SUMMER 2020
STAYING CONNECTED
Hundreds of alumnae from 17 countries came together online for Reunion Reimagined
SA V
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DATE E TH
Giving Day 2020 is
October 28! Columbia Giving Day is a 24-hour online fundraising event where members of the Barnard and Columbia communities band together to support the schools and programs they hold dear. Giving Day last year was record-breaking for Barnard. Your participation this year, by donating any amount, encouraging your friends and classmates to give, and sharing your stories on social media, will help Barnard raise the bar even more, secure critical funds for our students, and earn additional challenge dollars for the College. To learn more about Giving Day 2020, and how you can help, visit giving.barnard.edu/giving-day or contact us at annualgiving@barnard.edu or 212.870.2520.
EDITORIAL EDITOR Nicole Anderson ’12JRN CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Hopson COPY EDITOR Molly Frances PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Lisa Buonaiuto WRITER Veronica Suchodolski ’19 STUDENT INTERNS Brigid Cromwell ’22, Solby Lim ’22, Isabella Pechaty ’23, Stefani Shoreibah ’21, Danielle Slepyan ’22 ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION OF BARNARD COLLEGE
PRESIDENT & ALUMNAE TRUSTEE Amy
Veltman ’89
ALUMNAE RELATIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karen A. Sendler ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Jennifer G. Fondiller ’88, P’19
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Quenta P. Vettel, APR
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Reunion Reimagined A “virtual” success
DEVELOPMENT
VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNAE RELATIONS
Contents 4 From President Sian Leah Beilock 6 From the Editor
8 Spotlight 2020 Gala Awardee Maryam Banikarim
Lisa Yeh
PRESIDENT, BARNARD COLLEGE Sian Leah Beilock Summer 2020, Vol. CIX, No. 2 Barnard Magazine (USPS 875-280, ISSN 1071-6513) is published quarterly by the Communications Department of Barnard College. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and additional mailing offices.
10 Torchbearers Lida Orzeck ’68’s “Scholarship fam”
Postmaster: Send change of address form to: Alumnae Records, Barnard College, Box AS, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598
21 Class Notes
EDITORIAL OFFICE Vagelos Alumnae Center, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598 Phone: 212-854-0085 Email: magazine@barnard.edu
14 AABC Alumnae Association Award Winners; Welcoming AABC President Amy Veltman ’89 32 Sources You Make Every Day
43 Regional Roundup Goes Viral
59 Obituary Shirley Adelson Siegel ’37 Professor Emerita Jeanne S. Poindexter 61 In Memoriam
On the cover: Diana Thompson ’79 PHOTO BY WILLIAM MEBANE
Opinions expressed are those of contributors or the editor and do not represent official positions of Barnard College or the Alumnae Association of Barnard College. Letters to the editor (200 words maximum), submissions for Symposium (400 words maximum), and unsolicited articles and/or photographs will be published at the discretion of the editor and will be edited for length and clarity. The contact information listed in Class Notes is for the exclusive purpose of providing information for the Magazine and may not be used for any other purpose. For alumnae-related inquiries, call Alumnae Relations at 212-854-2005 or email alumnaerelations@barnard.edu. To change your address, write to: Alumnae Records, Barnard College, Box AS, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598 Phone: 646-745-8344 Email: alumrecords@barnard.edu SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 3
From President Sian Leah Beilock
As I sit down and write this letter, we are just a month away from the start of classes. It has been my priority from day one to ensure that we can do so safely. And during these summer months, I’ve worked closely with Barnard’s dedicated faculty and staff to devise a plan that is flexible and provides a meaningful academic experience that engages students in new and creative ways. The current moment, in particular, has demanded more of us — not only in the intricacies of logistical planning but in our pedagogical approach. It has required us to ask ourselves hard questions and to come up with novel solutions. I am reminded of the conversation I had with Stacey Abrams in late May, which kicked off our virtual discussion series, Insights: Powered by Barnard. Abrams recounted her historic run as the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the United States. As she spoke candidly about her narrow, though disappointing, loss, I was struck by her words that followed: “Meet adversity and meet challenges not by pretending it doesn’t exist, but by acknowledging it, by excavating it to find what lessons can be learned and what opportunities are hidden beneath all the sorrow.” With this in mind, the question that I have posed to myself and to my colleagues that has driven our collective efforts and thinking about Barnard’s mission in the year ahead is: How can we invite our students — guided by faculty and supported by the institution — to bring their knowledge to bear, as problem-solvers and innovators, to address the pressing issues we face today concerning systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic? Working collaboratively across disciplines, we’ve mapped out an academic and co-curricular experience that will focus on the historic challenges confronting society today. All first-years will take part in a new course, Big Problems: Making Sense of 2020, that will include a series of lectures by prominent thought leaders who will offer insight and context to the social, political, and ecological upheavals generated by our country’s injustices and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will have the chance to probe these issues in courses across the curriculum and within their majors. The crises we face need vision and inspired solutions. That’s why we are calling on students not only to think critically about the “big problems” of today but to work in tandem with their peers, professors, and practitioners to take action — whether that means engaging their local government or community-based organizations or initiating projects through ThirdSpace@Barnard, a new, virtual co-curricular program. Without a doubt, Barnard students are already doing this hard work and contributing their brainpower to make a difference in their communities. Just last month, Shannon Hui ’22 and her teammates were selected as finalists in the young adult category of the Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge competition, launched by the Van Alen Institute, which challenged people to rethink the iconic bridge’s walkway. The team’s entry considered how to redesign this overcrowded public space during the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate social distancing while 4
PHOTO BY DOROTHY HONG
Driving Change
preserving the bridge’s history and honoring the city’s diversity. And when Amanda Taylor ’22 noticed that medical journals and educational resources far too often left out the stories of Black women, she founded The Unplug Collective, a publication that provides a platform for women of color to share their stories of mental, emotional, and physical health. She credits Professor Manijeh Moradian’s course Practicing Intersectionality for teaching her “the power that writing has in preventing people who are unseen and unheard from being erased from history.” Our curriculum is designed to foster this very activism and civic engagement. Learning itself, especially now, must be proactive. And for students to become effective changemakers, we need to talk across the divides. In my recent conversation with Netflix’s VP of Inclusion Strategy Vernā Myers ’82, we discussed the important steps we can all take to overcome and mend the fracturing that can happen among different groups and within social movements. When there were incidents of anti-Semitism on social media this summer, Myers hosted a #SolidaritySunday event on Black-Jewish relations. At Barnard, we must seek out this kind of open dialogue, inviting members of our community with diverse perspectives and experiences to come together to explore difficult issues and find common ground. As Myers put it: “How do we for once not fight over the crumbs but create an entirely different pie where there is enough dignity and respect and equality and opportunity for everyone?” When we return to campus this fall, students will be asked to explore new intellectual experiences and to put their ideas into action to effect lasting change. This year has certainly illuminated the need for such resourceful and original thinkers, and I know that Barnard women are up to the task. B
In their conversation during the virtual discussion series Insights: Powered by Barnard, President Beilock and Stacey Abrams discuss opportunities for growth and learning in times of crisis.
SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 5
From the Editor
Apart but Together Since March, as we’ve transitioned to a virtual workplace, my day-to-day routine as the editor of Barnard Magazine has operated a little differently. From our homes, my colleagues and I brainstorm story ideas, share news, and plan our upcoming issues on video calls. But even as the communication channels have changed, we’ve maintained the same lively exchange of viewpoints that we had when we were on campus. The current moment has certainly called on all of us — the College, alumnae, faculty, and students — to get creative and work collaboratively. And in doing so, the Barnard community has managed to not only band together but also foster meaningful connections and dialogue. I’ve witnessed this on several occasions, from our Reunion Reimagined, where generations of Barnard alums convened for virtual workshops and spirited conversation, to regional book club gatherings over Zoom. As I read through Summer’s Class Notes, I was impressed though not surprised to learn about all the ways that Barnard women have demonstrated fortitude, resourcefulness, and yes, connectivity, during these difficult times. Two former roommates — one in New York, the other in Jerusalem — are putting those extra hours at home to good use by taking an online Israeli poetry class together. Several alums are completing long-term book projects. Teachers are hard at work preparing their courses for online learning. And there are countless stories of alums who’ve contributed their knowledge and expertise as frontline responders during the pandemic (stay tuned for our upcoming feature on Barnard’s health care frontliners in the Fall issue). I urge you to read through the Class Notes, even beyond your year, because they are a time capsule of this challenging moment in our history and, above all, the kindness and ingenuity of the Barnard community. On a separate note, you’ve likely noticed, the Magazine is reaching you in a digital format only. In the past few months, Barnard has had to make some difficult decisions in response to COVID-19, including a number of cost-cutting measures in order to ensure that the needs of students are met while mitigating the financial impact of the pandemic on the College. Given the current challenges, the Magazine has produced a leaner, digital-only summer issue to eliminate the considerable expense of printing and postage. We will resume our print editions with the Fall 2020 issue. In the meantime, we have launched a redesign of the Magazine’s web page, which will help us tell stories in a more visual and dynamic fashion. You’ll be able to access our archives and search for articles more easily. Our goal is to continue to deliver engaging content across both print and digital. And as the fall term nears, I know there will be much for us to cover, and I look forward to bringing you these stories in the issues to come.
Nicole Anderson ’12JRN, Editor
KEEP WRITING THE BOOK
ON BEING DRIVEN, PASSIONATE, PROUD, IN-THE-KNOW, EAGER, IRREVERENT, ORIGINAL, GUTSY, MOTIVATED, FOCUSED, HUNGRY FOR EXPERIENCE, INTENSE, ENGAGED, AMBITIOUS, CONFIDENT, WORLDLY, FORTHRIGHT, INCLUSIVE, UNAPOLOGETIC, BOLD, POWERFUL, VIBRANT, ASPIRATIONAL, DISCERNING, GENUINE, AWARE, SPIRITED, WITTY, IRONIC, DIRECT, RELEVANT, COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, SUSTAINABLE, AUDACIOUS, AGGRESSIVE, INDEPENDENT, FEARLESS, THOUGHTFUL, RESILIENT, COSMOPOLITAN, AND FIERCELY INTELLECTUAL.
Send your unequivocally Barnard letters, essays, poems, art, photos, travels, and ideas to magazine@barnard.edu
Spotlight
Catching Up With 2020 Gala Awardee Maryam Banikarim ’89, P’21 Throughout her wide-ranging career, Maryam Banikarim ’89,
P’21 — a 2020 Gala honoree and 2019 Columbia Alumni medal recipient — has always been an intrepid storyteller. In 2018, she drew national attention for her New York Times essay, “What Am I if Not Employed?,” on taking a “pause” and leaving her high-powered job. As a former global chief marketing officer, Banikarim has served in leadership roles at major companies including Hyatt, Gannett, NBCUniversal, and Univision. She recently joined Nextdoor, the social networking platform for neighborhoods, as head of marketing, overseeing the communications and policy, marketing, and international teams. Widely recognized as an expert brand builder, she’s been named one of the New York Post’s “50 Most Powerful Women in NYC” and Fast Company’s “Top 10 Disrupters.” We spoke with Banikarim about how Barnard shaped her career trajectory, gave her voice, and equipped her to be a leader in her field. Tell us a little bit about your journey to Barnard. The funny story is I ended up at Barnard kind of by accident. I lived in California, and we’d immigrated here when I was in junior high. I had inklings of wanting to be a journalist. And my mom wanted that for me too. I think she equated journalism with Columbia because of the journalism school. In that era, you didn’t go visit
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colleges — I just applied from my home. I had an old book that you flip through to figure out what colleges to go to. And the one that I had for some reason was a year out of date, and it said women apply to Barnard. [But] that was the year that Columbia started admitting women. So I got to campus and everyone asked, “Why did you pick Barnard over Columbia?” And I was like, “ ’Cause my book was a year out of date!” My choice was either Barnard or Berkeley. I had always had this fantasy of going to college on the East Coast. I got into Barnard off the waitlist. I remember at the eleventh hour, we came to New York to visit some family friends. I swung by the Admissions office, and they talked to me and said, “We’ll take you if you want to come.” And so I made that decision then and ended up at Barnard. How did your Barnard education prepare you for these leadership positions? I think Barnard helped give me voice. I became my freshman class president. I don’t know if I’d gone to a different school if I would have even done that, so I think Barnard just gave you the opportunity to have a seat at the table and use your voice. And being in New York was like being a kid in a candy shop. I had an internship almost every semester. I wrote for the Barnard Bulletin. And there is this idea that you could just make things happen. You can have an internship and go to class. And I have a lot of energy, so I just did a lot of things. What has been most rewarding about your career? I think for me that thread of storytelling was probably it. Regardless of what field I go into, that’s still what I do. I just do it in a different capacity. Being a CMO is really about figuring out how to tell the story of a company or a brand. I think I was always enamored with the idea of telling a story — whether it was at the Barnard Bulletin or figuring out how to do it in a corporate or more businesslike setting. If I find something I believe in, I like that story. And for me, when I go back into work, it’s always: Can I have [an] impact? Do I believe in the product? Do I get to work with people I respect, and can I learn something new? Your daughter is a rising senior. What has it been like being a parent of a Barnard student? It’s been nice having her there. I didn’t push her to go because that’s the kind of thing that you then get blamed for. You know as a parent not to do that. I was excited for her to go. My sister went to Barnard, and my cousin went there. We obviously have a love of Barnard. The thing is, for me, I find Barnard and Columbia are my community. It’s why I’ve always stayed involved. I still talk to Richard Pious [professor of political science and former Adolph S. and Effie Ochs Chair in History and American Studies, who retired in 2014]. It really did give me that sense of community. I think for the first time it was the kind of a place where I felt like I had a home.
PHOTO BY RAINER HOSCH
How has the school evolved since you were a student? The things that made Barnard amazing are still very much there. There is a drive to somebody who goes to Barnard that is not the same as people who go someplace else. What I love about Barnard is it’s small, but you’re a part of this bigger world. And that was one of the beauties of being able to go there. When you went to some of the smaller schools, they really still held your hand. And the Barnard sense was you got to get there yourself. And those lessons and the peer set that you’re in, you are like, “Wow, this is a group of people who are in a rush to get somewhere.” I think that’s still the same. B SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 9
Torchbearers
Lida Orzeck ’68 and Aliza Amsellem ’20 at the Summer Research Institute’s capstone event, the Lida Orzeck ’68 Poster Session PHOTO CREDITS: (OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT): ASIYA KHAKI ’09, ALIYA SCHNEIDER ’20
A Seat at the Table
Lida Orzeck ’68 grows her “scholarship fam” Since starting her scholarship fund in 2003, Lida Orzeck ’68, founder and CEO of
the lingerie company Hanky Panky, has played a critical role in the education and lives of numerous Barnard students. Her mentorship has been far-reaching and enduring, culminating in meaningful relationships with scholarship recipients, such as the one she’s fostered with recent graduate Aliza Amsellem ’20. While we weren’t able to come together for this year’s annual Torchbearers Celebration — at which Orzeck was to be the honorary speaker — due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were fortunate to catch up with Orzeck and Amsellem. The two women filled us in on their close friendship and how the scholarship aid has created a sense of community while championing the next generation of strong Barnard women. Lida, what inspired you to become a financial aid donor? Lida Orzeck: I was a Brooklyn kid who was raised with an orientation towards equity and fairness. Orzeck family lore involved my father’s work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs after he received his medical degree in the late 1930s. 10
Newly married, my parents relocated to Neah Bay, Washington, where my dad provided the only professional health care within a 200-mile radius from his base on the Makah Reservation. I always had a sense of a larger, more inclusive universe, of which I felt my family was a piece. But during my young adulthood, academia occupied my attention, and then for several decades, my intense focus on building and running my company drove my daily life. When I finally stopped, looked up, and took a breath, I knew I had to act on issues that were most troubling to me — the multidimensional inequities in our society. The success of Hanky Panky allowed me to act financially on my philanthropic instincts, and over the next few years I was able to grow the fund, culminating in supporting an actual Barnard student in 2008. Since then, five students have received support from the Lida Orzeck ’68 Scholarship Fund, but I believe that it is I who has received the most benefit from this arrangement.
I love the family feeling that my scholarship has spawned. As my community of sponsored students grows, each year at the Barnard Annual Gala, we test the seat limit at the table. Lida and Aliza, when did you first meet, and what has been so unique about this relationship? How has it evolved over time? Lida Orzeck: We met at the Torchbearers Celebration in 2018, and what makes my relationship with Aliza unique is that Aliza is Aliza! Her interests and talents run the gamut from the arts to the sciences, so getting to know her has been fun, entertaining, and uniquely enriching. She is a visual artist, an a cappella singer, a dentist-to-be, and she volunteers and mentors in her own right. Whew! It has been an enormous pleasure for me to build a relationship with Aliza and become even a small part of her fascinating life. Aliza Amsellem: I distinctly remember how incredibly nervous I was to meet the woman whose generosity has made my experience at Barnard a reality. But the minute I met Lida, that nervousness dissipated. I was immediately comforted by her warm and enthusiastic disposition. Throughout the entire night, we learned about each other — about our passions, interests, families, goals, and of course, the ultimate link: our experiences as Barnard women. Though Lida and I had our Barnard careers years apart, our connection with each other and to this school continues to flourish. To this day, Lida and I remain present in each other’s lives. From meeting for Sunday brunch to updating each other on current happenings, I am confident that our friendship will last a lifetime. Now that I have graduated from Barnard, I am excited to update Lida with my future academic and career accomplishments in the field of dentistry. As a recipient, Aliza, what has been so impactful about receiving scholarship support and Lida’s mentorship? Aliza Amsellem: Something very special about Lida is that she not only connects with people, but she also has a knack for connecting people with each other. Every year, Lida generously invites all of her previous and current Barnard scholarship recipients — who I have dubbed my “scholarship fam” — to the Barnard Annual Gala. It is incredible to sit at a table with Barnard students and alumnae of all different ages and to hear about how each one of them is making a unique impact on this world. We reflect upon how Barnard has changed over the years but agree that the important things, like the warm and supportive community, have persisted. I am incredibly grateful to Lida for bringing me into our little intergenerational Barnard family, and I cannot wait to continue developing our friendship. If there is one thing that I have learned from Lida and my
wonderful scholarship family, it’s that my journey with Barnard by no means ends when I graduate. I look up to Lida immensely for the work she has done to become successful, and I am grateful every day for her generosity to Barnard. I look forward to doing Lida and Barnard proud as I embark on this next leg of my journey. Lida, what do you hope Aliza and other scholarship recipients take away from their Barnard experience, especially as they prepare for their next chapter after graduation? Lida Orzeck: Our country has such deeply ingrained, foundational problems around inequitable financial access and social mobility. Scholarship aid alone will not solve historically rooted unfairness, but recruiting a more economically diverse student body is still crucial. This country — this planet — needs as much brainpower as it can foster, and the talent is out there. Not to mention it’s simply wrong that one’s ability to get a top-tier college education can be determined by one’s ability to pay for it. It is my belief that those of us who are fortunate enough to have the financial capability have an actual responsibility to be generously philanthropic. I have chosen Barnard not simply because I was a student here but because my overall engagement with the College has convinced me that the academics, the values, the community, the faculty, and the leadership have earned and deserve my personal and financial support. Encouraging our talented, deserving young women is essential to improving our future. I hope all scholarship recipients share this orientation and act on it as they can, when they are able. B
SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 11
Reunion
A ‘Virtual’ Success Reunion Reimagined brings alumnae around the world together online for an eventfilled week by Merri Rosenberg ’78 “I know this isn’t the Reunion you all
expected,” said Rona Wilk ’91, chair of the AABC Reunion Committee. “I know this isn’t the Reunion you wanted. It is the Reunion we have, to celebrate the amazing milestone classes and gather together the global community that is Barnard. Barnard strong means helping each other through this.” With the College practicing social distancing due to COVID-19, about 600 alumnae from 17 countries came together online for Reunion Reimagined (June 1-5). From Zoom webinars and cocktail hours to academic presentations and conversations, the community recognized both the current moment and Barnard’s enduring legacy of connection.
“The prospect of a virtual Reunion was a type of special we hadn’t anticipated,” said Jo Ann Engelhardt ’75. “I feel it was a success. It brought me closer to my classmates and the entire Barnard community, and I didn’t even have to take a plane or book a hotel.” Classmates who had passed away since the last milestone Reunion were remembered during the online memorial service. “Connecting with other people enables transcendence,” said the Rev. Dr. Anna (Keller) Pearson ’85. “Compassion engenders trust, which pulls us towards heaven, however we may conceive it. This is made more clear by the quarantine crisis, rather than less.” The weekend’s activities honored the need to connect, celebrate, and reflect, and touched on the year’s challenges and political events as well. “With everything going on in the country and the world, it’s more important than ever to gather,” said President Sian Leah Beilock in her State of the College address. “This hasn’t been an easy year for Barnard and the world. Barnard denounces in the strongest possible terms anti-Black violence and rhetoric and calls on all of us to be our best selves.” Alumnae were invited to attend a series of workshops and lectures, many pertaining to the current pandemic and political climate, including the “Conversation on
Women and Power,” hosted by the Alumnae of Color Dinner Committee. The event featured Allegra “Happy” Haynes ’75, executive director of Denver Parks & Recreation and a 2020 Distinguished Alumna award recipient, and Ariana González Stokas, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “Periods of dislocation are when women make the greatest strides towards opportunity,” said Haynes. “We need to see our collective grief and rage channeled as women leaders toward constructive change.” To tackle issues around the economy, some sessions offered alumnae guidance about careers and finances. In the “Financial Planning During a Crisis” webinar, Cinneah El-Amin ’16, creator of the lifestyle blog Flynanced, provided strategies on how alumnae at all stages of life could become debt-free and build wealth. “It’s about how to have your money align with your values,” she said. “We all have personal finance journeys we’re on. Personal finance is personal and political.” Similarly, in “Career Path Check-in: Pivoting During a Crisis,” Christine Valenza Shin ’84, Beyond Barnard senior associate director of advising and programs, urged alumnae to practice confidence during times of uncertainty. “Every career transition is an opportunity to assess and
(This page): Marilyn Flitterman ’50; (opposite page, clockwise from top left): Class of 1960; Patricia Carchi-Merrick, director of Alumnae Relations; Nia Ashley ’16, program coordinator for the Shange Magic Project; Kim F. Hall, Lucyle Hook Professor of English and professor of Africana studies; Allegra “Happy” Haynes ’75; Class of 2005
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ALUMS ON REUNION REIMAGINED
explore what you really want to be doing next, even in an environment like this.” Another major focus at Reunion Reimagined was to highlight Barnard’s distinctive history and contributions to society at large. “Preserving Barnard History,” a conversation between Wilk and College archivist Martha Tenney, explored why the archives matter. “It’s not just about the past but how we can imagine a future,” said Tenney. “There’s a reparative framework, where we actively confront the histories of people who’ve been excluded.” President emerita and anthropology professor emerita Judith Shapiro joined professor of history Mark C. Carnes, as well as some members of the Class of 2000, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Carnes’ signature course, Reacting to the Past. The class, which uses role-playing games to explore pivotal moments in history, has since been adopted by more than 500 colleges and universities. “[The course was about] solving problems together,” said Carnes. “What happened in that class changed my life and changed our education.” The “Over the Rainbow” seminar — celebrating the legacy of the groundbreaking choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, by Ntozake Shange ’70
— was led by Kim F. Hall, Lucyle Hook Professor of English and professor of Africana studies; Monica Miller, associate professor of English and Africana studies; and Nia Ashley ’16, program coordinator for the Shange Magic Project. Sponsored by a grant from the Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Shange Magic Project created an installation that featured excerpts from Shange’s work on walls around the Milstein Center. “Ntozake broke through,” Hall said. “She speaks to the soul of colored women and what it means to be a Black woman.” To close out the week of online events, the Moth storytelling event returned for a milestone 15th year in a row, hosted for the second time by writer-comedian JiJi Lee ’01 and introduced by Cyndi Stivers ’78. The four alumnae storytellers — Agathe Nadai ’55, Vivien Li ’75, Sonia Taitz ’75, and Kieren van den Blink ’95 — reflected on a pivotal experience at Barnard that transformed their lives. “Barnard formed me with its supportive, collaborative environment,” said Taitz. “It’s where I came to life. It’s the shining confidence this College gave me and all of us.” For anyone who was unable to join Reunion Reimagined or would like to revisit any of the virtual programs, they are available at reunion.barnard.edu. B
“The current situation called for innovation in the way we could engage with one another, and our virtual Reunion was just what we all needed. … Celebrating our 55th Reunion at the virtual Happy Hour was delightful! Not only did it provide an opportunity to socialize with classmates, it also forced some to become more facile with technology. That’s a plus for a class that went through college using manual typewriters! In the intimacy of our Happy Hour breakout rooms, it appeared that no one’s life turned out exactly as anticipated, not even for the most ardent planner. The common thread of these chats was that we received an amazing education at Barnard, made friends that remain so to this day, and are proud of being a Barnard woman.” —Susan Rudolph ’65 “While I was disappointed to not be able to join the Class of 2010 on Barnard’s campus for our 10th Reunion, I appreciate the programming that the College provided for all alumnae. In particular, I most enjoyed the Financial Education workshop, offering concrete takeaways that I can implement in my personal life, and the Moth program, which featured diverse speakers with interesting and heartfelt Barnard stories. … Reunion Reimagined offered a great opportunity to connect with alumnae globally who may not have been able to participate otherwise.” —Marci Leveillee ’10
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AABC
The 2020 Alumnae Association Award Winners Barnard recognized eight extraordinary alumnae whose professional achievements and contributions to the College embody the Barnard spirit. Because Reunion couldn’t take place in person this year due to COVID-19, we’ve honored them with an interactive booklet that features their photos, accomplishments, and video acceptance speeches. To read the awardees’ full bios and view their acceptance speeches, visit reunion.barnard.edu/reimagined-day-2
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ALLEGRA “HAPPY” HAYNES ’75 Distinguished Alumna Award Allegra “Happy” Haynes has dedicated 40 years to a career in state and local government. She is currently the executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation and a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet. She served as an at-large member of the Denver Public Schools Board of Education and chief community engagement officer for the school district. In addition to her service as a long-term member of the Denver City Council, she has worked as a senior staff member for a lieutenant governor, school superintendent, and three mayors. After earning a political science degree from Barnard and a master’s in public policy from the University of Colorado at Denver, Haynes spent four years in the private sector as a senior associate with the public affairs firm CRL Associates. She’s currently active on a number of boards, including the Colorado Advisory Board of the Trust for Public Land, the Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities, and the Denver Botanic Gardens, as well as being a founding board member of several organizations, such as the Mile High Youth Corps, Colorado Black Women for Political Action, and the Foundation for Educational Excellence.
CORDELIA HEANEY ’00 Millicent Carey McIntosh Award for Feminism Throughout her career, Cordelia Heaney has worked to promote gender equity and women’s rights in a variety of professional fields, from the nonprofit sector to higher education. She’s currently the executive director of the Compass Center for Women and Families in North Carolina, which provides individuals and families with domestic violence crisis services and financial and professional resources. She served as the executive director of the Office on Women’s Policy for the State of Louisiana and as the director of student leadership and engagement for the Newcomb College Institute at Tulane University. In addition to her more than full-time dedication to feminist causes, Heaney has served as president of her Barnard class and as leader of the Barnard Club of the Triangle. She has a B.A. in English from Barnard, an MBA from Tulane, and an MFA in poetry and creative writing from the New School.
FLORENCE MANN ’55 Award for Service to Barnard
JANE McGROARTY ’65 Award for Service to Barnard
ALICIA HALL MORAN ’95 Distinguished Alumna Award
As both an undergraduate and graduate, Florence Mann has always “endeavored to support and serve the College, its students, staff, and faculty in its programs, goals, and mission.” She’s worn many hats in her service to Barnard, including Nominating Committee chairperson, Alumni Association trustee, Project Continuum chairperson, member of the Class of 1955 Reunion Committee, and member of the Leadership Assembly and Annual Giving Committee. As class fund chair and class agent, she has been successful in encouraging classmates to donate to the Barnard Annual Fund. During Mann’s 35year career in education and administration in the NYC Board of Education, she developed, directed, and implemented model staff development programs and facilities for grades K-12 and helped usher in the innovative use of integrated technology as an educational tool with the support of an IBM-funded grant. In addition to her many fundraising efforts, Mann and a fellow classmate led the campaign for the designation of the Millicent Carey McIntosh Terrace and the “Mrs. Mac” student cafeteria in the Diana Center to celebrate and memorialize the legacy of the much beloved former dean and president of Barnard.
While maintaining a busy architectural practice, Jane McGroarty has played an active role in the Barnard community for many years, serving as the fund chair, class agent, and chair of the Annual Giving Committee. As a member of the Class of 1965 Reunion Committee, she frequently attends Reunions and Barnard events. McGroarty started her career as an employment counselor in a poverty program in the South Bronx before receiving her master’s degree in architecture from the UCLA School of Architecture and Planning in Los Angeles. Upon returning to New York City, she opened her own office in Brooklyn Heights, specializing in architecture and historic preservation. In addition to teaching at the New York Institute of Technology and New Jersey Institute of Technology, she served as president of both the Brooklyn Heights Association and the Architects/Designers/ Planners for Social Responsibility. She is currently the treasurer of the Brooklyn chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
As an accomplished mezzo-soprano, Alicia Hall Moran weaves together diverse influences, from classical to jazz, into her performances and compositions. She made her Broadway debut in 2012 in the Tonywinning revival of the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess and starred as Bess in its American tour. Moran has released two critically acclaimed albums, Heavy Blue and Here Today, and frequently tours as a soloist with Bryce Dessner’s Triptych. Moran is currently a 2019 Jerome Hill Artist fellow, a Ford Foundation/Art for Change fellow, and a creative associate at the Juilliard School. She was recently appointed artist faculty at New England Conservatory. She has authored productions including Black Wall Street, Breaking Ice, and The Motown Project. Her past commissions include Carnegie Hall, MoMA, Art Public/Art Basel Miami, and Histories Remixed/Art Institute Chicago. Moran and her husband, Jason Moran, have jointly created works for Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Venice Biennale, and Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others.
SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 15
AABC
JENNIFER PERUSINI ’10 Young Alumna Award
BONNIE FOX SIROWER ’70 Award for Service to Barnard
MARGARIDA PYLES WEST ’50 Woman of Achievement Award
Jennifer Perusini is a neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder and CEO of Neurovation Labs, Inc., which is a startup that is revolutionizing the way psychiatric disorders are diagnosed and treated. With recent funding from the U.S. Air Force, she and her team are currently developing a patent-pending objective diagnostic test as well as a companion targeted treatment for PTSD. After earning her undergraduate degree in neuroscience and behavior at Barnard, Perusini went on to complete her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience at the University of California, Los Angeles, and her postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University. She has been a lecturer and teaching associate in the psychology departments at UCLA and Barnard. She recently co-founded the PTSD Recovery Foundation of America and is a member of the board of directors of Women in Learning, which is dedicated to the support and advancement of women in science.
Bonnie Fox Sirower has been committed to promoting Barnard since her 10th Reunion, as demonstrated by her longterm service as a class correspondent for 15 years, a class president for five years, and a class agent for 25 years. She has been a regular participant in Barnard Annual Fund Phonathons and frequently attends the Leadership Assembly. After earning a master’s in special education administration from Teachers College, she taught for several years. Sirower later moved into the field of fundraising and has raised more than $35 million for various causes and groups, including Barnard. In 1994, the New Jersey chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives honored her as the Outstanding Fundraising Executive in New Jersey. She served as the first woman president of her Rotary International club as well as the district governor for Bergen/ Passaic and Hudson counties. She’s the recipient of two Rotary fellowships and was named one of 12 White House Rotary Champions of Change in 2013.
In her work as a sociologist, professor, author, and political activist, Margarida Pyles West has been a tireless leader in the struggles for civil and welfare rights in America. She was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and came to the U.S. to attend Barnard. She moved to New Jersey and organized the Presbyterian Church’s involvement in the civil rights movement, earning her an award for her work in “brotherhood.” Dr. West was integral in organizing Friends of Welfare Rights in Newark. While working at Rutgers University, she received her Ph.D. in political sociology and went on to establish the university’s Continuing Education for Women initiative. With the funding she received from a national award, she created the Consortium for Educational Equity. She joined the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies in New York as director of policy advocacy and research, where she worked with both Mayor David Dinkins and Governor Mario Cuomo. She is the author of The National Welfare Rights Movement and co-editor of Women and Social Protest. Her video memoir is included in the Veteran Feminists of America’s Pioneer Histories archive.
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Looking Back, and Ahead Dear Barnard Alumnae,
Amy’s ID photo while a student at Barnard
I’m thrilled and honored to be writing for the first time as president of the Alumnae Association of Barnard College (AABC). I graduated in 1989, when the nearest caffeine hit was La Rosita, below 110th Street. Just as I’ve changed in the years since graduation, so has Barnard. The spirit of educating women driven to make a mark on the world persists, and the way Barnard continues to do so is energizing. The College is seeking to be more inclusive and intentional about the important role it plays in creating effective leaders for tomorrow. And now you can get a strong cup of coffee without leaving campus! Before becoming president, I chaired the Alma Maters Committee, which facilitates discussions around various aspects of motherhood. Every spring, we host “Navigating the College Admissions Process,” with Jennifer Gill Fondiller ’88, P’19, Barnard’s vice president for enrollment. I credit this indispensable program with teaching me how — and how not — to help my daughter, who’s about to begin her senior year of high school, and with preventing at least four arguments. In the seven years I was present at this event, we would have up to 50 people in attendance. Due to COVID-19, we moved the event online, and had 180 people attend from around the world! That brings me to some good news. Because of innovations in delivering content online, and a renewed focus on engaging alumnae wherever they land beyond the gates, you no longer need to live near campus or even budge from home to enjoy the breadth of programming created specifically for alumnae. You can visit our.barnard.edu to see the value that Barnard continues to offer, wherever you are. While I was surprised to discover that COVID-19 brought Barnard new ways to support alumnae, it is less surprising that Barnard also needs support from us right now. As President Beilock often says, Barnard “punches above our weight.” Through smart stewardship, the College has been able to continuously improve and widen access — despite our endowment being dwarfed by institutions of similar size and caliber and the fact that we participate in alumnae giving at a percentage rate woefully lower than comparable schools. At this juncture, smart stewardship may not suffice. Please consider how you can help Barnard students with whatever you can give, whether it is time or, if you find yourself able, your financial support. During my three-year term, if I could get each of you who have never given to Barnard to donate even five dollars a year, I would be ecstatic. Those dollars would show prospective students that we are all invested in what becomes of the women who come after us. Your participation shows current Barnard students the robust power of our alumnae community. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and helping Barnard continue to grow, together. Thank you in advance for your support and for the opportunity to serve you over the next three years. Warmly,
Amy Veltman ’89 President, Alumnae Association of Barnard College SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 17
Sources
You Make Every Day
It takes more than tuition to create the Barnard experience
The singular Barnard experience, and the College’s ability to adapt this experience to meet the needs of an ever-changing world, is only possible when the entire Barnard community — near and far — comes together. Your gift to the Barnard Annual Fund makes an immediate impact and allows the College to provide students with an education that is foundational to their futures.
barnard.edu/gift
The Barnard Annual Fund
THANK YOU
Thank you to all the Barnard donors who empowered the next generation of women leaders by donating to Barnard in the 2020 fiscal year. The singular Barnard experience is only possible because of your support.
giving.barnard.edu
Obituary
PHOTO BY DOROTHY HONG
A Pioneer in Civil Rights Law
Attorney Shirley Adelson Siegel ’37 dedicated her career to social justice and fairness by Stefani Shoreibah ’21 Shirley Adelson Siegel ’37, who argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme
Court as one of the country’s leading civil rights attorneys, died in June at the age of 101. Throughout her 70-year career, she showed a steadfast commitment to social justice — most notably, fighting against racial discrimination in employment and housing. Siegel, a woman of many firsts, wasn’t afraid to fight for herself either. She held a number of prominent positions, including solicitor general of New York State, the first head of the Civil Rights Bureau at the New York State attorney general’s office, and head of general counsel of New York City’s Housing and Development Administration. In a pivotal 1963 civil rights case involving a Black pilot’s suit
against Continental Air Lines, Siegel successfully defended New York’s anti-discrimination laws. “In your century of life, you have never failed to pursue what is fair, to demand what is just,” said associate general counsel Virginia Ryan ’83 during the 2019 Commencement celebration, at which Siegel was awarded the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Siegel was born in the South Bronx on July 3, 1918, to Henry and Rose Adelson. She excelled academically at a young age, declaring in kindergarten that she would like to pursue a career in law. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school at age 14 and attended Barnard College at 15 on a full academic scholarship. While at the College, Siegel took a part-time job with a New Deal program, the New York Legislative Service, where she began to cultivate her interest in and love for public-interest law and fair housing. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard, Siegel attended the London School of Economics and subsequently Yale Law School, as the only woman in her class. Despite graduating at the top of her class at Yale, Siegel was turned down by more than 40 law firms before Proskauer, Rose & Paskus hired her; she was the first woman attorney there. Driven by her passion for civil rights and housing law, she worked as a lawyer pro bono for the ACLU during her lunch hour at Proskauer, drafting a legal brief challenging Japanese internment camps during World War II — a case that eventually went before the Supreme Court. In the 1970s, Siegel played a significant role as the assistant New York State solicitor general in aiding New York City from bankruptcy. “It was some of my most important work,” Siegel told Barnard Magazine in the Spring 2018 article “Undeterred.” Even after she left government, Siegel never slowed down; she taught law at Columbia, Yeshiva, and Fordham Universities while taking on pro bono cases, including her involvement in the foreclosure project at the New York City Bar Justice Center after the 2008 financial crisis. “There is no way to sum up such a vast and brilliant career but to say that you were the brightest star — always focused, always undeterred, and almost always the only woman in the room,” Ryan said at 2019’s Commencement. “You fought hard for causes that matter, many of which we take for granted so many decades later. You took care of this city and its residents as if each one were your own, even working pro bono into your 90s.” Siegel is survived by a son, Eric D. Siegel, a daughter, Ann B. Siegel, a son-in-law, Michael Fischer, and a grandson, Samuel H. M. Fischer. B SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 59
Obituary
A Mentor in Life and Science
In and out of the lab, Professor Emerita Jeanne S. Poindexter inspired generations of women scientists by Merri Rosenberg ’78 Jeanne S. Poindexter, who died in July at the age of 83, was an accomplished
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To contribute to the Barnard College Jeanne S. Poindexter Memorial Fund, donate at giving.barnard.edu (include “Jeanne Poindexter” as the “relationship to Barnard”) or send a check attn: Lisa Yeh, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, with “Jeanne Poindexter” on the memo line.
PHOTO BY DOUG EVELEIGH
microbiologist, teacher, and research scientist. As a member of the Biological Sciences Department from 1991 to 2007, Poindexter’s influence extended well beyond the lab and lecture hall. “She taught me how to juggle a career in academics and a family, recognizing our own limitations and making sure to commit ourselves to our passions,” said Talia Swartz ’00, associate director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As her daughters, Carla Poindexter White and Portia J. Poindexter ’92, observed, fostering that kind of confidence in her students was critical to their mother: “After years of fighting sex bias in the academic and scientific worlds, [she] leapt at the opportunity to join Barnard College — not only for the supportive work environment she knew she would have, but to inspire young women to be confident in themselves intellectually, to set high standards for themselves, to be excited about learning, and to know that women can have a meaningful career and a family if that’s what they chose.” It came as no surprise when Poindexter’s teaching talents were recognized with the student-nominated Emily Gregory Teaching Award at Barnard in 1999. “She taught so much more than microbiology and lab techniques,” said Dana Lau ’94. “She took on every task, whether it was the preparation of a lesson plan, design of new experiment, or repair of broken lab equipment, with determination, thoroughness, and absolute joy.” One of Poindexter’s favorite moments was when she was honored at the 2014 Alumnae of Color Dinner for her support of students of color at Barnard. “Whether the lens was one of a microscope to study her personal cache of Caulobacter bacteria or the lens was from the balcony of her Mitchell-Lama apartment to watch the Independence Day fireworks over the river, she opened how I view the world,” said Dr. Wilnise Jasmin ’05, medical director of behavioral health at the Chicago Department of Public Health. Emmanuelle St. Jean ’04 expressed a similar sentiment in her remarks at the 2014 Alumnae of Color event: “You helped me to be a scientist in all that I do — question things, analyze them, and let the data guide me. What I learned from you has made me a better health policy analyst and a better baker. I will forever be indebted to you for your patience, quality time, and honesty.” Born in LaMoine, Ill., and raised mostly in New Castle, Ind., Poindexter earned her Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley. Before Barnard, she worked as a research scientist or professor at a number of institutions, including Indiana University, New York University, Medgar Evers College, and
the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass. Poindexter conducted pioneering research on the stalked bacterium Caulobacter crescentus and published important scientific studies on specific microbial organisms. Poindexter was widely recognized for her work as a scientist, garnering numerous accolades. The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses named a bacterial virus after her — the Poindextervirus — in 2020. She was honored as a “Woman of Distinction” by the New York State Senate in 2012 for her contributions in preserving affordable housing in New York. She is survived by her husband, Porter J. Poindexter, three daughters and their husbands, two grandsons, and other family members. B
In Memoriam 1937 Shirley Adelson Siegel 6/22/2020 1939 Lucille Pfifferling Hess 4/10/2020 1941 Susan Beardslee Bowen 4/5/2020 1942 Elinor Schubert Brown 5/30/2020 Claudia Carner Nolan 11/16/2019 Virginia Cheyne Rodriguez* 1943 Fannette Houston Luhrs 3/8/2020 1944 Dorothy LeCount Freck 5/22/2004 Gloria Grubman Sandford 3/23/2020 1945 Ruth Cretaux Kingry 3/21/2020 Bernice Lindenberg Leicher* 1946 Patricia Groesbeck Gordon 4/11/2020 Dorothy Saum Knox 4/6/2020 Gloria Siff Levien 3/11/2020 Marta Obregón Villavecchia 3/30/2020 1947 Joanne Himmell Dann 5/27/2020 Charlotte Korany Hendrickson 4/2/2020
Dorothy Scheer Hill 3/25/2020 Anne Kock Montgomery 2/27/2020 1948 Jean Meszaros Benninghoff 5/28/2020 Ruth Hill Jones 5/29/2020 1949 Elizabeth Elliot Bolles 3/23/2020 Lucy Swift 2/29/2020 1950 Margaret MacKinnon Beaven 5/15/2020 Anmarie Davis 11/30/2019 Helen Graham Hodgins 4/18/2020 Ann Gunning Magee 4/12/2020 Cecile Singer 5/19/2020 1951 Lucille Frasca Harrigan 6/1/2020 Jean Ritchey Ross 2/29/2020 1952 Wanda Wilson Boulgarides 2/24/2020 Susan Everett Hertberg 3/27/2020 Ellinor Robinson Mitchell 11/1/2019 Joanne Aspinall Sullebarger 3/25/2020 1953 Joan Steckler Anderson* Natalie Marx Appel 4/8/2020 Lila Fenwick 4/4/2020
Ellen Conroy Kennedy 2/28/2020 1954 Ronda Shainmark Gelb 5/1/2020 1955 Eva Nauenberg Faillace 10/25/2019 1957 Elinor Steckler Felicetti 3/29/2020 Miriam Kurtz Lerner 2/8/2015 1958 Jane Epstein Blumenfeld 4/23/2020 Abigail Mann Thernstrom 4/10/2020 1960 Jacqueline Lahn Bloom 4/5/2020 Priscilla Dunn Carter 1/4/2018 Barbara Gordon Geller 5/8/2020 1962 Esta Kossack Friedman 5/21/2020 Roberta Weintraub Joan 3/17/2020 1964 Naomi Cohen Decter 1/19/2018 Susan Schindelheim Fogelson 6/11/2018 Phyllis Einhorn Siegel 4/14/2020 Virginia LoCicero Wortham 5/8/2020
1965 Madeline Kripke 4/25/2020 Gretel Murchie Porter 6/25/2016 Clara Welty 3/22/2007 1966 Barbara Grado Devir 3/20/2020 Susan Zayac 3/14/2020 1968 Barbara Friedman* Susan Shargel 5/2/2020 1969 Mina Wasserman Gillers 6/11/2020 1971 Patricia Goughan 4/17/2020 1974 Rosalie Frazier 3/18/2020 1983 Nancy Hoguet Tilghman 4/11/2020 1984 Louise Reilly 3/21/2020 1995 Mouraneth Yok Heng 11/19/2018
*Date unknown SUMMER 2020 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 61
A Growing Legacy Hilma Carter ’45 has made a genuine, profound impact on Barnard College throughout her life. As a student, she found a home there that suited her perfectly and enhanced her personal and professional growth. She considers her time at Barnard first-rate and is dedicated to giving back and supporting the College. Hilma’s philanthropic goals are rooted in her desire to help students who have to work while attending college, as she did. She strongly believes that women should help women and has exemplified this sentiment throughout her life. This commitment to philanthropy led her to establish several planned gifts and a scholarship fund at Barnard: Her charitable gift annuities have provided her with fixed payments and qualified her for tax benefits, while also providing future support to Barnard. Her endowed fund,the Hilma Ollila Carter and Benny Carter Scholarship Fund, is invested, and each year, a portion of the income funds scholarship awards now and forever. The gift in her will and her charitable remainder unitrust will provide additional funding to the Scholarship Fund, enhancing the impact of her giving for her beloved alma mater. Hilma is gratified to know that she is leaving a lasting legacy at such a special place. To learn more about how you can join Hilma in support of Barnard and its world-changing young women, please visit
plannedgiving.barnard.edu
or contact JiHae Munro, Director of Planned Giving | 212.870.2532 | jmunro@barnard.edu
