Dispatches

News. Musings. Insights.

The newly installed Portrait of Dorinda Essah by painter Kehinde Wiley welcomes the Barnard community in the lobby entrance of Milbank Hall. It is part of a series of six paintings from the William Morris Gallery exhibit “Kehinde Wiley: The Yellow Wallpaper.” Two of these works are on long-term loan to the College.

6 Headlines 10 Wit & Whimsy

Headlines

Sister Act

Denise and Francine LeFrak join forces to bring critical wellness programming to Barnard

by Nicole Anderson ’12JRN

“I believe so strongly that women must speak up for other women in their philanthropy,” says Francine A. LeFrak, and this is the ethos — one that was instilled by her mother Ethel, Class of ’41 — that has inspired Francine and her sister Denise to come together to collaborate and build upon their shared passion for championing women. “We found out, at this stage in our lives, that we have the ability and the right formula to work together successfully,” explains Denise.

Francine is the force behind the new Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being at Barnard. The Center, which was announced last October, will establish a centralized hub for the College’s wellness programs, offering critical services to support students’ physical, mental, and financial well-being. Starting in January 2022, the first floor of the former LeFrak Gymnasium in Barnard Hall — which Francine and Denise’s parents, Ethel and Samuel LeFrak, generously funded in 1998 — will undergo a renovation to create a brand-new home for the Center and its myriad wellness initiatives, including the Feel Well, Do Well @ Barnard campaign, in addition to a fitness center, a space for financial wellness programming, and a dance studio.

“Our mother graduated with a degree in economics from this great College, so when the idea of a center for well-being, incorporating three pillars of wellness — financial, physical, and mental — presented itself, I wanted to move forward with it because it felt closely aligned with my Foundation and our passions,” says Francine. “The idea of enlisting my sister in this venture was crucial to me: It models the importance of our relationship and our desire not only to honor our mother’s legacy but to honor each other.”

For Denise, the Center provided all the right ingredients for an ideal partnership. “The Center for Well-Being was Francine’s idea, but I immediately felt that it was a project I wanted to be involved with in a meaningful way,” she says.

Denise realized there was an essential component

Collaboration is nothing new for Denise and

to the Center’s health and wellness mission Francine, who’ve joined that she wished to bring to fruition: a forces numerous times, resource for students who are grappling combining their expertise with substance abuse, whether it is their own and experience, with relationship to alcohol and/or drug use or the impressive results. addiction issues of a family member, friend, or partner. In March, the College announced the creation of the Denise LeFrak Foundation Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program (ASAP). Funded by a generous gift from the Denise LeFrak Foundation, the program will name a room in the Center, which will serve as a dedicated and centralized space for ASAP’s individual and group counseling, in addition to events and campus-wide outreach.

“Everybody has someone in their lives or knows someone with some kind of addiction or addictive problem,” says Denise. “In general, people stigmatize addiction, and it is proven that this approach doesn’t help anyone get better. Having a program available that increases awareness and provides access to positive ways in which to address problems will create a community of support.”

While the Center will present a range of programming, Francine is particularly excited for students to have access to resources for enhancing financial fluency. “What I want for the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being is to see women learn about and embrace their financial future, be comfortable discussing investments, and to feel empowered and confident so that they are relying on themselves for their financial stability,” she says. “As a result, they will understand the impact that being financially sound has on their physical and mental wellness.”

Collaboration is, of course, nothing new for Denise and Francine, who’ve joined forces numerous times, combining their expertise and experience, with impressive results. One such project is the Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park, which has become a favorite skating and recreation facility for Brooklyn families. “We are able to create and achieve things working together that would not be as significant if we did them on our own,” says Denise.

Francine notes that there’s a special synergy between the two of them, bolstered by mutual respect and encouragement for one another’s interests and abilities. “We developed a partnership and communication style that works, and we support each other. I love working with Denise and learn so much from her.” Denise couldn’t agree more. “After our mother’s passing, we spent a lot of time together and found out that each of us had different things that we excelled in,” she adds. “We became this powerhouse team and complemented each other in different ways.”

And this project is proof of the sister’s exemplary teamwork. As Francine says, “Sisters coming together in their efforts to support women and women’s wellness in an innovative way is the secret sauce for the Center’s success.” This venture is not only a culmination of their collective efforts but also a celebration of their mother’s many contributions to Barnard over the years, which were driven by her enduring devotion to and support of women’s education and her alma mater.

“We have seen the powerful things taking place at Barnard over the years. We recognize Sian as the inspirational thought leader that she is and believe in her vision to help impact Barnard women,” says Francine. “I want this Center to be the model for other colleges and universities on what well-being means. I want women to have the tools to feel self-confident.” B

Headlines

#MaskUpBarnard: The Barnard Health Ambassadors Keeping Campus Safe

by Mary Cunningham

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck last spring, Barnard sprung into action, with many alumnae, students, faculty, and staff lending their talents, time, and expertise to support and protect the Barnard community, as well as their local communities. Some got creative by launching new business ventures, while others stepped up as frontline workers and volunteers for meal services.

For the campus community, the College implemented various initiatives to promote health and safety, including the Barnard Health Ambassador Program (BHA). Launched virtually in September 2020, the program currently consists of six students, three faculty, and 18 staff members who aim to cultivate community, educate their peers, and ensure a healthy campus experience for all.

“It’s been exciting to invent the program and to see how the BHAs are community driven. Our student BHAs come up with great ways to engage the community by designing fun activities that are remote alternatives to in-person gatherings. They’re truly committed to showing that being safe and separate doesn’t mean the community can’t come together in meaningful ways,” says Allie Emmerich, Program Director for Arts Education and a staff Barnard Health Ambassador.

While classes were remote over the fall semester, the Barnard Health Ambassadors kept everyone updated through email and newsletters. They also harnessed the power of social media to promote fun initiatives, share resources on safety protocols, and provide updates, including Barnard/Columbia case numbers. Now that many students are back on campus, the BHAs provide in-person resources, such as masks and hand sanitizers. And despite the 6-foot degree of separation, they are creating opportunities to connect.

“I appreciate my time as a student health ambassador because it gives me a chance to look out for my peers by sharing important information with them. It’s not only about protecting students against coronavirus, it’s also about protecting their well-being in general,” says student health ambassador Naomi Jones ’23. “I want students to feel like they are not alone in this pandemic: Your thoughts and feelings matter, and we want to hear your concerns!”

Visit @bhabarnard for more information and updates. B

Clockwise from lower left: Cindy Krumholtz, Auden Barbour ’22, Naomi Jones ’23, Tamia Lewis ’24, Sarah de Freitas, Inkyoung (Ken) Kim

Celebrating Move-In Week 2021

Residential students returned to campus for the spring semester this January. Masked greeters, including President Sian Leah Beilock, welcomed students and their families and friends outside the main gate.

Winter Break

Barnard’s campus was covered in a blanket of snow after several storms hit the Northeast. Students braved the cold and built socially distanced snowpeople — spaced 6 feet apart — outfitting them in the garb of this unusual winter.

Office Hours Outdoors

This semester, the College set up tents on Futter Field so that students, staff, and faculty could have a safe space to gather. In March, Professor

Karen Fairbanks, chair of the

Department of Architecture, held her office hours outdoors beneath one of the tents. Students and passersby could pick up a snack and an Architecture Department sketchbook.

By the Numbers

2025 is Barnard’s most selective year yet for admissions

“Our admitted class is truly impressive, and the record-breaking number of applicants this year is a testament to the value of the education we offer and the Barnard experience as a whole,” said Jennifer Fondiller, Vice President for Enrollment and Communications. “It’s a recognition of not only our academic excellence but also the strong sense of community on which we relied to get us through the most difficult days of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

10,395

applications received from around the world

1,084

students admitted to the Class of 2025

10%

increase in applicants from last year

19%

identify as first-generation college students

64%

identify as women of color

43

states and territories represented

40

Wit & Whimsy

Springtime in the City: Expectation vs. Reality

by JiJi Lee ’01

Expectation: I will take a leisurely stroll around the farmers market, examining and sniffing fresh produce, as if I am Julia Child shopping at an open-air marché in Paris or the type of person who knows when fruit is ripe or not.

Reality: I take a deep whiff of berries and instantly get stung by a bee.

Expectation: I will go out, wearing my brand-new floral dress and open-toed shoes, because it’s a 70-degree day and my weather app is showing a smiling-sun emoji.

Reality: It starts hailing within five minutes of leaving my apartment, and I’m forced to create a makeshift umbrella out of my sandals. The smiling-sun emoji on my weather app has turned into a devil-face emoji with lightning bolts for eyebrows.

Expectation: Springtime means romance is in the air! At the park, I will lock eyes with a comely stranger who will engage me in a friendly and stimulating conversation on current events, movies, our favorite bruschetta toppings, and the book Lincoln in the Bardo, because even though I’ve owned this book for two years, I will have definitely read it by spring.

Reality: The only thing that’s in the air is pollen. Seasonal allergies keep me in bed. I never find out what a bardo is.

Expectation: I will go jogging.

Reality: Whoa, whoa, whoa, let’s not get too ambitious here!

Expectation: I will become a plant owner. I’ll have orchids, ferns, and whatever plants I see on Reese Witherspoon’s Instagram. My apartment’s balcony will be a veritable Garden of Eden. I will relax languorously in a stylish hammock.

Reality: I forget to water my plants. The dry, brittle leaves turn my balcony into a fire hazard. My hammock becomes a resting place for the local squirrel population.

Expectation: I will eat an ice-cream cone and it will melt all over me.

Reality: I eat an ice-cream cone and it melts all over me.

Expectation: After deconstructing my makeshift umbrella and reassembling the parts into open-toed shoes, I will finally have the opportunity to show off my freshly painted pedicure.

Reality: After neglecting my feet all winter, my toenails look like oyster shells. Passersby gawk at my hardened heels. Children run away in horror. A bird pecks at my toes, mistaking them for seafood. And after all that, my feet don’t even produce a pearl.

Expectation: I will finally work on my novel, because the birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and my creativity is blossoming like a yellow daffodil.

Reality: I do not write my novel because it’s actually sunny and warm out and I have to enjoy spring while it lasts — which, as always, is a long and indulgent five to 10 minutes.

Barnard was such a pivotal and impactful experience in my life. I wanted to honor and recognize that by including Barnard in my estate plans and by joining the Athena Society. I felt it particularly important to contribute in this way to demonstrate my commitment to the College and, hopefully, to help others access it and benefit from it, as I did.” —M.J. Hawes ’92

To learn more about how you can join M.J. in support of Barnard and its world-changing young women, please contact JiHae Munro | 212.853.8313 and Alison Robbins | 212.853.8314 plannedgiving@barnard.edu