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The Briar Wire
Volume 11, Issue 4 | December 2025
Sweet Briar Forum Spotlights Women’s Leadership in Agriculture
As a part of the College’s 125th Anniversary celebration, Sweet Briar brought industry experts to campus on Oct. 22 for its Women in Agriculture Forum, a celebration of the skill and innovation women bring to the field.
In addition to a tour of Sweet Briar’s own agricultural enterprises, which include vineyards, a greenhouse, and an apiary, the event included a plenary by Heidi L. Hertz, principal at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, and panel discussion with Muriel Forrest, executive director and co-founder of Wheatland Farms; Dr. Jessica Walters, program manager for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; and Natalia Zappernick, director of horticulture at Babylon Micro-Farms. The panel was moderated by Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the College, and Chief Sustainability Officer Dr. Lisa Powell. Welcome remarks were offered by President Mary Pope M. Hutson ‘83 and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr, who has visited campus five times over the last four years of his
term in office.
“Sweet Briar College is doing an amazing job of providing hands-on learning in a variety of sustainable agriculture practices and careers. It has been a pleasure to partner with them and watch their success!”
Secretary Lohr said. “Every time I’ve come to campus for an event or tour, it’s amazing to see the integration of sustainable agriculture and forestry into the curriculum.”
Secretary Lohr shared that Virginia is the number one state in the U.S. for the highest number of controlled environment agriculture operations, making the College’s Center for Human & Environmental Sustainability and its curricular focuses a perfect fit for students interested in careers in the sector.
During the plenary address, Hertz spoke of her background growing up in rural Virginia and its influence on her career today, and also the women who inspired her along the way. Following her address, Hertz joined the other three panelists to share their experiences in agriculture
and as a female in many areas of the field, from horticulture to equestrian training.
“Never in a million years would I think my path would end up where it did, but the key that made a difference for me was during my education years in college. Like many of you, it was a liberal arts school that encouraged us to look beyond the boundaries of our minds,” Forrest said of her position as executive director and co-founder of Wheatland Farms.
Other topics covered during the panel included female mentorship, equality in the equestrian arena, the role of entrepreneurship, and breaking the ceiling in maledominated fields, including agriculture-related areas.
The panel was followed by a reception, giving attendees, panelists, and leadership an opportunity to network and continue the conversation.
Secretary Matt Lohr, Muriel Forrest, Dr. Jessica Walters, Heidi Hertz, Natalia Zappernick, & Dean Lisa Powell
Sweet Briar College Board of Directors
Justice Verda Andrews Colvin ’87, Chair
The Honorable Robert “Bob” Goodlatte, Vice Chair
Katherine Williams, Secretary
Elizabeth Groves Aycock ‘96
Elizabeth “Lele” Frenzel Casalini ‘82, P’14
Nancy Webb Corkery ‘81
Jane Dure ‘82
Michela English ‘71
Laura Willits Evans ’79
Sally Mott Freeman ’76
Lendon Gray ‘71
J. Eric Greenwood P’12
Martha Holland ‘72
Keenan Colton Kelsey ’66
Dennis Ling
Andrew McAllister P’21, ‘24
Michelle O’Neill ’85
The Honorable J. Chapman “Chap” Petersen
Allan Stam, Ph.D.
Phillip C. Stone
Claude Becker Wasserstein ’82
Mary Pope M. Hutson ’83, President (ex officio)
Alumnae Relations and Development Staff
Claire Dennison Griffith ’80, Vice President of Alumnae Relations and Development
Calli Arida, Advancement and Stewardship Manager
Edwina Bell, Senior Director of Major Gifts and Parents & Families Liaison
Lea Sparks Bennett ’83, Advancement Services Coordinator
Pam Boydoh, Executive Assistant
Lee Anne MacKenzie Chaskes ’83, Director of the Sweet Briar Fund
Terrie Conrad, Chief Development Officer
Paula Eanes, Director of Advancement Services
Katie Hawk ’21, Advancement Services Associate
Caroline Chappel Hazarian ’09, Associate Director of Alumnae Relations
Keeley Sullivan Jurgovan ’92, Associate Director of Alumnae Relations
Brianna Lee, Alumnae Relations & Development Team Support Specialist
Xavier Storey, Alumnae Relations & Development Event Coordinator
Megan Sunwall, Sweet Briar Fund Associate
The Briar Wire Staff
Clélie Steckel, Director of Communications, Marketing, and Events
Rachel Balsley, Communications Generalist
Serenity Bishop, Communications Office Manager
K.A. Fulmore, Multimedia Communications Specialist
Cathy Cash Mays ’84, Director of College Events
Dear alumnae and friends,
The lights of campus shine bright as this season of giving and gratitude is upon us! Here on campus, our students, faculty, and staff have celebrated our gratitude for each other with our annual Day of Thanks luncheon hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) for college staff and a Thanksgiving luncheon for all employees. This month, we’re celebrating with a Sweet Tones concert, Vespers service, Tree Lighting sponsored by the Riding Council, and holiday receptions at Sweet Briar House.
As we get closer to year-end, you are likely reflecting on 2025, as I am. At Sweet Briar, there is much to celebrate—and much to anticipate. During the 2025 calendar year, we have witnessed academic achievements, including: The Ethics Bowl Team tying for third at the 25th annual statewide collegiate Applied Ethics Bowl;
• Outstanding academic marks for seven students at the Virginia Program at Oxford;
• Twelve students presenting their undergraduate research at the MidAtlantic Regional Conference of Undergraduate Scholarship (MARCUS);
• Two engineering student-faculty teams winning Best Paper awards in their categories at the IEEE Systems and Information Engineering Design Symposium;
Dr. John Morrissey being named an Outstanding Faculty Award recipient by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia; and
Dr. Lisa Powell being named the College’s new vice president of academic affairs, dean of the College, and chief sustainability officer.
Our athletics and riding teams also reached new heights as our tennis team was crowned ECAC Champion, their first-ever conference title; 98 of our student-athletes earned spots on the ODAC All-Academic Team; and three inductees of the inaugural ODAC Hall of Fame class are connected to Sweet Briar: Missy Ackerman ’87, standout field hockey and lacrosse player, who has gone onto a very successful coaching and athletics administration career; the late Jennifer Crispen, associate
professor in physical education and field hockey, lacrosse, and fencing coach for more than 30 years; and Bonnie Kestner, head swim coach and assistant coach for a combined 27 years. All three are also members of Sweet Briar’s Hall of Fame.
One of our top priorities has been to revitalize community relations, and we are doing so! Sweet Briar hosted Amherst County Day for the first time in many years, partnered with local food banks, offered culinary events for the campus and local communities, and opened our 125th Anniversary events to local high schools, community clubs, and organizations. We also launched a scholarship for eligible students who are members of the Monacan Indian Nation; our first student recipient enrolled this year. Tribal leadership dedicated the plaque with the College’s land acknowledgment statement in the Quad in September.
The celebrations of Sweet Briar College’s 125th Anniversary started on Founders’ Day this year and will run through October 2026. Chairwoman Sally Old Kitchin ’76 and committee members are planning events to highlight our academics, history, and alumnae. The anniversary is an opportunity for us to elevate our profile, educate our community and neighbors about Sweet Briar, and celebrate our beloved college. Please join us for the events listed on our calendar at sbc.edu/125
As you will see in this issue of The Briar Wire, there’s so much for us to celebrate, and all of it is made possible by you—our alumnae and friends—who support Sweet Briar by making gifts to support our students and academics, and help us recruit the next generation of women leaders. For all of this and more, I am grateful to each and every one of you. This holiday season, share your joy, shine your light, and celebrate the season with your family and friends. Please come and visit us soon for our 125th celebrations and know that your light illuminates Sweet Briar this year and every year!
With gratitude,
Mary Pope M. Hutson ’83 President
Sweet Briar Days
Families Weekend
During Families Weekend, parents, siblings, friends, and other members of the Sweet Briar College extended community came to campus for a variety of fun and festive activities.
Alumnae will gather December 2025 through February 2026 to celebrate Sweet Briar Days! These events offer alumnae and friends the opportunity to meet in their local areas and get to know one another while honoring Sweet Briar. We hope to see you at an event in your area! Want to learn more or host an event? Reach out to Alumnae Relations & Development Event Coordinator Xavier Storey at xstorey@sbc.edu
FEATURED EVENTS
NJ/NY/CT Alumnae Club | Jan. 3, 2026
Glen Ridge, N.J.
Hampton Roads Alumnae Club | Jan. 6, 2026
Virginia Beach, Va.
Central Florida Alumnae Club | Jan. 10, 2026
Orlando, Fla.
North Texas Alumnae Club | Jan. 10, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Boston Alumnae Club | Jan. 25, 2026
Concord, Mass.
Greater Cincinnati Alumnae Club | Jan. 31, 2026
Loveland, Ohio
Event details subject to change.
SAVE THE DATE
Summer Arts & Writing Retreat
June 11-14, 2026
Join us for Sweet Briar Summer: Arts and Writing Retreat, three days of hands-on workshops held on our beautiful campus! The retreat features classes led by distinguished Sweet Briar faculty and visiting professional artists, live music, wine tastings, gentle hikes, and much more. Registration coming soon! Visit sbc.edu/summer-programs to learn about our other summer programs for adults, children, and high school students.
Welcome: New Staff Join AR&D
This fall, two new members joined the Office of Alumnae Relations & Development to serve the College’s extended community of alumnae, families, and donors.
Terrie Conrad is the College’s new chief development officer. A certified fundraising executive and fellow in charitable estate planning, Terrie is an experienced fundraiser who has dedicated her career to advancing higher education. She held key development roles at the Virginia Military Institute for more than 20 years, worked at Hampden-Sydney College as editor of college publications, and was previously the director of annual giving at Mary Baldwin College. While Terrie is a graduate of RandolphMacon Women’s College (now Randolph College), she has a daughter who graduated from Sweet Briar in 2003.
Edwina Bell serves Sweet Briar as senior director of major gifts and parents and families liaison. She brings more than 35 years of experience in development at boarding schools at which she led development and advancement teams and numerous major capital campaigns. Edwina was also director of advancement at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Va., successfully leading their $45 million capital campaign expansion and funding the Perry Glass Studio, which was fully funded and endowed. She attended Wheaton College, a historically women’s college, and graduated from Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Terrie Conrad
Edwina Bell
Sweet Briar Fund
The Sweet Briar Fund offers impactful ways to support our students:
• Greatest Needs: This unrestricted area of support provides critical and flexible funds that address urgent needs and enable the College to seize unique opportunities to support our young scholars today.
• Student Scholarships: This unrestricted area of support provides need and merit-based scholarships for talented students and allows the Financial Aid Office the flexibility to meet the needs of prospective students and recruit the best and brightest.
• Academic Support: These unrestricted funds support faculty salaries and academic development, the Student Academic Success Center, Honors Summer Research Program, Career Services, Grants for Engaged Learning (GEL), lectures and events, curatorial support for museums and galleries, and other institutional resources.
• Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment: These unrestricted funds support the maintenance, preservation, and improvement of our 22 historic properties and 2,847 acres.
A gift of any size makes a difference— together, we can provide today’s students with the resources and opportunities that make a Sweet Briar education unique.
your gift at
Make a Gift to Support Our Students
The support of alumnae provides an impactful and innovative educational experience through small classes, project-based work, faculty-mentored research, and real-world experiences.
Make a gift online at sbc.edu/give. It takes less than five minutes and a receipt will be emailed to you. If you prefer to make credit card gifts over the phone, call the Alumnae Relations and Development Office at 434-381-6131. Send a check to the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development at P.O. Box 1057, Sweet Briar, VA 24595.
For IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) or Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) gifts, please visit sbc.edu/ways-to-give. For gifts by wire transfer, please call the Alumnae Relations and Development Office to obtain the instructions for the transfer. If you plan to make a gift of stock to Sweet Briar, please contact the Alumnae Relations and Development Office for stock transfer instructions for your broker. We will need to know the name of the stock and the estimated value.
If you are interested in setting up a legacy gift to Sweet Briar, please visit sbclegacy.org
SWE 2025
In October, a group of Sweet Briar College students attended the Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) 2025 annual conference in New Orleans, La., offering them the opportunity to attend workshops, network, and connect with area alumnae in the home of Allison Davis Atkinson ’00.
29-31, 2026*
Dates for Reunion
• Feb. 3: Early Bird Registration
• April 21: Early Bird Registration Ends
• May 19: Registration Closes
• May 29: Reunion Begins!
*We will welcome the Class of 1976 back to campus on May 28 for their 50th Reunion!
Impact of
The end of the calendar year provides a natural opportunity to start anew while making goals for the future. As you know, New Year’s resolutions are a common vehicle for these sorts of plans for the next 12 months. We hope you’ll consider consistently contributing to Sweet Briar College as one of your resolutions for the year! Recurring gifts help donors direct how much and how often they give. No matter the size or frequency, recurring gifts make a long-term impact to the College and campus community. $144,700 58 Donors
Designated to the Sweet Briar Fund 61% 31% Designated to Restricted Funds (such as Friends Groups) 8% Designated to the Where Women Lead Campaign
Sweet Briar College 134 Chapel Road
Sweet Briar, VA 24595
Shop the Sweet Briar Book Shop this Holiday Season!
Sweet Briar’s Book Shop is ready for all of your holiday gift needs! In addition to the popular honey and honey bath products, the Book Shop offers many different types of apparel so you can promote Sweet Briar wherever you go. Visit the online store to discover a variety of drink ware, bags, books by Sweet Briar alumnae and faculty, and much more! sbc.edu/bookshop
Join Our Club
Subscribe to the Sweet Briar College Farm Wine Club and enjoy four handselected bottles every season! Available for pick up or shipped to select states, a wine club subscription is the perfect way to get familiar with Sweet Briar College Farm wines. Each quarterly box includes four bottles with a 20% membership discount. Members can also enjoy their discount on all other wine purchases, as well as special event invitations. Sign up today to start your wine journey with us at sbc.edu/wine.