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The Reilly Program at the BOLD Center at Douglass for Advancing Women’s Professional Development
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hanks to a transformational gift to the College from Stacey (DC’80) and Brian (ENG’80) Reilly, Douglass students now benefit from a comprehensive experience that will prepare them for careers of distinction. The new Reilly Program at the BOLD Center at Douglass for Advancing Women’s Professional Development offers a specialized career advancement curriculum in combination with an immersive workplace experience. The Reilly Program will ensure that all Douglass students have the opportunity to follow a pathway that fosters their success. Through a step-by-step progression, Douglass students will be positioned to excel in their undergraduate employment experiences and pursue their careers with confidence. Among the components of the program are the Annual Christiana Foglio DC’84 Career Conference, the Douglass Externship Experience, a seminar series
teaching essential work-readiness skills, and a course teaching strategies for landing an internship. This exciting new initiative places Douglass at the forefront of professional development programming for women.
“We are very excited to support the expansion of the BOLD Center career development program. We know that access to these experiences is a pathway to career success, and that hundreds of Douglass students will benefit every year.” -S
TAC E Y
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BR I A N
RE ILLY
About the Reillys
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tacey and Brian Reilly both graduated from Rutgers University in 1980—Stacey from Douglass College and Brian from the College of Engineering. Since then, they have maintained a special connection with the University. Through their engagement, volunteer work, and philanthropy, they have had a transformational impact on the School of Engineering, and in particular on the women in the Reilly Douglass Engineering Living-Learning Community. Their gift in 2015 continues to provide programming with a holistic approach to supporting, mentoring, and educating women for the challenges of a career in engineering. The Reillys are deeply committed to the success of the women at Douglass. Through the Power of 100 Years Campaign, Stacey and Brian committed to help transform the career development program at the BOLD Center for Leadership, Career, and Personal Development at Douglass. The Reilly Program at the
BOLD Center at Douglass for Advancing Women’s Professional Development will double the reach of the current externship experience to more than 350 students annually, and will enable a more impactful curriculum and immersive work experience in order to help Douglass students meet the rapidly changing demands of the modern workplace. “Thanks to Stacey and Brian, we are providing an educational program focused on advancing women’s professional development, understanding new trends in leadership, and identifying measures to sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion for women in the workplace,” said Dean Litt. The impact for students is what makes a gift like this so meaningful for Stacey and Brian. “We are very excited to support the expansion of the BOLD Center career development program. We know that access to these experiences is a pathway to career success, and that hundreds of Douglass students will benefit every year,” said Stacey Reilly.
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A Message from Dean Jacquelyn Litt, Ph.D.
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n light of the unprecedented circumstances facing our world, women’s leadership is more necessary now than ever before in my lifetime. A Douglass education is also more important than ever before. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women and communities of color, our care-taking professionals, working-class women service workers, and those at risk of domestic violence, all point to the urgency of a gendered analysis of the crisis. At the same time, we have seen exemplary women leaders in the U.S. and around the globe standing up for policies and practices that support those whose lives are most affected, signaling the urgency of educating the next generation of women leaders as we do at Douglass. Our instruction and programming, such as webinars, mentoring services, professional panels, and collaborative projects, have moved online. Through a combination of virtual and telecommunication programming initiatives, we are committed to serving our students in every way possible throughout the remainder of their time away. Our students are persistent and continue to learn and complete their goals remotely. We encourage all Douglass women to contact us if they are facing any extraordinary obstacles during their time away. The challenges we face as educators are complex. However, as we recognize the obstacles the pandemic poses, we also seek to elevate voices of Douglass women who inspire change in their everyday lives. Inside this edition of Douglass Now you will find stories of resilience—how our students, alumnae, and staff dedicate themselves to improving our world. Student leaders involved in everything from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program to our Gender and Arts Program work to advance diversity at Douglass and beyond. Elsewhere, students pursuing careers in computer science are breaking down barriers in STEM industries. Our students are brave and ambitious, tackling the challenges of today and the future with creativity, tenacity, and passion. Our alumnae community also continues to make valuable contributions to our world. The stories of North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley DC’88 and New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia DC’76 are inspiring examples of Douglass women making a difference for the public good. We also feature the impact of a transformative gift from Stacey (DC’80) and Brian (ENG’80) Reilly that will open new futures for our students with a pioneering professional development program. The generosity, wisdom, and vision of our alumnae make all that we do possible. Wishing you and your loved ones safety and good health,
Jacquelyn Litt, Ph.D. Dean, Douglass Residential College and Douglass Campus
Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Douglass As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program ambassador and committee member, Riyam Zaman DRC’21 is passionate about building an inclusive environment at Douglass. “I think a lot of it has to do with my belief that, in studying a variety of human experiences that coalesce to form our global society, life is infinitely more enriching,” Zaman said. “The more we learn about other experiences and identities, the likelier we are to lead a more inclusive existence.” The Douglass Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program is designed to further the College’s mission of fostering a diverse and inclusive campus environment. Through events, trainings, monthly reflections, cultural enrichment trips, conferences, and other opportunities for student engagement, the Program celebrates identities, cultures, and communities. The Program has close to 50 student ambassadors, with request for membership tripling after the first year. As an ambassador for the program, part of Zaman’s role is to act as a resource for students. Zaman has found that Douglass students have been overwhelmingly receptive to the Program. “It is a huge disservice at both the individual and societal level when people refuse to come together and listen to one another,” Zaman said. “So programs that demonstrate a commitment to standing with our fellow students, regardless of their backgrounds, are very needed and desired by the student body. When my peers ask about programs like this on campus, and I tell them about this particular program, they’re really glad to know that something like this exists.”
Douglass Excellence in the Courtroom North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley & New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia
Chief Justice Cheri Beasley DC’88 Inducted into Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni
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ast winter, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley DC’88 made history by becoming the first African-American woman to serve as Chief Justice of North Carolina’s Supreme Court and the fourth ever in United States history. In celebration of her accomplishments, Chief Justice Cheri Beasley was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni on November 7, 2019. The award is granted by Rutgers University to alumni who embody ideals of ambition, innovation, and community outreach. After graduating from Douglass in 1988, Chief Justice Beasley went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law and received a master of laws degree from the Duke University School of Law. Prior to being named Chief Justice, she served on the state’s Supreme Court for seven years. She is dedicated to working for the people of North Carolina by promoting equality and improving accessibility in the judicial system. On the day of her induction, Chief Justice Beasley met with current Douglass students. Over a celebratory lunch, she formed valuable connections and left a powerful impression. “I had an amazing experience with Chief Justice Beasley. Her demeanor was strong, gentle, and kind,” said Vahini Shori DRC’22. “We gained insight into her experience, and she left us with a lot to think about. As someone who is currently aspiring towards a future in law and legal advocacy, hearing from someone at her position was an unequivocal honor.”
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When interviewed last year upon the announcement of her appointment to the role, Chief Justice Beasley reflected on how her own time at Douglass helped her achieve her goals. “The Douglass experience was a wonderful, formative one. As a young woman from Nashville, Tennessee, I had an engaging opportunity to explore socially, civically, and of course academically, and to think about my place and role in the world,’’ Chief Justice Beasley said. For Chief Justice Beasley, setting an example for the next generation of women leaders, especially women of color, is an integral part of her work. “I know that the work we do is hugely important, but the other thing I think about are the little girls along the way who ought to have a sense of promise and hope for their futures,” she said. “So, I hope that in some way my service inspires young people especially, but really I hope it is symbolic of where we are in North Carolina.” During her visit, Chief Justice Beasley became an inspiration for many students here on campus. She offered wise advice about the importance of maintaining a balanced life while also remembering to live in the present. “She reminded us of the importance of living, it was something she really made sure we remembered,” said Shori. “Meeting such a high achieving woman, especially from Douglass, was inspiring, exciting, and incredibly thought provoking.” The pioneering career of Chief Justice Beasley is not only worthy of this high honor, but is a lasting inspiration to Douglass students. Congratulations Chief Justice Beasley!
New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia DC’76 on the Impact of Her Douglass Education
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or New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Jaynee LaVecchia DC’76, a Douglass education has helped her rise to the top of the New Jersey Legal system. “Everything I have accomplished in life, every position in which I have been privileged to serve, I owe to the early solid footing that I received during my Douglass education,” Justice LaVecchia said. After graduating Douglass in 1976 with a bachelor of arts degree in English, Justice LaVecchia went on to attend and graduate Rutgers Law School–Newark. She was appointed to the position of Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court in February 2000. She has now served nearly two decades on the Court, has authored more than 325 opinions, and currently serves as its Senior Associate Justice. Prior to that, Justice LaVecchia worked as the New Jersey Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, had been the Director of the Division of Law of the Attorney General’s Office within the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, and worked in both private practice and as a state attorney, among other positions throughout her illustrious career. Justice LaVecchia also was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni. Yet it all began with Douglass. Last spring, Douglass students traveled to the New Jersey Supreme Court to see Justice LaVecchia DC’76 in action. The students were given access to the High Court’s chambers to listen to oral arguments in two complex cases and to speak with Justice LaVecchia.
The social changes of the 1970s, including the mainstreaming of the Women’s Movement, composed the cultural background of her days at Douglass. Yet for Justice LaVecchia, these changes were emblematic of the environment she already experienced on campus. “At Douglass, empowerment of women was already the norm,” she said. “I wanted to attend a college that pushed women academically, socially, and developmentally. My parents had always fostered the belief that a woman could become anything she wanted to become, provided she was willing to work hard at it. The students and faculty I met on the Douglass campus practiced that belief and solidified my perception that it was the place for me. And did it ever deliver.”
“Douglass means so much to me. I was in awe to be part of Douglass since the first gathering of incoming first-year students, when we met in the beautiful interior of Voorhees Chapel and listened to Dean Foster address us. From that moment, I knew that I was so lucky to be a Douglass student. That feeling has never changed.”
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Recipient, Chelsie Riche DRC’17, Advocates for the Transformation of Education at Home and Abroad
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n 2017, when she was a senior at Douglass, Chelsie Riche was awarded the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Awarded to only 36 American students in 2017, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides full funding for students to pursue graduate studies at Cambridge. For Riche, the award allowed her to earn a master’s of philosophy in African studies—a degree that supported her path as an activist, educator, and reformer. While at Rutgers and Douglass, Riche double majored in Africana studies and history. During her time on campus, she found herself deeply drawn to organizations that promote educational equity through activism. She became president of Galvanizing and Organizing Youth Activism (GOYA), an organization that encourages students to become involved in issues affecting the community. Under her leadership, the organization planned service projects, including a series of successful 5K walks to promote literacy. On a study abroad trip, Riche contributed to improving education in Cape Town, South Africa, where she volunteered at a local high school and created college readiness workshops. Riche’s involvement on and off campus led to her immersion in activism and community engagement, and ultimately secured her a position working on education policy as an intern for Senator Cory Booker. “For me, the most vital part of all these experiences was having the ability to hold conversations with various people about what activism means for them,” Riche said. “I learned so much from listening to
diverse perspectives.” In part, Riche’s passion for improving access to education stems from her own journey, which began in Haiti. As she experienced different spaces around the world, Riche began to see that drastic disparities in access to education exist globally, and disproportionately affect people of color. “I am a product of global education. I grew up in
“Everyone is capable of being a leader, but you must know that you will not always win everything,” she said. “What really matters though, is your willingness to push through.” Haiti. While my father worked in America and could afford to send money for me to attend private school, my cousins could not afford to do so,” she said. “Over the course of my life, I’ve been in very privileged spaces, like Rutgers and Cambridge, but have still been adjacent to poverty.” The link between injustice and limited access to education was essential to Riche’s work at Cambridge. “When we’re talking about eradicating poverty, education is of course a key component,” Riche said. “That’s why I’m in favor not just of education reformation, but of education transformation. The system needs to be rebuilt to work for
people of different backgrounds—people it was never initially intended to serve.” At Cambridge, Riche took the first steps towards becoming a leader in education policy transformation. She completed a dissertation focusing on Fees Must Fall, a higher education movement that advocates for equity in post-apartheid South Africa. Her ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D./J.D. in Education and Law, which she intends to use to influence policies that will transform the educational system. Riche values her Douglass education for the empowering sense of community it provided during her undergraduate years. Riche is currently a senior program coordinator for the Office of the Provost at Rutgers University where she co-manages the NSF funded Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program and assists the Office of Research and Innovation by conducting thematic research that focuses on large scale grants. A leader, Riche looks forward to lending her experience, talent, and insight to continuing to fight for education transformation.
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Douglass Joins New UniversityWide Initiative in the Computer Science Field
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ccording to the National Science Foundation1, women earn only 19% of computer science bachelor’s degrees in the United States. The Advancing Women in Computer Science Initiative, funded by a grant from Chancellor Christopher Molloy, aims to address this disparity. Douglass has been asked to join a team of university units collaborating to increase retention rates for Rutgers women in computer science. The College will create and lead co-curricular programing for over a hundred women students within the Department of Computer Science. The programming will specifically engage students enrolled in the rigorous sequence of introductory computer science courses during which the risk of drop-out is greatest. Through innovative approaches to programming, the College has already found success retaining women computer science students, specifically with The Douglass Project’s Computer Science LivingLearning Community (CSLLC). Students in the CSLLC are enrolled in a structured first-year curriculum and are offered continuous resources as they progress through their undergraduate careers. The Douglass Project also partners with student organizations to host HackHERS, a 24-hour women’s hack-a-thon. The activities developed for the initiative will work off the success of these popular programs, and include panel discussions with women technologists, networking opportunities, and industry site visits. Douglass students
2019 HACKHERS, 24-hour Hackathon HackHers is a women-centric hackathon event organized by Rutgers Women in Computer Science, in collaboration with the Douglass Project for Women in STEM. in the CSLLC will take on active roles within the program as members of a student leadership board and as trained peer mentors. “With the far-reaching cultural implications of new technologies, it is critical that women are properly represented in the tech industry,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Litt, Dean of Douglass. “As a long-time leader in programming for Women in STEM, the College is happy to participate in The Advancing Women in Computer Science Initiative. We hope that our experience in this field can help make a difference for women technologists across the University.” In addition to the funding provided by the Chancellor, the initiative recently received a grant from The Northeastern Center for Inclusive Computing. Ultimately, The Advancing Women in Computer Science Initiative will enrich Douglass’ learning environment and reinforce the College’s status as a university-wide leader in computer science programming.
Douglass Leads The Big Ten Academic Alliance Summit Series on Advancing Women in STEM
ECHEZONACHI ASIMAMA-DURUAKU Project SUPER researcher on the effects of CD44 on Hypoxia-Inducible Factor REDD1 in The Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (Mtor) Signaling Pathway Under Hypoxic Stress in Breast Cancer Cells.
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t the inaugural meeting of The Big Ten Academic Alliance Summit Series on Advancing Women in STEM, a recurring goal guided each lecture, workshop, and panel discussion: changing institutional practices to retain women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Douglass’ national leadership of advancing women in STEM was the impetus behind the new national-level project to gather Big Ten Academic Alliance university counterparts in a multi-year initiative for collaboration, problem solving, and new solutions to broaden the pathways for women students in STEM. Big Ten University leaders convened at the College, sharing
their stories of success and examining the persistent underrepresentation of women in many STEM fields. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the National Science Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Rutgers University sponsored the summit. “At the summit this week, we put our minds toward examining our cultures and structures and developing new programs that both support our students and move the needle toward institutional change,” said Dean Litt in her opening remarks.
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ver the course of the event, summit attendees were invited to listen to leaders in the field who specialize in just that— creating institutional change. Based in the latest research and with a special focus on recruitment and retention of women of color, the panels and sessions focused on the importance of identifying the double bind of race and gender for women of color, the issue of sexual harassment in academic STEM spaces, and other topics surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to the scheduled presentations, attendees participated in working groups that put inter-university collaboration at the forefront of progress. These sessions fostered a think-tank to tackle how to best turn educational theory into practice. Speakers at the conference included Dr. Kelly Mack, the Vice President for Undergraduate STEM Education and Executive Director of Project Kaleidoscope at the Association of American Colleges and Universities; Dr. Talitha Washington, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Howard University; Linda Suskie, a national expert on program assessment; Dr. Debra Joy Pérez DC’84, Senior Vice President of Organizational Culture, Inclusion, and Equity at Simmons University; Dr. Karen Stubaus DC’72, Rutgers University Vice President for Academic Affairs and Administration; Dr. Vicki Magley, Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Connecticut; Dr. Cynthia Blitz, Research Professor and Executive Director at the Center for Effective School Practices at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education; and Dr. Lily Young, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. Citing “the natural community of the Big Ten,” Dean Litt declared that part of the mission of the Alliance is “to increase synergy among university-level programs within and across the Alliance member schools with the aim of broadening participation of students in STEM,” and “to disseminate findings across the nation to colleges and universities with similar goals.” Keeping with the event’s emphasis on collaboration, the summit concluded with a forward-looking discussion of the initiative’s next steps, including a future summit focused on advancing graduate students. By setting clear goals and benchmarks for organizational progress, representatives from each university reinforced their institutions’ commitments to implementing practical program-based methods to empower women in STEM. To aknowledge her legacy of advancing women in STEM, Dean Litt has been honored this spring by The American Association of University Women with the New Jersey Woman as Agent of Change award.
In 2019, 84 Project SUPER students received a $3,000 research stipend to focus on undergraduate, facultyled research this past summer. That’s $252,000 in research stipends. Students in the Reilly Douglass Engineering Living-Learning Community achieved a 95% retention rate in The School of Engineeirng. In the Class of 2021, the retention rate in computer science for students who live in the Living- Learning community is 22 percent higher than for women who do not.
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Gifts made to Douglass in honor or memory Between 12/1/18 and 9/30/19
The list below includes gifts made to Douglass in honor or memory of loved ones between 12/1/18 and 9/30/19. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this list. However, if you have a question or concern please contact us at drcadvancement@echo. rutgers.edu or at 848-932-2545. Thank you to all of the donors who make gifts in support of the College and our students. Douglass raises all funds for Douglass student scholarships and programs with support from the Rutgers University Foundation. To give to Douglass, please visit douglass.rutgers.edu/ give. The Rutgers University Foundation will process your gift. Please note that the Associate Alumnae of Douglass College (AADC) does not raise money for Douglass students and programs.
Gifts In Memory of Joyce Albers-Schonberg DC’65 from Karen Bryson DC’65, GSED’68 Eileen L. Poiani, Ph.D. DC’65, GSNB’67, GSNB’71 Marilyn Marolda Steiner, DC’65, GSNB’78 Professor G. Reginald Bishop, Jr. from William Kiefer Mysko, M.D. RC’65
Marie M. Sabaitis Bynum DC’81 from Rochelle S. Alexander DC’83 Michael Alexander Gloria Arminio Berlinski DC’83 Mary C. Brown, DC’83, CLAW ‘88 Luke Dragon SAS’23 Julie Ann Domonkos DC’83 Laurie Turk Hauser DC’81 Cynthia A. Healy DC’84 Mindy Himelman DC’83 David B. Himelman Suzanne Kisly DC’83 Jane M. Luciano DC’84, GSNB’88, GMLR’88 Maureen A. Martin DC’83 Pat Martin Donna E. Rudolph DC’83 Susan Smith DC’84, ENG ’84, RBSG’94 Andrea Weiss Stomel DC’81 Denise G. Wagner Marcia Kaniuka White DC’81 Thomas John White Phyllis Mevoglioni Colin DC’53 from Margaret M. Bicknell DC’53 Robert P. Colin SB’52 Barbara M. MacLeod Morrison DC’53 Ann Litzelman Saacke DC’53 Richard G. Saacke AG’53 Robert W. Curry & Janet Curry from Robyn D. Curry DC’02 Eileen B. Devlin DC’74 from Ruette M. Watson DC’77
Kathryn Appleby Blonsky DC’49 Evelyn B. Finck DC’48 from Marie Di Francesco Leppert from Melody Bacsko Kokola DC’70 DC’48 and Bonnie J. Leppert, Esq. DC’75, CLAW’03 Professor Margery G. Grove from Margaret Grove DC’71 and Joyce Mandelblatt
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Charles A. Heller, Jr. RC’51 from Helen J. Heller Rolanne Henry, Esq. DC’64 from Janet Malovany Bodner DC’59 and John Egan Joyce Will Himelman DC’54 from Cynthia A. Healy DC’84 and Maureen A. Martin DC’83 Anna Dorothea Muller from Gerlinde Barley DC’66 Edna H. Nash DC’66 from Natalie Salzberg Mauskopf DC’66 Professor Erna Neuse from Rudolf Bremer Donald E. Peddie, D.V.M. Julianne H. Peddie Ellen Vilk Markley DC’65 Elaine Mitcham Lynne Perry Renny Perry Gabrielle D. Roesler DC’48 Elizabeth Thornton-Bremer Dana Vogel LeRoy S. Oelschlager from Judith L. Formalarie Christine Ponder from Amy C. Norvis DC’94 Rosemarie LeRoy
Gifts In Memory of
Arianna C. Rodrigues SAS’21 from Meryl S. Orlando DC’75
Danielle Josephs, Esq. DC’07 from Debra Josephs
Elizabeth A. Bors Rago From Joanne Aguglia Sanam S. Amin SAS’16 Raniella S. Aznar Gwendolyn Anne Beetham Elizabeth Boudreau Alya Bukhari Andrea Cardella Maya Chhabria Leslie Susan Danehy Magdalena Dering Barbara Larkin Flood DC’82 Amanda J. Hardie LC’05, RBSG’13 Donna Henderson Anne Kuban Thomas Kuban Jeff Laxague Jennifer Lenis Suzanne M. Levy DC’77 Joseph A. Mancuso LC’80, GMGA’85 Patricia R. Mancuso DC’82 Ellen F. Mappen GSNB’68, ‘77 Juillian Mellen Maryann Muldoon Marjorie W. Munson Felisha Nation Carolyn Poultney Anthony Rago Anna Sandberg SAS’13, GSED’17 Theresa Ann Stine Nancy A. Temple Luisa Trujillo Donna M. Turso GSED’01 Kim Vanderveen Sara Wengrowski ENG’17, GSNB’19
Albert Schleifer from Heidi J. Schleifer-Fleichman DC’86, SSW’89
Bernard W. Koft, Ph.D. RC’43 from Stanley A. Schwartz, M.D. RC’63, GSNB’65 Diane Gottlieb Schwartz DC’63
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Randa Paul Ratazzi DC’63 from R. Lisa Padner DC’88 Paul Robeson RC’19 from Dr. Bernice Proctor Venable DC’62, GSNB’67, GSED’83
Marie Manning Selvaggio, Ph.D. DC’84, from Ms. Krystyna GorniakKocikowska Patricia Swanson DC’47 from Susan Thomas Florence I. Vanacore from Mindy Strauss Kirschner DC’84 Adelaide S. Zagoren DC’40 from Carol M. Sanzalone DC’69
Gifts In Honor of Rochelle S. Alexander DC’83 from Denise G. Wagner Bernadette Borkowski Alley DC’71 from George T. Alley GSNB’72 Doris Beck from Mindy Strauss Kirschner DC’84 Sima Gerber DC’69 from Lois Gerber Blau DC’63 Marie Casella Hess-Lilliedoll DC’53 from John Hess Nancy Punchatz Hines DC’61 from Susan G. Marchand, Ed.D. DC’61, GSNB’66, ‘83, GSED’74
Carol Gould Lerner DC’50 from Janet Berger and Robert Berger Dean Jacquelyn S. Litt from Marilyn Marolda Steiner DC’65, GSNB’78 and Barry N. Steiner Robert C. Metzger UCNB’77 from Courtney Marie Bellomo, M.D. RWJMS’06 Dennis Bellomo Sandra L. Bellomo Stewart Bryant Vera H. Bryant Susan M. English Sabina Hanriot Dennis Moretti Mary Ann Moretti Deborah Rein Joseph Rein Barbara J. Ryan David L. Hausman Fatima Nasreen from Nafisa Tanjeem GSNB’17 Muhammad Islam GSNB’14 Dr. Christine DiMarino Roberts DC’56 from Rosemarie LeRoy
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The Douglass Gender and Arts Program
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he Gender and Arts Program, funded by a generous gift from Douglass alumna and artist, Juliette Mittendorf Hill, allows Douglass women to study the fine arts through oncampus workshops, trips to experience live performances, and opportunities to create art. Students in the program can develop a thesis project to earn a Douglass Arts Certificate. For Syifa Marthellato DRC’21, involvement with the Douglass Gender and Arts Program has allowed her not only to express her creativity but also to grow as a professional. An information technology major, Marthellato aspires to have a future career in user experience (UX) by designing technology that is functional
and accessible for humans. Studying the intersection between fine art and technology is particularly useful in her future industry. “In UX, it is important to research and gain an understanding of the user’s background and cultural expectations,” she said. “The Douglass arts program is so unique because, through the study of art, we learn to understand how people’s backgrounds are used to shape their perspectives.” Marthellato often examines these concepts through sketching, which she later paints with watercolors. “I love watching the mix of color fill life into my sketches. There is beauty in the details of people, the environment, and the community that I’d like to document and appreciate through my sketches.” Many thanks to the donors to Douglass Residential College, the Douglass Fund, and the AADC for their contributions that have made The Gender and Arts Program possible.