21 minute read
Society of Alumni
The Great Class of ’71 Celebrates 50th Reunion
Five decades may have passed, but for the Class of 1971, the bonds are as strong as ever. During the weekend of October 1–2, 35 members of the class returned to campus to celebrate their milestone 50th Reunion. This was the single largest reunion for the class, with most alumni returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic and some returning for the first time since their graduation. The graduates were treated to a full two days of activities and camaraderie.
DAY 1
The reunion kicked off with the Steers Center Ribbon Cutting on Friday evening, to which the class was invited. The event gave them a first-hand look at the Coleman Digital Media Lab, the Innovation & Design Lab, and the D’Amour Center for Faith, Service & Justice. On Saturday afternoon, Head of School Rachel Stone P ’23, ’24 presented a State of the School address, and afterward, the alumni had time to explore campus and catch up with members of their class. The evening concluded with cocktails and dinner in the Steers Center, complete with decorations to evoke memories of the class’s time in high school, including album covers of bands popular during that time, headshots of the alumni as high schoolers, and a slideshow of yearbook photos. Members of the class enjoyed every thoughtful detail of nostalgia
DAY 2
Saturday offered a full itinerary. Class members began the day with a student panel on the Steers Center patio, where current Saints discussed what it is like to be a Canterbury student today and answered questions from alumni. Director of Curriculum Kelli Darrin and Chair of the History and Social Sciences Department Tom Hamilton gave an overview of current course offerings in comparison to classes offered in the late 1960s and early ’70s, and alumni were given copies of their old report cards, eliciting many laughs and fond memories. They then had the opportunity to participate in mini-classes, where they could make 3D objects in the Innovation & Design Lab and learn how to use the green screen and film equipment in the Coleman Digital Media Lab.
as they reminisced about their time on the hilltop. Peter Kiernan ’71 was instrumental in rallying members of his class to join in the festivities and shared his appreciation for the reunion: “For anyone that returned, 50 years were just erased. The spirit of the room was warm, engaging, and wonderful.” There was even a valuable tech exchange between Canterbury students past and present. Director of Academic Technology & Innovation Rob Roffe P ’12, ’15, chair of the Digital Communication, Design & Innovation Department, had his Digital Media and Videography class put together a video of current students posing questions to the Class of 1971 about what it was like to be a student at Canterbury in the early ’70s. Students included questions about the dress code, School Meeting, and meals at the time, and asked for any advice the alumni could impart. The Class of 1971 then had the chance to answer these questions and share their memories via video in the Coleman Digital Media Lab, and their responses were played for the Digital Media and Videography class. Trustee Michael Carretta ’71 was grateful to be able to reconnect with so many members of his class, many of whom he had not seen in years, and to share with them all the stunning updates on the hilltop. “It was wonderful to be back at Canterbury, not only to see so many members of the great Class of 1971 but also to see their positive responses to the incredible Steers Center and all the other improvements on campus!”
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SPEAKER SERIES Margaret Smith ’06 Kicks Off “50 Years of Coeducation”
Thursday School Meetings are typically reserved for Canterbury’s “Saints on the Hill” program, wherein a member of our community addresses the entire School and shares a closely held piece of their personal story. But we changed it up a bit in early December when our community welcomed a “Saint Beyond the Hill” back to campus, Margaret Smith ’06, who spoke to students about her journey since the hilltop and the impact her Canterbury experience has had on her success. Margaret’s presentation launched the Women’s Leadership Speaker Series, hosted in honor of Canterbury’s “50 Years of Coeducation” celebration, which brings distinguished members of our alumnae family to the School to share inspiration with our students. While a student at Canterbury, Margaret held nearly every leadership position, serving as a Sacristan, Lead Ambassador, two-year Dorm Proctor, and field hockey Captain. She hails from a long line of Canterbury graduates: grandfather Gerard Smith ’31, father Hugh Smith ’72, sister Courtland Smith Stevens ’01, brother Gerard “Chopper” Smith ’04, and many uncles and cousins spanning a legacy of more than 90 years!
A REWARDING AND INSPIRATIONAL CAREER
Margaret graduated from Hamilton College, NY, in 2010 with a B.A. in Government and a concentration in Psychology. She began her career in 2011 as an account executive at a New York City-based advertising agency, SS+K, specializing in creative social engagement. After three years there and knowing she wanted to have a greater impact on the end customer, Margaret moved on to a global executive search firm, Russell Reynolds Associates, where she worked with Fortune100 companies in the technology space. Margaret credits this experience with introducing her to the broader technology industry and, more importantly, the infectious passion of the leaders working within it. In 2014, she recognized a need in the executive search market to help early-stage tech companies build their boards and leadership teams with a more hands-on, consultative approach. This led to Margaret becoming one of the founding members of Rich Talent Group, a leading San Francisco-based executive search and advisory firm focused on consumer growth technology companies. During her four years at RTG, she successfully built executive leadership teams at high-profile companies such as Airbnb, Dropbox, Etsy, Eventbrite, Warby Parker, Uber, and Zillow. In addition, she partnered with many Silicon Valley venture capital firms to advise their portfolios through periods of hyper-growth.
“I found great reward working with company founders during crucial moments of scale by helping to solve their most pressing needs with the right people—aligning skill sets, cultural fit, moral compasses, and timing,” said Margaret. “The adrenaline of being a very, very small part of these companies’ successes (and failures) was exhilarating. Ultimately, however, I was on the outside as a consultant and knew I wanted to experience more of this reward firsthand.” Intrigued by the real estate industry (her parents are both real estate agents), Margaret joined Compass, Inc. in 2017 as Head of Talent at a time when the firm was still an early-stage startup looking to change the way people buy and sell homes through a proprietary technology platform. Appointed to her current role as Global Head of Talent in 2020, Margaret manages a team that has grown from five people when the company began to 150 today spread across the United States and India and accountable for Compass’s year-over-year people growth. “My job is to empower the team to move fast, to assess accurately, and to ensure we are solving critical Compass business needs with the right people,” she described. During her four-year tenure with the company, Compass has grown revenue from $370 million to a projected $6.4 billion in 2021 and total employee base from 200 to more than 5,000. Likewise, the company has expanded from five major cities to now serving half of the U.S. population with 300+ offices nationwide. The company made its market debut on the New York Stock Exchange with an initial public offering in April 2021.
A CAREER GUIDED BY CANTERBURY VALUES
Margaret described her career path to students as a mix of hard work, good timing, and most importantly, solid foundational principles that were introduced and developed during her formative years at Canterbury. “I vividly remember my morality class with Mr. Simonelli in the downstairs chapel classroom where we studied the concept of servant leadership,” Margaret said. “The leader in any circumstance—work or life—existing to serve their people. Leading with empathy, humility, stewardship, and community, ultimately putting others’ needs before your own. I saw this lived out by all my teachers and coaches every day during my time here, along with their strong encouragement of me to build leadership muscle through roles like Sacristan, Proctor, and Team Captain. “I credit servant leadership for my success and ease in leadership roles to date,” she continued. “I have certainly learned a lot through my career so far…and I am hugely grateful for this foundational grounding and the sincere reward I get from helping individuals realize their potential.” Margaret also attributed the strong sense of self-reliance instilled at Canterbury as another guiding rudder throughout her career. “It was not obvious to me at the time, but being treated like an adult as a student at Canterbury taught me to be responsible for my own decisions, all within the safety and comfort of an incredibly supportive community that was there to catch me.” She continued, “I think back to living without my parents during those formative years, experiencing the extreme vulnerabilities of high school and consistently being encouraged to chart my own path, rely on my instincts, and embrace my individuality. I am grateful for the delicate balance of supportive teachers and coaches who gave me just enough room to fail effectively.” Lastly, Margaret praised Canterbury with helping her understand the importance of compassion. “My appreciation for genuine compassion was developed through a number of pivotal service events during my time here as well as the expectation that, as a member of this community, you are always looking out for each other and helping one another succeed,” she shared. “There are no filters in a close-knit community and especially in dorm life, where you see everyone’s whole self—their ups and downs, insecurities and strengths. This was a powerful experience for me, resulting in a sense of belonging, confidence, and ultimately compassion that has guided the way I hold myself as a professional, as a friend, and as a community member.”
MARGARET SMITH ’06
SOUND ADVICE FOR OUR STUDENTS
Bringing her School Meeting address to a close, Margaret left students with some brief advice: “What makes someone successful in life is not one-dimensional; it is not a grade or an athletic performance. Focusing on your guiding principles, your motivations, your emotional intelligence, and how you treat others is important. Having the privilege to work with a great deal of our tech industry’s top leaders, they are driven by passion, a strong sense of self, and a purpose to make the world a better place. They are not superheroes; they are people just like you.” Margaret’s visit to campus continued following School Meeting. Accompanied by friend and classmate Cory Perkins ’06, she joined Sixth Form students enrolled in our SUPA Entrepreneurship and Global Economy class and continued the discussion about qualities she looks for in leadership candidates. She then chatted with members of the Women of Canterbury affinity group over lunch and shared more stories of her career as a female executive. We are immensely grateful for the time Margaret spent with students and faculty on campus and cannot wait to welcome her again soon.
SOCIETY OF ALUMNI
introducing your 2022 Alumni Award Winners!
Canterbury’s Society of Alumni once again recognizes and celebrates outstanding graduates who have made an impact in their profession, community, or the world at large, and who have shown extreme dedication to Canterbury School.
Congratulations to Miriam “Duchess” Harris ’87 (left) and Katherine “Katie” Grill ’10, who will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Young Alumni Award, respectively, during Alumni Weekend in June.
“While always difficult to arrive at a single recipient, it truly is humbling to see so many of our fellow Saints making a difference and changing the world,” Society of Alumni Co-President William “Macy” Steers, Jr. ’04 said. “As we celebrate 50 Years of Coeducation at Canterbury, I am so proud to honor Duchess and Katie. They are outstanding leaders in their very important and topical disciplines, and they are certainly making Canterbury proud.”
THOMAS J. SHEEHY III DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD:
Dr. Miriam “Duchess” Harris ’87
Ahighly accomplished academic, author, and legal scholar, Duchess is a professor of American Studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN, specializing in Black feminism, Law of the United States, and African American political movements. Duchess arrived at Macalester as an instructor and a visiting assistant professor in 1994, teaching courses in women’s and gender studies. In 1998, she joined the faculty in political science and African American studies, earned a Juris Doctorate in 2011, and was promoted to full professor in 2013. Duchess was also a founding member of the American Studies department and served as chair for eight years, including as its inaugural chair. She has taught a wide-ranging breadth of courses, including Foundations of U.S. Politics, Policy Analysis: Health Care in the United States, Black Political Thought, Race and the Law, and The Obama Presidency. Among the things she is most proud of during her time at Macalester are the lifelong bonds she builds with her students in the classroom.
Duchess was a Mellon Mays Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a degree in American History. In 1990, she was elected Student Body President, which made her the first Black woman to serve in this role at an Ivy League institution. She earned a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota. While in graduate school, she worked for the late U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone. She did a Policy Fellowship at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and also completed Postdoctoral Fellowships at the University of Minnesota Law School and the University of Georgia. Duchess has advocated on the national level at the Congressional Black Caucus. Locally, she was appointed as a Minneapolis Civil Rights Commissioner by Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, to the Governor’s Council on Black Minnesotans by Governor Jesse Ventura, to Co-Chair the Statewide Martin Luther King Holiday (twice) by Governor Mark Dayton, and to the Board of Public Defense by Governor Tim Walz. She has also written a number of acclaimed academic books, and her many accolades include a 2021 appointment to the board of The Kamala Harris Project, a collective of scholars across disciplines who will track all aspects of Kamala Harris’ tenure as the nation’s first woman of color to serve as vice president.
Among the many roles Duchess played as a Canterbury student were Sacristan, Proctor, Editor of Cantuarian and Tabard, Editor-in-Chief of Carillon, Debate Club President, Drama Society Stage Manager, and member of Student Government, Social Service, Photography Club, Choral Club, and Chapel Singers.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD: Dr. Katherine “Katie” Grill ’10
Katie is the co-founder and CEO of Neolth, which provides stress and mental health support to students by delivering ondemand, personalized care via their self-guided platform. After earning a Ph.D. in neuroscience at American University, she started Neolth, a Walnut Creek, CA-based mental health app that launched in early 2021. Teenagers and young adults from 180 high schools and colleges use the self-guided platform to connect with peers experiencing similar struggles and to learn coping and relaxation methods. Users can opt to tether the account to their school counselor who can monitor their progress. Katie committed to a career providing better access to care and resources after a friend died and a family member was hospitalized while battling severe mental illness.
Katie has won numerous awards, including the 2021 Timmy Finalist as a Best Tech for Social Good company (competition ongoing), 2020 Startup of the Year EdTech award, Top 100 Startup in 2020 by SOTY, Top 100 company in 2020 by Pepperdine University, the SoGal San Francisco Regional Pitch Competition, and the SoGal Global Finals Pitch Competition, the largest pitch competition for female founders in the world. She led the company to receive a $700,000 pre-seed investment, with notable investors like Techstars and Telosity. She has also been featured in numerous articles and received extensive press for her work with Neolth. This past December, Katie was named to Forbes magazine’s list of “30 Under 30” in Education. In addition, she was invited to and participated in the Techstars accelerator, which has a less than 1% acceptance rate; the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Milestone Makers program; and the Headstream program, the youth mental health accelerator supported by Pivotal Ventures. While at Canterbury, Katie was a member of the School’s 2010 Honor Society; played hockey, soccer, and softball; and was a swimmer. Her sister, Christina Curtin ’08, is also a graduate.
Read more about our Alumni Award recipients past and present at cbury.org/alumni/alumni-recognition.
SOCIETY OF ALUMNI
Terence Meehan ’66 Honored for His Work to End Hunger
Canterbury has always held a strong commitment to service and justice, so it was particularly gratifying to hear that one of our own was recognized for his longtime efforts to combat world hunger. Activist Terence “Terry” Meehan ’66 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Bread for the World and The Alliance to End Hunger at its annual Gala to End Hunger in 2021. “When I heard that Terry Meehan was going to receive this honor, it made absolute sense,” said Rev. Eugene Cho, President and CEO of Bread for the World. “This man loves people, loves to come alongside and to amplify the reality of those in our nation and around the world who experience hunger and poverty. This is an incredibly well-deserved award.” Terry has effected real change in the fight to eradicate world hunger thanks to the many relationships he has forged through the years, not the least of which is with the current President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Speaking at the 2018 Gala to End World Hunger, former Vice President Biden said, “I remember during our administration, my good friend Terry Meehan—and he is a good friend, he has a heart of gold—came to see me in the Vice President’s office and indicated that we were going to have a really big problem when school let out that summer in 2009. And his plea was we had to expand the summer feeding programs.” The result? “We pooled together all the relevant federal agencies to do what we needed to do to expand coverage and make sure more kids who depend on school lunches continued to have access to nutrition during those summer months.” David Beckmann, President Emeritus of Bread for the World, recalled how a national tragedy helped further ignite Terry’s desire for service. “He got really seriously involved in overcoming world hunger right after 9/11,” he said. “It just made him more resolute about doing something big with his life. He thought, ‘Helping to end hunger, that is what I want to do.’ One thing he did that most people do not know is he launched The Alliance to End Hunger. He put a lot of his own money into the Alliance. It just changed the conversation into reality.” The 2016 recipient of Canterbury’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Terry Meehan is the former Chairman of Fleet Meehan Specialist, Inc., the third largest specialist firm at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). He is also a past governor of the NYSE and very active in industry affairs. Terry conceptualized, created, and built the Specialist Association at the NYSE and served as its president from 1990 to 1995. He is active on the boards of Bread for the World Institute and The Alliance to End Hunger, as well as on the Advisory Board of The Catholic Big Sisters & Big Brothers. He holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. The Alliance, an affiliate of Bread for the World, brings together diverse institutions to build the public and political will to end hunger. Congratulations, Terry, and thank you for the important work you do!
DAVID BECKMANN, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Two Saints Named to SOA Executive Committee
Two dedicated and successful Canterbury graduates are joining the Society of Alumni (SOA) Executive Committee, which implements programs and initiatives to keep the School’s alumni connected to each other and their alma mater.
“After careful diligence and discussion, we have added two additional Canterbury alumni and SOA members to our Executive Committee…Selkirk “Tony” Walters ’81 and Josef Najm ’12,” SOA Co-President William “Macy” Steers, Jr. ’04 announced. “I feel very lucky that they are both joining the Committee as I know they will add immediate value and unique insights.” The two new members bring a variety of life experiences and impressive career accomplishments to their roles.
SELKIRK “TONY” WALTERS ’81
Tony is the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the New York State Unified Court System, where his responsibilities include advising court administrators on compliance matters and reporting requirements, directing preparation and implementation of a strategic diversity and inclusive management plan, and managing and overseeing statewide outreach and recruitment programs. “Having Tony join us is highly advantageous,” said Macy. “He has been such an active and vital member of our alumni community, staying in touch with friends and former classmates and encouraging his fellow Saints to maintain their own connections with one another and the School. We look forward to his continuing involvement with the SOA and our alumni engagement initiatives.” After graduating from Georgetown University with a B.A. in English, Tony has devoted his career to criminal justice and workforce diversity. He served as an Administrative Supervisor for the New York City Criminal Justice Agency and as Grant Coordinator for the Office of the Mayor of New York, where he monitored contractual and budget compliance for seven Alternative-to-Incarceration programs. He’s been with the Unified Court System for the past 15 years. Even after four decades away, his time on the hilltop remains just as near and dear to Tony’s heart as the day he left. “Canterbury has been so impactful on my life,” he said. “It is a badge I have worn proudly since graduation. I don’t think I have missed a reunion in 40 years.” And he is anxious to become even more involved as an Executive Committee member. “Canterbury is a great opportunity, so I would like as many people to experience that as possible,” he explained. “I am really honored to be asked to join and look forward to bringing my vision and passion to it.”
JOSEF NAJM ’12
As is Josef, who is Senior Manager, Programmatic Sales & Partnerships at Thomson Reuters, a world leader in providing news and information-based tools to professionals. His marketing experience will be extremely valuable to Canterbury’s alumni initiatives, according to Macy. “Joe will go out and promote the SOA and Canterbury to everyone he can,” he explained. “He is a do-anything kind of individual with contagious enthusiasm.” That enthusiasm has served Josef well. After graduating from Canterbury, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from The Catholic University of America. He held a number of management positions directly out of college before being hired as a Digital Advertising Specialist at Thomson Reuters in 2019, eventually working his way up to Senior Manager. “I look forward to being a connector for current students and alumni,” Josef said of his new Executive Committee role. “With my experience in the media and marketing ecosystem, I hope to educate those curious to learn more about the industry and help identify future career paths. I am excited to play a larger part in Canterbury’s growth.” He is so eager to give back because the School played such a major role in his own growth. “I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to follow in my two older sisters’ footsteps and attend Canterbury. It has had a lasting impact on my life—where I have made my best friends, friends from around the world, and even met my wife.” Tony and Josef will be formally elected during Alumni Weekend, June 10-12, on the hilltop.
