VOICES
Women’s Leadership The Brace Center for Gender Studies and Andover’s need-blind admission policy are two of many important and integral initiatives brought forward by women leaders. Below are responses from alumni about their favorite women leaders at Phillips and Abbot academies.
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orothy Judd was a long-tenured and much beloved Spanish teacher at Abbot who joined the faculty of Andover at the time of the merger. For my four years at Abbot I participated in her class with unwavering excitement. She captured my imagination, challenged my intellect, and truly taught me how to learn. How do I know? Remnants of the Spanish language remain with me to this day, words I learned over 50 years ago. Impact? I have conversed with Spanish-speaking people as I travel, and Miss Judd is with me as I speak those words. She is vivid in my very being as I think of the stories she shared of Coca-Cola vending machines in Mexico at the turn of the century, our class reading El Frijolito Saltón as an introduction to Spanish, and of being challenged to report our first dream in Spanish. Other classes and other stories I cannot recall in such detail. Hers I can. That is great teaching and, knowing that, I have encouraged my grandchildren to know the difference. —MELANIE FALES DAVIS ’65
“ Shawn Fulford, Dickie [Thiras] the receptionist, and Kathy Birecki” ANGELA HEESEN via Facebook
“ Sheena Hilton! She made such a huge impact during her first year as FLG cluster dean. It was truly an honor to work with her and I wish I could’ve taken Chem 580 with her.” _MAXVALE via Instagram
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ANDOVER | SPRING 2021
Dorothy Judd’s faculty photo from the 1971 Abbot Circle.
“ Barbara Chase and Becky Sykes both greatly influenced my academic pursuits, career path, and decision to spend my life in education.” ICHOLASCWILSON via Instagram
