Fall 2008 - Simmons College
Transcription
Fall 2008 - Simmons College
aT SImMonS. alL ROadSbEgIn ReTuRn to SIMMonS. ALL roADs SIMMO NS FALL 2008 CAS Edition Report of Philanthropy INSIDE For many of you, your time at Simmons was only the beginning of great things to come. To show you that Simmons hasn’t veered from its mission, we’ve created an easy way for you to return. The reconnectwithsimmons blogazine – an online magazine and blog – is our way of helping you stay connected to old (and new!) friends. The site – contributed to by interesting alumnae/i, faculty, & staff – provides honest, fresh, fun, and thought- provoking stories about Simmons and its community members who are making a difference in the world. The site also includes sections titled GPS: Globally Positioning Simmons, Simmons Spotlight, and Simmons Fun & Facts. You can read the blogs, post messages, comment on any topic, and buy great reconnectwithsimmons stuff. If you have any comments or questions, please contact Nicole LeBlanc at 617.521.2368, or email [email protected]. simmons.edu/reconnect SIMMONS | 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115-5898 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUIRED NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID N READING MA PERMIT NO. 121 why art matters THE VALUE OF ARTS IN EDUCATION Arts and Sciences ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY also in this issue: Q CAS PARTNERS WITH ERIC CARLE MUSEUM Q NEW NAME FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES SEE PAGE 21 SIMMONS SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Celebrating 30 Years of Women’s Achievements Vision to Voice voices: leadership in the global age PEGGY ADELSON SASLOW ’44 Join friends and classmates at our 30th anniversary conference for an experience to remember. In keeping with this milestone event, all Simmons College alumnae receive a 30% discount off the registration fee. It’s a day of HOMETOWN: New retired high school home economics teacher OCCUPATION: inspiring speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and great networking with nearly 3,000 professional women that is guaranteed to energize your life and career. May 2, 2009 For program details and registration information please visit Seaport World simmons.edu/ leadership Trade Center Boston, MA Diane Keaton, actress & film director Milford, New Jersey REGISTER EARLY Ayaan Hirsi Ali Mary Robinson Antonia Novello, M.D. women’s rights advocate & author former president of Ireland former U.S. Surgeon General All proceeds support scholarships to the Simmons School of Management. This is a tax deductible event. ON HER OPTIMISTIC LIFE VIEW: “I am inordinately content with my life — I loved my husband and children and I thought we were incredibly fortunate. I always figured I was a pretty lucky gal.” “When I think of Simmons, I think of my friends.” Ask Peggy Saslow ’44 what she thinks about her life and she’s likely to give a very upbeat response. With a sharp wit and the energy of a teenager, this octogenarian epitomizes not only the “Greatest Generation,” but also the quintessential Simmons woman. “I think that I’m part of the greatest generation ever, and I know part of that is because of my Simmons experience,” said Saslow. The youngest of seven children — and the fifth girl — Saslow grew up in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. Her parents were Russian immigrants who believed strongly in education. One of her brothers went to MIT, a sister to a music conservatory, and Peggy? Well, her choice for college was an easy one. “I always wanted to go to Simmons. It’s the only college I applied to. If anyone asked me, I’d tell them I want to go to Simmons and be a dietician,” said Saslow. And that’s exactly what she did. Saslow entered Simmons at the tender age of 16 as a commuter student. She enjoyed her time in college, studying hard, learning to play bridge, and making lots of friends. After graduation, she wasted little time building her career. Moving to New Jersey, Saslow lived and worked at Newark Beth Israel Hospital, first as a dietetic intern, and then as a staff member. The following year — 1946 — she met and married the love of her life, Sidney. A happy marriage, two daughters, a son, and a full-time job as a high school home economics teacher ensued, filling Saslow’s life for many years. Later, other activities would follow, such as elected positions on the Board of Education and the Friends of the Library, volunteer work for Temple Beth Tikvah, and teaching AARP driver safety classes. But always, there was Simmons. Among her many connections to Simmons, Saslow has been president of the Class of 1944, 2004 Reunion chair for her class, secretary to the Alumnae Association Executive Board, co-director of the Northern New Jersey Simmons Club, a class officer, and the recipient of two alumnae awards. She also is a regular donor, having made several leadership gifts, including the Florence Saslow Gift Annuity and naming a space in the new library for her niece. As if that wasn’t enough, Saslow also is the matriarch of an impressive Simmons lineage: both of her daughters, a niece, and her granddaughter all graduated from Simmons. “When I think of Simmons, I think of my friends,” said Saslow. “It’s been absolutely thrilling to be involved with Simmons for all these years. I enjoyed my time at Simmons and made some wonderful, lifelong friends. Simmons has done a lot for me.” Q SIMMONS Fall 2008 Volume 90, Number 3 Vice President of Advancement Kristina G. Schaefer Vice President of Marketing Cheryl E. Howard ’71 Editor Allyson Irish ’04GS Associate Editor Emily Devaprasad Copy Editors Lynette Benton ’96GS Christian Pope Campbell ’91 Elyse Pipitone ’07SW Why Art Matters Writers and Contributors Ivette Argueta Evelyn Kofler ’03GS Alicia Potter ’91 Leah R. Eggers Hilary Shepard Sarah Zengo ’07GS BY EVELYN KOFLER ’03GS Magazine Design Sawyer Design Associates, Inc. Diane Sawyer, Art Director Printing Kirkwood Printing # Cover Photo Web Chappell The Simmons College Office of Advancement Marketing publishes the SIMMONS magazine three times a year. Third-class postage is paid in Boston, Mass. Diverse views presented in the SIMMONS magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or the College. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 250 words and should be addressed to Allyson Irish, editor, SIMMONS magazine, Office of Advancement Marketing, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, Mass., 02115-5898; (fax) 617-5212303; (e-mail) [email protected]. (ISSN) 0049-0512. For more information, call 617-521-2359, or visit www.simmons.edu. At a time when funding for arts education — as well as attendance at arts events — is shrinking nationwide, Simmons is bucking the trend. Arts programs are flourishing at Simmons thanks to a thoughtful commitment to the liberal arts by administrators and a robust interest by students. 12 A Different Perspective BY ALICIA POTTER ’91 Every day, in countless social work settings across the country, practitioners are faced with the delicate task of helping those who come from vastly different backgrounds. Read about two Simmons alumnae who meet this challenge with a combination of efficiency and sensitivity. President’s Letter/ 2 Fenway/ 3 Editor’s Note/ 4 Movers & Shakers/ 7 Faculty Focus/ 9 Words, Etc./ 17 Graduate News/ 21 Giving/ 26 Undergraduate Class Notes/ 29 Emerities/30 Obituaries/ 47 Report of Philanthropy Voices departments departments 18 About the cover: Rebecca Brown ’09 is a senior at Simmons majoring in communications, with a focus in public relations and journalism, and a minor in marketing. After graduation, Brown would like to work in a public relations agency and come back to Simmons for a master’s degree. fall 2008 1 president’s letter note Chair Lauren Brisky ’73 Vice Chair Stephen P. Jonas P’05 Clerk of the Board of Trustees Regina M. Pisa Members Carmen A. Baez ’79, ’03HD Robert E. Branson Deborah C. Brittain ’74SW Helen G. Drinan ’75LS, ’78SM Joyce Elden ’80 Atsuko Toko Fish Eileen M. Friars ’72 Helen K. Gee ’85, ’04HS Maha Ghandour P’06 Jill A. Greenthal ’78 Hope Hirsch ’67 Anne C. Hodsdon ’75, ’77GS John W. Humphrey Pamela H. Jackson ’85 Kathleen Morrissey LaPoint ’84 Judith Samdperil Mann ’83 Stephen P. McCandless Jacqueline C. Morby ’78SM Kevin C. Phelan Carol Waller Pope ’74 Emily Scott Pottruck ’78 Lucia Luce Quinn ’75 Faith M. Richardson ’84 Jo-Ann Robotti ’75 Barbara B. Scolnick ’64LS Carole Seigel ’80SM Toby M. Sloane ’60 Douglas Smith-Petersen Paula A. Sneed ’69 Janet Trafton Tobin ’67 Adeena Weiss-Ortiz ’94 board of trustees Ngina Lythcott ’67, ’04HD Andrea Waldstein ’60SW Amy E. White ’81 Alumnae/i Volunteer Leadership Undergraduate Alumnae Association Executive Board President Amy Klotz ’96 Graduate School of Library and Information Science Alumni Association President Kristen Liberman ’87LS School of Management Alumnae Association President Joan Tomaceski ’91SM School of Social Work Alumni Council President Sonia Michelson ’85SW 2 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu One can never underestimate the importance of telling the truth, even in times of hardship. That is the single most valuable lesson I have learned in my years of professional leadership. It is with this philosophy of trust that I write to you about the financial situation at our College today. This is a very sobering time for our country. With the global economy in a tailspin, many of you are having to make difficult choices for you and your family. Simmons also is making some tough choices. This summer, we carefully reviewed our projected 2008–2009 budget, and determined that in the absence of significant reductions, we would likely face an operating deficit. Thanks to the hard work and conscientious efforts of all the division heads, we identified more than $3 million in operating cost savings for this year, and the budget was adjusted accordingly. However, this is not the only change we will have to make. Increased fuel costs, lower-thanexpected enrollments for our incoming undergraduate class, and rising expenditures for new faculty members hired to meet reaccreditation and accreditation standards have exacerbated this issue. In addition, this summer it was determined that despite what was previously reported to the Board of Trustees, the College actually had operating budget deficits from fiscal years 2005 through 2008. These deficits were made more difficult to identify because of incomplete internal budget reports and a 2005 change in the auditing report format. I have been talking at length with our community about this situation. While it is difficult to acknowledge these problems, I believe that all members of the Simmons community have a right to know what is happening, and what the College is doing to remedy these issues. As I write this letter at the end of October, we are continuing our efforts to revise the 2008–2009 budget with as little disruption to the College and to our fellow employees as possible. Going forward, we will achieve a balanced budget to ensure a healthy future and restart our strategic review in light of the financial realities. I have made it my personal goal to do everything possible to restore our financial health. Doing so will require teamwork from every member of the Simmons community. Throughout this process, I have been heartened by the optimistic and encouraging attitude from staff members, professors, trustees, and alumnae/i, many of whom have made gifts to the College as a sign of support. With this support — along with participation from the Simmons community, strong new financial leadership, a management team firmly dedicated to rebuilding our financial health, and a creative approach to new opportunities — we will emerge from this process even stronger and more vibrant. I thank you for all of your help, for your continued contributions to Simmons, and for your trust. Helen Drinan ’75LS, ’78SM President fenway New Fens Renovation Completed A ribbon-cutting ceremony in September commemorated the completion of the expansion of the Fens Café dining facility, located in the Main College Building. The renovation added an extra 6,000 square feet of space, making room for 456 seats; a two-story atrium with floor-to-ceiling windows; and a balcony on the College Center level. The lower-level dining hall, originally constructed in 1977 and renovated in 1997, now features an enlarged kitchen and serving area, a tunnel to the new underground parking garage, and improved shipping and receiving areas. The College decided to fund the expansion because of an expected increase in traffic due primarily to the opening of the new School of Management/Academic Building in winter 2009. The Fens currently provides dining services to approximately 1,700 students, faculty, and staff daily; that reduce heat. In addition, the College is installing energy-efficient lighting and kitchen equipment. Contractors maximized building reuse and used materials that limit chemical emissions and have high recycled content. Q number is expected to increase to 2,200 when the building opens. The new Fens boasts a number of sustainable options, including an increased amount of natural light to the area, and passive solar shading to Top photo: View of the newly expanded Fens Café, which adds 456 seats and more natural light to the dining facility. Left: New booth-style seating in the lower level, Fens Café. Right: Java City, which is located on the upper level above the Fens Café. Back by popular demand! Simmons will continue its educational conference series this spring, and we look forward to hosting you. MARCH 21, 2009 peabody marriott peabody, mass. MAY 30, 2009 >>> Spring educational conference series photos by webb chappell simmons for a day “This is an incredible experience. I am proud and pleased that Simmons is recognizing the importance of offering educational programs. I intend to attend all four.” — Florence Pressman ’58 SAVE THE DATE! simmons for a day at reunion 2009 simmons campus Sample classes may include: green chemistry novel writing behavioral health branding and marketing Visit alumnet.simmons.edu for more details. fall 2008 3 Simmons Designated a “Best” College editor’s note: On a recent trip to my neighborhood Starbucks, I started a conversation with a young woman, Melissa DiLiegro. As it turns out, Melissa is a 2004 alumna who graduated with a degree in fine arts and communications. She’s currently enrolled at Salem State College working toward a master’s degree in teaching art. Once I told her what I did for work, we started talking about Simmons and the people we knew, like Art Professor Vaughn Sills. Professor Sills was Melissa’s advisor at Simmons, and the two still keep in touch. At Simmons, Melissa took a variety of art classes, though she began her first year as a science major. Art classes, she said, “pushed me to think about everything I learned more abstractly, and encouraged me to express myself in ways I never had before. I learned to ‘think outside the box’ and that sometimes it was better not to follow the rules.” Melissa’s experience is similar to many students and alumnae who have taken advantage of the plethora of arts programs at Simmons. Whether choosing to major in art or joining the Simmons Chorale for fun, students and alumnae say these experiences have provided a venue for self-expression that has enriched their academic, professional, and personal lives. While funding for arts programs continues to decline nationally, Simmons and many other liberal arts colleges hold firm on their commitment to this approach, and our story on page 12 outlines the many reasons why we believe in the arts. Another story on page 18 demonstrates the keen sensitivity and judgment needed to be a practicing social worker these days. Two School of Social Work alumnae show the daily challenges they face as they work for and with clients of differing backgrounds, beliefs, and cultures. Many of you will receive this magazine at the end of the year. I hope you take the time to read through this issue and appreciate the “gift” of a Simmons education and the value that it continues to bring to your life. Allyson Irish ’04GS, Editor [email protected] Our parents make a difference Simmons recently was named a “best” college by several renowned rankings. The 2009 U.S.News & World Report “America’s Best Colleges edition,” often cited as the premier collegeranking publication, placed Simmons in the top tier of schools in its category of master’s-level universities in the northern U.S. Simmons was listed as one of the nation’s “Best 368 Colleges” and a “Great School for Education Majors” in the Princeton Review’s 2009 college guidebook; and Forbes.com ranked Simmons as one of “America’s Best Colleges 2008” in its inaugural ranking of undergraduate colleges and universities. In their summary of Simmons, the Princeton Review editors said the “excellent academics and Boston location” of the undergraduate women’s college “make Simmons a worthy option” for women. The Forbes.com list, which will be published annually, ranks 569 of the nearly 4,000 undergraduate institutions in the nation, using a methodology that the Forbes.com editors say “attempts to put itself in a student’s shoes,” basing their ranking on “the quality of the education they [the colleges] provide, and how much their students achieve.” Q “Simmons College gave me an environment where I could THE PARENTS FUND flourish, and now is doing the Simmons College is committed to ensuring that each student is an important part of a stimulating environment that inspires learning and growth. Your gift to the Parents Fund enhances the educational experience of every Simmons student. same thing for my daughter. For more information about the Parents Fund, contact Marianne Blaney, assistant director of parent giving, at 617-521-2312 or [email protected]. for you, it’s a natural response TO MAKE A GIFT Call 1-800-831-4284 or visit alumnet.simmons.edu/giving. 4 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu When someone is truly there to want to give back.” — Maurene Merritt ’96, P’10 fenway Simmons Pilots Autism Program A unique pilot program at Simmons will focus on a special college curriculum directed at students with autism. In partnership with the Autism Higher Education Foundation, Simmons will offer a grouping of introductory-level academic classes beginning in spring ’09. The first of its kind in the country, the partnership also includes the Boston Conservatory and Massachusetts College of Art and Design, which will concentrate on music and arts, respectively. If the program goes well, the foundation plans to replicate it at colleges nationally and inter-nationally. Associate Education Professor Michael Cameron is the program liaison at Simmons, and said that college is particularly daunting for students with autism because many of them have severe problems with socialization. Some have difficulties with common collegiate scenarios such as using a library, being involved with group presentations, and having to pay attention in large classroom settings. As a result, Cameron said that Simmons and the other schools have tailored their curricula to focus on multimethod instruction with a lot of oneon-one support from professors. “College is particularly daunting for students with autism.” —PROFESSOR MICHAEL CAMERON “At other colleges, students with autism receive accommodations, but nothing this specialized,” said Cameron, who also is director of Simmons’s behavioral education program. Attorney Vanda Marie Khadem, whose daughter has autism, created the Autism Higher Education Foundation last year in order to provide higher education opportunities for children across the autism spectrum. Her Massachusetts-based law firm focuses on advocacy for children with special needs, including autism, and Khadem says the collaboration with Simmons has important implications. “This is the next frontier in civil rights,” said Khadem. “For a large majority of these children who are not high functioning, society views them as incapable of learning. I’d like to debunk the myth that most of the autism population is mentally retarded and can’t do anything. Simmons is a visionary institution to recognize this.” Q What is Autism? According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism is defined as one of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders or ASDs. The disorders are “developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication, and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests.” CDC data from 2007 indicates that about 1 in 150 eight-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States had an ASD. Current estimates show that nearly 560,000 individuals in the U.S. between the ages of 0 to 21 have an ASD. For more information, visit www. autismhighereducationfoundation.org and www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ autism. Q GSLIS Partners with Korean University GSLIS has developed a partnership with Yonsei University in South Korea to allow students from both universities the opportunity to experience librarianship overseas. In the first official act of the partnership, GSLIS visiting Professor Ross Harvey taught an intensive course on digital preservation at Yonsei this past summer. Simmons faculty will teach there next year, and the courses will be open to both Yonsei and Simmons students. GSLIS also plans to offer a course in Boston for Yonsei students in summer 2009. By 2010, GSLIS hopes to include students from other American library and information science (LIS) programs in the program in Seoul. GSLIS Dean Michèle Cloonan and Dr. Lee, director of the LIS program at Yonsei, first discussed the possibility of a partnership during the 2006 International Federation of Library Associations conference in Seoul, and have worked together since then to build this international partnership between the colleges. “Yonsei is the best LIS program in Korea. Our faculties and programs complement each other, so we were looking at ways in which students from each school could take courses on each other’s campuses. We also hope that our faculty will find ways to collaborate,” said Cloonan. Yonsei is the oldest university in Korea, founded in 1885, and has a LIS program that was established in 1957. It currently offers four related majors to choose from: library management, information services, information organizations, and information retrieval. Q more online For more information, visit: www.simmons.edu/gslis/ or www.yonsei.ac.kr/eng/ fall 2008 5 fenway A Conversation with President Drinan During her first year as president, the SIMMONS magazine will publish a regular Q&A feature with Helen Drinan ’75LS, ’78SM. The purpose of this section is to provide readers with a better understanding of President Drinan’s vision and goals for the College, and her perspectives on higher education. Q Q You recently met with former President Bill Holmes. What did you talk about with him and did he have any insights for you on being the president of Simmons? President Holmes and I had a long lunch together recently, and he shared with me many of the experiences he had during his tenure as president. He has an enduring love for this college, and his absolute commitment to the best outcomes for Simmons is evident. He underscored for me the competitive advantage Simmons has with regard to our combination of liberal arts and professional education. Whenever I have a conversation with a person like Bill Holmes who knows and loves Simmons, I am struck by the opportunity we have to build on this competitive strength. I left the lunch with a redoubled interest in strengthening this message for the outside world. 6 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu How has the economic downturn affected the College? Q Like many of us, Simmons is facing some significant financial challenges this year. Soaring energy costs, the private loan market in shambles, plummeting housing prices, a stock market decline, and a weakened job market all have factored into our planning this year. These problems have been exacerbated by some additional, unexpected challenges for Simmons, namely a decrease in anticipated 2008–2009 revenues. I have spoken at length to faculty and staff regarding these challenges, and many of you have read my email to alumnae/i outlining this situation. Our leadership team has worked hard to study the budget these past few months in order to minimize spending, assess how we can work with greater efficiency, and realize cost savings. My letter on page 2 provides more specifics about this situation. With everyone’s help, I am confident that Simmons will weather this storm and remain a viable institution for years to come. What have you learned so far from talking with and meeting students? Our students are highly motivated and focused; they are working to get the most they can out of their education. Many are concerned about the cost of their education, and wonder how the College can find ways to help them with that challenge. Simmons students — both graduate and undergraduate — carry heavy course loads while doing many other things. Undergraduates have high levels of extracurricular activity while also often working, and many graduate students work and/or have families while studying. I would say our students demonstrate a high level of industriousness all the time. Q To read more about President Drinan, including her favorite Simmons events and the College’s efforts to increase diversity, visit www.alumnet.simmons.edu. fenway movers and shakers accomplished graduate and undergraduate alumnae/i MARC BOFF ’02HS, ’06HS GWEN IFILL ’77, ’93HD ANITA NAGER ’72 Kathryn Lent Battillo ’79LS recently was named executive director and vice president of development at the Fletcher Allen Foundation, a community hospital located in Burlington, VT. Previously, Battillo served as vice president for advancement at Suffolk University, where she launched a $75 million capital campaign. Marc Boff ’02HS, ’06HS recently was named head athletic trainer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Previously, he spent four seasons as assistant athletic trainer with the Chicago Bulls. He also has worked with the New Orleans Hornets and the Boston Celtics. Boff is a licensed athletic trainer, a licensed physical therapist, and a certified strength and conditioning coach. Faye E. Coleman ’68 recently served as co-chair of the Center for Women’s Business Research Symposium 2008. The symposium identified obstacles faced by women business owners of color. Coleman is the founder of Westover Consultants, Inc., a Maryland-based multidisciplinary consulting firm of nearly 50 employees. Elementary school music teacher Christopher Grammer ’05GS has been named a 2008 Educator of the Year by the Boston Public Schools. Picked by an independent committee after a peer-nomination process, the 15 winners were honored in a June ceremony. Grammer teaches at the Hamilton Elementary School in Brighton, MA. On Oct. 2, Gwen Ifill ’77, ’93HD, was moderator of the vice presidential debate between Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joseph Biden, Jr. The 90-minute debate, which took place at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, marked the second time Ifill has been chosen to moderate a vice presidential debate by the non-partisan National Commission on Presidential Debates. In 2004 she moderated the discussion between John Edwards and Richard Cheney. Debra Kaplan Lacks ’75 has been named president and CEO of Wordsworth Academy. Founded in 1952, Wordsworth provides behavioral health, child welfare, and education services to children and families in the Greater Philadelphia area. The nonprofit serves more than 2,000 clients and has facilities in southeastern Pennsylvania and Harrisburg. Thomas Merrell ’80GS recently was named president of American Overseas Marine General (AMSEA), the ship-operating segment of Dynamics American Overseas Marine. Merrell joined AMSEA in 1984 and has served as vice president of marine operations since 2004. Previously he managed eight ships as AMSEA’s Fast Sealift Ship program manager. The Breast Cancer Fund recently honored Anita Nager ’72 as a 2008 Hero for her efforts supporting the environmental health movement through philanthropic leadership. The Brooklyn, NY, resident is a senior program officer at the New York Community Trust, and is involved with the Beldon Fund, the Health and Environmental Funders Network, the Environmental Grantmakers Association, and the Hudson River Foundation. A senior manager in the Competitive Intelligence Center of Excellence at Pfizer Global Research & Development, Marjorie Norman ’88SM recently was awarded a Pfizer Global Health Fellowship for 2008–09. The fellowship will allow her to move to Nairobi, Kenya, for a six-month assignment where she will partner with Population Services International, a nonprofit social marketing organization. The goal of the Pfizer program is to partner with organizations around the world to improve health for those in need by transferring skills and building capacity to expand services. Correction Due to a writing error, the summer 2008 SIMMONS magazine incorrectly stated that Elinor Lipman ’72, ’00HD was honored at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The film Then She Found Me received the audience award, not Lipman. fall 2008 7 fenway Students & Alumnae Connect for Success Liz Robertson ’77, CPA and Tashanna Williams ’08 Emily Catallozzi ’07 never dreamt that her participation in the Success Connection would propel her into one of the most well-known media companies in the world. But only months after job-shadowing Olivia Cohen-Cutler ’75, ’00HD, ABC’s senior vice president of broadcast standards and practices, last year, Catallozzi landed a position at the Disney Channel. “My Success Connection experience was unforgettable,” said Catallozzi, an executive assistant for Disney’s on-air promotions marketing department. “Olivia helped me pave the road to where I am right now, and I will always be thankful to her. She is a role model for me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know her.” Launched in 1995, Success Connection is a one-day mentoring and job shadowing experience for undergraduate students. Each year, up to 25 seniors are selected and paired with alumnae mentors in executive or leadership positions. The program was created by the Simmons Leadership Council, a group of successful alumnae who serve the College in a variety of ways, including advisory and mentoring roles. Through the years, more than 260 alumnae and students combined have paired up to explore career goals together. “Mentoring is a great way to reconnect with Simmons and — more importantly — a way to help a young woman just starting out,” said Liz Robertson ’77, a CPA who works as a service controller at Kronos, Inc. in Chelmsford, Mass. and who recently was paired with Tashanna Williams ’08. The Success Connection experience made such an impact that Williams realized she wanted to pursue a different but related path — financial advising. Now the young alumna is a financial planner at New York Life Insurance Company in Waltham, Mass., and is thankful that her experience with Success Connection helped clarify her career goals. Q For more information about Success Connection, or to find out about other volunteer opportunities, contact Sarah Zengo ’07GS, assistant director of volunteer engagement in the Office of Alumnae/i Relations, at [email protected] or 617-521-2112. During its spring meeting, the Board of Trustees added six new members, each of whom will serve a five-year term. Hope Hirsch ’67 has sat on numerous nonprofit boards and lives in Rhode Island with her husband, David, a daughter, and two sons. Toby Sloane ’60 sits on several nonprofit boards in the Boston Jewish community, is a trustee of Gann Academy, the new Jewish High School, and lives in Swampscott, Mass. She and her husband of nearly 50 years, Carl, have three children and five grandchildren. Adeena Weiss-Ortiz ’94 is an assistant general counsel with the Chicago Board of Education. She is married to Professor J. Damian Ortiz from the John Marshall Law School, and the couple have one daughter. Both she and her husband sit on various nonprofit boards, are very active in community affairs, and 8 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu promote the rights of women and minorities. During a career that spanned more than 20 years, Andrea Waldstein ’60SW has worked as a clinician and counselor in Framingham, Mass. A wife and the mother of three children, Waldstein also is active in many socially conscious organizations, including Project Kesher, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to promoting women’s leadership and activism in the former Soviet Union; Boston Jewish Community Women’s Fund; Jewish Vocational Services; and the Jewish Community Relations Council. She received her B.A. from Vassar College. A business consultant to medical practices, Carole Seigel ’80SM is involved with the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, and the School of Management’s new building advisory group. Jill A. Greenthal ’78 is a senior advisor in private equity at the Blackstone Group. For more than 20 years, Greenthal has advised, financed, and invested in media companies. She previously was a senior managing director in the corporate and mergers and acquisitions advisory groups; co-head of the Global Media Group; and a member of the executive board of investment banking at Credit Suisse First Boston. Greenthal received an MBA from Harvard Business School and is on the board of directors of Akamai Technologies, Freedom Communications, Orbitz Worldwide, and Universal Orlando. She also serves on the investment committee of Noble and Greenough School and the Women’s Executive Council of Dana Farber. Q photo by len reubenstein Six Alumnae Join Board of Trustees fenway faculty focus notable achievements by simmons faculty GARY BAILEY PATRICIA DEYTON RAQUEL MARIA HALTY SSW Associate Professor Gary Bailey testified before the U.S. House of Representatives in July, speaking to the Committee on Education and Labor’s Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. Bailey provided an overview of social work’s role in caring for the nation’s vulnerable citizens and some of the challenges of the profession. Bailey also recently was named clinical associate professor at Simmons’s School of Health Sciences. Paul Abraham and Janet Chumley of the Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language Program (MATESL) hosted 25 English language educators from across the globe at Simmons this spring. The group, sponsored by the Department of State and World Boston, represented 24 countries, including Algeria, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Nigeria, and the Republic of Tajikistan. Abraham and Chumley presented on the MATESL program, the context of English language teaching in the U.S., and current trends in second language teacher education. Judy Beal, associate dean of the School of Health Sciences and chair and professor of the Department of Nursing, has been selected for the 2008 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows Program, an advanced leadership program for nurses in senior executive roles who are aspiring to lead and shape the U.S. health care system. Patricia Deyton, director of the Center for Gender in Organizations at the School of Management, convened the third annual meeting of the Network of African Universities Gender Focal Points in Accra, Ghana this past May. The network is supported by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation to work with five sub-Saharan universities in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana. Deyton also traveled to Japan in May, where she joined Simmons Trustee Atsuko Toko Fish for a series of meetings for the Japanese Women Leadership Initiative, which brings women interested in nonprofit leadership to the SOM for an immersion program. Raquel Maria Halty, professor of Spanish and director of the Graduate Program in Spanish, recently was elected vice president of the International Institute in Spain, a non-profit organization promoting cultural exchange between Spain and the U.S. She has been a member of the organization since the mid-’70s and has served on the board and the executive committee for more than 20 years. In an effort spearheaded by GSLIS Professor Peter Hernon, the Graduate School of Library and Information Science recently received $955,700 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in support of the school’s doctoral concentration in managerial leadership in the information professions. Simmons received the seventh largest grant of the year, competing against universities, state and city library systems, and research institutions. Janie Ward, professor of education and chair of Africana studies, participated in the National Endowment for the Humanities 2008 Summer Institute, “African American Civil Rights Struggles in the Twentieth Century,” at the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University. Ward joined leading scholars from around the world in an intensive program of reading and discussion of new scholarship in the fields of African American history, literature, religion, and music. College Names Sloan Fellows Five Simmons faculty recently were named as the College’s first Alfred P. Sloan Fellows. The faculty are: CAS Professor Renee Bergland; GSLIS Assistant Professor Rong Tang; SHS Associate Professor John Lowe; SOM Associate Professor Sylvia Maxfield; and SSW Associate Professor Abbie Frost. This is the first year of the Sloan Fellows Program at Simmons, which will provide leadership development opportunities — including individual mentoring and strategic management — to expand and enhance flexible career paths for faculty. The program is funded by a $200,000 grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Simmons was one of only six universities to receive the award. fall 2008 9 fenway Student Creates Literacy Program in Haiti While other college students spent their summer vacation on faraway trips, jobs, and beach excursions, Marie Gay ’09 did something a bit different: she went to a rural region of Haiti, outside the seaport of Les Cayes, the hometown of her mother, implementing a program she developed to combat illiteracy. Gay’s project, which she named Project Youth for Community Education/Jèn Pou Edikasyon nan Kominite à, was funded by a $10,000 grant from the Davis Projects for Peace, a national competition open to college students to design grassroots peace-building projects. This was the second time that Gay received funding to do work in Haiti. The mission of Project Youth for Community Education is to raise awareness about youth illiteracy and to encourage youths to become leaders and partners in the development of their community. Gay partnered with local teachers and community leaders Top: Project Youth members and staff. Right: Marie Gay ’09 with Les Cayes youth. Bottom: Children in the Project Youth classroom. 10 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu to help implement the six-week curriculum. “Being at Simmons and going into my senior year, I have never felt more passionate and appreciative of education, so when it came down to choosing a project this year, I didn’t think twice about having literacy be the prime focus. Words cannot explain how it felt to see 21 children sit and learn material that will change the quality of their lives forever.” Gay coordinated three, five-hour literacy classes per week for the 21 children in the program, who ranged in age from three to 12. Students also took art lessons, played games, and received meals, clothing, and books. Basic math, writing, and reading lessons were offered in both Creole and French. The Davis Projects for Peace was made possible by Dr. Kathryn Wasserman Davis, an accomplished American internationalist and philanthropist, on her 100th birthday. A former employee of the Council on Foreign Relations, Davis said she established the project to “bring new thinking to the prospects of peace in the world.” Q more online For more information on the Davis Projects for Peace, visit www.kwd100 projectsforpeace.org. fenway Simmons Welcomes New VP of Finance and Administration In addition to President Helen Drinan ’75LS, ’78SM, Simmons welcomed another senior administrator this year. The new senior vice president of finance and administration, and treasurer, Stefano Falconi, began his tenure at Simmons in July. Falconi oversees accounting services, business affairs, public safety, facilities, technology, internal auditing, purchasing and accounts payable, financial services, budget, and business analysis. “I am very pleased to accept this position and to help guide the financial growth and overall well-being of Simmons during these challenging economic times,” said Falconi. Falconi has more than 20 years of experience in higher education administration. Prior to joining Simmons, he was vice president, chief financial of- “I am very pleased to accept this position and to help guide the financial growth and overall well-being of Simmons during these challenging economic times.” —STEFANO FALCONI ficer, and treasurer of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. Falconi also was vice president for administration and chief financial officer of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Penn. Additionally, Falconi worked at MIT as director of finance, and at Harvard University, where he held several positions in academic planning, sponsored research, and finance. Falconi holds a J.D. maxima cum laude from the University of Padua in Italy, and an MBA from the Harvard University School of Business Administration. He is a member of the Italian bar and practiced corporate law for several years in Italy prior to moving to the United States. Falconi is married with two daughters. His outside interests include automotive engineering, watch design and technology, photography, and classical music. Q Grant Funds Undergraduate Science “Renaissance” at Simmons Thanks to a $245,000 grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation, the College is embarking on a three-year transformation of its science curriculum that will result in a renewed focus on undergraduate research. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to build upon our already-successful programs in biology, chemistry, and physics,” said Hazel Dick Leonard Professor of Chemistry Len Soltzberg, principle investigator and project coordinator. “We are now able to offer students the opportunity to engage in the same type of high-level research projects found at much larger institutions.” Dubbed the Undergraduate Laboratory Renaissance by Soltzberg and his colleagues, the program’s new structure will allow sophomores to experience the excitement and collegial collaboration of serious research, and will provide seniors with the opportunity to mentor and guide younger students. Simmons began to make revisions over the summer by replacing the laboratory component of several science courses with research-based work related to faculty research. Money also was allocated to summer salaries for faculty integrating their research into course laboratories; academic stipends for student research mentors and instrument assistants; and travel ex- “We are now able to offer students the opportunity to engage in the same type of high-level research projects found at much larger institutions.” —CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR LEN SOLTZBERG penses for student and faculty presenting at conferences. “This restructuring will benefit faculty because it leverages the time available for research. We expect publishable results to emerge from this work,” said Soltzberg. This is the first award Simmons has received from the W.M. Keck Foundation, one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations, which supports outstanding science, engineering, and medical research, and undergraduate education. Q fall 2008 11 Why Art Matters BY EVELYN KOFLER ’03GS “The arts encourage students to come up with different answers and to realize there isn’t just one right answer.” —PROFESSOR VAUGHN SILLS 12 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu PHOTOS BY LEN RUBINSTEIN As I waited in line for a concert at the Spoleto Arts Festival in Charleston, S.C., I couldn’t help but notice that I was conspicuously the youngest person there — by far. Although I’m only in my mid-30s, this is not the first time I’ve experienced the “graying of audiences” phenomenon, which has gradually increased in the U.S. as younger arts patrons have failed to replenish older supporters. A 2006 study by the National Endowment for the Arts found that from 1982 to 2002, young adult attendance at classical performances — such as the one I attended in Charleston — declined from 12.2% to 8.5%. The study concludes that this trend should be noted, because “this cohort’s current and future engagement levels will determine the viability of our arts and our communities.” Some may shrug off these decreases as a cultural shift, but others, such as Jessica Hoffman Davis ’71, founder of the Arts in Education Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, see a larger problem that has major implications for our educational system and society as a whole. The author of Why Our Schools Need the Arts, Davis says that several factors, such as finances, classroom time constraints, and increasing pressure from standardized testing — a direct result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 — have placed arts education in “deep peril.” The No Child Left Behind Act requires that all students in the country meet state-determined standards in core subjects by the year 2014. While the act recognizes the arts as one of 10 “core academic subjects,” schools are currently required to report test Story continued on page 14 Jessica Chloros ’01, an art history major, landed her first job in the Objects Conservation laboratory at the Museum of Fine Arts, cleaning and polishing silver objects for the American and European decorative arts departments. “Art is vital to society,” says Chloros. “We need to include the arts in education not because they serve other kinds of learning (and of course they do), but because they offer opportunities for learning that other subjects do not.” —JESSICA HOFFMAN DAVIS ’71 ARTS ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE/NEW YORK CITY Offered in June, this exhilarating travel course exposes students to New York City’s cultural riches — and to a host of careers in the arts and in arts administration. For one month, students live in New York and immerse themselves in the arts world. Each day begins with classes where discussions and guest speaker topics range from the responsibility of museums in educating the public, to the difference between arts and entertainment. In the afternoon, the group tours cultural organizations such as Christie’s, The Frick Collection, Lincoln Center, Museum of Modern Art, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Evenings are dedicated to seeing shows and attending art openings. With the help of alumnae such as Cathy Behrend ’70, deputy director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, students get a personal introduction to many of the influential people who make the NYC art scene come to life. “Every day, we met influential people in the New York art scene,” said Catalina Rojo, ’09. “We had to be ready to make connections — to hold our own in a conversation with a curator or gallery owner and to present ourselves as competent, professional young adults.” s Painter Daniel Kohn (in red shirt) talks with a group of Simmons students at his Brooklyn art studio. At right is Barbara O’Brien, assistant professor and director of the Trustman Art Gallery. fall 2008 13 Continued from page 12 results only for reading and mathematics, thus making arts education an unaffordable extravagance in the eyes of many academic administrators. “The standardized test movement has really decimated our schools and dimmed the spirit, hope, and excitement of art teachers and students,” said Davis. Despite these disturbing trends, liberal arts colleges like Simmons consider the arts an essential component of a student’s education. Those at Simmons argue that a liberal arts education requires a wideranging, cross-disciplinary knowledge of many subjects, including the arts. This type of academic training also provides students with a sense of personal and social responsibility, and an ability to apply their knowledge to complex problems. “The balance of liberal arts and professional training that characterizes a Simmons education means that students can have real-world experiences without being narrow technicians,” said Diane Raymond, dean of Simmons’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Employers choose Simmons grads because they know our students can think critically and creatively, and come up with unique solutions to problems — skills they get from studying and participating in the arts.” As part of Simmons’s general education requirement, all undergraduates take courses in six “modes of inquiry,” which include the creative and performing arts. “Every student should have knowledge in each of these areas,” said Raymond. “This is how we educate a well-rounded student.” In addition to the modes of inquiry, Simmons offers majors and minors in art, art history, music theory and history, music performance, arts administration, and photography. The College also recently unveiled two new minors: performing arts, and cinema and media studies. (See sidebar on page 16 for more arts programs at Simmons.) Through the arts, students learn to analyze form, pay attention to detail, use their imaginations, and enlist critical thinking — all skills that are necessary for successful careers in a competitive global economy. “If all we ever do is come up with the same solutions to problems, then we aren’t really moving forward,” said Vaughn Sills, professor of photography and chair of Simmons’s Art and Music Department. “The arts encourage students to come up with different answers and to realize there isn’t just one right answer.” Davis agrees that students with a liberal arts/interdisciplinary background are better prepared in the professional world, no matter what their career. “We need professionals who can look at problems from many directions — nurses and doctors who think like artists. It’s all about considering multiple possibilities and having the courage to make decisions that are informed by interdisciplinary consideration. The arts prepare you for that,” said Davis. Many Simmons students have used this academic “cross training” to their advantage. After working at several arts organizations and private art collections, Jessica Chloros ’01 is now a conservator at the >A 2006 survey of business leaders by the Association of Colleges and Universities found that 70% of business leaders want colleges to place more emphasis on “creativity and innovation.” > In the 2007–2008 school year, 685 students took art and music courses. Assistant Professor of Art Barbara O’Brien views a sculpture with Simmons students. 14 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu A Si Simm mon ons student wo w rk r s o a piece off art. on arrt. good for you, to solving complex problems in an innovative way, the arts have given me both a personal creative outlet and a unique approach to my field of study.” These alumnae, say Dean Raymond, are the reason why Simmons continues its commitment to the liberal arts. “Simmons is dedicated to providing both career preparation and a liberal arts education, without sacrificing the quality of either. Whether they are art and music majors, or they experience the arts through the modes of inquiry and our many arts organizations, all Simmons students know the value of the arts.” Q ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Evelyn Kofler ’03GS has a bachelor’s degree in arts administration from Wells College, worked in the Trustman Art Gallery at Simmons in the ’90s, and participated in the Colleges of the Fenway Orchestra and Simmons Concert Choir. She currently sings with the Charleston Renaissance Ensemble in Charleston, S.C. Daniela Blau ’08, a nutrition alumna from Costa Rica, recently won a peer music Latin scholarship from the BMI Foundation for her song “Y Si No Lo Sabes.” “Music has allowed me to utilize my creativity,” she said. photo by christian liu Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. At Simmons, Chloros was an art history major; she later received her M.S. in conservation at the University of Delaware and a fellowship at the Harvard Art Museum. “Art is vital to society,” said Chloros. “People have been making art from early times, and that artistic expression is an essential part of life. Art gives us a visual record of what was important (or not) in society throughout history. We really need art to understand how other people interact and view the world.” Another alumna, Daniela Blau ’08, (pictured at right) chose a different artistic path. Although she did not focus on music while at Simmons, this nutrition major from Costa Rica recently won a music scholarship from the BMI Foundation for her song “Y Si No Lo Sabes” (“And if You Don’t Know it”). “To me, music always has been about thinking outside of the box and being able to express myself in a unique way,” says Blau. “From making up short songs for kids about how fruits and vegetables are fall 2008 15 the arts at simmons Colleges of the Fenway Orchestra Majors • Photography This auditioned ensemble is comprised of students, faculty, and staff from the six Colleges of the Fenway colleges — Emmanuel College, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Simmons College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College. Since its inception in 2003, the orchestra has grown from 15 members to 60, and now brings more than 350 audience members to its concerts each year. • Music The Sirens • Performing Arts The Sirens is a 15-member a cappella women’s singing group open to Simmons College students by audition. The group performs concerts, sings at various school events, and records a CD every other year. • Art, with art history or art practice tracks • Music, with performance or music history and literature tracks • Arts Administration, with concentrations in art or music, and communications or management tracks Minors • Art • Arts Administration • Cinema and Media Studies Trustman Art Gallery Given in honor of Julia Myerson Trustman ’24 by her husband Benjamin, this public gallery exhibits the work of professional artists in a variety of media, along with selections from the Simmons art collection, throughout the school year. Students enrich their arts education by hearing artists talk about their work at opening receptions. Each year Simmons students enrolled in the “Arts in the Community” course organize an exhibition under the supervision of their instructor. The gallery also hosts an annual exhibition of student art work. 16 simmons Simmons Gospel Choir COF Theater Project The 20-member Simmons Gospel Choir performs at a number of events throughout the year, such as Family Weekend, the Festival of Lights, and the annual Community Soul Food Dinner. The new COF Theater Project is open to all Colleges of the Fenway community members interested in theater, regardless of skill or experience — from beginning actors to aspiring playwrights and directors. Simmons Theatrical Society This student-run organization performs one full-length play per semester. Simmons College Concert Choir The Simmons College Concert Choir — in existence since 1902 — is a 30-member women’s chorus open to students, staff, and faculty. The choir sings a wide variety of music — from classical choral pieces to world music, folk songs, and Broadway show tunes. The Colleges of the Fenway Chorus This 30-person mixed chorus features students, faculty, and staff from the Colleges of the Fenway. In 2007, the chorus performed Handel’s “Messiah” with an orchestra, and in 2008 performed Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and Robert DeCormier’s “Shout for Joy,” with an orchestra. alumnet.simmons.edu Passes and Discounts Simmons Dance Team This student organization offers opportunities to dance or choreograph ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, modern, and tap. COF Dance Project This newly formed group offers Colleges of the Fenway students, faculty, and staff regular performance opportunities in modern jazz and ballet. Students also choreograph their own works. Simmons students have unlimited access to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Museum of Fine Arts with their Simmons ID cards. They also can purchase discounted student rush tickets at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Huntington Theatre, Boston Ballet, and many other arts performances in Boston on the day of shows. fenway words, etc. publications by simmons faculty and alumnae/i Shana Burg ’99GS is the author of A Thousand Never Evers (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2008), a historical fictional account about the Civil Rights Movement set in Mississippi in 1963. The story is told by Addie Ann Pickett, whose careless act leads to her brother’s disappearance, but who ultimately finds her voice to lead a civil rights march all her own. Nathalie Handal ’92, ’93GS is co-editor of Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond (W. W. Norton, 2008), an anthology of poems representing 55 countries and themes ranging from political and apolitical to monastic and erotic. Each section of the anthology, organized by theme rather than national affiliation, is introduced by a personal essay from the editors. C. Joyce Farrar-Rosemon ’74, ’76SW uses the biblical story of Joseph to create a 14-step plan to overcome stress and depression in her self-published book How to Get to the Palace from Your Prison! (2008). Joseph’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs are used to illustrate the idea that self-transformation is greatly aided by one’s belief in a higher power. Signal’s Airport Adventure (Bay Media, 2006) is the first children’s book by Stormy Friday ’69, the author of several books for the facilities management industry. The book, which chronicles the adventures of a cat named Signal who gets loose in an airport, is specifically designed to be read aloud to children ages 5–10. Anne Barry Jolles ’84SM has selfpublished Rise and Shine Anytime: Simple Questions to Wake Up Your Life (2008), which illustrates how grace can open one’s mind and heart to new insights. Jolles writes one chapter for each letter in the word “grace” (gratitude, release, acknowledge, create, and embrace), offering questions to consider and thoughts to ponder. Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: A CAM Model for Frail Elders and Their Caregivers (Springer Publishing, 2008) draws on Lucia McBee ’69’s experience as a geriatric social worker and mindfulness-based stress reduction practitioner. Providing detailed instructions for elders, their families, and professional caregivers, the book conveys the benefits of mindfulness through meditation, yoga, massage, and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques to enhance one’s inner strengths and resources. Mameve Medwed ’64’s fifth novel, Of Men and Their Mothers (William Morrow, 2008), explores the ever-complex bond between a man and his mother through the eyes of Maisie Grey, recently divorced from her “mama’s-boy” husband. Maisie struggles to be a non-judgmental mother to her teenage son and his “completely unsuitable” girlfriend, while trying to find herself a man unfettered by any apron strings. Nan C. Merrill ’53 recently published Journey Into Love: From Fear to Freedom (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2007), in which she shares the details of her spiritual journey into “LoveConsciousness.” At age 27, Elva Linnea Nelson ’43LS met Swami Akhilananda, a monk from India who was a pioneer in advocating meditation and spiritual practices for mental health. Nelson compiled details about and photography of the Swami’s life, teachings, and work as a bridgebuilder between East and West in A Monk for All Seasons (Llumina Press, 2007). Calling All Authors If you’ve recently authored a book and would like it to appear in the “Words, Etc.” section of the SIMMONS magazine, please send a copy of the book, along with a cover letter including your name and graduation year, to: SIMMONS magazine, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA, 02115-5898. You also may fax information about the book to 617-521-2303 or e-mail simmonsmagazine@simmons. edu. Books will appear in “Words, Etc.” at the editor’s discretion and as space allows. fall 2008 17 © images.com/corbis A Different BY ALICIA POTTER ’91 18 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu “If you look at the demographic changes in Boston over the last 10 years, students will likely be working with populations that are different from themselves.” —SSW ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SUZANNE SANKAR A Portuguese-speaking man enters Brigham and Women’s Hospital with a traumatic head injury. The patient doesn’t speak English, nor do his two older brothers, his only family in Boston. He has no insurance; his siblings, no experience with the American health care system. Ahead lie months of critical decisions — medical procedures, rehabilitation, payment issues — made all the more urgent by a difference in language and culture. Enter School of Social Work alumna Rachel Holley ’04SW. The only clinical social worker on staff fluent in both Portuguese and Spanish, she is a crucial link between the medical and administrative teams and the diverse populations who are admitted each day. With such responsibility, it’s easy to assume that Holley herself hails from a bilingual family. But she is Caucasian and middle-class, a native of Acton, Mass. — about as far away from the barrios and favelas as you can get. “As I tell my patients,” says Holley, “I am 100 percent gringa.” Across the Charles River, at the Cambridge Health Alliance, another story unfolds. Dr. Ana Nava ’01SW is a clinical social worker in the Alliance’s mental health and addiction services. Nava consults mostly with Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Brazilian clients in their native language. For this emigrant of Portugal, the cultural divide surely isn’t as wide — or is it? “A client and I may be from the same country, the same village, the same street,” says Nava, ”but that doesn’t mean we are the same.” Both scenarios illustrate the very essence — and the formidable challenges — of cross-cultural social work: practitioners reaching out to communities that are different, either patently or subtly, from their own. How to do so with effectiveness and sensitivity is a hot topic in academia. Yet where the tensions and benefits of cross-cultural practice really play out is in the field, which grows more diverse each year. “I don’t think you can be a social worker today without a crosscultural perspective,” says Suzanne Sankar, associate professor and director of field education at the SSW. Further broadening the gap is the evermore complex definition of culture. Increasingly, the term “cross-cultural” has come to include class, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, and even veteran status. “Culture is complex, dynamic, and always evolving,” explains SSW Associate Professor Hugo Kamya, who grew up in Uganda and now works with Sudanese and Hispanic populations. “It can be quite unpredictable.” How, then, to fully prepare graduates for cross-cultural practice? For Holley and Nava, as well as faculty members in the field, the answer lies in a paradoxical, almost overwhelming idea: you can never completely know another culture — even your own. “Cultural competency” — the ability to meaningfully interact with people of other cultures — certainly remains the goal. And that means gathering experience. Lots of experience. The SSW always has offered a hands-on, clinically focused curriculum, and in recent years, has expanded its commitment to cross-cultural training to reflect the increased demand for social workers with these skills. The results are both practical — a Spanish-language immersion course — and more broad, such as the formation of a Global Task Force, a seven-member faculty committee dedicated to integrating international education into the curriculum. Yet it’s the hallmark of the SSW program that remains the biggest eye-opener for many students: two required field placements. “One of our major interests is that students work cross-culturally during their time in the program,” says Sankar. “If you look at the demographic changes in Boston over the last 10 years, students will likely be working with populations that are different from themselves.” For Holley, who has an undergraduate degree in Spanish language and literature, and has spent time in Brazil and Ecuador, experience buys credibility and trust. After completing placements at the Boston Adult Technical Academy and the South End Community Health Center, and working for two years at the hospital, she knows of almost all of the city’s Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking psychotherapists. She handles culturally delicate situations daily, such as balancing the hospital’s legal obligation to inform Perspective Interpreting the Rigors — and Rewards — of Cross-Cultural Social Work fall 2008 19 patients of their diagnosis, with the families’ belief that loved ones should be protected from bad news. Holley has learned that talking to the relatives first, with the patient’s permission, eases the problem. And when the prognosis is terminal, she helps clients and families to let go. Indeed, Holley’s level of involvement can be intense. In the instance of the Portuguese-speaking man with the head injury, she was immersed in all aspects of the months-long case, going so far as to assist with negotiations regarding the removal of surgical staples in his scalp. Nava’s effectiveness relies on a shared language and experience, yet she must rein in the temptation to make assumptions based on her own background. “I may feel that I automatically know what they’re going through,” she explains, “but I make it clear that in no way am I imposing my view on them. I make it clear that they have choices.” To better understand her clients’ needs and to help other practitioners, Nava has begun to organize conferences that explore the immigration experiences and social work needs of Portuguese speak- Cultural competency — the ability to meaningfully interact with people of other cultures — certainly remains the goal. Nava’s work, too, depends on clients recognizing the authenticity of her background. Like Holley, she’s found that her clients, almost all immigrants like herself, prefer to speak in their native language. “When you’re anxious or depressed or stressed out, even if you speak English, you tend to fall back on your mother language,” she says. “You can express yourself better.” To work with her handful of U.S.-born clients, Nava, who came to the U.S. 30 years ago, adjusts her work style accordingly. “It’s not uncommon for a Brazilian client to hug me, or a Portuguese woman to give me a kiss on the cheek at the end of a session, but that would scare the Americans!” she says, laughing. Yet how to handle end-of-session pleasantries is the least of her concerns. One of Nava’s daily struggles is overcoming cultural biases against psychotherapy; often her patients feel embarrassed, balk at medication, and fear being labeled “crazy.” As a result, they come in for a few sessions and then may disappear. The fact that there are few additional support services for Portuguese speakers doesn’t help. But sometimes clients trickle back in; one recently returned after seven years. Nava believes that many of her clients wouldn’t seek therapy at all if they didn’t see their own cultures mirrored in the Alliance staff. Still, it’s a fine balance; 20 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu ers, particularly women. The most recent conference, “Mulher: The Evolving World of Portuguese-Speaking Women,” was held at Simmons in April. Also on the agenda for Nava: conducting and publishing research on Portuguese women and mental health. Nava and Holley agree that with each new challenge and client, their effectiveness increases — whether it’s becoming aware of a new resource to recommend, or finding a way to interact more knowledgeably and compassionately. This indefatigable desire to listen and learn, says Professor Kamya, is what effective cross-cultural social work is all about. “Just when we think we have the answers, we need to go back and look again,” he says. “We need to keep asking questions — and questioning ourselves.” Q ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Alicia Potter ’91 is a Boston-based freelance writer who has published articles in numerous magazines, including Health, Self, Elle, and FamilyFun. Her first work for children, a picture book titled Fritz Danced The Fandango, will be published next summer by Scholastic. The Cross-Cultural Landscape • Nearly seven million Americans — 2% of the population — self-identify with two or more racial categories. • Nearly 38 million people (12%) of people in the U.S. are immigrants. • More than 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. • The U.S. is the fifth-largest Spanishspeaking country in the world. • Portuguese speakers are the secondlargest linguistic group in Massachusetts. • The U.S. is home to more religious groups than any other country. • The number of immigrants living in Massachusetts has increased more than 15% from 2000 to 2005. • Latin Americans comprise Massachusetts’ largest group of new immigrants. Sources: Wikipedia; U.S. Census Bureau 2005 American Community Survey; Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers; National Virtual Translation Center; Working Immigrants; Adherents.com; The Diversity Training Group CAS college schoolof ofarts library andan and sciences information graduatescience studies Assistive Technology — a Ticket to Academic Freedom BY ALLYSON IRISH ’04GS Debra Hand ’01GS spends her days helping students with disabilities to learn. For Hand, an assistive technology specialist for the North Attleborough (Mass.) Public Schools, new technologies are critical to the learning success of her students, who struggle each day to realize their potential. “Assistive technology is incredibly exciting to me. I see my job as providing students with options and a ticket to freedom to learn and express themselves. Every student has a right to learn no matter what his/her disability,” said Hand. Hand is one of nearly 100 alumnae/i who have graduated from Simmons’s Assistive Special Education Technology Program. The PHOTO BY SARAH GORHAM ’06GS A Boston-area student from the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative uses an assistive keyboard to participate in classroom activities. program, which has been part of the Department of Education for more than 10 years, prepares educators and therapists to help students with During the four-day conference, 10 alumnae/i including Hand presented interactive showcases that featured on-site demonstrations, poster Every student has a right to learn no matter what his/her disability. — DEBRA HAND ’01GS learning challenges access a general curriculum. The students in the program do so by learning how to recognize, create, implement, and assess various assistive technologies. Simmons’s program was recently highlighted at a major international conference in April run by the Council for Exceptional Children. presentations, videos, and a customized wiki. “Simmons’s Assistive Special Education Technology Program is recognized as a best practice model nationally and internationally,” said Madalaine Pugliese, program coordinator. “The outcomes from our work continued on page 24 Examples of Assistive Technology An assistive technology device is defined as “any piece of equipment used by a person with a disability to increase, maintain, or improve his or her functional capabilities.” Examples of assistive technology devices include: Low-Tech: low-cost, typically nonelectronic devices • adapted furniture, tools, or utensils • raised-line, colored, or grid paper • correction tape or pens • highlighter tape or pens • Velcro™ • manual communication boards • large print books • magnifiers • line guides • pencil grips Mid-Tech: moderately priced, easy to operate electronic devices • tape or digital recorders • electronic dictionaries or organizers • audio books • special lighting or acoustical treatments • adapted keyboards • audible word scanning devices High-Tech: fairly expensive devices that contain microcomputer components for storage and retrieval of information • talking calculators or word processors • word prediction, graphic organizer, or flowchart software • scanners • reading pens source: teaching resources for florida ese fall 2008 21 college of arts and sciences graduate studies CAS Partners with Eric Carle Museum to Offer New Degree PHOTO BY PAUL SHOUL © 2003 THE ERIC CARLE MUSEUM OF PICTURE BOOK ART/PAUL SHOUL BY HILARY SHEPARD The Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons is partnering with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass., to offer the master of fine arts (M.F.A.) in writing for children. The M.F.A. program opened in fall 2008, and takes place at the museum — the first full-scale museum in the U.S. devoted to national and international picture book art. Program courses will be taught by Simmons faculty, and will also tap into the rich community of children’s literature professionals in the Pioneer Valley area. According to the center’s director, Cathryn Mercier, this partnership is a match made in heaven. “The Carle just marked its fifth birthday, as did the Simmons M.F.A. program. The timing was perfect,” said Mercier. More than 30 years ago, Simmons was the first institution to offer a master of arts degree in children’s literature. The Carle’s vision of bringing appreciation and understanding of the art of the picture book complements the center’s mission to engage in academic study of children’s literature as art, text, history, and culture. The two-year M.F.A. program at the Carle joins the suite of renowned graduate programs in children’s literature at Simmons. Programs on the Boston campus include the M.A. in children’s literature, and the M.F.A. in writing for children as well as a variety of dual degree programs that combine the scholarship of children’s literature with professional degrees in library science and education. The program, which will accommodate 10-15 students in its inaugural class, will feature a cohort model of learning, where all students start and finish the program as a group. Q more online For more information, visit simmons.edu/gradstudies/liberal-arts/ academic/childrens-literature/ericcarle.shtml or www.picturebookart.org. Graduate Degrees Offered at Stonehill College Since September 2008, Simmons has offered two graduate degree programs at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. Courses are offered in the master’s of science program in communications management and the master’s of science program in behavioral education. Both programs meet the growing professional needs of adults in the South Shore/Cape Cod/Rhode Island area and will 22 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu allow participants the opportunity to pursue high quality, graduate level work with Simmons, but closer to home. CAS Dean Diane Raymond says, “The partnership with Stonehill provides each partner with important benefits. Stonehill currently offers only undergraduate programs; our relationship allows them to offer select, high-quality graduate programs for their students. For Simmons we can extend our geographic reach and offer two of our most dynamic graduate programs to new audiences. It’s an ideal collaboration.” Q For more information, contact the Office of Graduate Studies: gsa@ simmons.edu or 617-521-2915. college of arts and sciences graduate studies Master’s in History Degree Makes its Debut The Department of History recently began offering a new master of arts degree in history. There are fewer than 40 master’s in history programs in New England, most of which are in large universities. “We are thrilled to be able to offer this level of programming,” said CAS Dean Diane Raymond. “It is very unusual for a smaller school to be able to offer this quality of specialized education.” According to Raymond, history is a prominent discipline within the liberal arts. Offering a master’s degree in history will enrich the College’s liberal arts graduate programs as a whole by directly contributing to and elevating the caliber of the curricula in children’s literature, education, English, and Spanish. Similar to other master’s programs at Simmons, the master’s in history program will collaborate with the undergraduate college to offer an accelerated program where students obtain both their B.A. and M.A. in history in five years. Q more online For more information, visit www. simmons.edu/gradstudies/liberalarts/academics/history. New Name for Women’s Studies What’s in a name? Is it identity, characterization, or is it simply a social category? At Simmons, it’s a more accurate identity — Gender/Cultural Studies has been renamed Women’s and Gender Studies. “Adding gender to the title more clearly reflects the additional emphasis on gender that has become part of women studies theory,” said Laurie Crumpacker, founder of the Women’s Studies program in 1978, and professor and chair of the history department at Simmons. That more than half of the courses in the program examine gender with a focus on women’s issues was one of the deciding factors on the name change. “The name includes ‘women’ because we would like to preserve the history of the discipline,” said Jill Taylor, professor and chair of Women’s and Gender Studies. Women’s studies majors have led to careers in management, academia, and healthcare, among others. This undergraduate program features a major, minor, and interdisciplinary minor in social justice for those interested in activism. Q more online For more information, visit: http:// www.simmons.edu/academics/ undergraduate/womens_studies/ index.html. Dean’s Message This issue of the SIMMONS magazine includes a feature article about arts in higher education and about some of the exciting new programs that are now a part of the Simmons curriculum. I hope you’ll feel as inspired as I do about these activities. As the article makes clear, Simmons students, despite cutbacks across the country in funding and other support for the arts, continue to find ways to express their talents in and passion for work in the arts. Graduate and undergraduate students alike — regardless of their majors or programs — realize the importance of artistic expression and find ways to channel their artistic energies. I’m proud that Simmons supports — in so many different ways — the creative and artistic dreams of our students. For example, our arts administration program offers a dynamic interdisciplinary mix of art, music, management, and communications courses to provide students with the practical skills, and theoretical grounding they need to move into exciting careers in the arts. Simmons graduates have interned or worked at the Boston Ballet, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Gardner Museum, among many others. The Trustman Gallery at Simmons, open to the public, is beginning its 27th exhibition season with a reinvigorated commitment to showcasing contemporary art in the context of liberal arts education. The Trustman is especially committed to highlighting the work of women artists. The new minor in performing arts, offered through our Colleges of the Fenway consortium, is meeting a need revealed through a survey where students told us that they value the opportunity to receive academic credit for performance. Simmons has become the most active participant in that program, and in five years participation has increased from 180 students to 1,200! Though few of our students will go on to earn livelihoods as practicing artists, they do leave Simmons knowing the value of the arts. This past year, 22 students graduated with majors in our arts programs. Nearly 50 students have declared majors or minors in the arts. The balance of liberal arts and professions that characterizes a Simmons education means that students can have real-world experiences without being narrow technicians. Their successes tell a great story! I hope that you enjoy the latest edition of our SIMMONS magazine and that, like me, you feel a sense of pride in our students’ passion for performance and for the arts. Sincerely, DIANE RAYMOND DEAN, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES fall 2008 23 college of arts and sciences graduate studies faculty news LYNDY JOHNSON AFAA MICHAEL WEAVER 24 simmons Department of Political Science and International Relations Chair Zachary Abuza presented a paper titled, “The Disengagement and De-radicalization of Members of Jemaah Islamiyah: Lessons Learnt from Malaysia and Indonesia”- at the United Nations International Peace Institute in New York in April. Judith Aronson, assistant professor of communications, presented her Type Book project at the international TypeCon ’08 conference in Buffalo, NY, in July. The Type Book project is a 36-page book about type that her students constructed and designed during four weeks, while researching various typefaces and learning how to lay out a book using the principles of design. Donna Beers, professor of mathematics, gave a presentation on “How Can We Help Students Grow More FIT (Fluent in Information Technology) for Mathematics?” at the northeastern section meeting of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in Burlington, VT, in May. She also gave a presentation and served as a case study session leader for Leading the Academic Department, a professional enhancement program for new mathematics department chairs sponsored by MAA, this summer in Washington, D.C. English Professor Renee Bergland recently published Maria Mitchell and The Sexing of Science: An Astronomer Among the American Romantics (Beacon Press, 2008), a story of astronomer Mitchell’s life and work in the mid-1800s. Education Professor Lyndy Johnson gave a presentation in March on “The Principal’s Role in New Teacher Induction” at the national conference of the Association for Supervi- alumnet.simmons.edu Assistive technology continued from page 21 sion and Curriculum Development in New Orleans. The conference attracted 16,000 educators from around the world. Shirong Luo, assistant professor of philosophy, gave a guest lecture on “Balancing Filial Piety and Parental Love in the Age of Caring” at the National Endowment for the Humanities 2008 Summer Seminar for College and University Teachers at Wesleyan University. Sociology Professor Becky Thompson is co-author of When the Center Is on Fire: Passionate Social Theory for Our Times (University of Texas, 2008), which looks to classical social thinkers such as W. E. B. Du-Bois and Karl Marx to help understand 21st-century social traumas, including the 9/11 attacks, Abu Ghraib prison abuses, and Hurricane Katrina. Alumnae Endowed Chair Professor of English Afaa Michael Weaver was awarded the “Ibbetson Street Press Lifetime Achievement Award” in November at the Somerville News Writers Festival VI in Somerville, Mass. Other writers and authors at the event included Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz (The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao). Weaver also was honored by the city of Baltimore, during its CityLit Festival. The city proclaimed April 19 “Afaa Michael Weaver Day,” in recognition of Weaver’s literary achievements as a native of that city. more online To read more about CAS faculty, including 11 new professors/ lecturers, visit www.alumnet. simmons.edu. provide successful technology interventions for educators and — most importantly — students.” So what exactly are assistive technologies? According to Pugliese, these are a suite of tools that educators use to help students with learning challenges. As one can imagine, the style and sophistication of these tools can vary as widely as the students themselves. For example, a student who is deaf may need to use a TTY (text telephone), or a blind student may need to use technology with a computer-generated voice. Pugliese said one low-tech solution for a student could be something as simple as a special pencil grip, while a student for more information visit • Simmons’s Assistive Special Education Technology Program — www.simmons.edu/gradstudies/ education • Simmons’s Assistive Special Education Technology Wiki — http://simmonsatshowcase. wikispaces.com Created for the Council for Exceptional Children conference. • The Council for Exceptional Children — www.cec.sped.org Provides information about national and state policies, educational textbooks, and resources for various disorders and/or disabilities. • The Family Guide to Assistive Technology — www.pluk.org/ AT1.html Provides information for families through a guide funded from The Federation for Children with Special Needs by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation college of arts and sciences graduate studies alumni news with cerebral palsy who is unable to speak may need a customized communication device. Despite the recent explosion of integrated education programs, Simmons is one of the few programs in the country to offer a graduate degree in assistive technology. Another differentiator, said Pugliese, is Simmons’s focus on “real-world” implementation. Students learn not only about different types of technologies, but also how to evaluate effectiveness. “That is what makes the Simmons program stand out. We provide the understanding of these tools, and the strategies for implementation and success,” said Pugliese. Q these web sites: Services (OSERS) U.S. Department of Education. • The Assistive Technology (AT) Training Online Project — http:// atto.buffalo.edu Provides information on AT applications that help students with disabilities learn in elementary classrooms. • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — http:// idea.ed.gov Katherine Butler Jones ’67GS recently was profiled in the Mount Holyoke Alumnae Quarterly for her achievements as a professor, activist, historian, and writer. Jones received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke in 1957 and a doctorate in education administration from Harvard. Olivia Miller ’84GS recently published The Healthy Back Deck: 50 Simple Techniques for a Pain-Free Back (Chronicle Books, 2008), a deck of 50 cards offering step-by-step guidance for a variety of exercises to relieve back strain and pain, improve posture, increase flexibility, and decrease stress. Each illustrated card also includes tips, called “Back Talk,” on exercise techniques and basic back care. Kelley Chunn ’90GS and Alicia Canady ’03, co-chairs of the 2008 Black Alumnae/i Symposium, were recently featured in the Bay State Banner. Lauren Miller Rozenvayn ’04GS was married on May 6, 2007 to Yuri Rozenvayn. Rozenvayn works as an inclusion specialist for the town of Belmont, and the couple lives in Chestnut Hill with their two cats, Jack and Millie. Kim King ’05GS recently was appointed chief marketing officer at SiteSpect, a company providing services to enable web marketers to optimize website effectiveness through multivariate testing and behavioral targeting. The service is the first and only non-intrusive solution available. Previously, King was director of marketing communications at Bit9. Isabel Aller ’08GS recently was hired as interactive marketing manager for The Phoenix newspaper in Boston. Simmons Alumnae/i View Archives Exhibit Simmons alumnae/i as well as other members of the Essex County Home Economists in Education and Massachusetts Association of Family and Consumer Science gathered at the Beatley Library with archivist Jason Wood ’01LS to view the historical exhibit on household economics. The organizations are beginning the Centennial Celebration in 2009 of what is now called Family and Consumer Science. U.S. Department of Education site focused on IDEA, which ensures services/education to children with disabilities. • National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS) — http://nimas.cast.org Provides downloads of NIMASrelated tools, U.S. Department of Education reports on NIMAS, and a link to a NIMAS listserv. From left to right: Retired home economics/family and consumer science teacher Jane Cappuccio Stauffer ’78GS, Simmons Archivist Jason Wood ’01LS, Dorothea Blanchard ’66GS, and Alice Lovely ’58GS fall 2008 25 giving Gift Addresses Nursing Shortage, Promotes Diversity BY LEAH ROTHSCHILD EGGERS Phyllis Nickerson Dotson ’62 and her husband, George Dotson Phyllis Nickerson Dotson ’62 and her husband, George, describe giving as one of life’s pleasures. “There’s constant gratification that you have given back and you have honored an institution like Simmons. Part of your legacy is the life you live, and we want our children to know that this is the kind of life we live,” Phyllis Dotson said. The Dotsons’ recent $2 million gift to the Simmons nursing department addresses the nationwide shortage of nurses by seeking to correct racial and ethnic disparities in the nursing profession. The Phyllis Nickerson Dotson ’62 and George S. Dotson Fund for Academic Excellence will launch a tutoring program for nursing students. Through academic support and mentoring from faculty and multidisciplinary experts, the program will strengthen efforts to attract and retain ethnically and culturally diverse students. The fund also will 26 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu enhance the technology infrastructure of the nursing labs. “The Dotsons are generous supporters,” said Judy Beal, associate dean of the School of Health Sciences (SHS) and chair of the department of nursing. “This gift enables us to develop a stronger, more ethnically and culturally diverse pipeline of nursing candidates.” As a nursing student at Simmons, Dotson says she learned organizational skills and how to be more compassionate — skills that helped her and her family tremendously when their young son died in 1978 after being diagnosed with cancer. Dotson has since worked to ease the burdens of seriously ill children and their families. She helped establish the Tulsa (Okla.) Ronald McDonald House, and she created the Pediatric Volunteer Program at Tulsa’s St. John Medical Center. She has worked with other organizations including the Mental Health Association and Domestic Violence Intervention Services in Tulsa, as well as the Tulsa Library and the Junior League of Tulsa. Today she also is a leadership volunteer in Tulsa for St. Simeon’s Episcopal Home, an assistedliving community. “I don’t know that there’s any organization with which we deal that has the same personal touch and the ability to communicate our participation and our role that Simmons has,” George Dotson said. “All of those things go together to make participation with Simmons a real treat for our family. It’s never a task or a chore. It’s always a real memorable experience. I say that, having never attended a class or spent a day at Simmons College; I got the best of a Simmons education by walking away with one of your graduates!” Phyllis Dotson says this gift is a vote of confidence in the SHS and the College’s leadership. “Anything we can do to help with the future plans of Simmons, financially, in our small way, is important. We wish President Drinan and the faculty much success and we look forward to many trips back to campus,” she said. “When you see your money well-spent and the impact that it has made, you want to give again.” Q 2007–2008 Report of Gifts Thank you to our 1899 Society and John Simmons Society members, whose generous support helped us raise more than $10 million for Simmons during this past fiscal year. Please turn to page 49 to view the Annual Report of Philanthropy. For a full donor list, please visit www.alumnet. simmons.edu/annual report giving $100,000 to Support SSW Scholarships and Initiatives There was no doubt about it. Priscilla “Polly” Dickson ’52SW always knew she wanted to be a social worker. And when it came to choosing a school, there was no doubt it would be Simmons. Recently, Dickson made another important life decision: choosing to make a $100,000 gift to the School of Social Work (SSW). such as course-releases and facultystudent research. Originally from Minnesota, Dickson now lives on a picturesque horse farm in Weston, Mass., which was previously owned by the parents of her late husband, Edward. In 1997, she and her husband donated an 11-acre meadow to a non-profit developer for construction across the U.S. Additionally, she has served on urban justice committees in Greater Boston. “My Simmons degree didn’t just provide me with training for my profession,” said Dickson. “It educated me on how to help people throughout my entire life.” Q “This gift will allow more students to benefit from the same quality Simmons education —PRISCILLA DICKSON ’52SW that I received.” “It was the right time for me to make a significant gift to the SSW,” said Dickson, who has been a perennial donor to the College. “This gift will allow more students to benefit from the same quality Simmons education that I received.” Dickson’s generous, current-use gift will support two SSW needs: student scholarships, with priority given to African-American students and underrepresented populations; and the Dean’s New Initiatives Fund, to enhance the dean’s flexibility in response to opportunities and challenges, of mixed-income housing in Weston. A subsidized portion of the meadow was used to attract first-time homebuyers. That was not the first time that Dickson has been an agent of social change. A mother of four and grandmother of six, Dickson has been involved with numerous social justice and anti-racism programs for several decades. A practicing Episcopalian, Dickson helped to create an anti-racism training program in the 1980s for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, which has been used as a model in anti-racism training Priscilla “Polly” Dickson ’52SW photos by john gillooly Celebrating the Spirit of Giving: Reunion 2008 Reunion is a time for celebrating wonderful memories and lifelong relationships. It’s also a time when many undergraduate alumnae honor Simmons by making a gift to the College. During Reunion 2008, alumnae demonstrated their support by giving more than $2.4 million to the College. These gifts are from alumnae whose classes span the decades — from the 1920s to our most recent graduates. This year, the Highest Participation Award went to the 55th Reunion Class of 1953 for achieving a 66% participation rate. The 50th Reunion Class boasted a 62% participation rate and endowed the Class of 1958 Endowed Scholarship with gifts totaling $108,000 — far surpassing the original $50,000 goal for this fund. In addition, the Class of 1983 also endowed a scholarship fund. Q At left, members of the Class of 1993 return to Simmons to celebrate their 15th Reunion; at right, 1958 classmates pose after being part of the 50th Reunion Daisy Chain. fall 2008 27 giving $2.6 Million in Bequests: Legacies that Support Learning, Research During FY08, Simmons received bequest gifts totaling $2.6 million from the estates of 19 donors. These legacies provide vital support for students and faculty, including funding for scholarships, research, and classroom equipment. Bequests to Simmons are deeply personal gifts included in a donor’s will along with gifts to family, friends, and other causes that matter most to the individual. Every bequest gift is a thoughtful expression of support for the College; last year, Simmons received bequests ranging from $1,000 to $1.75 million. The John Simmons Society recognizes alumnae/i and friends who have included Simmons in their plans for the future through a bequest, a gift annuity, or other types of planned gifts. If you would like to learn more about creative ways to support Simmons through your estate plans, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at 800-831-4284 or plannedgiving@ simmons.edu. All conversations are confidential. Q Constructing a Legacy: SOM and Academic Building Initiative Stunning. Beautiful. Impressive. Alumnae/i use these words to describe the latest addition to the Simmons academic campus. Opening in January, the School of Management and Academic Building also will be one of the most environmentally friendly structures in Massachusetts. For Carole Seigel ’80SM, the building symbolizes the success of the School of Management. Seigel made a leadership gift to name a space in the building, which she believes is “a permanent legacy we leave to future students. This is an opportunity for me to give back to the institution that is the cornerstone of my professional life. I hope my fellow SOM alumnae will join me. It is a chance to think big, beyond our annual gifts, and it is consistent with Simmons women assuming a leadership role in business,” Seigel said. Along with Seigel, Sudi Staub ’90SM and Diane Valle ’02SM are co-chairs of the volunteer fundraising committee. For more information on how to support this project, please contact Deb Taft ’00SM at 617-521-2350 or [email protected]. To keep track of progress on the building, visit www. simmons.edu/som/building. Q East Asian Studies Program Receives $200,000 Grant Simmons recently received a $200,000 grant from the Freeman Foundation for its East Asian Studies program. The money will help improve its curriculum and offer enhanced learning and exchange opportunities to undergraduate students. The grant will help fund: scholarships for students traveling to, or conducting research in, East Asia including China, Japan, and Thailand; the addition of another language faculty member; and campus activities that support East Asian Studies. Established in 1996, Simmons’s East Asian Studies program offers interdisciplinary majors and minors, Chinese and Japanese language study, and specialized short-term courses in Thailand, China, and Japan. This is the second grant awarded to Simmons from the Freeman Foundation. The first was awarded in 2001 when Simmons received $860,000. Q more online View from the Quad 28 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CANNON DESIGN For more information about Simmons’s East Asian Studies program, visit www.simmons. edu/academics/undergraduate/east-asian. classnotes Undergraduate Classnotes CLASS NOTES/ALUMNI NOTES POLICY submissions: there are four ways to submit information • • • • Send news to your class secretary Provide news via alumnet.simmons.edu Email news to [email protected] Mail news to: SIMMONS magazine, Attn: Classnotes Editor, Office of Advancement Marketing, Simmons College, Boston, MA 02115 photos • Photos can be submitted using any of the above methods • If you mail a photo and would like it returned, please include a return address • Photos submitted electronically must be 300 dpi or higher to be considered for publication in the magazine deadlines • There are three yearly issues of the magazine • For inclusion in an upcoming issue, please submit notes by November 15, March 15, and July 15 publication • All Class Notes/Alumni Notes received in any way will be posted in full on alumnet.simmons.edu • All Class Notes/Alumni Notes will appear in the magazine but may be edited for space and content • Photos will appear in the magazine if space allows • Undergraduate Class Notes will appear in the back section of the SIMMONS magazine • Undergraduate Class Years with no Class Notes will only list the Class Secretary • Undergraduate Class Years with no Class Notes and no Class Secretary will not be listed, unless they are a Reunion Class • Graduate school Alumni Notes will appear in the appropriate graduate school section If you have any questions, please call the Office of Advancement Marketing at 617-521-2380, or email [email protected]. 1931 1935 Florence Aliber Lipsky 64 Hastings Avenue Keene, NH 03431-5208 Helen Katzen 615 Heath Street, Unit 305 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-2146 1932 1937 Natalie Nicholson 87 Washington Street Newport, RI 02840-1567 [email protected] Edith Samuelson Eastman 12 Louisburg Square Centerville, MA 02632-1922 [email protected] 1938 1940 Esther Wilkins writes, “The Reunion was declared a success. The five happy classmates that attended were Dorothy Mays Ives, Ella Simpson Leadbetter, Catherine McCarthy Murphy, Ruth Nute Tabor, and me. We were proud to receive three awards: the Highest Reunion Class Gift, the Highest Simmons Fund Gift, and the Kay Heggie ’35 Planned Giving award. We were sorry our president, Marjorie Bean Fall and secretary, Dorothy Brown Wrigley were unable to attend and thank them for serving our Class. | Congratulations to Edith Sanford Wiley and husband on their 69th wedding anniversary. | We invite all members to send news for the magazine to our newly elected president, Ruth Nute Tabor, 11C Greenwich Bay Manor, 945 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818. | Also, the 10th edition of my textbook, Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist was published last spring — nearly 50 years since the 1st edition.” Miriam Gosian Madfis 8615 Chevy Chase Drive Boca Raton, FL 33433-1805 1939 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Eleanor Moore Kaiser 6 Paul’s Way Newbury, MA 01951-1121 Frances Albert Leavitt writes, “Now enjoying a new life style in an independent and assisted living community. Family — 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren — residing in California, Vancouver, New Mexico, Canada, and New York!” 1942 Dorothy Siegfried Silhavy 357 Grant Hill Road Tolland, CT 06084-3830 [email protected] Dot writes, “Last December, Helen Nelson Jarvis had open heart surgery. She is recovering gradually. Please send me YOUR NEWS.” 1943 Barbara Prance Fluck 19 South St. Plainville, MA 02962 [email protected] Barbara reports: After five years of coaxing we are receiving notes from several of you. | Kay Wingate was in Turkey and went on a five day cruise. | Peg Coffey Hamilton and her daughter, Terry, flew to Singapore in January to visit Terry’s son who teaches in a private school. Peg and Terry took a side trip to Bali. | P.K. Smith had a wonderful family Christmas celebrated at home. | I chatted with Barbara Mayhew Donald. I must make my official apology for incorrectly identifying her late husband as a doctor. Barbara’s father was the doctor. | Mary Zecchini Bryant wrote of the many snow storms over the winter which made it difficult for folks to get about. Mary has spoken on the phone with Jane Veazie Nelson who is living in Scarborough. | Elva Nelson’s latest book is in fall 2008 29 classnotes print, called Swami Akhilananda, 1894–1962. | Ruth Olmstead Roundy wrote that our classmate, Virginia Lovett Kilham died at her home on January 21, 2008. She had had cancer for some time. The class sends its sympathy to Ginny’s family. 1944 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Joan Keating Lowney 1202 Greendale Avenue, Apt. 119 Needham, MA 02492 Joan says, “Writing in the midst of a snow storm — what else in the winter of 2008! Keep in touch!” | Peggy Adelson Saslow writes, “I was thrilled to share the Mary Canavan Award with Toni Smerlas Lakis ’46SW. I am happy to stay on the Alumnae Association Executive Board for another three years.” | Marge Coleman Berg organized a tea for Simmons grads at the Wakefield Inn in Wakefield, NH. | Ruth Riceman Shire stays busy as a children’s librarian. She is a community volunteer and a regular at exersize classes. She has three sons and five grandchildren. The eldest is a freshman at Harvard. | Rachel emeri-ties updates on emeriti faculty and staff Earlier this year, Phyllis Moore (Nursing) received the 2008 President’s Award from the Massachusetts Nurses Association. She was appointed to the advisory committee of the University of Massachusetts’s Boston Nursing Scholars Program, which supports students interested in nursing who are from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities and underrepresented populations in the profession. Lydia Smith (Education) reports that she is teaching, both at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, and at Brookhaven in Lexington, where she lives. Courses include American and International Short Stories, and Jane Austen’s Novels and Significance. The ever-active Lawrence Langer ’96HD (English) gave the closing keynote address on “The Survivor as Author: Primo Levi’s Literary Vision of Auschwitz” at an international conference on Levi at Yale University. He also gave two lectures at the Holocaust Museum in Houston, Texas, on 30 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu “The Artists of Theresienstadt” and “Interpreting Holocaust Testimonies.” In August he spoke on “Memory and Identity: Understanding Holocaust Testimonies” and “Psychological Responses to the Holocaust” at a research symposium on Understanding Genocide at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Ynhui Park (Philosophy) continues to publish in French and in English. Recently some of his collected work appeared in the journal Poésie published by Editions Belin in Paris. Poems in English have recently appeared in the journal Damn the Caesars, published in Buffalo, New York. Alden Poole (Communications) and his wife Janet were honored last January by the Quincy Human Rights Commission for their “long record of advocacy for peace and social justice” at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast. The annual AAUP/Simmons luncheon last May was well attended by emeriti and longterm staff. College of Arts and Sciences undergraduate faculty present included Peter Bowers (Chemistry) who entertained with his stand-up comedy, Peter Castle (Psychology), Diane Coulopoulos (Psychology), Laurie Crumpacker ’63 (History), Kathleen Dunn (Education), Alicia Faxon ’98HD (Art), Henry Halko (History), Susan Keane (French), Lawrence Langer, Peggy Loeb (Public Information), Ann Lord (Nursing), Richard Lyman (History), Charles Mackey (French/ Dean), Phyllis Moore, George Nitchie (English), Alden Poole, John Robinson (Education/ Dean), Richard Sterne (English), and Judy Wittenberg (English). Deanna Brooks and Priscilla Riley represented the School of Social Work, with Josephine Fang and Bob Stueart P’88 from the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences. Later that month, about two dozen emeriti and longterm staff attended Simmons’s pre-Commencement dinner at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Please send news of emeriti and long-term faculty and staff to Peggy Loeb, pegloeb@ yahoo.com. Josefowitz Siegel has moved to a retirement community near her former home. She travels to visit family and writes. | Alice Saunders thanks her two cats for keeping her in good spirits despite many physical problems. | Jean Alvord Cramer’s husband died in June 2007 — just short of their 64th wedding anniversary. Her immediate family (33 in all) have been her support. | Connie Luby Thurber died December 31, 2007, after a long illness. Lois Butler and Peggy Saslow attended her funeral. | Lee Washburn Stearns was the oldest alumna at a recent Southwest Florida Simmons Club meeting. She attends theatre and symphony concerts, sings in a mixed chorus, plays bridge, and travels. | Joanne Williams Tripp is back from three weeks in Maui. Arthritis from Lyme disease is slowing her down. 1945 Jacqueline Zeldin Colby ’75LS 289 Mill Street Newtonville, MA 02460-2437 [email protected] Jackie reports: I keep busy as President of the Newton, MA, Food Pantry. My granddaughter, Erica Colby ’08, graduated from Simmons in the spring. | I am sad to report that Susie Kaldeck Gray died last November. She had had several strokes. After retiring as head of the Boston Public Library, division of science and technology, Susie was elected to a number of terms as library trustee in Sharon, MA. Her daughter, Janet Gray ’74, is a graduate of Simmons. | Betty Emhoff Green, Class treasurer, reports that our finances are in good shape. The total receipts available are $19,681.41. | Connie Ramsdell Blair spent time in Sicily last year with her son. On a trip to San Francisco the previous year, Connie saw Blanche classnotes Erlandson Campbell. Blanche has moved to senior living. Her address is 2770 Pleasant Hill Rd., #332, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523. | Alice Whittaker Latimer and husband Chuck enjoy traveling. They traveled to England and Germany, and cruised to Bermuda, the Adriatic, and the Baltic sea. A drive through New England last fall enabled them to see Simmons. | Bunny Diamond Levinson lost her husband, Mendy, last spring after a long illness. | Yolanda Romanelli sings with the Quincy Choral Society. Last fall she spent several enjoyable weeks in North Carolina. | Marie-Clare Welch Rowbotham and her husband enjoyed spending Christmas with their daughter, Sara, her hubby, three grandchildren, and four pets. | Ruth Henrickson Sangren writes that although she and Ward have slowed down, they travel and play tennis and bridge. 1946 Elicia Carroll Kelley ’48GS 16 Paulman Circle West Roxbury, MA 02132-1223 Betty Albee Robinson writes, “My husband of over 60 years, Perley B. Robinson, died on April 22, 2008. I’m hiking, paddling and downhill skiing, with time for church and community activities.” | Wes Lindsey, husband of Marjorie Bell Lindsey, died December 23, 2007. He was inurned at the Naval Academy columbarium. 1947 Barbara Burke Garlick 43 Whitehall Street Dedham, MA 02026-2227 [email protected] Jane Bowler Conway writes, “Our 13 grandchildren are ages 8 to 30 years. We have two sets of triplets.” | Virginia Congdon Davies writes, “Still living alone in my home in Fort Worth, TX. Have 4 great-grandchildren in Tulsa and Texas.” | Priscilla Wheelock Duncan writes, “I’ve moved from Marblehead to Wenham, trading my harborfront for a townhouse close to my granddaughter and daughter-in-law.” | Mary Ebersole Leslie writes, “My grandson Patrick Leslie graduated this May from U. of Southern California, school of acting.” | Teddy Santoro Lumpkin writes, “Book #13 is a diet book. Still in Connecticut with horses and dogs — for 46 years!” 1948 Jane Washburn Parker 1210 Evergreen Avenue Plainfield, NJ 07060-2618 [email protected] Jane reports: Our 60th Reunion brought back the following classmates: Jean Vanicek Babcock; Elinor Custance Bettencourt; Elizabeth Nelson Bleiler; Jean Blessington; Mary Burgess; Marcia Snow Darnell; Doris Downing; Rosamond Muldoon Finocchio; Katharine Morris Fisher; Pauline Sidman Grand; Virginia Jackson Hamilton; Roberta Prescott Hansen; Lois Fogg Jackson; Jeanne Quinlan Kirk; Virginia Nowell Klein; Elizabeth Adams Laub; Clare Hoey Morash; Barbara Cochrane Nicholson; Margery Garland Nickerson; Jane Washburn Parker; Lorelle Lundeberg Schiewetz; Jane Bergwall Shattuck; Mildred Stevens; Theodor Cassani Sweeney-Berry; Elizabeth Brimley Tunno; Margaret Adams Ware; Jean Mahoney Whelan. | Special events included a lobster dinner; evening at Pops; luncheon in Alumnae Hall (The Refectory); our Class banquet in the Trustman Art Gallery; and brunch with President Helen Drinan. | Elizabeth Adams Laub produced the Reunion Booklet from the 40+ responses she received. Most of us have retired, some are widows, many travel the world, grandchildren and “greats” keep us young. Contact Betty for a copy. Our new class officers are: President Elizabeth Adams Laub, Vice President Jean Vanicek Babcock, Treasurer Virginia Nowell Klein, Secretary Jane Washburn Parker, and Class Agents Nancy Ryder Brissette and Mary Queeney DiGiovanni. | Florence Cavagnero Gullen now lives at Mary Ann Morse Nursing Home, 45 Union St., Natick, MA 01760. She would like to hear from classmates. | Ruth Ann Baggs retired from the U.S. Government having worked for 35 years in Barcelona, Spain, Montreal, Canada, and Washington, DC. She is living happily in Harwich Port, MA. | We were sorry that Jan Blanchard Carmel, our past president, missed the 60th due to illness. Jan has two children, Nancy and David, who is married with two children. Jan’s good pal is her cocker spaniel. | Marie Ochs Keefe lost her husband Joe in 2005. Marie spends time visiting her six children. | Burnice Freeman Williams retired from jobs as a testing coordinator for the U.S. Armed Services and an adult care home information specialist. She and her husband have two boys, two girls, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. | Margaret Mawn Yuen developed health problems in 2007 which limit travel but she enjoys her many nieces and nephews. | Jane Bergwall Shattuck attends the Harvard Institute for Learn- ing in Retirement. Her family added two great-grandchildren. | Nancy Ryder Brissette’s son Joseph, a single dad, adopted a second son in April 2007, making 14 grandchildren. | Marion Berkman Lipson attended the wedding of her neighbor’s daughter, and discovered that her neighbor was a Simmons grad as well: Edith Gordon Lasner ’66. | Jean West Ross won the Peace Corp’s 2007 Lillian Carter Award from the San Francisco Bay area. Jean and her husband Clayton served in the Peace Corps in Papua New Guinea. | I am saddened to announce that Velma Thompson Dietrich died in Spring, 2008. She had been serving as chairperson of our nominating committee. 1949 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Emily Macy Salaun 101 Tower Avenue Needham Heights, MA 02494-1911 [email protected] Emily reports: Ina Butterfield Phelps, Wendell, MA, and husband Mason volunteer protecting the open space of Whetstone Wood Wildlife Santuary. | Nancy Hoagland Powderly, Jackson, NJ, has improved her golf game despite a $400 accident with a golf cart. Her warning: “Stay out of golf carts, especially when I’m driving.” | Rachel Gallup Stavrolakis, Decatur, GA, and Chris Klein Matthys continue to travel, visiting scattered family members. | Condolences to the family of Elizabeth Little Pike, Dalton, GA, widow of Donald Pike, Jr., who passed away in February. | Dorothy Allison Caprera, Esq., Yarmouth, ME, visited Jean Macrae Moseley, San Francisco, CA, while enroute home from undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 31 classnotes a trip to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Vladivostock, Russia, Alaska, and Vancouver. Jean has visited Monhegan, ME, and her hometown of Portsmouth, NH. | Margaret Claire Carolan Powell, Beverly, MA, “tripped” to Greece and is a Floridian snowbird in St. Petersburg in the same condo building as Muriel Ferris. They toured and gambled away the winter. | Mary Jane Buxton Goodrich and her husband George, Cincinnati, OH, have retired from work and travel, after 17 years of being Maine summer residents. | Patricia Yelle Ryan, Minneapolis, MN has taken off to France and Ireland. | The second book of Sen Sahir Silan, Antayla, Turkey, Self Exhile — My Letters to Bibi, was published by an international women’s group called Soroptimist. | Elaine Caulfield Brosseau, Sonoma, CA, is looking forward to our 60th Reunion the weekend of May 30, 2009. | Blanche Dodge Day writes, “It has been a rough time for me as my husband, Wendell, injured himself and died May 11, 2007.” | Helen Suprenant Jefts, Lake George, NY, and her husband Charles closed their real estate office after 50 years of business. “It will take the rest of our natural lives to clean out the records, furniture, and junk.” | Mildred Feldman Levitt writes, “After teaching Hebrew at Congregation Mishkan Tefila for 42 years, I am resigning. My granddaughter Aviva Schwartz ’07 graduated from Simmons magna cum laude. My other granddaughter Arielle broke the tradition of Simmons and is a freshman at Brandeis. I enjoy the Cape in the summer.” | Emily Macy Salaun, Needham, MA, celebrated her 80th birthday with family, fun, food, flowers, and a crowd of starry balloons. | Robert Slocum writes, “Completed New York State in Fiction (1751–1999). Have completed 20 32 simmons years of retirement from Cornell University Libraries. Trying to stay busy — caretaking my wife who is recovering from bladder cancer. Still volunteering at Dryden Kitchen Cupboard and supporting the bicentennial of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Dryden, 1808–2008.” 1950 Carolyn Millinger Holland 32 Dartmouth Street Beverly, MA 01915-1633 [email protected] 1951 Virginia Willon Clark 4519 Baybrook Drive Pensacola, FL 32514 [email protected] Virginia reports: I had a wonderful trip last summer with daughter Meredith, to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Being raised in a family where our second home was our sailboat “Scampi” she had always wanted to see the Bay of Fundy. | Betty Gaffey Stone’s granddaughter, Brittany Stone, is a member of the freshman class of 2011, and loves Simmons. | Still hoping to get news from all of you as our Class notes can only be as good as the Class makes them. 1952 Ann David Young 126 Berwick Place Norwood, MA 02062-1915 [email protected] Ann reports: Our spring mini reunion/luncheon at the Colonial Inn in Concord, MA, was a great success with 25 in attendance. | We missed Class Agent Sylvia Hershfield Bloom who is recovering from surgery. We wish her a complete recovery. | Patricia Whittemore Hunter alumnet.simmons.edu and husband John moved from Wellesley to Brookhaven, a retirement community in Lexington, MA. | Evelyn Mayo Finneran, Doris Comick Kellett, and Ann David Young met for lunch at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. | Elane Goren Jacobs’s husband Mel celebrated his 80th birthday with family and friends in Naples, FL. They play tennis and bridge. Elane volunteers at the Naples Museum of Art. | Lillian Anderson Rowe is recovering from a hip fracture. | Joanne Patterson Porter and husband Bob spent several days in December on Barbados. Their youngest son John is off to Shanghai for three years as a litigation lawyer. | Maryrose Condon is tutoring in an after-school program through the Salvation Army. | Constance Walker Haddleton attended a surprise 50th wedding anniversary celebration for Bessie Zotos Tsokanis and her husband Peter. | Another 50th anniversary was celebrated by Devvy Vogt Mosley and husband Everett on a cruise with family along the St. Lawrence Seaway. | Edna Cohen Landesman is enjoying her latest of nine grandchildren, Sadie, born in September of ’07. | Evelyn Green Litman is living in Florida year round. In addition to her four children and five grandchildren, she welcomed her first great grandchild in October ’07. | Geraldine Jamiolkowski Elion’s grandson Nathan graduated from Penn State. | Eleanor Bayer Stanske enjoyed three Elder Hostel trips in 2007: New Zealand, Oregon and a Navaho Reservation at Canyon de Chelly. | Janet Bloom Schlein and husband Herb took a riverboat trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg. | Our sympathy goes to Lucy Hopkins Buckley who lost her longtime companion Edwin Jepsen. | Milly Thompson Colahan reports how much she enjoyed our 55th class Reunion. | Nadia Ehrlich Finkelstein spent Thanksgiving week on a Carribean cruise with her family. | Ann David Young and husband Bob met with Mimi Bonner Hocknell and husband Ted in the fall and enjoyed brunch in Baltimore. Ann and Bob helped daughter Jeannette Le Chevallier ’79 celebrate her 50th birthday in California in October. | Gerness Rosenfeld Alpert lives in Boynton Beach, FL, and enjoys a summer home in Bay Shore, Long Island. Gerness retired from her career as a special education teacher. She is president of L’Chaim Hadassah at Coral Lakes, FL. | The Class’s sympathy goes to the families of Marilyn Roach Parsons, Joyce Appel Hayward, Louise Holleran Drenan, and Carolyn Goodell Kanter who recently passed away. 1953 Dorothy Halloran Fowerbaugh 6733 South Bend Drive Fort Wayne, IN 46804-6267 [email protected] Dotty reports: Class attendees at our 55th Reunion weekend were: Class President Ellie Doane Quirk ’57HS, Vice President and Reunion Chair Ellen Budge Stumpf, Nancy Billings Bursaw, Doris Livingston Doull, Jody DeRoma Dow, Betsey Pool Erickson-Brown, Mal Bellini Fall, June Leonard Goodman, Beverly Elliott Hadley, Mickie Metz Halaburt, Babsy Cofman Krichmar, Mary Lou Sperry Kruse, Mary Lou Kenney Logan, Miriam Kagan Margoshes, Miki Spiegel Marnoy, Nancy Tucker McLaughlin, Ethel Elbein Milas, Barbara Warren Reed, Arlene Oldberg Rome, Sue Snell Solomon, Phyllis Powers Taylor, Sara Bedini Weaver and Secretary Dotty Halloran Fowerbaugh. | At Reunion time, 135 class members (66.5%) had given classnotes for a total of $73,991. Our Class received the Highest Participation Award. Our 55th Reunion gift, the Class of 1953 Endowed Scholarship, has initial funding of $37,926. Thanks to Class Agents Beverly Elliott Hadley, Lucille Cofman Krichmar, and Barbara Warren Reed, and Audry Lovell Parowski for her loyal service as Class Treasurer since 1993. Class officers elected for the next five years are: President Eleanor Doane Quirk ‘57HS; Vice President Ellen Budge Stumpf; Secretary Dotty Halloran Fowerbaugh; and Class Agents Beverly Elliott Hadley, Babsy Cofman Krichmar, and Barbara Warren Reed. Please update your information by e-mail, phone call, or letter to Dotty Halloran Fowerbaugh. | Nancy Arms Alden and husband Phil winter in Naples, FL, and summer in Vermont. They enjoy traveling and visiting their three sons and families. | Marilyn Bellini Fall’s 18-year-old health care agency recently attained a license for home health care in addition to geriatric care management. Mal also ballroom dances. | Congratulations to Nancy Crerie Merrill who received the 2007 Magdala Project award. Her fifth book, Journey Into Love: From Fear to Freedom, is a resource text for retreats. Nan continues to offer retreats as her health permits. | Condolences to Dorothy Hardy Sawyer on the loss of her husband in 2006. In 2007, Dorothy traveled to New Zealand to visit daughter Cynthia and her children. | Meg Powers Pauling and husband, Ed traveled to southern Italy. They have children and grandchildren on both coasts, and make bi-coastal trips as often as possible. | Nancy Tucker Mclaughlin and husband George enjoy time with their four married children and eleven grandchildren. Nancy volunteers at church and with the Hanson VNA. Nancy, Betsey Pool Erickson-Brown, Jan Loring Guidoboni, Babsy Cofman Krichmar and their spouses get together for lunch annually. | Molly Storck sends greetings from London; she would enjoy seeing any classmates. She spends time in Normandy, France restoring a farmhouse. Molly sees Pat Gannon Smith in New York, and has been in touch with Marilyn Parker Asplundh. | Barbara Warren Reed’s new e-mail address is: breed3@ maine.rr.com. | Miki Spiegel Marnoy writes, “For 16 years I was a Val-Pak salesperson. Adele Kittridge Broder got me into it. Now I’m a shopper and hospice volunteer.” 1954 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Georgette McMurray Sampson ’73GS 8 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420-4408 Georgette reports: Send me your cards or there will be no more news in this column. Volunteer work is very popular with our class. Janet Johnson Smith volunteers at the local senior center and plays golf with roommate Jan Flewelling Windhausen. After losing her husband last June, Jan moved to a condo in Bedford, NH. | Connie Lamprey Krapf helps with Newborns-InNeed, which services 14 hospitals and 3 pregnancy centers. | Gunny Sterner volunteers with senior citizens who want help with Medicare prescription plans. | Bernice Katkis Lichtenstein enjoys being a director for the Simmons Club of Boston. | Edie Lloyd Clark moved to Hendersonville, NC, and loves the mountains of western North Carolina. Edie and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party given by their children. In attendance were Edie’s Simmons roommate Jean Armknecht Stuart, sister Barbara Lloyd ’57, and mother, who attended her 80th Wheaton College Reunion last year at 103 years old. | Cynthia Coleman Mortberg and her husband Dick went on a Mediterranean cruise this past year. | Sue Rosenfeld Bender published her second book, Everyday Sacred: A Women’s Journey Home. Her first book, Plain and Simple: A Woman’s Journey to the Amish, was a New York Times bestseller. Sue lives in Berkeley, CA, with her husband and two sons. | Joan Wright Bray writes, “Moved to Tampa, FL, in August to be near my family — son, Robert, daughter, Caryn Bray ’78, and seven grandchildren.” | Katherine Murphy Dickson published her fourth book on balancing family and personal life: Post Partum Papers: March 1972–November 1973. | Lorraine Fraser, Class vice president and Reunion chair, writes, “The planning committee for our 55th will be held the last weekend in May in Westborough, MA. If you would like to be on this committee, please let me know: [email protected]. The committee includes Bea Medoff Fay, Jean Armknecht Stuart, Jan Smith, Jan Windhausen, Florence Wilson, Georgette Sampson, Alice Southworth Schulman, and Marilyn Sarkisian Woloohojian. Remember The Totem Pole? Last May seven of us met for lunch at the location, now the Riverbend restaurant, to visit with Californian Joan Audet Audette. Joan Potter Baldwin, Janet Johnson Smith, Janet Flewelling Windhausen, Diane Hanna, Nancy Shulze Lamb, Lorraine Fraser, and Mariel Bither Sherburne ’53 attended.” | Susan Richmond Levenson exhibited her paintings at the Weymouth Art Gallery at the Wells Public Library in Maine. | Thekla Talis Wolfson writes, “Still with real estate — husband retired. We are proud of our five grandchildren and enjoy traveling.” 1955 Barbara Meaney Keough ’83GS 25 Great Rock Road Sherborn, MA 01770-1609 Patricia Chisholm Wallace 72 North Mill Street, Apt. 4 Holliston, MA 01746-1022 [email protected] Nancy Reid Whitman 190 Nahant Road Nahant, MA 01908 [email protected] Patricia reports: Our Class President Jackie Pell Tuttle enables those of us who write this column to have a very easy job! She connects with classmates by phone, postcards, and email, and forwards the news to us. Jackie’s number is 631.749.0274. | Shirley Trull Hardy is recovering from back surgery. She and her husband got to Florida to enjoy their time-share. | Bev Chaffee Lindstrom has a few more grandkids (one son has 9) and a new son-in-law in CA. | Babs Weaver McCorison and husband Peter went on a September 2007 cruise on the Coho, their boat. | Priscilla Trayers Tennant was in Philadelphia for the American Dietetic Association meeting during the fall minireunion. She and Bud traveled to California after the meeting. On a trip to Alaska, she caught a 35-pound salmon. | Dee Sweet Slosek and husband Ted traveled to Hawaii and North Lake Tahoe, where they celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary. Dee planned their vacations, including trips to South America and Antarctica, around the fall mini-reunion. | Shelah Smith Fried and husband traveled to undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 33 classnotes Munich, Dubrovnik, and Paris. | Gloria Sloat Stolman and husband traveled to Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Their youngest grandchild entered kindergarten and their oldest graduated from Milliken University. | Ruth Reed Cretella ’88GS and husband Hank have bought an additional printing business. She printed our 50th Reunion Book. | Jackie Racicot Grandpre and husband Roland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2007. They retired a few years ago, bought a motor home, and traveled around the country. They have settled in Arizona. | Dottie Parker Patten wrote that life in Hilton Head, SC is fabulous. She’s catering and baking desserts for all her wonderful clients. She returns to Lowell, MA and Laconia, NH frequently. She and husband went on an Alaskan cruise. | Donna Goldberg Reynolds moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL, from Scarsdale, NY. She raised two sons and had a corporate management career. | Li-Chun Chu Wu wrote that the Berkeley Chinese Alumni International Association hosted a Chinese delegation to the Bay Area. What a surprise to find a fellow Simmons alumnae in the group. When he asked for Li-Chun’s class year, he said he was not even born yet! | Esther Baum Davidowitz’s recently published a photography/poetry volume titled Pennsylvania Seasons. | Jean Bedford Cameron ’78LS wrote that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams! Take a look at her website www. ByArrangementWithJean.com. | Melissa Walker Wolfe and her husband are enjoying Wisconsin Northwoods — lots of snow, great cross country skiing and snowshoeing with a wonderful group of retirees. “If anyone is ever driving on Route 51 please stop to see us in Minocqua.” | Last fall, Joyce Finnin Lekas bicycled through Vietnam. The 34 simmons group started in Hanoi. The first six days they were pounded by the edge of a typhoon and had to be re-routed. The Mekong Delta was what she imagined Vietnam to be – rice paddies and fruit trees, water buffalo cooling in the mud. | Jackie Pell Tuttle wrote that the Gold Coast Simmons Club held its winter meeting at Mar a Lago in February. The Class was represented by Jacqueline Wray Buck ’60SW, Froso Metalides Delianides, Betsy Cohen Hoffman, Gloria Sloat Stolman, Sandra Ferriera Smith, and Jackie. | Jackie received a note from Dick Eickaker, husband of Sue Skelton Eichacker. Sue is now a resident in a care giving facility as her dementia has worsened. The facility is only five miles from their Maine home so he is able to visit easily. | Adele Cohen Goldstein ’72SW and husband Arnie recently returned from a trip to India. She said “it is perhaps the most fascinating country we have visited, and we are grateful for the experience.” | Jean Bedford Cameron winters in Arizona and has moved to Sequim, WA, where she is an interior designer. | Suzanne Mills Dennis and husband Larry winter in Sarasota and enjoy the Simmons Club of Sarasota program. | Sandra Rodman Kaufman has two new grandchildren, one in New York and another in Israel. | Joanne Davis Laubner P ’87 celebrated her daughter’s wedding on May 25 in Nahant, MA, where she and Nancy Reid Whitman enjoy the sunsets over Boston. “Come join us at the beach!” | Judy Lamprey McLain and her husband Cliff joined Edie Syrjala Eash and husband Maurie on a tour to Paris. | Stella Palladino Reynolds is recovering from heart surgery, cheered by her 9 grandchildren. | Jean Nettleton Sanders is a fan of UConn women’s sports. | Gloria Sloat Stolman alumnet.simmons.edu enjoys winters in Hawkes Cay, FL. | Melissa Walker Wolfe has moved from Indiana to Wisconsin.| Class Agent Rita Taddonio Walsh thanks the 85 classmates who were donors for the April Challenge. “You helped Simmons achieve that special gift of $500,000. Jackie Pell Tuttle, Laura Bondi Carchia ’60LS and I called many classmates and your response was fantastic. Our Class has a total of 116 donors from our 155 members, with a participation rate of 74.8%! Our Class is in contention for winning the Hoyt Trophy again. With your continued participation, winning could become habit-forming! Encore all ’55ers!!” | Nancy Reid Whitman writes, “20 Class members enjoyed a mini-reunion luncheon at Simmons in May. Wait til you all see the wonderful campus changes when we return for our 55th.” | In 2007 three of our classmates passed on: Mary Blanchard Kirkiles, Elaine Carlstedt Mrkonich, Mary-Hope Carini Ferrara. Our sympathy to their families. 1956 Dorothy Bruce Willis 24 Bradford Lane Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 [email protected] Dot reports: 2007 has been another year of travel for Corinne Hord Yetman: to Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Bangkok, to U.S. national parks, and to St. John with her son Peter and his wife. | For 30 years Mary Hammond Ticknor has been a volunteer docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Mandy and husband Art have four children and travel to Australia every year to visit their son and his family. Mandy is skiing and hiking. | Sally Gowdy Wood is a physical therapist. Until her husband Bob’s death in 2005 she also helped with the family farm. Bob had been a state representative in the VT legislature. Sally has two children and 3-year-old twin grandchildren — a boy and a girl. She keeps in touch with Carolyn Brown Leiby and Jeanne Barcomb Oakes. Jeanne is retired and enjoying summers in Maine and traveling. | Sandy Schor Litner has four children and nine grandchildren. In her retirement she has become a painter and takes classes at Salem State College. She works part time for Weight Watchers and has taken up Israeli folk dancing. | Sally Nissley Malm and husband Duane celebrated their 50th anniversary on a cruise with their two sons and four grandchildren. | Nancie Dwinell Godwin who lives in the US and England enjoyed a visit from Jane Krebs English and her daughter Meredith in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Nancie and her husband Nigel spend most of their time in England with their son, daughter, and two grandsons. Last summer, Nancie visited Jeanne Ferguson Kinney in Maine. | Sally Malloy Crane traveled to Rome for a wedding and has been raising money for her sister’s notfor-profit. Her sister, who is a Catholic nun, lives in Cameroon and buys pipes that bring clean water into villages. | Sue Kranich Granoff and family traveled to Albania to be present when her son Michael became an honorary citizen of Albania. President Clinton appointed Michael to serve as chairman of the Enterprise Fund, which raises money to start banks in Albania. | Ina Seinfeld Bechhoefer’s son Andy was married in December ’07 on the Island of Vieques (P.R.). Her other son John is a physicist at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. This past summer Ina was in Rhode Island, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Alaska. | Charlotte Crestin classnotes Farber writes, “Married 52 years. Enjoying life with my husband. Reading, bridge, and traveling are most enjoyable. We have visited Antarctica, Galapagos Islands, Europe. Just came back from the Panama Canal. Have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.” | Joyce Davidson Franklin, Class president, traveled to Sicily in the fall. | Gail Townsend Johnson recently traveled with a friend to Africa. Gail and husband Bob celebrated their 50th anniversary with family at a ranch in British Columbia. In October they celebrated in NH with family and friends. Classmates Dot Neville Starkweather and Dot Bruce Willis and their spouses celebrated with them. | Mo Moore Marsh is on several boards including VA and hospice, and is a docent for “Castle in the Clouds.” Mo recently visited with her son in California and then with Fran Ford Morse. Fran and husband Dave are retired and enjoy traveling and living close to their children and grandchildren. | Sylvia Ohanesian came east in April ’07 to visit Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Washington DC.. She then visited the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore. | Helene Goldberg Oppenheimer has moved from a house to a condo in Summit, NJ. Helene spends time with her mother who is 102. Helene, who has been our Class vice-president, has resigned. Many, many thanks to Helene. Nancie-Ann Dwinell Godwin has graciously agreed to replace Helene. Nancie-Ann lives in England and Cape Cod. | Cynthia Whiting Peterson writes, “We recently moved from Concord, MA, where we lived for 47 years, to Brighton, NY. We have three sons, one remaining in Concord, another in Connecticut, and a third one here in New York.” | Joanne Trojano Remy writes that after nine years of working as a chemist and taking time out to raise twins she then went to law school. She is still in the law field. Joanne and husband David recently sailed around South America on the Queen Mary 2. | It is a must to read Mim Bamford Smith’s bio in our Reunion booklet. Mim and husband Harold keep busy with travels associated with his clients and his research at the Goldman School at UC Berkeley. They spent three weeks in France last spring. | Ann Murphy Springer writes, “Still doing management consulting with fire and other emergency service organizations. Retired as fire chief. I teach and exhibit watercolor paintings — www. anniemurphyspringer.com.” | Dot Neville Starkweather and her husband Dave celebrated their 50th anniversary in August with family and friends. Dot and Dave live in Biddeford, ME overlooking the water. | It is with sadness to learn of Sally Scannell Litzow’s death in January 2008. Sally was the president of our Class senior year. She leaves 4 children and 13 grandchildren. Her husband John passed away April 2007. 1957 Claire Austin Anderson 15 Juniper Lane Madison, CT 06443 [email protected] Barbara Linington Hamlet writes, “Following a fabulous Simmons 50th Reunion, we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on June 15, 2007. We took two trips to Europe.” | Sheila Orlinsky Nadler writes, “Just a reminder to send your dues — a bargain — five years for $25.00. Make out the check to Simmons College and mail the check to Sheila Nadler, 55 Eugene Ave., Montville, NJ 07045. A donation would also be appreciated and is tax deductable. A donation helps build a reserve for our 55th reunion.” 1958 Dianne Kofman Chirls 3 Robinhood Drive Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 [email protected] Dianne reports: Three cheers for Sandy Rosenfeld Dickerman, Reunion chair, and her committee for the most fabulous 50th Reunion ever! This is the first column I am writing for our class and I want it to be filled every issue. That’s your assignment! As for me, I still volunteer for National Council of Jewish Women. Allen and I are enjoying his retirement, traveling and spending time in Manhattan with the grandchildren. We enjoy our home in Florida during the winter. Our new Class officers are Louis Razin Brown ’77LS, president; yours truly as secretary; Pat Keegan Harden, treasurer; and Sandy continues as Reunion chair. | Hannah Lewin says we all looked good as septugenarians. She met with Anita Oppenheim Malina and Nancy Sandler Gavrin to congratulate them on the memory book. | Louise Razin Brown ’77LS is a guide at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA. Her granddaughter Carly is attending Smith College and grandson Neal is attending Greenacres School in Rockville, MD. | Jan Kline and Rima Kartez Burroughs, roommates at Simmons, caught up with each other after 41 years. Rima writes, “I am a caterer (Cityfarm catering), golfer, skier, wife, mother, and grandmom.” Jan is a senior associate for the Corcoran Group, the largest real-estate company in New York. | Katharine Drummond Didham-Gracier writes, “At- tending Napa Valley College for preschool teaching. Married for the second time to Albert Gracier, Jr., an architectural designer. One son, 33 years old.” | Meryl Gray Finkelstein is the proud grandma of a two-year old grandson. | Patricia Keegan Harden missed Reunion at the last minute due to the sudden death of her sister. Our thoughts were with Pat. Pat retired in December and moved to Maine which she thoroughly love! | Clotilde Chaves Zannetos writes, “Last February, we received news of the passing of our classmate — Lois O’Grady, MD. She was a forerunner for women entering the fields of medicine and law and greatly admired by all who knew her.” | Don’t forget to visit our Class website on Alumnet for more news about our classmates. 1959 REUNION ’09 MAY 30–MAY 31 Barbara Peretz Shulman 9 Woodhollow Lane New Rochelle, NY 10804-3419 [email protected] Jane Drooker Frahm 1350 North Oxford Road Grosse Pointe, MI 48236-1855 [email protected] Mary Smith Courtney 2 Liberty Drive Mansfield Center, CT 06250 [email protected] Joan Halpert 1 Wayland Avenue, Unit 307, South Providence, RI 02906-4558 [email protected] Esther Marmas Miller ’61SW writes, “I continue to practice psychotherapy on the North Shore of Boston. I’m fortunate to have my granddaughters close by. I see Joyce Poulos Chunias, Karen Down Kischer ’61SW, and Ann Chiamelinski Anderson ’61SW.” | Dorothy undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 35 classnotes Morris writes, “Longtime Simmons friends have been meeting in August for the past few years — Joyce Poulos Chunias, Anne Cuddire Hunt ’84SM, Dorothy Morris, Ellen Donovan Searls, and Janet Donovan Horita.” | Carol Korb Sachs P ’89 writes, “We became grandparents when our daughter, Lisa Sachs Goodman ’89, gave birth to Kate on January 8, 2008.” | Susan Atwood Warren writes, “I’m sending this from Naples, FL, where I spend four months in the winter. My husband, Dick, passed away in February after 37 years of marriage. Children John, Debbie, Kathy, and David are thriving!” 1960 Elaine Gilboard Goralnick (For July 15 submissions) 13200 Pacific Promenade Playa Vista, CA 90094 [email protected] Ann Devine Gross (For March 15 submissions) 4881 La Belle Terre Boulevard Pensacola, FL 32504-7859 [email protected] Gail Teuten Noyes (For November 15 submissions) 18 Latham Wood Plymouth, MA 02360-8258 [email protected] Elaine reports: We’re back on track!! Murray is doing great and my son has returned after 16 months in Iraq and has just received the Bronze Star Medal. Thanks for your well wishes during this time. Keep in touch by e-mailing Gail, Ann or I. We would love to hear from you. | Spent a great day with Harriet Gorfinkle Diamond. She and Alan are enjoying retirement between living in Marblehead and Boynton, Fl. They travel to San Francisco every three months to visit their granddaughter. Harriet’s youngest 36 simmons daughter, Jill, was married in August. Harriet and Alan visited with Norma Potter Fisch and husband Joe in Florida. Norma and Joe are living full time in the Poconos. Harriet sees Toby Tattlebaum Sloane and Carl in Swampscott and FL. | Myrna Karp Isenberg is still working and collects antique pressing irons and anything that displays an iron. | Barbara Safier Shoag and husband Lee recently returned from a trip to Egypt and Jordan. They took their three children and their families to a Club Med in Guadeloupe where Barbara and her 4 grandchildren took turns on the flying trapeze! | Clare Rosoff Holland and Rich are traveling up a storm! She sings with the Sweet Adelines. | Ann Devine Gross reports: Greetings from Pensacola, Florida. Our son and wife gave birth to Dylan Gross in May, who joins our two granddaughters. | Barbara Zlotnick-Sanders retired from Class Agent duties. Thanks for years of note-writing. Barb chairs the Harwichport Resort Club board, enjoys time on the Cape, and golfs. | Barbara Bunyan Williams and Mitzi Dobbins Conlon travel together. Last year they loved their river cruise from Prague to Budapest. | Gail Wilcox Ledwig (our Washington correspondent) works at the National Federation of Republican Women’s headquarters. Her month stay in Scituate each August with family and friends on Third Cliff remains a highlight. | For Roberta McGraw Vitols, 2007 was “Year of the Family.” There were two weddings: one, a brother, and the biggest joy, a son. | A son’s wedding was also a treasured moment for Anne Stevens Blomstrom and family. Anne not only has a new daughter-in-law, but her grandson has new stepsiblings, expanding their family to three “grands.” | Carol Jorjorian Gibbon and husband Sam alumnet.simmons.edu recently enjoyed Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Their younger son Matt graduated from Georgetown Law in 2007. | Carole Carsten Everett and husband Torrey enjoyed a cruise around Cape Horn, but their favorite activity is flying in their Cessna with Torrey piloting. | Lucy Tanneyhill Cromwell shares her challenges beginning with a respiratory infection from a return flight to her son’s home in England in April 2007. Lucy, we all wish you good health. | For all our classmates coping with illnesses we appreciate your efforts and pray for your comfort and recovery. | Elaine Brutin Winshell loves retirement and her work as president of a non-profit organization providing educational programs for senior citizens in New Jersey. Her daughter and husband live in NYC, and her son lives in San Francisco. Elaine’s “consort” has retired from his law practice. | Our Class President and 50th Reunion Chair Geleta Fenton Hunsicker and husband Roger sent a letter at holiday time that highlights each month’s activities with pictures. Sounds like our newlyweds are happy in their busy life. | Grace Richardson was one of six recipients to receive the Frank H.T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award from Cornell University, where she received her MS in economics. | Thank you for all your news! 1961 Judith Lissack Henkewick 450 Claremont Avenue Westmount, QC H3Y 2N2 Canada [email protected] Judith reports: Your secretary has joined the Montreal Raging Grannies: the international organization of activists who dress up in clothes that mock stereotypes of older women and sing songs at events for human rights and environmental concerns. We typically write the lyrics ourselves, putting their political messages to the tunes of well known songs. | Marion Geber Berman writes, “I had a terrific trip visiting Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moscow, and St Petersburg. I travel with Elderhostel (hard to believe I age qualify). I’m probably the oldest Prince graduate still working in retail; I am a part time merchandiser for Jones Apparel servicing some of their jewelry and handbag lines.” | Arlene Weiner Feingold of Middleton, MA died suddenly in June. | Lois Berman Jassie passed away in July after a long battle. We will miss her and Larry as regular reunion attendees. Lois was a dedicated leader in College and Class activities over the years. Her leadership skills were also prominent in her professional life as an award-winning microwave chemist, author, editor, and consultant. 1962 Myrna Abbott Kasser 214 Thirteenth Street Hoboken, NJ 07030-4435 [email protected] Myrna reports: Just a reminder: we have our own website now — www.ClassOf62.org — with pictures from the 2007 reunion. And we have a listserv: send an e-mail to [email protected] and reach everybody! If you’d like to be added to the listserv, please email me at [email protected]. The full text of news from your classmates is always on our website. Please send me your children’s and grandchildren’s names as we prepare for our 50th reunion. (No kidding!) | Diane Torto Malin and Clara Bond came to visit me in Hoboken. We exhausted classnotes ourselves going to museums and theater and staying up late. | Helen Wertheimer Hubler is an artist. Alvah Mendelsohn Parker asked Helen if she would paint a portrait of Alvah’s granddaughter. Alvah writes, “Helen worked from photographs and did two splendid oils. They are both really wonderful and very special to me.” | Helen writes, “I am open to new commissions. Doing oil paintings and graphite drawings are both my ‘work’ and my continuing pleasure.” | Joan Conlin Reilly, our Class president, recently took a river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. Joan and husband Paul are settling into The Hill Farm, along with pet rooster Roger. | Dorothy Mahoney Hare is enjoying winters in Naples, FL. Husband Pete is playing golf and she’s joined a Bible study group. Dorothy’s 3 grandchildren, 5, 7 and 9, are a delight. | Arlene Greenbaum Cohen had dinner with Jane Frohock Baldwin, who has been living in Tucson for several years. Arlene writes, “Janet Gilman Hodos attended my son Rick’s wedding in Sacramento. Janet held our grandson Samuel Allen Cohen. Sam was born last year at 24 weeks gestation and is a miracle baby!” Arlene is in New York from May through October, and then back to Tucson. | Billie Swett Grover writes, “I’ve created a community adult nature series, attend tribal arts lectures with husband Norm, and travel frequently.” | Hope Strum Myers writes, “I had a mini-reunion with Arlene Greenbaum Cohen and Doris Hershfield Coris in Tucson. Billie Swett Grover, Penny Arlen Thurer and I attended a Simmons Alumnae function in Miami in February. I’ve also had the good luck to see Linda Pollingher Schnyder, Judy Symons Withers, Lynne Waldman Kaufman, and Alvah Mendelsohn Parker. I hope that any classmates who come to the Gold Coast of Florida (the area between Miami and Palm Beach) will get in touch. 954-971-9538. | Janet Weinberger Traister and her husband have moved from Dallas, TX, to Arlington, VA. | Pegi Ewing Stengel lives in Princeton, NJ and Maine. She writes, “As half of the Class Agent team, I want to thank everyone who responded to the $500,000 challenge. While we are in Maine, I volunteer at the Southport Museum, a lovely small place that shows what life on the island was and is like. For several years, I have been researching Morgan J. Rhees. If anyone has a piece of art work by, or has heard of this man, please contact me!” 1963 Barbara Paresky Budnitz 734 The Alameda Berkeley, CA 94707-1931 [email protected] Roslyn Ossen Loiter 5105 Wellinghall Way Columbia, MD 21044-1330 [email protected] Barbara reports: I just returned from our 45th Reunion. I saw many friends and we thought of those we missed. Where are you folks? Write to me and I’ll pass the word. We want to plan a rip roaring 50th and get pods of folks together in the interim, so check in for the future fun. | Liz Trull Berk lives in Concord, MA, and continues her multi-decade attempt to launch her golf game. She enjoys volunteering, recently with an association for handicapped citizens. She and her husband welcome visitors in Concord or at their Okemo, VT, home. | Linda Peterson writes, “Enjoying home, gardens and golf. Would love to see anyone on the South Shore.” | Suzanne Murphy Chaltas writes, “This stage of life is stretched between grandchildren — 3 of mine and 5 of Paul’s — church activities, and family. We live on Cape Cod with two siblings and their families. We’re glad to be healthy and busy.” | Mary Ann Price Hayes writes, “I am retired. My husband is an attorney. We just returned from the Netherlands. My major interest is my three grandchildren, Joseph 14, Matthew 13, and Alexander 5.” | Joan Hoffman Levy Martins writes, “My husband and I are both retired. We spend seven months in Framingham, MA, and five months in Jupiter, FL. We have children and grandchildren in both places. My mother, Simmons class of 1931 is almost 97 and doing well in Framingham.” | Leslie Jackowitz Ramler writes, “Alvan and I ‘migrate’ winters — keys in FL, summers in Pocasset on Cape Cod. Love to grandparent, garden, fish, boat and try to stay healthy.” | Rosyln Ossen Loiter writes, “Barney and I are retired. We live half the year in Columbia, MD, and the rest in Boca Raton, FL. We have a new grandaughter Clara by our son David and his wife Jennifer, who reside in Washington DC. Our older son Jeff and his wife Aimee and his children Zack 8, Talia 6, live in Shelburne, VT. When we see them, I also get to see Judith Harris Auderieth who lives in nearby Burlington.” | Barbara Johnson writes, “Retired from 39 years of teaching. I now work part time for a publishing company. I see Muriel Reardon Macdonald and she is generous in sharing her family with me. I spend some time in Winter Haven, FL.” | Carolyn Hale writes, “My husband Jack and I celebrated our 30th anniversary in June. We live in New York City and enjoy going to cultural events. We spend time in Naples, FL.” | Phyllis Slobodkin Cove writes, “Still working. Sold the house last year and moved to an apartment in Brookline. I spend time in Northampton, MA, closer to my children and 3 grandchildren.” | Marcia Chase Karp writes, “My husband Robert and I are still working and my children are living in Colorado Springs and Rockville, MD. I have one grandson who is severely autistic. Our lives have been changed knowing this child and watching our daughter, Andrea, take such loving care of him. She is my hero.” | Carol Hillman Oreskovic writes, “Still working as a high school librarian. Recently moved from Scarsdale to New York City. My husband and I are both enjoying the city and everything that goes along with it. I have two sons, one in San Francisco and one in Boston, and two grandchildren.” | Gerry Conway Morenski writes, “Still working part time and loving it. Am enjoying a new home in Merrimac, MA. and travelling as much and as far as possible. | Harriet Elam-Thomas ’00HD writes, “I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2005, but am still working part time as director of the new diplomacy program at the University of Central Florida. My work with these students has been inspiring. In January 2008 I became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Institute of International Education AND...I am still happily married to Wilfred.” | Muriel Reardon Macdonald writes, “We are still living in Maine and looking to downsize soon. Have been there for 35 years. Sold our business two years ago. We spend winters in Florida and summers in Maine, the best of both worlds. We have 8 grandchildren from 2–15 years old. We enjoy spending time with them and playing as much golf as we can.” | Ann Salmon Robb writes, “I am attempting to phase out of real estate into retirement. I moved back to the U.S. after Peter died in 1999 and still miss London. My oldest undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 37 classnotes grandchild is teaching in the Bronx for Teach for America and loves it. The youngest was born in December and lives near Barbara Paresky Budnitz, so I get to see her when I visit. I love to travel. I spend summers on Shelter Island, NY where I garden...also love to read and play bridge. I am on the board of the Greenwich Scholarship Association.” | Jo Ann Curtis Pippin writes, “My husband and I live in Grantham, NH. It is an area we enjoy immensely, lots of cultural programs, good medical support, great outdoor activities and no traffic. I have a small business as a water colorist (my post retirement venture) — jpippinstudio.com.” Jinny Hines Friun writes, “I probably am the only one in our class who is raising an 11 year old son! (I legally adopted my oldest grandson when he was 4 years old!) He has lived with me since his birth. We live in Cupertino, CA ( Silicon valley), and I have a vacation home in Yosemite National Park. I had a daughter married in Yosemite in May 2007 and a son married in Monterey, CA, in April 2008.” | Leslie Jackowitz Ramler and her husband Alvin still winter in the Florida keys. She reports being in contact with Roz Ossen Loiter. Roz and Barney are in Boca Raton in the winter. | Phyllis Pomer Ross and Fred also enjoy the Florida sun at Longboat key. | Diane Cogan Volk writes, “My husband Ken and I are officially retired. Our winter residence became Florida in 2007. We are at Ibis Golf and Country Club in West Palm Beach. We have 3 married children and 10 wonderful grandchildren ages 3–16. We have put our home of 39 years in Portland, ME, on the market and purchased a condo in Cumberland Foreside. Ken and I continue to love to travel. We are busy with golf, book clubs, bridge, and volunteer 38 simmons work.” | Helen Smith Rossman writes, “After close to 20 years I still find myself duly challenged and rewarded as a career counselor in St. Paul, Minnesota. My husband of 44 years, Allan, is ‘actively retired.’ Our two sons also have very active careers — a mathematician (math professor) in Japan and a physicist (rocket scientist of sorts) in New Hampshire — good Simmons genes?? We are blessed with three grandgirls and one grandboy.” 1964 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Karen Chaiken Kavet 69 Lincoln Road Wayland, MA 01778 [email protected] Linda Weinstein Gassenheimer writes, “My column Dinner in Minutes is syndicated. My ‘Food News and Views’ WLRN National Public Radio program is in its 9th year. My latest book is The Portion Plan: How to Eat the Foods You Love and Still Lose Weight. I am married to Harold Gassenheimer, with 3 married sons and 7 grandchildren. Please visit my website, www. dinnerinminutes.com.” | Louise King Greene writes, “I’m retired — living in Portsmouth, NH, and Clermont, FL. Loving golf and 6 grandchildren.” | Rebecca Wollison Holmes writes, “Mike and I have moved to an apartment in Waltham, MA after a year in Nashville, TN. I am executive director of Temple Emunah in Lexington. There are several Simmons alumnae among my congregants. Mike retired from the computer business and established Banjo Camp North. Our daughter, Stacy, is married, and our son, Seth, is still playing the field. Mike and I are looking forward to retirement and a return to the bridge table.” | Amy Sharkey alumnet.simmons.edu Levin writes, “This year I retired from my part-time work as a physical therapist. I’m enjoying my free time and seeing my two granddaughters, ages 1 and 4. Playing golf and bridge.” | Mameve Stern Medwed recently published her fifth book, Of Men and Their Mothers, about the relationships of mothers, sons, wives, and mother-in-laws. Mameve’s last novel, How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life, was a BookSense top twenty book and won the Massachusetts Book Award Fiction Honor in 2007. | Christia Seney Ogawa writes, “Living on Monterey Bay in California. Husband is a professor at UC Santa Cruz. Still working as a nurse but looking forward to retirement. Two married daughters living in Seattle, WA. One granddaughter!” | Ruth Oransky Richards writes, “Both my children are married and I have 6 grandchildren ranging from 4 to 13 years old. I’ve worked for my husband in his CPA office for 26 years. We have been married for 44 years and have lived almost the entire time in Needham, MA. We recently bought a condo in Florida to be near our children. Karen Davis and I miss our long-time friend Cindy Rubin who passed away three years ago. The three of met once a month for years at the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.” | Barbara Starr Schectman writes, “Married to Larry, a retired periodontist, 43 years. I am a retired marriage and family therapist. We divide our time between Waterford, CT, and Palm Desert, CA Daughter Deborah married to Michael. Grandchildren Emmy, 7 years and Alana, 4 years. Son Jeffrey recently married to Leigh.” | Janet Denenholz Silver still works at least 6 months of the year as a freelance entertainment journalist. | Marcia Dreisbach Falconer writes, “Dave and I are retired and live in Ottawa, Canada. We would be happy to have any classmates visit us. Grandson Lachlan, 10, lives in Sydney, Australia — the next annual trip to “Oz” will be our 14th! Fortunately we have two little granddaughters who live only a 10 minute drive from us. I am working on a book.” 1965 Marjorie Levine Lappen 12037 Great Elm Drive Potomac, MD 20854-1227 [email protected] Suellen Wiseman Zima was awarded First Prize in Nonfiction by the National League of American Pen Women for Memoirs of a Middle-aged Hummingbird. She received the award in Washington, DC. While there, she and classmate Barbara Kaufman Green got together to catch up on the last 20 years. Another classmate, author Barbara Dinerman, got in touch with Suellen after seeing the website for her book, www. ZimaTravels.com. 1966 Rose Bryant Woodard 181 North Street Hingham, MA 02043-1871 [email protected] Rose writes, “In June some of our Massachusetts classmates gathered at Rosie Woodard’s house in Hingham — some we haven’t seen for 42 years! Judy Hargreaves Fichtenbaum, Edie Schaeffer Hamilton, Lee Keegan Pakstis, Jeanie Eaton Goddard, Mary-Beth Stier Whiteside, and Beverly Silver Simon came and brought delicious additions to the buffet. We were sorry to miss Carol Nesson recovering from an auto accident and Molly-Jane Isaacson Rubinger recovering from surgery. Thank you, Simmons Alumnae Office classnotes for helping us with the arrangements. We are looking forward to seeing the rest of you at our next big reunion in 2011.” 1970 1967 Marcia Lees Smith 4 Merriam Avenue Shrewsbury, MA 01545-2358 [email protected] 1968 Pamela Street Walton 11 Flintlock Road Flemington, NJ 08822-7142 [email protected] Patricia Spear Lemer recently edited the book Envisioning a Bright Future: Interventions that Work for Children and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Patricia is co-founder and executive director of Developmental Delay Resources. 1969 of mindfulness through meditation, yoga, humor, and other creative therapies. REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Dolores Amidon D’Angelo ’72GS 6409 Fallen Oak Court Bethesda, MD 20817-3249 [email protected] Nicole Woolsey Biggart was recently profiled in the Sacramento Business Journal. She is dean of the University of California Davis Graduate School of Management. | Stormy Friday has written her first children’s book, Signal’s Airport Adventure, the first in the series, “Tails From Friday Harbor.” Stormy has written several business books, and is owner of the Friday Group, a management consulting firm. | Lucia Haskell McBee recently published her first book, Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: A CAM Model for Frail Elders and Their Caregivers. The book discusses the benefits Martha Katz-Hyman 4 Longbow Court Newport News, VA 23608-1922 [email protected] Martha reports: I hope you all received the Class letter that finally got sent at the end of 2007. Please continue to send me your news. Only if I have the news do I have a column to submit for the magazine! | Theresa Dale Lafer and husband Mark celebrated their 40th anniversary in September. She is an adjunct professor at Penn State and is also a borough councilwoman for State College, PA. She has been active in many volunteer organizations over the years. | Shauvon McGannon Powell is retired, but keeps busy with church activities, children, and grandchildren. She invites classmates to stop by if they are ever on the Florida west coast. | Class Vice-President Peggie Ferrick Thorsen was given the “Unsung Hero” award by the Minuteman (MA) District of Rotary International. Peggie is a past president and current board member of her own club, and manages the club’s publicity efforts. | Barbara Harlow is professor of English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. Her interests focus on Middle East studies, imperialism and orientalism, and literature and human rights and social justice. From 2006–2007, she was a visiting professor at American University in Cairo. | Carol Green was recently honored by Town and Village Synagogue in New York City for her many years of service to the congregation. She and husband Ronnie traveled to Argentina in June 2007 with the choir. They sang in several of the Jewish communities they visited, including Cordoba, the first Jewish settlement in Argentina. | Allyson Young Schwartz, now serving her second term in the United States Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District, was presented with an honorary degree from Simmons at Commencement in May 2008. She was recognized for her leadership in the areas of women’s issues and health care. The Class made a contribution to the College in Allyson’s honor. | Sarah James, co-author of The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices, was awarded the 2007 William R. and June Dale Prize for Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning by the California State Polytechynic University, Pomona. | The class extends its condolences to Phyllis Haberman on the death of her father. | After ten years as founder and CEO of Discovering Justice, which provides education about the justice system in American democracy, Maria Karagianis is now director of U.S. operations for Anatolia College, located in Thessaloniki, Greece. She will be headquartered in Boston. | When Ilene Schneider isn’t working as coordinator of the Jewish Hospice Program for Samaritan Hospice, Marlton, NJ, you might find her out birding or volunteering with the New Jersey Audubon Society Rancocas Nature Center. Or you may find her on the road, talking about her mystery book, Chanukah Guilt. | Emily Thomas writes, “I am living in Southern California. I’m mostly laying low on mercantilism gone askew. I worked for Federated Department Stores in NYC. I served in the American Peace Corps as an agribusiness specialist in the Asian country of Malaya.” 1971 Amanda Houston-Hamilton 1547 Grove Street San Francisco, CA 94117-1320 [email protected] Michaela Kaminski Hancock 8603 Grimsby Court Potomac, MD 20854 [email protected] Susan Levine Walerstein published her first novel, Dancing Above the Waves, about a wealthy Bostonian leading a double life who is involved in a fatal hitand-run. Susan lives in Pacific Palisades, CA, with her family. | Katherine Albert Westpheling is executive director of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. 1972 Linda Gilmore Monahan 66 Janis Road Westfield, MA 01085-4017 [email protected] Judith Tavano ’74GS recently presented at the 2008 Arkansas Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership Conference and identified strategies to prepare for the baby boomer brain drain the teaching profession will face in 10 years. Judith directs the Professional Development Academy in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. 1973 Deborah Lerner Duane 29 Maple Terrace Millburn, NJ 07041-2018 [email protected] Deborah reports: For those of us who could attend Reunion in June, it was a wonderful weekend. Following are excerpts from the booklet we put together — we are all so much undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 39 classnotes more than you’re reading here! If you want the original copy, please e-mail me. | Nina Balsam writes, “I am implementing a Restorative Justice Initiative in the state of Missouri. My daughter graduated from Mass Art and is working for Enter- prise Leasing in Fort Collins, Colorado.” | Karen Birch writes, “I spent six weeks in India last winter continuing my studies in Ayurveda, an ancient healing system. Last spring I traveled to Florence, Italy with my niece Cristina. I am CFO at HCROA, a not-for-profit, and I continue to love living in Essex, MA with Louis and tap dancing.” | Carol Blacher Henry writes, “I still teach mathematics at Middlesex Community College on the Bedford, MA, campus. I am vice president of the New England Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. Steve and I celebrated our 36th anniversary this year. Daughter Suzanne, her husband Marcus and their daughter Meital live in California. Michelle and her husband Tom live in Philadelphia. David club news Philadelphia Simmons Community In March Philadelphia alumnae attended the “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” exhibit at the Franklin Science Institute Museum and lunched at a nearby restaurant. Chicago Simmons Community In April Chicagoland alumnae gathered to watch a live taping of the NPR quiz program “Wait, wait. . .don’t tell me” with special host Drew Carey. Peninsula Simmons Club The Peninsula club of California gathered for their annual strawberry luncheon in May at the home of Joan Johnston ’58. San Francisco Simmons Community In May Bay area alumnae convened for a tour of the San Francisco Botanical Gardens and had lunch at a nearby hot spot. Houston Simmons Community Special guest emeritus Professor Larry Langer spoke about his Simmons and postSimmons life at the home of Joy Warren ’68 during an alumnae/i dinner. Dean Diane Raymond also attended. Atlanta Simmons Community Jill Heineck ’93 hosted an evening of networking at a local restaurant in May. Denver Simmons Community Rocky Mountain alumnae/i spent the afternoon on a leisurely walking tour of the Denver art district in July, and then cooled off at a nearby watering hole. Simmons Club of Boston In April the club hosted their Annual Luncheon at the Hampshire House with guest speaker Lisa Mullins ’80, chief anchor of Public Radio International’s “The World.” Mullins spoke about her recent travels in North Korea. President Drinan also attended. 40 simmons alumnet.simmons.edu The Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts Club hosted a new student brunch in August. Guests included (from left to right) Emma O’Brien of Raynham, Mass., Laura Surprenant of Fairhaven, Mass., Kelly Fagan, Office of Alumnae/i Relations, and Cheri Hurtubise, Office of Admissions. Recently, the club kicked off the summer with its Annual Red Sox game. Over 100 alums and guests enjoyed a barbeque on the residence campus. Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts Simmons Club The club held its spring meeting in March at the Blithewood Mansion in Bristol. Long-time member and Bristol resident Joan Abrams, director of the Master’s in Communications Management program, provided updates from the College. In August, the club’s board hosted a new student brunch, attended by 13 area students. Simmons College Club of Cape Cod The club gathered for its spring meeting in April at the Sturgis Library in Barnstable. David Simser, entomologist and project coordinator with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension Service, spoke about deer ticks and Lyme Disease in the Cape Cod area. In June the club enjoyed dinner at the Hyannis Yacht club. Guest speaker Marie Brais ’05 discussed green initiatives at Simmons. South Shore Simmons Club The club celebrated its 60th anniversary in April at the Hearth n’ Kettle in Weymouth. Marie Brais ’05 spoke about green efforts at the College. Maine Simmons Community In May Meggen Beaulier ’96, president of Simply Divine Brownies, welcomed alumni to her new retail location in Freeport, Maine. Over fifty alums enjoyed a private bakery tour and tasting. Simmons College Southwest Florida Club The club gathered for lunch at the Bonefish Grill in Sarasota, FL in March. The Honorable Katherine Liacos Izzo ’49 shared her experiences as a woman in the legal profession. Special Reception in London Students studying abroad and area alumnae/i gathered in March for a special reception with Dean for Student Life Sheila Murphy, Dean for Student Life at the Landau at the Langham Hotel. New York City Simmons Community In May Ellen Berenson ’66, graciously opened her home for a special reception with Leanne Doherty, Professor of Political Science, who spoke on the presidential race. Simmons College Club of Greater Hartford The club convened in August for the annual garden tour at Elizabeth Park, followed by a reception. classnotes and his wife Melissa live in Connecticut.” | Marianne Boris Hunter writes, “My elder daughter Kate graduated from William & Mary in ’04. Caroline graduated from Simmons (!) in ’07. Jonathan will be a sophomore at the University of Richmond. My husband Jim is a senior vice president with Key Technology Finance, KeyBank. I am an environmental activist, church and community volunteer, and health advocate.” | Beth Anne Bower writes, “Ted and I live in Stoneham. I am at Salem State College, working in the President’s Office on external affairs. Recent exciting events: participated in a study trip to Cuba and led a delegation to El Salvador through my previous job.” | Ann Brown Fudge writes, “I love life as an ‘active retiree,’ and most of all spending more time with family and friends, including husband Rich, son Rich, Jr., and his wife Nicole and their three children. Younger son Kevin finished grad school at Harvard. He and his wife Cheryl (who graduated with honors from Simmons School of Management) have a little boy.” | Lynn Davis Aldrich writes, “I’m blessed with a wonderful husband, Harley, a challenging job in the behavioral health field, a loveable dog named Yorkie, and two greatgrandchildren.” | Laurie Epstein Lawton writes, “My youngest child Michael graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a degree in music education. My daughter Jennifer works for WNYC public radio in New York City. My middle child Matt is an accountant. I work for Lutheran Child and Family Services as an adoption supervisor. My significant other Jacob and I have been together more than three years.” | Joy Ginsberg Rothberger writes, “My husband Richard and I relocated to California 29 years ago and live in San Diego. I enjoyed a career in word processing/computer sales and management. Richard is executive vice president/chief financial officer for a multihospital system. We have two wonderful boys — Eric at UCLA and Brett in high school.” | Cheryl Greenfield writes, “We are living in and enjoying Providence, RI, a move we made for the education of our sons, Max and Alec. I am still in solo pediatric practice in Marion, MA, near Cape Cod.” | Sylvia “Flash” Haroian Tarbell writes, “In 2006 I retired from my job as a health education specialist for the Santa Clara County, California, Public Health Department. My daughter Alison graduated from Harvard in June.” | Robyn Hill writes, “I retired from my position as New Jersey’s Chief Counsel for the Disciplinary Review Board in 2003, and now represent attorneys on various ethics issues, instead of disciplining them! Blake is a senior majoring in theater and design at Franklin & Marshall College. Hayley is a ninth grader.” | Baiba Liepins writes, “I started my 23rd year with Accenture — and I’ve loved every year. I’m in my last year as president of our church board, and I moved my mom from Boston to Chicago to be closer to me.” | Deborah Lerner Duane writes, “Two kids out of college, one a college sophomore, one retired husband. I’m trying my hand at playwriting. With two years to go on my master’s in Jewish-Christian Studies, I’m looking for interfaith organizations that want to hire a gray-headed woman who still wants to change the world.” | Pam Leven writes, “In 2004, and after 15 years together, former spousal equivalent Bob Geddes and I threw caution to the wind and got married. Bob and I and our three kitties live in Culver City, California. I continue to work as a writer for professionals, corporations and nonprofits.” | Lesley Levine writes, “I have formally retired from the practice of law. My husband Ed Weinberg and I have three sons. Adam is a graduate student at the University of Chicago in a Ph.D. program in political science. Ethan and Mark are twins in high school. Mark, Ethan, and I volunteer at a local nursing home and rehab facility, where the boys play music and I do a stand-up act.” | Harriet Lipman Gottesman writes, “We sold our house, and are living in a great apartment overlooking Padanaram, MA, Harbor. Dick is semi-retired and I’m still teaching kindergarten. Our daughter Sharon is a nurse practitioner married to Jon, who is associate dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania. Rachel is in the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.” | Jeanne O’leary writes, “I have been a senior economic policy advisor to the Undersecretary for Transportation Policy for the past 20 years. My husband Tom retired, and our daughter Catherine is a law student in Florida.” | Mary O’Leary Chase writes, “I am a kindergarten teacher in the Worcester (MA) Public Schools. My husband Michael and I have three sons. Brendan works for State Street Bank, Andrew resides in Portland, OR, and Kevin is an assistant manager at Hollister. I volunteer for hospice at UMass/ Memorial Hospital and at the Hanover Theater of Performing Arts.” | Marilyn Riley writes, “Since 1979, I have been doing cardiac ultrasounds at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I’ve been lucky to be near lots of my Simmons friends, and have enjoyed walks, dinners and 25 years of an annual Breton Woods ski weekends. Keep the links going!” | Mindy Schiffman writes, “My daughter Hannah and I are starting to look at colleges. I work in a fertility center at New York University, counseling individuals and couples, mostly about third party reproduction — a topic near and dear to my heart — and I still have a part-time psychotherapy practice.” | Judith Schwartz Stalk writes, “I’ve lived in California since 1974 and have two children. My son Marc graduated from UC Santa Cruz and was recently married. My daughter Sarah graduated from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. I’ve worked for The Capital Group Companies for 10 years. For the past 15 years I have been enjoying life with my significant other, Paul Fisher.” | Micki Seltzer Seligson writes, “I’ve retired from Wellesley Centers for Women, where I did research and policy work on the after-school movement. Since 2000, I’ve been training to be an analyst, Jungian discipline. I’m co-producer of a documentary film about women artists who are mothers called Who Does She Think She Is?” | Arleen Vannett Harvey writes, “My husband Jon and I started a new adventure and moved to Riverside, CA, where he works at UC Riverside. Daughter Jennifer graduated from the University of Washington. I continue to edit Ph.D. dissertations and work part-time as a tournament director for the American Contract Bridge League.” | Gerri Williams writes “I retired as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State, having served as cultural affairs officer and public affairs officer in Portugal, Guatemala, Brazil, South Africa and in several Washington, DC assignments. I recently graduated with a master’s in communication (with an undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 41 classnotes emphasis on international affairs) from Trinity University.” | Arlene Kelfer Miller writes, “After a long career in writing and editing, I returned to school for teaching. I am about to get a master’s in humanities after seven long years! I have been teaching English for four years. I relocated to California from Boston. Son Jake is entering his junior year at San Jose State. Daughter Shelley has finished three years at Sonoma State University. She is taking a year off from school to tour with Disney on Ice!” | Rhonda Freedman Zahler writes, “My husband Robert and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in May right after our son Jeffery graduated from law school. Older daughter Karen is an actress living in L.A. and our youngest, Michelle, is a recent college graduate working for a publishing house in Baltimore. We are not truly empty nesters as we share our home with four cats and a dog. I volunteer at the Montgomery County Humane Society (hence the many pets) and on the sisterhood board at my synagogue in Bethesda, Md., where I’ll be president for a two year term.” 1974 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Mel Patrell Furman 1403 Maple Avenue Evanston, IL 60201-4322 [email protected] C. Joyce Farrar-Rosemon ’76SW authored two books, How To BE the HEAD and NOT the TAIL: A Christian Manifesto for Making Six Figures and How to GET to The Palace From YOUR PRISON: Joseph’s 14-Step Program to Overcome Loneliness, Depression, Discrimination, Barrenness, & Abuse. | Roommates Mindy Fiore and Julie Guinn 42 simmons Mason reunited over dinner in Naples, FL. Mindy retired after 32 years at Aetna, most recently as head of IT Communications. She and her significant other, Joe Whitehouse, moved to East Sandwich, MA in 2007. Julie left the State Environmental Affairs Department in 1986 to raise John (22) and Katie (20). She helps husband Austin manage their cranberry bogs, and works part time in a bookstore. They both relish that ‘empty nest syndrome,’ and have traveled to Greece, California, and Florida. 1975 Debra Harrison Simon 14 Grasshopper Lane Acton, MA 01720-4607 [email protected] Roberta Finke and Alan Marc Franklin were married May 29 in New York. Roberta is the marketing director for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Alan is an entertainment lawyer. | Cynthia Maciel Knowles writes, “I graduated from Andover Newton Divinity School in May of 2007 with a Master of Divinity and work as a chaplain for the Concord, NH Regional Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Palliative Care Program. After my first husband Robert Maciel died in 1994 I focused on getting my two children Rebecca and Joshua through college. My husband Paul Lizotte keeps me grounded. Skeeter, if you are out there, would you please contact me? Cynthia@iecc. com or 603-410-9990.” | Lisa Lezell Levine received the 2008 Southeastern Region Elementary Art Educator Award, given by the National Art Education Association. She teaches in the Richmond, VA, public school system and is also an artist. | Janet Snover writes, “I retired early in 2007 because I have the most lethal form of brain alumnet.simmons.edu cancer. Fortunately, my tumor was removed in the fall of 2005. I’m still on chemotherapy. I had a fulfilling 32-year communications career at MIT. I’ve been happily married to Jim Stansfield, a charming Brit, for 27 years, and we live in Winchester, MA. Jim recently joined me in early retirement so that we could spend more time together. My email address is jsnover@mit. edu in case classmates or former advisees want to contact me.” | Jo Anne Wright was featured in a Xerox Corporation advertisement in Fortune Magazine. JoAnne is a Global Account General Manager for Xerox. 1976 Maureen Gavin Reyling 20 Bonair Avenue Bedford, MA 01730-1502 [email protected] Janet Richmond ’79SW was elected vice president, American Association for Emergency Psychiatry. | Deborah Kann Schwarzberg was appointed chair of the Career College Association Healthcare Education and Training Issues Committee. She is also the Founder and Chairman of KIMC Investments, INC. 1977 Bobbi Magidoff Thompson P ’11 870 Galloway Street Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 [email protected] Kim Clark, member of The College Club of Boston’s membership and marketing committees, reports that the Club is redecorating one of their guest rooms in Simmons College style. In a reality TV-style competition, designers were given a small budget and a tight time frame. For more information, visit www. thecollegeclubofboston.com. | Emunah Faith Greenberg Hasin writes, “Returned home to Jerusalem after 18 months as an emissary for the United Israel Appeal in Melbourne, Australia. (Took a leave of absence from my position at Shaare Zedek Hospital). Fantastic experience down under just so far away from the rest of the world! Also had my second grandson in September!” 1978 Judith Blacher Berger P.O. Box 1956 Andover, MA 01810-0033 [email protected] 1979 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Gail Pituck 76 Thorndike Street, Suite 3 Arlington, MA 02474-8730 [email protected] Gail reports: Sending greetings and sharing the good news that our Class will be 30 years young this spring. So, let’s reunite, reconnect and celebrate where it all began. See you at our 30th Simmons Reunion at the College in June! | Genevieve Williams writes, “You may know me as Beth or Elizabeth. I now use Genevieve, my middle name. I spent 17 years working as an art director in editorial design, most recently 10 years at the New York Times. I retired from the Times to pursue an MFA in sculpture and painting. I went back to grad school to study religion, obtaining an MA in 2001. I’m currently enrolled in Ph.D. studies at Columbia. In 2004, I opened a small design studio, Six Sisters Design, LLC. I’m a member of the faculty in the graphic design department at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.” classnotes 1980 Joan Covell Cooper 4750 N 34th Road Arlington, VA 22207-4210 [email protected] Michelle A. Mitchell 6343 Saint Timothy’s Lane Centreville, VA 20121 shelleymichelle20121@ yahoo.com Tracy Garrity Rasmussen was profiled in the Cape May County Herald for her work as the paper’s managing editor, and her experience of adopting twin girls. Tracy is currently working on a memoir. 1981 Heidi Bennett 47 Brewster Drive Warwick, RI 02889-2203 [email protected] Laura Anderson Nottie writes, “I ran the Antarctica Marathon this past March and won my division (Females 40–49). I was sixth female overall and 19th runner overall. It was an international run of just under 200 runners. This was my seventh marathon. I’ve just left my position as a product manager in the automotive industry and am considering what to do next. I still hear from a few Simmons alumnae. Vula Kalambokis Roumis’s daughter Danae just graduated from University of Chicago. Her son Demetris is at Michigan University. Margie Hapogian Markarian is still happily mar- ried and living in Franklin, MA, with her two children, Rebbeca and Peter. Emily Chin Wong is still happily married and living in California with her two children, Bryan and Shannon. My two, daughter Chiara and son Evan, are fine. Funny thing — Margie’s, Emily’s and my children are all about the same age!” 1982 Darcy De Marco 10525 Bambola Place Las Vegas, NV 89135-2556 [email protected] Jean Chaput Welch ’89HS accepted a new position as Practice Administrator at Digestive Health Associates. She loves her job and is looking forward to networking with other practice managers. 1983 Gisela Bauerle 94 Franklin Street Watertown, MA 02472-4022 [email protected] Sheri Cain Wilkens reports: The Class held its 25th Reunion during the last weekend of May, and what a spectacular celebration it was! We had over 40 classmates descend on Boston. South Hall was our home base, and a few brave classmates, including Heather Anderson, Sharyn Hardy Gallagher, and Brooke Karlsen chose to revisit the dorm experience. Awaking Laura Anderson Nottie ’81 wins her division in the Antarctic Marathon to sirens on Brookline Avenue and sauntering over to Bartol Hall for brunch made it seem like our days at Simmons were only yesterday! Deirdre Sweeney Coffey converted the South Hall living room into an inviting space. Gerda Cahill Sullivan provided each partygoer with a cheerful gift bag, and copies of the amazing Class directory that Martha Ikerd and Gisela Bauerle compiled. We watched ourselves grow from incoming first year students to current day women during the “Now and Then” slideshow created by Sheri Cain Wilkens. With the help of many people, including Carolyn Supple Calvano, Shawn Huntley, Mary Luvisi and Jean Finnegan Probert, on Saturday our Class successfully resurrected the Daisy Chain tradition, where we cheered the Class of 1958 as they processed into the Alumni Luncheon. The crowning Reunion moment was our Class event at the Absolut Clubhouse at Fenway Park. The Saturday night crowd was full of lots of happy faces including Carol Anstadt Connolly, Donna Ferlito-Brown, Michon Reiling Kelliher, Wendy McGrane and Sharon Garlitz Kelly. The Fenway crew finally had to ask us to leave at 10 o’clock because we couldn’t stop our merrymaking! Keep your eyes open for our mini-reunion, which we plan to hold in 2011…just in time to coincide with our 50th birthdays! Hope to see you at the next Class event.” | Sharyn Hardy Gallagher writes, “Served on boards of directors at several organizations. Currently clerk of the board of a local bank. Enjoys swimming and tennis. Trustee and choir member and youth choir director at church.” | Laura Thompson recently published Laughter in the Canyon. For more information about Laura and her book, visit www. loralia.com. 1984 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Sandra Metheny Santanello 6 Supreme Court Swampscott, MA 01907-2172 [email protected] Neeta Chakrabartty writes, “I regret to inform you that my mother passed away in March 2008, and my father passed away in April 1997. However, I am so glad to be in touch with all of you. I will very likely be going back to school here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada at the Saskatoon Business College.” | Amy Mendelson Krell writes, “I am married for 22 years to a college friend. We live in South Jersey with 3 kids: 17, 15, and our 7 year old who keeps us young and busy. I work part time at a local synagogue taking care of the press releases. I have a new-found love of yoga.” | Rebecca Zigelbaum MacLennan writes, “All is well in Hollis, NH with husband Steve (21 years), son Tom (18) and daughter Heather (13). If anyone is passing through Southern, NH, look us up!” | Annette Pechenick-Horwath writes, “My oldest son, Yaakov, graduated from Brookline High. My younger son, Mordechai, is a junior. I am busy teaching first graders and trying to keep up with my garden. I have been married to my husband for the last 22 years.” | Kathleen Perkins was recently promoted to director of health improvement at Medical Care Development, Inc., an Augusta, ME-based health systems planning and development organization. 1985 Allyson Hemmer Bal 88 Meadow Road Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510-1135 [email protected] undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 43 classnotes 1986 1990 Lynnea Mulligan Brinkerhoff 46 Soundview Avenue Milford, CT 06460-7877 [email protected] Ann Devlin Bayer 18 Harding Avenue Falmouth, ME 04105 [email protected] Linda Dengenis Anderson was appointed to serve on the Connecticut State Library Board. She is also a licensed real estate agent with Century 21 Landmark Properties. | Robyn Liverant Marquis married Roger Marquis in Cutchogue, NY. Robyn is a public relations consultant. The couple lives in NYC. Heather Forbes Ciccarelli ’92GS writes, “We held a small ‘Friends and Fleece’ reunion at my parent’s inn, The Katahdin, in York Beach, ME. It was attended by Karen Bilyard Connelly, Susan Keddy ’93GS, Debbie Bullock Jurkoic and Becky Avery Clerkin ’94LS. We were all in Smith Hall, 2nd floor as freshman. I am living in York, ME, and got my MSW from UNE in May. I have one daughter, Grace (10). I am happily married. I serve as a council member for the Maine Chapter Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and as parent advisor to the Pediatric Diabetes Dream Team at Maine Medical.” | After traveling throughout Europe for work in the 90’s, Valerie Harding settled down and founded Ripple Effect Communications, headquartered in Boston with offices in NY and CA. She and Josh, her long-standing boyfriend from Simmons days, had a baby in 2005 named Luke. | Kate Haley Pappano lives on Guam where her husband Scott is the Commanding Officer of the USS BUFFALO, a fast-attack submarine. To pass the time living in the middle of nowhere, she has gone back to school at the University of Guam where she hopes to earn an M.Ed. “If anyone is up for visiting Guam, come on over! A tour of the entire island should only take about four hours...well worth the 24 hour travel time!” 1987 Sarah Cooper 17 Debra Drive Dayton, NJ 08810 [email protected] Susan Emple Lubner writes, “Wanted to announce the publication of my third children’s picture book A Horse’s Tale. Read more about the book at www. susanlubner.com.” | Kathryn Effgen Scarlata writes, “I coauthored a nutrition book for families titled Real People Need Real Food — A Guide to Healthy Eating for Families Living in a Fast Food World.” 1988 Theresa Flanders 3905 Decatur Avenue Kensington, MD 20895-1532 theresa_flanders@ fanniemae.com 1989 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Helen Pettit 913 Cecil Road Wilmington, DE 19807 [email protected] 44 simmons 1991 Erin Duffy Wilson 198 Liberty Street Braintree, MA 02184-6028 [email protected] alumnet.simmons.edu Christian Pope Campbell 135 Chestnut Drive East Greenwich, RI 02818 [email protected] Anna Schulman Brambilla and husband, Marco, are pleased to announce the birth of their first child, Matteo Lorenzo Hamlin Brambilla on April 10, 2008. Anna, Marco, and Matteo live in Santa Clara, CA. Anna is a consultant services manager for M Squared Consulting and Marco is a design manager for ST Microelectronics. You can reach Anna at [email protected]. | Elizabeth McEvoy Henderson has returned to the work force after staying home full-time with Josiah (11), Madeline (9) and Lila (5). She is a part-time librarian at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, ME. Elizabeth sees her roommate, Nicole Bowen Hardy, often and is happy to report that Nicole’s daughters, Brielle and Amelia, are best friends with Madeline and Lila. Maybe they will be future Simmons roomies! 1992 Karen Gordon Lieberman 8 Draco Drive Randolph, NJ 07869-2703 [email protected] Lynne Civitello Marullo 3 Gordon Avenue Enfield, CT 06082 [email protected] Monica Smigliani Desjardins writes, “My husband, Dan, and I visited Bermuda. We loved it! We live in Norwood, MA. I work as a project manager in the municipal health insurance business. Dan is a high-tech recruiter.” | Linda Wolf Greenberg M.D., and husband Ken are happy to announce the birth of their fourth child, Abigail Yael in January, 2008. Linda is a pediatrician at Frankford Ave. Health Clinic in Philadelphia. | Jill Harmacinski-Beaulieu, staff reporter at the Eagle-Tribune in North Andover, MA, was the recipient of a news writing award from the New England Press Association. | In honor of Fern Klapper, the Klapper Family and the New York Presbyterian Hospital Payne Whitney Westchester have named a room The Fern Klapper Family Therapy Room. Fern passed away from breast cancer in 2004. She was a psychologist who specialized in eating disorders. | Kristyn Huey Lederer and her husband, Brendan, welcome their second child. Annika joined her big brother Zane on March 16, 2008. | Angela Oriano-Darnall became the assistant director for the Survey of Entering Student Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. Angela serves as a lecturer for the Department of Educational Administration. She would like to know if other Simmons Alum are doing similar work: oriano-darnall@ ccsse.org. 1993 Leah Goldman Lesser 237 Orchard Street Belmont, MA 02478-2350 [email protected] Karen Bliss Haberlin ’97GS writes, “I live in Avon, CT, with husband John and 6-year-old son William and am a stayat-home mom.” | Vanessa Hunnibell writes, “I’m living in Dublin, Ireland with my husband Ray and our beautiful 2 month old son, Aidan Michael. Career-wise, I’m taking a hiatus to concentrate on being a mom, but have an MS degree in printing technology. My email is vanbell@gmail. com. Would love to hear from classmates!” | Anushka PiligianWhite writes, “My husband Craig and I started off buying a classnotes home in Canton, MA. Craig’s job moved us to Holland. We’ve been ex-pats ever since! We’ve lived in Europe, Southeast Asia and now we’re in Scotland. I’ve got two girls and one boy. I am now teaching French and enjoying it very much. You can reach me at anushkawhite@hotmail. com.” | Beth Fitzhenry Zinn just celebrated her 14th wedding anniversary with her husband, Shawn. They live in Keene, NH and recently visited Disney World with their two daughters Katelyn (10) and Sarah (5). 1994 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Laurel Egan-Kenny ’98GS, ’02SM P.O. Box 44 51 Old Main Street Marshfield Hills, MA 02051-0044 [email protected] Sabrina Greenberg Chalom writes, “My husband and I made Aliyah (moving to Israel) in August 2007. In January 2008 we welcomed twins (a boy and a girl). The older siblings (ages 8, 6, 4, and 3) have all adjusted well to a new country and growing family. Any visiting alums or students are welcome to contact us — sabrinachalom@ gmail.com” 1995 Andrea Kirkpatrick 57 Broadlawn Park, Apt. 7B Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3519 [email protected] Jen Piel Bigora and husband Kenny are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail Rose, on January 28, 2008. Abby had her first trip to Boston this summer. Jen is graphic arts director at nGenera. She can be reached at jbigora@ gmail.com. 1996 Valerie Levanos ’97 and family Trelane Clark-Suazo ’97GS 36 Gartland Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3321 [email protected] Wendy Campanella Tripician took home bronze in the Women’s Lightweight Quadruple Sculls event in the 2008 FISA World Rowing Championships, held in July in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria. | Pamela FitzGerald Campbell writes, “Married high school sweetheart in Nov. 2001. Bought my parents’ house in May 2004. Adopted a cat, Figaro, in Sept. 2004. Adopted a dog (boxer/ridgeback mix), Cassius, in June 2005. Adopted a dog (boxer mix), Laila, in Sept. 2007. Enjoying our days with our fur clan — redoing the house!” | Amy Klotz writes, “I was appointed as special events manager for Children’s Hospital Trust where I will be responsible for managing the NSTAR’s Walk for Children’s Hospital, Boston. I continue to serve as president of the Simmons College Alumnae Association Executive Board and would love to see more alumnae get engaged in the AAEB and the wonderful things we do for Simmons alums and current students.” | Alexandra Massoud has accepted a position as regional manager with PrexEra. Ali caught up with Stephanie Gordon on a business trip to Washington, DC. Ali lives in Chicago with her husband, Grant Kuchan, and their son, Gabriel, 3. 1997 Katie Butler Thornell 4 Greenleaf Drive Beverly, MA 01915-1538 [email protected] Valerie Levanos and Thomas Esch welcome daughter Luciana Rosio. Lulu joins big sister Mimi, age 3. Valerie is a Regional Marketing Rep for New England Biolabs. | Sarah Leete Tsitso has been named director of development and communications for Greater Springfield, MA, Habitat for Humanity. 1998 Shauna Laprel LaSpina and her husband Mark welcomed their first child Julia Kiley on July 14 in Syracuse, NY. Shauna’s baby shower became her own minireunion, including classmates Lauren Shultz Roberts ’00HS; Ana Moura Amaral ’99; Chandra Tallman; Christine Long DeSantis ’00HS; and Eve Lawrence Metzger. | Jennifer Sweet writes, “I accepted an analyst position with athenahealth in Belfast, ME. This is an exciting opportunity for me professionally and allows me to be closer to my family including sister Sheri Sweet-Holcomb ’97. If you want to drop me a note, I’ve set up a page on Alumnet.” 1999 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 Melissa Finn 18 Rice Street Middleboro, MA 02346-2227 [email protected] Moira McTigue Bundschuh gave birth to Zoe Marie Bundschuh on March 30, 2008. Zoe weighed 7 lb. 2 oz. and joins sisters Kianna and Carolyn in New Hampshire. | Aimee Chevrette Bear married Paul Bear on April 19, 2008 in Orange, Connecticut. Christy McCallum was the maid of honor and Kate Allen ’07SW was a bridesmaid. | Karoline Eschwey Grigsby would like to announce the birth of her son, Magnus Cole Grigsby. He was born June 24, 2007 and weighed 8 lb. 13 oz. | Carrie Libby Sawyer writes, “My husband and I got married on April 14, 2007. I had a baby boy named Seth on January 1, 2008. I now work in the Emergency Room at Miles Memorial Hospital.” 2000 Alicia Cook 64 Chestnut Avenue, Apt. 2 Cranston, RI 02910-4627 [email protected] Mariah Sylvain Hayes writes, “In 2003 I married Steve Hayes. We live outside of Portland, OR, where I am a trauma nurse. On March 2, 2007, we had a baby girl named Rilee Elizabeth Hayes.” | Carly Gartman Kuper writes, “Rob and I just celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We live outside Philadelphia. I lead corporate communications for Philly’s largest ad agency.” | Caitlin Tierney Ravin writes, “Got married in September 2007 atop Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. Sara Ramsey and Olivia Zimra-Turley ’02 were bridesmaids and Whitney Murray and Kristin Kammerer ’02 were in attendance. We reside in Tyngsboro, MA.” undergraduate classnotes fall 2008 45 classnotes 2001 Lindsay Tobor 774 Coleman Avenue, Apt. H Menlo Park, CA 94025 [email protected] Kate Jenkins Barnabe ’07HS and Stephen Thomas Barnabe are happy to announce their wedding on August 18, 2007 in Freeport, ME. Lindy White Anderson and Lisa Spellane ’07HS were bridesmaids. Sonia Sharigian and Katie Carbary Benner performed readings, and Hayley Huba, Danielle Lussier ’05SM and the bride’s aunt Suzanne Regan ’71 were in attendance. The couple reside in Coventry, RI. | Allison Palmsten ’03HS and Ross Matthews are pleased to announce their marriage on August 25, 2007. The wedding took place on a gorgeous day in Allison’s hometown of Bloomington, MN. Allison’s classmates Kathleen Cambra Emet ’03HS, Jennifer Cote Shapiro, Samantha Bennett ’02, Kerry Casey Fagan ’03HS, Christine Dahlgren, Melissa Stillberger and Morgan Tobor attended. Allison and Ross reside in Chicago. | Amber Sharp released her second film, Don’t Go, which received rave reviews (winner of the Blue Flame award at the Oakland Black LGBT Film Festival). Her first film, Triple Minority, airs regularly on LOGO’s Best in Short Film series. | Lisa Cormier Valentine joined PowerPay, LLC in Portland, ME as marketing manager. Lisa was also appointed president of the Maine Marketing Association. 2002 Julieanna Sacchetti 10 Linden Street Wellesley, MA 02482 jsacchetti@alumnet. simmons.edu 46 simmons Elizabeth Barter and Sarah Levine ’03 are delighted to announce the birth of their daughter Teagan Rebecca Barter-Levine, April 15, 2008 in Lewiston, ME. Teagan joins big sister Riley Hannah! Moms and girls are all doing great! | Colleen Tuohy Fleming writes, “I graduated FSU College of Law last May and received my JD. My husband and I are relocating to Central FL, where I’ve secured a position as a public defender.” | Marika Katz McCann is delighted to announce her marriage to David McCann on May 27, 2006 in Arlington, MA. Bridesmaids included Alicia Ruprecht ’04HS, Quinn McCoy ’04HS, and Elizabeth Alexander Ross. Marika and David reside in Ann Arbor, MI. Marika received an M.A. in higher education administration at the University of Michigan and now works there in institutional advancement. | Steph Simard ’04GS graduated from the New England School of Photography, where she majored in fine art black and white and minored in documentary. Steph received honors in both areas. View her portfolio at www.stephplourdesimard.com. | Cristy Skiles ’04HS joined Pinewood Healing Arts in Somersworth, NH as a physical therapist. Cristy lives in Dover, MA. 2003 Alicia Canady, co-chair of the 2008 Black Alumnae/i Symposium, was recently featured in the Bay State Banner. | After two years of Peace Corps service in the Ukraine, Jessica Ferro entered the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. She is pursuing a master’s in international relations with a focus on European studies and international economics. alumnet.simmons.edu 2004 REUNION ’09 MAY 29–MAY 31 2006 Elizabeth Martins 5987 Franklin Avenue, Apt. 108 Los Angeles, CA 90028-5572 [email protected] Leslie Doerr ’07GS 58 River Road Wayland, MA 01778 [email protected] Hilary Waterous writes, “I have recently launched my own business in NYC, Pride & Joy, a full-service children’s personal shopping and consulting company. I would love to hear from alumna in the area! www. prideandjoynyc.com.” Kara Bjornberg Cooley was married on August 25, 2007 to Ray Cooley in Stowe, VT. Kara is a registered nurse at Fletcher Allen Health Care. The couple lives in Waterbury, VT. | Jennifer Larsen has accepted a position at the American University in Paris as cultural program coordinator. | On April 21, 2007 Ashley Mackes Nialetz married Casey Nialetz in Sanbornton, NH! All of her amazing Simmons roommates were in attendance! Regine Theodat, Victoria Ross, Alexandria Carithers, and Nicole Willis! On August 5, 2007 the couple welcomed their beautiful little girl Jaelyn Sydelle to the world! 2005 Rebecca Tanguay 77 Hope Avenue Warwick, RI 02889 [email protected] Tiffany Collins and Tyler Leach are happy to announce their marriage August 18, 2007, in York, ME. Their wedding was attended by classmates Ashley Cole and Amanda Oswald as well as friend Nasreen Rafieymehr Davis ’03, and Professor Bruce Gray. | Brehana Vader Darling has two children, Milo Caelan (born Feb. 2005) and Sonia Elodie (born Jan. 2007). A full-time stay at home mother, she launched a business of handmade children’s clothing and accessories, Coochooloo Designs — www. coochooloo.etsy.com. | Laura Glick completed her MS in occupational therapy at Columbia University and is now working as an occupational therapist on the spinal cord injury unit at the Bronx V.A. hospital. | Desirae Simmons ’06GS was profiled in the February/March edition of Career World in an article about life after college. She is a site manager for Jumpstart. 2007 Jessica White 80 Strathmore Road, Apt 8 Brighton, MA 02135-7108 [email protected] Melody Wright was recently profiled in the Somerville Journal for being a nurse as well as an avid adventure-traveler. 2008 Wei Wong 7 Parker Hill Avenue, Apt. 2 Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120-3205 [email protected] Anna Trioufanova has been selected as the 2008 Outstanding Dietetics Student for a Didactic Program in Dietetics by the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. obituaries OBITUARIES From January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008, the Office of Advancement Services received notification that the following alumnae/i and faculty are deceased. Garland Junior College Ethel Sack Gladstone Business January 12, 2008 Catherine Leamy Lowe Home Economics September 15, 2007 1928 1933 Ann Bartol Sutcliffe June 24, 2005 Ruth Bean Business December 1, 2007 Marie Bozenhard Library and Information Science December 19, 2007 Genevieve Woodard Bucknam Business June 15, 2007 Frances Heller Saltzman Business March 15, 2008 Yetta Steinberg Whitman Business April 2, 2008 Honorary Trustee C. Vincent Vappi June 23, 2008 1941 Carolyn Packard Marshal September 4, 2007 1947 Nancy Shellengerger Utech September 17, 2004 1948 Caroline Wilson Rogerson October 28, 2007 1958 Jane Van Vyen Buchanan February 5, 2006 1960 Susan Harris Stanton January 16, 2008 Undergraduate College 1928 Madeline Dik Brown Nutrition February 4, 2008 Selma Cohen Chester Business January 15, 2008 Barbara Lamb Noyes Home Economics April 13, 2008 Anna Batchelder Sinks Business February 24, 2008 1929 Mae Wachtel Dolby Business December 30, 2007 1930 Elizabeth Johnson Mills Home Economics April 19, 2008 Virginia Woodward Smith Library and Information Science March 7, 2008 1931 Dorothy Pearson Reid Business March 26, 2008 Wilmer Lorenzen Fetters Library and Information Science December 24, 2007 Muriel Kemp Ganser Library and Information Science April 6, 2008 1934 Ruth Schwartz Banen Home Economics March 27, 2008 Evelyn Welch Beale Physical Education April 30, 2008 Jeannie Weissman Cohen Business January 20, 2008 Eleanor Ridlon Ortlieb Library and Information Science December 26, 2007 Ruth Bradbury Business November 9, 2007 1935 Elsie Copeland Brown Home Economics February 1, 2008 Esther Williams Nicolle Library and Information Science March 31, 2008 Ruth Kuhns O’Connell Science November 21, 2007 Monica Reynolds Physical Education April 19, 2008 Priscilla Greenfield Swain Business March 10, 2008 Virginia Ruggles Wright Home Economics October 6, 2007 1936 Esther Schoonmaker Pray Business February 28, 2008 Catherine Higgins Purcell Business April 16, 2008 Elizabeth Stoloff Pingree Social Work February 6, 2008 Eleanor Schultz Willard English March 5, 2008 Margaret Roberts Yerger Retail Management January 3, 2008 1937 Eleanore Frend Folland Business September 21, 2007 Jeannette Dodge Gardner Business November 12, 2007 Gertrude Hartnett Pre Professional, Social Work April 27, 2008 Helen Anderson MacDonald Physical Education June 5, 2008 Ruth Custance Miller Library and Information Science November 28, 2007 Marjorie Holman Library and Information Science December 27, 2007 Mildred Goodale Rayworth Home Economics January 11, 2008 Elizabeth Benson Walen Nursing December 13, 2006 1938 Barbara Jasper Bales English March 4, 2008 Wilmah Scofield Blanchard Special June 9, 2006 Rose Zelermyer Dashefsky Business January 25, 2008 Jane Pierce Puffer Physical Education April 5, 2008 Pauline Cluff Stevens Business October 26, 2007 1939 Ruth Waddell Bill Home Economics November 6, 2007 Ursula Donahue Ross Home Economics May 26, 2008 Ida Showstack Shwachman ’44SW Social Work May 21, 2008 Ruth Dygert Soule Pre Professional February 2, 2008 1940 Virginia Orde Church Business October 27, 2007 Virginia Sheppard Graf Business October 14, 2007 Ruth Sylvester Prior Nursing April 12, 2008 Thora Soderberg Sharp Business December 12, 2007 Fay Copellman Zarin Pre Professional February 14, 2008 1941 Rhea Reilly Grant Home Economics February 20, 2008 Dorothy Collins Gurney Business June 16, 2008 Sara Jurist-Levy English May 14, 2008 Edith Colmes Katz Business December 12, 2007 Florence Tayian Library and Information Science February 9, 2008 Joanne Condon Teague English March 15, 2008 June Whitehouse Vale Nursing December 12, 2007 1942 1945 Maryann Langley Buenting Social Science September 9, 2006 Frances Flynn ’63LS English, Library and Information Science March 23, 2008 Suzanne Kaldeck Gray ’67LS Chemistry, Library and Information Science November 15, 2007 Rowena Rockwell Langworthy Retail Management March 23, 2008 Barbara Dearden Philbrick Business January 22, 2008 1946 Ethel Slattery Nursing January 31, 2008 1947 Arlene Warner Bredenberg Advertising April 28, 2008 Ruth Farrisey Nursing September 24, 2007 Ellen Chandler Brown English March 24, 2008 Muriel Seaman Corson Science March 5, 2008 Clara Sagik Striar Business February 12, 2008 Jeanne Adams Hallager Business December 29, 2007 Roselyn Gilmore Kem Pre Professional November 10, 2007 1943 1948 Evelyn Canova Business June 21, 2008 Helen Grace Carlson Franklin Pre Professional November 20, 2007 Hyalie Laipson Hurwitz English June 16, 2008 Virginia Lovett Kilham Business January 21, 2008 Marjorie Kelley Obear Business March 11, 2003 Helen McGrath Postman Science December 23, 2007 Eleanor McCarthy Shyne Business April 20, 2008 Velma Thompson Dietrich Business April 21, 2008 Violet Drury Retail Management January 22, 2008 Virginia Agababian Tashjian ’69LS Library and Information Science March 28, 2008 1944 Elvera Algeri Glass ’78LS Chemistry, Library and Information Science May 12, 2008 Caroline Russell Ryder Science February 26, 2008 Miriam Anderson Wayman Business May 20, 2008 Barbara Hallowell Landry Retail Management February 25, 2008 Priscilla Lewis MacNaughton Physical Therapy April 28, 2008 Marion Cooke Rum Biology December 25, 2007 1949 Jacqueline Roth Kane Psychology March 18, 2008 Elizabeth Little Pike Business February 15, 2008 Ruth Rundlett Ward Special March 22, 2008 1950 Alice Relyea Booker Library and Information Science May 18, 2008 Natalie Hammond Condon Business December 26, 2007 Ruth Nelson Mahan Home Economics January 5, 2008 fall 2008 47 obituaries 1951 1959 Edith Ambye Science March 31, 2008 Gale Swanson Queen Nursing November 14, 2007 Clare Dubin Beckhardt Business June 5, 2008 Alice Larkin Nutrition May 3, 2008 1960 1952 Joyce Appel Hayward Nursing February 17, 2008 Louise Drenan Holleran Library and Information Science January 30, 2008 Carolyn Goodell Kanter Business May 12, 2008 Virginia Hood Nixon Home Economics September 4, 2004 Marilyn Roach Parsons Business December 10, 2007 1953 Rose Oster Blumenthal Science April 30, 2008 Joan Lerner Greenberg Pre Professional September 6, 2006 1954 Barbara Albert Lavallee Special February 21, 2008 Mary Lagace Shaughnessy Physical Therapy, Science March 19, 2008 Cecelia Klein Singer Business August 7, 2007 1956 Carolyn Collins English February 17, 2008 Constance Markert Day Business June 14, 2007 Sally Scannell Litzow Business January 15, 2008 Irene Galiley Merker Nursing March 14, 2008 Jane Blanchard Harrison Business April 3, 2008 1961 Arlene Weiner Feingold Physical Therapy, Science June 26, 2008 Lois Berman Jassie Chemistry June 1, 2008 Thelma Galkin Mattingly Chemistry March 21, 2008 Elizabeth Lazar Olaynack Retail Management October 3, 2007 1962 Joan Greenstein Gurland Business December 10, 2007 1964 Betsy Meirick Kemeny Psychology December 25, 2007 Lynda Slurzberg Schachne Science February 14, 2008 1970 Dawn Moorad Greeley Government May 9, 2008 1973 Helene Jackson Sociology April 21, 2008 1974 Bernice Slaughter Reid Education May 13, 2008 1976 Susan Smith Terrell Physical Therapy January 15, 2007 1977 Gwendolyn Woodard-Johnson Economics April 30, 2008 1981 Carole Jaques Russell Business April 25, 2008 Shelley Bowen Education February 10, 2008 Claudette Lemieux Corbett Human Services March 15, 2008 1958 1988 Sheila McKivergan Biggs Nursing March 5, 2004 Patricia Wien Cristal Retail Management July 9, 2007 Lois O’Grady Science December 23, 2007 Evelyn Wolff Smith Physical Therapy, Science March 27, 2008 Anne Murphy Lampal Philosophy, Psychology February 25, 2008 Susan Witte Plarre Management June 21, 2008 1957 48 simmons 2004 Susanne Picard Nursing March 8, 2008 alumnet.simmons.edu School of Arts and Science 1922 Selma Eversole Henley Economics February 16, 2008 1935 Graduate School of Library and Information Science School of Management 1930 Claudia McGinnis Business Administration February 25, 2008 Elizabeth Miller Littlefield February 9, 2008 Eleanor Orde Reid Business August 10, 2002 1933 1936 1938 Anne Black Retail Management March 11, 2002 Helen Fairbanks November 7, 2006 1937 Esther Holmes Business March 3, 2008 1938 Eleanor Wolf Rabb Business February 15, 2006 Anna Feeley Voigt Business April 10, 2008 1951 Alice Hanley Home Economics March 17, 2008 1952 Barbara Mersereau Home Economics September 24, 2007 Ruth Atwood Muller October 31, 2006 1951 Charles Adams October 29, 2007 1952 John Hallahan June 14, 2008 1957 Elizabeth Rhoads Faltermayer April 17, 2008 1959 Allen Sevigny February 5, 2008 1962 Henry Bates, Jr. October 9, 2007 1964 Beatrice Sennott February 6, 2008 1958 1966 Helen Bartley Rich Home Economics June 27, 2008 Ruth Lindenfelser September 16, 2007 Marie Mulkerrin May 17, 2008 1961 1995 School of Social Work 1936 Evelyn Shimelman Zeman June 16, 2008 1940 Vivian Burns McBurney March 11, 2008 1947 Christine McCaskie Hahn September 22, 2007 1954 Alice Crays August 16, 2007 1955 Jocelyn Dugas Von Riesen November 20, 2007 1959 Ruth Reiner Zucker June 10, 2007 1961 Margaret Pullen Bishop April 8, 2008 1964 James Colarusso January 21, 2008 1967 Susan Klein Schwartz October 16, 2005 Genevieve Wheeler Home Economics September 16, 2007 1969 1971 Richard Ferguson, Jr. November 28, 2007 Nancy Wessinger Miller March 19, 2008 1963 1970 1986 Rosemary Currier Home Economics January 5, 2008 Dorothy Traub Donio November 8, 2006 Carol Thiel LoPiccolo March 15, 2008 1972 1990 Eileen Driscoll April 2, 2008 Rosanne Labree Coursen March 14, 2006 Bruce Paradis January, 2007 1972 Jean Smith Education March 22, 2008 1974 Barbara Kohn Katz Education April 6, 2008 1974 Jagdish Kapoor May 12, 2008 1977 1975 Mary Conners Sawtelle Generic Teacher May 4, 2008 Jean Tappe May 2, 2008 2003 Catherine Wells January 23, 2008 Courtenay Martin Landmark Program December 10, 2007 School of Health Sciences 1985 Kathleen McGowan Schusler Nursing January 23, 2008 1976 1985 Larry Larsen June 13, 2008 1990 Joanne Goodman October 9, 2007 1996 Diruhi Matevossian Mattian February 6, 2008 SIMMONS SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Celebrating 30 Years of Women’s Achievements Vision to Voice voices: leadership in the global age PEGGY ADELSON SASLOW ’44 Join friends and classmates at our 30th anniversary conference for an experience to remember. In keeping with this milestone event, all Simmons College alumnae receive a 30% discount off the registration fee. It’s a day of HOMETOWN: New retired high school home economics teacher OCCUPATION: inspiring speakers, thought-provoking sessions, and great networking with nearly 3,000 professional women that is guaranteed to energize your life and career. May 2, 2009 For program details and registration information please visit Seaport World simmons.edu/ leadership Trade Center Boston, MA Diane Keaton, actress & film director Milford, New Jersey REGISTER EARLY Ayaan Hirsi Ali Mary Robinson Antonia Novello, M.D. women’s rights advocate & author former president of Ireland former U.S. Surgeon General All proceeds support scholarships to the Simmons School of Management. This is a tax deductible event. ON HER OPTIMISTIC LIFE VIEW: “I am inordinately content with my life — I loved my husband and children and I thought we were incredibly fortunate. I always figured I was a pretty lucky gal.” “When I think of Simmons, I think of my friends.” Ask Peggy Saslow ’44 what she thinks about her life and she’s likely to give a very upbeat response. With a sharp wit and the energy of a teenager, this octogenarian epitomizes not only the “Greatest Generation,” but also the quintessential Simmons woman. “I think that I’m part of the greatest generation ever, and I know part of that is because of my Simmons experience,” said Saslow. The youngest of seven children — and the fifth girl — Saslow grew up in Boston’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. Her parents were Russian immigrants who believed strongly in education. One of her brothers went to MIT, a sister to a music conservatory, and Peggy? Well, her choice for college was an easy one. “I always wanted to go to Simmons. It’s the only college I applied to. If anyone asked me, I’d tell them I want to go to Simmons and be a dietician,” said Saslow. And that’s exactly what she did. Saslow entered Simmons at the tender age of 16 as a commuter student. She enjoyed her time in college, studying hard, learning to play bridge, and making lots of friends. After graduation, she wasted little time building her career. Moving to New Jersey, Saslow lived and worked at Newark Beth Israel Hospital, first as a dietetic intern, and then as a staff member. The following year — 1946 — she met and married the love of her life, Sidney. A happy marriage, two daughters, a son, and a full-time job as a high school home economics teacher ensued, filling Saslow’s life for many years. Later, other activities would follow, such as elected positions on the Board of Education and the Friends of the Library, volunteer work for Temple Beth Tikvah, and teaching AARP driver safety classes. But always, there was Simmons. Among her many connections to Simmons, Saslow has been president of the Class of 1944, 2004 Reunion chair for her class, secretary to the Alumnae Association Executive Board, co-director of the Northern New Jersey Simmons Club, a class officer, and the recipient of two alumnae awards. She also is a regular donor, having made several leadership gifts, including the Florence Saslow Gift Annuity and naming a space in the new library for her niece. As if that wasn’t enough, Saslow also is the matriarch of an impressive Simmons lineage: both of her daughters, a niece, and her granddaughter all graduated from Simmons. “When I think of Simmons, I think of my friends,” said Saslow. “It’s been absolutely thrilling to be involved with Simmons for all these years. I enjoyed my time at Simmons and made some wonderful, lifelong friends. Simmons has done a lot for me.” Q aT SImMonS. alL ROadSbEgIn ReTuRn to SIMMonS. ALL roADs SIMMO NS FALL 2008 CAS Edition Report of Philanthropy INSIDE For many of you, your time at Simmons was only the beginning of great things to come. To show you that Simmons hasn’t veered from its mission, we’ve created an easy way for you to return. The reconnectwithsimmons blogazine – an online magazine and blog – is our way of helping you stay connected to old (and new!) friends. The site – contributed to by interesting alumnae/i, faculty, & staff – provides honest, fresh, fun, and thought- provoking stories about Simmons and its community members who are making a difference in the world. The site also includes sections titled GPS: Globally Positioning Simmons, Simmons Spotlight, and Simmons Fun & Facts. You can read the blogs, post messages, comment on any topic, and buy great reconnectwithsimmons stuff. If you have any comments or questions, please contact Nicole LeBlanc at 617.521.2368, or email [email protected]. simmons.edu/reconnect SIMMONS | 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115-5898 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUIRED NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID N READING MA PERMIT NO. 121 why art matters THE VALUE OF ARTS IN EDUCATION Arts and Sciences ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY also in this issue: Q CAS PARTNERS WITH ERIC CARLE MUSEUM Q NEW NAME FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES SEE PAGE 21