Alumnae in the Classroom

Alumnae share real-world experiences with students

CSG alumnae are making a difference all over the world – leading Fortune 500 companies, directing award-winning films, building robots, creating life-changing nonprofits, teaching tomorrow’s leaders, and so much more. A unique element of a CSG education is that our students have access to our remarkable alumnae—through mentorship, learning opportunities, and internships. One way we connect our students with alumnae is through the Alumnae in the Classroom program. This program leverages the expertise of our alumnae in classroom visits (in person and via zoom) to share real-world experiences and lessons with our students.

The partnership between current and former faculty is a crucial part of building this program and welcoming our alumnae to campus each year, said Lisa Dodge, Assistant Director of Development, Constituency Engagement.

“Our alumnae are a priceless resource to our current students,” Dodge said. “They share what they’ve learned since leaving CSG and pursuing their careers, what they wish they would have known while they were here, and just how much is possible when you know your power.”

Through the program students hear from women leading in careers that they hope to explore and hear of their success and fumbles they have encountered along the way.

Dr. Aylin Altan ’89, a healthcare economist and Senior Vice President of Research at Optum Labs, this past October visited Form XI students in two sections of Health II. She shared meaningful statistics and stories about women’s health and maternal mortality and said she found the experience to be greatly rewarding.

“Even via Zoom, I felt connected with the class and was impressed by the elevated nature of their questions and comments,” Dr. Altan said. “It was an energizing experience, and I was so grateful to have been invited.”

For Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor Simi Botic ’04, who visited CSG juniors this past fall in their Health II class, visiting current students is a way to connect with individuals who will be a huge part of creating the future.

“I hope to remind them of the wisdom they each have within,” said Botic. “I hope to support each of them to connect with and trust themselves more deeply.”

Botic worked with students in the gym, doing a barre class to promote self-connection. The group discussed intuitive eating, intuitive movement, and body image before closing with a journaling practice to connect mind and body.

“The earlier we can introduce girls to the concepts of intuitive eating, intuitive movement, and body image healing work, the more we can empower them to thrive,” Botic said. “I love any opportunity to give back to the CSG community and plant these seeds.”

Genelle Castro, a Middle and Upper School Health and Phys. Ed. Instructor who brought both Botic and Dr. Altan in to speak to students, said she likes to bring alumnae in as often as possible because of the valuable “windows” and “mirrors” the experience creates for students.

“Bringing in alums who work and live in various industries and communities allow our students to see themselves, or gives them an opportunity to broaden their horizons and perceptions as to what success as a CSG grad looks like,” Castro said.

Visiting CSG often gives alumnae a chance to share advice and messages they wished they would have heard when they were young. For Dina Tayim ’10, a research engineer with Ford who visited Dr. Kevin Sweeney’s and Susan O’Connor’s Design: Intersection Between Art and Engineering class via Zoom earlier this school year, thinking about the information that would have helped her as a young high school student gave her a chance to intentionally reflect.

“The realization that I hadn’t sat where the students were sitting in over a decade brought perspective to my own journey and growth, and I am thankful to Dr. Sweeney and his class for the opportunity to experience that,” Tayim said.

Upper School faculty member Dr. Kevin Sweeney has helped many alumnae come back to CSG to visit his current students. Sometimes, a panel of recent alumnae talk together about what college is like. Other times, he organizes a series of speakers who visit his engineering class to discuss career paths.

In whatever context the visits happen, the former students not only share stories about their schooling and career path, but also give current students advice that they wish they would have heard when they were in school.

“Not only do our students learn about the world and possible career paths, and where they might be headed, the alums are reminded about how far they have come over the years since the halls of CSG,” Dr. Sweeney said. “I believe that the very best way to highlight CSG is by highlighting our amazing alums, and it’s also one of the best ways to learn about and improve our offerings.”

To learn more or participate in the Alumnae in the Classroom program, please contact Assistant Director of Development, Constituency Engagement Lisa Dodge.