Spring 2020 Meredith Magazine by Meredith College

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NEWS Since 2009, Meredith College has made its Italian home in the Palazzo Alberti, which is centrally located in Sansepolcro, Italy. The College celebrated its special relationship with Sansepolcro during an anniversary event at the palazzo this fall. Meredith faculty, past and present program leaders, and the 15 students currently studying at the palazzo welcomed 200 community members to the open house. Read more about Meredith in Italy programs on pg. 9.

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A Hospitable Tradition: Meredith Students Enjoy a Thanksgiving Meal with President Allen By Gaye Hill

or some people, the word Thanksgiving conjures up fond memories of family and friends gathered around a table loaded with favorite foods. But for college students who live too far away to travel home for the short break, the holiday can be a reminder of loved ones they are missing, while some international students may have never celebrated Thanksgiving. To support such students and foster a strong sense of community, President Jo Allen has established an annual tradition of hosting

a Thanksgiving meal for students at Massey House, the president’s residence. The 2019 event took place on November 27. “This luncheon reminds us that unlike so many in our world today who are truly

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lonely, hungry, and adrift, our students – even those who are far from home – are in a loving, connected community of faculty, staff, and friends who want to engage with each other in pursuing goals and healthy relationships and strengths,” said Allen.

Focus on Hospitality Welcoming students into her home is important to Allen and a consistent feature of her presidency. When new students first arrive on Meredith’s campus, they attend a reception at Massey House as part of Orientation. And each year during Cornhuskin’, students make their way to the president’s house for a “raid” where they are served coffee and doughnuts and take selfies with Allen. President Allen said Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday precisely because of its emphasis on gratitude and caring for others. “It inspires us to think of others far more than ourselves,” said Allen. “Our gratitude is inextricably tied to others and forces us to slow down and, hopefully, express that gratitude.” The menu is a traditional Thanksgiving meal including turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and a variety of desserts. It also includes a recipe that President Allen’s mother served, in order to give her guests a taste of her home. And in a nod to another beloved tradition, after the meal students are given takeout containers so they can enjoy leftovers later on.

Strengthening Connections For many years, a former employee hosted international students for Thanksgiving. When he left Meredith, President Allen and Jean Jackson, ’75, vice president for college programs, stepped into the void, with staff from the Offices of International Programs and Residence Life also playing key roles. Heidi LeCount, director of residence life, said the welcoming nature of the meal has a community-building effect that extends far beyond the meal itself. “The students who attend the lunch are able to meet students they might not otherwise meet. Oftentimes, at the end of the meal, students can be overheard making weekend plans together and exchanging phone numbers,” said LeCount. Students at this year’s luncheon hail from as far away as South Korea, Gambia, Mauritania, and California, and as nearby as Knightdale and Cary. “It’s open to any student who wants to celebrate the holiday and be together in community,” said Traci Johnson, assistant director of international programs. Marie Johnson, ’20, has attended the luncheon for the last two years. “This is the best event for international students we could have. I see all of these women I know and love on campus but we’re so busy, especially right before finals, we never get to just sit and talk,” she said. “The time together is the beauty of it.” As the luncheon wound down and students discussed weekend plans, President Allen brought out her dog, Bachelor, at the students’ request, prompting another round of pictures. “This holiday and this luncheon remind me to celebrate that our students are phenomenal and that the time I spend with them is precious,” said Allen. “My own gratitude, in other words, multiplies exponentially with every single student who comes to this special luncheon.”

Meredith College Holds High School Day of Dance By Melyssa Allen

he Meredith College dance program welcomed nearly 500 students and their teachers to the annual High School Day of Dance on November 15, 2019. The purpose of the event, which is planned by Meredith dance faculty with support from current dance students, is to build and nurture connections between Meredith Dance and high school dance programs in Wake and surrounding counties. The day also celebrates the strength and diversity of these dance programs. Students from 30 high schools from counties including Wake, Durham, Johnston, Guilford, Alamance, Chatham, and Nash

arrived at Meredith at 8 a.m. to begin a celebration of dance that featured technique classes including hip hop, contemporary, tap, and improvisation. After a welcome from current Meredith dance students, faculty, and the Meredith admissions team, the high school students were treated to a performance by Meredith Dance Theatre dancers of a piece choreographed by guest artist Maleek Washington. Students then went to dance studios, performance spaces, and other locations on campus for their classes. The High School Day of Dance ended with a showcase of work by the high school dance companies.

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Photo: Hannah Johns (pictured fourth from left), with program faculty, friends, family, and special guest WRAL Meteorologist Kat Campbell.

First Student to Receive Digital Communication Certificate Finishes Program In One Semester By Cailyn Whitman, ’18

or Hannah Johns, ’19, enrolling in the post-baccalaureate certificate program in digital communication at Meredith College was a no-brainer. “As soon as I heard Meredith was launching this program, I knew it was something I had to take advantage of,” she said. Since she double majored in theatre and communication as an undergraduate student at Meredith, Johns was already familiar with the communication department. However, she focused most of her efforts in theatre, so she didn’t have as much time to invest in her communication education as she wanted. This program gave her the opportunity to do that and more. Johns took courses in business, social media, audio and visual production, and writing. The program helped her build a unique skill set for storytelling across a variety of mediums, which was her goal from the very beginning. She hopes to begin a career in comedy and entertainment and isn’t partial to any

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particular role, though her dream job would be to work for E! News. “When I look at my passions, at the heart of it all is storytelling,” said Johns. “If I’m doing that in some way, I’ll be happy.” Johns was the first person to complete the program since its launch in May. A celebration of her accomplishment was held on December 12, 2019, with many of her family, friends, and mentors in attendance. WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell also attended the event as a guest speaker. “You’ve carved a path not only for yourself, but for others as well,” Campbell said to Johns. “More women will be inspired to do what you’re doing now because you’ve shown it can be done.” Alan Buck, the head of the Digital Communication program, also spoke to Johns’ accomplishments, calling her a “trendsetter.” “It took her one semester to finish a program that most people take a year to complete,” he said. One of the main benefits of the program

is the flexibility it offers, allowing students to complete the program at their own pace while fitting jobs and other responsibilities into their schedules. Johns’ advice to others thinking about participating in the program was simple: “Just do it,” she said. “Not only is class scheduling flexible, but the path you want to take within the program is flexible as well.” Johns approached the program with the goal of entering the entertainment field, but there are many other career paths one could take with the different course electives that are offered. “You may not come out of the program with the same experience I had, but I guarantee whatever experience you have will be one that will help you accomplish your goals.”

Watch to learn more about Meredith’s Digital Communication Certificate Program.

Meredith College Earns 2019 NC Theatre Conference Award By Melyssa Allen

eredith College has been recognized by the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC) with the NCTC Award for college/university. Each year, the NCTC Board of Directors presents the NCTC Awards to companies, schools, and individuals who are active NCTC members and have exhibited leadership roles in their community, as well as artistic, professional, or educational excellence. Other award categories include K-12 theatre arts educator, professional theatre, community theatre, distinguished career, theatre for youth, and distinguished service. The mission of NCTC is to strengthen North Carolina’s vibrant theatre industry and engage tomorrow’s artists, audiences, and advocates. Visit meredith.edu/cultural-arts for Meredith’s current performing arts calendar.

Meredith Graduate Programs Participate in Raleigh Parade

hen Raleigh held its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, Nov. 23, Meredith College Graduate and Certificate Programs were part of the procession. The parade, which is sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, began in downtown Raleigh starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade aired live on WTVD (ABC-11) and was rebroadcast on Christmas Day.

Representing Meredith on the float were graduate programs staff, current students, alumni, and family in Meredith’s 24 coeducational graduate and certificate programs. Graduate program representatives were joined by Meredith Senior Vice President and Provost Matthew Poslusny. Meredith’s graduate offerings include an MBA, Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Science in

Nutrition, and Master of Arts in Psychology with an Industrial/Organizational Concentration. The College also offers certificate programs in business, entrepreneurship, pre-health, and digital communication, as well as a paralegal program and dietetic internship. Learn more at meredith.edu/graduateprograms.

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On the Road with Admissions: What I Learned (and How You Can Help!)

ith the closing of our fundraising campaign in December 2018 and wrap-up in the following months, I realized my days of traveling and hosting and asking felt slightly emptier. Not that we aren’t still busily working for donors and gifts, of course, but still – a little bit quieter. Given families’ concerns about college value and costs as well as the realities of a declining traditional age population, I decided to spend more time with our

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Admissions team. Meredith already hosts four major campus visitation events every year; I speak at each of them, briefly introducing what is unique about Meredith. Throughout the year we also offer individual visits and small group campus tours, and in 2019 we added five mid-sized events on Saturdays in November and December – all good strategies for reaching students and their families. Being on the road, however, gave me insights into the truly hard work of Admissions.

First, every high school call is different. The Meredith admissions counselor must be able to adjust her style depending on whether she is speaking to 50, 15, or two students. The level of students’ interest in Meredith also varies. While some schools allow students to leave class for one of these college conversations, others schedule them during a break or lunch period. Both options can affect whether those who attend are truly interested in Meredith. At one of our visits, we spoke only with

the high school counselor. It was one of our best stops because she was new to the area and did not know very much about Meredith; here was our chance to tell her everything! She asked great questions and took copious notes, ensuring she had the information she needed to reach out to her students about their options. In addition to my North Carolina travels, I flew to New Jersey for a high school counselor dinner that Meredith sponsored. Approximately 50 counselors attended, listened attentively to our messages about the distinction of a Meredith education, and then asked excellent questions about diversity, financial support, graduate success, internships and job opportunities, and more. One of the most eye-opening aspects of my travel was not only realizing how different each visit and event can be, but also how extraordinarily well-informed our

“Every call is an opportunity to tell the Meredith story – one of making women stronger and setting them on a course for success.” — President Jo Allen

Admissions team is about the entire College. Obviously, they know all the disciplines we offer, but knowing the research and teaching interests of the faculty in those disciplines goes a long way toward personalizing the Meredith story. Their knowledge of graduates in those disciplines and what they are doing now is another critical piece of information. And conversation about StrongPoints® further clarifies the personal nature of a Meredith education and generates a lot of interest in how students identify and build on their strengths through work with faculty, advisers, and peers. Beyond academics, these admissions professionals also know about Meredith clubs and organizations, how athletes are recruited, opportunities to participate in

various ensembles, and where students study abroad or get internships. Knowledge of class traditions and leadership opportunities helps season the discussions with glimpses of the community they’ll find at Meredith. And, certainly, admissions counselors emphasize the value of our location in Raleigh, with its growing accolades as a place with tremendous career opportunities for young professionals. Finally, they explain how to navigate the admissions process itself. Financial assistance is uppermost in the minds of many of the young women and understanding scholarships (including our new Impact Scholarship), work study, and good versus bad debt creates confidence in some of the women that Meredith may, indeed, be within their family’s reach. All in all, my time with Admissions has been well spent. Every call is an opportunity to tell the Meredith story – one of making women stronger and setting them on a course for success. Every conversation with a high school counselor is a way to provide important information about the Meredith experience. And every student’s glimmer of imagining herself as a Meredith College woman inspires us to load up the car with Meredith materials and make another call. We would like you to be part of our Admissions team, too! If you know a woman who deserves a Meredith experience and degree, please send her our way. If you know school counselors or principals, encourage them to take our calls and make a visit. At its essence, Meredith is a sisterhood of connections and relationships that challenge and support each other throughout college and life beyond. You know the value of a Meredith education. I hope you’ll consider helping us pass that message on to others.

President Jo Allen, ’80

If you’d like to help, please reach out to Admissions at (919) 760-8581 or to Institutional Advancement/Alumnae Office at (919) 760-8548.

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“Art shapes the way we think and feel. It has the ability to create empathy for humans and for non-humans.” — Shannon Johnstone

Panel Discussion Focuses on Activism: Animals and Art By Melyssa Allen

ll Creatures Great and Small, a fall exhibition at Meredith’s Weems Gallery, featured five artists who are dedicated to animals and activism. Their approaches, which include fine art, journalism, video installation, and commercial work, differ but each explores the lives, traumas, triumphs, and the individuality and importance of some of the many nonhumans with whom people share the planet. Four of the artists featured in the exhibition participated in an Activism: Animals and Art panel discussion on October 24. Meredith Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone, Lee Deigaard, Jo-Anne McArthur, and Traer Scott discussed their work, including what led them to focus on animals in their art. “Every photographer is looking for their story … I realized there was a group of invisible animals who are not wildlife and not pets on industrialized farm complexes and on fur farms, who had no voice. Their lives needed to be seen,” said McArthur, an award-winning photojournalist who has documented humans’ complex relationship with animals through her long-term body of work, We Animals. Other artists on the panel were inspired by

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their own interactions with animals. Johnstone said she hadn’t considered animals as subjects until she adopted a dog. Her recent projects, Landfill Dogs and Stardust and Ashes bring attention to animal overpopulation, with emphasis on dogs from the Wake County Animal Shelter. Deigaard said her work, which explores the emotional and physical landscapes where humans and animals cohabitate, is driven by a desire for others to see animals as individuals. Scott specializes in animal photography, the human/animal bond, and conservationthemed fine art photography. She is the author of ten books, including Shelter Dogs. Scott said her work combines two passions – art and the need to share the reality of what happens in animal shelters to healthy, adoptable dogs. Another topic for the artists was how they believe art can create change. “Art shapes the way we think and feel,” Johnstone said. “It has the ability to create empathy for humans and for non-humans.” Scott said art has an impact “because it crosses language and cultural barriers.” Deigaard talked about the power of art to

shift someone’s thinking. “Art allows a oneto-one encounter, which leads to multispecies empathy,” she said. McArthur emphasized the importance of combining art with policy making. “The more collaborative [the projects] become, the happier I am,” she said. “I find catharsis in action.” The panel discussion was moderated by Keri Cronin, a historian of visual culture who is an associate dean at Brock University. Cronin is the author of Art for Animals, which explores some of the ways in which visual culture and animal rights intersected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the panel discussion, each artist built on the comments made by the other participants. This interaction is evident in the exhibition itself. “I love the conversation that happens between our work in this exhibition,” Johnstone said. The exhibition was part of the School of Arts and Humanities 2019-20 common experience theme of Activism: Then & Now. Each of the gallery’s exhibitions for the 2019-20 is built on this theme.

By the Numbers: The Palazzo Alberti While Meredith College has offered study abroad programs in Sansepolcro, Italy, for more than 20 years, the College’s presence in the Tuscan town took on a new address in 2009 when Meredith began a long-term lease of the Palazzo Alberti, a renovated facility that originated in the 16th or 17th century. During this decade, the Meredith in Italy Program has made global study available to a wide range of students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and friends. Here are some of the ways the program has made an impact on Meredith:

435

88%

students have studied abroad in Sansepolcro

of Italy semester students say

Meredith faculty have taught in Meredith’s Italy programs

50 Meredith staff have visited since the palazzo opened

the opportunity to study in Sansepolcro influenced their decision to attend Meredith Watch the anniversary event in Sansepolcro this past fall. Learn more at meredith.edu/study-abroad

Meredith Experts in the News Meredith College experts have recently been featured in media outlets including The Atlantic, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Fast Company, and University Business. “Over the past decade or so, parents have assumed a more hands-on role in their kids’ college experiences – a trend that’s helped to popularize the helicopter-parent stereotype and may elongate students’ pathway to fullfledged autonomy. Instead of students announcing, ‘I got into college!,’ the parents are announcing, ‘We got into college!’” — Professor of Education Tisha Duncan, in an article on how the parent/child relationship changes during college. The article was published in The Atlantic.

“To communicate successfully and embrace speakers of the second most spoken language in the country right now, colleges and universities have a responsibility to serve this growing population with the same care and attention we give to the English-only speaking population.” — Senior Vice President and Provost Matthew Poslusny and Vice President for Marketing & Communications Kristi Eaves-McLennan in a University Business opinion piece on the importance of having translated information online for Spanish-speaking parents and families of students.

130 alumnae have visited since the palazzo opened

“What he seemed to know most of all, is that forgiveness frees him more than anyone since harboring hate and anger will only negatively affect his own life.” — Associate Professor of Communication Carla Ross in a column about forgiveness and justice, published in The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

“Research suggests that women get mentorship in organizations at similar rates as men, but men tend to have a higher percentage of C-suite mentors than women. Men can serve as mentors for women who aren’t in their organizations but may lack good mentors in their own companies.” — Assistant Professor of Management Lisa Delise, in a Fast Company article titled “10 ways men can help close the gender gap for female coworkers.”

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Meredith Student Efforts Help Change North Carolina Consent Law By Melyssa Allen

hen Governor Roy Cooper signed Senate Bill 199, a bill to modernize sexual assault laws in North Carolina, Meredith College student Sarah Powell, ’22, was in attendance. Her participation in the bill signing event illustrated the part she and other Meredith College students played in getting the law changed. The bill included closure of what had become known as the consent loophole. “No longer is North Carolina the only state where women do not have the right to revoke consent once intimate contact has started,” Powell explained. “This is a huge step for survivors, too, who often feel the system does not support them.” During the bill signing, Powell spoke about how she learned about the consent loophole and Meredith College’s role in bringing attention to the issue.

“I learned about the consent loophole while doing research for a paper for my Intro to Government class my freshman year,” said Powell, a pre-law student. “I was shocked that this loophole could exist in this day and age. As strong women, [Meredith students] wanted to do what we could to help.” Powell went to Assistant Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo

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with her concerns. “She was fired up. I said, before we storm the gates of the legislature, why don’t we see what is being done on this issue currently?,” Manzo said. She contacted Meredith Assistant Professor of Sociology Kris Macomber for assistance because sexual assault is one area of focus in Macomber’s research. Macomber believes changing the laws are an important step for the state. “Given the prevalence of sexual violence in our culture, the laws we put in place to prevent and address it are critical. Closing the withdrawal of consent loophole is an important step in moving North Carolina forward to join the rest of the country in declaring the importance of consent.” Macomber recommended working with the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault (NC CASA). Skye David, a lobbyist and staff attorney for NC CASA, helped Powell learn about what efforts were underway to try to close the consent loophole and identified legislators who were interested in the issue. With David’s guidance, Powell and sociology students Alicia Ludwig and Lindsey Norris helped organize an on-campus panel discussion with North Carolina legislators. The event was bipartisan in nature, and designed to help students learn about how a bill becomes a law. Powell wrote an op-ed for The Meredith Herald in advance of the panel to educate students about the issue. The panel became a larger conversation about many issues with N.C. sexual assault laws, including the consent loophole and clearing the backlog of rape kits. The event was filled to capacity with students who were able to hear from and talk directly to North Carolina leaders. “We wanted the event to be driven by students sharing their concerns with their legislators,” Manzo said. “From my point of view as a political scientist, the panel showed students you can do this. You can get legisla-

tors in a room and tell them, ‘this is what we want you to do for us’.” The panel event at Meredith was a turning point in helping lead to the bill Governor Cooper signed in November. One of the legislators in attendance at the bill signing was a participant in Meredith’s panel, which was when he learned about the consent loophole issue. “He came to our panel, learned about the issue, and he became a bill sponsor,” Manzo said. Macomber said students shaped the conversation with legislators at the panel discussion and beyond. “Our students are developing their intellectual and political identities during the #MeToo era and they showed our elected officials that they are not going to accept laws that are harmful to rape survivors,” Macomber said. “They held N.C. legislators accountable by asking relevant questions that pushed the discussion forward.” Powell stayed in contact with David and NC CASA after the panel at Meredith, continuing to advocate for the change in the laws. She was invited by NC CASA to be part of the bill signing ceremony, after which she was able to meet Governor Cooper, whose mother was a Meredith alumna. “He told me his mother would be proud,” Powell said. “Everyone alluded to Meredith going strong and that this is what happens when strong women come together on something they’re passionate about.”

Meredith Celebrates Increases in Retention and Graduation Rates By Melyssa Allen

his fall, Meredith College held a campus event to celebrate student success, marking milestones in student retention and graduation rates. In 2019, Meredith students achieved both record four-year graduation rates and the highest retention rate since 1999. Meredith’s first-to-second year retention rate has increased 10 percentage points over the past seven years, and its four-year graduation rate has increased 15 percentage points over an equivalent number of years. Meredith’s four-year graduation rate is higher than the rates of nearly every N.C. public university. The celebration, held on October 22 in Carlyle Campbell Library, was a way to recognize these indicators of student success and to celebrate students for their achievements. “While retention and graduation rates are important, respectfully, rates are not what we’re celebrating today. We’re here to celebrate the individual women who chose to come to Meredith, go to class, make good grades, persevere through all of their unique challenges and obstacles, and stay “We want to celebrate our strong,” said Brandon students most of all. They come Stokes, director of rehere with a purpose, they shine tention & student success. “More and more in incredible ways, and they students are making inspire us every day.” a plan, achieving their — President Jo Allen goals, and graduating on time, which means we — the faculty, staff, and administrators of Meredith — are fulfilling our commitments to them.” Meredith has made concerted efforts to support students in their progress toward graduation, from implementing StrongPoints®, a personalized advising and coaching initiative that is an integral part of the Meredith experience, to creating Promise Scholarships as an investment in the potential and promise of first-year students who demonstrate additional financial need. President Jo Allen thanked those across campus who have contributed to such efforts, including the Office of Admissions for bringing “bright, wonderful and prepared students to campus;” Meredith faculty, who “make teaching interesting, supportive, and challenging all at the same time;” staff, both those who support students directly and those who work behind the scenes every day to make campus beautiful and comfortable; Avenging Angels Athletics, and more. Allen concluded by reiterating the gathering was intended to highlight the achievements of Meredith students. “We want to celebrate our students most of all,” she said. “They come here with a purpose, they shine in incredible ways, and they inspire us every day.”

MEREDITH MAGAZINE READERSHIP SURVEY Recently, a readership survey was conducted for Meredith Magazine. From a random sample of readers, we received 300 responses, representing a 9.3% response rate. We are pleased to announce that the survey showed our readers enjoy Meredith Magazine and the content it provides. For benchmarking purposes, Meredith responses were compared with the average results from 20 other 4-year private institutions. Here are some of the findings: • 85% of respondents read most or every issue of the magazine, with 2.5% having never read an issue. The comparison figures for other institutions were similar. • 64% of respondents read all or most of the magazine, while for the comparison group this is only 58%. And, only 3% of Meredith alumnae read none of the magazine compared to 5% at other institutions. • 70% of respondents keep the magazine one or more months and 55% spend 30 or more minutes reading the magazine. This is comparable to other institutions. • More than 87% of respondents rated the quality of the magazine as good or excellent on six aspects (content, cover, ease of reading, layout and design, photography, and writing). Less than 1% of readers rated any of these as poor. These ratings were all several percentage points higher than other institutions for all aspects. • More than 85% of readers agreed or strongly agreed that the magazine strengthened a personal connection to Meredith College. This was comparable to other institutions. The survey also covered what kinds of stories our readers most want to read about the College. Some of the topics readers said they were most interested in were: • Campus facilities and growth (85%) • Institutional history and traditions (83%) • Alumnae in their professions (80%) • Cultural events and performances (79%) • Student research/academic experiences (60%) These insights helped the editorial team determine content for this magazine, including the features on class dolls (traditions), the role Meredith women played in aerospace and military computing (institutional history), and the MEALS lab (student research). Reader opinions also influenced the selection of news stories included in this issue. We will continue to keep these responses in mind when planning future issues. We appreciate our respondents, 87% of whom were alumnae, for taking time to share their insights on the magazine. – The Meredith Magazine Editorial Team

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2019 Faculty Distinguished Lecture Explores Fashion Industry Impact on Environment By Melyssa Allen

n her Faculty Distinguished Lecture, Meredith Professor of Fashion Design & Merchandising Diane Ellis focused on the positive innovations and the troubling environmental issues in the fashion industry. “The fashion industry is a $2.3 trillion industry that employs 1 out of every 6 people,” Ellis said. Her presentation, “Planet Fashion: Our Clothes. Our Industry. Our Planet.,” focused first on the latest fabrics on the market, including innovations in smart textiles that improve athletic performance, monitor health, and provide protection. She then turned her focus to the environmental impact of current industry practices and of rising consumption. Ellis said there was $13 trillion in spending by U.S. consumers in 2019, much of which was spent on clothing. “Clothing is an important mode of expression. It gives us identity,” Ellis said. “But we seem to think happiness is based on what we have and what we own – on stuff.” Overconsumption of clothing is increasing, Ellis explained. “We own 60% more clothes today than

we did in 2000, but we wear them half as long,” she said. “More than half of the textiles purchased are thrown away in less than one year.” Ellis said that an average of 70 pounds of textiles are thrown away annually by each American. She had 28 current students and one future student bring trash bags full of textiles onto the stage to help the audience visualize one ton of fabric waste. Other environmental issues facing the fashion industry include the increased use of synthetic materials, which do not biodegrade, and the increased focus on “fast fashion” by consumers. “Fast fashion works on a 25-day cycle,” Ellis said. “Why? Because of us. We want to buy so much. We want instant gratification.” Another major issue is industrial slavery among workers in the apparel industry. Ellis cited a statistic that 80% of those working in the industry are women, but only two percent of them earn a living wage. Most of the clothing made in these conditions are sold in the United States. A global issue faced by the fashion industry is environmental pollution. Fash-

ion is the second most polluting industry in the world, Ellis said, second only to the oil industry. “We cannot continue to think more is better. We have to rethink how we can reuse what we have on an industry level,” Ellis said. After identifying these challenges, Ellis closed her lecture on a positive note, sharing innovations by the industry to encourage recycling of clothing, use of dyes from natural sources, and machinery that uses little or no water. Ellis also offered insight on what consumers can do to make a positive change. Her recommendations include buying more environmentally-friendly products, reducing purchasing, and choosing sustainable brands. “We need to change our mindset and get away from disposables. We need to buy fewer and better,” said Ellis. “We need to ask ourselves, ‘Can I be socially responsible in wearing this and in disposing of this?’” Major change will only come with a change in consumer demand. “Every purchase you make is a vote,” Ellis said. “If you require brands to be sustainable, they will be.”

About Diane Ellis In addition to her role as professor, Ellis serves as Meredith’s fashion merchandising & design program coordinator. A Meredith faculty member since 1982, she is also a visiting professor for Paris American Academy in Paris, France, each summer. Ellis is a member of the International Textiles and Apparel Association and is on the Advisory Committee of the Paris American Academy. She has won three awards during her tenure at Meredith for excellence in artistic expression and teaching and for outstanding service to the College.

About the Faculty Distinguished Lecture The Faculty Distinguished Lecture was designed to represent a significant achievement of research by a faculty member. The first lecture was presented in 1964 by Professor of English Norma Rose. Diane Ellis presented the 58th Faculty Distinguished Lecture. The event is sponsored by Meredith’s convocation committee.

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Meredith College Remembers Impact of Former President Bruce Heilman By Melyssa Allen

eredith College mourns the loss of E. Bruce Heilman, who served as Meredith College’s fifth president, and remembers the impact he had on the College. Heilman passed away on October 19, 2019, at age 93. Heilman served as Meredith College president from 1966-71. Under his leadership, Meredith completed a three-year fundraising campaign, raising funds to sup-

port the construction of six new buildings. The new additions were Carlyle Campbell Library, Cate Student Center, Weatherspoon Gymnasium, Heilman and Brewer Residence Halls, and the Massey House president’s residence. He oversaw a restructuring of Johnson Hall, the College’s administration building, directed the strengthening of the College’s Board of Trustees, and led the establishment of an annual giving fund. Jo Allen, Meredith’s eighth president, remembers Heilman as “the quintessential gentleman who continued to love and support Meredith” well after his tenure as president. “As a new president, I benefited from Bruce Heilman’s wise counsel and sense of history. I watched him continue to pursue his lifelong passions supporting higher education, student well-being, and the long-term sustainability of great colleges, including Meredith,” Allen said. “As a friend, I have been inspired by his stamina, clear sense of mission (both professional and personal), and unwavering loyalty to family, friends, and causes that sustained him and made a difference in our nation and world. He will be greatly missed.”

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in World War II, Heilman was the featured speaker for Meredith’s Veterans Day service in November 2018.

In addition to serving as Meredith president, Heilman’s long career in higher education included being president of the University of Richmond from 1971-86, and later as the university’s chancellor. To make a gift in Heilman’s memory, visit meredith.edu/give. Checks can be mailed to Meredith College, Attn: Institutional Advancement, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Meredith Recreates Berlin Wall for Anniversary By Melyssa Allen

o commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Meredith’s Department of History, Political Science, and International Studies created a small replica of the wall and recreated its destruction on campus. Meredith’s commemoration was held on Friday, Nov. 8, one day before the official anniversary. The event involved building an 8-footwide by 7-foot-tall cinderblock wall and then smashing the wall. Painting was allowed on the wall’s “free side” only, with no free expression allowed on the other side. Approximately 30 students and faculty participated in the tear down, which took about one hour. Participants read famous short speeches about the wall, including those by John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Ronald Reagan, and listened to music that was on theme for the event. Information posted at the wall and in Joyner Hall to explain important dates and facts related to the wall. “All of this was in an attempt to bring this important period

of history to the forefront for students, as well as point out the continuing controversies involving walls, free expression, and mass movements,” said Associate Professor of Political Science Jeff Martinson. Martinson said the event succeeded in getting students to consider the cyclical nature of history and politics. “As in the late 1980s with the collapse of communism, once again various parts of the world are embroiled in discussions of who the ‘we’ are, what it means to include and exclude people, and the simultaneously liberating and painful consequences of free political expression and mass political activism,” Martinson said. This was the second time the department had held a commemoration of the wall’s fall, having done a similar event for the 20th anniversary. The Berlin Wall commemoration event was part of the School of Arts and Humanities 2019-20 common experience theme of Activism: Then & Now.

S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

CAMPUS

NEWS

Meredith College Mourns Loss of Trustee Peggy Beale

eredith College Trustee Margaret R. “Peggy” Beale passed away on October 13, 2019. A Norfolk, Va. native, Beale was CEO of Paxton Company, a family-owned marine safety and industrial equipment supplier. A 1977 graduate of Meredith, Beale held a B.S. in business administration. Along with her most recent service as vice-chair of the Board of Trustees, she served as Alumnae Association president from 2005-07 and was a former chapter leader and campaign leadership donor. Beale received the Meredith College Distinguished Alumna Award in 2007 and the Meredith College Philanthropy Award in 2012. Her support of Meredith included establishing the Beale Family Faculty Development Fund for the School of Business, giving to the Class of 1977 scholarship, and regular support for The Meredith Fund. She was a member of the following Meredith giving societies: Thomas Meredith Silver Society, Stringfield Society, Iris Society, Heritage Society, and the Onyx Society. Beyond her service to Meredith College,

Beale was on The Maury Foundation Board, a public high school in Norfolk providing college scholarships, and was a past president of the Junior League of NorfolkVirginia Beach, Inc., and of the d’Art Center. Meredith College President Jo Allen noted that Beale’s memorial service was held on November 2, the same day as Cornhuskin’. “How appropriate that Peggy’s memorial service falls on Cornhuskin’ 2019. If anyone loved this College and supported it with more distinctive loyalty, kindness, and faith than Peggy, our wonderful friend and angel forever, it is hard to imagine,” said Allen. “On this day of Meredith’s most defining tradition, it seems just the right touch that we should be remembering Peggy and quietly moving on in full gratitude for the years and the rich friendships that abound here. She inspired us all and we are deeply saddened by this loss.” In addition to the service on November 2, Beale’s classmates and the Meredith College community held a service in her memory on campus in November. To make a gift in Beale’s memory, visit meredith.edu/give. Checks can be mailed

to Meredith College, Attn: Institutional Advancement, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607.

School of Business Interns Consistently Achieve Excellence By Cailyn Whitman, ’18

ighly motivated. Efficient and organized. Able to grasp complex concepts. Initiates ideas that helps the business grow. These are just a few of the words and phrases used by internship supervisors to describe Meredith College students from the School of Business. “Most all of the comments received were similar to these. I probably have 100 more I could share,” said Department Head Nathan Woolard. In a recent analysis conducted by Woolard, it was found that 76% of Meredith business school interns were given an “excellent” rating by their supervisors for general quality of work. All business majors at Meredith must complete an internship credit to graduate, and Woolard serves as the instructor of record for the experience. Business students have held internships in a wide range of companies and organizations around the Triangle to fulfill the requirement. Some of these companies include Cisco, SAS, and Credit Suisse. At the end of each internship, a required course component is an

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evaluation completed by the supervisor. Woolard is responsible for analyzing the data for the business school’s AACSB accreditation. Since the summer of 2017, 144 internship providers have completed the evaluation. There are five categories related to quality of work. These ratings range from 1-4, with the lowest rating being unsatisfactory and the highest being excellent. Woolard provided a snapshot of the average results: • “General quality of work,” 3.699 • “Volume of work meeting standards,” 3.609 • “Willingness to follow directions and suggestions,” 3.776 • “Ability to research and analyze information,” 3.645 • “Overall understanding of the business (mission, vision),” 3.601 Of the 144 supervisors who completed evaluations, none of them rated Meredith interns as unsatisfactory for the first category while 109 selected the highest rating, excellent.

Meredith Dining Hosts Kitchen Takeover Competition By Cailyn Whitman, ’18

eredith Dining hosted four guest chefs to participate in a Kitchen Takeover Competition on November 12, in Belk Dining Hall. Students were invited to enjoy the signature dishes the Aramark chefs prepared and asked to vote on their favorites. In return, participants were given a free t-shirt. Among the chefs were David Mason, Jon-Michael Rehm, Paul Stanley, and Mike Obrochta. They served a variety of unique dishes including street tacos, specialty sandwich sliders, flatbreads, and traditional Spanish paella. In addition to the various entrée options, the event also featured dessert, a live DJ, table decorations, and a photo booth. “Not only was the food delicious, but the event itself was a lot of fun,” said sophomore Hunter Straub. She noted that the crab cakes were her favorite. Brittany Cook, senior marketing manager

at Aramark, played a key role in organizing the event. Cook said that she was excited to have the guest chefs help serve Meredith students for the day. “We wanted to bring this program to Meredith College to showcase our amazing culinary talent, here on campus and around the region,” said Cook. “Most students know the chefs and food service workers here at Meredith but this was a great opportunity to introduce them to our team of chefs around North Carolina and Virginia that support each other throughout the year.” This event is one of many exciting initiatives Meredith Dining has led this year to improve the campus dining experience. There has been a strong focus on increasing the amount of meal options for students, especially those with dietary restrictions. Of the main dishes served at Belk Dining Hall, 30% are now vegetarian or vegan. There has also been an emphasis on im-

proving overall nutritional health of campus meals. In partnership with the American Heart Association, the dining team has reduced saturated fat and sodium in meals by an average of 15% and increased the amount of fruits, whole grains, and vegetables by 9%. The dining services team hopes to continue providing healthy, diverse menus and unique culinary experiences such as this one for students to enjoy.

S p ring 2019 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

STRONG STORIES

Achieving Dreams Through the Meredith Wings Program By Reah Nicholson Moore

rom the moment Pinaky Patel, ’19, returned to the United States at the age of 17, she had a dream of earning a degree in computer science. Almost 20 years later, that dream is a reality. “There were times when it was hard juggling both school and home, but I always stayed focused on my goal,” said Patel. “I wanted to show my daughter that there is no such thing as ‘you can’t do it.’” Patel was born in New Jersey but raised in India. She moved to North Carolina when she was 17 and enrolled in Guilford Tech Community College, where she earned an Associate of Science degree in computer programming in 2002. Because of financial constraints, she wasn’t able to continue her education. In order to accomplish her goal of a four-year degree, Patel joined the Air Force, where she served for friendly, and I fell in love with the campus,” six years. said Patel. “Another reason I chose Meredith is “I joined the military to pay for school. I because they accepted my Post 9/11 GI Bill. It knew there was no way I was going to be able was just a better fit for me.” to afford a four-year college, so I joined the As a wife and mother, Patel was also atmilitary because I knew they would pay for it,” tracted to Meredith’s Wings – Adult Education said Patel. Program. She credits Tom Manning, director As a member of the United States Air Force, of Wings, for her success and for making her Patel served in Security Forces. Her role was transition much easier. part security and part “The Wings program law enforcement for the “There were times when it is amazing. They make base. She also served in was hard juggling both school you feel at home from Afghanistan, Iraq, and and home, but I always stayed the very first day, and United Arab Emirates. they are here to help focused on my goal. I wanted After 11 years of with any problems you being away from the to show my daughter that may face,” said Patel. classroom, Patel re- there is no such thing as “Tom Manning was alturned to school to ‘you can’t do it.” ways available if you had work toward earning questions or issues. He — Pinaky Patel, ’19 her bachelor’s degree. was always there. You Meredith offered her the personalized atten- could always count on his support.” tion she was looking for and a computer sciAside from the Wings program, Patel found ence curriculum like no other. support from the Office of Career Planning “I compared computer science programs (OCP). Going from military soldier to fulland I liked the one at Meredith best. I wanted time student, Patel felt she needed the right the small class sizes, the school was military tools to land a job in the “civilian world.”

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Pinaky Patel, ’19

She attended information sessions, internship expos, and mock interviews. “I used the OCP services to the fullest. Coming in as a returning student, my agenda was to get better at speaking, writing, and communicating in English. I knew those skills would give me confidence going into an interview. And that is what I learned from them. I learned about the interview process, how to network, and how to write a proper resume.” All the time Patel put in with OCP paid off. After graduation she started her new role as an associate software engineer at Allscripts, a healthcare company. “Attending Meredith College was the best step I ever took because it gave me the confidence I needed to enter the real world and made me a stronger woman,” said Patel. “After 17 years, I achieved my goal of getting my bachelor’s degree in computer science. It’s like a dream come true.”

Watch the Computer Science program video, featuring Pinaky Patel.

Meredith Poll Tests N.C. Voter Opinion on Equal Rights Amendment By Melyssa Allen

long with questions about potential 2020 political match-ups and other election issues, The Meredith Poll surveyed North Carolina voters to gauge their level of support for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA question was asked as part of a Meredith student’s research project. For the last few sessions of the N.C. General Assembly, bills have been filed to ratify the ERA and add it to the U.S. Constitution. In the legislature, the bill has not moved out of committee. This is despite a strong belief that men and women do not enjoy equal rights in this country. A majority of respondents to the Meredith Poll (53.7%) felt that inequality exists, although this a highly partisan issue with almost 70% of Democrats believing this, but only 36% of Republican respondents. However, on the question of whether the General Assembly should pass the bill ratifying the ERA, over two-thirds (67.4%) of North Carolinians support its passage and only 16.9% oppose it. There were fewer partisan differences on this question than on the previous question about whether inequality exists. On the question of passing the ERA, 75.6% of Democrats favor its passage, while almost 60% of Republicans feel similarly. “The ERA issue is one that divides the political class more than it does average citizens. Republicans in the General Assembly, for the most part, are not willing to bring the bill up for a vote. Some believe that considering the bill in 2019 or 2020 is not legal, because the original bill in Congress set a time limit for ratifying the constitution and that time limit has expired. Some don’t believe it is necessary and that the 14th Amendment covers sex discrimination. However, there is a vocal minority of Republicans who simply think the amendment is dangerous,” said David McLennan, director of The Meredith Poll. The Meredith Poll is conducted each semester. Meredith College students administer the survey as part of the College’s commitment to civic engagement. Learn more at meredith.edu/meredith-poll.

Newsmakers Professor Steven Benko, of the Department of Religious and Ethical Studies, had his co-edited volume The Good Place and Philosophy published by Open Court Press. The book, co-edited with Andrew Pavelich of the University of Houston-Downtown, is a collection of essays on the TV show The Good Place. Essays address how the show engages philosophical questions around free will, torture, existentialism, and ethics. In addition to co-editing the book, Benko authored the introduction and has an essay included in the collection (“Like Boxing Gloves of Sadness”) that explores the relationship between ethics and authenticity. Professor of Accounting Mary Jane Lenard, Professor of Economics Anne York, and Professor of Finance Bing Yu had their article “Female Trustees and University Financial Performance” published in International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues. Their results indicate that a higher percentage of women on the board of trustees increases the likelihood of having a passing financial responsibility composite score. The Ellen Brewer House, Meredith College’s on-campus child care center, has earned a renewal of its five star rating from the State of North Carolina. A five star rating is the highest recognition of quality in a child care center. The star rating system for child care centers is based on points earned in staff education and program standards. Program standards include assessment of quality on items such as teacher-child interaction, activities, and program structure. English faculty members Tina Romanelli and Garry Walton inaugurated a new offering at this fall’s 10th Blackfriars Conference in Staunton, Va. Home of the American Shakespeare Center, the Blackfriars initiated a new staging focus this year, inviting scholars to propose non-Shakespearean plays from the same period that should be staged at the re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre. Romanelli proposed the play by John Fletcher, Bonduca, based on the life of this notable warrior woman studied in her recent Meredith courses. Walton suggested the comedy Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, by Shakespeare’s rival Robert Greene, a play that featured several wizards’ duels. Key scenes from both plays were staged by ASC actors during the conference. Eunyoung Yang, Associate Professor of Fashion Merchandising and Design and Department Head, earned an award in a juried gallery exhibition at the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) 2019 annual conference in Las Vegas. Yang’s design submission, “Indigo Lantern,” was accepted for the juried gallery exhibition and received the Sandra Hutton Award for excellence in fiber art. Her design synchronizes the cultural design components through construction techniques and highlights sustainable practices used to create a modern look. This project explored the use of a family heirloom hemp fabric that was deteriorated from aging and insect damage. The dress created rhythmic characteristics by using structural patchwork with flat-felled seams. The structural design created a 3-D lantern shape that contributed to the harmony and unity reflected in the final design. This award is the fourth Yang has won at the ITAA conference. S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

CAMPUS

NEWS

She Served Too – Meredith Honors Women Veterans at Annual Event By Melyssa Allen

n her speech at Meredith College’s annual Honoring Women Veterans event, Sandra G. Robinson used a metaphor of the pink rose to symbolize women who have served in the military. “When you close your eyes and think of a rose, you tend to think of the classic red rose, just as you may think of men when you

“Your greatest enemy is between your ears – what you believe, and what you tell yourself.” — Sandra G. Robinson

imagine a veteran,” said Robinson, combat female veteran and registered nurse, U.S. Army Reserve. Robinson is founder and president of Combat Female Veterans Families (CFVF) United. The purpose of CFVF United is to encourage and facilitate positive reintegration experiences for combat female veterans and their families, through education, support, and advocacy. Repeating a refrain of “The Pink Rose – She Served Too” throughout her speech, Robinson emphasized that all women veterans are heroes who served their country, just as their male

counterparts did. She invited four women veterans, representing the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force, to join her onstage, bringing her message to life for the audience. Robinson served in the Army Reserve, 846th Transportation Unit and deployed in theater during Operation Desert Storm. She received numerous medals during her years of duty, to include the Kuwait Liberation Medal and the Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars. Despite earning medals for her service, Robinson said when she returned from duty, she didn’t fully appreciate the strength that came from her experiences. “Your greatest enemy is between your ears – what you believe, and what you tell yourself,” Robinson said. “Not all roses are red; some roses are pink. Women vets served with gratitude and grace. Our service counts. We served too.” Changing her mindset led Robinson to become an advocate for other women veterans. Her background has afforded her extensive familiarity with women veterans’ post-deployment issues and their gender-specific healthcare needs. “I needed to become a champion for women

veterans, by listening to those who have never been heard,” Robinson said. “In helping my sister veterans, I was also helping myself. Transitioning out of the military is not the end of your purpose. I honor and support my sisters-in-arms through advocacy.” Robinson noted women have served in military roles for 200 years but weren’t always allowed to be called soldiers, airmen, sailors, or marines. “Women have been in every U.S. conflict,” she said. “You honor their service by learning their history.”

Other Veterans Day Activities Other Veterans Day commemorations include a panel discussion, She’s the Veteran, that focused on the breadth of experiences and the challenges facing female veterans. The Meredith College Service Scholars, Honoring Women Veterans Committee, and the Office of Student Leadership and Service collaborated with CFVF United to provide toiletries and snacks for holiday care packages for deployed female service members. The College also collected holiday cards for service members through the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes Program.

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MEREDITH’S OWN HIDDEN FIGURES

Margaret Leach Block, ’51

By Dan Fountain, Professor of History

hanks to the book and film Hidden Figures, many people are increasingly aware of the significant contributions that women made to the nation’s space program and national defense during World War II and the Cold War. However, it is less well-known that women from North Carolina were well-represented among these “human computers” and fewer still understand that more than a dozen Meredith College alumnae contributed to these vital national efforts. In part, this less understood truth is a

reflection of the professional modesty that these gifted mathematicians brought to their work. Beverly Golemba, one of the first to write about human computers, noted this general characteristic in describing the challenges of uncovering this important story. According to Golemba, “While all of them report realizing they were doing pioneer work that was critical, especially during the war years and into the Space Age, all were reluctant to take what they felt was undue credit for their contribution.”1 This spring, students enrolled in the Introduction to Public History course hope to

change this quiet legacy by bringing these impressive women to the attention of the public. Public History students will conduct research to identify Meredith alumnae and other women from North Carolina who worked in these fields and then complete a formal proposal for their contributions to be recognized on a state highway historical marker. 1

Beverly Golemba, “Human Computers: The Women in Aeronautical Research,” unpub lished manuscript, ca. 1995, 10. http://crgis. ndc.nasa.gov/historic/File:Golemba.pdf. S ummer S p ring 2020 2017 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

Meredith’s own

HIDD

Women as Human Computers

Jean Parrish Mason, ’52

Christina Davis Forte, ’67

Well before the current digital age, the federal government hired hundreds of women as “human computers” to complete mathematical calculations for programs crucial to the national security interests of the United States. According to NASA, computers were responsible for “Reading, calculating and plotting data from tests in Langley’s wind tunnels and research divisions [and] … played an integral role in both aeronautical and aerospace research at the lab… helping it keep pace with the high output demanded by World War II and the early space race.”2 The human computer program began in 1935 and lasted until the 1970s with Meredith alumnae serving in a variety of positions throughout these years. Many of the North Carolinians hired as computers were recruited by fellow Tar Heel Virginia Tucker, a graduate of the North Carolina College for Women (now UNCG), who by 1946 had risen to become the Overall Supervisor for Computing for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the agency that preceded the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Tucker traveled throughout the South recruiting gifted female mathematics students on college and university campuses. She and other recruiters who followed her found North Carolina with its many high caliber colleges to be a productive recruiting ground for these talented women. Meredith College contributed a significant number of its “Math Brains,” as they were referred to in The Meredith Herald, to these important national initiatives. The power of a women’s college education is evident as employment records reveal that Meredith

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Breaking Ground in New Fields Meredith graduates served as computers, aerospace technologists, and computer programmers for NACA, NASA, the Naval Weapons Laboratory, and the Aeronautical Testing Laboratory at Langley and Dahlgren Airfields in Virginia as well as at the US Navy Surface Warfare Center at Panama City, Florida. With starting salaries of $1,440 a year for Junior Computers to $3,200 a year for Chief Computers, these positions provided women with substantially higher compensation than they could have earned in most professions that were open to women at that time.3 In comparison, Meredith alumna Rowena Becker Daniel, ’42, accepted a position at Langley in 1942 after earning only $550 a year as a teacher in North Carolina. The increased salary levels and the fact that computers were allowed to continue working after marriage and motherhood demonstrate that the importance of the work opened doors to highly skilled mathematicians regardless of an individual’s sex or race. While segregationist policies limited contact between white and black computers, alumna Janet Puckett Smith, ’62, expressed her admiration for the work of African American NASA computer operators whom she praised as “very professional and friendly.”4 Smith began her time at NASA working in the programming language Fortran as she collaborated with an engineering team that was tasked with “figuring out how to do lunar orbiting and docking.” Smith

https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Human_Computers https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Human_Computers 4 Janet Smith email to Daniel L. Fountain, April 15, 2019. 2

Faye Autry Jackson, ’65

College alumnae were joined in this work by graduates of the North Carolina College for Women, The Women’s College of Duke University, and Salem College as well as other single sex institutions from across the nation.

E N FIGURES further recalled that NASA was “always shooting off weather balloons and rockets from Wallops Island. There was great excitement.” Alumna Chris Forte, ’67, worked to develop “a Terminal Area Air Traffic Model (TAATM) which was used by NASA to test out digital air traffic displays in the cockpit and fuel saving approaches to an airport.”5 Margaret Leach Block, ’51, and Rowena Becker Daniel, two of the earliest Langley employees from Meredith, were both assigned to the 8 foot wind Tunnel where they worked on pressure distributions and high speed research that required computers to enter the tunnel “to take readings and work out formulas while tests were running.”6 Other Meredith “Math Brains” worked in defense research outside of NASA. Linda Motsinger Keiner, ’62, worked in a Biological & Chemical Warfare group where she recalled working as “part of a team to develop a mathematical model to illustrate damage inflicted by various BC [biological and chemical] agents through different delivery systems.”7 Working as a computer programmer and system engineer enabled Faye Autry Jackson, ’65, to contribute to the development of the Landing Craft Air Cushion hovercraft fleet which are used to “transport weapon systems, equipment, cargo, and personnel from ships to shore.”8 While these alumnae were often the only women working in their unit or had to dodge airplanes while crossing runways on their way home, the Meredith “Math Brains,” then and now, remember taking pride in their accomplishments. In the words of Linda Motsinger Keiner “we were all very excited to help the country.” Although these gifted mathematicians didn’t “count” on public praise, with the help of a new generation of Meredith scholars, their history-making efforts will soon be hidden no more.

Meredith Alumnae List The following alumnae have been identified by Meredith researchers as having worked as computers or in related fields from the 1940s through the early 1960s. Betty Lou Anderson, ’42; Langley Rowena Daniel Becker, ’42; assistant computer, Langley Margaret Leach Block, ’51; NACA 1951-56 Geraldine “Jerry” Couch, ’43; Langley Jane Kathleen Simmons Edwards, ’61; Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren, VA Christina Davis Forte, ’67; Research Triangle Institute & Langley Research Center Elizabeth Garner, ’42; assistant computer, Langley Faye Autry Jackson, ’65; US Navy Surface Warfare Center, Panama City, FL Linda Motsinger Keiner, ’62; Mathematician Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren, VA Janice Long, ’62; Aero Space Technologist, Langley Jean Parrish Mason, ’52; computer, NACA Mary Matthews, ’44; accountant, Langley Mary Catherine Cole Metters, ’57; National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; Wilma Owens ’57; Aeronautical Testing Laboratory, Langley Ann Quay, ’57; Aeronautical Testing Laboratory, Langley Harriette Ann Seals, ’59; mathematician, Langley Mary Ann Canady Simms, ’42; assistant computer, Langley Janet Puckett Smith, ’62; Aero Space Technologist, Langley If you or someone you know from Meredith College worked in one of these fields, please let Professor Dan Fountain or the Meredith College Archives know about your experiences. Fountain can be reached at (919) 760-2825 or fountain@meredith.edu. The Archives can be reached at (919) 760-8047 or archives@meredith.edu.

Course Explores Public History Introduction to Public History exposes students to the theory and practice of the interpretation of history for public audiences. The course features hands-on learning assignments and introduces students to professionals working in the field through site visits, class discussions, and collaborative research projects. This longstanding course is part of the history program’s emphasis on career preparation and serves as the cornerstone of the Public History minor.

Chris Forte email to Daniel L. Fountain, April 12, 2019. https://crgis.ndc.nasa.gov/historic/Human_Computers 7 Linda Motsinger Keiner Interview, (July 25, 2019), North Carolina Women’s Oral History Collection, Meredith College Archives. 8 Andrew Jackson email to Daniel L. Fountain, April 15, 2019. 5 6

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DOLLS through the DECADES A HISTORY OF THE MARGARET BRIGHT DOLL COLLECTION By Cailyn Whitman, ’18

ince 1936, every graduating class at Meredith has created a doll to present to the Alumnae Association on Class Day. The dolls mark key moments in history, offering a glimpse into the experience of each class. They highlight world wars, natural disasters, social movements, fashion trends, and historic moments for the College. Today, the dolls stand tall in display cases on the third floor of Johnson Hall. However, this wasn’t always the case. Before

the dolls found their home in the Rotunda, they were kept stored away, only making an appearance once a year during commencement. Margaret Bright, the original caretaker of the dolls, would show up a day early to press the tiny dresses and fluff the matted hair, prepping the dolls for display. Bright was present at every commencement for 66 years through 1969, only a few weeks before her passing. Now, Jacque Huber, ’78, holds the title of caretaker. Luckily for her, and for the dolls, a permanent display was

1920s

1940s

1950s

1918

1947

1958

Dressed in a Red Cross uniform, this doll represents the volunteer work of Meredith students during World War I.

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Finding a doll was challenging for this class on the heels of World War II as there was a shortage of dolls on the market, but one was eventually found in the pattern department at a store in Winston-Salem.

Alumnae reported that Ellen Brewer, professor of home economics from 1922-66, was a little upset because this doll’s dress was short, which was a break in tradition.

“This campus was our home for a time. To ensure that claim, we leave a member of our class here: a class doll.” — Jacque Huber, ’78

1960s

1964 This doll wears a halo to represent the seniors’ notoriety as the “perfect class” because they won Stunt and Cornhuskin’ multiple years in a row.

1970s

1974 This doll wears a shirt with the letters ‘Ms.,’ representative of the women’s movement in the ’70s.

Meredith Alumnae Donate New Display Case for the Growing Collection established in Bright’s honor in 1972. “I can tell you now that if ironing and hairstyling were involved, I never would have accepted this job,” joked Huber. Much like Meredith students themselves, the dolls have changed quite a bit over the years. The earlier ones are dressed in white like students traditionally wear on Class Day, while the more contemporary dolls are dressed in outfits that represent the latest fashion trends. “While the tradition has been maintained throughout the years, these dolls are as unique as their classmates,” Huber said.

1980s

1990s

Edith Timberlake Knott and Joyce Thomas Porter from the class of 1947 were roommates and class doll co-chairs during their time at Meredith. Years later, their daughters, Betsy Porter Fritschel, ’77, and Andra Knott Burt, ’77, chose to attend Meredith and room together as well. Betsy’s daughter, Julia Fritschel, ’19, also attended Meredith and worked as a phonathon student caller for The Meredith Fund. One evening when she was working, she happened to connect with Knott on one of her phone calls. She realized that Knott graduated with her grandmother. Julia reconnected the two during a recent visit back to campus and they observed how crowded the doll cases had become due to the collection’s growth over the years. Knott and Porter decided to dedicate a new doll case to their mothers to thank Meredith College for providing them with generations of friendship and strong Meredith women. The new doll case was presented at a dedication event on October 2, 2019, with several Meredith alumnae in attendance.

2000s

2020

1984 Kim Causey, senior class president, noted that the question when attending Meredith formal dances during this time wasn’t, “What kind of dress shall I wear?” But rather, “What color taffeta shall I wear?” And so, it is only appropriate that this doll wears a taffeta dress.

1991 This doll is named after Beverly Clark, the first American female killed in action during Operation Desert Storm. The yellow ribbon honors those overseas.

2001

2012

This was the first non-caucasian doll to be added to the collection. Her name, Cynthia, is inspired by the word centennial, as this was the 100th class to graduate from Meredith.

An ode to Jo Allen’s vision for the College upon her inauguration, “Remembering Our Roots and Extending Our Reach,” this doll is dressed in all white to honor the older dolls in the collection.

This year’s class doll co-chairs, Anna Griffin and Morgan Johnson, are planning for their doll to include something in reference to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s visit to the College as well as voting, since their graduation year falls on the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

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Teaching is a way to empower people to make the best lives for themselves and for our world.” — Tori Morton, ’10

STRONG TEACHERS WANTED Meredith’s Master of Arts in Teaching celebrates a decade of educating teachers who change lives By Gaye Hill

en years ago, Meredith College launched a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program to build on the College’s well-established reputation for preparing standout teachers while helping to address the shortage of educators in North Carolina. More than a decade later, the program has produced nearly 180 teachers while creating a supportive community to ensure they have the tools and connections to thrive in a profession that’s known to be both challenging and exciting. The need for qualified, committed teachers only continues to grow; in North Carolina the number of teachers in nearly every subject area and grade level is inadequate. There is some evidence of growing support for increases in resources and pay, and new legislation requires school districts to pay their instructional assistants while they student teach as a way of helping teaching assistants transition into teaching roles. Education Department Head and Professor of Education Jennifer Olson said Meredith’s MAT program provides a much-needed route into the teaching field. “It is an ideal program for those who decide a bit later that they want to teach, early career seekers who are still trying to find their niche, and established professionals who want to change their career path in search of more satisfying work,” said Olson.

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Program Changes Over the Years Initially, the MAT offered concentrations in elementary education and special education. Concentrations have since been added in English as a second language and health and physical education, while scheduling became more flexible to better accommodate students working full time. And field experiences have been enhanced through a partnership with a local after-school program, summer camps on Meredith’s campus, and internship placements that extend beyond Wake County. In addition, early MAT options have been created to help students within the Cooperating Raleigh Colleges system start their MAT coursework their senior undergraduate year. The MAT program also serves students seeking licensure through North Carolina’s new residency program; in high-need areas, such students can be teaching while earning their licensure. As the program evolves, its strength is firmly rooted in Meredith’s long history of educating exceptional teachers. And its success is best measured by the teachers who are changing lives, one student at a time. Read on to meet some of those individuals.

TORI MORTON, ’10, MAT TORI MORTON, ’10, MATDurham, NC 4th Grade Teacher, Duke School,

ictoria (Tori) Morton knew she wanted to pursue a career related to social justice but wasn’t sure how, exactly. After completing several internships at nonprofits, she knew she wanted to serve others more directly and saw teaching as her way to make the world a better place. “If people are well-informed and able to think critically, they’re better able to make good decisions,” she said. “Teaching is a way to empower people to make the best lives for themselves and for our world.” Morton applied to the MAT program while living in Chicago. Her husband was planning to attend Duke’s medical school, so she explored programs in the area and found Meredith to be the best fit. Having attended UCLA as an undergraduate, she wanted a graduate program with smaller classes and more accessible faculty. Ten years later, she draws on what she

learned in her MAT program every day. One of her strengths as a teacher is her skillful classroom management, which she attributes directly to her MAT studies. And although Morton grew up thinking she wasn’t good at math, it is now among her favorite subjects to teach. “Math was hard for me when I was younger, but the way I break it down is so deliberate and thoughtful – I’m teaching 8-year-old me.” Morton has moved around the country with her family, teaching in schools from Durham to San Francisco and now back to Durham. While in California, she discovered a previously untapped capacity for leadership after recognizing that individual grades seemed to be operating in silos. “I noticed we had the same planning block, so I started leading a “town hall meeting” every few Fridays – our community really came together,” said Morton. “Eventually I took that role over in a more formal capacity.

It happened accidentally, but also because I was passionate.” Morton values her lasting connection with her Meredith faculty members. When she earned national board certification, her professors were among the first to hear the news. And when she returned to Durham, she met with them to discuss how best to explore her passion for social justice as a teacher. Thanks to their advice, she connected with an anti-racist organization that led her to pursue professional development in the field and implement best practices in her classroom. Connecting with other educators is a practice she recommends to new teachers, too. “It’s important to find staff members or administrators who will be there to support you. It will be challenging so you need to be able to talk things through,” said Morton. “I’ve always made a community for myself – it’s part of my longevity.”

ABLA AWADALLAH, ’19, MAT ESL Teacher, Forest Park Elementary, Winston-Salem, NC

bla Awadallah dreamed of becoming a lawyer, but after teaching refugees in Palestine, she discovered a new focus in teaching. Wanting to expand on her knowledge as an educator, she enrolled in Meredith’s MAT program. As an English as a second language (ESL) teacher, Awadallah found Meredith’s program provided the support she needed as a young teacher and gave her the confidence to be an advocate for her students. Now, Awadallah wants to be a voice for her students and implement better ESL programs nationwide. “As an ESL teacher I can be the new welcoming face when the students are coming in. That’s very important because they’re coming here for a better life and I’m part of that, I’m giving them the necessary tools to succeed and gain a better life here in America.” Watch as Abla Awadallah describes her journey to becoming an ESL teacher. S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

Each and every day I tell my students that I’m excited that they’re at school. I thank them for putting forth their very best effort and working hard for me.” — Larissa Bryant, ’13

LARISSA BRYANT, ’13, MAT 4th Grade Teacher, Rand Road Elementary, Raleigh, NC

arissa Bryant wanted to become a teacher because when she reflected back on her life, the people who had the greatest impact were teachers. While working as a teacher assistant, a colleague recommended that she pursue teaching because she had such an effective rapport with children. Meredith’s MAT program fit her schedule as a working professional, and she valued the opportunity to stay connected to her faculty after she graduated. “My favorite part of teaching is connecting with my students as well as their parents. Each and every day I tell my students that I’m excited that they’re at school. I thank them for putting forth their very best effort and working hard for me. I tell my parents that we’re a team and our main goal is the success of their child.” Watch as Larissa explains why she became a teacher, and how Meredith’s program prepared her to succeed.

176 MAT GRADUATES 2009 –19 26

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109 – Elementary Education

21 – English as a Second Language

44 – Special Education

2 – Health and Physical Education

100% Pass Rate on Praxis Exams

JOHN BUCCELLATO, ’10, MAT 5th Grade Teacher, North Ridge Elementary, Raleigh, NC

lifelong learner, John Buccellato was inspired to become a teacher by his appreciation for the naturally inquisitive nature of children. When he was looking for a teacher education program, he was drawn to Meredith’s MAT in large part because he was familiar with Meredith’s “fantastic reputation in the education field.” Buccellato was among the first cohort of graduates of the MAT program. He found the structure of the program ideal, with classes in the evening and throughout the summer, allowing him to complete his degree in just 16 months. After graduating in December 2010, Buccellato was immediately hired by a charter school, where he taught fourth grade. Since that time he has taught fifth grade as well as sixth and seventh grade math, all within the Wake County Public School System. He

recently returned to North Ridge Elementary where he said he is happy to once again be teaching fifth grade. He was also delighted to find that his current team includes two other MAT alumni. In reflecting on his time as an MAT student, Buccellato remembers being surprised by the accessibility of the professors. Now a veteran teacher with nearly ten years of experience under his belt, he recognizes the value of Meredith’s approach to student teaching. “In many programs, the student teacher enters the class well into the school year. At Meredith, beginning the school year with the teacher and class, and thus seeing the whole process of establishing rules and procedures, was a huge plus.” Buccellato’s experience at Meredith was so positive that he encouraged his daughter

to apply to Meredith as an undergraduate student. She is now majoring in mathematics at Meredith and preparing to join the family business as a high school math teacher. No doubt Buccellato’s satisfaction with his own career choice was influential in her decision. “It is a challenging profession with a lot of ups and downs, but if you persevere it is one of the most rewarding and satisfying career choices,” he said. “Nothing beats running into former students and hearing how much you impacted their lives.”

OMOLOLA ANEKE, ’12, MAT Executive Director at the C.A.D.E.T. Academy and the Dew Drops Community Centre for Special Needs, Abuja, Nigeria

ears ago, when Omolola (Lola) Aneke was volunteering in a preschool in Nigeria, she noticed that one of the students was unable to participate in the same way as his classmates. She later learned that he had autism and none of the teachers in the school was prepared to teach him. “I thought deeply about the educational future of that child and other children like him with special educational needs,” said

Aneke. “This realisation that some students had limited access to education inspired me to become the teacher that I am today.” While spending time in Durham, N.C., Aneke was introduced to the Meredith Autism Program, where her two nephews were enrolled. After observing, she was allowed to participate as a volunteer, which led her to realize that she wanted to learn those same skills. She then applied to the Meredith MAT program with a concentration in special education. Since graduating, she has moved proverbial mountains to bridge gaps in education by teaching students with special needs, training teachers and parents, advocating and creating awareness, publishing books, and running two organizations, including a non-profit that supports students from lowincome families. Aneke, who was recently recognized in Nigeria as the “2019 Her Network Woman of the Year in Education,” enjoyed the collaborative style of learning in her

MAT program and the access she had to her professors. “I was surprised by the way students were encouraged to be actively involved in discussions,” she said. “Most university students in Nigeria tend to only listen to the lecturers and purchase lecture handouts.” Aneke has stayed in touch with MAT alumni and faculty. She frequently talks online with former classmates about readings and topical issues. And her faculty have provided guidance and expertise on both the school she established as well as books she has published. Although she was initially challenged by the course content, volume of reading, and strict deadlines, the time management and critical thinking skills she developed are crucial to her success. “Since I graduated from the Meredith MAT program, I have kept my focus on growing as a special educator,” she said. “In the process I have been able to keep learning how to represent, interpret, summarize, and rethink my whole concept of teaching.” S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES By Eric Butterman

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ou would think Leigh Longino, ’95, loved camping as a child, considering she made a career out of it. “That’s the joke,” she said. “I definitely didn’t care for that kind of thing.” But she does now. And it’s not simply about sing-alongs. As CEO of Raleigh, N.C.-based Camp Corral since 2017, she spearheads an organization that has sent more than 24,000 children of ill, wounded, fallen, or injured military service members to a week away from their troubles and towards valuable life skills. “We say that Camp Corral itself is not signing up for therapy,” she said. “However, we go through coping skills with a trained individual. We know when they’re not at camp and are back at home that things can get tough or challenging. Campers can learn ‘this is how I can support my veteran parent and myself in the healthiest way.’” It’s also about building a community for children that they may not otherwise have at home. “Many families don’t live around [military] bases so they often feel isolated in their own areas,” she said. “Kids come to camp and find a community of children like them so they can talk and share openly with their cabin mates and stay in touch and provide support throughout the year for each other. This in itself is a way to be resilient and work and live in a challenging household.” But in many ways, it’s like any camp. With

a mix of first-time and returning campers, they come with different levels of excitement and nervousness, but traditional summer camp activities await: swimming, canoeing, kayaking, zip-lining, archery, arts and crafts, horses, and rock climbing, to name just a few. Camp Corral also has a portion of counselors waiting who might have different and vital insight. Serving children ages 8 to 15, the camp has been around long enough now that attendees come back as counselors. “And that is a great gift – they received camping experience during their developmental years and then they feel the compassion to give back, to come back and help these campers,” said Longino. She tells the story of a counselor who worked at a camp in Northern California. He walked up to one of Camp Corral’s board members and described his first summer as a camper. “It was when he was in a dark place as an 11-year-old whose father had come home from war a very different person. He saw no hope in his life and his father’s life,” said Longino. At camp, he was greeted with high fives by counselors whose expression of love for him brought him out of a deep depression. He came back several times and looked forward to it each year “He’s gone on to study child psychology at school and is dedicating his life’s work to supporting these children,” said Longino.

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CAMPUS

A GROWING CORRAL NEWS As CEO, Longino grew the team from a staff of three people to six full-time employees. She also had a huge breakthrough during her tenure as chief operation officer for the camp from 2015-17. “I was able to facilitate a three-year partnership commitment with partners who had been with us a couple of years,” she said. “Strengthening our partnerships helped to serve more campers at a better negotiated price and, therefore, be able to fulfill our mission even more. That ultimately helped our goal to send more kids to camp.” With 19 different camps in 17 states, it’s a national organization that truly affects children from coast to coast. Longino notes that it was founded by restaurant chain Golden Corral in 2011 and continues to be supported by the 500+ location operator. It’s safe to say the restaurant chain considers Longino “golden” as well. “Leigh brings two attributes to her role above all others and they are passion for our mission and authenticity in leadership,” said

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Lance Trenary, president and CEO of Golden Corral. “She leads with her heart, which in the nonprofit world is invaluable.” Of course, that last part can make it difficult to handle the job’s toughest challenge. “Unfortunately we can’t serve every military family that we’d like … yet,” she said. “It’s so difficult to not come through for them all but that just fuels your passion to do more.” She previously worked for N.C.-based YMCA of the Triangle for eight years in the roles of senior director of risk management, director of Go Global Programs, and senior program director of Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer. “These roles allowed me to see many different sides and expanded my decision-making abilities.”

WHERE LONGINO LEARNED LEADERSHIP Longino is not short on words in her praise of her time at Meredith College, considering the experience pivotal in the development of her as a person. And it’s not just a fond memory, but practically a daily part of her life. “Any woman at Meredith is given the opportunity of leadership and most of them take it,” she said. “My growth as a leader and as a woman I attribute a lot to my time at the school. I have love and support from my family but I still have close bonds with my Meredith friends. I’ve had 10 texts today with them. We get together constantly and it really is a powerful institution that is so well respected.” Longino highlights being a part of event planning committees, including for Cornhuskin’ and White Iris Ball, as two of her favorite college

“Any woman at Meredith is given the opportunity of leadership and most of them take it.” — Leigh Longino, ’95

opportunities, and she looks at her education as an economics major as vital to her present position. “I enjoy math and so my coursework in our math classes and in that track kept me engaged and then the business lessons as well,” she said. “I believe regardless of anyone’s career path everyone needs to know business, how to build a business, and how to negotiate. My economics degree helped me to strategically look at and forecast numbers and turn products into numbers, and in nonprofit work, that turns into serving more people in your mission.” Growing up in Portsmouth, Va, Longino had a chance to see firsthand some of the difficulties of military life. A city with a large population of Navy and Coast Guard families, Longino’s family were civilians but she would often have to say goodbye to friends she had made and sometimes see uncertainty in their eyes as they headed off for their next destination. And that, she always remembers, may be the least of these campers’ problems. “If we help them, we also help their families,” she said. “It’s an honor that we have the chance.”

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FOR THE THRILL OF THE

RESEARCH AND THE RELATIONSHIPS Students in Meredith’s MEALS lab leave with more than resume-building experiences By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

nside a book-lined room in Ledford Hall, Meredith students sat around a conference table on a Monday night. They laughed at an inside joke about raccoons before getting down to business: Perfecting their analyses of research that explores emerging adults to present at academic conferences or submit to professional journals. By the end of the two-hour meeting, they had lined up more meetups in the week ahead to polish their work, along with an informal group gathering. “Keep it rolling with the raccoon memes in the group chat,” said Allie Kvasnicka, a senior biology and psychology major and the lab’s student manager, as they packed up. Welcome to the Meredith Emerging Adulthood Longitudinal Studies lab, or MEALS lab, as it’s called. Here, a rotating collection of Meredith undergraduate students and others have explored the ins and outs of academic research simply for the joy of learning, often without earning any academic credit. Members dive into the lab’s focus – how friends, family, and other social supports can help young adults mitigate stress, foster resilience, and build on strengths, especially during the transition from high school to college and college to career. They come out with resume-building research, ambitious career plans, and connections that endure long after they leave campus. “They have this thing at the very end [of their meeting] where they look at how they can support each other. And there are a million inside jokes,” said Cynthia Edwards, psychology professor and the lab’s principal investigator. “It’s all part of this culture of collaboration and support that provides a social home for academically- and intellectuallymotivated and curious women.”

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Allie Kvasnicka

Remarkably well prepared Edwards launched the lab in 2002 with help from Lisa Hahne Duke, ’04. After a brief hiatus, Lara Pantlin Southard, ’14, then a junior psychology major, revived it with Edwards. Southard planned to apply to graduate school and wanted to add more research experience to her resume. She had another aim, too. “I wanted to make it more accessible for other students to experience research without having to have a full-fledged project,” said Southard, who earned a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience from Colorado State University in 2019 and is now manager of data science and research at Salt Lake City Community College. To keep students engaged, Southard broke down projects, giving students one piece at a time to complete. “That way they could

“

It’s all part of this culture of collaboration and support that provides a social home for academically and intellectually-motivated and curious women.” – Cynthia Edwards

actually enjoy research and not feel overwhelmed by it, which turns students away,” said Southard, who still checks in with the lab years after graduating. Today, Southard’s vision continues in the MEALS lab as students fine-tune their work to present at regional and national conferences, often side-by-side with professional researchers and academics. “They are remarkably well prepared,” said President Jo Allen, who has seen them pres ent their work several times. “They are

Morgan Hendrix

professional without being stuffy. And they make people want to keep talking to them, which is really what you want with an academic conversation.”

Finding a reason to be thankful To conduct their research, students use multiple data sets to explore and answer a variety of questions about emerging adults, ages 17 to 26. The Halsch Endowment, Jesse Ball duPont Fund, and the Psychology Endowment provide funding for their work. Their research is wide-ranging. Kvasnicka has been looking into how well first-year Meredith students who attend a summer symposium, designed for incoming multicultural students, transition into college. Morgan Hendrix, a senior psychology major who is taking graduate-level classes through Meredith’s relatively new industrial/ organizational (I/O) Master of Arts in psychology program, has studied the characteristics in student relationships that lead to deeper connections among friends or romantic partners. And as part of the Furthering Alumnae Resilience Through Higher Education Research project, lab members conducted focus groups with 2016 and 2017 graduates from Meredith’s education, social work, and psychology programs to learn how they’ve transitioned into the workforce. Students reported on their findings in October at a professional meeting of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood in Toronto. They also delivered a report about their work to Meredith’s Board of Trustees. “I think the biggest thing that we all found interesting was just how connected alumni were and still really relied on their faculty relationships at Meredith,” said Julia Johnson, a senior psychology major who also is parti-

Julia Johnson

cipating in the I/O psychology program. “That was something so surprising to me and, honestly, was something that really made me feel even more thankful for my relationships with my professors.” As Meredith leaders look for new ways to support women at work, Allen said she was excited to learn students already had some data about alumnae and that their insights will help the College find opportunities to strengthen Meredith’s own programs.

Academic rabbit holes During that Monday night lab, students ran through a packed agenda. Their work included helping Jasmine Barnes, a senior psychology major, revise a poster she hoped to present at a state symposium for undergraduate research. They discussed how an equation should be presented and how to use the word “they,” based on the American Psychological Association’s new guidance. “That was a nice academic rabbit hole,” said Hendrix, as they came to a resolution on the “they” question. Barnes later dropped clip art of a glasses-wearing rabbit into the online notes for the evening’s meeting. Throughout it all, Edwards sat in an armchair, removed from the conference table, but ready with advice. For Kvasnicka, the experience in the lab has helped her hone her own leadership, mentorship, and research skills, which will all be useful as she pursues a graduate degree and career in genetic counseling. Kvasnicka believes her experiences at Meredith were unique. “Dr. Edwards has cultivated this environment where we can work together in this manner and help each other be successful.” Said Hendrix: “Just the thrill of being together and doing research is really why we all do it.” S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

Meredith Philanthropy Making an Impact and building or remodeling to satisfy essential elements. Most, if not all, of these building initiatives will be undertaken as funding becomes available.

Make An Impact

Naming Opportunities Allow You to Support the Campus Community for Years to Come

eyond Strong | The Campaign for Meredith was the largest fundraising effort in the history of Meredith College raising $90,466,720. Major facilities growth took place during the six year campaign, and it remains clear that this is an area of continued focus. The remodeling of Johnson Hall and the establishment of the Jo Ellen Ammons Welcome Center and the Bobbitt Clay Williams Executive Suite, the Lowery Fitness Center, and the Elizabeth Triplett Beam Fountain Plaza are signs that the Meredith community supports facilities on campus. The beauty and condition of Meredithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historic campus create an impression of the Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quality. After all, prospective students see these spaces when they come for a visit and current students, faculty, and staff teach, learn, and work in these spaces each day. The success of Meredith students depends on providing them with cutting edge classrooms and labs as well as resi-

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dence halls, dining facilities, and exercise spaces that enhance their well-being and nurture their continued growth.

Campus Growth Several new and exciting spaces and facility initiatives are in various stages of planning and completion in multiple areas across campus. From the new academic building that will house communication and exercise sports science, two fast-growing programs; to renovations of Jones Chapel, built in the early 1980s;

There are spaces on campus that have yet to be named, giving many opportunities to honor or memorialize someone meaningful in your life. The College provides thoughtful guidelines for helping donors make decisions that best fit their wishes and highlight an area that is important to them. Along with scholarships, our next most frequently named opportunities are for facilities. The College has also identified many categories of naming that range from signature programs to Schools, from academic spaces, partnerships, and programs, to operational endowments. These range in value from $10 million to $25,000 with many categories in between. Gifts that name these initiatives give the College the resources it needs to keep campus facilities going strong. Consider a gift to name a classroom that meant something to you or a program that influenced your life. Were you an athlete at Meredith and want to show your appreciation for your coaches and teammates? Think about parts of campus that make you feel like you are home. Are there spaces on campus that have significant meaning to you?

from restoration of the Meredith Lake to its former beauty; to completion of elements of the athletic turf field near the entrance to campus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the focus on highquality facilities is clear. Fundraising for facility initiatives happens when the College identifies needs for renovations or new buildings. Suc-

View meredith.edu/campusgrowth to see the most recent information about the new academic building and past renovations. Contact Cindy Godwin, associate vice president

cessful facilities initiatives require stages

of institutional advancement,

of planning and development that include

at godwinc@meredith.edu or call

prioritizing campus needs, concept, design,

(919) 760-8206 to learn more.

use of space, funding, naming of space,

A Daughter’s Giving Nature Inspires Gift

enise and Tony Dworznicki wanted to find the perfect way to honor the memory of their daughter Taylor, who passed away in 2016. Taylor was 22 years old and her parents describe her as someone who demonstrated her love for others through example and gave her time to helping people in need. “Taylor was a good soul, full of life, and giving,” said her mother, Denise. “She would give her last dollar to some one on the street and was everyone’s cheerleader.” Her encouraging nature and willingness to help others makes the Taylor Jude Dworznicki Scholarship Endowment the perfect way to remember and carry on Taylor’s name for decades to come. The endowment will support juniors and seniors majoring in social work who want to help individuals facing the challenge of mental illness. In 2018, the first scholarship was given to senior Toni Pearce, ’19. She graduated in 2019 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work at NC State and hopes to work with children and families experiencing homelessness within Wake County. “I was grateful when I found out I received the scholarship, but it wasn’t until I met Denise and Tony that I truly understood the magnitude of their gift and their decision to give it to a social work student,” said Pearce. “They allowed their daughter’s giving spirit to live on through them and that honestly changed my life. Without their support, I might not have graduated at all.” The Dworznickis were able to meet Pearce in 2018 at the Scholarship Dinner. The dinner pairs scholarship donors and their students, allowing students the opportunity to say thank you while the donors learn more about the individuals they are supporting. “It was good to meet Toni at the dinner and let her know how grateful and appre-

ciative we were of what she was learning at Meredith,” said Tony. “It was important for us to tell her about Taylor, while also learning about her and her goals and dreams for the future. She is really going to make a difference in someone else’s life.” Pearce said talking with the Dworznickis face to face reminded her of the reason she decided to become a social worker. “The Dworznickis radiate light and their gift was so much more than a monetary contribution. I felt inspired by them and their story. Meeting them played a large role in shaping who I am as a social worker now. I want to pay it forward one day and be that support for other people,” said Pearce. Denise, a record specialist in the Office of the Registrar, has worked at Meredith for 10 years and believes you should support where you work. She loves that Meredith empowers young women. “Taylor would want to help with tuition for a student who would benefit and the

idea of it going towards a social work major we know would make her happy,” said Denise. “Taylor appreciated what Meredith stood for and we knew this was a perfect gift that enabled us to make something positive out of a tragedy.” While working with the College’s Institutional Advancement office on the details of the gift, the Dworznickis learned that Tony’s company, Verizon, would match giving to non-profit organizations enabling them to give more than they originally envisioned. In addition, the Dworznickis decided to add an estate gift as a way to give additional funds in memory of Taylor. “Our Taylor was not only beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside. Her beautiful heart and soul showed, through example, how to love unconditionally. She gave generously of her time and limited resources no matter the circumstances,” said Denise. “Taylor never failed to brighten a room with her smile and infectious laugh. We know she would be pleased to be remembered in this way.”

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Meredith Philanthropy Making an Impact

Meredith Athletics Continues to Grow

eredith College athletics has had many successes through the years and is continuing to grow. Currently Meredith fields athletic teams in basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Since joining the USA South Athletic Conference in 2007-08, Meredith is the only single gender institution to win USA South championships with soccer earning a tournament championship in 2008 and tennis in 2009. Cross Country earned the women’s conference title three consecutive years beginning in 2013, and volleyball earned the tournament crown in 2016 and 2018. Lacrosse has collected six consecutive USA South conference tournament championships during the program’s seven-year existence. This past year Meredith athletics added two new sports funded through gifts from Meredith trustees and other donors. Their support made it possible for golf to move from a club team to a varsity level sport in fall 2019 and in fall 2020, Meredith will add a field hockey team. The golf team is being coached by Jimmy Hamilton, a certified PGA professional. A golf instructor at Wildwood Green Golf Club since 2012, Hamilton now directs The Golf Academy, while still conducting private lessons and junior programming aimed at long term player development. He was recently named a top ten golf instructor in North Carolina by Golf Digest.

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Meredith College Athletic Director Jackie Myers also announced the addition of Courtney Hexter to the Avenging Angels athletics staff. Hexter will direct the College’s new field hockey program playing a number of regional teams this fall. Hexter returned to coaching in 2012 with a local club program and joined the Durham Academy staff in 2013 as a coach for both field hockey and lacrosse.

Other accomplishments this past year include • Women’s volleyball secured the 2018 USA South Conference Championship title and the Coach of the Year award. • Women’s soccer hired new coaching staff: head coach Jen Grubb and assistant coach Kirstie King, ’19. • Highly-decorated player Holly Hite, ’19, and Coach Lauren Scott led Meredith lacrosse to its sixth consecutive tournament championship and fourth consecutive regular season title. • Field Miller was hired as the new Head Cross Country/ Track & Field Coach. Miller will serve as the College’s second track & field coach heading into the fifth year of the Avenging Angels sports program and will direct Meredith cross country in the program’s 10th season of competition. Watch Meredith College Avenging Angels Going Strong.

As Meredith athletics continues to grow, upgrades to facilities are taking place. Last summer the turf playing surface was replaced at the Athletic Field and Track Complex.The complex opened in September 2009 and is home to Meredith’s soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, and cross country teams. Weatherspoon Gym was also renovated with several upgrades. Thanks to donor support the College is able to accomplish upgrades and additional resources for our athletic teams. Recently Meredith honored those who have given to the Athletic Field and Track Complex by installing a sign to recognize our donors and highlight other naming opportunities still available. We are pleased to honor the contributions of the following donors: Joyce A. Causey, ’55, named the track. The Irwin Belk Foundation named the home dressing room. Maureen O’Connor named the Meredith bench. C. Ed Vick, Jr. named the public announcement system. Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc. named the concession area. Mary Stuart Alderman, ’71, and Anne Parker Phillip, ’66, named the South Goal Area, in memory of their mother Margaret Weatherspoon Parker, ’38.

Other naming opportunities available for consideration at the Athletic Track and Field Complex • Soccer Complex

• Visitor Dressing Room

• Soccer Field

• Watering System

• Field House

• Visitor’s Bench

• Scoreboard

• Equipment Room

• Stands

• Officials’ Dressing Room

• Lighting System

• Coaches’ Office

• Press Box

• North Goal Area

If you are interested in supporting naming opportunities, please contact Cindy Godwin, associate vice president for institutional advancement, at godwinc@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8206. Our student-athletes and coaches appreciate the support they receive from alumnae, friends, and the campus community. We also invite you to be a member of our Avenging Angels Club, the giving society of Meredith Athletics. Give online at meredith. edu/give.

Support Meredith Gifts to Meredith College make an impact on every student, faculty, and staff member. You make a difference and keep Meredith going strong! There are a number of ways you can support Meredith. Make a gift that addresses the College’s greatest needs, select a more specific way to make an immediate impact on the College, or make a long-term, endowed gift. Interested in making a gift through your will or trust? Download the Planning Your Legacy Guide at meredithplannedgiving.org. Visit meredith.edu/institutional-advancement-staff to find an Institutional Advancement staff member to assist you or visit community.meredith.edu/supportmc to make a gift.

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ALUMNAE

CONNECTION Class notes and news for Meredith Alumnae 1954

1961

Barbara White DeLouise stays physically active by

Phyllis Green Liner thoroughly enjoyed experiencing

doing a 45 minute daily workout and mentally active

classmate Mary Carol Warwick’s composition in the

by meeting with a small group to discuss the daily

performance “Who am I?” at the National Portrait

news. DeLouise also participates in a writing group

Gallery.

as well as a book club. Recently, the group read

Stewart remains heavily involved in her church,

First on Fifth in Winston-Salem, N.C. She attends Sunday school, leads a Baptist women’s group, and participates in a lunchtime book study of Jesus’ parables. Stewart enjoys painting, watercolors, reading, and spending time with friends.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s biography. DeLouise

1963

would have liked to hear her speak at Meredith.

Mary Lou Morgan Argow has traveled to more

1965

However, she couldn’t make that trip again after

than 110 countries after graduating from Meredith.

Marion Welch Thorn and her husband moved to

her class reunion last year when her daughter took

Once she returned to the United States, Argow

Aldersgate Retirement Community in Charlotte,

off time from work to drive her down and back.

created and ran the Raleigh Youth Council and

N.C. Thorn is looking forward to this new chapter

Dot White Hartley still enjoys making quilts. She

completed a master’s degree in counseling from

being closer to her family.

recently finished one with a large tree on the top for

N.C. State University. Argow and her husband were

her granddaughter as a college graduation present.

married in 1969 and had three children. They now

1967

Hartley’s two great grandsons visit her often to play

have seven grandchildren. Three years ago, Argow

Mary Milton Warshaw’s newest book, Beaufort,

and share a meal.

began her retirement after 35 years in the mental

North Carolina; A Treasury of Significant Town

health private practice field. She and her husband

History, was published in 2019.

1958

now spend half the year in Deltaville, Va., and half

Betsy Lane Cochrane’s granddaughter graduated

the year in Palm Harbor, Fla. Both are healthy and

1968

from College of Charleston in May 2018 and her

happy! Bryna Barrett Bozart-Barnes continues

Ginny Anagnostatos is still residing in beautiful

grandson is a senior at UNC Greensboro. Her

to enjoy her retirement. Bozart-Barnes spends

Greece. She enjoys frequent contact with her

twin granddaughters are seniors at Wake Forest

her time enjoying her children and grandchildren,

two daughters, sons-in-law, and their families.

High School. Cochrane had major cancer surgery

taking trips, reading good books, and teaching.

Anagnostatos continues to do volunteer work

in 2016, but continues to be cancer free at this

Bozart-Barnes’ hospital chaplaincy ended, and

with a cancer patient palliative care group and

point. Pat Greene Long and her husband are

she now practices as spiritual director. Meredith

a prisoners-families group. She also continues

living in Columbia, S.C. Long is in her 16th year

provided her with a wonderful start to her family

chorus. Anagnostatos would like to keep in touch

as organist for her church and enjoys teaching in

life and ministry. Mary Lou Davis Jackson moved

with classmates.

the church’s music school. She and her husband

to a new home in Sanford, N.C., in August 2019.

love spending time with their 12 grandchildren and

She is now down the street from her son and his

1970

five great-grandchildren. Long looks forward to

family. Jackson has one grandchild in college, two

Janet Morris Belvin and classmates have made

seeing classmates at their next Reunion Weekend.

in high school, and one in middle school. Her son

a real effort to stay in touch as they approach

Virginia Byrne Tedder enjoys staying in touch with

and family have been a huge help since losing her

their 50th reunion in May. In 2018, 10 of them

her roommate from Meredith, Linda Smith Parker.

husband in 2016 to brain cancer. Fran Gorham

went to New York City to see a couple of plays

Compiled by the Office of Alumnae Relations from August 9, 2019 – November 13, 2019. Information may be edited for space limitations and content restrictions. Submit class notes online at meredith.edu/alumnae, by email at alumnae@meredith.edu, or by phone to the Office of Alumnae Relations at (919) 760-8548. Deadline for the Summer 2020 issue is March 2, 2020. Submissions received after this date will appear in the Fall 2020 issue.

me re d i th.e d u

and got on the Today show. Last fall, 20 of them traveled to Washington, D.C., where they had a private self-guided tour of the White House as well as a private tour of the National Archives. Other trip highlights included a performance by the Capitol Steps and a nighttime bus tour of the monuments. Tour participants included: Peggy Timmerman Carter, Phyllis Jeffreys Culbreth, Emma Ruth Bartholomew Stewart, Nancy Williams Prevatt, Ruth Talton Watson, Carolyn Langhorne Pittman, Martha Kincheloe, Mary Ann Fleming Yarborough, Cathy Moran Winstead, Peggy Williams Elmore, Anne Underwood, Sue Hammons Cook, Jeannie Lindsay Martin, June Buchanan Underwood, Belinda Smith Helms, Susan Soloway Daul, Donna Burgess Lupo, Suzanne George Palmer, and Cindy Griffith McEnery.

share stories and inspire people 50+ to reinvent

Canyon Country Adventure

themselves, try new things, and have new

June 19-26, 2020

1970 Brenda Parks Hughes has a YouTube channel

called actTWO. The channel is intended to

adventures. Hughes started the channel almost a year ago and says it is actually inspiring her!

1971 Beverly Easter Bingham and her husband have

This popular eight-day National Parks tour begins in Scottsdale and ends in Las Vegas with overnights in Grand Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, and Bryce Canyon. Discover the unique landscapes of Arizona and Utah as you travel through four national parks.

lived in Roswell, Ga., for more than 30 years. Bingham retired from teaching math in public schools several years ago. She still tutors students in math but only when she is not busy playing with her two grandsons. In 2017, her husband had a double lung transplant at Duke Hospital, after which they lived in Durham, N.C., for six months. Bingham enjoyed reconnecting with Meredith classmates during that time and now delights in her husband’s good health. Anne Luter Bromby, Anne Bryan, Olivia Harris Fleming, and Sharyn Hemrick West were happy to don vintage clothing

and walk in the Cornhuskin’ parade with their golden sisters in the Class of 2021. The Juniors’ theme was Onyx at the Disco, and their skit was set in 1971. In October, Bromby joined classmates

From Scottsdale, the tour travels north through cactus-studded scenery to Sedona, then on to one of the most scenic drives through Oak Creek Canyon, arriving for a two-night stay in Grand Canyon National Park, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The tour then arrives in Monument Valley, where the sandstone spires and towers rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Here, you will enjoy a 4-wheel drive tour with a knowledgeable guide, who shares her/his culture and how it is influenced by this area. Then, it is on to Lake Powell for a two-night stay. An afternoon cruise on this man-made lake, and exploring Antelope Slot Canyon with a local Navajo guide, offers endless photo opportunities. The scenic Utah backroads take the group to the famous Thunderbird Restaurant for a treat, on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park to enjoy more splendid views. Join Meredith alumnae and friends, along with our touring partners, Globus, on this Canyon Country Adventure. For more information and questions, contact Denise Parker dpparker@meredith.edu, or (919) 760-8051.

Lavinia Vann Evans, Sharyn Hemrick West, and Marilyn Ballard Gardner to celebrate Ring Week

with the Class of 2021. This event kicked off the

meredith.edu/alumnae

week the Junior class received their Onyx, one of S p ring 2020 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

ALUMNAE

CONNECTION

the most exciting parts of Junior year! Anne Bryan

taught a variety of subjects at Catawba Valley

training in higher education. Buller is happy to be

and Suzanne Reynolds represented the Class of

Community College. At age 36, Hunt won a

closer to her children and their families. She has

1971 at the recent Lillian Parker Wallace Lecture,

seat in the N.C. House of Representatives and

also enjoyed being more closely reconnected

“A Conversation with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”

served four terms. During her terms, the governor

to her Meredith friends and campus activities.

Bryan shared with audience members how the

appointed Hunt to serve on the N.C. Utilities

They enjoyed traveling with the Meredith Travel

lecture series began, as well as memories of Dr.

Commission, which she did for eight years. Hunt

Program to Scotland in September.

Wallace, a true renaissance woman. Reynolds,

now helps with her husband’s real estate business

who recently retired as dean of Wake Forest Law

and enjoys traveling to Florida during the winter.

School, has known Justice Ginsburg for several

Hunt has traveled back and forth to Raleigh,

years. It was a wonderful evening for the Class of

N.C., over the years, but the visits are now even

1971 as well as the Meredith College community.

sweeter because her four-year-old grandson

Chris Fecho Dixon lives in St. Joseph, Mich.,

lives there. Sharon MacTaggart Huss enjoyed

with her husband. After studying art and home

attending the Lillian Parker Wallace Lecture and

economics at Meredith, Dixon experienced a

was inspired by Justice Ginsburg’s remarks. The

variety of careers. These careers included visual

experience made Huss reflect on her careers at

merchandising and advertising, owning her own

Conde Nast Publishing, antique dealing, retail,

company, and being a home economist for the

and motherhood. Huss is now retired and enjoys

American Cooking Institute. After earning her

gardening and barn restoration with her husband

master’s degree in early childhood education

on their 10+ acre property in Pennsylvania. Huss

from Western Michigan University, Dixon served

and her husband often travel into New York City,

as executive director of a Montessori school and

where they have an apartment, to visit their

taught in the public school system. Currently,

daughters and sons-in-law. Huss would love to

Dixon is enjoying retirement and fills her time

meet up with any classmates visiting the New

by traveling and spending time with her children

York City area. Janet Traynham Killen had the

and grandchildren. Dixon appreciates prayers

pleasure of working part-time in the Disability

for her son, a MEDEVAC Blackhawk pilot, who

Services Office at Meredith while they searched

deployed in November. Lavinia Vann Evans and

for a full-time person. She previously served as

her family enjoyed a trip to Disney with her two

director of disability services for Wake Technical

N.Y., to Buffalo, N.Y., to be closer to her daughter

grandsons last fall. In November 2019, Evans

Community College. Killen has enjoyed traveling

and grandson. Roy is excited for this new chapter

and her husband went to Guilford County for the

and recently traveled to Glacier National Park and

in life after 40 years of teaching in Lake Placid.

25th anniversary celebration of a new church

the New York Finger Lakes. She also completed

development, for which her husband was the

a house remodeling project and is loving her new

1978

organizing pastor. Marilyn Ballard Gardner was

spaces. Charlotte Vick Sullivan and her husband

Lisa Bailey Bayard has worked at the University

delighted to win her second term last November

live in Raleigh, N.C., and spend much of their time

of Richmond for the last 10 years as a manager

on the Fuquay-Varina Town Council. Gardner

with their seven grandchildren. Sullivan’s other

of retail food operations. She and her husband

worked on many important issues during her

interests include serving in her church, traveling,

recently celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary.

first term and is particularly proud of the Fuquay-

and boating the Intercoastal Waterway. Sullivan

Bayard’s son is married and lives close by with her

Varina Cultural Arts Center, a long-held dream for

also enjoys getting together with classmate Chris

two-year-old granddaughter. Bayard’s daughter is

her community. The center has spaces for visual

Fecho Dixon several times a year.

engaged to be married next October and also lives

art displays and classes as well as a theater for

1973 Susan Herring, Christie Bishop Barbee, Luanne Roebuck Brown, Betty Barker Cannon, Carolyn Carter, Mary Ann Corey Crowe, Carolyn Van Hoy O’Brien, Mary-Penn Fitzsimmons Sherlin, Susan Darby Stackhouse, and Ann Harden Whitford

enjoyed lunch together at Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant in New Bern, N.C. There was a lot of reminiscing, laughter, and reconnecting. The group missed their classmates who could not attend and hope to see them at future gatherings!

1974 Alice Winecoff Clayton finds joy in celebrating

Meredith College at chapter meetings and hopes alumnae will attend their local chapter events. Cookie Guthrie Newton welcomed two granddaughters last summer.

1976 Marsha Blalock Roy is moving from Lake Placid,

in Richmond, Va. Bayard is currently studying to

the performing arts. The town also opened a new

1972

Community Library, doubling its collection space.

Sandra Clemmons McClain Buller and her

Griffin is enjoying her retirement by spending time

Gardner reports that she and others on the town

husband have retired from Florida Atlantic

with family and friends and participating in a host

council have more than 30 projects on board that

University and are now living in Raleigh, N.C.

of volunteer activities. Griffin participates in the

they are tracking. Judy Hunt lives in Blowing

Buller has opened a private voice studio in Brier

SECU Advisory Board, Meredith College alumnae

Rock, N.C., with her husband. After Meredith,

Creek, and her husband is the senior partner of

book club, and classes offered through North

Hunt earned a master’s degree in sociology and

Atlas Leadership, his consulting firm for leadership

Carolina State’s OLLI program. Griffin also loves

me re d i th.e d u

become a Master Gardener. Georganne Branham

traveling to both the beach and the mountains.

moved to Summerville, S.C. Carawan’s husband

in the Raleigh, N.C., area teaching third through

Teresa Carter Kline retired from Automatic Data

works remotely, and she sells residential real

fifth grade art, as well as maintaining her fine art

Processing. She and her husband sold their home

estate. Gwyn Trueblood Cloninger received her

and portrait business. Edna Lovelace Gaston has

of 31 years and moved to La Quinta, Calif. Lou

bachelor’s degree in forestry and her master’s in

relocated to Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Gaston recently

Flippin Turner retired after serving 38 years with

elementary education after her graduation from

finished serving four years as president of the

the N.C. Division of Public Health. Her daughter

Meredith. After teaching for 16 years, Cloninger

State Master Gardeners Association. She is now

was married in Raleigh, N.C. in April 2019. Turner

is now working in forestry. She and her husband

involved in her church and community and enjoys

enjoyed visiting her freshman roommate, Denise

of 33 years have two adult children and one

taking care of her dog and kitten. Debbie Young

Adams Swain, in October of 2019.

grandson. Deanie Griffin Cocran lives in Camden,

Harman recently celebrated her 35th anniversary

N.C., and still teaches chorus three days a week.

at American Airlines as IT delivery manager for

1984

Cocran has a one-year-old granddaughter who

crew compensation. Harman has two daughters

now lives in

lights up her life. She and her three former

who are both teachers. Her oldest daughter was

Charlottesville, Va., after living in six states

roommates, Janet Noblin Noel, Kimberly Bean

married on July 1, 2018. This year Harman and

over the last 30 years. Best has a 19-year-old

Morgan, and Annie Bane, had a mini reunion

her husband celebrated 33 years of marriage.

daughter who is a sophomore at James Madison

in April of last year. Emily Craig welcomed a

She and her family still live in Grapevine, Texas.

University. After a career as a meeting planner

granddaughter in January 2019. Craig is enjoying

Linda Sellers Hodges has retired from being

and hotel sales manager, Best now works at the

retirement and living in Georgetown, S.C. Aimee

a chauffeur, homework assistant, and sports

Southern Environmental Law Center. She finds it

LaMontagne Cuthrell’s children are both grown

practice driver for her six children now that her

extremely rewarding to be a part of its mission.

now. Her son recently married, thus adding

youngest daughters are 19. She now fills her days

Melanie Carawan and her husband recently

another sweet daughter to the mix. Cuthrell is still

with volunteering at a food bank, book store, and

Elizabeth McCormick Best

Join Meredith Mentors.

MERED TH MENTORS

Meredith Mentors, our online mentoring platform, connects current students, alumnae/i, and faculty/staff to support personal and professional development. Alumnae/i can connect with other graduates to assist with issues such as career transitions, re-entering the workforce, relocation, career advancement, and negotiation of salaries. You can provide help to students with resume review, job shadowing opportunities, advice on graduate or professional school, life after Meredith, and more. You can gain instant access to the global Meredith community today with Meredith Mentors.

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CONNECTION as a Guardian ad Litem. Hodges reviews books

[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

for the book store, and some of her reviews have made regional trade publications. She and

AMY KING, ’99 The Flipped Classroom: An AwardWinning Approach to Teaching By Cailyn Whitman, ’18

the way. Wendi Caison Lassiter started a new position as business development manager at Transloc, a Ford Mobility Company. Lori Robinson Medlin is still enjoying her role as president and

CEO of the Halifax County Convention & Visitors Bureau. They recently won the top honor for marketing in the state of North Carolina from

For high school teacher Amy King, ’99, being named the Gilder Lehrman North Carolina History Teacher of the Year, as well as

the North Carolina Travel Industry Association.

being a national finalist for the award, has been a humbling

“empty nest” as her son is looking toward college

honor. “It’s given validity to the outside-of-the-box teaching I do in my classroom,”

taking care of aging parents. Stocks is an empty

she said. King is committed to providing hands-on learning for her students to engage

Medlin enjoys watching her daughter, Mira Medlin, embrace the traditions and sisterhood as a junior at Meredith. Medlin is preparing for an next year. Kathy Gerald Stocks is retired and nester as of August 2019. Her son is a freshman at NC State majoring in business and minoring

in history rather than just memorizing the lessons. Some of her most successful lessons include educational treasure hunts, station rotation, and blended learning.

in political science. Her daughter graduated

This unique approach is called “flipped learning,” something King learned about during her time as an instructor at Meredith, when she exchanged the high school

of seminary. Peggy Overton Vaughan was named

classroom for a college classroom for a few years. Flipped learning is a pedagogical approach in which students are introduced to

School in Beaufort County for the 2019-20

the learning material before class, with classroom time then being used to deepen understanding through discussion and problem-solving activities. “My desire is for my students to grow as leaders, public speakers, collaborators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers through my hands-on approach,” she said. In addition to providing interactive learning experiences, King also enjoys teaching pieces of history that highlight the importance of racial minority groups and women; she calls it “shining a light and giving voice to the voiceless in American history.” Some of her favorite pieces to teach are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and Sojourner Truth’s rendition of Ain’t I A Woman?. Her inspiration to become a teacher stems from her father’s 45-year-long career in the field and the way he would light up when his students were around. As to why she chose high school history, all the credit for that goes to her mentors and professors at Meredith College. “They were quite literally the best at their profession and I wanted to be as passionate as they were,” said Amy. While teaching high school comes with many challenges, what King likes most about her job is how much time she gets to spend with her students. “They are the best people around,” she said. “They are real, honest, hopeful, and inspiring. They love to learn.” As North Carolina’s History Teacher of the Year, King’s advice to other teachers is simple: focus on the students. “Do not allow paperwork, meetings, and noninstructional duties to deter you,” she said. “Always have in mind what is best for students, what would engage them, what would excite them in the classroom, and then focus on those things.”

her husband have one grandson and another on

me re d i th.e d u

from NC State in 2012 and is in her final year Teacher of the Year at Northeast Elementary school year.

1986 Laura Bynum Beasley’s son completed basic

training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. After completing his tech school for electrical power production at Sheppard Air Force Base, he will receive his first duty station orders. Beasley is proud of her son’s dedication and asks for prayers as he begins his career with the U.S. Air Force. Nancy Shore Sawtell has retired after 32 years of teaching in WinstonSalem/Forsyth County Schools. She and her husband are now empty nesters but looking forward to a new chapter. Anne Scruggs had an amazing time in Scotland with the Meredith Travel Program. Jonelle Davis Strickland celebrated her son’s marriage in 2018. She is excited that her new daughter-in-law is a Meredith Angel, having completed the Dietetic Internship Program at Meredith College. Strickland is still working for SAS from a home office in Clinton, N.C.

1987

Program Promo, and Bronze Award for Best Use of

Last spring, she served as an interviewer for

English Typography from PROMAXBDA. Currently,

the Meredith Honors Program. Michelle White

Hossaini is a producer for Fruits of Peace. Mary

Porter and her husband celebrated their 25th

Ann Lisenba Kirchner and her husband celebrated

anniversary in 2019. Porter has a son studying

their 30th wedding anniversary in September by

at Elon University and a daughter at Virginia

traveling to Rome, Florence, and Sorento, Italy.

Episcopal School. Amelia Stinson-Wesley was

The trip included mass at St. Peter’s Basilica for

appointed to an at-large position on the N.C.

the deaconate ordination of one of their former

Commission on Human Relations by Governor

Wainwright Music Building on Meredith’s campus.

youth group teens. Jennifer Horton McIntyre

Roy Cooper. Stinson-Wesley will serve a four-year

started her sixth year teaching visual arts in Wake

term in this capacity.

1988

County Public Schools. Last summer, McIntyre was

Ashley Herring Farley recently published her

second novel, Life on Loan. Margot Nelke Holloman retired after 29 years teaching

orchestra with Wake County Public Schools. She is now enjoying her new career as an artist. Holloman has a studio space in historic Apex, N.C. Some of Holloman’s paintings are featured in the

Paula Sewell was appointed to the Cape Fear

one of 20 area educators to travel with NC State

1994

Community College Board of Trustees by Governor

to Prague, Czech Republic. Cheri Finley Thomas

Marcie Montague received her master’s degree in

Roy Cooper.

started a new job with Orange County Schools in

communications and technology from UNC-Chapel

August 2019. Thomas is now the music teacher for

Hill in 2017. In 2018, Montague was promoted to

Efland Cheeks Global Elementary School.

chief of staff of the COO/CTO at SAS. Montague’s

1989 Kim DiNubila Baker is a school social worker

daughter was married in the fall of 2019. Christi

1990

has dedicated her 15+ year career to creating

Susan Worley Forbes is now the assistant state

Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is working for

global understanding through content for various

librarian at the State Library of North Carolina in

Wake Forest Baptist Health. Morgan has extensive

audiences as a documentary producer, writer,

Raleigh, N.C. Deanna Harris is in her 13th year as

experience in healthcare having also worked at UNC

director, editor, and evaluator. Hossaini has received

the library media coordinator for East Cary Middle

Regional Physicians Urgent Care and Novant Health

the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Pitch

School. Harris has also published a couple of

Forsyth Medical Center. Morgan and her husband

Fest Award, Global Award for Best News or Factual

articles in the School Library Connection Journal.

live in High Point, N.C. with their three children.

UNION E R

M U NA L A

KEND EE W

for Harnett County Schools. Shirine Hossaini

Fields Morgan is board certified by the American

SAV E T HE DATE • M AY 15 -17 PARTY 3 CLASS LUNCHEON & EVENTS 3 WORSHIP STATE OF THE

COLLEGE

PRESIDENT JO ALLEN, ’80

All alumnae are invited to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend, and classes ending in a five or zero will be celebrating a special class reunion. The weekend’s fun activities include a party, a State of the College address by President Allen, class luncheon, individual class events, and an Alumnae Worship Service.

Make plans now to join us!

meredith.edu/alumnae-reunion

M AY 18 -20, 2020 2018 MAY 15-17, 43 43

m e re d i th.e d u m e re d i th.e d u

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1995 Shayna Anderson Muirhead started her own

business in 2019 helping educational institutions identify, adopt, and implement new educational

to-market lead for learning at SAS. Tara Baker

in October 2019. Dana Chandler Williams works

Dew received a doctorate in education from

with Girls on the Run International as their director

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in

of marketing and brand strategy in Charlotte, N.C.

December 2018. Dew now serves as president’s wife and adjunct professor at New Orleans

2010

Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana. Debby

Meghan Grady Webster graduated from Edward

Wilson Gomulka is on the Board of Directors for

Via College of Osteopathic Medicine as a Doctor

Gina Hunt has been living in Paris, France, since

the Women’s Impact Network of New Hanover

of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019.

2009. Hunt owns her own tour company that

County. She is also chair of the Wilmington Rotary

specializes in small group trips and private tours.

Club Literacy Committee and past president of

2013

the Bellamy Mansion Museum of Design Arts and

Kristen Gallagher’s business turned five years

History. Gomulka received the ASID Presidential

old in September of 2019. Gallagher is now

Amy Smith King was named the Gilder Lehrman

Citation Award in 2013. Jackie Phillips

launching a software company based on her new

North Carolina History Teacher of the Year for

Weatherly-Cadzow moved to Washington, N.C.,

onboarding methodology.

2019 and a finalist for National History Teacher of

and is working as a full time artist.

technology.

1996

1999

the Year. Katie Hardersen King has been named

2016

to the Board of Directors for Wake County Smart

2005

Start. King is a partner at Wake Family Law Group

Jessica Willson Kelly is now practicing law with

in Raleigh, N.C., where she is a board-certified law

Morgan & Perry, PLLC and heading the Sanford,

specialist, mediator, and parent coordinator. Mary

N.C. office. She is also serving as a teaching

NEW ARRIVALS

Curtis McMillan is the lead childcare consultant

pastor at Spout Springs Church in Cameron,

2002

for NC DHHS-Division of Child Development and

N.C. Renee Zelenka Kristeller started a new job

Talia Caligiuri Fann, a son, Austin Caligiuri,

Early Education. Nelly Navarro-Britt earned a

as customer vice president at Campbell’s Soup

2/9/19. Anna Inman McCullohs , a son, Andrew

Master of Library and Information Science from

Company. Ginger Alexander Neustadt and her

Mitchell, 12/2/18. Emily Graves McWatty, a son,

San Jose State University in 2019. Jennifer

husband continue to add military miniature pieces

Wyatt Hunter, 8/14/19. Karli Czaplijski Mikula ,

Franklin-Rowe is now a real estate agent for

to the large display cabinet in the Meredith College

twin daughters, Ryan Irene and Larsen Rae,

Coldwell Banker HPW in Clayton, N.C.

Library. Most recently, they have added Civil War

1/4/19.

2001

Lilly Redding is now manager of Roi Parker Salon

in Cameron Village.

pieces, as well as information on the N.C. 26th Band. Neustadt has a Moravian relative who was

2003

Lydia Fontes McCartin was appointed interim

the leader of the N.C. 26th Band. She would love

Sara Thornton Carpenter, a son, Cooper Elliott,

director for the Center for the Enhancement of

to share more information with her classmates and

4/15/19. Megan Deane Greer, a son, William

Teaching & Learning at the University of Northern

encourages all to take a look at the case on their

“Will” Dennis, 6/22/19. Jenni Brady Hight , a

Colorado.

next campus visit. Leslie van den Berg is back in

daughter, Emma Caroline, 10/19/19.

2002

the United States and settling outside of Richmond, Va. where she recently purchased a townhouse.

Jennifer Crocker Bakane is the associate director

2004

Van den Berg encourages any classmates in her

of Alonzo King LINES Ballet dance center. Bakane

Hannah Gray Rinehart , a son, Liam Adam, born

area or traveling through to stop by for a visit!

2/22/19, adopted 2/25/19.

Cheerleader during the 2019 season. Christine

2007

2005

Kelley Storch started a second business dealing

Terrin Lawrence started a new job as a consumer

Ava Leigh Jackson Boyette , a daughter,

with home furnishings and accessories. Storch

insights analyst at Inspire Brands on the Buffalo

Anna Gail, 9/19/19. Jenny Sloop Johnson, a

continues to help mid-size companies with their

Wild Wings brand.

son, Porter Edward, 9/25/19. Renee Zelenka

also joined the Oakland Raiderettes as an NFL

digital media through her first company.

2003

2008

Kristeller, a daughter, Piper Avery, 8/3/19. Whitney Lamm Poper, a daughter, Tallie Anne,

Sarah Beck began a new job as a financial advisor

7/8/19. Mary Mosteller Tennant , a son, Elijah

Celia Alonso Barwick is back to using her

with Edward Jones in Raleigh, N.C. in April 2019.

Luke, 11/13/18.

accounting degree after being a stay-at-home

Courtney Godwin Mellott and her husband

homeschooling mom for 13 years. Lindsay Sutton

moved back to Raleigh, N.C., in July 2019.

2006

Beavers began a new position as a senior go-

Mellott started her own interior design business

Sarah Lynn Davis , a daughter, Adele Joy, 9/22/19.

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2008 Elizabeth Beasley Abresch , a daughter, Margaret

Jeanne, 7/16/19. Natalie Roane Colhoun, a daughter, Temple Poston, 6/13/18. Heather Polston Davis , a daughter, Hayden Leigh,

7/25/19. Lindsay Fisher Martini , a son, Blake Carlisle, 6/19/19. Rebecca Allen Poole, a son, Levi Grayson, 9/8/19. Paige Birdsall Townsend , a daughter, Vivian Charlotte, 8/18/19. Liz Murray Watson, a daughter, Mary Margaret “Maggie”,

5/22/19.

2009 Carshia Craven Lomo-David , a son, Palama

James, 5/26/18.

MARRIAGES 1972 Dale Cunningham to Malcom Lanier, 6/2/18.

1984 Deanie Griffin to Timothy Cocran, 7/1/17.

1987 Martha Register to George Futrell, 9/7/19.

1995 Elizabeth Smith to Chris Hill, 8/17/19.

2012 Elizabeth Warren to Cory McBride, 10/12/19.

2013 Mary Lawrence Rawls to Caleb Whitby,

10/19/19.

2016 Nancy Merritt to Ivan Halley, 10/19/19.

2018 Megan Baker to Landon Polinski, 5/18/19.

DEATHS 1943 Grace Holland Burton , 8/27/19.

1944

[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

RACHAEL RIDDLE, ’11 Squirrels, Nuts, and the Art of Saying “Yes” By Cailyn Whitman, ’18 A desire to be her own boss and a love for all things curated and collected: that’s what drove Rachael Pusateri Riddle, ’11, to become a business owner. Riddle is the owner of a couple businesses, actually: The Local Squirrel and GLOW, two retail shops based in Raleigh, N.C. The Local Squirrel was her first passion project, which was born from a love for collecting handmade items at local markets when she was younger. To this day, Riddle still enjoys going to local markets and fairs – it’s what drives her business forward. Now, it’s about more than just shopping; it’s about hearing the stories of creatives and being able to showcase their unique offerings in her storefront. “When I was thinking about opening a store a couple of years ago, I thought back to how fun it was to get to know the vendors and hear their stories,” she said. “I knew I wanted to curate a shop for those stories and products to be seen in the way that I saw them.” Riddle travels all over North Carolina and the southeast to find vendors, and over 70% of the products at The Local Squirrel come from local small business owners, many of whom are Meredith alumnae themselves. She is passionate about giving back to the Meredith community. Outside of her entrepreneurial endeavors, Riddle still manages to find time to come back each year to speak to fashion merchandising majors about her experience in the industry. As for the meaning behind the name of The Local Squirrel, it’s twofold: both a nod to the friendly squirrels on Meredith’s campus and a metaphor for Riddle’s hobby of collecting. Just as squirrels collect nuts, she collects local handmade items. And when she’s not busy collecting and selling items at The Local Squirrel, she’s spending her time across the street at her other store in Cameron Village, GLOW. GLOW’s mantra is simple: “Athleisure… heavy on the leisure.” It’s a retail shop that sells performance wear with a focus on comfort, relaxation, and inclusivity. The shop also sells wellness products ranging from skincare to accessories to home and travel. Riddle calls herself a risk taker; she’s not afraid to try something new. “I love being my own boss and exploring new ideas,” she said. When asked what business venture she has up her sleeve next, Riddle said she honestly isn’t sure, though she isn’t short on ideas or grit. Wholesaling, developing a program for local creatives, maybe even podcasting – these are all projects she’s considering. “I am always looking for ways to evolve and grow,” she said. Riddle isn’t slow to act on opportunities either. Just last year, she opened up a second storefront for The Local Squirrel in Wake Forest, which is something she hadn’t even thought about the year before. She learned the importance of acting on opportunities and being involved in a community during her time at Meredith. “I often said ‘yes’ and through that, I was able to enjoy many opportunities and experiences.”

Elizabeth “Lib” McNeill Callaway, 10/10/19.

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ALUMNAE

CONNECTION

1947

1958

1973

Nancy Gates Dale, 10/27/19. Martha Blue

Sheila Balfour Goodman , 10/31/19.

Annette Young Brittain , 10/30/19.

1961

1977

Linda Whisnant Harris , 10/26/19. Marjorie

Peggy Randolph Beale, 10/13/19.

Purser Hooks , 11/9/19. Mabel Jane Baldwin Ruteledge, 8/7/19.

1948

Edwards Holleman ,

Doris Nichols Austell, 9/28/19. Naomi Pugh

Thomas , 11/1/19.

10/5/19. Sara Hurst

Robin Moore Smith , 9/17/19.

Barefoot , 8/31/19.

1963 1952

Iola Mae Hicks Faulkner, 8/13/19.

1985 Marilyn Brand Beezer (M.Ed.), 8/26/19.

Anne Cannady Cole, 9/25/19.

1965 1955

1980

Patricia Tupper Hyatt , 10/17/19.

Jane McNeill Cleveland , 9/26/19. Anne Tunstall

1990 Gale Garrison Trull-Mahan, 8/30/19.

Gary, 9/14/19. Margaret McArthur Waller,

1966

8/27/19.

Lydia Carol Sheets VonCannon , 8/5/19.

1957

1969

2004

Rebekah Miles Johnston , 10/29/19.

Nancy Lynn McDuffie Quel, 9/13/19.

Sandra Harrison Dixon, 8/18/19.

1994 Myla Faircloth Pugh, 8/21/19.

Join us for the 22nd Annual Meredith Athletics Golf Tournament Monday, April 27, 2020, at 1 p.m. Shotgun Start Wildwood Green Golf Club, 3000 Ballybunion Way, Raleigh, N.C. The Meredith Athletics Golf tournament celebrates our wonderful sponsors and supporters of our athletics program. The tournament also allows us to thank all of the alumnae, family, friends, and sponsors who help our student-athletes grow and prosper year-round.

Golfers and Volunteers WANTED Register online at goavengingangels.com/golfclassic Join our Silent Auction Alumnae, friends, and family can participate in our silent auction online at goavengingangels.com/golfclassic for the chance to win prizes, experiences, trips, and more! Our silent auction will be open and live on Wednesday, April 1 at 8 a.m. and will close on Monday, April 27 at 11:59 p.m. Current sponsors: Summit Hospitality Group, Raleigh Brewing Company, and Aramark.

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SYMPATHY

[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

1954 Jean Batten Cooper in the death of her brother.

1958 Norma Stephenson Griffin in the death of her

ASHLEIGH BRYANT PHILLIPS, ’12

husband.

Creating Understanding Through Writing

1964

By Melyssa Allen

Peggy Pruitt Benson in the death of her husband. Ashleigh Bryant Phillips, ’12, has

1965 Glynda Brown Worley in the death of her mother.

1971 Patricia Conyers Maxwell in the death of her

father.

1972 Mary Thompson Austell in the death of her

mother-in-law. Cassandra Crump in the death of her father. Dianne Jones Moser in the death of her husband.

1974 Martha Beale Eppes in the death of her sister. Diane Butler Johnson in the death of her

husband.

1975 Catherine Morgan Kolk in the death of her

mother.

1977 Beth Steagall Christenbury in the death of her

husband.

1978 Celia Witt Beauchamp in the death of her father. Joni Fay Watts Fetterman in the death of her

mother-in-law. Linda Hardy Harrell in the death of her mother. Barbara Byrnes Hoenig in the death of her mother.

1979 Annette Bailey in the death of her mother.

always been a writer, even before she would call herself one. She started writing as a child, collecting her feelings and important happenings in her diary. “I started out writing memories I never wanted to forget or new emotions and experiences I wanted to figure out,” Phillips said. “And pretty soon, it felt like the only other being who understood me was the page.” This kind of personal writing led Phillips to develop her own voice, which was noticed by her teachers who praised her writing. Now, after earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Meredith and an MFA from UNC Wilmington, her work is being recognized on a larger scale. Her short story collection, Sleepovers, was the winner of the 2019 C. Michael Curtis Short Story Book Prize. The judge for this prize, which came with a $10,000 award, was New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Groff. Studying English at Meredith made an impact on Phillips as a writer. “I think half of writing is having something to say and the other half is knowing how to say it,” Phillips said. “Studying English at Meredith helped me with both.” Phillips, who teaches fiction in West Virginia Wesleyan’s MFA program, is thankful that the Curtis Prize means her work will be published, drawing attention to what she calls “an overlooked way of life” where she grew up in Northeastern North Carolina. “I write about where I’m from. It’s rural and dying, but it’s also my home and to know that my stories from there are going to be easily accessible for folks to read is just the most immense blessing,” Philips said. “And I hope that brings a greater understanding about people out in the country, their joys and triumphs, hurts and struggles.” Empathy, curiosity, and an observational personality are some of the traits Phillips brings to her work. She says she has an “everyone is welcome” mantra, which she uses as a leader, including when she served as editor of The Meredith Herald. “I treat others as I want to be treated. Back home, everyone is welcome. You come in the door, get a hug, and get fed,” Phillips said. “I’m out to do the same.” Sleepovers is scheduled for release on May 26, 2020, and can be preordered at hubcitypress.org.

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CONNECTION

1980 Jean Page Kreisher in the death of her aunt. Jill Johnson Patton in the death of her mother. Meg Holman Thompson in the death of her father. Jane Marshall Vance in the death of her mother.

1982 Ginny Thaggard Burcham in the death of her

mother. Diane Lindley Fisher in the death of her father. Vivian Hardy Sykes in the death of her mother.

1985 Marcia Turner Earhart in the death of her son. Linda Lee Page in the death of her aunt.

1986

McKowan Fines in the death of her mother.

Northern Italy, from Sea-to-Shining-Sea

1991

Meredith Travels to Italy October 3 - 16, 2020

Georgia Parrish James in the death of her mother.

1987 Leigh Eury in the death of her mother. Mary Ellen

Tara Faulkner Graham in the death of her mother.

1996 Tiffany Privette Aldridge in the death of her

father.

2005 Carla Sorrell in the death of her father.

2006 Charlotte Fetterman Harrell in the death of her

grandmother.

In 2020, Meredith Travel Program will offer a customized tour of Northern Italy, exploring a part of the country our travel program has not yet visited. The tour is scheduled for October, when typically Italy is glorious. It is the season for picking and pressing grapes and harvesting olives, for food festivals, for sunny (fingers crossed) weather, and for great temperatures. Our tour will explore the relationship between the delicious food and rich cultures of the places we visit. All three of our main bases for this tour, Genoa and Bologna and the Val dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aosta, will give us ample opportunities to experience both. Join Meredith College on this exploration of Northern Italy, from sea-to-shiningsea. A non-refundable deposit of $1,000, due by March 2, 2020, will reserve your space. The balance is due by June 15, 2020. For more information and questions, contact Denise Parker dpparker@meredith.edu, or (919) 760-8051.

meredith.edu/alumnae

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