CAMPUS NEWS Meredith College held Move-In Day for the Class of 2025 on Saturday, August 14, 2021. While COVID-19 safety precautions were still in place, Move-In Day retained its traditional festive feeling, complete with the College’s famous balloon arch. Student leaders including Orientation Crew, staff from a variety of offices, and alumnae and parent volunteers helped welcome new students and their families to Meredith. After moving in was complete, the Orientation program began, which helped new students learn about Meredith with support from student advisers and First-Year Experience (FYE) staff.
CAMPUS NEWS
Betty-Shannon Prevatt
Pamela Norcross
Meredith Faculty Members Earn National Institute of Mental Health Grant By Melyssa Allen
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wo Meredith College faculty members have received a $350,000 multi-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to fund research examining the benefit of support systems on maternal mental health. Assistant Professor of Psychology Betty-Shannon Prevatt, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor of Child Development Pamela Norcross, Ph.D., are the co-primary investigators (PIs) on this project. The NIMH is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Prevatt and Norcross are the first-ever Meredith College research team to be selected for a NIMH or NIH grant. Meredith’s project is one of 20 to be funded and other recipients included projects at larger research universities such as Clemson University, Ohio State University, and Syracuse University.
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Through their project, Advancing Insight into Maternal Social Support (AIMSS), Norcross and Prevatt will explore how social support interventions during pregnancy affect occurrence of postpartum mood disorders (PPMD). As stated in their research application, postpartum mood disorders affect 8-13% of new mothers, with another 16-23% experiencing elevated symptomology throughout the infant’s first year of life. A variety of interventions for PPMD exist, including pharmacological and psychosocial treatments such as social support. However, existing research on advantages of social support programs has been limited to the postpartum period. Benefits of social support programs during pregnancy have not been established and little is known
about the conditions under which these programs may affect PPMD. Meredith researchers will partner with a multisite obstetrics and gynecology practice that offers CenteringPregnancy, a groupbased prenatal care model with demonstrated positive maternal and infant health outcomes when compared to prenatal care-as-usual. Through this partnership, the project will examine the mental health benefits of the CenteringPregnancy model. As faculty members in psychology and child development, Norcross and Prevatt bring the perspectives of their disciplines to the project. “Betty-Shannon and I connected early on at Meredith. She reached out to me and we realized we had this shared interest in maternal mental health,” said Norcross. “My research
focus is primarily on how maternal mental health affects early parenting, so when she suggested adding this piece to the study on maternal social support, I got really excited to be a part of this project. We have an opportunity to contribute to a better understanding of maternal mental health, which will hopefully drive prevention and intervention services for new mothers.” Their research will fill an important gap in what is currently understood about maternal health and wellbeing. “This project is really exciting because it is going to explore an existing intervention and think about it from a mental health perspective,” said Prevatt. “So often we look at health care as being about physical health and not thinking about people from a holistic perspective. This is particularly true of parents. We have this heightened awareness about their physical health, but we don’t think about them from that mental health perspective.”
Research Opportunities for Undergraduate Students The research project will begin with using a pre-existing dataset to examine the CenteringPregnancy model versus typical care, and how these options affect maternal depression outcomes.
The data collection for this initial phase of the study was funded by a feasibility grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Foundation. The project will also involve gathering new data during pregnancy and during early parenting, a process that is scheduled to begin this fall. There will be an initial data collection during pregnancy and then a follow up after delivery. This model will be followed for the next two and a half years. Meredith College undergraduate students will be able to work on both aspects of the research under the supervision of Norcross and Prevatt. Students will also have opportunities to identify some areas of their own interest and to develop their own research questions.
Building a Foundation for More Research at Meredith The NIMH grant will fund opportunities to strengthen the research environment at Meredith. The College has a strong studentfocused Undergraduate Research Program, and the NIMH grant should serve as a model for providing additional collaborative opportunities that support faculty research interests. “We hope to lead the way for others
at Meredith College who may be interested in having a similar kind of research opportunity. Meredith is predominantly a teaching college, but I don’t think we have to think in terms of research or teaching,” Norcross said. “I think there’s a lot of meaning that we can bring into our teaching from this opportunity. I hope when people look at this grant and the project we have created, they can see that it is adding value to what we already have at Meredith.”
About the NIMH Grant The project at Meredith College was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one of the National Institutes of Health through an Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate Focused Institutions under Award Number R15MH126403. The purpose of AREA funding is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students, and enhancing the research environment at these applicant institutions.
“This project is really exciting because it is going to explore an existing intervention and think about it from a mental health perspective. So often we look at health care as being about physical health and not thinking about people from a holistic perspective. This is particularly true of parents. We have this heightened awareness about their physical health, but we don’t think about them from that mental health perspective.” — Betty-Shannon Prevatt
Betty-Shannon Prevatt with student Joselyn Marroquin Aparicio, ’22. Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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CAMPUS NEWS
Consul General of Mexico Claudia Velasco, third from left, presented the IME Becas funds to President Jo Allen during a special event held on campus.
Event Held to Recognize IME Becas’ Support of Meredith College By Melyssa Allen
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special event was held on August 3, 2021, to recognize the support Meredith College has received from IME Becas (Institute for Mexicans Abroad) through a grant that provides scholarships to students of Mexican origin. The grant to Meredith provides financial support to allow continuing students, who are classified as seniors for the 2021 year, to persist to graduation. The campus event emphasized the importance of the IME Becas scholarship. Valeria Martinez was one of the two Meredith students to speak at the presentation. A senior majoring in social work, Martinez said receiving the scholarship not only supports her academic goals, but it fills her with pride. “I am proud to be from an immigrant family, to be Mexican, to be a woman. I am proud to be who I am. I am proud to be a recipient of this scholarship because it acknowledges and empowers my origins and respects a crucial part of my identity,” Martinez said. “I would like to truly and deeply thank IME Becas, the Consulate General of Mexico, Meredith College, and the Department of Social Work for providing me and many others with the support to make our dreams and goals possible.” Melissa Saavedra Castrejon, a Meredith senior majoring in biology, also participated in the presentation. One of the things she spoke about was her pride in being the daughter of Mexican immigrants, while noting the challenges she has faced. “As proud as I am of my heritage and culture, there are
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many obstacles that arise from being an immigrant, including financial difficulties,” she said. Support from IME Becas helps her meet expenses including textbooks and the costs for student programs. Meredith’s grant proposals to provide scholarship funding for students of Mexican origin have been selected for funding through IME Becas multiple times since 2013-14. “The Government of Mexico, through the Consulate General of Mexico in Raleigh, appreciates and acknowledges the interest of Meredith College to support the personal growth and development of outstanding Mexican students in North Carolina,” Consul General Claudia Velasco said in the grant acknowledgement letter. Meredith College Provost Matthew Poslusny offered thanks on behalf of the College for this continuing support. “IME Becas and the Consulate General of Mexico have supported Meredith’s students many times over the last several years,” Poslusny said. “We appreciate that they have chosen to continue this long standing partnership.” The Consulate of Mexico in Raleigh, with the support of Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Institute of Mexicans Abroad, supports academic institutions and nonprofit organizations through the IME Becas program. The program offers economic resources for Mexican students currently enrolled in an academic plan offered by non-profit organizations or academic institutions in the United States in higher education or adult education.
Three-Year Grant Will Support Equity in STEM Programs By Melyssa Allen
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eredith College has received a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations to support equitable pedagogical practices in STEM higher education. The project “Cultivating Equitable and Inclusive Pedagogical Practices in STEM Higher Education,” which is funded for three years, aims to create fully inclusive and equity-based STEM programs at Meredith. Principal Investigators on this grant are Director of Sponsored Programs Janey Sturtz McMillen and Dean of the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences Liz Wolfinger. Co-investigators are Professor of Biology Francie Cuffney, Professor of Chemistry Walda Powell, Instructor of Mathematics Julie Kolb, and Assistant Dean of Students Tomecca Sloane. Institutions of higher education, including Meredith, have focused for more than 15 years on attracting and retaining historically underrepresented students in STEM majors. Despite an increased number of underrepresented students enrolling in STEM majors, there remains a significant gap in the number of these students who complete degrees in STEM, indicating a lack of success in truly addressing the underlying issues. New research looking at why students persist in these majors shows STEM instructor teaching methods have the largest effect on both switching to a nonSTEM major (96%) and persisting in a STEM major (72%). Meredith’s campus-wide anti-racism initiative helped inspire this effort to study and improve the inclusiveness of pedagogy in STEM courses. The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations have a strong track record of working with private institutions of higher education to tackle similar issues. “The entire team is very excited to begin this project and we feel we have the support of the administration to really engage in the deep work needed
to truly have an impact,” said Wolfinger. “We appreciate all of the support we have been given as we approached this issue and looked for ways to address it.” The grant will allow Meredith’s STEM faculty to take a close look at current courses and teaching strategies to ensure they are as inclusive as possible. Once opportunities for improvement
“The entire team is very excited to begin this project and we feel we have the support of the administration to really engage in the deep work needed to truly have an impact. We appreciate all of the support we have been given as we approached this issue and looked for ways to address it.” — Liz Wolfinger are identified, the grant will provide training for faculty that supports making identified changes with the assistance of experts in inclusive pedagogy. “As a result of this work, Meredith STEM faculty will be able to increase their knowledge regarding barriers to inclusive and equity-based instruction and feel more prepared to deliver courses reflecting inclusive excellence,” said McMillen. “We are committed to doing the deep work that ensures this shift in STEM curricula and teaching practices is not just at a surface level.” The multi-year nature of the project allows time to address needed change. It began in August 2021 with an initial needs assessment with faculty and students that focuses on identifying how STEM curricula and teaching approaches could be more inclusive and equitable. Information gained from this assessment will be used to design an inclusive pedagogy workshop for Meredith STEM faculty
in May 2022. The lessons learned from the workshop will help faculty revise their courses in order to make sure subsequent STEM courses are more inclusive and equity-based. Revised courses resulting from this review will be offered in fall 2022 or spring 2023. “As students are taking these courses, we will undertake a second round of needs assessment to see if there is still room for improvement and if students feel these courses are truly inclusive and equity-based,” McMillen said. “That information will be used to design a second workshop for STEM faculty in May of 2023, which will support additional revisions to courses and teaching practices that will be implemented in the following academic year and again assessed for inclusive excellence.” Assessment is embedded throughout the project and findings will be shared regularly. “Meredith will employ an outside evaluator who can provide an objective assessment of whether or not we are engaging in the truly deep work that is needed to achieve our goals,” McMillen said. “We will be updating the campus on our progress throughout the project and plan to share our findings via a project website and STEM Cafes that can be attended by anyone on campus interested in the project.”
About the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations were organized in 1952 and are supported by two trusts established by Mr. Arthur Vining Davis. The Foundations aim to bear witness to Mr. Davis’ successful corporate leadership and his ambitious philanthropic vision. Since their inception, the Foundations have given over 3,800 grants totaling more than $300 million to colleges and universities, hospitals, medical schools, and divinity schools. Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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CAMPUS NEWS
Meredith Welcomes Governor’s School East Back to Campus By Melyssa Allen
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fter a year’s hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Meredith College welcomed Governor’s School East (GSE) students and staff back to campus in June. On June 20, a group of 337 high school students moved into residence halls at Meredith for Governor’s School. Governor’s School is the nation’s oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted high school students. Meredith hosts Governor’s School East and High Point University hosts Governor’s School West. President Jo Allen calls Governor’s School “an outstanding opportunity for high school students to refine and strengthen their talents and, equally important, their abilities to make critical connections between various areas of study and expression.” Allen said Governor’s School’s mission mirrors Meredith’s mission, making the campus a good fit for the program. “So many of the alumni of this program attest to the life-changing
experience that is Governor’s School East,” Allen said. “It is no coincidence that it is set at Meredith, where so many of our own students make the same attestation. In that sense, introducing young minds to extraordinary educational experiences mirrors the College’s mission to help students own their strengths and flourish.
Successful COVID-19 Precautions Meredith College and Governor’s School worked together to implement COVID-19 safeguards to make an in-person program as safe as possible. Nearly 95% of program faculty/staff and 84% of student participants had been vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, Governor’s School participants followed community standards and operated as a “bubble” by requiring participants to remain on campus for the full five-week program. “Members of Meredith’s Executive Leadership and Incident Response Teams worked closely with GSE administrators and state health
officials to develop a robust COVID-19 mitigation plan to ensure the safety of both communities,” said Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kristi Eaves-McLennan. “Elements of that plan included entrance testing, surveillance testing for unvaccinated individuals, daily symptom monitoring, masking and distancing while indoors, and making extensive use of outdoor spaces.” Thanks to these efforts, no COVID cases occurred during the five weeks of Governor’s School. Governor’s School East Site Director Laura Sam was pleased that the program was able to be offered in person again this year. “The students expressed repeatedly what a wonderful time they were having at Governor’s School hosted by Meredith College,” Sam said. “Many experienced over a year of virtual learning and so were even more appreciative of their experience this summer.”
Longtime Employee Celebrated for 50 Years of Service By Melyssa Allen
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eredith Dining Services employee Mary Massenburg has served generations of students in Belk Dining Hall. On August 25, 2021, it was Massenburg’s turn. A special event was held to celebrate “Miss Mary” for her 50 years working in Belk Dining Hall. Meredith College and Aramark leaders congratulated her and offered thanks for her years of service. Posts about the occasion on Meredith College social media prompted more than 3,250 likes and nearly 190 comments from students, alumnae, and other Meredith community members. Many comments focused on the extra effort Massenburg made to support students.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Lessons Learned Through Disruption
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few years ago, an adviser suggested higher education needed to engage in “intentional disruption,” a business buzzword meaning to turn everything – budgets, personnel, standard operating procedures, etc. – upside down and reimagine the whole educational enterprise. I remember thinking that considering we are dealing primarily with 18-22 year olds, we typically do all we can to prevent disruption. After all, disruption on a college campus is rarely a good thing, evidenced by the recent disruptions we have seen in higher education: program and college closings, financial losses, enrollment drops, new regulatory restrictions and oversight, and more. Of course, positive disruptions have also occurred: revisions of curricula, reorganization of departments and programs to meet contemporary learning/career opportunities, fund-raising to support scholarships and staff development, a renewed call for advocacy, and more attention to the health and well-being of our students and employees. So how do we chronicle the
disruption that has been the COVID-19 pandemic thus far? It may help to categorize some of the upheavals even as we acknowledge they are not cleanly separable. After all, the diminished number of students on campus affected dining and residence life, but also affected security, budgets, and health services. One of our first exercises in ongoing planning and de-briefing from the pandemic has been to identify the overlaps, looking to find any single area that was untouched and then in what ways all areas were touched. For us, nothing has been untouched – except the ongoing commitment to excellence, even as we pivoted quickly to deliver instruction virtually. We have retained but reimagined many of our favorite traditions. We have found new ways to learn, perform, and express ourselves (including through the launch of a fully-digital summer issue of Meredith Magazine!). We learned to question more of “what we have always done,” seeking ways to do things better. We have more rigorously examined the outcomes and efficacies of various programs and practices,
often providing the opportunity to renovate or repurpose spaces, plans, insights, and means of engagement. In many ways, today’s disruptions are not all that different from prior disruptive conflicts over our bodies, our evidence, our belief systems, and calls to action. Whether wading through the data from conflicting experts, tuning in to social media to provide good versus bad and even dangerous information, or representing our beliefs through letters, protests, op-eds, or gifts, the primary difference seems to be the level of civility with which we operate. In all, disruptions of any kind provide opportunities to learn. My hope is we will recognize that the primary lesson people learn from incivility is incivility. It seems to be no better time to wish each other wisdom, good health, kindness, and peace.
President Jo Allen, ’80 Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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CAMPUS NEWS
Celebrating the Return of Meredith Lake By Emily Parker
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he Meredith Lake is an integral part of the experience for students and a place that holds many memories for alumnae. It is the site of classes, productions, small gatherings, and a valuable on-campus resource for students conducting undergraduate research. Meredith Lake was designed by landscape architect Dick Bell and completed in 1964. Decades later, in March 2017, the lake drained because of erosion of pipes and plumbing. At that time, alumnae stepped up during the annual Meredith Mayhem competition and raised funds for the lake. After unforeseen obstacles delayed the start of the project, the lake and the small island have been completely restored to a beautiful spot on campus for all to enjoy. Completion of the lake project was celebrated in October. Donors who supported the project were able to see the results of their gifts in person. Work began in January 2021 on the bulkhead surrounding the small island.
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MEREDITH LAKE BY THE NUMBERS
1964
Construction crews battled Mother Nature and unusually high amounts of rain as they excavated around the island to get a solid foundation for the new retaining wall. In some areas, crews excavated more than 12 feet down and added over 1,500 tons of stone to ensure the footing was solid. “The new wall is made up of concrete blocks, most weighing more than a Corvette, that interlock like legos to create a visually pleasing and super strong structure that will stand the test of time. All trees were cleared from the dam and the dam was reconstructed to be stronger than ever,” said Todd Lechner, assistant facility manager and project manager. The dam was also increased in height and width to meet the 100-year storm calculations provided by the State Board. In mid-August, a bridge was installed connecting the small island so people can walk over and enjoy a quiet spot on campus. A gift from Kellie Falk, ’85, and her classmates made this renovation possible.
Year Meredith Lake was originally completed
1,400
Donors contributed to the Meredith Lake renovation
30
Acres drain into the lake
80' X 150'
Dimensions of island
12 FEET
Depth of excavation to build the new retaining wall around the island
1,500
Tons of stone added to ensure the footing to the retaining wall was solid, each stone weighing more than a Corvette!
Meredith College Announces New PostBaccalaureate Licensure Program
MEREDITH EXPERTS IN THE NEWS Meredith College experts have recently been featured in media outlets discussing topics including how COVID has changed the workforce, North Carolina’s strategic economic development plan, the impact of the U.S. Census results on North Carolina, and car insurance costs.
By Cailyn Whitman, ’18
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s of Fall 2021, Meredith College is offering a postbaccalaureate licensure in the arts. This new program offers an A-Level license in K-12 art, dance, or theatre to anyone who has an appropriate undergraduate degree or completed a formal review by the designated departments. While the program is ideal for residency teachers who are already teaching art, dance, or theatre, it could also benefit those interested in obtaining their initial license before they start teaching. Department heads spearheading the program believe the new program will provide alumnae and other college graduates with a highly-requested solution to pursuing licensure. The Department of Education receives many inquiries about licensure-only programs for candidates who either did not pursue teaching licensure as an undergraduate or already have a teaching position and need to complete a licensure program. By leveraging professional studies courses from Meredith’s Master of Arts in Teaching program and adapting existing arts education methods courses, this new offering provides both of these kinds of prospective students with an ideal pathway to licensure. In addition to benefiting students, this new offering results in the College being designated as an Educator Preparatory Program (EPP) for art, dance, and theatre in North Carolina. Completing an approved EPP program is a state requirement for becoming a fully licensed teacher, so this designation elevates the credibility and reputation of Meredith’s programs.
Twenty and 30 somethings understand the technology better and they’ve just gone through (working at home) and they say: I really like this. I’ve had students who graduated and companies have told them they’ll never have to work from an office … We forget how much of our day is spent stopping to talk to people. If we don’t somehow build that in when we are working remotely, that can be a negative.” Associate Professor and Program Director for I-O Psychology Joseph Mazzola in a News & Observer piece about the impact of COVID on the workforce in North Carolina.
It seems to be a fairly comprehensive plan that makes a good point that without workforce development first, we won’t be able to attract employers to our state. No amount of tax incentives can offset not being able to find the workers a business needs to succeed.” Professor of Economics Anne York in a WRAL Techwire story on the N.C. Department of Commerce’s strategic economic development plan.
It just makes us more of a plum for the presidential candidates. They’ll spend more time here and North Carolinians will see more ad dollars spent here, so if they didn’t like the number of ads they saw in 2020, just wait until 2024.” Professor of Political Science David McLennan in a CBS-17 story on the impact of North Carolina gaining a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a result of the 2020 Census.
The type/make of car one drives can play a big role in their insurance premiums (along with other factors). If one drives a car with a very fast engine, or a very expensive car, this can drive up insurance rates. In addition, many people are unaware that credit scores can have a negative effect on insurance rates. If you are seen as a bad credit risk, your premiums could be higher. If you have had an auto infraction in recent years, this could also lead to higher premiums.” Assistant Professor of Accounting Brian Routh, in a MoneyGeek feature on car insurance costs.
Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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CAMPUS NEWS
Meredith to Require COVID-19 Vaccination Starting in Spring 2022 By Melyssa Allen
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eredith College will require students and employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the College announced on September 16, 2021. The requirement will go into effect at the beginning of the spring 2022 semester in order to provide those who are not yet vaccinated time to become fully vaccinated. In the announcement, Meredith leadership emphasized that this decision was made based on science and a belief that vaccination is “the most powerful way yet to stop the pandemic and pursue a return to normal.” The College waited to implement the vaccination requirement until at least one of the vaccines received full approval from the FDA. However, the Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines will satisfy Meredith’s vaccination requirement.
“Now that at least one of the vaccines is fully approved, we have more confidence than ever in their efficacy and their contributions to our families’ and colleagues’ and community’s health,” the announcement said. Meredith College had previously strongly encouraged COVID-19 vaccinations. As of September 16, when the requirement was announced, nearly 80% of employees and students had submitted proof of vaccination. Individuals who want to request an exemption for religious or physician-documented medical reasons will be able to do so. Responses to these requests will go out prior to the start of second-semester classes. For more information on Meredith’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement, visit meredith.edu/staying-strong/vaccineinformation.
New Articulation Agreement Gives High School Students Early Start in Teaching By Cailyn Whitman, ’18
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eredith College has signed an articulation agreement that will allow students in the Teaching as a Profession Program (TAAP) at participating North Carolina high schools to seamlessly transfer and complete their degree in education. To help encourage teaching as a career, TAAP allows students to enroll in college-level education courses while still in high school. More than 30 high schools in North Carolina currently offer the pathway, with more being added every year. As this program and the demand for educators grows, faculty and staff of the education department at Meredith are hopeful this articulation agreement will encourage more young people to pursue the teaching profession, as well as help aspiring teachers make a smooth transition from high school to college. The agreement officially went into effect this fall. Assistant Professor and Department Head of Education Heather Bower was involved in the development of this transfer pathway. “We are thrilled to be a part of this collaboration to recruit new teachers
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into the profession and Meredith,” said Bower. “We have already been invited to speak to teachers about this opportunity in the fall, which is a great start.” Students can take two NCDPI courses through a TAAP high school to qualify for transfer credit from Meredith: Teaching as a Professional I and Teaching as a Professional II. The equivalencies for these courses at Meredith are known as EDU 201: So You Want to Be a Teacher? and EDU 234: Teaching and Learning. Meredith College is a signatory school on articulation agreements with the North Carolina Community College System, which makes it easier for students to transfer their credits and complete four-year degrees. In addition to the new TAAP pathway, Meredith holds an articulation agreement on teacher education/ education preparation for students transferring from community colleges. The teacher education/education preparation articulation agreement provides a pathway for future teachers in which the credits from the associate of art or associate of science transfer
“We are thrilled to be a part of this collaboration to recruit new teachers into the profession and Meredith. We have already been invited to speak to teachers about this opportunity in the fall, which is a great start.” — Heather Bower to Meredith’s teacher education program. Meredith undergraduate students interested in teaching complete a liberal arts major in the field of their choice and, at the same time, pursue a teaching license by completing a teacher education program in the Department of Education.
Study Abroad Program Returns After COVID Suspension By Melyssa Allen
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fter a hiatus caused by COVID-19 restrictions, Meredith College’s study abroad programs have returned in a limited capacity during the fall 2021 semester. The Office of International Programs (OIP) consistently monitored the pandemic conditions since January 2020. After extensive review, Meredith approved a semester program at the College’s site in Sansepolcro, Italy, and additional options through vetted and approved affiliate programs. “OIP has been completely immersed in COVID-19 work since January 2020. Our decision-making process throughout has been to collect daily information from multiple sources, including the CDC, State Department, Overseas Security Advisory Council, WHO, professional listservs, local contacts abroad, expert colleagues at Meredith, and other informational resources on travel safety,” said Director of International Programs Brooke Shurer. “After many months of gathering information, and in consultation with the Provost’s Office and the Student Health Center, we felt confident in approving programs to proceed for fall 2021. It was a very happy day when I was able to send fall 2021 official acceptance letters.” A variety of mitigation measures were put in place for study abroad participants, including a requirement to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Students will also be able to travel only within their host country until after their study abroad program ends. Participants will also be required to follow all COVID-19 restrictions put in place by their host countries. OIP expects these new study abroad requirements to continue for the foreseeable future. “Operating during a pandemic means we’ve had to put some new protocols and policies in place to help support the healthiest, most successful experience possible, in alignment with expert recommendations in the U.S. and abroad,” Shurer said. Continuing with this cautious approach, Shurer said OIP expects to offer more study abroad options in the spring and summer of 2022. “I would classify the reinstatement of study abroad this fall as a careful re-emergence, as opposed to an ‘open the floodgates’ approach,” Shurer said. “We expect to offer a spring 2022 semester in Italy, as well as a considerable list of Meredith Abroad faculty-led summer programs in multiple disciplines and locations. We will also offer Meredith Affiliate opportunities for summer and semester through our partner providers.” OIP will keep monitoring pandemic conditions going forward. “We will continue our process of evaluating location and program feasibility on an ongoing, case-by-case basis as the health and safety situation continues to evolve in the U.S. and abroad,” said Shurer.
Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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STRONG STORIES
I chose Meredith because I was looking for a smaller, more intimate setting. The fact that it offered human resources was a plus, but I wanted to be a part of something. I wanted to feel like I mattered. I wanted my professors to know me. I wanted to make friends and I didn’t want to be in a huge sea of students.”
TYLENA BROWN, ’22 Watch Tylena Brown’s Strong Story.
From the Marines to Meredith College By Melyssa Allen
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erving in the U.S. Marine Corps helped Tylena Brown, ’22, refine her professional interests and attending Meredith College helped her identify her strengths. Now she’s on her way to a career in human resources. Like many students, Brown went straight to college after high school but she says she didn’t yet know what she wanted to do with her life. “After about a year of just taking electives and not getting inspired, I decided to join the Marine Corps, just to let somebody else drive the bus and see where it leads me, you know?,” Brown said. As a Marine, she traveled the world, gained experiences, and found that she is good at the skills needed to work in human resources. “I feel passionate about it. I want to
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work in the recruitment area doing training and development,” Brown said. “I’ll be making sure I’m placing the right people in the right job.” Being in the Marines also helped Brown solidify her career plan. “My experience in the Marines helped me get straight to the point. There’s no gray area. There’s no lollygagging,” Brown said. “Now I know exactly what I want. I feel secure in my decision to do human resources.” With renewed focus, she applied to Meredith’s Wings – Adult Education program. “I chose Meredith all the way from Japan because I was looking for a small, intimate setting. The fact that it offered human resources was a plus, but I wanted to be a part of something,” she said. “I wanted to feel like I mattered. I wanted my professors to know me.
I wanted to make friends and I just didn't want to be in a huge sea of students.” Now she is earning a degree in business administration with a human resources concentration. In addition to her academic achievements, Brown has been active in student organizations, including being treasurer of the Meredith Student Veterans Association and a member of Angels for the Environment. She also serves as WINGS president and as a Wings/ Transfer adviser. Taking part in Meredith traditions was also something she made time to do. “I feel like you should get the whole college experience. When I'm talking to Wings students or transfer students I let them know, just don't come to get your education, get involved,” Brown said. “Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. You don't know if you don't try."
Students Gain Skills, Give Back in Digital Media Summer Intensive By Gaye Hill
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his summer, a small group of students with a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds came together for a week-long summer intensive course: Digital Media Convergence. Assistant Professor of Communication Alan Buck developed the class based on years of experience as a media professional and news videographer. The course addresses visual literacy, photo editing, audio processing, video editing, and web publishing. Students learn theories of audio and visual aesthetics and produce individual content for the web. As a faculty member who also does freelance work, Buck saw an opportunity to pair a growing need for multimedia content with a way to provide students an immersive experience and build their professional portfolios. “Developing video content is expensive and often beyond the budgets of nonprofit organizations, in particular,” said Buck. Every semester, in collaboration with his professional contacts, he identifies a project that suits both the clients’ needs and those of his class. Although the course is also offered in the fall and spring semesters, the summer course offers a unique challenge given its compressed timeframe. Nevertheless, Buck said students always step up to meet the challenge. “In addition to the classroom lecture portion, the students create content and capture video, then professionally critique each other’s work, which in itself is a skill to learn. After three full days of listening, then doing, they are ready to apply what they learned and meet with an actual client. I’m always amazed at how quickly they pick it up.” This summer, a team of four students were paired with REVGEN, a local company. The students in the class identified the specific tasks needed to produce the assets and then assigned them in a way that made the most of their knowledge and backgrounds. At the end of the week, they provided a video, photos, and marketing proposal to REVGEN. Wings student LaDawn Black reflected on the project in particular, and the course more broadly. “Having been a marketing professional for many years, I found the course extremely valuable in learning the latest industry standards and software options,” said Black. “Professor Buck spoke from a real-world industry perspective, which made the things that we learned feel authentic and cutting edge. Being able to support a local business through the combined talents of my classmates made the week extremely worthwhile.” Studio art and graphic design major Dora Fromer, ’23, agreed wholeheartedly. “It was a uniquely rewarding experience that will carry into any field of work,” she said.
Photo by Dora Fromer, ’23
NEWSMAKERS President Jo Allen, ’80, was the featured speaker of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s C-Suite Perspectives in June 2021. The series features Raleigh executives sharing leadership lessons. Allen discussed “leadership with a small l,” which she said means the “daily elements of character, decision-making, and integrity” that can support or derail a leader. Allen was also recently interviewed on Leaders on Leadership, a podcast focused on stories and insights in higher education. Assistant Professor of Marketing Lisa Monahan and Professor of Accounting Mary Jane Lenard have had a manuscript accepted at Accounting & Taxation. This publication is based upon a 2018 honors thesis by their former student, Morgan Daly, ’19, who is the first author on the paper, “To Spend or Not to Spend: An Investigation of Consumer Behaviors Related to Tax Refunds.” Assistant Director for Disability Services Carolyn Koning, Instructional Design Specialist Stacy Muse, and Instructional Technology Specialist Stephanie Ashby recently earned the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. The certificate focuses on essential practices and tools designed to increase employee diversity and to create a business model that embraces equity and inclusion. The seven-week program, created in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jabil, focuses on ways for organizations to create diverse workplaces, address equity issues, and foster inclusivity. Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies Shannon Grimes gave a live webinar talk on April 17 for Classical Wisdom Weekly. Her presentation, “Alchemy in Roman Egypt,” was open to the public, and the video recording is available at classicalwisdom.com.
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THE PROMISE OF MEREDITH. THE POWER OF CHANGE. HOW THE MEREDITH COMMUNITY HAS BANDED TOGETHER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RACISM By Cailyn Whitman, ’18
In June 2020, President Jo Allen announced the launch of the College-wide Initiative on Anti-Racism. With three key action steps, this initiative lays the groundwork for what Allen calls a “top-down and bottom-up” commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Meredith.
Listen to the podcast interview with President Jo Allen. 14
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e see [the initiative] as a top-down, bottom-up, around-the-clock, around-thecampus commitment,” Allen said when asked about the College’s anti-racism efforts during a recent podcast interview. As both an alumna and leader of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Allen believes the approach the College is taking is representative of the Meredith community. “This is a group that – with great passion – believes in the mission and the promise of this institution. And with great passion, believes in the power of change,” she said. While Meredith has made progress in the early stages of the initiative, these efforts are long-term and ongoing to ensure the College stays strong into the future.
employees (such as faculty, staff, and students). Board of Trustees Chair Yvette Brown, ’90, emphasized the Board’s dedication to the initiative’s purpose. “The Board is committed to ensuring that the College is a welcoming and inclusive place for all who come,” she said. The collaborative approach to the initiative allows individual community members to have a voice in Meredith’s goals. “We have been purposeful in including diverse voices to examine the history of the College,” Brown said. “By examining our history, vision, and mission – we are addressing the needs of our community as a whole.”
Meredith’s Comprehensive Approach
Another example of the College’s commitment to anti-racism is the incorporation of DEI into Meredith’s next strategic plan, which will be developed this academic year. Serving as Meredith’s roadmap for success, the strategic plan guides every aspect of the College’s work and determines where financial, institutional, and administrative resources are allocated. Focusing on six pillars, the plan is highly inclusive and transparent, with opportunities for feedback from the entire Meredith community, including faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumnae/i, and community partners. In the next iteration of the plan, each of the six pillars will contain a multi-year DEI goal. As with all goals that are outlined in the strategic plan, these goals will be consistently assessed and measured to ensure they have enough funding and support to be achieved, and that progress is being made. One way administrators will help accomplish the goals outlined in the strategic plan is by setting specific DEI goals that they will frequently discuss with their teams. Many employees have already been involved in this sort of work, but having the actions outlined in the strategic plan allows for increased financial and administrative support.
For change to truly happen at Meredith and within higher education in general, administrators have found that community members such as students, alumnae/i, and employees need to feel empowered as individuals and grassroots organizers, but they also need the commitment and the resources from upper-level administrators to enact change. “People are looking for administrative leadership, but they don’t want to just be told how to become more inclusive,” said Allen. “They want the grassroots piece, but they need the resources and the commitment [of the College] to make that happen.” The goal of the Board of Trustees and administrators, including ELT, is to act as cooperative and supportive allies of the College and its community while equipping employees and students with the resources and support to pursue their own efforts in research, discourse, and suggesting steps for action. Experts in higher education have found this collaborative approach to be the most effective way to change organizational structure within institutions. The approach relies on administration and Trustees to determine larger goals that guide the implementation of action steps among
DEI in Meredith’s Next Strategic Plan
THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF MEREDITH COLLEGE Meredith’s strategic plan builds on the strengths of the College and sets the stage for a strong and vibrant future. In the next iteration of the rolling plan, to be developed this academic year, each of the pillars will contain a multi-year DEI goal. The six pillars of Meredith’s strategic plan: Ensure educational excellence through curricular and cocurricular pathways that lead to student success
Cultivate optimal enrollment of highlyqualified students
Provide the facilities and technology needed to support the College’s projected growth
Strengthen the College’s long-term financial stability
Enhance the visibility and profile of Meredith College
Enrich quality of life for Meredith faculty, staff, and students
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College-wide DEI Efforts Underway Also supporting the initiative is the development of a statement on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Endorsed by faculty, staff, ELT, the Board of Trustees, and the Student Government Association (SGA), the goal of the statement is to provide a framework for enhancing the environment of classrooms, offices, and other campus spaces.
by ELT and campus human resources experts, the College is using Academic Search, a nationally known, top-rated higher education search firm, to identify candidates.
Mid-level Support With the administrative support from ELT and the Board of Trustees, various offices and departments of the College have also been instrumental in supporting the
that show grade point average is a stronger predictor of college success, adopting a test-optional policy allows the College to be more inclusive in the application process and take into consideration other important aspects of a prospective student’s application. “Applicants are not advantaged or disadvantaged for admission by their decision to submit or not submit an SAT or ACT score,” said Boyles.
Diversity Statement Meredith College is committed to fostering an inclusive and pluralistic campus environment where diverse identities are safe and welcomed into our learning and working community. The College is committed to actively addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in all departments and administrative processes. The College admits undergraduate women students of any age, race, creed, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin. In alignment with our core values and our mission as a women’s college, the College respects race, ethnicity, culture, sex, gender identity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, ability, age, national origin, immigration status, veteran status, political affiliation, religion, and spiritual identity that enrich and ennoble our campus conversations, relationships, classrooms, extracurricular programs, and work environments. Our community appreciates that identity is intersectional and that diversity extends beyond this incomplete list of categories. The College strives to cultivate a climate of respect and dialogue around these aspects of identity. Meredith adheres to a comprehensive non-discrimination policy that recognizes differences and acknowledges that these differences are valued assets that enrich our community.
Meredith is also in the process of hiring a permanent DEI professional. An exploratory committee, co-led by faculty, staff, and a diverse set of campus leaders, considered data gathered in the Campus Climate Survey and focus groups as well as descriptions of DEI positions to make informed recommendations for the hiring process. Candice Webb served on the DEI Exploratory Committee. A Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Webb's expertise from serving as director of StrongPoints® was beneficial in leading focus group discussions, including sessions with students from the Muslim Student Association and the Black Student Union. “During these discussions, students shared which qualifications and characteristics they think are most important in a DEI professional, as well as the ways that a DEI professional could enhance the student experience at Meredith,” said Webb. Now that a formal position statement for the DEI professional has been approved
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College’s anti-racism initiative. Some of these changes will have an impact on students before they even officially enroll. Specifically, the Office of Admissions has reviewed and modified policies to ensure equity in the application process, beginning with test score submissions. Initially adopted to lighten the burden of students applying during the COVID-19 pandemic, the test-optional admissions policy has now been made permanent. “Research has shown that SAT and ACT scores are often tied to a test-taker’s socio-economic environment,” said Director of Admissions Shery Boyles. “It’s often the case that students from lower socioeconomic environments, under-funded schools, rural environments, and students who are first-generation college students score lower than test-takers from more wealthy, urban, second, or third-generation college student environments.” Relying on this research and other data
The Office of Admissions is also investigating a name change for the student tour guide organization. After studying the history and current impact of the group’s name, tour guides reflected that White Iris Circle, a name inspired by the College’s flower, may sound exclusionary to students of color. The tour guides will propose a new name for the group this fall to be considered by the student senate. “Our goal is a tour guide organization in which all students feel welcome to participate – beginning (but not ending) with the name of the organization,” said Boyles.
The Office of Student Leadership and Service Partners with SGA to Create Change Supported by staff from the Office of Student Leadership and Service, student leaders have followed the College’s lead and taken steps to implement their own diversity statement and DEI executive board position within SGA. Former SGA President Naomi Hill, ’21, and current
President Sarah Powell, ’22, as well as Tyler Pharr, ’21, and Korey Barringer, ’21, former president and vice-president of the Black Student Union, were involved in developing the statement and creating the role for the new DEI chair. “While this position will not solve the racism and other forms of discrimination that have caused members of this community to be hurt, we hope that it will amplify the needs and concerns of this campus in order to work towards change for all students,” said Hill. The diversity statement and implementation of the DEI executive board chair have helped SGA leaders lay the groundwork for addressing racism and inequality within campus traditions, selection and opportunities for student leaders, and ways that students voice their concerns on campus. The Office of Student Leadership and Service (SLS) has partnered with student leaders to tackle these issues through DEI training, workshops, and more. For example, the Orientation Crew, Student Advisers, and Resident Assistants have participated in workshops focused on the topics of inclusivity, leadership, and biases. Cornhuskin' co-chairs have also participated in training sessions that focused on cultural appropriation and disabilities. “We expect to require training for co-chairs moving forward,” said Director of Student Leadership and Service Cheryl Jenkins. “We also added workshops related to DEI topics to our fall officer training and will continue to focus on these areas every year.” Jenkins said another way SLS is helping students with DEI efforts is by gathering feedback from the student body regarding all of the Meredith College traditions. “We will analyze their purposes, the values/ meaning that we want each tradition to hold in students' lives, examine the historical context, look at language, review any potential barriers for inclusiveness, and find relevance for today's students,” she said. The SGA and SLS have also reviewed the way that students voice concerns about clubs and organizations on campus. The senate and SGA executive board
recommended the new Student Organizations Concerns Committee, which is in the final stages of being approved in the SGA constitution. Additionally, an easily-accessible online form was created for students to share their concerns about student organizations, including instances of racism, bias, or discrimination. “Senate members are also looking at asking each student organization to add an inclusivity statement to its constitution,” Jenkins shared. “Our goal is to raise awareness and accessibility of student government processes and reflect the needs of current Meredith students.” Another way that students are addressing anti-racism is through leadership/ membership representation. “We want to continue to encourage students to have broader representation in leadership and membership within their organizations and ask themselves, who is at the table?” said Jenkins. In particular, staff members from SLS have been talking to current student leaders about how to consider diversity when selecting officers and to create spaces for broader perspectives. Campus leaders are also reviewing election processes to see how they can be improved to get even more students to consider running for elected positions.
Other Changes to the Process of Defining and Reporting Incidents of Racism, Bias, and Intolerance on Campus In addition to updating the way students share concerns about their experiences with specific clubs and organizations on campus, modifications have also been made to the processes for defining and reporting racist experiences on campus in general – including with faculty and staff, in classrooms, administrative offices, residence halls, and more. These changes were made possible by a joint effort between the Dean of Students staff and a student task force in the 2020-21 academic year. Together, Dean Ann Gleason, Assistant Dean Tomecca Sloane, and the student task force reviewed the Honor Code and came up with recommendations for modifying
the definitions and consequences of harassment, discrimination, bias incidents, and acts of intolerance. Effective as of 2021-22, these revisions and instructions for reporting are outlined in the student handbook and on the Dean of Students webpage.
Alumnae/i Support and Involvement The work being done at Meredith comes full circle through alumnae/i who have contributed greatly to DEI efforts. Many alumnae/i remain active members of the Meredith community through the Office of Alumnae Relations, the Black Alumnae Collective, and more; and alumnae/i also serve as faculty, staff, and trustees. These are just some of the tangible ways that the College-wide Initiative on AntiRacism manifests as a collective effort of the Meredith community. Because so many members within the community have not just one, but often multiple ties to the College, the dedication to this work is long-term, multi-layered, ever-growing, and passionately supported.
To learn more about this initiative, and for the latest updates on progress, please visit meredith.edu/anti-racism-initiative.
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THIS IS Who We Are
SUMMER READING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS SHARE THEIR STORIES By Gaye Hill
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eredith’s 2021 summer reading book, Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture & Identity, presents stories gathered by Winona Gua and Priya Vulcht, two young authors who deferred college admissions for a year to interview 150 people from diverse backgrounds across the United States. The book’s selection was guided by the College’s anti-racism initiative. Through their book, Guo and Vulchi reveal the lines that separate us based on race or other perceived differences. They suggest that telling our stories – and listening deeply to the stories of others – are the first and most crucial steps we can take towards negating racial inequity in our culture. The stories are accompanied by research-based, factual information about the topics raised in the interviews as well as “fun facts” that further humanize people beyond race. The factual component of each story helps the reader to better understand the structural aspects of institutional and systemic racism. This combination of story and facts is designed to bridge the heart-mind gap identified by the authors, who explicitly move beyond an anecdotal or sentimental approach to storytelling.
Inspired by the book and guided by its framework, we invited faculty, staff, and students who plan and conduct the Summer Reading Program to share their own stories. Read on to hear what they had to say, bearing in mind that these brief glimpses by no means capture their full identities. And then, consider joining the Meredith community in reading Tell Me Who You Are and engaging in your own courageous conversations.
I love biscuits! I can’t imagine
not having landed in the South and never having tasted biscuits. I think my life would have been incomplete and I am only slightly exaggerating. I took up birding during the pandemic. I am learning to play chess.
My 20-year-old son, Arya, is teaching me.
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Dilnavaz
MIRZA SHARMA Summer Reading Committee Member Bombay, India
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ost days, I would identify as a Parsee American of East Indian extraction. But on other days I might also call myself an Asian American, a woman, a North Carolinian, an American, and an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) or some combination of all of the above. I very much think of Raleigh, North Carolina, as home, but my place of origin would be Bombay, India. I left India before Bombay became Mumbai – it is still hard for me to wrap my head around that change in nomenclature. Before I was old enough to go to school, my maternal grandmother took care of me while my mum was at work. With her I spoke in Parsee-Gujarati. Most afternoons, she would read aloud to me in Gujarati. In the evenings, my parents spoke to us in both English and Parsee-Gujarati, moving easily from one language to another, sometimes mid-sentence. It was in pre-school that I began to realize English would be the language that I would read, write, and speak fluently. With a new language came the realization that my cultural identity was distinct from a majority of my classmates’ and that those differences could be bridged by speaking a common language. Generations of Parsees have largely married within their community and as a result are easily distinguishable by their appearance, language, and cultural practices. Consequently, I have always been aware of being just a little different from everyone else in the room. I have been navigating these differences for a long time, and so while impactful for sure, race, culture, and intersectionality are the very reason I am who I am. Having always lived, learned, and worked among people who are culturally and/or racially different from me has taught me that people are people and everything else is noise.”
Parsees are descendants of Zoroastrians who migrated from ancient Persia (modern Iran) to India in the 7th or 8th century BC. The latest Indian census, completed in 2011, estimates that there are about 60,000 Parsees presently living in India.
KEY TERMS Colonialism:
Occurs when a foreign power invades a territory and establishes enduring systems of exploitation and domination over that territory’s indigenous populations.
Intersectionality:
The overlapping systems of advantages and disadvantages that affect people differently positioned in society. This means race cannot be examined in isolation from other social classifications like class, gender, religion, and sexuality.
Race:
Race is a symbolic category based on attributes such as height, hair texture, eye color, and skin tone and ancestry. Race is not natural; it’s a well-founded fiction, a social construction rather than a biological truth.
Racial Equity:
The condition that would be achieved if one’s racial identity no longer predicted, in a statistical sense, how one fares.
Whiteness:
The dominant racial category that has become the norm. Other races are compared and contrasted relative to it, which is why people of color, rather than white people, are frequently identified by their race. Source: Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture & Identity. The authors credit Racial Domination, Racial Progress by Matthew Desmond and Mustafa Emirbayer as the main source for the explanation of “Race.” Dilnavaz Mirza Sharma provided the definition of the term Parsee.
ABOUT SUMMER READING Meredith’s Summer Reading Program enhances the academic climate on campus by engaging incoming first-year students in a shared intellectual endeavor with the entire campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumnae. Incoming first-year students are given questions to guide their reading and then engage in facilitated conversations with faculty, staff, and upper-level students during the fall semester. Students also participate in experiential learning activities related to the books. Previous summer reading selections include The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Callings, Dimestore, and A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School. Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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Annabel
H A B L U T Z E L , ’2 2 Student Adviser Raleigh, North Carolina
I volunteer at the SPCA. Cats are one of my favorite animals.
I’ve lived in numerous places:
New Hampshire, Connecticut, and in North Carolina: Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro.
I love tropical places. I really want to head back to Costa Rica.
Machaela M U R R E L L , ’2 4
Summer Reading Committee Member Durham, North Carolina I was homeschooled
my entire life.
I’ve played piano since I was four years old and I’ve played in church since I was 13.
I am a huge K-pop fan! 20
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self-identify as mixed or Black. I was born in Oklahoma City, but I was adopted, so I was immediately moved to New Hampshire. I’ve lived all up and down the East Coast my whole life, but I would say that North Carolina feels the most like home. If I were to completely detail how my race has impacted my life, my response would be hundreds of pages long, so I won’t do that. I think that for people of color that just happens. It’s impossible to escape from it. In the context of my family, I always make sure to introduce my parents or sister as my family members, and right from the start I say I’m adopted. It helps avoid confusion or wrong assumptions. I think that for me and most adopted people who grew up in a family with a different race, it can be kind of confusing. You never really know what to identify as or what people think of you as. I grew up in a family composed of all white people, so it was hard not to notice it. From the kids at school being confused, to some more dangerous encounters, people were always determined to point out that my family didn’t fit the cookie cutter shape. One of the first times I remember realizing my identity was when the TSA pulled me aside because they thought my parents were trafficking me. I spent an hour or so being questioned, and they went through all of my things. It was
terrifying, and from then on my parents carried my adoption paperwork when we traveled. People did things like this all of the time to my family. Strangers yelled at us and insisted that we couldn’t be family members. My family ended up developing a code to ensure we could signal when we were scared of people. My parents have always been open and supportive of my identity. I remember being a part of adoption programs where kids who had been adopted could come together and hang out. However, I think that on the flip side, having to constantly defend my identity to the community has left sort of a bitter taste. It’s agitating to constantly have to clarify things. My identity is complex, and something I’ll be thinking about for many years to come.”
Targeting (questioning, arresting, and detaining) people of color solely because of their “perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion” often without appropriate evidence, is called racial profiling.
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irst and foremost, I identify as a child of God. As a Christian this part of my identity is very important to me. My dad is partly the reason for this – he has been a pastor since I can remember so church has always been a part of my life. I also identify as a woman … specifically an African-American woman and I am proud of it. While there are many other things that make up who I am and how I identify, these are three big ones. Durham, North Carolina, is home for me. I’ve lived in the same little yellow house since I was one year old so it’s all I know. The surrounding neighborhood has definitely had its share of ups and downs with violent crimes, drugs, and other things but what makes it peaceful is the community of neighbors. I would definitely say they are a second family to me. Before the pandemic, my dad’s side of the family held a family reunion every year. Food is sort of how we bond so my aunts and uncles would prepare a huge meal and family would come from all over. Those moments are always special because it is a family tradition and a part of our culture.
Even though I sometimes struggle with feelings of selfdoubt, I wouldn’t change who I am for anything. Being African-American is only a small part of who I am and while it is very important there are many other amazing things such as friendships and connections with other people that make me who I am.”
The United States has the largest Christian population in the world, with nearly 205 million Christians. According to a Pew Research Survey, 65% of adults in the United States identified themselves as Christians.
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Rebecca DUNCAN
Summer Reading Committee Member Northeastern Ohio
I have just finished
writing a second novel.
I take part in an annual cookie baking competition and have won several championships.
I have worked, taught, or wandered
in Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, Morocco, and most of Western Europe.
Shannon
JOHNSTONE Summer Reading Committee Member Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I am an ultrarunner. My favorite ultra race is where you run as far as you can for 24 hours. I was named to Team USA 24-hour National Team in 2014. My favorite animal is the dog. I sometimes wish I had a tail
to express myself.
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grew up in Northeastern Ohio, but that home as I knew it no longer exists. What was once a thriving industrial region is now sadly known as the Rust Belt. The population has shrunk significantly, and the area is ravaged by unemployment and problems like opioid abuse. In my traditional community, girls were encouraged to be teachers and nurses and eventually full-time homemakers. We were not given the encouragement to develop our talents that girls receive today. I was always curious about different cultures and races. I spent a year in Brazil as an exchange student, and for one summer I worked at a camp for children from Harlem and Bedford Stuyvesant. Both were immersive experiences in being a minority. My fellow counselors and the children taught me to watch and listen, to question my assumptions, and to look for ways to connect. Any traces of the ‘white savior’ perspective were banished by the end of the summer. I grew up in a time of mixed messages about race. Martin Luther King, Black Power, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Jimi Hendrix, and Motown all affected the culture of the times, but closer to home there always seemed to be an invisible barrier to incorporating new perceptions of race into our lives.
I would say that both family and community worked silently to maintain the status quo and the sense of a social hierarchy among the races. Thus, it was fine to be polite to the handful of Black kids at school, but I remember being called out for sitting with a Black student in the high school band. A performance by the group ‘Up with People’ was canceled by a youth club when the leaders found out there were Black singers. None of this sat right with me, but I was a mostly obedient, conformist kid and didn’t make a fuss. Leaving home at the age of 18 and exploring the world through travel and education have broadened my perspective. As an adult, I have moved from conformist to rebel in many ways, and I have worked hard to break the cycle of prejudice in my own son’s experience.”
White savior is problematic because it can seem to convey the power, superiority, and kindheartedness of the white person rather than the unjust system itself.
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never thought of myself as having culture or race when I was younger. This way of thinking and being treated was an invisible padding that made walking through life in Milwaukee easier for me than it was for others. When I was by myself, I didn't get the resistance or unfriendliness from people in authority that I experienced when I was with my friends who were not white. Milwaukee was (and still is) a very segregated city. My oldest sister is Laotian. She came to live with us when I was 8, and she was 17. She is the oldest of a very large family and she had her own traditions, food, and a communication style with her family back in Laos that was very different from the way we lived. I don't think I had the words for it at the time, but I remember thinking about how complicated it was that she was part of my family but had her own family, and how differently we lived. This was the first time I thought of myself as having a culture. It changed the way I saw the world, and led me to
love photography. Photography is all about how you frame something, and how meaning is shaped by this perspective. Race, culture, and identity are part of everything that we do. I think there is a tendency for humans to think they are unique in having awareness about these issues. But the desire for individuality while still belonging to something larger than oneself is found throughout many species all over Earth. This makes me realize how important thinking through all of this is – it is embedded in the foundation of living on this planet.”
As of 2010-14, Milwaukee was ranked as the most racially divided large city, followed by New York City and then Chicago.
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Bianca DIAZ
Summer Reading Committee Member Miami, Florida
self-identify as a Cuban American woman. I was born in Miami and my family is from Cuba. I also identify as a daughter and granddaughter of immigrants; this is a particularly meaningful label for me because it allows me to honor my grandparents’ brave and difficult decision and incredible work ethic, and it connects me to a unique aspect of the American experience: coming to this country for a better, more stable future. My Cuban culture has impacted my life in profound ways. I grew up speaking Spanish and English, and shifting between those two languages in my personal and professional lives is really rewarding. I love the moments I can connect with others who speak Spanish – it becomes this mental space where I feel comfortable and nostalgic; it’s a link to my whole family … the roots of my being. Spanglish is particularly enjoyable for me, too. I speak it with my parents, sister, cousins, my other bilingual friends and it becomes a special badge of connectedness and understanding between us. The food in my culture is also something I relish! My paternal grandmother cooked traditional Cuban food and I have great memories of the dishes she made including arroz con pollo and frijoles negros. I experience intersectionality in my identity as a Hispanic woman. This makes me feel fortunate because intersectionality breeds compassion: for others and myself. I first became aware of these aspects of my identity when I attended graduate school for creative writing in Virginia. I was the only Hispanic person in my cohort. Additionally, none of my professors were Hispanic or people of color. A visiting writer who was Indian and I spoke about intersectionality and how it could be a real advantage in our writing. That conversation helped me see that I should embrace the ways it could benefit my worldview and my art. Growing up in Miami, I saw Cubans and other Hispanic people in positions of power and prestige: doctors, professors, attorneys, artists, community leaders, politicians, etc. Those examples stayed with me and allowed me to imagine myself in similar positions. I wouldn’t be an anomaly in my community, I’d be one of many.”
My favorite place I’ve visited is
the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
I wrote a book of poems called No One Says Kin Anymore. I love sushi.
I’m a first-degree purple belt in kickboxing. 24
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Code-switching occurs when one alternates between different languages, dialects, or ways of speaking among different groups of people. “Spanglish” is the weaving together of English and Spanish within a phrase or sentence.
WHY WE SERVE MEET MEMBERS OF MEREDITH’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES By Melyssa Allen
In higher education, a Board of Trustees plays a vital role in ensuring a college’s long-term success. Meredith’s Board is made up of dedicated women and men who bring their professional expertise and their support for the transformative power of higher education to their service. The majority of current Trustees are alumnae or family members of Meredith students and graduates; thus, they know the reputation, offerings, successes, and challenges of the College quite well.
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he Board of Trustees has responsibility for overseeing the major policy, facilities, personnel, and budgetary issues of the College,” explained President Jo Allen, ’80, who works closely with the Board. “They do so at what we call the ‘30,000-foot level,’ meaning they shape the big picture, while assigning the implementation of those policies and other daily management decisions to the College’s administration.” The Board’s key role in shaping the present and future of the College is in approving and monitoring the assessment and impact of Meredith’s strategic plan. Meredith’s Board of Trustees is actively involved in the College’s work, with regular full Board meetings that are supplemented by committee service. Trustees serve four-year terms unpaid. Board members take their roles as advisers to Meredith’s administration seriously. “Critical to being a good Board member is being able to ask good questions in a kind way, recognizing the need for confidentiality in discussing strategic directions and personnel matters, and offering unwavering support, insights, and suggestions as the College goes about its business,” said Allen. Meredith seeks out Trustees who can collectively provide well-rounded guidance. “We have educators, entrepreneurs, business people, financial representatives, and some Trustees with essential connections to other leaders,” said Allen. “These skill sets mesh to help advise us on all sorts of matters requiring our attention and decisions, ranging from enrollment and recruiting, to facilities planning and maintenance, to personnel (policies, hiring, firing, etc.), and budget management.” Meredith Magazine asked current members of the Board of Trustees to share why they chose to serve on Meredith’s Board along with one goal they have for the College. Here are comments, edited for space, from a sampling of current Trustees.
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ALMA AMMONS HOFFMANN, ’89, M.ED. Hoffmann, a former teacher and current owner of Write More Education Resources, is following in the footsteps of her mother, Jo Ellen Ammons, ’57, who served on Meredith’s Board for many years. Hoffman’s aunt, great-aunt, and niece are also alumnae.
“I serve on the Board at Meredith College because it is an honor to be a part of such a historically rich and strong learning environment for so many women. I want to offer anything I can to continue the success of Meredith's programs, staff, and facilities. Earning my master’s degree from Meredith set my professional life's projection and prepared me for a career as a teacher, educator, business owner, and leader. One goal I have for Meredith is to help it stay a leader in being forward-thinking and open-minded in all areas from educational leadership to degrees, programs, and student success.”
YVETTE M. BROWN, ’90 Chair of the Board Brown, a Board certified OB/Gyn and faculty member at the Penn State Hershey Medical College, has served five previous terms as a Meredith Trustee. She is the first Black woman to serve as chair of Meredith’s Board of Trustees. Representation is one reason she accepted the initial invitation to be a Trustee.
“When I was a senior at Meredith, I was SGA president. There was a serious honor code violation that resulted in my needing to address the Meredith Board of Trustees on behalf of the students. What I noticed that day was that the Board was very homogeneous. At the conclusion of my speech, I said to myself that I would one day be on the Meredith Board. At that time that was a bold statement. The qualifications to be a Meredith Board member then included the requirements to be a North Carolinian and Southern Baptist. Also in my mind, although not an actual requirement, not a person of color. I did not meet the two stated qualifications and I definitely did not meet the qualification I thought was in place based on the appearance of the Board at that time. When I was asked to serve on the Board years ago, I did so because I love Meredith, am grateful for my experiences at Meredith, and I knew that representation in all areas matters – location, gender, race, ethnicity, etc. My major goal for Meredith College is for the institution to remain viable in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. Women’s colleges are becoming fewer each year. We need to continue to evolve and grow so we can continue to have a presence and become a women’s institution that is forever far too important to fail. We are achieving that goal every day.”
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BILL CROUCH Crouch, who served as president of Georgetown College in Kentucky, is one of the Trustees at Meredith with experience in higher education administration. His family includes six Meredith alumnae – his grandmother, sister, two daughters, and two cousins.
“I believe in the mission of Meredith and the dynamic leadership of Jo Allen. As a former college president, I understand the pressures and challenges a president faces. I thought if I could use my ‘wisdom’ gained from mistakes I made to help her and the College avoid them, then I would be delighted to serve. One of my goals is for Meredith to continue to impact the lives of women in a way that prepares them to enter their futures with confidence, grit, and humility.”
CAROLYN S. LEITH, ’85 Leith, who completed her degree through Meredith’s Wings program, has worked in the financial services industry as a financial adviser for 30 years.
“As immediate past chair of the Board, I have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know all of the workings of each of the committees. I was able to attend all of the committee meetings for two years. That opportunity greatly enhanced my understanding of the importance of each of the committees. Prior to being Board chair, I had been chair of several committees over the years, but seeing it all fit together was truly impressive. I was a Wings student. Finishing college was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I feel so fortunate to have been asked to serve on the Board and to be able to give back for the great opportunity that was given to me.”
DAVID L. WARREN Warren, former president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), has extensive experience in higher education as well as strong family connections to Meredith.
“I was drawn to Meredith College for two compelling reasons. The first is to honor the memory of my mother Katherine (Kat) Liles, ’36, and to support the ongoing work of the College, which had such a profound impact on her and her four alumnae sisters – Hilda, Hortense, Meredith, and Gladys Liles. In addition, several other members of the Liles extended family claim Meredith as their alma mater. The second reason is that President Jo Allen served five years as a member of the board (the last two years as chair and past chair) of the 1,000-member National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). Her leadership was widely applauded then, and private higher education continues to be indebted to her. I was delighted to accept her invitation to join the Meredith College Board of Trustees. My contribution as Meredith College Trustee has drawn primarily on my 10 years as president of Ohio Wesleyan University, and 26 years as NAICU president. Periodically, members of the Meredith Board may ask me to comment on higher education trends, or on federal legislation regarding tax policy, student aid or regulatory issues. It is my hope that I can support Meredith in becoming the premier college of its kind in America.”
QUINTALA PARHAM, ’08 Parham is a Wings graduate who has served in a variety of roles in Meredith’s Alumnae Association, including as president, before joining the Board of Trustees in 2021. She has put her Meredith child development degree to use as director/operator of child care centers, including her current role as owner/CEO of Arrow Christian Preschool in Raleigh.
“It is important for me to give back to Meredith, and in doing so, I want to be a positive voice for the College. I received a wonderful education at Meredith, which has served me well both personally and professionally. It is my honor and privilege to serve the College on our Board of Trustees. I hope my experience and continued involvement with the College will encourage other women of color to find their place on campus and within our community. My immediate goal is to magnify and share the positive experiences that make Meredith so special. I was a non-traditional student and returned to Meredith to complete my degree. It’s important we continue to encourage more women to return to the classroom to start or finish their degree. As an annual donor, I hope that more alumnae will support the College financially. Our support ensures that Meredith will continue to grow and remain a competitive option for today’s students. Alumnae support betters the College and ensures we can meet the needs of today’s students and future generations of students.”
PATTY WHISNANT CEASE, ’75 Cease is a retired Duke Energy executive who was a leader in corporate IT for many years. She is proud that her class has finished among the Meredith Mayhem winners for two years in a row. She also serves as a member of the School of Business Advisory Board and continues to be closely connected to Meredith’s Study Abroad Program in Sansepolcro, Italy.
“I am fortunate to have met with students, faculty, and staff through my participation with the School of Business Advisory Board and International Programs. These interactions convinced me that we are having success in fulfilling our mission of educating and inspiring students to make a positive impact in the world. I am committed to helping ensure Meredith’s policies and strategies evolve so that we responsibly use our resources to continue to fulfill that mission. One key goal is to promote lasting fiscal health of the College in support of Meredith’s vision. President Allen and her team are addressing many challenges including how to attract and retain students, increase flexibility of course delivery methods, maintain a safe and healthy campus, and offer strong academic programs and experiential learning experiences. And as one of the largest colleges for women in the country, we have an opportunity to continue to provide a unique college experience. Through open dialogue, compassion, and deliberate actions, we can ensure financial stability and continue to thrive as an affordable, accredited, and highly respected college.”
ELIZABETH TRIPLETT BEAM, ’72 Beam, who is a previous chair of the Meredith Board of Trustees, is an award-winning music educator. She has also served as president of the Alumnae Association, chair of the Meredith Legacy Committee, and chair of the Presidential Search Committee.
“It is an honor to follow in the tradition of alumnae Mabel Claire Maddrey, Anne Dahle, and Mary Jon Roach, who served Meredith with courage, vision, respect, and love for our alma mater. My aspiration for Meredith is to remember who we are, how we got to where we are, and dream forward to what we can be.”
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ELLA FRANTZ, ’80 Frantz has been an active supporter of Meredith, including serving on the Beyond Strong Campaign Steering Committee. She is also a board member and former chair of Dress for Success Triangle NC.
“I left Meredith, not only with a degree in English, but also with a group of friends that have surrounded each other for the past 41 years. If I can do one small thing that may help Meredith with making good and responsible decisions so that other young women can have what I have shared with my friends, then I am happy to serve. I learned about personal service – to each other, to institutions, and to ideals – from Meredith. My goal for Meredith is that we may continue to adapt to a changing world in which students need and desire new and innovative courses, methods of delivery, traditions, and housing. Only by recognizing these changes and being open to adapting may this new group of young women come together and begin their 41-year relationships. As technology, social distancing, and individualism take over, it is still human relationships that bring satisfaction and joy. I want Meredith to always keep this at the core of every decision. That is where we differentiate ourselves. That is where we shine.”
SILDA WALL SPITZER, ’80 A businesswoman, lawyer, and former First Lady of New York State, Silda Wall Spitzer currently serves as CEO of New York States of Mind, LLC. She attended Meredith after being introduced to the College by her high school English teacher, Frances Ward Black Holland, ’48.
“Meredith set me on a path and gave me the opportunity to grow into the best person I could be, though that is still a work in progress! It instilled strength and confidence. It allowed me to reaffirm my core values. It taught me, as a woman, to understand it was up to me alone to find my way in the world and make my mark, yet appreciate and be a part of family and community around me. And I want to be of help to my once-fellow classmate and remarkable leader Jo Allen, as she leads Meredith forward. I want Meredith to continue to grow and evolve as an institution with excellent education of women as its foundation stone.”
PAT JOHNSON, ’70 Johnson majored in mathematics at Meredith and brings insights from her career in local government management to her service as a Trustee.
“It was humbling to be chosen for the Board, as Meredith has been a springboard for so many in preparation for life beyond academia. Without question, the College provided the crucial (and timely) encouragement and academic foundation needed to pursue my chosen life directions. What a joy to have an opportunity to give back. My goal for the College is to nurture academic achievement and professional aspirations for all Meredith students.
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CAROL BOYD TILLMAN, ’72 Tillman is a former teacher whose philanthropic pursuits include a focus on improving and preserving her hometown of Belhaven, N.C., and the surrounding areas. Her daughter completed the Legal Assistant (now Paralegal) program at Meredith.
“I serve as a Trustee because I believe in the importance of education and advocating for young women and their specific educational needs and constraints. My primary goal is to continue the academic excellence and expand, even further, the topnotch reputation Meredith College has always had among universities and colleges. Meredith has afforded students many opportunities for educational, developmental, and social/emotional growth through programs in and out of the classroom. And through that college experience, we’ve created a sisterhood that continues throughout life through friendships, careers, and families.”
CHUCK STUBER Stuber is a retired FBI Special Agent who is now part of SRS Consulting Services, LLC, and teaches in the Criminal Justice and Accounting programs at Wake Technical Community College. His mother, Marilyn Stuber, taught at Meredith for 30 years and was the chairperson of the Home Economics (now Human Environmental Sciences) Department. His daughter, Andrea Stuber Moholt, ’14, graduated from Meredith with a degree in Interior Design, one of the programs that his mother established.
“As a teacher, I am obviously interested in educating students and helping them achieve their goals and dreams. Teaching provides me with the opportunity to serve students in a one-onone hands-on capacity at the ‘grass roots’ level of education. Serving on Meredith’s Board of Trustees gives me the ability to contribute at a different level to establish policies that will hopefully help numerous students and the College as a whole. I have three goals that I would like to see come to fruition at Meredith. I would like to see more diversity in all areas, including the student body, faculty, and positions in the administration. I know that Meredith has a history of having predominantly white student bodies and has had some issues of racism in the past. I am very encouraged by the current ongoing efforts at Meredith College led by Dr. Jo Allen to attack the issue of racism and establish an inclusive environment at Meredith, and I am very confident that Meredith will make great strides in this area in the future. I want to see Meredith College become more nationally known. It is very highly regarded in North Carolina, and Meredith graduates benefit from an excellent network of connections in North Carolina and the surrounding area. However, Meredith College has so much to offer, I believe Meredith can and should become better known nationally. My third goal is motivated by my background in the criminal justice area. As a former FBI Special Agent, I am very concerned about the criminal justice system in our country. I would like to see the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program at Meredith develop into a leader in producing talented graduates of high character and integrity to work in our criminal justice system.”
CHARLES ROYAL Royal is a banking executive and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and the father of a Meredith alumna.
“My daughter was a 2014 Meredith graduate. She had an awesome experience. The professors and administration were extremely supportive of her goal of becoming an early education educator. She met so many new friends and built relationships that will last. After she graduated and began her teaching career, many of her professors reached out to her to continue their relationship and support. I was so impressed, I want to help Meredith grow and support more aspiring young women. My goal as a Trustee is to help Meredith become an even stronger destination for women from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds to receive an amazing education and successfully pursue their career dreams and passions.”
LENA EPPS BROOKER, ’62 Now serving in her first term on the Board, Brooker’s professional career includes teaching, serving with the N.C. Commission of Indian Affairs and Department of Natural Resources, and working as a diversity consultant for municipalities and the private sector.
“I chose to serve as a member of the Meredith College Board of Trustees because an American Indian has never done so. As the first American Indian and the first woman of color alumna, I hope that my experiences at Meredith and my life experiences can add a perspective that’s been missing. Specifically, I hope that my input and advocacy will result in more awareness and appreciation of my people – the angst and achievements. Most importantly, I hope my participation will result in more authentic and comfortable inclusion in every aspect of Meredith’s daily life for all students, staff, faculty, and the administrative team.”
LEE CANIPE Canipe serves as the senior pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte. He is related to many Meredith alumnae, including his mother, aunts, sister, and mother-in-law.
“First, I believe in the College’s mission to equip women with the skills, wisdom, and character to make a positive difference in the world. Second, Meredith helped educate just about all the women I’m related to, either by blood or by marriage. Because of that, I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude and obligation to the College and am glad to do my part to pay it forward. A goal for Meredith is for it to become the standard in this country for what a successful, high-level, high-impact liberal arts education for women looks like.”
CLAIRE SULLIVAN SLAUGHTER, ’72 Slaughter is a former two-term president of Meredith’s Alumnae Association with numerous Meredith connections. She has worked in the insurance industry, followed by a second career as a realtor.
“My connections to Meredith are family based. My great grandfather, a Southern Baptist minister, was on the Board of Trustees when the College was downtown and bought the land in West Raleigh to build today’s campus. His daughters, my great aunts, graduated from Meredith before the campus moved and my mother graduated and taught at Meredith. Both of my sisters were in school with me and all three of my daughters also are alums. I feel that Meredith chose me to serve on the Board and not the other way around. I was asked to get involved with the Alumnae Association right after Jo Allen began her presidency, and I knew it was something I was called to do. I had been involved as a younger woman but had withdrawn to focus on my work and family. Working with Dr. Allen and her staff changed everything for me and for the College. After serving as president of the Alumnae Association, I was honored to be asked to join the Board and there was no question in my mind that it was where I should devote my energy. My most ardent goal for Meredith is that it not only survives as a women’s college but grows stronger for that very reason. As other schools are closing or adding men to undergraduate programs, Meredith is uniquely positioned to have its finest and most prestigious days ahead.”
ALEXANDER HOLMES Holmes, who had a 25-year career with the international public accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co., now serves as a consultant on matters of tax, estate, philanthropic, and business succession planning. He has served multiple terms on Meredith’s Board.
“Although I had no prior connection with Meredith, I originally chose to serve on the Board, and happily continue to serve, because I believe strongly in the educational niche that a single sex private college can provide for a significant demographic of young women seeking a college education. My goal for Meredith is that it stays educationally and financially strong so that it can continue to accomplish its unique mission in helping students recognize and develop their strengths and potential.”
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IMPROVING THE WORKPLACE, CHANGING THE WORLD
MEREDITH’S I-O PSYCHOLOGY GRADUATES ARE HELPING ORGANIZATIONS ADAPT TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORKPLACE By Cailyn Whitman, ’18
As more companies and organizations adapt to a new normal following COVID-19 lockdowns, industrial and organizational psychologists have an important role to play in helping workplaces open up – and more importantly, to do so in a way that fosters diversity and inclusion.
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ndustrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is a fast-growing field that focuses on improving the workplace through the lens of psychology. After the shifts in workplace culture since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for I-O psychology professionals has never been greater. Not to mention in 2020 many companies began to take a long overdue look at their diversity and inclusion efforts – a task for which many I-O psychologists are uniquely trained.
Diversity & Inclusion Take Michele Xiong, ’20, for example. As director of diversity and inclusion at the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, she uses what she learned in Meredith’s I-O psychology program on a daily basis. “A huge part of what I-O psychologists do is going through the process of change management,” said Xiong. “In my current role working with the REALTORS® community, it has been about examining
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processes and questioning why and how they came to be. It’s about recognizing systems that no longer serve everyone and coming up with a strategic plan to change them, putting that plan into action, and measuring the outcomes to ensure it’s working.” Xiong believes the ultimate role of I-O psychologists is to make the workplace better for everyone. In order to achieve that goal, employers have to recognize that each of their workers have unique wants, needs, and experiences that shape their performance.
A Growing Field As the demand for increased diversity and inclusion in workplaces continues to grow, Xiong sees the field of I-O psychology continuing to grow as well. “I-O psychologists cannot be easily replaced by automation or outsourcing, so that in itself makes us valuable professionals,” she said. “We are the ultimate listeners and thinkers of any organization.”
“If an organization is waning, hiring an I-O psychologist would prove to yield a high return on investment. We can help with motivation, coaching, human resources, organizational structure, and so much more – all through the lens of psychology and data.” — Michele Xiong, ’20
But what is it that makes I-O psychologists different from any other human resources professional? Xiong believes it's the increased attention they pay to behavior among employees, leaders, and teams as a whole. Not for the purposes of reporting misconduct or evaluating fit, but to assess problems on a deeper level and provide scientificallybacked solutions. “If an organization is waning, hiring an I-O psychologist would prove to yield a high return on investment,” said Xiong. “We can help with motivation, coaching, human resources, organizational structure, and so much more – all through the lens of psychology and data.” Emily Buchanan, ’20, is another graduate of Meredith’s I-O psychology program who is witnessing a growing need for practitioners within the field. She believes the field is an “untapped mine” that is just about to be discovered. “Much of the research on how we work, especially throughout the pandemic, is being sought out by organizations and increasingly becoming a topic of regular conversation. This field is going to grow immensely,” she said. As a training and development specialist for US LBM, Buchanan’s best advice for creating meaningful change within an organization is to ask the right questions. “Don’t just go off of what is ‘best practice’ or what has worked in the past, but instead ask: what will work right now for these individuals?” she said. “I often describe I-O psychologists to people as the therapist for organizations. We can understand an organization, diagnose it with data science, and then treat it with an intervention.”
A Key to Navigating Labor Shortages This sort of diagnostic intervention is in high demand right now for many industries that are struggling with labor shortages. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about four million people quit their jobs in April 2021 alone. That’s the highest quit level the agency has seen since they began publishing these rates in December 2000. “The pandemic put two things into focus: one, employees showed they can be productive from home and should be trusted to create their schedules as they see fit to get their work done. And two, that there are more important things in life than work,” said associate professor and program director, Joseph Mazzola. Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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In a year when millions lost their jobs, switched career paths, launched their own businesses, or quit working altogether – no one is better qualified to answer the questions employers are left wondering: What now? Where do we go from here? Companies have the unique opportunity to partner with I-O psychologists to answer these questions and ultimately, help with the return to work, recruit and onboard new hires, strengthen employee retention, and more. “I-O psychologists are uniquely trained to help design systems that maximize the type of flexibility employees want in order to be satisfied and engaged, but also allows for the sharing of communication that creates the productivity for the organization to be successful,” said Mazzola. Arielle Smith, ’20, is an I-O psychologist who has a front row seat to the hiring frenzy happening in corporate America right now. After interning with Lowe’s the summer before graduation, she was offered a full time role with the Fortune 50 company as an HR assessment analyst. In this role, she manages projects related to assessments the company uses for high-volume hires, including CliftonStrengths. Smith stays up-to-date on the trends playing out in workplace culture and as someone trained to analyze and report on those trends, she offers a unique perspective. “Currently, the largest trends we’re seeing in the field are around remote work, employee health, diversity and inclusion, social justice, and the changing nature of work,” said Smith. All of these trends play a role in employee satisfaction, engagement, and morale – so I-O psychologists are critical to keeping companies adequately staffed. “The pandemic brought about the rise of remote work, and now organizations are realizing it is here to stay,” said Smith. “With many organizations heading towards a hybrid workforce, I-O psychologists are essential in helping to re-design what work looks like and addressing challenges such as, how can in-person and remote teams collaborate effectively? Or, how can we ensure that culture cascades down to remote employees and not just those in the office?” Smith also highlighted that during the pandemic, I-O psychologists were frontline advocates for employee health and well-being to help combat burnout. “Since we have a
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“Currently, the largest trends we’re seeing in the field are around remote work, employee health, diversity and inclusion, social justice, and the changing nature of work.”
“One of the things I love about I-O psychology is the wide variety of topics it encompasses. If it relates to the workplace, an I-O psychologist is probably doing research on it.”
— Arielle Smith, ’20
— Paul Jones, ’20
better understanding of the world of work, it is our job to promote a better way of working, one that involves organizations shifting away from the “live-to-work” mindset and instead, embraces work-life integration.”
Strengthening the Bottom Line Through Evidence-based Concepts As the mindset around work shifts within our culture, I-O psychologists like Paul Jones, ’20, are leading the way in helping organizations adapt to those changes through evidence-based research. As the manager of organizational engagement for Butterball, LLC, Jones has played a critical role in helping the company navigate the post-pandemic world. “Remote working, flex scheduling, organizational culture, diversity, equity and inclusion – these were all conversations happening before 2020. However, COVID-19 forced many companies to reexamine how they address these topics. That’s where I-O psychologists come in,” said Jones. One of the most important things Jones learned from Meredith’s program was not only how to apply evidence-based concepts to the workplace, but how those changes can impact the bottom line for organizations. “We offer a scientific approach,” he said. “And that is invaluable for executive leadership, because it allows them to make informed decisions that will benefit both their company and its employees.” In the coming years, Jones agrees with peers from his cohort that the field will only
continue to grow. “One of the things I love about I-O psychology is the wide variety of topics it encompasses. If it relates to the workplace, an I-O psychologist is probably doing research on it,” he said. With companies launching new programs left and right to address remote work, diversity, and more, Jones believes all workplaces can benefit from hiring an I-O psychologist. “We bring a unique perspective grounded in evidence-based research that can be applied to real-world business situations,” he said. “It’s not enough to say a new program will work and then hope for the best. I-O psychologists can examine a new program for its validity, determine its probability of success within a margin of error, and report on how its success will impact the company.”
Work-life Balance Another question among employers right now involves performance evaluations and productivity. With an increased focus on work-life balance, how can managers evaluate performance without rewarding unhealthy work habits? Cathedia Rose, ’20, director of operations for LightWire, Inc., said studying I-O psychology at Meredith has given her the tools to address exactly these types of issues. “In the next few years, I see this field being instrumental in helping to address issues related to company cultures,” she said. “I see this field contributing new, creative ways to help with employee wellness, increasing workplace productivity, and
“I see this field contributing new, creative ways to help with employee wellness, increasing workplace productivity, and reshaping our beliefs on how and where we perform work today.”
— Cathedia Rose, ’20
reshaping our beliefs on how and where we perform work today.” Rose’s training and education allows her to support her company by improving processes such as training, top-down communication, employee well-being, performance, and more.
Helping Workplaces Navigate the Way Forward Elizabeth Anglis, ’21, agrees with Rose. As a training coordinator at Cepheid, she said Meredith’s program allowed her to practice critical thinking while keeping people at the forefront. “The pandemic has given I-O psychologists the opportunity to explore new ways to ensure employees stay engaged, even in remote work environments,” said Anglis. “I-O psychologists also play a role in guiding workplace culture, educating employees about work-life balance, and act as consultants for organizations to help them make decisions that will benefit both their employees and the company going forward.” As workplace norms continue to evolve under the pressure of societal and cultural shifts, the skills that I-O psychologists have to offer will likely increase in demand – so companies can only benefit from having one on their team. “Having I-O psychologists on staff at any organization ensures that at least one person in the company is making all decisions with people in mind,” said Rose. To learn more about the Master of Arts in Psychology: Industrial-Organizational Concentration at Meredith College, visit meredith.edu/master-of-psychology. Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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MEREDITH PHILANTHROPY MAKING AN IMPACT
A Legacy of Love Lives On By Emily Parker
J
im Marchman’s love for his wife, Marshall Moore Marchman, ’66, is evident in love letters written during their courtship in the 1960s. He compiled the letters and gave a copy to Meredith College after Marshall passed away in 2018 so that their scholarship recipients not only got to know who Marshall was but also to share the history of the College with current students. The letters talk about day-today things, document the Marchmans’ love story, and share happenings at Meredith College during that time. “The letters show that we were desperately in love. A lot of the letters were written when I was working on an undergraduate research project while a student at NC State and she was at Camp Caswell one summer. We wrote
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whenever we were not together,” said Jim. “I encourage any recipient of our scholarship to read the letters that are available in Advancement Services.” The couple started the Marshall Moore Marchman Scholarship in 2010 and it was endowed in 2015. The scholarship has no restrictions as to who can receive it because they wanted every student to have the opportunity. Today the market value of the endowment is $145,465. After they married, Marshall was a sixth-grade teacher in Garner while Jim finished his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at NC State. Jim accepted a faculty position teaching aerospace engineering at Virginia Tech in 1968, and Marshall continued teaching in Blacksburg, Va., followed by being a library/media aide until she retired. “She loved working with kids, was terrific with kids, and wanted to stay involved in the school system,” said Jim. “It was important to her to see students succeed and do what they love.” In 2017, the Marchmans were able to meet one of their scholarship recipients. It was Marshall’s last visit to Raleigh. She was diagnosed with ALS in early 2017 and passed away in October 2018. “The visit meant a lot to her,” said Jim. “It made us feel like our donations were being used wisely. It is really good when donors can see where their money is going.”
After Marshall’s diagnosis, it was also important to her to go on trips she had planned with her daughter, Crystal, Class of 1994. After they returned, she was able to be cared for at home and Jim received wonderful support from family, friends, and a doctor at Duke University Hospital who would call and check on her regularly. After Marshall’s passing Jim wrote a book about caring for someone with ALS and gave it to the ALS Foundation to share with other families as needed. “Every experience is different and every day is different caring for someone with ALS. I wanted to share my thoughts in hopes that someone else dealing with the same disease would gain some knowledge,” said Jim. “It also helped me get through losing Marshall.” In 2020, Astra Ball, director of advancement services, set up a Zoom call for Jim to meet his current scholarship recipient, Barbara Daniel, ‘21. “Barbara was the perfect recipient of our scholarship,” said Jim. “Marshall would love that we were supporting someone later in life getting her degree.” Daniel was a Wings student who majored in interpersonal communication after retiring from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles after 32 years. She retired in July 2017 and began classes in August 2017. Her daughter, Dixie, graduated
in 2017 and always spoke highly of the professors and their willingness to help students succeed. “I had not attended school in over 35 years and I was concerned with acclimating back into a classroom setting, so the idea of professors being concerned for your success was appealing,” said Daniel. Before receiving the scholarship, Daniel was worried she would not be able to complete her senior year because of financial reasons. “When I learned I would be receiving the scholarship, I must admit I sat down in the middle of the floor and cried. I knew because of this scholarship and a few other blessings I had received, I would be able to finally reach my goal of obtaining a degree,” said Daniel. “I thought receiving the scholarship was the greatest blessing, but the greatest blessing occurred when I was
able to meet Mr. Marchman via Zoom. I loved hearing about his wife and all her accomplishments and seeing how much he loved and respected her. I hope that I have made her proud.” In 1963 when Jim and Marshall met at a Baptist Student Union retreat in Southern Pines, she wrote a letter home that said, “I met a boy.” Six months later they knew they would marry after they graduated, and from there they built a wonderful life together. And today the generosity of their scholarship at Meredith is enabling a student to continue to build the story of her life.
Donors Grow Gift to Help Science Majors By Emily Parker
L
ast year, an anonymous alumna and her husband made the decision to increase the scholarship they started in 2005. The $400,000 endowed scholarship will support a student studying science at Meredith College. She hopes the scholarship will enable someone to breathe easier and not worry about the financial burden of college. In 2005, the donor’s husband gave an initial gift of $50,000 to Meredith as a surprise to his wife. He gave it in her honor and in memory of her mother and aunt who attended Meredith, after deciding a scholarship was the best way to help students. In 2020, the donors wanted to give an additional gift of $350,000 to the scholarship fund. “We saw the endowment performance reports each year for the initial $50,000 gift and knew we had to do better if we could find a way,” said the alumna donor. The alumna donor, a biology major, had a supportive mother who drove her to visit Meredith her senior year of high school. During that visit she said Meredith “sparkled.” Everything about it, the administration, the science labs, the BeeHive, the Alumnae House, the trees, the flowers, and even the barn “sparkled.” “I was embraced, led by the unknown mystery, the chance of discovery, the anticipation of becoming what I would, one day, be. No, I didn’t really see all that then, but I knew I was in a place where I felt good vibes,” said the donor. “And I did not know on that day that my future husband was just across the street at NC State.” As a curious person, the donor was interested in science and majored in biology. She had many faculty members who counseled her as needed. Everyone, including the administrators, the librarians, the cafeteria staff, and the maintenance staff, helped her navigate her new life at Meredith. “I know Meredith provides a quality education. I know because I was on campus from 1962-1966. I know now because our Meredith gift officer Billie Jo Cockman has educated us in ways we could give and shared helpful information with us such as summaries of students’ summer research projects, endowment performance reports, and details from donor appreciation dinners. I know because we have received beautiful thank you notes for the small contributions to students’ tuition.” The alumna donor’s love of learning did not stop after leaving Meredith. She used her biology degree for her children’s education, volunteer work, and a position at the American Heart Association. Once her husband’s business of building small commercial and large residential structures prospered and after her children had left home, she decided to go back to Alamance Community College and study horticulture. Botany may have been last on her list of science interests at one time, but it has brought her much happiness planting gardens and has extended into painting acrylic murals and canvases of water, rocks, and trees. The donor wants to encourage students to continue leading, reading, observing, questioning, and taking action. “My husband and I are here on one side of the equation, the scholarship recipient on the other side of the equation. So that you, too, can work in research. You, too, can write books. You, too, can hold various high level positions. You, too, can raise compassionate children in a family. You, too, can run for Congress – please! Each one gives in her own way. Each one is responsible for her part, connecting, balancing the equation, and attaining equilibrium.”
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MEREDITH PHILANTHROPY MAKING AN IMPACT
Gift to Foster Art Majors’ Creativity By Emily Parker
T
he Anne Carroll Mustian Ezzelle Art Student Enrichment Fund was established last year by her husband Brian Ezzelle. Anne Carroll Ezzelle, ‘90, was an art major at Meredith and taught elementary art for 29 years in Chesterfield County, Va. During that time she fostered her students’ creativity and encouraged them to reach their goals. In spring 2021, Brian created a $50,000 endowment in memory of Anne Carroll, who passed away last year, to provide enhanced learning opportunities for art students with financial needs. “When we were in school in the late ’80s she was always running around to get art supplies for her classes at Meredith,” said Brian. “She also would always help her students at Reams Road Elementary, where she taught. A lot of the students came from economically challenged households and she wanted to soften the blow of the cost of supplies for them because she knew art would give them something outside of their normal life.” The enrichment fund will provide enhanced study opportunities for students with financial needs and may include, but not be limited to, art supplies and equipment, field trips, experiential learning including internships, workshops, seminars, artrelated research, and presentations at professional art conferences, art
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educators meetings, and the study of art history. “I wanted to establish this fund because I knew Anne Carroll did this for her kids at Reams Road Elementary. She bought supplies so they could have an enriched experience. She saw art as an oasis for some of these kids. She saw kids going through rough situations and tried to expose them to as much as she could,” said Brian. Anne Carroll was also appreciative of her art education at Meredith College and the deep friendships that were formed. Martha Ann Brawley McConnell was her roommate all four years. “We were actually very different people when we moved in together at Meredith. We had wildly different personalities. By the end of her life, I felt like our lives were forever intertwined and she is just part of the person into whom I grew,” said McConnell. “I want people to know how smart, funny, and loving Anne Carroll was. She was a great mother, wife, and friend who always took time to check in on her friends and offered the most amazing love and support. Anne Carroll would be so proud of Brian for thinking about creating such a beautiful gift in her memory.” Anne Carroll also stayed connected to the College and attended several alumnae events including a chapter event in Richmond, Va., with her daughter, Meredith, who is currently
a sophomore at Meredith College majoring in communication. “My mother loved Meredith College. It is the place where she discovered that she wanted to be an art teacher. She met her best friends there that I am very close to now,” said Meredith. “She was a great mother, who did her best for my older sister, younger brother, and me. My mother never put any pressure on me to choose where to attend college, she wanted me to be at a place where I was happy. I decided to attend Meredith College because I love the small-school atmosphere and after she passed, the school helped me a lot with coping.” Anne Carroll went on to receive her master’s degree in art education at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995. She loved teaching and felt it was important to teach something she loved. “She believed art was a tool, a tool to pass along to others, and hopefully the person learning would continue to spread it through generations,” said Brian. If you were a classmate of Anne Carroll’s or are interested in contributing to the enrichment fund, please contact Kim Whitley, ‘85, director of parent and family engagement and reunion gift officer, at kimwhitley@meredith.edu or give online at community.meredith. edu/supportmc and designate your gift to the Anne Carroll Mustian Ezzelle Art Student Enrichment Fund.
SUPPORT BY THE NUMBERS $10,666,456 Raised in major, planned, and annual gifts in 2020-21 MEREDITH FUND
ALUMNAE RELATIONS
$2,432,054
$52,803
$872,977
$771,521
Raised in total annual giving by the Meredith Fund
Raised for the College's Greatest Needs
74%
Raised for the Parents Fund
Raised for the sixth annual Make It Count for Meredith Giving Day
Giving participation achieved from faculty and staff
conducted 79 outreach events, including in-person and virtual. Of these outreach events, there were 2,696 registrations representing 43 states, 7 countries, and 73 different class years. These events featured 38 retired or current faculty members or alumnae experts within their field. Meredith Mentors platform has 1,673 users.
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! Visit the newly redesigned meredith.edu/support to learn about ways to 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, make a long-term, endowed gift, or a gift through your will or trust. Would you like to volunteer? Learn about future events? Connect with other alumnae through the Meredith Mentors program? Visit meredith.edu/support for more information or to find an Institutional Advancement staff member to assist you. To make a gift, visit community.meredith.edu/supportmc.
Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION Class notes and news for Meredith Alumnae 1954
Barbara Jones Cummings had a much-needed week's vacation with her daughter in beautiful Traverse City, Mich. She is still cautious about getting out and about and none of her volunteer projects were opened before September. She is the only Meredith Angel at Friends Homes West so Meredith Magazine and emails are a real treat. Best wishes to all on the upcoming 89th and 90th birthdays and the class of 1954's 67th class reunion! Dot White Hartley says "hello!" to the class of 1954. She turned 90 in February and her granddaughter sent emails to many family and friends, asking them to send a short video to remind her of a memory. It was a wonderful birthday! She heard from people in Florida and California who would never have been able to come to a party. Hartley reports that a woman nearby who just had her 90th birthday is starting a 90s club. She said that so many of her friends had died that she needed to make new friends, so decided to start a club for all of the 90-year-olds. One of Hartley's sons took her to a family reunion near Elizabeth City, N.C., at the end of July; the next generation planned it. She took old photos and a family tree to share. Theresa Raynor Tayloe is doing well for an 88 and a half year old lady! She just bought a new car. Her old one was 12 years old and had problems so she made a big decision! She says "isn't that optimistic?"
1963
After the last year and a half of staying in, Fran Gorham Stewart writes that it has been good to do some normal activities like shopping and in-person church
services. She has felt safe visiting a few friends and neighbors, even attending a Fourth of July cookout and a birthday party for a special 8-year-old. All of this may change because of COVID19's resurgence. Stewart is practicing patience and flexibility, attributes she says she pretty much lacked in her younger days and is thankful to have developed. She is also thankful to have good health and reasonably good sense. Best of everything to all in Meredith's Class of 1963!
1964
Jane Kincheloe McDonald writes that during the gift of time that COVID-19 provided, she was able to complete a long-term project. She invites you to check out her video on YouTube titled, "The Testament in Clouds."
1965
Polly Finan Laubinger, Glenda Brown Worley, Sherron Boyd Moore, and Betty Spence Laughinghouse have enjoyed phone calls, emails, and texts during the pandemic to keep in touch with each other. After the class reunion in October, Polly and Glenda plan to repeat and revamp a trip they took in 2019 to Blowing Rock and Boone, N.C. Winery visits and shopping are on the anticipated agenda.
1968
The Class of 1968 is holding minireunions virtually and they encourage all class members to join them. Contact Lynne O'Dell Washington at Lynne.washington@me.com if you are interested in receiving the Zoom link.
1973
Lynn Moore Gordon writes that like
everyone worldwide, her 2020-21 has been stressful. Her husband's three brain surgeries were scheduled for March 2020 but were postponed until August. The surgeries were successful in controlling his tremors on the right side but not on the left. On October 4, her husband suffered a stroke, which took several months of therapy to get speech and walking back. Gordon's mother, having lived with them for 17 and a half years, died November 16. Then on February 5, Gordon found out that she had uterine cancer which had penetrated 12 of the 14 millimeters of the uterine wall. She had a hysterectomy on March 17 and radiation treatments followed. Needless to say, they took a much-need vacation in July: three days at Del Coronado in San Diego, Calif.; 10 days in Oahu, Hawaii, where her husband was stationed in the U.S. Marine Corps; and three days in San Francisco. Gordon shares that her witness is that they have felt and known the presence of the Lord through it all. "He does give you His perfect peace in the midst of the storms!" Christine Such Mulder retired in 2015, after 30 years in librarianship. Most of that time she was a cataloger. Mulder and her husband traveled to the Netherlands and Belgium in September 2018. Mulder's husband was born in The Hague and emigrated to North America at the age of 5, later becoming a U.S. Citizen. By the time of their trip they had been married for 38 years, and this was his first trip back home to see surviving relatives. Mulder reports that they had a wonderful time and hope to go again but maybe sooner than 38 years! She also shares that she has two children and two grandchildren. Bobbie Heilman Murphy writes that over Memorial Day weekend her family
Compiled by the Office of Alumnae Relations from March 25 through July 23, 2021. 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 Spring 2022 issue is November 12, 2021. Submissions received after this date will appear in the Summer 2022 issue.
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traveled back to LaGrange, Ky., in Oldham County, where her dad grew up, to attend the dedication of the Road Warrior statue. It depicts her dad on his Harley-Davidson and is a tribute to him and all WWII veterans. The statue honors her dad for all the miles he traveled on his bike as spokesman for the Greatest Generations Foundation and the Spirit of '45 Organization. The statue is on the grounds of the Oldham County History Center. It is amazing how much it looks like him!
1975
Cheri Garnett Furr has been on several beach trips with her daughter, sonin-law, and grandchildren, which has been wonderful-a trip to Topsail Island is planned for the week of July 31. Furr writes that she was fully vaccinated as of February 15 and hopes more people who qualify will get vaccinated. She is scheduled to go on a cruise from Southampton, England, which has been planned for two years, but she is unsure if that will happen now, as Americans currently have to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in the United Kingdom. Marion Feezor Venable retired as Surry Community College Foundation executive director in January 2021.
1976
Susan Merritt Cox welcomed a granddaughter, Natalia Grace Morales, on March 31, 2021. Denise Brown Rix reports fun times have been had reconnecting with suitemates and roommates during the pandemic. Cindy Thurman Rutledge, Margaret Rhyne Miller, Mary Ann Leitch Balock, and Jan Barrier Minoff have shared laughs via Zoom, Facebook, and Messenger. Friends forever! Reya Blount Roller has been retired since 2013. Roller took care of her handicapped son until he was able to drive again in 2016. He was hurt in a car accident in July 2013, which resulted in a paralyzing spinal cord injury. Roller's first grandchild, a boy, was born in October 2014, followed by a second grandson in June 2018. Roller says they are the light of her life! Other than being her grandchildrens' backup sitter, she enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with friends. She does work part-time for a local funeral home, but that is very sporadic. Roller enjoys keeping in touch with
MEREDITH TRAVEL IS BACK! THE WEST COUNTRY: ENGLAND AT ITS VERY WEST (BEST) MEREDITH TRAVELS TO ENGLAND JUNE 6-19, 2022 There is something delightfully different about the West Country, perhaps because of its Celtic origins and its miles and miles of cliff-lined coast. We will spend our first night in charming Windsor, home to Queen Elizabeth’s favorite castle. After a good night’s sleep, we will strike out for Dorset and 15th century Athelhampton House, quite new compared to nearby Cerne Abbas, the Benedictine Abbey we will also visit, founded in 987! From there we travel to Devon and Cornwall, exploring atmospheric Dartmoor as we go. Wide, open moorlands punctuated with wild ponies and stone tors provide an amazing setting for characterful villages (and cream teas). Cornwall will charm us equally or more with its tiny seaside coves and cottages, its gardens, its quaint villages, and its delightful opportunity to have tea with local folks. By the time we depart this beloved part of England, all will be anglophiles! We will console ourselves as we head north with stops at Port Isaac, home to TV’s Doc Martin, and Dunster, home to a picture-perfect castle and more locals who are opening their garden just for us. Bath is our next stop, but likely not the Bath you have visited before. It will be our base but we will explore the nearby Cotswolds, visit Chavenage (setting for Poldark), and tour Dyrham Park (setting for The Remains of the Day). We will also spend half a day wandering through the world famous Westonbirt National Arboretum. When you leave, you will know why the English speak of having “green fingers,” while we have only a “green thumb!” Stay tuned for details! For updates on the Meredith Travel Program, visit meredith.edu/ alumnae/meredith-travel-program or contact Taylor Twine, '13, associate director of alumnae relations, at twtwine@meredith.edu or (919)760-8712.
meredith.edu/alumnae Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION classmates Janet Koonce Dumas, Susan Willets Roberts, and Kathy Midyette Anderson and reports that they get together several times a year. Jackie Owen Stallings and her husband have relocated to Columbia, S.C., after 40 years in Richmond, Va. Her son along with his wife and daughter live in Columbia, and Stallings loves being nearby! Her daughter was recently married in a lovely Grand Tetons wedding, and she and her husband will continue to live and work in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Stallings writes that she enjoys visiting them there often!
1977
Myra Harris Boone is retired from careers in teaching elementary school and nursing.
1981
Jackie Revels Abbott is teaching again! She is at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C., and teaches three classes of seniors. She loves being back in the classroom and having time each week to spend with her grandson who was born in July 2020 to her daughter. Abbott writes that it is the best thing ever to have a grandchild! Lori Page Clay moved back to North Carolina from Ohio in June 2021. Mary Lambert Cottrell welcomed a grandson, Abel McCoy Cottrell, in February 2021. Kiki Massenburg Farish has retired from teaching fine arts. She taught most recently in the Meredith College art department. Farish is renovating and moving to her father's ancestral home in Wake Forest, N.C. She hopes to be there in the fall of 2021. Joyce Witherington Mattox has worked for Sea Island for over 30 years as a registered dietitian nutritionist and now a Pilates instructor. Tudy Moncure is working at the University of Maryland and living in Annapolis, Md,. near her daughter and her family, who added a third child in September. Moncure spends much time at her place in Bethany Beach, Del. Retirement is near and travels are many; Greece in August! Terri Couch Taylor is the volunteer/donor coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of GoldsboroWayne. Taylor also shares that she and her husband celebrated 35 years of marriage and welcomed their first grandchild in April.
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1983
After 22 years living in Boerne, Texas, Karen Smith Monroe and her husband built a barndominium on 12 acres in Comfort, Texas, and moved in March 2020. All four of their children are now married. Their son graduated from Sam Houston State University and got married during the pandemic. Their three daughters have blessed them with eight grandchildren in total. Monroe writes that they are so blessed! Ginger Woodard cared for her parents in their home over the past five years while also teaching online for East Carolina University. Now that both parents have passed, she has moved back to her home in Greenville, N.C. With 35 years in higher education, Woodard retired in the summer of 2021! She is excited to begin this next phase of her life.
1985
Beth Krewson Carter has published her second book, a murder mystery, tiled Poison Root.
1986
Bridgette Parker Coates and her husband celebrated 33 years of marriage in June 2021 and are basking in the accomplishments of their two children. In May 2021, their son graduated from Campbell University School of Law, in Raleigh, N.C., and sat for the bar exam in July. He has been hired by a reputable civil defense firm in Florence, S.C., so they are excited to have at least one of their two children living locally. This fall, Coates' daughter began her fourth year as a kindergarten teacher in Pickens County, S.C. She will graduate with her Master of Education from Clemson University in December 2021. She bought a home in Greenville, S.C. this summer. Robbin Spencer Dunthorn is excited to announce that her daughter started attending Meredith this fall and is planning to major in biology. Sandy Dupree-Somers retired from the Wake County Public School System in October 2020, after 32 years in the field of social work. The majority of those years were proudly spent as a school social worker and lead school social worker with Wake County Public Schools. Christy Browder Ferwerda
reports that her daughter got married on May 22, 2021. Kimberli McMurray Flaugher welcomed a granddaughter, Landrey Grace Flaugher, on November 16, 2020. Georgia Parrish James reports that she is expecting her first grandchild at the end of October. It's a girl and her name will be Madelynn James Skillman! Melinda Wrenn Thomas writes that her family finally downsized to their downtown Greensboro, N.C. condo in late June 2021 and that she is loving the simple life! Thomas also reports that she welcomed a granddaughter on January 6, 2021. Tammy Swann Whitley became a first time grandparent to a beautiful baby girl named Emmaline Rose on May 18, 2021. She is the daughter of Whitley's younger son and his wife, who are currently stationed in Missouri with the Army. Whitley and her husband have been living in Havelock, N.C., since 2006. In 2017, they bought a tiny home in an RV park close to the beach. They go there when time allows to enjoy the beautiful Crystal Coast. Whitley left the teaching profession in 2019 and started working as a physical therapy technician with a local clinic. She reports that it is a joy working with all of the patients and watching them get their mobility back after a surgery, injury, or illness.
1987
Mary Ellen McKown Fines is retiring from public school education. She has taught high school math, computer science, economics, and personal finance along with being a data and assessment specialist. Her new adventures include working part time at a faith-based Title 1 K-8 school and sharing God's story in her life as a public speaker. She writes that more triathlons and learning new things are also in the picture.
1989
Kathy Knowles Lohff welcomed a granddaughter, Melisa Elaine Lohff, on May 21, 2021. Mary Dickson Long was recognized in late April as the 2020 South Carolina Foster Care Review Board Member of the Year at the annual Foster Care Review Board Professional Development Day. Long has served as a volunteer on this board, which advocates for youth in foster care, for 11 years. After 25 years working for the City of Rocky
Mount, N.C., as the director of finance, Amy Greene Staton has accepted a position with the City of Wilson, N.C. as the chief financial officer. Staton, with her husband and their son, will relocate once they find a home in this crazy real estate market. Susan Whichard Tankard taught school in Beaufort County, N.C., for 32 years, both kindergarten and second grade. Tankard has a son that is a 2019 graduate of The Citadel, Civil Engineer, US Army First Lt. stationed at Fort Bliss in Texas. Tankard has a daughter that is a 2021 graduate of UNC Charlotte with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is presently in graduate school. Kathryn Clark Vance entered her 26th year teaching. Her only son graduated high school and is attending Appalachian State University.
1990
In her 28th year as an educator, Deanna Harris has left the library to enter the
AIG (academically or intellectually gifted) classroom. Harris will be serving students at East Garner Elementary and Holly Ridge Middle schools in Wake County. While she knows that she will use her years of experience as a language arts teacher and school librarian, her nervousness and excitement is like being a first year teacher all over again!
1993
Kelly Phillips Erb has joined the Bloomberg Tax news desk as team lead for Commentary & Insights. For the past decade, Erb has written about taxes for Forbes and has developed a loyal social media following as @Taxgirl.
1994
Janna Morgan Lennon is now the director at College Road Early Childhood Center, a public Pre-K center with New Hanover County Schools in Wilmington, N.C. Alicia Morris Rudd has joined
the Jimmie Johnson Foundation as executive director. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is dedicated to assisting children, families, and communities in need in California, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. The Foundation currently supports K-12 public education.
1995
Deborah Buie Spencer earned a Life Coach graduate certificate from Grand Canyon University.
1996
Robin Creech Stanton is entering her 23rd year of teaching, which has included 21 years in elementary. She has now moved to high school and is teaching foods and nutrition at Green Level High School in Cary, N.C.
1999
After living in Washington, D.C., since 2000, Kari Becker Beard, her husband,
2021 PEWTER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
ONLY $25
Available beginning October 15, 2021 The Johnson Hall Rotunda is a welcoming sight to all who love Meredith College. Alumnae may recall their first time stepping through the doors or may think of all the women who went before them. In 2016, a massive renovation was completed giving Johnson Hall the new Jo Ellen Ammons Welcome Center, restoring historic elements of the building, adding a new copper dome, and moving the staircase to create a view from the front entrance into the courtyard and allowing more room for entertaining guests and welcoming alumnae home. Limited quantity available. Sale runs through December 1 or while supplies last. Pick up and shipping options available. To purchase, visit meredithmarket.com. Questions? Email alumnae@meredith.edu or call the Office of Alumnae Relations at (919) 760-8548.
Fall 2021 | MEREDITH MAGAZINE
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION ALUMNAE GOING STRONG
LARA STROUD DICK, ’03
Meredith Alumna Receives Fulbright Award to Study in Cyprus By Cailyn Whitman, ’18
Former Meredith faculty member and alumna, Lara Stroud Dick, ’03, has earned a Fulbright Award to study in Cyprus, a Mediterranean island located just south of Turkey. The Fulbright Award will allow Dick to continue her research on how math teachers can use technology to help students learn more effectively. More specifically, she will be researching an educational practice known as "teacher noticing," the process by which teachers observe and learn from the ways in which their students learn. Photo by Emily Paine (Bucknell University) “Teacher noticing is a practice teachers go through every day when learning from their students' thinking,” said Dick. “It includes three interrelated components: attend to students’ mathematics, interpret students’ mathematical understanding, and decide how to respond instructionally.” Dick’s research on teacher noticing has been focused on helping teachers move from attending and interpreting their students' thinking to making instructional decisions in their classrooms. “We have found that when students are working with math action technologies, their engagement with the technology provides additional information for a teacher to consider when making a next-step instructional decision,” she said. Now an associate professor of mathematics at Bucknell University, Dick works with future teachers every day. Her research will allow her to help her students become better educators. “If you ask any of my former students to tell you about teacher noticing, they will be able to explain the importance of attending to their students’ mathematical thought process,” she said. During her time in Cyprus, Dick will expand on this research and hopes to learn how Cypriot students engage with the same math action technologies that are used with students in the United States. “Specifically, I seek to answer the question, what is the role of language and culture in the manner students engage with different math technologies?” she said. When Dick returns from Cyprus, she hopes to lead professional development with local secondary mathematics teachers and to continue helping her own students become better teachers. “I am so thankful that I and my family have the chance to experience Cypriot culture,” she said. “I'm one-fourth Cypriot and am so excited for this opportunity.”
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Jason, and their daughter have relocated to Greensboro, N.C. They are enjoying living near family! Katie Hardersen King is the 2021-22 chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section. She practices family law with her firm, Wake Family Law Group, at North Hills in Raleigh, N.C. Mary Curtis McMillan is a lead child care consultant with the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education in Guilford County since 2015 and a child care consultant since 2005. Her daughter graduated from North Davidson High School 2020 and is in her sophomore year at Western Carolina University. She made the Dean's list last semester. McMillan's son is starting his sophomore year at North Davidson High School and is a scholar athlete with a 4.0 grade point average and has lettered in football as the JV Football quarterback/receiver. Nelly Navarro-Britt welcomed a granddaughter, Tracy Marie McKenna, in June 2021.
2001
Amanda Puckett BenDor was promoted to deputy director for partnerships at the Digital Square Initiative at PATH. In this role, BenDor works with donors, partners, and stakeholders such as the World Health Organization, supporting countries to use digital tools to improve health. Melissa Willard Edwards created and published a coloring book while at home because of COVID-19. On each page is a Bible verse or positive quote. It is titled Sharing a Little Joy: A coloring book just for You! and is available on Amazon. Shannon Morris Fox recently moved to Franklin, Tenn., with her husband, daughter, and son. Fox continues to share her passion with moms who want to live a natural lifestyle. This fall, she also started a new chapter as she begins homeschooling! Holly Lowman and her partner, Mary Bragg, have recently moved to Brooklyn, N.Y. Lowman continues to work for Red Light Management, the largest independent music management company in the world. She serves as an artist manager for American Aquarium, Kathleen Edwards, The Secret Sisters, and Hayes Carll.
2002
Regan Brown Reynolds and her husband have recently relocated to Saint George, Utah, near Zion National Park and not far from the Grand Canyon. Reynolds is working remotely as associate director of human resources and Recruiting for BioAgilytix Labs, a bioanalytical laboratory/CRO headquartered in Research Triangle Park. Christine Kelley Storch's company, Dashing Trappings, is in its second year! Dashing Trappings is a home furnishings and accessories website.
2003
Lara Stroud Dick has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to Cyprus to lead professional development for secondary math teachers. She is an associate professor of mathematics at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Penn. Jackie Phillips Weatherly-Cadzow moved to Nova Scotia, Canada in January 2021.
2004
Courtney Harris Currin was named Granville County Public Schools Principal of the Year for 2021-22. Currin has also started a new position as director of
federal compliance and personnel for Granville County Public Schools. Paige Kemmerer Kiser received the 2020 North Carolina Governor's Award for Volunteer Service for her efforts to raise a record-breaking total of scholarship funds for military dependents, lead the spouses' organization, and support families as a Key Spouse at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
2005
Sarah Apple Campbell opened a new spice business called Smidgen. Campbell is the primary owner and her husband is the co-owner. Rachel Salsman Harrison began a job as account manager at IXL Learning. Jenna Chambers Higgs is now working at Rimmer Insurance Agency in Raleigh, N.C. as an administrative specialist. Meredith Robertson Monday is working at Oracle as a business operations manager in the Communications Business Unit. Amanda Hatfield Moore is now the pastor of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kent, Ohio.
2006
Heather Allmond Barker joined the faculty of Elon University as a Lecturer
in mathematics and statistics. Julia Adams-Scheurich graduated in May 2021 from Wake Forest School of Law Master of Studies in Law, Health Law and Policy. Adams-Scheurich was a Dean's Award recipient and was accepted into the 2021-22 American Health Law Association Leadership Development Program.
2008
Carrie Pratt recently obtained National Board Certification in Early Adolescence English Language Arts. She is currently teaching 7th grade in Asheville, N.C.
2009
After working in the Meredith College Admissions Office as a counselor and assistant director of admissions for more than a decade, Anna Buryk Lambert resigned her position in March. After getting married in 2016 and moving to New Jersey, she continued to recruit prospective students as Meredith's first Mid-Atlantic Representative. Lambert also helped to organize campus events for students, families, and high school guidance counselors. In May 2021, Lambert relocated to the Springfield, Ill., area with her husband
SAV E T HE DATE • M AY 20 -22 PARTY 3 CLASS LUNCHEON & EVENTS 3 WORSHIP
COLLEGE PRESIDENT JO ALLEN, ’80 STATE OF THE
All alumnae are invited to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend, and classes ending in a seven or two will be celebrating a special class reunion. The weekend’s activities include a party on campus for all attendees, a State of the College address by President Allen, class luncheon, individual class events, and an Alumnae Worship Service.
MA
Y 2 0 -2 2 , 2 0 2 2
Make plans now to join us!
meredith.edu/alumnae-reunion
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION and their 3 year old daughter. Lambert's husband is the newly appointed vice president for inclusion and diversity at Blackburn College. After settling into their new home, Lambert hopes to find employment in the Springfield area. She will always remain fond of and loyal to her alma mater, Meredith College!
2011
Nataleigh Timberlake Carscaddon started a new job in a new field in March 2021. She took a leap from the legal world to the fast-paced and exciting home building industry. It's a big change and a lot of fun to see a home come together from start to finish! Brittany Frieson Davis was recently added as an expert of Black/African American languages and literacies to the editorial review boards of Language Arts (NCTE) and Reading Horizons' academic journals.
2012
Katrina Kempney was promoted to manager of corporate guidance on Red Hat's Corporate Messaging and Guidance team, which focuses on clear, effective communication of strategic company goals and messages. Kempney and her fiance also adopted a Samoyed puppy, Nemo, earlier this year. Kayte Thomas earned her Ph.D. in social work from Baylor University in May 2021. Her dissertation research is titled The Intersection of Social Work and Syrian Women with Refugee Status: A Transnational Matricentric Feminist Perspective. It is available open access through ProQuest.
2016
Julia Tilley was hand-selected by the leadership team of The Center for Leadership Studies, where she is employed, for the "Level Up" award at the company's annual meeting. Tilley was recognized for developing a complex marketing automation program that drove almost $300k in revenue and 30% of new client business in a year where training spending took a big hit because of the pandemic.
2020
Myah Morse began teaching social studies at West Brunswick High School, while working on her Residency License from the University of North Carolina
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at Wilmington. Not only is she teaching American history and psychology, but she is also the head coach of varsity volleyball and an adviser of the Student Government Association.
2021
Laura Stanley Price, a daughter, Rosabel Laurel, 4/1/21.
2013 Alex Stratas Cornelius, a son, Jordan Rae "J.R.", 5/29/21.
Alyssa Barbour began teaching third grade at West Lake Elementary in Apex, N.C. Ally Copenhaver started her career this fall as an elementary physical education teacher at the same elementary school she attended in Fayetteville, N.C. Copenhaver will also continue to grow her personal training and nutrition coaching business, ACFIT, while training out of CrossFit Haymount. She plans to obtain her CrossFit Level 1 Certification in October 2021. Brittany Peele is now a production associate at CoImmune, Inc.
Anne McDonald Green, a daughter, Berkley Ann, 6/11/21.
NEW ARRIVALS 2001
2008
Wendy King Miller, a daughter, Abbey
2009
Sue, 10/21/20.
2004 Krystal Twiford Jordan, a son, Julian Thomas, 1/6/21.
2006 Rebekah Taylor Hernandez, a son, Michael Lee, 1/8/21. Amanda Gupton Lancaster, a son, Baxter Shane, 11/24/20. Lindsey Delafosse Turnae, a son, Henri Sebastian, 1/4/21.
2008 Angela Stoehr Young, son, Elijah Alexander, 3/8/21.
2009 Lauren Cheek Brewer, a son, Hudson Todd, 3/21/19.
2010
Cameron Mast Griggs, a son, Hudson Perry, 11/17/20. Zelle Brown Wiggins, a daughter, Virginia Parker, 5/12/21.
MARRIAGES 1995 Deborah Buie to Joey Spencer, 10/6/18.
2004 Erin Hege to Stephen Shea, 6/5/21.
Carrie Pratt to Nathan Brown, 6/12/21.
Lauryn DuPree to Lara Leininger, 5/30/21.
2009 Bethany Burriss to Kevin Vaughn, 12/5/20.
2011 Brittany Frieson to Derek Davis, 7/10/21.
2013 Rebecca Thompson to Wills Barbour, 5/22/21. Catherine Moye to Tyler Churchill, 5/22/21. Amanda Blanton to Tanner Smith, 4/10/21. Emily Krewson to Ben Watson, 5/22/21.
2015 Taylor Booth to Mark Nifong, 5/14/21.
Emily McKenzie Gregg, a son, Ronan
2016
Michael, 6/3/21.
Katherine Gambella to Cory Cregan,
Amy Brooks Roach, a son, Asher Declan, 11/25/19.
4/23/21.
2011
11/3/18.
Alyssa Muniz to Benjamin Vincent,
Sarah Buster Joyner, a daughter,
2019
Emily "Emmy" Phillips, 7/8/21.
Carolyn Saylor to Ryan Miller, 6/19/21.
DEATHS 1944 Carolyn McCaskill Owen, 4/10/21.
1946 Clarice Kennedy, 5/2/21.
1948
ALUMNAE GOING STRONG
TONI IRWIN, ’19
Alumna Brings Avatars to Life as Game Fashion Designer By Gaye Hill
Anna Hungerford Wilson, 3/2/21.
1949 Ella Adams Henderson, 4/1/21. Ella May Shirley Knight, 6/13/21. Susan Graham Klopp, 7/7/2021. Gwen Woodard Cooley Pitkin, 7/7/21.
1951 Julia Parker Pace, 3/9/21. Patsy Emory Perry, 5/3/21. Daphna Bordeaux Pope, 6/26/21.
1952 Irma Ray Clipson, 5/19/21. Barbara "Bobbie" Morris Cloaninger, 4/11/21.
1953 Beth Casstevens Clark, 12/6/17.
1955 Joan Allen Rainey, 5/4/21.
1956 Maxine McRoy Batchelor, 5/30/21.
1957 Shirley Henline Haynes, 4/14/21.
1958 Betty Forehand Baker, 3/28/21. Jane Maynard Bowers, 5/30/21. Louise Moore Bryan, 7/20/21. Yasue Redden, 5/25/21. Jane Shelton Stembridge, 7/21/21.
1959 Faye Locke Rogers, 7/13/2021.
1961 Edna Faye Faircloth Blake, 6/17/21. Nora Cauline Howell, 3/29/21. Anne Hunter Sharpe Mace, 4/16/21.
Toni Irwin, ’19, curates fashion content for the top-ranked game Project Makeover. As a Game Fashion Designer, she works with a team of artists and designers to create concepts for each of the game’s characters as well as wardrobe and beauty options. “While the players get to choose what outfits they want to dress the characters in, I get to decide what options the players will choose from for each character,” said Irwin. “I love this part of my job because I get to analyze the character and provide the players with wardrobe options that would make sense for each character based on what they might like as a real person.” A typical day might include providing wardrobe references, personality traits, and background stories for each character, approving artwork by 2D and 3D artists, reviewing fashion and beauty options before implementation, and organizing fashion references for the avatar and in-game sales. Irwin said one of the more challenging aspects is assembling wardrobe and beauty references for the avatars used by the players. “I have to be sure to include diversity within the different genres of fashion, beauty, and cultures so that each player will have pieces they are happy to use,” she said. “I do research and stay on top of trends to make sure I am being inclusive.” The game is much like a makeover show. Each player serves as the show’s “director,” interacting with a makeover crew and characters receiving makeovers. The player/director makes all of the decisions for each makeover, including a new room, wardrobe, hair, and makeup, all of which contribute to the character’s increased confidence at the end. Irwin’s own self-confidence was boosted during her college years. As a double major in business administration and fashion merchandising, she said the fashion study abroad program in Paris was one of the reasons she chose to attend Meredith. “It really opened my eyes to the world and helped me realize that I can do anything I put my mind to,” she said. Irwin said Meredith helped her identify her strength as both a team member and a leader. Her college experience was also shaped by the deep friendships she made. “The friends that I met while at Meredith had a huge impact on me. We motivated each other throughout college, and even to this day, we continue to motivate and push one another to reach our goals in life,” she said. “Knowing where I came from, where I’ve been, and where my dreams will take me are what make me strong.”
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION 1966
2015
Elizabeth Ponton Manning, 5/29/21.
April Hansen, 5/12/21.
1967
2021
Bonnie Noel Perry, 2/12/20.
Meredith Moore, 5/8/21.
1969 Dianne Mitchell Forsyth, 7/8/21.
SYMPATHY 1948
1971
Edith Stephenson Simpson in the death of her husband.
Beverly Easter Bingham, 3/26/21.
1981 Susan Harris Frazier, 4/22/21.
1957 Annette Lee Kahn in the death of her husband.
1958
1983 Jean Fortenberry Blevins, 4/14/21.
1986 Mary Lynn Purcell Roberts, 6/12/21.
Helen Moore Casey in the death of her sister.
1963
Christine Such Mulder in the death of her father.
1974 Christy Farrior in the death of her aunt. Lynne Oliver Martin in the death of her mother. Deborah Jordan Matthews in the death of her husband.
1975 Karen Oliver Johnson in the death of her mother. Ellen Wester in the death of her mother.
1977 Myra Harris Boone in the death of her husband.
Helen Boone Stevenson in the death of her sister.
Freda Middleton Tricarico in the death of her father.
Kristina Gentry, 5/6/21.
1970
1979
1998
Emma Ruth Bartholomew Stewart in the death of her husband.
Najla Nave Carlton in the death of her son.
1973
1981
1996
Megan Champ Morgan, 4/22/21.
2005 Lauren Lomax, 1/3/21.
Debbie Martin in the death of her nephew.
Mary Lambert Cottrell in the death of her mother.
2.22.22 | 24 HOUR GIVING CHALLENGE HONOR THE STRONG WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE Mark your calendar and honor a strong woman who has made a lasting impact on your life. Your gift will make Meredith College stronger and support our students.
Let’s make it count for Meredith! #MakeItCount4MC | meredith.edu/makeitcount4mc 46
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Martha Anderson Dobson in the death of her father. Cindy Casey Goode in the death of her father. Cynthia Albritton Guthery in the death of her mother.
1982 Dale Williamson Purcell in the death of her sister-in-law.
1983 Malene Middleton Georgeson in the death of her father. Penny Middleton Hill in the death of her father. Amanda Wester Kidd in the death of her mother. Ginger Woodard in the death of her father.
1985 Kathryn Langley Anderson in the death of her cousin. Helen King Dunklin in the death of her husband.
1986 Carver Evans in the death of her father. Donna Martin in the death of her nephew.
1987 Connie Compton Johnson in the death of her father.
1989 Kathryn Clark Vance in the death of her father and mother.
1990 Beth White Sarnelli in the death of her mother.
1991 Julie Adcock Ferrell in the death of her mother. Scottie Evans Mason in the death of her father. Nan Smith Toppin in the death of her father.
1993 Amy Alderman Griffin in the death of her father.
ALUMNAE GOING STRONG
COURTNEY HARRIS CURRIN, ’04 Meredith Alumna Named Granville County Principal of the Year By Cailyn Whitman, ’18 For Courtney Harris Currin, ’04, being named the Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) Principal of the Year was a surprising and humbling honor. “I was in a state of shock for at least three weeks,” she said. “It truly means more than I can even put into words.” One of the parts Currin enjoyed most about being given the award was the platform it gave her to recognize the hard work and dedication of her school staff, who she says are doing great things in the realm of project-based and personalized learning for students. Currin’s accolades in the education field go back to her time at Meredith, where she was an English major, N.C. Teaching Fellow, and member of the Honors Program. She also earned a Master of School Administration at NC State, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at UNC Wilmington. “My purpose is to help every person I work with meet their highest potential,” said Currin. “Being an educator means having the opportunity to do that on a grand scale.” Not only is she passionate about making an impact on students and other educators, Currin also believes in equipping others with the tools to create an impact of their own. This passion for helping others succeed is why Currin became an educator in the first place. She can recall memories of herself as a child, pretending to teach a classroom of stuffed animals and dolls. But along the way, she discovered a new passion for helping other educators succeed, too. “Facilitating students' abilities to fail forward, think critically, communicate well, and create new ideas is fulfilling,” she said. “And I became an administrator to support teachers in many of the same ways I supported students. My goal is always to see our staff and students thrive in a positive environment.” Meredith provided a positive environment for Currin to thrive when she was learning many of the same principles she works to instill in her students and teachers today. “Between the content knowledge I gained through the English department and the pedagogical knowledge I gained through the Education and Teaching Fellows programs, my time at Meredith prepared me to lead in a classroom from the very first day,” she said. “As a school administrator, I have continued to see that Meredith produces high-quality candidates.” Currin now serves as the director of federal compliance and personnel for GCPS, where she continues to serve in the field of education and make a county-wide impact. Her advice to students pursuing education at Meredith is to remain positive and forward-thinking. “This job is hard,” she affirmed. “But don't give up. The work you do in loving and facilitating learning for our children is worth every minute. Surround yourself with colleagues who truly believe that.”
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ALUMNAE CONNECTION 1995 Stacie Watkins McCoy in the death of her mother.
1997 Gina Iavarone Essa in the death of her mother.
2000 Beth Donaldson Crosby in the death of her mother.
2002 Lynda-Marie Taurasi in the death of her mother.
MEREDITH TRAVEL IS BACK! NORTHERN ITALY, FROM SEA-TO-SHINING-SEA MEREDITH TRAVELS TO ITALY SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 5, 2022 Autumn in 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. So, of course, we have planned a tour for Fall 2022, emphasizing food and culture, and inevitably art and history. We will be, after all, in Italy. We’ll be traveling to areas in the northern part of the country that we’ve not yet explored with Meredith Travels. We will actually take ourselves from Sea to Shining Sea – from the Adriatic to the Ligurian. We will base ourselves initially in Bologna, from which we will visit Modena, home to the world’s best Balsamic vinegar among other local delicacies, and Ravenna, home to the Byzantine mosaics that will take your breath away. When we head west, it will be in order to visit the famed Cinque Terre (aka, the Italian Riviera) and then we’re off to the autonomous region of Aosta in the Alps, a region whose ownership has fluctuated between France and Italy through the centuries. We will gaze (longingly) at Monte Bianco (or, as the French would say, Mont Blanc – but our allegiance is to Italy!) and travel to Perloz, a small village awarded citation for bravery following World War II for their remarkable resistance to the Nazis. There will be many stops that will surprise you with the unexpected: Did you know that Torino has the oldest Egyptian Museum in the world, as well as the church where the Shroud of Turin is located? And all along the way there will be regional delicacies – seafood, cheeses, charcuterie, wines, pasta – and even some French-influenced cuisine! More details to follow soon. For updates on the Meredith Travel Program, visit meredith.edu/ alumnae/meredith-travel-program or contact Taylor Twine, '13, associate director of alumnae relations, at twtwine@meredith.edu or (919)760-8712.
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2009 Samantha Price in the death of her grandfather.
2012 Jennifer Brady in the death of her grandmother-in-law.
2013 Kelsey Suttenfield Lawhorn in the death of her son.
2018 MaryCharles Manning in the death of her brother.