robinson Brown & Justin Kyle Brown Kathryn Spruill Roman & Dr. James T. Roman Sonja B. Romanowski Rebecca Ray Roniger & Rory C. Roniger Emily Reichbach Rosenthal & Daniel A. Rosenthal Marie Juneau Ross & John K. Ross Marcia Kratish Sage & Phillip Anthony Sage Teresa Diaz Santa Coloma, PhD & Lynn E. Pyke Aracelly Santana Carolyn Alford Saunders Sallie A. Scanlan, CPA Susan E. Schaefer, DMin Lauren Lee Pettiette Schewel & Abraham R. Schewel Theresa A. Schieber & Ray Rybak Janet L. Schinderman & Alberto Minujin Michael M. Schornstein & Rhonda A. Schornstein Carol Shure Schwab & S. Scott Schwab Alexa C. Schwartz & Victor Leyva Sandra Goodman Segel Jennifer Kreisher Seibert, M.D. & Dr. Nicholas R. Seibert Susan Sellers & Michael J. Rock Martha H. Sessions & George P. Sessions, M.D. Carly M. Shaffer George A. Shaffer & Dorcas J. Domenico Susan F. Shafton Jeremy F. Sharp & Michelle Whitfield Sharp, M.D.

Helene D. Sheena, MD & Ronnie A. Sheena, M.D. Aaron H. Siegal Lauri Sussman Siegel & Alex Siegel Louise Bordeaux Silverstein, Ph.D. & Barry W. Silverstein Dee Unglaub Silverthorn, Ph.D. & Andrew C. Silverthorn, M.D. Aidan E. Smith, PhD & Patrick A. Sullivan Ashley L. J. Smith Carol Clarke Smith Charlene K. Smith Pamela Lewis Spanjer & Byron R. Spanjer L. David Stacy, M.D. Ellen Kierr Stein Judith Benson Steinberg Jerome D. Steiner & Melissa Steiner Susan M. Stern Susan M. Stine, M.D., Ph.D. Timothy J. Stivrins, MD & Carol J. Stivrins G. Gail Stricklin, Esq & Stephen E. Nichols Kathleen Brands Sukenik & Greg Sukenik Marleen Roosth Swerdlow Tammy N. Thaggert, M.D. Sarah Swan Therriault & Commander Russell J. Therriault Jr. Patrice D. Thomas Kathleen H. Timmins Sheryl Gerber Title & Peter S. Title Alisa Terrell Toney Elena V. Toulios & Christopher J. Oliver P. Tyler Traficanti & Bryan J. Traficanti Sandra Schwartz Turkel & Richard M. Turkel John W. Turner Jr. & Gene Turner Dolores Valtierra Laura S. Van de Planque & Michael C. Van de Planque Michelle L. Van Wyk Janice Killebrew VandenBrink & Randy L. VandenBrink Marcia B. VanderVoort & Thomas D. VanderVoort Jr. D. Jean Veta & Mary A. Dutton Robbert W. Vorhoff Lisa D. Wade Ralph E. Wafer, AIA & Deborah Biber Wafer Leigh A. Wall Claudia Borman Ware Sharon K. Wasserman & Steven David Wasserman Susan J. Wedlan & Harold S. Rosen Jocelyn L. Weinberg Karen Kahn Weinberg & Daniel Weinberg Beth I. Weinberger & Mark Schaefer Sue Robin Funk Weinhauer & Robert H. Weinhauer Riki P. Weinstein, DrPH & Dr. Daniel P. Morrison

Donna C. Wicker, M.D. Nancy Wiener, EdD Sandra Willen & Jon F. Willen, M.D. Allison E. Wise Carol B. Wise Michael W. Wise & Judilyn Wise Steven A. Wolman, DMD & Tara S. Wolman Pam Buchanan Wootten, LCSW & Ernst F. Wootten Marina Wright & Terry Wright Heather N. Yanak Kay Sampson Yuspeh & Richard Yuspeh Paula Shapiro Zielonka, PhD & Carl Zielonka, D.D.S. Ilene Zier Steven D. Zoll & Ronna Rubinoff Zoll Robert F. Zuppert Jr. & Emily D. Johnson-Zuppert

CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS American Endowment Foundation Baird Foundation, Inc. Blue Grass Community Foundation Charities Aid Foundation of America Commonwealth Charitable Fund Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines Deloitte Foundation Deloitte LLP Delta Air Lines Foundation Collins C. Diboll Private Foundation ExxonMobil Foundation Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Frontstream Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund Hampton Roads Community Foundation Jewish Endowment Foundation Kahn Education Foundation Kanter Family Foundation Meredith Operations Corporation National Philanthropic Trust Out of the Box Foundation Top Jewish Foundation Inc.

To make a gift, visit giving.tulane.edu/nci or use QR code above * deceased

This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as of July 31, 2023.

24

NEWCOMB FALL FALL 2022 2023 NEWCOMB

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

New Orleans, LA Permit No. 358 43 Newcomb Place, Suite 301 Tulane University, Newcomb Institute New Orleans, LA 70118

We’re still finalizing all of the details for our seventh annual Give Green: a day for the audacious. But one thing is certain, we hope to make this the best and biggest one yet. Check back at givegreen.tulane.edu in the coming months for more information about the day!

Connect with alums, gain insight or mentorship, and share your invaluable experiences at our second annual virtual Newcomb Networking Night – November 8 at 7:00 – 8:30 PM. Current students, recent grads, career changers, and seasoned professionals will be able to mingle and participate in curated discussions guided by hosts in each virtual room.