Advancement

Changing the Narrative

Duchess Harris, J.D., Ph.D. ’87 writes the untold stories of Black Americans and is making sure their voices are heard

Miriam “Duchess” Harris, J.D., Ph.D. ’87 is an academic, author, and legal scholar whose books on race and Black feminism have received widespread acclaim. A die-hard Canterbury student, Duchess was a Sacristan, dorm proctor, Editor for the Cantuarian and the Tabard, Editor-in-Chief of the Carillon, stage manager in the theater, President of the Debate Club, and served in student government. At her graduation, she was presented the Philip H. Brodie Award for exceptional achievements and all-around service to the School. Following Canterbury, Duchess went on to become a Mellon Mays Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, PA. There, she was mentored by Dr. Mary Frances Berry and graduated with a degree in American History. In 1990, she was elected student body president, which made her the fi rst Black woman to serve in this role at an Ivy League institution. She graduated in 1991 with a degree in American History. Six years later, she earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota, MN, where her dissertation was nominated for the Henry Gabriel Prize. While in graduate school, she worked for the late U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone.

In 1998, Duchess joined the faculty at Macalester College, MN. That same year she was named one of “Thirty Young Leaders

of the Future” by Ebony Magazine. She did a Rockefeller postdoctoral fellowship at the Womanist Studies Consortium at the University of Georgia, GA. She became the fi rst Chair of the American Studies Department in 2003 and was granted tenure in 2004. In 2007 she decided that attending law school would allow her to expand the scope of her scholarship even further.

In 2008, she was the only law student in the country chosen to be an Associate Editor for Litigation News, the American Bar Association Section’s quarterly fl agship publication. The following year, she won a $96,000 fellowship from the Bush Leadership Program, which encourages their recipients to create positive change in their communities. In 2010, she became the fi rst Editor-in-Chief of Law Raza Journal, an interactive on-line race and law journal. Duchess earned a Juris Doctorate in January 2011 and has an expertise in Civil Rights Law. In 2015, The Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers chose her to receive “The Profi les in Courage Award.” In 2019 she received the Presidential Award from the Association of Black Women in Higher Education. She is currently a member of Governor Tim Walz’s Board of Public Defense. Duchess is a scholar of Contemporary African American History and Political Theory. Her academic books include, Racially Writing the Republic: Racists, Race Rebels, and Transformations of American Identity, (2009), Black Feminist Politics from Kennedy to Trump (2018), and Black Girl Magic Beyond the Hashtag: Twenty-First Century Acts of Self-Defi nition (2019). She is also the proud curator of the Duchess Harris Collection, which has 115 books written for 4-12th graders. In a conversation with Macalester College, Duchess mentioned that after Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, she was struck with a realization when she returned to the classroom. “I found out that none of my students had had any experience talking about contemporary race relations in high school,” she said. “Students sometimes have a unit on slavery, but they don’t get the skill set to talk about race relations—and it’s an important skill set to have.” She wrote the 115 books in her collection in just fi ve years to remedy that. A keen intellect and desire to help transform the world seem to run in her genes—her maternal grandmother, Miriam Daniel Mann, was a mathematician at NASA and one of the “human computers” responsible for solving complex equations that landed the United States on the Moon. Duchess has been a member of Mensa since 1983 and has been the recipient of over 25 awards for her professional achievements.

The following is a compilation of responses from Duchess to questions posed by Canterbury for this publication, and by Macalester College’s Alumni Club President Justin Brandon during a webinar Q&A in June 2020.

You’ve written over one hundred books on race for children and young adults. What inspired you to do this work?

Although I received a great education at Canterbury, there weren’t materials in the 1980s that refl ected my family’s historical narrative. I wrote the book that I wish I could have read. Now young people can learn about the 1921 Tulsa Oklahoma Race Riot.

How do you have these conversations with kids?

Regardless of a child’s age, a good way to open up a dialogue with a child is to ask: What do you see? What do you know? I had my fi rst experience as a parent with this with George Floyd, because when Philando Castile happened, my kids weren’t old enough for technology. When George Floyd happened, I paused and said, “Okay, how am I going to approach this?” I’ll admit, I was a day late and a dollar short. When I approached my 13-year old, he said, “I saw the video.” I couldn’t believe that he watched the video and told him how concerned I was, and he said, “Mom, 20 million people have seen it on Instagram—why wouldn’t I watch it?” That’s part of it now: you can run but you can’t hide.

Your grandmother, Miriam Daniel Mann, was a mathematician for NASA in the 1960s—a time when women and people of color were largely excluded from the fi eld. How did her experience and accomplishments impact or infl uence you?

The Hidden Figures movie was inaccurate. In 2011 my mother was interviewed by Smithsonian Magazine. She stated that her mother “would relate stories about the ‘colored’ sign on a table in the back of the cafeteria. She brought the fi rst one home, but there was a replacement the next day. New signs went up on the bathroom door, ‘colored girls’.” Kevin Costner’s character did not tear down the sign. My grandmother did. When your grandmother is not only a mathematical genius but a civil rights activist who desegregated NASA, you have a pretty high standard.

Your CV states that you “started the path towards scholarship and educational excellence while attending Canterbury.” How did Canterbury prepare you for success in higher education and beyond?

I learned discipline at Canterbury. Study hall six nights a week and Saturday classes prepared me for the Ivy League. I’m grateful that Mrs. Mandler introduced me to Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.

How would you describe yourself in high school?

I think this would be a great question to ask Mr. Kevin Lane Dearinger, who lives in Kentucky now. He was my teacher. “Brava, Duchess, an astonishing person. At Canterbury, Duchess was a dedicated thinker and learner. She was part of everything positive, always seeking to give her best eff ort and to do what was right and what was good. She was a natural leader and a strong moral force, with an informed and mature voice. As now, she possessed a ferocious integrity. I was aware of some of the narrowness that tried to obstruct her progress. I grew angry and frustrated, but Duchess just stepped up and stepped over the ugliness. I admired her, loved her greatness, and felt grateful to witness such strength of character. And I learned from her. I still do. The best part of being a teacher was always the opportunity of fi nding greatness in the human soul. Thank you, Duchess Harris!” — Kevin Lane Dearinger You’ve taught 21 different courses spanning American Studies, Political Science, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, History, and Legal Studies. What has been your favorite course to teach and why?

I have taught a course called “Black Public Intellectuals” since 1997. The question that I ask is, “Who decides when a Black person is an intellectual? Is their public actually Black, or is their public mainstream America? What does it mean that Black people are not considered thinkers until White people say they are? Students are challenged by these questions, but that’s what makes it fun. We also talk about the range of political thought within the African American community—it’s not a monolith. It’s always had conservatives. There’s room for variety in Blackness in the way that there should be room for variety in anything. There should be free thought.

Duchess resides in Vadnais Heights, MN, with her husband, Dr. Jon. V. Thomas, their three children, Austin, Avi, and Zach; a British Shorthair cat named Skittles, a stray cat named Tommie, and a Standard Poodle named Mocha. Duchess’ upcoming book, Justice for George Floyd, explores race relations further and will be released in January 2021. “It’s written for fourth- through eighth-graders, but I believe many adults will benefi t from it as well,” Duchess says. Her books, essays, articles, and interviews can be found at duchessharris.com.

Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation head Nichol Whiteman ’94 at Darby Park in Inglewood in 2017. (©Los Angeles Dodgers, LLC 2017)

Top of Her Game

DODGERS FOUNDATION CEO NICHOL WHITEMAN ’94 IS A LEADER IN IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Nichol (McKenzie) Whiteman ’94 is the person you want leading your team. As the 2019 recipient of the Canterbury School Outstanding Young Alumni Award—an honor which recognizes an alumnus/a who graduated within the last twenty-five years, has made significant contributions to civic organizations and/or a chosen profession, whose life is characterized by creativity, curiosity and community service, and who reflects the highest ideals of Canterbury School—Nichol exemplifies relentless drive towards enhancing and enriching the lives of others. A graduate of Spelman College, GA, with a degree in economics, Nichol is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) where she leads the team’s official charity—an award-winning leader in sports-based youth development. The LADF works to significantly impact underserved youth in some of the most challenged neighborhoods of Los Angeles by administering direct programs serving youth and communities at large and providing grants to local nonprofit organizations. Under Nichol’s leadership, LADF launched Dodgers RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), a youth development program serving over 10,000 youth today. As part of its commitment to Southern

California communities, the Foundation completed its 50th Dodgers Dreamfi eld, created a benefi t gala, and increased fundraising by 1,000% with Nichol at the helm.

Nichol has been recognized throughout the industry for her exceptional contributions, having earned awards from organizations such as the Sports Business Journal, the Anti-Defamation League, Ebony Magazine, The Pink Tea Rose Foundation, and The Wave, to name a few. A former member of the Executive Leadership Team for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Campaign, she also serves on the Women’s Leadership Council and is a member of Women in Sports and Entertainment and LA Community Leaders. Nichol holds positions on the advisory and regional boards of Covington Capital Management, A Better Chance, Inc., New Teacher Center, Davinci Schools, the Los Angeles County Offi ce of Education, and the Positive Results Corporation. Additionally, she sits on the board of the Los Angeles chapter of Positive Coaching Alliance.

With a fi rm belief that each person has the power to positively impact a life, Nichol continues to inspire as she fi ghts for young people to realize their dreams. We couldn’t be more proud to call her a Saint.

Nichol was recently featured in an article in the Los Angeles Times, which is excerpted here:

Whiteman was hired in September 2013 to oversee the organization’s charity arm after spending time working in investment banking, publishing, education, and for the Jackie Robinson Foundation. She faced an uphill battle …

… Only two full-time staff members were on the payroll when Whiteman hopped aboard. They were starting from scratch.

The foundation now employs 10 full-time staff members. It supports more than 100 nonprofi t organizations with $21 million in investments over the last fi ve years, has built 51 Dodgers Dreamfi elds, and has provided meals and donations to vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the Dodgers were named ESPN’s sports humanitarian team of the year for the foundation’s work.

At the top stands Whiteman, one of the few Black women holding a prominent role across Major League Baseball.

“She is a workforce, that’s what she is,” Dodgers President Stan Kasten said. “She is a force. She really does some job.” …

… As social unrest spread through the country and racism took center stage in the mainstream, Whiteman has engaged in conversations on race with people around her for the fi rst time. She has become more than a successful foundation’s director.

“There’s so much mis-education,” Whiteman said. “There are so many folks who I would say don’t know but haven’t taken the time to know. And I have found that I have had to use my voice immensely throughout my career to educate people on my experience.”

“As a Black woman who has two sons, a Black husband, a Black father, two Black brothers, I have shared a lot of stories of their experiences, coupled with mine, over the last couple of weeks,” Whiteman said. “I feel like it’s started a lot of conversations in a lot of rooms.” That experience informs her work with communities. She sees herself in the people the foundation serves. She knows the impact it can have on them because she’s been on the receiving end; she won a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholarship, which she used to attend Spelman College, a historically Black women’s college in Atlanta. She was the fi rst college graduate in her family.

“I fi nd myself to be an example of the potential possibilities,” Whiteman said, “and outcomes of folks that come out of communities of color who are given a chance and given an opportunity and honestly given access.”

She knows those communities are always vulnerable and the hardships have only been exacerbated since the pandemic rocked society. To continue the work, the foundation has shifted to virtual programming and drivethru events.

And she knows representation matters and that Black communities in Southern California were ecstatic to see the Dodgers acquire Betts and David Price in February.

“We have to be realistic that our young people look up to, adore, and fan out when players look like them, when players sound like them, when players feel like them, and when players have shared experiences,” Whiteman said. “And I think it’s just a thrill for the community.”

She knows that because she’s been thrust into situations where nobody looks like her or shares her experiences. Sometimes, she acknowledges, it feels like pressure. But the work continues.

“The responsibility is always there,” Whiteman said. “It doesn’t go away.”

Castillo, J. (2020). ‘Dodgers Foundation CEO Nichol Whiteman provides a strong voice for Black women’, Los Angeles Times, July 7, 2020.

Frontline Saints

Canterbury alumni have been integral forces in the daily battle against COVID-19

Many Canterbury alumni have been drawn to the field of healthcare; some were inspired to take on their profession by family members, some by Canterbury mentors, others by their own experiences in a hospital setting. Through all the difficult and dark times they have experienced, particularly during the height of this pandemic, they have remained committed to their work and fueled by a desire to help others in any way they can. Olivia (Nuzzo) Smoak, B.S.N., R.N., C.E.N. ’04 is a Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps of the United States Navy and member of a 44-person Navy Acute Care Team which has integrated into a civilian facility in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. In conjunction with members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she works on a code team to provide emergency interventions to patients. “Most days it feels like we are fighting death itself while standing on slippery ground,” she said. “It is hard work, mentally, emotionally, and physically, for both the staff and the patients.” Olivia ’04 wholeheartedly credits Canterbury Assistant Athletic Director and Athletic Trainer Misi Babington and her Intro to Anatomy and Physiology course for the decision to move into healthcare. She originally wanted to become a Physical Therapist but said it was a nurse she met while shadowing a PT that made her change her mind. “Everyone in the room could feel her presence and deferred to her expertise—she was tough about the love she gave and you could tell that she had been giving that tough love for decades. I was sold. It was exactly what I used to get from Misi, and Chep (before she was Mrs. Roberts), and Mr. Richardson.” Olivia continued, “Tough love is what got me through Canterbury and that is what I take pride in every day as an Emergency nurse: being there on someone’s worst day and getting them through it. Four years ago, I decided that I wanted to take my passion and bring it to the military. I joined the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and am so fortunate to care for and lead this population that takes care of us on so many levels.” Olivia noted that while she might not be working in a combat zone, there are many parallels on the frontlines of fighting COVID-19.

“Most days it feels like we are fighting death itself while standing on slippery ground…”

— OLIVIA (NUZZO) SMOAK, B.S.N., R.N., C.E.N. ’04 (PICTURED)

Pictured on this page: Mike Diaz, M.D. ’08 and Alexandra (Hurtado) Dammen ’07

“There were a few weeks where every single patient I admitted to the hospital died. As a physician, this rocked me to my core and at times

I felt helpless.” — MIKE DIAZ, M.D. ’08

Mike Diaz, M.D. ’08 echoed that sentiment, saying, “a day in the height of the pandemic felt like walking into a warzone.” Mike is a fourth-year resident in Emergency Medicine at NYU Langone Health/Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. He found his passion for healthcare while working on an ambulance as an EMT during his time at Fordham University, NY, and credits his parents (who are both physicians) as well as Canterbury’s own Misi Babington for supporting his passion to help others. He shared that one of his biggest fears throughout the pandemic has been falling ill himself: “I was constantly surrounded by death, and knew that if I were to catch this disease, I could very well meet the same fate of my patients. There were a few weeks where every single patient I admitted to the hospital died. As a physician, this rocked me to my core and at times I felt helpless.” Mike isolated himself from friends and family for months to help ensure that his loved ones would not get sick. Despite the enormous challenges, Mike still knows he is in the right profession. “All that being said, I know deep down that this is my calling and I am beyond honored to have been able to provide service to my community in their time of need.”

Many healthcare workers have not been lucky enough to evade illness, including Alexandra (Hurtado) Dammen ’07, a Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine at Valley Medical Center of the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Alexandra and her husband both tested positive for the virus, though fortunately the course of their illness was manageable and they recovered without severe complications. Alexandra was present at the start of the outbreak in Seattle and its surrounding areas in March and April when even less was known about the virus. She shared that she was thankful for the other healthcare workers in her unit, as they helped each other get through a time of fear and uncertainty. “In my short time working in this emergency department, COVID-19 has made my group feel more like a family. We care and support one another. Before COVID-19, I was excited about my career choice as a Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine; during COVID-19, I feel inspired by the healthcare workers who surround me and proud of the profession I chose.”

(CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)

“Even with all the risk of having the virus in our facility, we came to work day a er day because we knew lives depended on it.”

— KEESHIA LAUS ’10

Pictured on this page: Keeshia Laus ’10 and Nona (Dennis) Bluestein ’86

Frontline Saints

(CONTINUED)

With hospitals inundated with patients, frontline workers have been putting in extended hours through the pandemic, bringing them even closer to their coworkers as they share the high and lows of their profession, and often spending would-be celebratory moments together. Keeshia Laus ’10 is an Assistant Director of Social Work at Upper East Side Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in New York, NY. Due to the pandemic, she had to postpone her wedding to fellow Saint, Joseph Cimaglia ’10, and when her coworkers found out, they surprised her with a bridal shower at work. “For everyone to take the time to celebrate during a pandemic meant so much to me,” she said. Keeshia ’10 initially thought she wanted to become a doctor, but after a short paralegal career at a major law firm in New York City, she realized she was passionate about social work and went on to obtain her masters from Columbia University, NY. She has been working at a skilled nursing facility since 2017, and when the virus made its way to New York City, the elder populations Keeshia works with were hit especially hard. “Our staff worked long days, weekends, and with a shortage of staff after so many contracted the virus while caring for our elderly residents.” Keeshia and her team became the main line of communication between patients and their families, striving to deliver hope while still acknowledging the uncertainty of the virus. “It has stoked my passion for social work and healthcare. I feel very proud of how my colleagues and I responded to our patients and families amid the pandemic,” Keeshia avered. “We are essential workers along with so many others that we once considered dispensable. Even with all the risk of having the virus in our facility, we came to work day after day because we knew lives depended on it. The heightened sense of humanity helped us get through it.” Nona (Dennis) Bluestein ’86 was also working in a long-term care facility in New York at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. As the Consultant Director of Nursing, she had to contact the families of residents who had been infected and share the difficult news. She said that the first family member she spoke with asked if she could pray with her. “I thought we were going to pray for her loved one but instead she led a prayer for me and my team. She prayed that we would be strong. I knew then, I was where I was for a reason.” Nona went on to say that the woman’s generous gift of prayer helped her through the toughest times. “Many, many times during the darkest days to come, I reflected on her thoughtful prayers. She gave me hope and strength to carry on through a situation that often seemed impossible and, at times, even inhumane.” Nona ’86 said that her position as a leader in her facility during a time when everyone was looking for answers made her rethink what ‘leadership’ really means. “It is not about being the smartest or the best at anything; it is building a team of like-minded people, gathering them together for a common cause, and allowing them to shine. Their weaknesses are your weaknesses. Their collective strength is your strength. You just have to be brave enough to keep getting up when you think you cannot anymore because you do it for those who continue to stand up for you.”

Rich Straub ’10 is hoping to lead changes in the healthcare field by expanding services to patients within their homes. “Although the pandemic created despair, it is clear there is a great opportunity to change the current healthcare delivery system and potentially shift care from hospitals to homes. I look forward to being at the forefront of these changes and enhancing population health.” After graduating from Fairfield University, CT, with a degree in political science, Rich completed a two-year paramedic program and joined Empress EMS, which covers a large geographic area including Westchester County and New York City. He noted that the experience was very humbling as it allowed him to help diverse populations of patients in underserved communities. As his role expanded at Empress, he became an operations supervisor, overseeing approximately 110 ambulances per day. He also starred in FOX’s First Responders Live just before his move into his current role as Program Coordinator of Empress’ Mobile Integrated Health Programs. The program provides inhome, advanced care for acute patients that would normally be in the ICU or admitted to the hospital. When asked what drew him to his current position, Rich ’10 said that he always knew he wanted to incorporate his political science knowledge into a healthcare career. “With a strong clinical background from years as a paramedic, I made the move to the administrative side, lobbying for change not only in EMS but in healthcare in general. I always knew, starting with my time as a Saint, that I wanted a fulfilling career that I could leave every day knowing I made a difference in someone’s life.”

These healthcare heroes have certainly made a difference in the lives of many, even on their toughest days. All of the alumni we spoke to mentioned that the support and love from their friends and family have gotten them through those times. Keeshia ’10 said, “For me, the ‘Canterbury experience’ goes far beyond my four years on the hilltop. So many Canterbury friends and faculty were interested in my story and showing gratitude. Some of my closest friendships were formed there and their continued support was really what got “My time at Canterbury laid the foundation for who I am and how I treat my patients. … My spirituality was strengthened at Canterbury, which played a huge part in my mental response to this pandemic…”

— RICH STRAUB ’10 (PICTURED)

me through the height of the pandemic.” For some, the pandemic has given them a shift in perspective about what they value. “I have come to appreciate the little things in life a lot more,” Mike ’08 shared. “We take for granted so many things in life and give importance to so many things that in reality, probably do not matter. I will leave this experience hugging my family a little tighter, and reconnecting with the little things that make me happy.” All our alumni also attributed many of the skills needed as healthcare workers to their Canterbury education. “I think my Canterbury experience, in general, provided me with the tools I needed to enter this profession in the first place, “ Mike ’08 said. “Dedication to community, discipline, and perseverance are all attributes I started to form on my time on the hill. Without those, I would not be effective in my career.” Alexandra ’07 said that her time at Canterbury gave her the confidence to pursue her chosen profession: “Canterbury taught me that I can handle more than I gave myself credit for. It was one of the first times I believed perhaps I could enter a career in medicine.” When asked if there was anything Olivia ’10 would tell her high school self, she replied, “If I could go back, I would tell myself three things: 1) Get comfortable being uncomfortable. 2) Do not rely on motivation, rely on discipline. 3) Learn to make friends wherever you go. Canterbury taught me all of those things. Every time I was challenged or uncomfortable, I grew from it. I learned that motivation fades, but the habits you create early on will set you up for success. And the friends (coaches and teachers included) are what get you through the tough times.” Nona ’86 shared that her Canterbury experience has impacted her through all facets of her life: “I think that in my overall life experience, this crisis included, I carry my Canterbury experience with me. For obvious reasons, Honesty, Respect, Compassion, Spirituality, and Self-reliance are key factors in any successful nursing career. I think that a sense of leadership and service to others was also instilled in me during my four years on the hill.” Rich ’10 noted that his Canterbury experience had a big impact on his relationship with the people he helps. “My time at Canterbury laid the foundation for who I am and how I treat my patients. It taught me life skills that were invaluable throughout this entire process. My spirituality was strengthened at Canterbury, which played a huge part in my mental response to this pandemic, and my time there also created lifelong relationships that became a huge part of my support system throughout.” We thank these alumni for sharing their stories and for the incredible and essential work they are doing to keep others safe.

KATIE (CURTIN) GRILL, PH.D. ’10

Revolutionizing How Students and Schools Approach Mental Health

It was while Katie (Curtin) Grill, Ph.D. ’10 was working in a hospital researching adolescent and young adult behavioral health, and also teaching psychology to undergraduates, that she realized her students and patients had something in common: untreated stress was aff ecting their health. As a Behavioral Neuroscientist and Integrative & Behavioral Specialist, Katie saw an opportunity to use technology to support students’ mental health and founded the company Neolth in 2018. Neolth de-escalates stress and health crises by using neuroscience to determine the most eff ective behavioral care for students. The digital platform off ers personalized emotional support and continuous mental health monitoring, reducing the burden of high care demands on high school and university counseling centers. During the COVID-19 crisis, Katie and her team have helped schools provide care and track student mental health remotely. “During the pandemic, there is an increased need for mental healthcare yet decreased access to services,” Katie said. “Through combining technology with evidence-based behavioral techniques, Neolth helps students get care when and where they need it. Neolth can even be integrated into school health centers, allowing counselors to track student progress and receive alerts when clinical care is needed.”

Katie shared that since the school closures in March, Neolth has seen increased sign-ups and double the weekly engagement rates from students, underscoring the need for accessible and eff ective mental health options. “The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of providing mental healthcare virtually, prompting schools to adopt digital programs,” she said. “Additionally,” Katie continued, “Neolth is launching a nationwide Student Advisory Council in response to heightened student anxiety and social isolation. This will give students an opportunity to collaborate virtually to improve mental health resources in schools.”

Katie has a bachelor’s of science in art therapy from Springfi eld College, MA, and a master’s in psychology and a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience specializing in integrative and behavioral health, both from American University, Washington, DC. She worked clinically in psychiatric care, conducting therapeutic art and mind-body sessions, and is a certifi ed Advanced Care Planning facilitator. Katie has been a part of numerous research studies, including three Research Project Grants (R01s). She co-founded a mindfulness group in DC for adults with chronic illness and is a Neuroscience Professor at the California Institute for Integral Studies.

Katie’s passion for this work started when she was growing up, and she felt that mental health was not openly discussed. “I watched family

and friends struggle for years with untreated stress and even had friends die from overdose. I am on a mission to make sure this does not happen to any other young people. It is why I became interested in mental health and ultimately why I founded Neolth.”

Neolth, was one of ten organizations from around the world selected by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center as a COVID-19 solution this summer. As Neolth’s CEO and Co-founder, Katie was featured on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square this August.

Dr. Katie Grill ’10 appeared on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square in August for her work to provide mental health resources during COVID-19.

Masks with Meaning

George-Ann Gowan, mother of the late Don. K Gowan III, has been making masks to benefi t his scholarship fund.

“I started like Forrest Gump going out for a run and I’m not going to stop!” said George-Ann Gowan of her new mask-making project. To date, she estimates that she’s made close to 500 and keeps track by the number of yards of elastic she goes through. George-Ann is the mother of the late Don K. Gowan III who passed away from sepsis in 2012. A beloved member of the Canterbury community, Don was an Associate Director of Admissions and the Boys’ Head Basketball Coach at Canterbury from 2010-2012. As Dean of Faculty Wright Danenbarger shared at Don’s memorial service in the Chapel of Our Lady, “Don took winning seriously, but he never lost his famous sense of humor, and he loved the players in a way that allowed him to put their experience fi rst [...] I have never seen a man happier than when the team played well.” The Donald K. Gowan III Scholarship Fund was established in 2012 to provide fi nancial aid to a deserving student of high promise. George-Ann has been selling her masks and donating the profi ts to the scholarship fund, though the project didn’t begin as a fundraiser. She started making masks in mid-March for her daughter’s restaurant staff (her daughter, Anna, is the owner and chef at Kingsley Tavern in Kent, CT, which is named for the late Don K. Gowan II and Don K. Gowan III, both of whom had the middle name Kingsley). A celebrated local artist, George-Ann realized she could put her talents to good use and help the community at the same time. “I’m an artist really. Not sure the world really needs

Don K. Gowan III coached the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team for two years, leading them to the Class B New England Tournament.

another painting or drawing right now, but somehow making masks to stop germs seemed like a fi tting way to contribute to Donny’s scholarship.” She continued,

“I have had fun doing this, I really have. It’s exhausting, but it keeps me out of trouble and it really has given me something worthwhile. I feel a tremendous obligation to Canterbury to try and build the scholarship up to a meaningful level.” Since March, George-Ann’s mask project has generated approximately $6,000 in contributions to the Donald K. Gowan III Scholarship Fund.

George-Ann’s friend helped her create humorous tags for her masks that bring awareness to the Donald K. Gowan III Scholarship Fund.