3 / Presidential Medalist
The Briar Wire
Sweet Briar’s Enrollment Momentum: Precision, Purpose, & the Power of Community
As we move through the final stages of the fall 2026 recruitment cycle, Sweet Briar College continues to build strong enrollment momentum across every major stage of the admissions funnel.
This spring, Sweet Briar experienced significant year-overyear growth in applications, admits, and deposits, demonstrating that our mission, academic experience, and student-centered approach continue to resonate with students and families nationwide. As of April, inquiries reached 6,486; submitted applications increased 17%; completed applications rose 16%; admits climbed 24%; and current net deposits and commitments are already 23% ahead of last year’s final total.
“These gains are not accidental. They reflect a focused enrollment strategy built around precision, persistence, and personalization,” said Dr. Christopher Smith, vice president of enrollment management. “Our team has intentionally recruited students who are academically strong, and who see themselves thriving within Sweet Briar’s distinctive environment. We are not simply growing volume; we are strengthening student fit, engagement, and conversion throughout the enrollment process.”
Fall 2026 is also on track to become Sweet Briar’s most diverse incoming class in the past four years, reflecting the College’s continued commitment to expanding access and broadening outreach efforts.
Campus visits, personalized counselor outreach, interviews, parent engagement initiatives, and targeted digital communication continue to help students and families make informed decisions with confidence. Even amid a challenging national higher-education landscape marked by demographic shifts and increased competition, Sweet Briar families remain highly engaged throughout the admissions process.
Virginia continues to serve as Sweet Briar’s strongest geographic market, supported by sustained regional outreach and relationshipbuilding. At the same time, the College is expanding its national visibility through innovative recruitment strategies, stronger transfer partnerships, athletics and equestrian outreach, and student engagement platforms that allow students to experience the Sweet Briar community long before arriving on campus.
As Sweet Briar enters the final months of recruitment, the focus remains clear: sustaining momentum,
strengthening student commitment, preventing summer “melt” (when a student pays a deposit, but does not start at the institution), and continuing high-touch outreach with admitted and deposited students. The collaboration among admissions, athletics, faculty, student life, alumnae, and campus partners continues to reinforce the supportive community that defines Sweet Briar. We look forward to announcing the final enrollment results with the College’s census this fall, and continuing to build upon the strong momentum shaping Sweet Briar’s future.
P.S.: Join us in helping recruit a legacy student at sbc.edu/refer-astudent
Dr. Christopher Smith with Indie.
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
Terrie Conrad, Chief Development Officer
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
Paula Eanes, Director of Advancement Services
Katie Hawk ’21, Advancement Services Associate
Caroline Chappel Hazarian ’09, Associate Director of Alumnae Relations
Megan Sunwall, Sweet Briar Fund Associate
The Briar Wire Staff
Clélie Steckel, Director of Communications, Marketing, and Events
Rachel Balsley, Associate Director of Communications
Serenity Bishop, Communications Office Manager
Abbie Duncan, Multimedia Communications Specialist
Cathy Cash Mays ’84, Director of College Events
Dear fellow alumnae and friends,
What an amazing weekend we just experienced! We celebrated Reunion 2026, honoring classes ending in 1 and 6, and our alumnae proved that the ties of sisterhood continue to bind us together. There were many hugs and lots of laughter to go along with the good food and Sweet Briar College Farm wine. It was heartwarming to welcome alumnae from 31 states and the District of Columbia and classes from 1961 through 2021.
A special dinner was held at the Boathouse for the Class of 1976 to kick off their 50th Reunion celebration. They brought the “Spirit of ‘76” back to campus with them through a hilarious class skit, reminding us of many traditions through the years. To honor Sweet Briar’s 125th Anniversary, we asked everyone to come together for a historic photo on the stairs in front of Benedict (just like the Class of 2026 had done two weeks earlier).
At the suggestion of members of the Class of 2015 at last year’s Reunion, we started a new tradition asking all alumnae to gather in front of the Golden Stairs of Pannell for an all-class Step Singing. The Class of 1976 was on the Golden Stairs flanked by members of the Classes of 1961, 1966, and 1971. Participants sang the Sweet Briar Song, “I Won’t Grow Up,” and of course, we belted out the Holla, Holla— twice, actually: once at the “traditional” pace, and once at the faster pace of our younger alumnae, as a special tribute Holla Holla for the Class of 1976.
Of course, we also recognized class giving and participation awards, as well as the Distinguished Alumna Award, presented to Marshá Taylor Horton ’76; the Outstanding Alumna Award, presented to Lynn Kahler Rogerson Shirey ’76, and the newly-established Rising Star Award, presented to Megan Shuford Allsbrook ’16. You can learn more about the awards and recipients online, as well as in print this fall.
On Sunday, we held a very moving Service of Remembrance in the Mills Chapel with an alumnae choir and a beautiful solo performance by Marshá. Reading of the names of our beloved alumnae who have passed reminded us of the enduring legacy they leave behind and the bonds that connect us.
As we reflect on this terrific Reunion, our hearts are full of gratitude. It was a joy to reconnect with friends from near and far, and to welcome alumnae and their families back to this beautiful campus.
With gratitude,
Claire Dennison Griffith ‘80 Vice President of Alumnae Relations and Development
P.S. As we close out the 2026 fiscal year, I invite you to make a gift to Sweet Briar to support our talented students, our mission, and our future. Visit sbc.edu/give to make your gift today.
Emma Evans ’26 Selected as Presidential Medalist
During Sweet Briar Student Life’s 6th Annual Student Involvement Recognition Ceremony, in addition to recognizing the many students who contribute to campus life, Emma Evans ’26 was announced as the 2026 Presidential Medalist.
The most prestigious award given to a Sweet Briar student, the Presidential Medal is presented to a senior who has demonstrated exemplary intellectual achievement, in addition to distinction in some or all of the following areas: service to the community, contributions to the arts, enlargement of the College’s global perspective, athletic fitness and achievement, and leadership and contributions to community discourse.
Daughter of Heather Barlow and Terry Evans from Chesapeake, Va., Emma is a double major in environmental science and biology with a minor in chemistry, and is completing the Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems certificate. In 2025, in collaboration with Dr. Nick Kinney and Dikshya Pathak ’25, Emma co-authored the article “Short tandem repeat variants are possibly associated with RNA secondary structure and gene expression,” which was published in the academic journal PLOS One. For her Honors Summer Research Program project, which she later expanded into her Senior Honors Thesis, Emma conducted independent research and analyzed the microplastic content of Amherst County
tap water. Last summer, she participated in a study abroad studying marsupials with the School for Field Studies in Queensland, Australia. Emma is a Dean’s Scholar, a member of several academic honor societies, and has studied multiple languages. After graduating, she will head to William & Mary to earn a master’s degree in biology and conduct research focused on forest ecology.
As a leader on campus, Emma completed the ROSE Leadership program. She served as vice president for leadership development for the Inter Club Council, of which she is now president. She has been a Willits Summer Food Systems Fellow and a student assistant in the greenhouse, contributed to pollinator habitat development on campus, and served as an Outdoor Program student leader. Off campus, she has been involved in projects helping to rehabilitate wild horses and box turtles. Emma is a member of the IHSA equestrian team, serves as the equestrian team fitness captain, and has been president of the College’s En Garde Fencing Club. She also excels in the arts as a skilled musician, who sings and plays several instruments, and is a member of both the Sweet Tones and Sweet Dancers.
SENIOR GAMES
Johns Hopkins University, master’s in mechanical engineering
University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine
Dodge Nature Center, naturalist fellowship
Sarit Goldstein Mendoza ’26
Colonial Williamsburg, preventive conservation aide
Sadia Akter ’26: Turner Construction Company, field engineer (advanced technology group - data centers)
Atty Bestwick ’26: North Carolina State University, master’s in anthropology
Chloe Burchett ’26: University of Oxford, master’s in late antique and Byzantine studies
Alice Duncan ’26: University of MinnesotaDuluth, master’s in psychological science
Wyette Felton ’26: University of Georgia School of Social Work
Andersen ’26
University of St Andrews, Master of Letters in English literature
Reagan Woody ’26
University of Virginia School of Education & Human Development; Amherst County Public Schools, 4th grade teacher
Mariam Lara ’26: Virginia Tech, Ph.D. in mechanical engineering
Emma Leahy ’26: Agrarian Veterinary Services, veterinary assistant
Kayla Nye ’26: Sweet Briar College, master’s in teaching
Posy Price ’26: Thomas Jefferson Foundation, rotating gardener at Monticello
Emma Staton ’26: Moore’s Electrical & Mechanical, electrical engineer; University of Virginia, master’s in systems engineering
Nafia Farzana ’26
Ceili Allder ’26
Leah
Maeve Delaney ’26
Alumnae Alliance Debuts New Award and Feedback Form
Alumnae Alliance Council (AAC) debuts several new initiatives for alumnae.
Committed to supporting our community, the AAC debuted a new form on their section of the Sweet Briar College website for alumnae to use to submit questions, comments, and concerns.
Whether you have a question about Sweet Work Weeks, loved a recent edition of the alumnae magazine, or wish to raise a concern you have, the AAC is here to listen.
If they cannot be addressed by the AAC, submissions are collected, recorded, and shared with Sweet Briar College administration and the College Board of Directors. The form can be accessed at sbc.edu/alumnaefeedback
Established in 2026 by the Alumnae Alliance Council and Alumnae Relations and Development Office, the Rising Star Award recognizes alumnae who are 5–15 years postgraduation and are already making a difference.
To be awarded at reunion, the nominee should have demonstrated a promising trajectory in their career or volunteer service. This could include achievements that have had a measurable or visible impact on their field, their community, or Sweet Briar College.
Nominations for this and other awards can be made at sbc.edu/alumnae/awards
Merrilee “Mimi” Davies Wroten ’93 Named Paul
D. Cronin Chair of Riding
Following 15 years as director of the riding program, Merrilee “Mimi” Davies Wroten ’93 has been named the inaugural Paul D. Cronin Chair of Riding.
A psychology major and rider during her time as a student, Wroten returned to Sweet Briar as an instructor and IHSA coach in 1996 under the leadership of the late Paul D. Cronin before his retirement in 2001. She served as associate director to Shelby French before taking the reins of the program as its director in 2011. Today, in addition to leading a large staff and dozens of student riders, Wroten is head coach of the nationally-ranked NCEA team. Under her leadership, the riding program has seen consistent success
at the regional and national levels. Sweet Briar became the first single discipline team and first Division III school to join the NCEA in 2017. Since then, they have blazed a trail and collected many accolades on their way. Named the 2021 Single Discipline National Champions, they continued their success in the years to follow through tournament appearances each year since, including being named the Single Discipline Runner Up for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons. The IHSA team has also earned numerous accolades over the past 15 years, including National Reserve Champion Individual Intermediate Flat in 2024.
Wroten is also a U.S. Equestrian Federation ‘R’ judge, an American
National Riding Commissionrecorded judge and holds the ANRC top rider rating, and is a U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer and Credentialed Instructor. Cronin was director and head instructor of Sweet Briar’s Riding Program from 1967-2001. During that time, he brought many accomplishments to the College, including a new riding facility in 1971, clinics and instruction in the American Forward Riding System, and teaching hundreds of Sweet Briar alumnae how to be better horsewomen and good citizens. Following his retirement, he was named director emeritus of the riding program.
GUEST AUTHOR
Charting Untold Histories: Melissa Sevigny Brings Brave the Wild River to Campus
The Sweet Briar College community recently welcomed Melissa L. Sevigny to campus for a day of scholarly discussion and connection as both this year’s Shared Book author and Julia B. Waxter Environmental Forum speaker.
Throughout this semester, the Sweet Briar community engaged with Sevigny’s Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon in many contexts. Whether it was as a tool in the classroom, from studio art to ecology courses; a topic of discussion during a virtual meeting with parents and families; or through conversations on sidewalks or in the dining hall, this work of nonfiction was a source of inspiration and discussion amongst the campus community. After a class visit and meals with students earlier in the day, the evening program in Mills Chapel on April 22, Earth Day, served as the culmination of her campus visit.
Brave the Wild River tells the true story of botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, who set off down the Colorado River in the summer of 1938. Determined to be the first to survey the Grand Canyon’s plants, the book documents the spellbinding adventure of two women who risked their lives to make an unprecedented botanical survey in the American west. During her presentation, Sevigny spoke not only about the expedition itself, but the attitude towards female explorers in the 1930s and the role sexism played throughout their journey.
“At the time, it was headline news all around the nation that this trip was going off, and most of the headlines focused on the fact that women were involved,” noted Sevigny. “There was a lot of focus on gender in the press,
and I could tell that annoyed Elzada and Lois. They both kept detailed diaries of this trip and they complained a lot about how they were being portrayed in the newspapers… They were trying to collect plants, and the newspapers frequently left out the fact that they were botanists, that they were making any kind of plant collection.”
Sevigny went on to showcase some of the plants they collected on the trip, highlighting the impact they made on the profession. While the media and their male counterparts in the field remained focused on their gender, they made some incredible discoveries that still benefit the study of ecology today.
“Amazingly, they did collect many, many plants that ultimately they would make a list of more than 400 species of plants in this area. And all of that was adding pieces of information about the ecology of this region, which Western scientists didn’t really know much about,” she explained.
After her presentation, Sevigny fielded questions from the audience, which included what it was like combining science with creative writing, if she collected samples during her own trip, and what question she would ask the two female botanists if she could.
“I wrote this book really for my childhood self, but also for you, for the folks in this room that are going to be out chasing their curiosity, doing fantastic and wonderful things in the world, in hopes that it would make you feel a little less alone,” she said. “It’ll remind you that there have been people of all kinds of backgrounds and genders and everything else that have been doing this work since the very beginning.”
SWEET
Sweet Work Weekend
Sweet Briar recently introduced Sweet Work Weekends, allowing for more opportunities to connect and give back to the College. The first took place from April 17-19, during which alumnae and friends completed projects around campus including organizing Daisy’s Closet; weeding and trimming Daisy’s Garden and cleaning up flower beds around Sweet Briar House; pressure washing walkways and brick walls; and more. Special thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and talent!
Sweet Work Weeks will return this summer from July 10-24. Register now at sbc.edu/sweet-work-weeks!
Sweet Briar College
134 Chapel Road
Sweet Briar, VA 24595
With the end of the 2026 fiscal year fast approaching on June 30, time is running out to make a tax-deductible gift to help Sweet Briar reach its fundraising goals! Your gift can support students through: Greatest Needs, Student Scholarships, Academic Support, and Stewardship of the Natural and Built Environment.
WAYS TO GIVE
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, please call the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development at 434-381-6131. Please send checks 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 contact the Alumnae Relations and Development Office by phone or email at alumnae@sbc.edu
For gifts by wire transfer, please call the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development to obtain the instructions for the transfer.
If you plan to make a gift of stock, please contact the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development for stock transfer instructions for your broker. We will need to know the name of the stock and the estimated value.
Thank you for supporting the students of Sweet Briar, especially the Class of 2026 and their many accomplishments!