Fall 2022 Meredith Magazine

CAMPUS NEWS

Opening celebrations were held this fall for Meredith’s new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) building, allowing employees, students, and other Meredith community members the opportunity to tour the facility.

These events celebrated the completion of the building, which houses instructional space for the growing communication and health, exercise & sport sciences programs, and Meredith athletic offices. Students are now able to learn and collaborate in the spaces and enjoy opportunities for interdisciplinary work including sports communication courses and student-based projects that span both areas of study. Learn more about the CHESS building in the feature on pg. 28.

Meredith Community Rolls Out the Welcome Mat

By Gaye Hill

The Meredith College Class of 2026 moved onto campus Saturday, August 20, 2022. And although the rainy weather initially impacted some aspects of Move-In plans such as the iconic balloon arch, nothing could dampen the welcoming spirit of the Meredith community.

Off to a Strong Start

New Student Orientation, which began the same day as Move-In, helped incoming students make an effective transition to Meredith. They learned about academic expectations, campus resources, and opportunities to get involved on campus. Students also got to know Meredith staff and other students, both their classmates as well as upper-level students who play an essential role in orientation – Student Advisors, members of the Orientation Crew, and Resident Assistants. Orientation also includes Meredith

traditions such as the Honor Code ceremony.

“There’s just something about Move-In Day,” said Stevie Melvin, ’24, who is a member of the Orientation Crew. “The freshmen are nervous but when you put a smile on your face you can see that it calms them down. Everyone is just so happy – it’s my favorite day.”

Alumnae, Parents Offer Warm Reception

As always, Meredith’s alumnae were eager to welcome incoming students to their alma mater. Nearly 60 alumnae volunteered to provide support for Move-In Day activities. In addition, the Office of Alumnae Relations sponsored several social events for students, with an ice cream and karaoke social held earlier in the week for Bridge Program participants, international students, and student-athletes, and yard

games, an inflatable slide, giveaways, and SweetWater Ice for students who arrived on Move-In Day.

Alumna Marva Watkins, ’86, said she’s participated every year.

“I would not miss it – it’s so much fun. I love meeting people from all over, and I also enjoy seeing other alumnae I might not get to see otherwise.”

Meghan Harward, ’10, said this year’s event was the first time she’d participated in Move-In since she helped as a Student Advisor.

“I’m excited to welcome another Even class,” she said. “My Big Sis moved in during a hurricane, so this weather isn’t too bad.”

The Parents and Families Council held two casual Meet and Greet events for families of students who were moving in, which was a new addition this year. One was held earlier in the week and a second on Move-In Day.

President Jo Allen, ’80, attended and offered brief remarks; families also received a gift and enjoyed refreshments as they mingled with current members of the Council.

Kim Whitley, ’85, parents engagement and reunion giving officer, said she decided to add the receptions as a way to engage families right off the bat.

“Our families seemed as though they really appreciated it – you could see them relaxing and smiling,” said Whitley. “The point is to make sure all of our families feel welcomed.”

Special Greetings for Intrepid Travelers

The Office of International Programs welcomed students to Raleigh several days before Move-In to allow time for programming and socializing before the larger New Student Orientation for all students.

Sessions addressed topics such as navigating transportation and healthcare in Raleigh, strategies for academic success, and social identities. Incoming students also had lunch with current international students and participated in a scavenger hunt to get acquainted with downtown Raleigh.

“International students are the bravest students I know,” said Jennifer Glass, assistant director of international programs. “On top of the challenges that go along with starting college or grad school, they’re also navigating life in a new country, possibly making sense of things in a second or third language, all while being very far from the comfort and security of the familiar.”

According to the Offices of International Programs and Admissions, the incoming class is more geographically diverse than

in recent years. First-year, transfer, and graduate students come from 20 states, including California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Montana, and 14 countries including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kenya, and Spain.

“International Orientation is meant to address those extra layers of transition that are unique for international students so that they may go into orientation feeling more comfortable and confident and ready to tackle life as a Meredith Angel,” said Glass.

“There’s just something about Move-In Day. The freshmen are nervous but when you put a smile on your face you can see that it calms them down. Everyone is just so happy – it’s my favorite day.”

— Stevie Melvin, ’24 Orientation Crew

First Class Completes Meredith’s M.A. in Criminal Justice

By Melyssa Allen

Meredith College held a graduation ceremony for the first graduates of its Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program on August 6, 2022.

Four graduates – Johana Calderon Suarez, Danielle Hunt, Juliana Barefoot Bunn King, and Crystal Poole – are part of this first class.

The keynote speaker for the event was Annie Harvey, commissioner, Maryland Department of Public Safety. Before her current role, Harvey held leadership positions in the criminal justice field in North Carolina. She has more than 30 years of experience, working in all aspects of the profession.

In her speech, Harvey congratulated the first graduates and focused on what it means to be the first at something.

“Being first comes from someone having a vision,” Harvey said before asking the graduates to remember when they decided to “be bold and brave enough” to apply for graduate school.

“It takes responsibility to be first because you are setting an example for those who come after,” Harvey said.

Program Director Bianca Harris expressed her pride in this first graduating class.

“These students came to the program with a mixture of backgrounds and a desire to understand criminal justice or expand their working knowledge within the criminal justice field,” Harris said. “I am most proud to have taken a front row seat in watching them grow and develop as a more knowledgeable practitioner and in some cases, a betterprepared newcomer, to the criminal justice profession.”

Prepared to Meet Challenges in Criminal Justice

Harris emphasized that the program prepares its graduates

to meet the challenges faced in the criminal justice profession.

“Our graduates will be ready to face the realities of what is difficult but doable, and what is challenging but deeply satisfying in the profession,” Harris said. “The practitioners who continue to evolve and learn will make a difference and change the landscape. Our program focuses on having those evolving practitioners along with academic experts share their knowledge with our students.”

Launched in 2020, Meredith’s Master of Arts in Criminal Justice is a 36-hour online graduate program. The program is flexible, allowing students to pursue the program at the pace that works best for them.

Many of the courses are taught by practitioners in the field. Harris, the program director, has more than 20 years of experience in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in criminal justice management, having served as warden of the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women and district manager of the Division of Alcohol and Chemical Dependency unit of the state Department of Public Safety.

In addition to Harris, those who taught this first class included a police chief, retired warden, director of prison social work programs, substance abuse program coordinator, retired director of the N.C. Justice Academy, and U.S. probation officers. Panel discussions with other practitioners from the criminal justice field were also held at least three times a semester.

“The biggest strength of the program is the commitment to recruit practitioners to teach as many courses as possible,” Harris said. “You just cannot replace hearing from the practitioners themselves about what they have experienced.”

Meredith Offers New Programs to Welcome, Support Students

By Gaye Hill

one lessons, how to work with a collaborative pianist, how to stay mentally and physically healthy, and more,” said Jeanie Wozencraft-Ornellas, head of the music department and associate professor of voice

She noted that students also participate in games and activities designed to acquaint them with the music buildings and the campus.

“We started the Boot Camp in large part because we saw how stressed our students have become in the past several years, and we wanted to offer them a fun, relaxed way to start their year,” she said. “As a result, we believe that the students last year had a very strong start to their college studies.”

Student Success Center

Established

Just prior to the start of the fall 2022 semester, Meredith offered a number of innovative programs to help students be successful.

Summer Bridge Program

This year, Meredith initiated a program to help incoming students become incorporated into the campus community before they begin the fall semester. Over 80 students chose to sign up.

“They have an opportunity to get to know other students, meet professors, become familiar with the campus, and refresh skills they need to succeed in their college courses,” said Sarah Roth, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities. “Because the Summer Bridge classes are pass/fail, and because students focus on only one class, incoming freshmen are eased into college-level work in a more relaxed environment.”

The Summer Bridge Program was offered at no cost to N.C. residents, thanks to funding released by the governor of North Carolina to help students affected by COVID-19-related conditions. Out-of-state students were charged a modest fee.

Participants earned two hours of general elective credit before beginning their fall semester through focused courses designed to help strengthen important skills like writing, oral presentation, and research. Classes broached a range of topics from the French Revolution to Media Production to Chemistry and incorporated engaging learning strategies such as historical roleplaying, hands-on video production, online games, and more.

Most classes started online on August 8 and continued for approximately two hours a day. Classes then met in person on campus for most of the week of August 15. Students who are living on campus also moved into residence halls three days early.

First-Year Music Boot Camp

This is the second year a First-Year Music Boot Camp has been offered. The program is designed to help music majors and minors make the transition from high school to college, and to understand the unique aspects of being a music major.

“We discuss how to practice, what expectations are for one-on-

The recently-established Student Success Center (SSC) incorporates support programs that have long been available, such as the Learning Center, as well as the newly-launched Success Coach program.

“Our Success Coach program is designed to help all students reach their academic, social, and career goals by prioritizing self-care and solid habits,” said Tina Romanelli, director of the Student Success Center.

The SSC provides Meredith students with advising, success coaching, peer tutoring, and mentoring. SSC staff partner with students, faculty, and staff across campus to increase student satisfaction, success, retention, and graduation. Offices are located both adjacent to the Cate Student Center on the first floor of Park and on the lower floor of the Carlyle Campbell Library.

“Personalized academic advising, accountability meetings, and one-onone or small-group tutoring can help any student make the most of their time at Meredith,” said Romanelli. “Collectively, our work empowers students to be in charge of their own experience.”

Meredith Undergraduate Research Program Supports Summer Projects

By Melyssa Allen

Ten Meredith College students were chosen to work with faculty mentors on undergraduate research projects supported by Meredith’s Undergraduate Research Program during the summer of 2022. The following students were selected to participate in undergraduate research this summer:

• Chanelle Bergeron, ’23, “Looking Elsewhere: Peering into the Unknown with Prose,” with Assistant Professor of English Jayme Ringleb

• Kristin Burroughs, ’23, “Inclusiveness of Playgrounds,” with Assistant Professor of Child Development Pamela Norcross

• Taylor Eaton, ’22, “Using Soybean Seeds as Model System to Replicate Procedures used for Arabidopsis Shoots from Roots,” with Professor of Biological Sciences Robert Reid

• Wahalyn Francis, ’26, and Melissa Taylor, ’25, “The Interpreter: A History Publication,” with Assistant Professor of English Jennifer Burgess, Assistant Professor of History Amy O’Keefe, and Associate Professor of History Angela Robbins

• Abby Inman, ’23, “Effects of COVID-19 on Children with Special Needs,” with Assistant Professor of Child Development Pamela Norcross

• Aiman Jamadar, ’24, “Synthesis and characterization of carbazole dyes for dye-sensitized solar cell applications,” with Associate Professor of Chemistry Sasha Ormond

• Aminah Jenkins, ’23, “Contextualizing the Practices of BIPOC Educators,” with Assistant Professor of Education Christoph Stutts

• Kara Solomon, ’24, “Investigating Skin Microbiota of Fungal Infection

Susceptibility in Salamander Hosts,” with Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Megan Serr and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Carolina Perez-Heydrich

• Samantha Travis, ’23, “Tracking wild house mice (Mus musculus) and examining societal perspectives on using gene drives for conservation,” with Assistant Professor of Biology Megan Serr

Monetary stipends for summer research projects are funded by the Shepard K. Halsch Endowment for undergraduate research.

Undergraduate research is an important part of the academic experience at Meredith College, with 47 percent of students participating in undergraduate research. Compared with other college students nationally, 24 percent more Meredith students conduct research with faculty.

Meredith’s I.D. Program Reaccredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation

By Taylor Sexton

Meredith College’s Interior Design program officially received reaccreditation from the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) in May 2022. The reaccreditation will last for the next six years.

The CIDA has spent more than 35 years working to advance the profession of interior design by continuously improving and enhancing interior design education.

This reaccreditation means Meredith’s interior design program met the 16 professional standards the CIDA uses to evaluate interior design education and its ability to prepare students for the professional field. The 16 professional standards are divided into two parts: the program’s identity and context and the knowledge acquisition and application students gain.

Being reaccredited by the CIDA attests to the quality of Meredith’s interior design program. Students can be assured when choosing CIDA accredited programs that they will receive an education that meets the rigor of peer review and will develop the skills and knowledge required to practice as interior design professionals. Employers also take note of candidates who have graduated from accredited programs.

Shaping the Future of Health and Communication

In the fall of 2022, Meredith College proudly opened its newest academic/athletic building: Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS).

The building houses two growing programs, communication and health, exercise & sport sciences, along with several coaches’ offices. Collectively, the decision to house these programs in a new facility was based on the majors’ incredible enrollment growth as well as our successful athletics program. We also wanted to signal Meredith’s ongoing, but often unseen, commitment to health programs that attract talented students and speak in powerful ways to the needs and passions of women.

During the pandemic, which ironically interrupted the building’s construction for several months, we became more acutely aware of the impact of general health and open communication on the well-being of our society and ourselves. We know, for instance, that underlying health conditions were powerful factors in

the impact of COVID on the body (the degree and longevity of debilitation and recovery), as well as drivers for policy decisions regarding work options (remote or in-office), the prioritization of vaccinations and boosters, and the lasting effects of illness.

Similarly, we relearned the importance of knowledge and communication of that knowledge during the pandemic, including the disparate effects on various groups by age, race, economics, and other factors. I’ve often said COVID-19 was a perfect storm of information, disinformation, and misinformation – some science-based and evolving and some conspiracy-laden and deteriorating. Sadly, we did not see the coming together of concern and care that has characterized so many threats to our nation’s well-being and, especially, to the most vulnerable among us.

Our programs are designed to address the many health and communication elements that

deeply affect our everyday lives. From taking better care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, to being more effective listeners, writers, and speakers, we have an extraordinary opportunity when asked “What did you learn from the pandemic?” to respond that we learned how better to respond to discomfort, to navigate change and challenge, and to put others at the center of our concerns.

As educators and learners, we remind ourselves and teach our students that life is fundamentally about change. Having a wonderful new building to house those explorations through technology, simulations, and hands-on experiences further solidifies our commitment to navigating change with our strengths in mind.

President Jo Allen, ’80

Wings Program Celebrates 50 Years

By Emily Parker

Meredith College celebrated 50 years of its adult education program, Wings, with an anniversary event on September 15, 2022. Alumnae, past directors, current students, faculty, and staff attended the event in Jones Auditorium that reflected on the program’s history and future.

The program was established in 1972 as the Re-entry Program, and was designed to help women ages 23 and older continue their education and graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

Sandra Close, who enrolled at Meredith at the age of 40 and later became program director, welcomed attendees before introducing President Jo Allen.

“Today is a very important day for Meredith College and especially for the Wings program. It was called Re-entry, then 23+, and finally Wings. We may have struggled with the name but never struggled with the mission,” said Allen.

President Allen recognized Anne Clark Dahle, ’54, founding director from 1972-94, Sandra Close, director from 1997-2002, LeNelle Patrick, director in 2002, Susan Adams, director from 2002-07, and Tom Manning, current Wings director.

“The hallmark of the Wings program is caring. Each of these leaders listened, questioned, and encouraged students to dig deep and find strength and talent to help them succeed at Meredith,” said Allen.

Allen mentioned that women came to class during their lunch break, after their children went to school, and after work.

The adult education program was unavailable for a few years but students were still admitted through the Admissions Office. After Allen became president she made a commitment to restart the program. In 2015, Tom Manning was hired as the new director. After much discussion, the program took the new name of Wings. In the last 50 years, well over 2,000 students have graduated from

Meredith through the adult education program.

Jean Jackson, vice president of college programs, celebrated students from each decade with a music selection and various videos that highlighted an alumna of the decade. Alumnae shared what the program meant to them and their experience on campus.

“I was born into learning. It changed my life for good. It has been one of the best experiences I have had. I will never forget it,” said Lili Ruth Lawson Jones, ’82. Jones said Anne Dahle and the professors were a great influence on her and she appreciated the chance they took on her to attend college for the first time.

Carroll Hill Cato, ’94, was a religion major who started Meredith at 44 and wanted to be a hospital chaplain. “I had a lot of fun here. I grew up here. I remember coming to the campus the first time and stood in a line with 17- and 18-year-olds. I made an appointment with Close and Dahle, took one class at a time, then took two classes, and then went full time. The professors' doors were always open. I loved that about Meredith.”

Pinaky Patel, ’19, was a computer science major. “Tom Manning’s support and energy and the fact that he was always there for you no matter what and without any hesitation any time, any day made me want to stay

at Meredith College. The staff and professors were amazing.”

Vaune Blalock, ’20, majored in dance studies at the age of 55 and was a full-time student. “The best thing about Meredith College for me was the experience. It was a great experience of acceptance at my age. Everyone made me feel so welcome. Now I have a legacy of education for my entire family.”

Valerie Rodriguez Jusino, ’23, current Wings Organization president, was 28 when she enrolled at Meredith in 2021. She spoke about her path to complete her second bachelor's degree in business administration at Meredith.

“I have learned it is never too late. It was one of the best decisions of my life. Meredith College has helped me build confidence and keep my dreams alive,” she said.

Tom Manning, current director of Wings, gave his vision for Wings and praised Dahle for endowing a fund to bridge the gap in tuition for Wings students

“By endowing the Anne C. Dahle Founder’s Fund, the gap fund between financial aid and awards and tuition, she provided the foundation for Wings growth for future generations,” said Manning. “You have changed so many lives in this room and beyond.”

A tea and a social were also held to provide an opportunity for Wings alumnae to gather and remember their time at Meredith.

Founding Director Anne Clark Dahle, ’54, (front) with (left to right) Susan Adams, LeNelle Patrick, Margaret Clary, Sandra Close, ’86, and current director Tom Manning. Adams, Patrick, and Close are former program directors and Clary is a former assistant director.

Meredith Graduate Nutrition Program Celebrates 100% Match Rate for Sixth Year

By Gaye Hill

For the sixth year in a row, 100% of the graduates of Meredith College’s Master of Science in Nutrition program have been matched to dietetic internships (DI).

Getting matched to a dietetic internship is the second step in the rigorous process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Meredith’s match rate well exceeds the national match rate, which has ranged from 62% to 74% over the past five years.

Rachel Findley, director of the didactic program in dietetics, said the exceptional match rate is the result of a collective effort from all of the food and nutrition faculty and staff, particularly their personalized focus on student support.

“From the beginning of students’ time with us, we talk with them about what a successful application looks like to an internship program,” said Findley. “We push them to seek out experiences to help them grow and to learn what they like.”

She noted that students often cite Meredith’s match rate as a reason for choosing the College’s program.

That was the case for Ashlyne Wright, ’22, M.S. in Nutrition, who was matched to a dietetic internship at The Ohio State University, her top choice among DI programs.

“I came to Meredith because of its proven student success, as evidenced by the 100% match rate from the previous years,” said Wright. “I also was attracted to Meredith’s program because of the sense of community it instills and the genuine desire of the faculty to help you reach personal and professional goals.”

Jordan Seward, ’22, M.S. in Nutrition, will complete her dietetic internship at Cornell University, after which she plans to specialize in pediatric nutrition.

Seward said she feels well prepared for the next phase of her studies.

“The program not only provided me with multiple outlets to explore my interests in dietetics but also made me feel well equipped and confident going into my dietetic internship,” said Seward. “Strong and caring professors who are invested in our personal lives are the backbone of this program.”

Wright expressed a similar feeling of confidence.

“I feel prepared to head into this next phase of my career at a large university medical center where I will be able to build upon my nutrition knowledge and personal development gained from Meredith,” she said.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Meredith’s MS-Didactic Program in Dietetics track is an ACEND accredited program designed for individuals with a career goal of becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR).

If a student successfully matches to an ACEND accredited dietetic internship post-graduation, they will complete a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practice to become eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN).

MEREDITH EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

Meredith College experts have recently been featured in the media discussing topics including transparent decision-making in higher education, what to do after losing a wallet, and the potential impact of young voters on the next election.

Some of the more interesting nuances of decisionmaking during the pandemic help demonstrate why simple answers and procedures typically defy value in a crisis – in other words, the easy answer is almost always wrong. The cliché of building the car as it speeds downhill is more than apt for this situation as new information and data comes in daily and, occasionally, even hourly. Whether it’s about new numbers, new strategies, new guidance or new solutions – just when we are ready to hit “send” on a communication to the campus – new information has us scuttling to revise and amend that message.”

President Jo Allen in a University Business opinion piece, “Are we going to miss the opportunity to make higher ed more transparent?,” published in August 2022.

Keep a minimal amount of items in your wallet, what you really need. Don't take unnecessary cards that you rarely use in your wallet.

You should call the police even if the wallet has been lost. If someone happens to find your wallet, a filed police report will have your contact information so the items can be returned to you."

Meredith Campus Police Chief Al White, in a U.S. News article offering advice on what to do after losing a wallet. The article was published in August 2022.

In the next four months, if there isn’t something substantive done on the issues they care about, there is a real danger that young voters will not vote or volunteer on campaigns to the same degree as they did in 2020.”

Professor of Political Science David McLennan in an article examining potential young voter turnout. The story was published in The Washington Post on July 16, 2022.

Voices of Change Institute Completes Second Year

By Melyssa Allen

The Voices of Change Political Institute, a comprehensive nonpartisan training program for women, recently completed its second year of training.

A partnership of Meredith College, Advance NC, and the North Carolina Black Alliance, the Voices of Change Institute is designed to help women build their confidence and develop the practical skills to run successful campaigns and serve as powerful and effective leaders.

There were 13 participants in the 2022 session, representing all geographic areas of North Carolina, and with varied professional backgrounds in education, health care, advocacy, and more. Participants had interests in public policy issues such as voting rights, climate change, education, maternal health care, civil rights, and public safety concerns.

“Women selected to participate

in the Voices of Change Political Institute hone their leadership skills, prepare for political campaigning, and develop tools for effective and ethical public service,” said Professor of Political Science David McLennan, one of the Institute’s leaders. Supporting this effort were featured presenters including state and local elected officials, professors, media experts, leadership trainers, noted political strategists, and community organizers.

Graduates of both year’s Institutes were recognized in September at the Voices of Change: Contested Citizenship Conference. Advance Carolina, NC Black Alliance, and Meredith College were the conference sponsors. The free, in-person conference provided a collaborative, educational, action-oriented space for those who want to study and support the voices of Black women

and women of color seeking to bring change to the political system in the United States.

About the Voices of Change Institute

Voices of Change is an initiative facilitated by Meredith College and its community partners to elevate and support the political engagement of Black women and women of color as part of a multi-year project funded by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the Gilder-Lehrman Center at Yale University. The Political Leadership Institute is co-directed by Meredith College Professor of Political Science David McLennan and Meredith College alumna La’Meshia Whittington, ’16, deputy director of Advance Carolina.

Back-to-School Packets Show Support for Alumnae Educators

By Emily Parker

In 2021, the Office of Alumnae Relations mailed back-toschool packets to teachers, librarians, school counselors, administrators, professors, and other educators as they prepared to start a new school or academic year. The response was so overwhelming from alumnae that the project was repeated this year.

The envelope contains a few Meredith items for the teachers to display. In addition to showing the College’s support of teachers, it is a great way for educators to promote Meredith College to their students.

More than 550 alumnae pre-registered for a backto-school packet. The mailing was sent to alumnae representing 47 different class years and living in 21 states and two countries.

“Not only is this a great way to thank educators for the work they do in shaping hearts and minds, but it’s a great way to provide them some Meredith items for their classrooms and offices,” said Hilary Allen, '01, director of alumnae relations.

The Alumnae Office has received positive feedback from alumnae educators, who have expressed appreciation for the items and admissions information via the Alumnae Facebook group.

Summer Reading Program Focuses on Critical Issue of Climate Change

By Gaye Hill

Through the Summer Reading Program, the Class of 2026 and other Meredith community members explored one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change.

Rather than a single book, this year’s Summer Reading featured a multimedia website that hosts a variety of resources about climate science and climate activism. A range of articles, podcasts, TED Talks, literary works, and fine/performing arts pieces appealed to the many ways students learn and take in information. Meredith’s site, Climate Conversations: Women on the Forefront, focused specifically on the efforts of women who are working to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change.

“We are excited about offering stories and information about climate change in a variety of media formats,” said Chrissie Bumgardner, co-chair of the Summer Reading Program committee. “Students like to consume information in different ways – and each format provides a slightly different perspective, which offers a richer, more wellrounded view that will, in turn, enrich our conversations.”

Given the program's focus, Bumgardner said the committee also liked the sustainability of using digital resources. And she noted that in researching potential materials for the website, committee members tried to look for stories that offered a hopeful perspective

“We know students have been through a lot in the past few

years, and climate change is such an overwhelming topic,” she said. “We thought it was important to counter some of that anxiety with positive stories of women who are working to bring about real change.”

Summer Reading discussion groups were held in September. Prior to the discussions, student advisors and discussion facilitators met and as part of that training, participants learned about the varied sustainability efforts taking place on Meredith’s campus. Such efforts include reusing water from the cooling tower for irrigation, composting by Belk Dining Hall, which also emphasizes local purchasing from BIPOC and women-owned farms and more, LEED-certified building practices in the Oaks Apartments and CHESS building, and much more. Firstyear students also took turns working in Meredith’s Dickson Foundation Community Garden as a tangible way of supporting sustainability on campus.

Additional activities related to the Summer Reading Program included succulent planting by the Library, a photography workshop sponsored by the Art Department, “Meatless Monday” offerings from Dining Services, and a speaker.

Learn more about Meredith’s Summer Reading Program at meredith.edu/first-year-experience/summer-readingprogram.

VERONICA HARRISON, ’22

Becoming a Supportive Mentor Through Meredith’s Wings Program

By Taylor Sexton

Coming to Meredith has shown me that I have strengths and skills that I wasn't even aware of. And I can use them to make the world a better place.

At first, I was really apprehensive about being a Wings student. I didn't know if I had anything to add or if I would stand out. But it turns out that being a Wings student is really useful because you can use life experiences and you can enrich the discussion in class.

I chose Meredith because I wanted to go to a school that had so many strong women who could inspire me when I didn't necessarily feel I could do it. I could look around at all of the women on campus and just say, if they can do it, I can do it, and it's been wonderful.

If I had not come to Meredith to get my undergraduate degree it

would not have happened. I can say that definitively. The staff and faculty have been wonderful. They've been so understanding and patient. I chose psychology because I really felt it would help me interact with students more often. I like to work with adolescents, and I've been a mentor for adolescent females for about six years. So I figured going and getting a psychology degree would be the most natural way to counsel and guide them better.

When my advisor first told me about research, it was something I did not want to do. I didn't think that I was strong enough to do it. I thought that was for smart students. But I gave it a shot, and she said, Veronica, you can do it. And having her believe in me helped me believe in myself.

My research was on the best ways to pair mentors and proteges for optimal

outcomes. So, under what criteria do we make that pairing so that it is the most successful it can be? I was able to present my research during CSA Day and talk about mentorship, which is something I'm really passionate about.

And I got to learn more about it, and that's something I will take with me when I mentor. I feel like being in class with these students helped me become a better mentor and helped me support and guide them through their journey just as I've been supported and guided through mine.”

Wings – Adult Education at Meredith College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Read about the program on page 14.

Learn more about Wings at meredith.edu/ adult-education.

I chose Meredith because I wanted to go to a school that had so many strong women who could inspire me when I didn't necessarily feel I could do it. I could look around at all of the women on campus and just say, if they can do it, I can do it, and it's been wonderful.”

Watch Veronica Harrison’s Strong Story.

Meredith Students Participate in First-Year Engineering Design Day

By Melyssa Allen

Students in Meredith’s Dual Degree Engineering program participated in the First-Year Engineering Design Day (FEDD) at NC State at the end of the 2021-22 academic year.

FEDD is an opportunity for first-year engineering student teams to showcase their design projects, which were completed as part of the Introduction to Engineering and Problem Solving course. They learn the engineering design process and gain teamwork skills.

Javi Brito, Alexee Estes, Amelia Irvin, Sarah Manis, Tiana Smith, and Carson Wood were the Meredith College participants, on teams with NC State classmates. Irvin was the only Meredith student on her team, while the others were on teams together.

Smith and Wood were on a team called The Chicken Littles. The team designed and created an automatic chicken coop door. The project earned an honorable mention.

“We felt proud of ourselves for achieving such a difficult task in only four months,” Smith said. “Overall, we have learned that having good time management is crucial for the success of any engineering project as well as utilizing each member’s strengths during the design process.”

Estes, Manis, and Brito were on a team together that designed a “Beverage Buddy.” This transportable cup holder was stable on the ground and included a key holder and ice pack space. The project was required to be created on a 3-D printer.

“This was truly a wonderful experience. It was gratifying to be able to use techniques and lessons learned in other math and engineering classes and apply them to the project,” Estes said. “This is the first project I’ve engineered and produced. It will be inspiring to look back on it in four years.”

The Dual Degree Engineering Program is an agreement between Meredith College and NC State through which students simultaneously complete the academic requirements of both institutions.

Assistant Professor of English Zach Linge recently had a poem published in The Atlantic. Bring the OJ, a poem for Sunday, was published on July 31, 2022. Linge’s work has also appeared in Pleiades, Ploughshares, and Poetry.

Two members of Meredith’s Office of Career Planning are serving in leadership roles in their professional organizations this year. Associate Director of Employer Relations Jane Matthews, is serving as president of the North Carolina Association of Colleges & Employers (NCACE) for the 2022-23 year. Employer Relations Coordinator Andrea Wogoman is serving as communications co-chair (website & email) for the North Carolina Career Development Association (NCCDA) for the 2022-23 year. She is also serving as a member of the Conference Committee for the North Carolina Association of Colleges & Employers (NCACE) for the 2023 conference.

Staff members in Meredith’s Marketing Department received a 2022 Circle of Excellence award through the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Meredith’s entry was one of more than 4,500 entries from members in 28 countries. The winning entry, titled “Here’s to Strong Women Who Get Things Done,” highlights successful Meredith alumnae. It was written by Content Strategy Manager Gaye Hill and designed by Senior Graphic Designer Katie Bryant, ’07 Other members of the team contributed through photography and general editorial input. Director of Admissions Shery Boyles provided metrics to strengthen the nomination.

Education Department literacy faculty are participating in programming connected to a generous grant from the Goodnight Educational Foundation to support all NCICU Educator Preparation Programs in meeting new legislative requirements associated with the Science of Reading (SoR). Literacy faculty, Professor of Education Jennifer Olson and Assistant Professor of Education Cindy Morton-Rose, have attended training over the summer, will complete an additional 160 hours of online training, and have received $16,500 of sub-grant funding in connection with this work. Teacher education students at Meredith will benefit from the materials and diverse children's books the department will be able to purchase. These students will ultimately be better prepared to teach reading to young students.

Amelia Irvin, second from left, with her team.

Celebrating 50 YEARS OF WINGS

EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF MEREDITH’S ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM

By Taylor Sexton

The year is 1972. Looking around, you can find men and women clad in bell bottoms in various colors and patterns. “American Pie” is number one on the charts, and no matter what station you change your radio to, you can’t escape Don McLean singing about the day the music died. It was a year of firsts as well. NASA launched the Space Shuttle Program, the Dallas Cowboys won their first Super Bowl, Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon, and speaking of Nixon, who can forget the scandalous Watergate?

In 1972, historic events were happening worldwide, and Meredith College was no exception. Because this was the year Meredith’s adult education program, now known as Wings, began. The program was designed to help women ages 23 and older continue their education and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The idea of adult education at Meredith bloomed before the ’70s. As a result of a self-study conducted in 1969 for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the College Committee on Continuing Education recommended establishing a program for adult women. They felt such a program fit with Meredith’s mission to educate and strengthen women.

Watch the Wings 50th anniversary video.

THE 1970s

In 1972, Meredith’s sixth president, Dr. John E. Weems, was sworn in, and from the beginning of his time at Meredith, he took a particular interest in continuing adult education. In August of the same year, he hired alumna Anne Clark Dahle, ’54, as director of continuing education.

“When I was hired, I was not a professionally trained adult educator, but I was in a transitional stage in my own life and had a keen understanding of the needs of women who wished to re-enter school or to return to work after a period of time away from work and school. Because of my own needs, the first stages of the program were directed to people like myself,” said Dahle in a 1977 interview.

Enrichment courses were offered during public school hours, allowing women with children to attend classes without worrying about finding a sitter.

The women’s rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the rise in adult women looking to gain their education. At the time of this movement, women were seeking to obtain equal rights and opportunities, as well as greater personal freedom.

“Each day of school, each class, presents a new and exciting experience to me. I am also delighted at the new faces of other women that I see increasing in number on the campus; women who seek, as I did, to add new zest to their lives after the homemaking years are no longer demanding so much of their time,” wrote adult student, Virginia Norton, in 1976.

The adult education program grew as enrollment rates increased. Toward the end of the decade, the program included credit courses for adult women, enrichment courses for all ages, faculty and staff development programs, and programs offered at Meredith by community groups.

“These trends in part-time, non-credit, and older student enrollment indicate a changing profile of student enrollment as we move into the 1980s. The profile reflects a more mature student, often with job and family responsibilities, an increased orientation toward careerfocused education goals, and often, an increased interest in learning experiences as an enhancement of the cultural quality of life,” Weems wrote in 1977.

THE 1980s...

“The first thing I think about in reflecting on the past ten years is the establishment and rather phenomenal growth of continuing education,” said Allen Burris, vice president and dean of the College in 1982. “The adding of postbaccalaureate programs … will be a part of the future. In other words, organizing for the older student has been an important trend in the last ten years. It will continue to be.”

At this point, Meredith’s Continuing Education gained state and national recognition for its innovative nature.

The adult education program was renamed the “Re-entry Program,” and enrollment rates continued to soar. Of the 2,000 students attending Meredith, approximately 18% were adults.

Women In New Goal Settings (WINGS), from which the adult education program would later get its name, was an informal organization that helped support non-traditional students. It became particularly active during the ’80s. The organization sponsored orientation programs, support groups, and social activities, and kept members up-to-date with events and happenings around campus.

Each re-entry student had her strength to share and a story to tell, and Dahle said there was one student's success who made all of her efforts to better the adult education program worthwhile. Lillie Lawson-Jones, ’82, gained her degree in five semesters and three summer sessions on a study release from prison. Lawson-Jones shared her story in the fall of 1983 Meredith Magazine.

“This was a new experience for both of us. She had to learn the college procedure, and I had to learn the prison procedure. It took time and patience,” said Dahle.

For years, Lawson-Jones had dreams of going to college and becoming successful. She dropped out of high school in tenth grade but gained her GED before incarceration.

“When things were getting so that I thought I could push

...THE 1980s

to come out on study release, I had read the catalogs from NC State and Peace and Meredith. Something about the description of student life at Meredith said to me, ‘This is the environment that’s going to provide the nurturing you need in order to do whatever it is you’re going to do with your life,’” said Lawson-Jones.

Lawson-Jones was eager to learn, and she never avoided difficult courses. Instead, she met each challenge with determination and enthusiasm. There were voids in her educational background and several times when the prison and college systems were not in sync.

“She often felt caught up in situations that had no solutions. During these times, she always came to talk. We worked hard together to understand the problems and to solve them,” said Dahle. “Working with Lillie LawsonJones has been the most rewarding experience of my last five years. Probably my entire career.”

Lawson-Jones went on to earn her master’s in social work at UNC, hoping to one day bridge the gap between the free community and the incarcerated community.

“I feel that I’m ready to tackle it all,” said Lawson-Jones.

THE 1990s

By 1992, the Re-entry Program celebrated 20 years and had a total of 560 graduates since forming in 1972. Non-traditional students made up 20% of Meredith’s student population, and the adult education program was renamed 23+.

Meredith continued to recruit non-traditional-aged students and saw value in the unique perspectives they would bring to the classroom. The adult education programs faced some challenges over the years, including student finances and acceptance by traditional-aged students in the classroom.

Despite these challenges, the enrollment rate for adult students was projected to grow even higher by 2000, so the demand for staff in the program grew as well.

In 1997, Sandra Close, ’86, took over as director of the 23+ program, having worked for the department as assistant director since her graduation. As a 23+ graduate, she brought the student perspective to the program and understood the wants and needs of students.

Close came to Meredith at 40 after being encouraged by a friend to attend a class. She explained how the times were different when she was 18 and how most women usually became a teacher, a secretary, or a nurse. In her case, she married young and had worked as a nurse for years.

She described her time at Meredith as a challenging but empowering experience. Close wanted to continue encouraging and guiding women like herself.

“I could tell them exactly what they were going to face. But, the big thing was that it changed my life so much that I wanted other women to see what it could do for them to get a degree,” said Close. “I felt stronger.”

THE 2000s THE 2010s

In August of 2014, President Jo Allen revived Meredith’s commitment to adult education after an outpouring of support from faculty, staff, and alumnae, many of whom ended up donating money to reinvigorate the program.

Close retired as director in 2002 but would remain an active alumna and vital part of the adult education program. Later, in 2013, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award and had the Sandra Critzer Close Scholarship endowment established in her honor to support adult students.

“Sandra Close is a powerhouse,” laughed LeNelle Patrick, who joined the 23+ program staff in 1999.

During the 2000s, the 23+ program worked toward several goals, including providing comprehensive evening classes for women, improving the retention rate of 23+ students, determining the need and impact of financial aid on students over 23, and examining issues relevant to adult students and helping them advocate for change.

Patrick helped establish the National Honor Society for Adults, Alpha Sigma Lambda, and actively worked with the rest of the staff to create an environment where students could succeed.

“We had an entire floor in what was then called the Cate Park Center. We were a one-stop shop back in the day. I recruited, I advised, and I was on the student organization, WINGS. We were doing admissions and everything a student over the age of 23 could need,” said Patrick.

Despite the support provided to students, the 23+ program began to dissipate. Many students didn’t want to go through the program and would rather go through the standard admissions office.

By 2008, the 23+ department was split up, with many of the staff being transferred to work in admissions.

“Meredith should be uppermost in the minds of all women who seek higher learning as a route to a better future,” Allen commented in 2014 following the announcement. “We know it makes a difference in their personal and professional lives, as well as in the lives of their families, communities, and our world.”

The adult education program was renamed from 23+ to Wings-Adult Education Program, and in February of 2015, Tom Manning was hired as director of Wings.

“I was tasked with helping the College understand how the Wings students were experiencing Meredith and helping to identify things that needed to be fixed or done differently to make it easier for them to navigate.”

Having been an adult student in college himself, Manning knew the importance of creating a space within a college where non-traditional students could feel accepted and supported.

Manning is currently the only staff member of Wings since students go through Meredith’s regular admissions, advising, and financial aid processes.

“I’ve done a lot to help make this a very welcoming, personally supportive program,” said Manning. “I’m trying to meet with them and create a more seamless environment so they don’t have to go from office to office and try to understand all the language of higher education.”

The Future OF WINGS

Manning has big plans for the future of Wings, including a financial program that would allow Meredith to meet the needs of students when they have a gap between tuition and financial aid.

“That’s a big reason people don’t come,” he said. “They’re making a lot of sacrifices to be here, and it breaks their heart when they find out they cannot attend Meredith after they’ve gone through the whole process.”

The increased financial support will be an essential part of the program's evolution, and Manning hopes it will continue long after he is gone.

“It is exciting that we get to roll it out during the 50th anniversary,” said Manning.

The hope is that with this financial assistance available to adult students, more women will be able to attend Meredith and achieve their dreams of a college degree.

Since the comeback of Wings, several inspiring success stories have come out of the program.

One of these students includes

Parimala Prahalad, ’20, who came to Meredith to earn her degree in biology after realizing she wanted to go to dental school.

“We are given the encouragement, the advice, and the support we need by the faculty, staff, and administration to succeed once we graduate,” said Prahalad about her experience. “I can confidently say that Meredith provided me with all the tools to become a strong and successful leader in my field of study.”

Another student who soared in the Wings program was business administration major Krystee Chase, ’18, who was provided with the tools she needed to excel in her career. She was initially concerned about the amount of time that had passed since she had been in school, but Chase ended up thriving.

“The tailored support for my educational development attracted me to the Wings program,” said Chase. “It provided me with a community within the sisterhood of Meredith, which gave me a sense of belonging.”

Chase became a recipient of the 201617 Meredith College School of Business Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Award for Best Idea, was a semi-finalist for the Meredith College Social Entrepreneurship Challenge and led an HR Audit Research presentation on CSA Day at Meredith.

These opportunities, as well as her relationships with faculty, staff, and classmates, enriched her educational experience and gave her the confidence she needed to succeed.

“Balancing life as a working mom and as a full-time student, along with unforeseen occurrences, was the biggest challenge that I faced. I learned that my drive and determination will not allow me to become defeated.”

In 1973, Dahle wrote, “With a Continuing Education Department, we hope to encourage more women to take advantage of these opportunities.” Her hopes came true because 50 years later, the adult education program has continued to soar and empower women of all ages in all walks of life.

Contribute your gift to the Anne C. Dahle Adult Education Founder's Fund.

READY FOR LAUNCH

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS

By Gaye Hill

Established in 2018, Meredith’s Emerging Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program assists recent graduates in art, dance, and theatre in developing their creative practice and building a portfolio of mature work in their chosen discipline.

AIR aims to be a stepping stone between an undergraduate education in the arts and the next phase in professional development. Residents create a body of work unrestricted by project guidelines and course-specific learning objectives and thus develop a deeper and more independent relationship with their creative practice. Participants also give back to the Meredith community by mentoring and supporting current students.

How AIR Works

Each semester, alumnae who are selected as residents are welcomed back to campus to grow and strengthen their artistic practice in a supportive community.

AIR participants have access to studio facilities and mentorship by Meredith’s experienced faculty as they create work to launch their professional careers or apply for graduate programs in art, dance, or theatre.

Artists chosen for the program also contribute 10 hours per week to the community through activities that include teaching assistance, facilitating open studio hours, and participating in group critiques.

At the conclusion of their residency, Emerging Artists have the opportunity to exhibit, stage, or perform the work they have produced while in residence at Meredith.

Ceramics by Rachel Stewart, ’21

Why AIR Matters

Holly Fischer, assistant professor of studio art, notes that many creative media are facilities-dependent, meaning artists need access to a dedicated workspace as well as specific tools and equipment. The residency provides both the basic necessities for producing their work along with faculty mentorship and a peer group of other artists who are in a similar developmental phase.

“Monthly group critiques offer residents critical feedback that fosters conceptual development and encourages experimentation that can lead to new approaches and directions,” said Fischer. “Residents also have the opportunity to develop practical skills applicable to a range of careers in the arts. They gain experience in teaching methodology by assisting in the classroom, they learn how to maintain a safe and functional studio, and can acquire skills in gallery management.”

Professor of Dance Carol Finley said choreographers can face similar challenges.

“Time and space are top commodities and often elusive to new choreographers who want to build a portfolio for graduate school or simply explore a burning idea,” she said. “AIR makes both time and space available to our alumnae to not only create new work but to produce it for the stage as well.”

Finley noted that the application and selection process alone enhances applicants’ resumes, and the experience is an effective transition from student work to preprofessional.

“Even for students who might not pursue graduate work in dance, the process of working with a student cast under the faculty production director is beneficial,” she said.

What Residents Have Done

The work produced through AIR varies as greatly as the 18 artists who have participated to date. Here are just a few –read more stories and see residents’ work at meredith.edu/air.

Fiber art by Taylor McGee,’19

Rachel Stewart, ’21, focused on ceramics while also assisting in the studio. She now works in the Apex Senior Center running the studio and teaching ceramics classes, a position that was a direct result of her residency.

Taylor McGee, ’19, is a fiber artist who founded Curated Craft Market, a small pop-up art market. “This residency helped show me that making art, being in a creative community, and teaching and sharing my passion isn’t just what I want to be doing, it’s what I need to be doing!”

Having the time to be back in Meredith’s studio was such a transformative period. I grew so much not only as an artist in my craft but also in my skills in running a ceramic studio. Interacting, helping, and guiding students ultimately gave me the tools to succeed in my current teaching career.”

Rachel Stewart, ’21

Visual Art Residents have worked in ceramics, fibers, and painting; photography was recently added as a fourth medium and additional media are being considered. Thirteen residents have participated to date. Fall 2022 Emerging Artists-in-Residence in Visual Art will hold their exhibition in the Gaddy-Hamrick Corridor Gallery from December 8, 2022 – January 27, 2023.

Ceramics by Rachel Stewart, ’21

Fiber art by Taylor McGee,’19

Being a stage manager is part air traffic controller and part emotional counselor –anytime someone has an issue they’ll come to you. It’s all about working with people to do their best, and in that way, the two fields are related.”

Leslie Castro, ’19, used her grant to design videos used in a production of No Exit and wrote a 70-page stage manager’s operational manual for use by the theatre department, drawing on her experiences as a stage manager for Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Since completing her residency, Castro has developed a passion for bridging gaps in mental health care and is pursuing a graduate degree in social work with the ultimate goal of becoming a licensed counselor.

Jordan Clodfelter, ’20, improved her scene painting abilities and technical design skills. She went on to complete an assistantship at Temple Theatre and a Technical Director position at UNC-Chapel Hill.

This program allows an artist to further develop skills in a safe environment while continuing to contribute to the program. Our residents took on leadership roles in the program while strengthening skills they discovered late in their education here at Meredith.

The residency gave them a wonderful opportunity to further develop those discovered areas.”

Steven Roten Professor of Theatre

Leslie Castro,’19

Photo from the play No Exit courtesy of Steven Roten.

Jordan Clodfelter, ’20

Leslie Castro,’19

cooperating faculty mentor can see how the artist develops relationships, communicates ideas, and completes long and short-term goals, all of which is helpful in writing letters of recommendation.”

During their time as Emerging Residents, dance majors Natalie Piper, ’18, Summer Warrington, ’19, and Megan Beachem, ’19, each choreographed a new contemporary modern work for Meredith Dance Theatre (MDT). They rehearsed weekly with a selected cast to create the works, which were then performed in MDT in Concert with professional lighting and video documentation.

Are you interested in applying to be an Emerging Artist in Residence?

can find program information and application details at meredith.edu/air.

Photo from DanceWorks Rehearsal, 2015.

Carol Finley Professor of Dance

INSPIRING LOVE AND COMPASSION

ALUMNAE CREATE NONPROFIT TO IMPROVE

THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THE GAMBIA

By Taylor Sexton

Suwai Sonko, ’04, walks toward the newly renovated library with the principal of the Essau School, located in the North Banks Division of The Gambia. As they peek through the window, the two see a room packed with children excitedly exploring the shelves filled with new books.

Impactful projects and partnerships with the community like this inspire the Jileng Kunda Project (JKP). Founded in 2018, the nonprofit works to improve people’s lives in underdeveloped communities in The Gambia.

“The Jileng Kunda Project is inspired by love and driven by compassion,” Sonko said. “And I say that because it’s inspired by the love of a country and having compassion for the less fortunate. And that’s where our values are.”

In 1965, The Gambia gained independence after 200 years of British colonial rule. Despite the progress the country has made since gaining independence, according to the World Food Program, 48% of the country’s population lives in poverty and ranks 174 out of 189 countries in the 2019 Human Development Index.

Sonko grew up in The Gambia in a middle-class family. When she was 16, her father wanted to give her an opportunity for a better education because of the lack of higher education in The Gambia. She left in 1998 and returned in 2012. This visit ended up being the catalyst for the creation of JKP.

“ When I got to The Gambia in March of this year, and I saw the finished library, it brought me to tears. It was packed, and it just validated the fact that the work we’re doing is important because they immediately were able to make use of it. That’s my favorite memory.”

“I was a very sheltered child. I spent my entire flight full-on crying because I could not believe the amount of poverty,” she said. “I’m living in the United States, where running water, electricity, all these things are basic. And over there, they are luxuries. People go without, and my heart was broken. I kept saying, ‘I have to do something.’”

Her love for her country prompted Sonko to reach out to her longtime friend and fellow Meredith alumna, Ejiro Ubiedi-Morrow, ’04, for help.

— Suwai Sonko, ’04

Setting a Vision Into Motion

Sonko and Ubiedi-Morrow met through a mutual friend during their second year of college. After graduating, the two went their separate ways but kept in touch.

“Our friendship and sisterhood are really strong. Ejiro and I could have gone a whole year and not talked to each other, but when we get on the phone, it’s like no time has passed,” Sonko said. “We’ve made a connection, and it’s lifelong.”

Since 2006, Ubiedi-Morrow has worked in nonprofits, primarily as a grant writer, but still volunteering and fundraising as well. In 2018, Sonko came to Ubiedi-Morrow wanting help filing for a 501(c)(3) status, which is the portion of the US Internal Revenue Code that allows for federal tax exemption of nonprofit organizations.

“I had deep roots in understanding how nonprofits worked, so I was happy to help. As I said, my major focus was grant writing, but since then, I’d come to understand how strategic planning works and gained a global understanding of nonprofits,” Ubiedi-Morrow said.

From there, the two brainstormed and got everything they needed together. The first step for them was to identify what the nonprofit should stand for. Sonko explained that she wanted to find a way to leave an impact on a local, communal level.

“There’s a lot of politics and red tape involved, and the money doesn’t always make it to the people who need it,” Sonko said. “I remember saying that I’m not doing this. I’m going to the community. I’m going to talk to the principal. I’m going to go to the locals and say, ‘I want to help your community. What is your greatest need?’”

After deciding what JKP would stand for, with encouragement from UbiediMorrow, Sonko began researching what other nonprofit organizations were doing. Once she had completed her research homework, Sonko started to go through the official filing process. This included registering with the state of North Carolina, getting the Employer Identification Number (EIN) to identify the organization, and going to the federal government to get the tax exemption status.

Sonko started talking with different people about who would be on the board of directors, and once again, Ubiedi-Morrow was with her every step of the way.

“She encouraged me to go through a program that helped nonprofit executive directors learn how to set up the nonprofit,

“I had deep roots in understanding how nonprofits worked, so I was happy to help. My major focus was grant writing, but since then, I’d come to understand how strategic planning works and gained a global understanding of nonprofits.”

— Ejiro Ubiedi-Morrow, ’04

ESSAU SCHOOL

what other things you need to do, and just train you through that process. I think it was about eight weeks, and it was a big commitment of time, but I knew it was important for me to do,” Sonko said.

After completing this class, Sonko worked to gain funding for JKP, so she built a website, created social media accounts, and pulled together an executive board to begin community outreach. Changing the Lives of a Community

JKP is broken into three programs: school restoration, healthy communities, and sustainable small businesses. Although JKP was officially established in 2018,

it wasn’t until 2020 that they were able to begin meaningful work.

The first project occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they collected personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies for communities in The Gambia.

“There was a lot of COVID aid that was sent to the country, but it was always centered in the urban areas. So, I realized the rural communities don’t have it, so we decided to do a supply drive.”

With support from “The Angel Tribe,” donors who give monthly to JKP, they were able to provide about a year’s worth of PPE supplies to the Fass Njaga Choi Community

Clinic, located in the North Bank Division of The Gambia, south of the Senegal border.

One of Sonko’s proudest accomplishments was the Essau School library renovation, completed in March 2022. JKP hopes to renovate the entire school eventually, but because of the high cost of doing so, they decided to break the project down into sections.

“It was probably going to cost us $50,000, but we knew getting that kind of money as a small nonprofit was going to be a lot, and it was going to take time. So we decided to start with the library,” Sonko said.

Before the renovation, the library’s floors

were exposed ground, there wasn’t enough seating for students, and the seating they did have was broken. The bookshelves were also broken, and there weren’t enough relevant materials.

JKP worked with local contractors on the library, and gave the space a fresh coat of paint, new and up-cycled tables and chairs, refurbished and new shelving, and new books and supplies.

“When I got to The Gambia in March of this year, and I saw the finished library, it brought me to tears,” she said. “It was packed, and it just validated the fact that the work we’re doing is important because

they immediately were able to make use of it. That’s my favorite memory. Just seeing that transformation and seeing that it’s being used and appreciated.”

Upcoming Projects

JKP plans on continuing its renovation of the Essau School. Their next project will be focused on restoring the science lab. The structure of the lab is collapsing, there is no lab gear or safety supplies, and they need new educational materials and textbooks.

They hope to eventually construct and renovate the Essau School classrooms, staff rooms, libraries, and school grounds, as well as hygienic toilets and clean drinking

water. They will also provide educational materials, textbooks, resources, and train teachers to give them the professional support they need to inspire their students.

“What I want people to know about the Jileng Kunda Project is that it’s a family foundation. It’s a foundation that works at the communal level. We’re working with the local people who are willing to help themselves in that community. And it’s founded by people who came from humble beginnings.”

To learn more about JKP, visit their website at jilengkundaproject.org.

NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING OPENS

STUDENTS WILL LEARN AND COLLABORATE IN THE STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY

By Emily Parker

In August, students walked through the newly completed Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) building for the first time. Inside, they found collaborative learning spaces and new instructional rooms with state-of-the-art equipment for the growing communication and health, exercise & sport sciences programs. There will be opportunities for interdisciplinary work that spans not only both of these programs but various majors on campus along with athletics, which also has offices in the building.

Walking into CHESS from the front patio, a gift from the Class of 1974, you find a beautiful lobby that is designed for students to sit and study or meet with friends. It will also hold receptions for special occasions. The backdrop behind the sitting area is a water wall with the Lux and a fire feature that pays tribute to the fire and water ceremony first-year students attend each year.

The CHESS building has several interior and exterior energy-saving features, including window and door frames that are insulated to prevent thermal transfer, roof insulation that is on average three times the basic building code, LED lighting, and a super high-efficiency central air cooling system.

The building project started in April 2021 and was completed in July 2022 by Inland Construction, headquartered in Garner, N.C.

At the grand opening ceremonies in August for faculty, staff, and students, President Jo Allen, ’80, said, “This is a great way to start a new academic year –to see the investment in facilities and instructional programs, research opportunities, and collaboration with students. It is truly a great way to kick off what is going to be a great new academic year. I have never seen a project quite like this one with faculty from two different areas of the College coming together and saying they don’t want to be divided by their area of study. They want to be interwoven with each other and I think that is absolutely fabulous.”

Lobby with fire and water wall and seating areas.

Good planning means you keep looking to the future. In communication, there is an increasingly greater focus on digital storytelling and visual communication. The new building provides our department with some critical learning spaces such as a media and podcast studio, production facility, and editing suites that we have lacked for many years.

The classrooms have a flexible design to foster class discussion and small group collaboration. We believe the new space will enhance students’ overall experience and helps us better prepare them for internships, jobs, and graduate school. It also poises the program for growth, helping the College achieve its strategic goals.”

Podcast production suite

— Teresa Holder Chair, Department of Communication and Professor of Communication

The HESS working classroom has a retractable wall to provide for flexibility of space with the Health and Human Performance Lab.

The building is fully accessible and has energysaving features such as LED lighting and a special roof that will reduce building cooling needs. Windows are double insulated and argon filled. During construction the cooling system was shut down at 1 p.m. with the exterior being 97 degrees and by 9 a.m. the next morning the internal temperature only rose by 4 degrees.

The Health and Human Performance Lab includes advanced technology and testing equipment such as the BOD POD®

We are thrilled about the new academic building that will house our Health and Human Performance Lab and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (HESS) classroom. This long-awaited project will provide new research and learning opportunities for our HESS students and includes advanced technology and testing equipment such as our BOD POD, air-displacement plethysmography, which is the worldwide gold standard in body composition testing. The Health and Human Performance Lab has the potential to contribute new health and medical research for women and underrepresented populations, an understudied area in the health and medical community. With our advanced technology, this lab will help place Meredith as part of the biomedical research community in the Triangle.”

Take a tour through the new academic building.

— Heather Sanderson Assistant Professor, Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences and Director of the Lowery Fitness Center

MEREDITH PHILANTHROPY

MAKING AN IMPACT

A Gift to Help Students Study Abroad

By Emily Parker

The impact three degrees from Meredith College have given Betsy (Elizabeth) Best Phillips, ’71, ’86, ’89 (MBA), are immeasurable. Her sense of indebtedness to the College inspires her to be actively involved in order to both help Meredith grow and inspire students and younger alumnae to stay connected. The relationships she has formed have been a treasure to her and influenced her to give her time and talent to students at Meredith.

Her most recent gift to the study abroad program combines her passion for travel and her desire to open the world for more students to experience studying abroad during their time at Meredith. Phillips made a $1 million will bequest to create the Betsy Best Phillips Global Scholars Endowment. This endowment will support students who feel, because of financial limitations, studying abroad is not an option. This endowment makes it possible for them and will open their world.

Phillips traveled with her family in the United States early in her life, but her first time traveling internationally was in 2001 to Florence, Italy. Since then she has traveled with the Meredith Travel Program, which she enjoys because it allows her to spend time with her Meredith sisters. She has traveled to Sansepolcro, Italy, Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. She became interested in supporting the study abroad program after a Tuscan Intensive trip in 2015 that Billie Jo Cockman, director of strategic giving, encouraged her to go on and Brooke Shurer, director of international programs, led. For years after that trip, she gave annually to the Sansepolcro Current Student Fund before her most recent $1 million gift.

“We are a global community and the

need to know places, culture, and people are so important to working in our world today,” said Phillips. “I want students at Meredith to experience all that travel has to offer. Travel opens up the world through experiences and knowledge and gives them opportunities.”

Helping Students Is Always a Priority

Phillips not only has three degrees, art, accounting, and an MBA, but she has stayed engaged with the College through the business mentoring program and entrepreneurship challenge. She has also hosted international students during holiday breaks. Her career in various accounting and business management positions and as a chief financial operator of a marketing firm, and finally owning a commercial real estate firm, Best Commercial Properties in Raleigh, have led her to not only help business students but see the importance of facility enhancements at Meredith.

“I know the importance of keeping facilities up-to-date. I see things that need to happen or I hear about a need at Meredith and I want to help. I wish I could do all the things I wanted to do for this campus,” said Phillips.

Phillips has funded essential items that Meredith needed, such as bathroom upgrades in Belk Dining Hall in 2007 and a lightboard for the Studio Theater in 2015.

“I met [theatre faculty member] Steven Roten and I was very intrigued with how they were promoting their program to young women. They needed help doing a production and needed a lightboard,” said Phillips. “It was an immediate need and I was happy to give a gift to help.”

To help Meredith maintain older buildings, Phillips established a $100,000 facilities endowment in 2009 to create a perpetual stream of revenue for facilities. She feels her gifts to Meredith are part of her legacy and it is important to her to support the place that fully educated her.

Phillips is thankful that on her way to work one morning in 1984 she noticed a billboard that read, “Aspire Higher, Meredith College MBA.” That day she called and made an appointment at her alma mater for the next chapter in her academic journey. That chapter brought her much success in her professional life and enabled her to give back in so many ways to Meredith College.

“I do not necessarily care if students who receive my study abroad scholarship or benefit from any of my facility gifts know me, but I want them to know that Meredith alumnae only want the best for them and to inspire them to be the best they can be and that their future is important.”

Phillips hopes this gift encourages others to give no matter the amount.

“Ordinary people can do extraordinary things through synergy. And Meredith’s vision moving forward promotes that opportunity. I am blessed and it is my pleasure that I have been able to give to my alma mater.”

contact Cindy

at (919)

or godwinc@meredith.edu.

Alumnae and Friends Give Outstanding Support in 2021-22

By Emily Parker

Gifts from alumnae and friends supported students and the entire Meredith community this past year through scholarships, professorships, facility upgrades, departmental programs, academic coaching, and more. The College is extremely thankful to all who donated to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn at one of the toptier liberal arts colleges in the country.

For the fiscal year 2021-22, the total raised for major gifts ($25,000 or more), annual, and planned gifts was $13,109,219. There were 115 major gifts and 12 new endowments established. An endowment generates earnings each year to be spent in a way chosen by the donor, and the principal of the endowment remains untouched. In this way, endowments continue to help Meredith College in perpetuity, strengthening the future of the College.

The Meredith Fund, our annual giving program, raised $2.7 million in 2021-22.

• The funds raised were the result of gifts from 5,100 donors.

• Those gifts supported the greatest needs of the College, scholarships, athletics, study abroad, diversity initiatives, the student emergency fund, and more.

• Make It Count for Meredith Giving Day raised $1,167,121 , surpassing the goal of $750,000 and reaching $1 million for the first time since Giving Day started in 2016.

• Parents and Families Giving reached $46,000 and supported needed upgrades for Meredith’s Health, Counseling, and Disability Services, housed in Carroll Hall.

• And once again, faculty and staff giving participation was 75%.

The Office of Alumnae Relations coordinated 67 events with 2,332

attendees in 2021-22. Each event gave alumnae the opportunity to reconnect with one another and the College. Two Alumnae Reunion Weekends were held, one in October for the classes that missed their 2020 and 2021 reunions because of COVID-19 and the traditional May reunion weekend. Almost 1,000 alumnae celebrated with their classmates at both events. Reunion Weekend attendees represented 35 states, five countries, and 66 different class years, ranging from 1948-2022. After two missed years of May Reunion Weekends, the Alumnae Association was excited to welcome alumnae and friends home again.

Alumnae and friends who stay connected to Meredith through events, volunteering, and gifts show current students that their education is important and valued. Thank you for supporting the entire campus community this past fiscal year.

SUPPORT MEREDITH.

Gifts to Meredith College make a difference to the entire Meredith community and keep our students going strong!

Visit meredith.edu/support to learn ways you can support Meredith. Make a gift that addresses the College’s greatest needs, select a more specific way to make an immediate impact on the College, make a long-term, endowed gift, or a gift through your will or trust.

Also, learn how you can volunteer and what future events you may be interested in attending. Connect with other alumnae and students through the Meredith Mentors program.

Visit meredith.edu/support to stay connected and reach out to an Institutional Advancement staff member to assist you if you have questions. To make a gift, visit community.meredith.edu/supportmc.

ALUMNAE CONNECTION

Class notes and news for Meredith Alumnae

1954

Lyn Belton Bonahue and her husband are proud parents because their son was recently named the president of Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, N.Y. This is the largest community college in the state. With the help of their children, Anita Fussell Cottle and her husband continue to live on their farm in the home they built 60 years ago. The Cottles have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren! They bring her much pleasure. She has enjoyed a wonderful life with the exception of the death of their oldest daughter, who passed away in a tragic car accident. Cottle is proud that almost all of her children and grandchildren have graduated from college. Although she and her husband both have aliments, they continue to get around slowly! Anne Clark Dahle was excited to attend the recent reception celebrating 50 years of the Wings Program at Meredith. Having served as the founding director, Dahle has watched this program grow since the beginning, and was honored at the anniversary event for her work. Maintaining her routine, Dot White Hartley walks for 15 to 30 minutes each day, with no aid. She does use a cane when walking on the lawn since the grass is not always flat. Hartley has taken up the hobby of remaking paper using old newspaper and water in a blender. Upon finishing the mixing process, Hartley adds leaves or flowers to the paper. After her creation is dried, she attaches them as greetings to send with cards. Hartley plans to attend her family reunion in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., for a week with her family and her brother's family. Her grandchildren enjoy spending time with her brother's children who are all getting married and having babies now. Having turned 91 in May 2022, Margaret Edwards Joyner has many aches and pains and sees many doctors. She continues to drive, cook, and shop by herself. Joyner is thankful for her ability to remain independent! Each day she walks down her street, with her cane in hand. This is the only time she

uses a cane! On Sundays, Joyner goes to church where she retrieves her volunteer work for the prisons in North Carolina, an effort her church works to assist. Joyner also attends church and prayer meetings during the week. During the fall and winter months, Joyner stays involved in the Awana program at her church, too. She enjoys spending the rest of her time with her son or granddaughters. Joyner is thankful for a happy life!

1957

In 2021, Jeanne Grealish was selected as the seventeenth recipient of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Distinguished Service Award, an award given annually to an MTNA member whose service to the organization at the national level has been significant and long-term.

1958

Since the March 2021 passing of her husband from congestive heart failure, the years have been exceedingly difficult for MaeOmie Hobby Mosely. She broke her hip, requiring a hip replacement and rehab, but is happy to be doing much better now. About three years ago, Mosely's daughter and her husband moved to Wilmington. Having them close is a pleasure. Her son and wife continue to live in Raleigh but visit frequently. All three of Mosely's precious grandchildren have now grown into adults and stay busy with their careers. She is fortunate to see and hear from them often. Although the years have flown by, almost 65 years have passed since Mosely and her classmates graduated. She sends her blessings to all. After living in Richmond, Va., for many years, Glenda Eddins Temple and her husband moved to St. James Plantation in Southport, N.C. in 1996. Temple's husband passed away in 2011. Temple since relocated to Mount Pleasant, S.C., in 2018 to be closer to her family. Her youngest daughter lives a mile down the road and her oldest daughter lives in Galena, Ohio. She knows she is blessed to have six grandchildren whom she loves dearly!

1967

Although she did not see as many classmates as in previous years, Judy Ramsey Roberts was thrilled to see her former classmates and catch up at their 55th Reunion in May 2022. After a career with IBM, Roberts opened her own interior design business in Atlanta, Ga., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Later, Roberts joined her husband in creating a business specializing in sales training, executive coaching, and consulting. They are both now mostly retired and have turned their business, Roberts Business Group, over to one of their sons. Roberts enjoys traveling and spending time with her 10 grandchildren, ranging in ages. She is convinced that grandchildren are the "dessert of life!"

1970

In April 2022, Janet Morris Belvin and several other classmates held their own off-campus reunion weekend. This was their delayed 50th reunion since COVID had previously separated the class. Belvin had a wonderful time seeing everyone after so long! They enjoyed multiple events throughout the weekend, including a reception at the home of Donna Burgess Lupo, a ride on the Raleigh Trolley, and dinner at the North Carolina Executive Mansion.

1971

As international travel restrictions relaxed, Mary Stuart Parker Alderman and her husband enjoyed the opportunity to take their twin granddaughters on a special 15th birthday trip to London and Paris in June. Alderman continues to enjoy her role as a community volunteer, currently serving as chair of the Board of Directors for The Deep Well Project, a crisis assistance agency that helps move families to more self-sufficiency, and of the Grants Committee for Women in Philanthropy of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Dining together at the 2022 Golden Oaks Society Luncheon, held during Alumnae Reunion Weekend, Anne Luter Bromby, Jane

Compiled by the Office of Alumnae Relations from April 2, 2022, through July 22, 2022. 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 2023 issue is December 1, 2022. Submissions received after this date will appear in the Digital Summer 2023 issue.

Holloway Woodard, Doris McIlwain, and Bonnie Bell had a wonderful afternoon. Delicious food and beautiful tables were enjoyed, but a surprise highlight was the campus tour. They loved touring the new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences Building that will surely increase majors in those areas – such a beautiful and well-planned building. The real treat, especially for Jane Holloway Woodard, was visiting the newly renovated Nutrition Lab in Martin Hall (previously the home ec kitchen in the renamed Hunter Hall). The building windows had not changed, so Woodard knew right where "her kitchen" had been. Thrilled with the enthusiasm that Woodard shared about the newly renovated space, one of the tour leaders gifted her with vintage items, including a bowl, spoon, and timer, that were soon to be discarded. These were treasures for a former president of the home economics club! Bonnie Scott Truelove enjoys the gift of spending time with her beautiful 95-year-old mother. Planning for a big trip, Truelove will be transatlantic cruising, visiting Eastern Europe, Iceland, and Canada in 2022. She is also excited that her husband is looking for a dog to become their pet.

1972

After 40 years of teaching clothing and fashion design at Broughton High School and North Carolina State University College of Design, Nan Simpkins Alexander opened her clothing and design studio, Pins and Needles Studio. Alexander ran her studio for eight years and is now retired. She loves having time to travel and enjoy her four grandchildren! Having worked over 40 years with a local mental health center, Johnston County Public Schools, and Neuse Charter School, Carol Swarr Beaumont is enjoying full retirement! Throughout her career, she worked with special needs children, adults, and their families. Beaumont is now as busy as she chooses to be volunteering with the N.C. Guardian ad Litem program and Johnston County Public Schools. Vickie Wimberley Blanchard was sorry to miss the big 50th Reunion Weekend in May! She cannot believe that she and her classmates are old enough to celebrate this milestone but she is happy to be here! Preserving the fond memories she has of her classmates, Blanchard remembers all the fun times she shared. She appreciates the fine professors she had at Meredith, particularly Dr. Lennon and Dr. Parramore. After 36 years of federal civil service as a reference librarian at Fort Bragg, Nan Kutulas retired in 2019. Before her retirement, Kutulas was recognized as the 2018 “Unsung Hero” for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

CLASS OF 1964 CELEBRATES THEIR 80TH BIRTHDAYS

Members of the Class of 1964 recently gathered in Raleigh, N.C., to mark the occasion of their 80th birthdays. Classmates from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee traveled to the Triangle area for a special afternoon to celebrate their lifelong friendship and 80 years!

To mark the occasion, Joy Adams Lucas, class agent, wrote a poem and shared a copy with attendees.

80 Years in the Making

In nineteen hundred forty-two There was a war in the world. But happiness came to many that year With the birth of a little baby girl. She was beautiful and bright, A beacon of light in a dark and troubled world.

Years passed and she grew Into a lovely, young lady, Entered Meredith College In the fall of nineteen sixty. Friendships were forged; memories were made And her love for Meredith would never fade!

Now, it’s fifty-eight years later And friends still meet To hug, laugh, And especially to eat!

So here’s to those girls born in 1942, Happy 80th Birthday to each one of you!

Altogether, she spent 46 years as a devoted professional librarian in various locations including Cumberland County, Fayetteville Technical Community College, the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, the U.S. Army War College, and the Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania. Now enjoying being a "lady of leisure," Kutulas continues to patronize local libraries in Fayetteville, N.C. Having lived in Oriental, N.C. for 33 years, Caroline Parham-Ramsey loves being by the coastal waters. She spends much of her time growing vegetables and flowers and staying active through running and walking. Parham-Ramsey enjoys traveling with her husband in their small travel trailer, especially around Lake Superior, the Boundary Waters Canoe and Wilderness area, and national and state parks. On their trips, they both find joy in hiking and canoeing. She and her husband have been retired for ten years. After retiring from teaching full-time in 2013, Cindy Beale Richardson returned to her old school as a part-time reading tutor. When the pandemic began in 2020, she was no longer able to tutor but began a new job. Richardson now babysits her only granddaughter four days each week. Her granddaughter has been a bright star throughout the dark, lonely, days of the pandemic. Richardson's husband is still working part-time at the Baptist Children's Home, where he has been since they moved to Thomasville, N.C., in 1980. Her daughter has two stepsons and her son. She lives in Dallas, N.C., and has recently returned to work in education. Her son married in 2018 and now lives in WinstonSalem. He loves being the parent of their sweet granddaughter! Before the start of the pandemic, Richardson enjoyed traveling. Recently, she has loved seeing her "roomie" and suitemates from college, Kathy Moore Watkins, Shelor Strider Morgan, and Harriett Kline Wilson. They have enjoyed several retreats together, but deeply miss Lydia Senter Langdon, who passed in 2017. Richardson and her husband celebrated their 50th anniversary in July 2022. She knows life is good, and she is blessed. Betsy Holland Thompson is thankful for everything, including her health. She has no complaints! Her husband retired from North Carolina State University, while she retired from working as the director of advocacy at the Autism Society of North Carolina. Their children are grown and all live in North Carolina. Thompson feels extremely blessed to still have her mother, who is 102 years old. Continuing to live on her family farm in Davidson County, Karen Voelker spends much of her time on volunteer work at her church. She also enjoys traveling to her mountain cabin in Avery County. After graduating from Meredith 50 years ago, Deborah

Brown Ward began her first teaching job. She has continued teaching ever since, from full-time public school to part-time substitution, along with other various opportunities in her church and community. Teaching continues to be Ward's passion and has rewarded her many times over the years. About 20 years ago, Ward and her husband moved to Williamsburg, Va., and have enjoyed living in an 18th-century town filled with the comings and goings of tourists, fellow retirees, and college students. They have traveled internationally and domestically. Her favorite destination is Southern California, where they visit their son and daughter-in-law. Ward is appreciative of her classmates who planned their 50th Reunion.

1973

A long-time certified public accountant, Terry McFetters Ball retired from Brown Investment Properties, Inc. as chief financial officer. Ball then started her own business, TM Ball, Inc., and has now retired. Over the years, Ball has traveled to Italy and France. Continuing to work at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Lexington, N.C., Janis Hooper Grayson helps disabled individuals make alternate career choices. Susan Herring gathered with several classmates at the home of Susan Lassiter Lampley in July 2022. Their time together was filled with lunch, laughter, and friendship. Herring and the others went through their freshman yearbook, fondly remembering their classmates as they begin thinking about their upcoming 50th Reunion in May 2023. Herring hopes her classmates will mark their calendars and make plans to join her at Reunion! While enjoying retirement, Marsha McCutchen Hewitt continues to stay active with varying responsibilities in her community. Her volunteer interests include homelessness, regional tourism in South Carolina, and local Republican Party politics. She also works with the Thoroughbred Association and serves on the national Steeplechase Board. Serving as the hands-on manager of her horse farm, Hewitt rides frequently. She also enjoys foxhunting in the fall and winter, along with camping in the summer. Hewitt remains healthy and fit, loving travel and having visitors. Having a career as a licensed clinical social worker, Patricia Matthews Hothorn is now retired. She recently traveled to Southeast Asia and then Spain for several months. Hothorn envisions more long trips on the horizon. Having stayed isolated during Covid, Marianne Stackhouse was grateful to travel again beginning last fall. Stackhouse, along with Kathy Sluder Jordan and her husband, explored the Hudson River Valley and toured

Hyde Park, N.Y., including the Roosevelt Library and their two homes, plus a Vanderbilt Mansion. They next stopped in Lamberville, N.J., a town known for its Halloween decorations. Upon returning, Stackhouse was finally able to visit Krista Dedmon Kustra's new home in Wake Forest since Kustra moved right before the pandemic. While visiting, Stackhouse and the "girls'' stayed up way too late talking like old times in college. Stackhouse visited another classmate, Jeanne Tilley Nash, at her beach home in North Myrtle Beach. Reading continues to be a major love of Stackhouse's while she also stays active on committees at church.

1975

Mary Beth Hardy Leavitt traveled with the Meredith Alumnae Travel Program to Southwest England in June 2022 with Sue Grant Allen. Leavitt enjoyed this wellplanned, educational, and marvelous tour, led by Dr. Betty Webb and Dr. Becky Bailey. She enjoys traveling with this group! During their travels to Peru in March 2022, Jan Carrigan Payne and her husband found Pam Stephenson, ’86, another Meredith Angel, on the same trip! They enjoyed an Amazon River cruise and a visit to Machu Picchu.

1977

Margaret Phoenix Agee is thrilled to have become a grandmother. She retired this past year and has moved to a new home in Mount Pleasant, S.C. While she’s enjoying life in the Boston area, Kathy Christian Bender still needs to escape the cold for a few weeks like other snowbirds. She works mainly remotely as an ombudsperson for Wellesley College and also does some consulting. Bender is enjoying being near her two children and their families, which include five grandsons. In her 32nd year as a therapist, Jonne Allyson McGuffin Boone works in private practice. She still loves her work and the beautiful house that is home to Morning Glory Center for Creative Healing. Boone's grandchildren have become quite old as they enter their teenage years, but they still enjoy their grandmama and she still enjoys them. She is living alone for the first time and loving it, to her complete surprise. This past summer Jane Gates Bradley and her husband celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary. They have two children, however, neither are married nor involved in a relationship so there are no grandchildren to brag on! Bradley hopes this will happen sooner rather than later so she will still be able to get down and up from the floor after playing with her them! After a sledding accident in 2000, Bradley broke her back and has dealt with chronic back pain ever since. In 2012, she

was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, which compounded her pain. Although this is not how she expected to spend her greatest years, Bradley practices mindfulness and meditation and participates in water exercises. She is grateful for her husband and her understanding friends. Bradley continues to do some fill-in dental hygiene work while spending her other time in her garden. Julee Haley Carr loves spending lots of time with her five grandchildren, so she was thrilled when the pandemic brought three of them from New York to Raleigh. She was also excited to see Cindy Dickie Kiefer in Panama City, Fla. in May 2022. Anne Edge Dale welcomed her first grandson in September 2021 and has since retired. In 2019, Cathy Harris de Lespinois went on a cruise to the Greek Islands with classmates Cheryl Koob and Debbie Talbert Patton. Enjoying being closer to the beach, Teri Meadows Hires has moved full-time to her home in Calabash, N.C. She left Korn Ferry and the consulting world after 15 years. Hires is now working part-time as an executive coach and advisor to the senior executive team at Becton Dickinson (BD), who was her main client from Korn Ferry. Parttime consulting is her ideal job to segue into retirement in the coming years. Cathy Pickett Lamb retired in October

2021. After marrying her childhood friend in 2020, Jeanne Bray McLeod and her new husband built a home at Sunset Beach, N.C. Through her recent marriage and her oldest son's marriage, McLeod has gained 12 wonderful grandchildren! Retiring after 35 years of service at the American Automobile Association (AAA), Dottie Booker Moore is loving her newfound freedom. Anne Fonville-Sams is still enjoying good health, life, traveling, riding horses, and being active with her family. They are busy with their young adult children. Her daughter is working and studying for her Master of Business Administration while her son graduated from Columbia University. Sams helps with the care of her mother and in-laws. She knows they are blessed. Nancy Schult has retired, finally! Evelyn Buie Shytle has retired from education and loves spending time with her eight grandchildren. Still working full-time, Judy Smith lives with her husband in Scottsdale, Ariz. Smith has enjoyed connecting with her Meredith roommate, Joyce Nethery Kemmerer They missed their suitemate, Virginia Avery, terribly at their first reunion without her! In recent years, Smith has connected with classmate Julie Taylor and her husband from their neighboring state of New Mexico. She visits her mom, brothers,

and dozens of relatives in North Carolina and South Carolina every chance she gets. Smith fulfilled her lifetime dream of hiking the Swiss Alps with her husband in August 2022, a lead-in to semi-retirement in late 2022. Sharon Stephenson is exceedingly busy in retirement! She moved to Oriental, N.C., after retirement and has become involved in numerous activities ranging from church to community organizations to playing ping pong. Stephenson was unable to make it to Reunion Weekend because of a sailing trip and missed seeing her classmates! Julie Surratt Taylor, who lives in WinstonSalem, N.C., excitedly welcomed her first grandchild in June 2022. After completing 20 years as the outreach director of local and foreign missions, Lee Coble Worden retired from Community Bible Church in High Point, N.C. She and her husband now live in Sneads Ferry, N.C. Worden enjoys spending her time playing tennis and with her five grandchildren who love visiting their "Nana" at the beach.

1979

In August 2021, Lisa Willis celebrated the 25th anniversary of her business, The Glass Angel, a stained glass studio and gift shop located in Burlington, N.C.

2022 PEWTER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

Available Now

The ornament commemorates the opening of the new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences Building that was completed in July 2022, in time for the beginning of the new academic year on August 24. The building houses instructional space for the growing communication and health, exercise & sport sciences programs, and Meredith athletic offices.

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.

ALUMNAE GOING STRONG

LAURA MORGAN,

By Taylor Sexton

Laura Morgan, ’82, has spent her life on the stage and under a spotlight, whether for theatre, playing piano, or singing. But she never imagined that one day, at 60, she’d be standing on the stage to compete in her first pageant and win.

“Life is not a dress rehearsal. You only have one chance on stage. And until that curtain’s drawn, I’m going to keep on singing,” Morgan said.

Morgan competed in her first pageant, Ms. Senior North Carolina 2020, and won. After winning at the state level, she competed in the 2021 Nationals, where she was the first representative from North Carolina ever to win the title of Ms. Senior America.

Senior America, Inc., is a non-profit corporation designed to empower senior women who have reached the “age of elegance.” The pageant is for women who are 60 years old and above, who exemplify dignity, maturity, and inner beauty. The main philosophy behind this pageant is that seniors, especially senior women, are the foundation of and most valued treasure of America.

“I think that it’s important for senior women to have a legacy because that’s how you continue and what people are going to remember you for,” she said. “I want to be remembered as someone who has that goodness and graciousness and kindness in them. Because there are people out there who are hurting, and they need support. They need to be affirmed.”

After completing her application, Morgan was set to compete in the pageant in May of 2020, and then COVID-19 hit.

The pageant was moved to November of 2020, and contestants were required to wear their masks on stage unless they were solo and were limited to two guests per person. Despite the circumstances, Morgan took home the crown for the 2020 Ms. North Carolina Senior America and kept the title through 2021.

In August of 2021, Morgan competed in nationals, which were held virtually, for the title of Ms. Senior America. The pageant was broken into five categories: private interviews with the judges, gown walk and posture, talent, and philosophy of life.

Morgan said she believes life imitates art, especially because her life has imitated the roles she’s played in musical theater.

“I’ve had to wash a few men out of my hair like Nellie from South Pacific, a handsome soldier did propose to me on the Austrian Alps like Maria from The Sound of Music, and like Peter Pan, I refuse to grow up,” Morgan said.

Since winning, Morgan has traveled to continue raising awareness about Ms. Senior America and the importance of being kind and gracious.

“I’m a proud Meredith graduate because Meredith is all about empowering women. That’s the most important thing, and that’s Ms. Senior America’s goal as well, to just encourage women, no matter what walk of life you come through.”

1980

Vicki Miguel Davis retired two years ago from her career as a sales representative in the corrugated industry. She now enjoys splitting her time between Raleigh and Smith Mountain Lake, Va. Davis and her husband have been married for 42 years and have four wonderful grandchildren. Completing 33 years of work as a family services administrator with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Division of Prisons, Mary Nell Ward officially retired in January 2022. Upon completion of 25 years of service, Peggy Bassett Williams retired from Wake County Public Schools. During her career, she worked in multiple positions, including literacy and math coaching, intervention, and a classroom teacher.

1982

Laura Smith Matney wishes she could have attended reunion for this special time with her classmates! Matney is undergoing a stem cell transplant at UNC Medical Center to fight multiple myeloma. She was diagnosed in December 2021 and completed chemotherapy treatment. Thankfully, Matney's body responded well to the treatment and she now remains in remission, allowing her to be referred for a transplant. Matney has been blessed with a wonderful husband who has supported her throughout her fight. Requesting prayers and positivity, Matney knows it will be a while before she can return to work and usual activities due to her compromised immune system. Throughout this time, Matney continues to feel blessed with a wonderful church family, sweet husband, supportive daughter, and good friends. She loves and misses her Meredith classmates!

1983

Kim Metts Beal became president of Women Executives (WE) of Charlotte in June 2022. This is an organization of diverse, accomplished women, who support and nurture each other's personal and career growth. While providing a forum for professional interactions, WE also sponsors programs for professional growth and leadership development. The goal of WE is to be an organization that is representative of leaders in the business, professional, educational, and non-profit community of Charlotte.

1984

Enjoying retirement from full-time childcare work, Nancye Butterworth now works summers at Jordan Lake Boating Camp in Chatham County, N.C. She welcomed her first granddaughter in February 2022. Emily Craig works as the teaching director at Community Bible

of Elegance: Alumna Wins the Crown of Ms. Senior America

Study International in Georgetown, S.C. She also enjoys spending time with her two granddaughters. Kimberly Causey Ray worked with Wells Fargo for 34 years and has now retired from working as a finance manager. She is enjoying a new pace with family and friends.

1986

Continuing to enjoy her post-retirement career, Laura Beasley Byrum works at a local private school. After working as a teaching assistant in second grade for two years, Byrum is now a full-time kindergarten teaching assistant, the grade she loved teaching the most. Her oldest son recently moved back to Wilmington for a job with Airgas while her middle son completed his first deployment with the Air Force. He is currently stationed at Langley Air Force Base. Her youngest son is a junior at Western Carolina, loving college life as much as his mom. Byrum and her husband upgraded to a class C recreational vehicle. They are enjoying as many trips as possible as empty nesters! Robbin Spencer Dunthorn is a proud parent of her children, including her daughter who is a sophomore at Meredith and was recently invited to be a state debutante. Her debut was in September 2022. Georgia Parrish James's husband has been farming fulltime since his senior year in high school, when James remembers he was told he would not graduate if he had missed any more school because of farming. They held a farm auction in February

2022 and now he is retired! In just two years, James will become eligible for partial retirement from teaching. Their next major life decision is where to live. James has recently welcomed her first two grandchildren. Betsy Short recently enjoyed a great trip to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. She has owned and managed her business, Dreamweavers Unlimited, Inc., since 2003. This organization assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving their goals and dreams. After earning a social work degree from Appalachian State University in 2017, Short's daughter joined the company as a supervisor and infant-toddler family specialist. Short remains inspired by her son's ability to live in the moment and find joy in simple pleasures. He volunteers for Meals on Wheels and rides horses weekly. Short is grateful to have her parents. Her father continues to practice law at 87, and her mother, also a Meredith alumna, stays active volunteering through her garden club and making life special for the family. Her three sisters, also Meredith alumnae, all live in North Carolina and are professionals at evoking laughter whenever they speak. In March 2022, Mary Hazel Morris Small retired from her role as chief financial officer of New Hanover County Schools. She now works parttime as a self-employed school finance consultant. Achieving a wonderful 30-year career at SAS, Jonelle Davis Strickland is currently a principal customer success manager. Strickland will soon celebrate

10 years of marriage! Her favorite job is being "Nana" to her two grandchildren. After 30 years in their home, Melinda Wrenn Thomas and her husband have downsized to a condo in downtown Greensboro. The couple loves living a smaller lifestyle! Thomas has spent time discovering new restaurants, browsing through local shops, and experiencing concerts and Broadway shows at The Tanger Center. Thomas enjoys being within walking distance of each of these attractions. Tamara Swann Whitley and her husband became grandparents to a beautiful and sweet little girl in May 2021. She is the daughter of their youngest son and his wife. Both of Whitley's sons are still serving as captains in the Marine Corps and the US Army. She works as needed as a physical therapy technician and will soon begin a teaching assistant position at a local Christian school. Whitley and her husband live in Havelock, N.C.

1987

Since 2016, Catherine Stanley Alligood has served as the principal of Bangert Elementary School in Craven County, N.C. Donna Metts Fain lives in Cary, N.C., with her husband, youngest daughter, and lots of pets! Fain's youngest daughter recently graduated high school and attends Wake Technical Community College. Her two older daughters are working and both living in the Triangle area. Fain enjoys teaching piano lessons full-time in her home studio. She and her husband will soon celebrate 35 years of

marriage. Along with a 23-year tenure at SAS, Susan Huffman Hext has achieved various certifications throughout her career, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Hext has three vibrant children and a wonderful husband. She is excited about moving into an empty nest in the near future. Carolyn Hill is in her third year working at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park and Museum in Wilson, N.C. She attended her 35th Class Reunion in May 2022. The weekend was filled with fun! She enjoyed getting to see her classmates and relive old stories. After 30 years of teaching third grade in Stokes County, N.C., Lisa Ingram has retired. She feels blessed to have had a wonderful teaching experience throughout those years, including recognition as a National Board Certified Teacher in 2005. Ingram remains active in the Stokes County Retired School Personnel group along with the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, which promotes the professional and personal growth of women educators. Continuing to keep busy, Ingram tutors, volunteers at local missions, and assists in caring for her father who lives at a local care facility. She also has seven nieces and nephews and loves being a part of their world, remaining close with her siblings. Retirement has brought great joy as Ingram spends days at the beach and loves traveling. As a celebration of her 50th birthday, Ingram took the trip of a lifetime to Europe. She is excited about her next trip! Jennifer Drinard Lynn, who lives in Chesterfield Va., has five children ranging from age 19 to 26. Carmel Swanson Tritschler has been promoted to chief operating officer at Swanson Christian Products, an 87-year-old familyowned and operated Christian supply company based in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Tritschler is the third generation of the family working in the business, and she is training three members of the fourth generation. Tritschler's company works to manufacture, distribute, and export Christian and inspirational apparel, gifts, and church supplies. They provide these products to gift shops, funeral homes, florists, bookstores, and more. Connie Wagner Williams is excited to share that her daughter, Carsen Lee Williams, graduated from Meredith in May 2022. Williams enjoyed having her daughter join her for her Alumnae Reunion Weekend in May. Susan Nix Williams has retired from teaching.

1988

As a consultant, Robin Fastenau provides corporate communications and investor relations guidance to life sciences companies. She has worked in the biopharmaceutical industry for 20 years,

with the majority of her career in biopharmaceuticals spent as the vice president of corporate communications at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical (AskBio) in the Research Triangle Park. Patricia Hall Hayner serves as president of FIRST South Carolina, a non-profit that uses FIRST robotics programs to increase STEM interest among K-12 students. After completing her 12th year of teaching last spring, Bettie Shipp Rabb moved from sixth-grade social studies to sixth-grade language arts this fall.

1989

Kathy Kline Danner sells real estate in Tennessee and was recently featured on an episode of HGTV's show House Hunters in the episode titled "Tennessee Time Travelers." February was a big month for Mary Dickson Long . Her son was married and continues to live in Birmingham, Ala., and work as a flight nurse at a local hospital. Long was confirmed by the South Carolina Senate to serve as a member of the state’s Foster Care Review Board. Long is also serving on her local board as she continues to push for the permanency of children in foster care. Beth Williams Oates and her husband are now empty nesters. Their three daughters are happily and successfully navigating life. Their oldest daughter is a licensed therapist in Maryland. Their middle daughter is a lab manager in the psychology department at Pennsylvania State University. Their youngest daughter just set off to college in southern Maryland. Oates is very proud of her daughters! She still teaches kindergarten, and her husband is a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

1990

Debbie Gray Parrish began working as the assistant principal at Enloe Magnet High School in Raleigh, N.C.

1993

Continuing her career as a licensed clinical social worker, Becky Yarbrough Norman works in Salisbury, Va., at the Medical Center. She accepted a new position as the surgical social worker and is excited to be a part of the Post Acute Sequelae COVID team, treating what is also known as long COVID. Norman and her husband celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2021. They enjoy spending their lives together along with their two Shih-Tzu puppies.

1994

Trish Sparks was named the CEO of the education technology company, Clever, based in Calif.

1995

Stefanie Carraway Cox began a new position at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, N.C., in the president's office as the executive administrative assistant to the vice president of operations and academic and student services. Since December 2020, Jennie Roberson Davis has been a project management analyst for IQVIA. Teresa Latham Keever is now working as the associate vice president for Duke Health and Well-Being. In August 2021, Heather Marshbanks Lore moved to Greenville, S.C.

1996

Kacey Reynolds Schedler began working at Meredith College as the assistant director of student leadership and service in June 2022. Schedler is excited to have returned home to Meredith! In September 2021, Ruth Anne Bowles Sawyer completed her Doctorate of Ministry in chaplaincy, focusing on traumatic response, crisis intervention, and thanatology, summa cum laude. Her dissertation title was "Establishing an Effective Ministry of Presence without the Sense of Touch", which highlighted the effects of COVID-19 on those left behind, as witnessed from the front line. Sawyer works as a lead trauma hospital chaplain in the Northern Virginia area. She volunteers her time serving the Prince William County Police Department as a police and rescue chaplain.

1999

In 2022, Kristine Hornak Ohaechesi's son graduated from high school through his homeschool program. This was Ohaechesi's second time surviving a child in high school, with one more to go! Her daughter will enter high school in the fall. Aside from staying busy with her kids, Ohaechesi cares for her immobile father, ill mother and cat, and a 10-pound dog that demands home-cooked meals.

2001

Emily Burt earned her doctor of audiology. Sandi Leigh Matthews moved to India in 2018 and works as the head of finance at Khan Academy's subsidiary in New Delhi.

2003

Beginning a new position as human resources generalist/assistant to the head of school, Jennifer Carter Hare works at Trinity Academy in Raleigh, N.C. After teaching mathematics for 13 years, Beth Jarvis left the classroom and is working at JMP Statistical Discovery, a subsidiary of SAS. Jarvis added a new addition to her home, Mochi, a Maltipoo puppy!

While working as the vice president of youth development for the YMCA of the Triangle, Kim Turnage Keith was awarded the Triangle Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award.

2005

Holly Schmidt Akkerman was promoted to associate art director at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Sarah Wilson Collins was promoted as the chief of staff at the North Carolina League of Municipalities, having previously worked as a legislative and regulatory counsel at the same organization for over seven years. In May 2022, Sarah Gransee graduated from Leadership Asheville at the University of North Carolina Asheville. She is now the branch services manager for Buncombe County Public Libraries. Working as a lead kindergarten teacher, Jamie Pike Kelly is a founding member of a private Waldorf-inspired school, The Unity School (TUS) in Raleigh, N.C. TUS

was recently recognized as an associate member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN). Leading the varsity volleyball team at Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, Karoline Grant Moore continues to enjoy coaching. While teaching first grade at Hunter Classical Christian School in Richmond, Va. Leslie Scott van den Berg has also accepted a role as the director of curriculum for the lower school. Van den Berg is grateful to be involved in the growth and development of the school and believes God is doing exciting things at Hunter! She continues to lead Awana and help in the children's ministry at her church, Mount Vernon Baptist. She also serves in leadership for Community Bible Study (CBS). Because of her many roles and responsibilities, van den Berg is taking a break from teaching ballet but hopes to continue dancing in some way. After 14 years of work in youth ministry, Mandi Troutman Whitley has accepted a job as a kindergarten aide at Summit Drive Elementary in Greenville, S.C.

2006

Ashley Bruton has recently accepted the position as head of people and culture for North America at Amplience, a global technology company.

2007

Recently engaged, Heather Blackwood moved back to Georgia in February of 2022 to begin a new role as new business operations associate at Piedmont Capital Management in Macon, Ga. Christina Hooks Copersito became a stay-athome mom in November 2019. She

LEAH POOLE, ’20 Saving Lives by Improving Humanitarian Response to Climatic Events

By Taylor Sexton

Leah Poole, ’20, entered Meredith College as a Wings (Meredith’s adult education program) student. While at Meredith, she enjoyed the small learning environment, made lifelong friends, and began carving her path to her current passion, improving the humanitarian response to climatic events.

Poole initially majored in food and nutrition but realized during her senior year that it may not have been the best path for her. However, she found a passion for agriculture and the environment that same year, thanks to a class with her professor, Rachel Findley.

“She’s very into farming and farmer appreciation. She always said, ‘If you ate today, thank a farmer.’ So we visited all these farms, and I loved it. I knew I wasn’t enjoying dietetics, but I really loved these farms, so I started farming. And that’s what led me to apply to Tufts University,” she said.

Every program at Tufts requires students to conduct a project that gives back to the community. Poole’s project was based on public health, and she worked for the Climate Centre to complete her project. The Climate Centre works to help the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement reduce the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on vulnerable people.

“We were tracking air pollution and how that affects mortality, and then taking that information and making it accessible to the public,” she said. “I made short form documents that explain, ‘this is what pollution looks like where you live, and this is what you can do about it to protect yourself.”

While attending graduate school, Poole found herself making connections with farmers and learned how climate change was impacting their ability to grow crops. Her interest led to her meeting professor Erin Coughlan de Perez, who focuses on the intersection of climate change and humanitarian aid.

“That got me involved in international studies and human health, agricultural health, and food and nutrition as it relates to people who don’t have food, and then natural disasters and how that’s all related.

Poole currently works as a researcher with Coughlan de Perez at Tufts on a project that received a $2 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The work is focused on acting on disasters when they’re forecasted rather than after they happen,” Poole said. “So, when we know a hurricane is coming, we help people evacuate. Or we get them food resources, shelter in place resources, things like that before, rather than responding after the disaster, because it's cheaper to get people out than to send a search and rescue team. And it also saves lives.”

Poole may still be figuring out where she sits in the realm of humanitarian aid, but for now, she loves what she is doing and hopes to continue creating positive change in the world.

CONNECTION

now stays busy at home with her two children. Promoted to vice president, Julia Hardison Green is employed with Home Brands at Mainland, a full-service marketing and public relations agency. Audrey Tamer Harrell was named the director of sales at Pearson Virtual Schools in 2021. Terrin Monet Lawrence is a senior market researcher at Udemy.

Angela Levesque Murray began a new position at PlayMetrics in 2020. Jennifer Tripoli Selzer married in 2019 and had a son in February 2021.

2008

In February 2022, Rebecca Allen Poole opened her own law firm, Poole Family Law in Apex, N.C.

2011

Anna Kearney Best recently completed her first year as an assistant principal at Davis Drive Middle School. Starting a new position as a meeting planner, Erin White now works at IQVIA.

2012

Lauren Casteen earned her Master of Education in urban education along with a graduate certificate in anti-racism from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Starting a new position as the co-curricular data coordinator, JLP Prince works at Cornell University in the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement. Prince has been admitted to Oklahoma State University's Doctorate in Fire and Emergency Management Administration program, focusing research on climate resilience and disaster preparedness at small, private colleges in the southern U.S.

2018

In April 2022, Molly Smerko was ordained as a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church. She serves as the pastoral resident for education and young adults at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C.

NEW ARRIVALS

2006

Emily Harkey Zeblo, twin sons, Luke Thomas and Charles Matthew, 5/6/21.

2007

Angela Levesque Murray, a daughter, Isabella Murray, 12/17/18. Angie Lapino Patrick, a son, Raymond Elliott Lapino Patrick, 10/20/21.

2008

Jacinta Whitehurst Winslow, a daughter, Luvenia Mae, 11/22/21.

2009

Jessica Adams Gelatt, a son, Sullivan, 1/8/21.

2011

Jennifer Smith Alderman, a daughter, Oakleigh Grace, 2/13/22.

Caroline Exum Everett, a daughter, Loftin Caroline, 2/10/22.

Heather Ayers Fowler, a daughter, Piper McKinley, 7/13/22.

Brittany Frieson Davis, a daughter, Laila Gray, 5/7/22.

Carlin Creech Smith, a son, Parker Thomas, 1/5/22.

MARRIAGES

1982

Laura Smith to Fredrick Matney, 10/12/19.

1987

Jennifer Drinard to Michael Lynn, 5/24/14.

1990

Marcy Stephens to Jim Grace, 9/21/21.

2007

Jessica Erwin Coates to Derek Ellington, 4/16/22.

2011

Laura Beth Hoyle to James Johan Mattson, 4/23/22

2021

Lindsey Marie Lewis to William Caleb Sharp, 6/25/22.

DEATHS 1937

Ruth Thames Andrew, 6/14/22.

1945

Helen Beckwith Hayes, 6/7/22. Eleanor Loftin Jones, 3/29/22.

1948

Geraldine Carol Burgiss Mangum, 6/12/22.

Gayle Wells Powell, 6/4/22.

Elizabeth "Lib" Byrd Zimmerman Sink, 3/10/22.

1949

Betty Sinclair Franks, 4/28/22.

1950

Doris Saunders Concha, 7/20/22.

1951

Helen Brunson Cook, 5/15/22. Anne Morton Hill, 4/23/22.

Jane Biggs Mashburn, 7/9/22.

1952

Dorothy Hart Warren, 10/7/21.

1953

Sarah Lou Edwards, 5/3/22. Joan Langley Harrod, 4/13/22.

1954

Ruth Thames Andrew, 6/14/22. 1955

Barbara Martin Andrews Jones, 6/7/22. 1956

Virginia Ann Morris, 5/10/22. Nancy Ellen Savage, 4/13/22. Frances Clark Snipes, 5/10/22. Jane Phinney Suggs, 6/25/22. 1958

Martha Fasul Poulos, 5/3/22.

1959

Donna Ellington Brady, 3/28/22. 1961

Jane Kathleen Simmons Edwards, 4/14/22. 1963

Martha Ballou Caphton, 4/27/22. Harriet Cole Guyton, 7/16/22.

Sylvia Jeffcoat, 1/10/21. 1967

Bess Ward Davis, 5/15/22. Dawn Holden Jennings, 5/8/22. 1968

Vickie Newton Burlington, 5/24/22. 1969

Marion Wilson Stratakos, 4/5/22. 1975

Debra Miller Hardee, 6/21/22. 1979

Sandra Long Crutchfield, 4/6/22. Judy Heath Starks, 7/15/22. 1980

Deirdre Eileen Cathy, 3/5/02. 1981

Harriette Jackson Edwards, 4/16/22. 1984

Carol Hawkins Fields, 3/16/22. 1989

Mildred Louise Catching, 8/5/10. 1991

Donna Register Forrest, 4/14/22. 2013

Cheryle Mincey Poole, 5/17/22. SYMPATHY 1966

Anne Parker Phillips in the death of her daughter.

Lee Smith Spong in the death of her husband.

1970

Melanie Johnson McAlpine in the death of her mother.

1971

Mary-Stuart Parker Alderman in the death of her niece.

1972

Kathy O'Briant Hester in the death of her husband.

1973

Debbie Pearce Godwin in the death of her mother.

Michelle Rich Goode in the death of her mother.

Janis Hooper Grayson in the death of her mother.

Mary Marvin Johnson in the death of her mother and cousin.

Linda Weeks Peterson in the death of her mother.

Rita Ritchie Wolfe in the death of her husband.

1974

Jeanne Mangum Andrus in the death of her mother.

Allynna Stone in the death of her father.

1975

Eleanor Wheless Maness in the death of her mother.

Mary Lucretia Wooten in the death of her mother.

1976

Leigh McRoy Edwards in the death of her mother and her brother.

Barbara Heath Talley in the death of her sister.

1977

Evelyn Buie Shytle in the death of her father.

1979

Beth Wheless Bundy in the death of her mother.

Mary Bowen Oder in the death of her mother.

Ruth Joan Pardue in the death of her father.

1980

Lynn Benton Harvey in the death of her husband.

1981

Marian Poulos LeClair in the death of her mother.

Tal Hinant Mangum in the death of her mother-in-law.

Rebecca Correll McClendon in the death of her father.

By Taylor Sexton

It was a normal Monday morning in May 2021. Katherine (Kappie) Griggs, ’63, was meeting with The Old Cheraws Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at The Wine Factory in Cheraw, S.C., when suddenly, a large crowd began entering the room, and Griggs recognized Mayor Andy Ingram, several Town Council representatives, and Representative Richie Yow of the S.C. Legislature.

“I turned to the friend sitting next to me and asked, “What is going on?” and she responded, “You are about to find out!” said Griggs.

The large crowd was there for Griggs to surprise and present her with South Carolina’s Order of the Silver Crescent, which honors those who have contributed greatly to the public.

“In all of my life, I have never been so surprised!” she said.

Griggs has spent most of her life actively involved in her community and leaving a positive impact on the lives of others through volunteering. In fact, two weeks after Griggs’ graduation, she flew to Milwaukee, Wis., to train as a Peace Corps volunteer for three months. She was one of Meredith’s first Peace Corps volunteers.

“I was thrilled to be selected to volunteer in Visakhapatnam, AP, India, to teach English and math to Indian high school students in 9th through 11th classes for two years. I fell in love with South India and the people I met there,” said Griggs.

After serving as a volunteer in India, Griggs returned to the U.S. and spent three years on the Training Division of the Peace Corps Washington staff. She was married in 1969 to William Griggs, and the two moved to Cheraw, S.C., to raise their children, and she worked as a bookkeeper in his law firm.

“After Willie died in 2001, I was elected to the Cheraw School Advisory Board and chaired that organization for 15 years. I taught Sunday School for more years than I can count and served on the Cheraw Parenting Commission. In 1999 I was recognized during the Meredith College Centennial Celebration as one of 100 Meredith alumnae who had made significant contributions in volunteer service and family issues,” she said.

Griggs has been a part of many boards within Cheraw, including the board secretary of St. David’s Cemetery Association, member and former Board Chair of Hospice of Chesterfield County Foundation, Chair of Cheraw, Inc., a member of the Chesterfield County Economic Development Board, and former Chair of the Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce.

Her proudest achievement has been being a founder and current board member of the Mercy in Me Free Medical Clinic in Cheraw.

“I have served as office manager and volunteer coordinator and volunteered there at least three days of every week from September of 2009 through March 15, 2020,” said Griggs. “The Clinic serves the uninsured in Chesterfield County, raising funds for medicines and tests through local donors without accepting Government funding.”

Griggs has moved to Winston-Salem, N.C., to be closer to her family. Still, the reverberations of her impact on her community in Cheraw will be felt for the next several generations.

Join us on campus in May to relive your Meredith days at Alumnae Reunion Weekend!

All alumnae are invited to attend Alumnae Reunion Weekend, but classes ending in a three or eight will be celebrating a special class reunion. The weekend’s festivities will include a campus party on Friday evening hosted by President Jo Allen, ’80, the State of the College address, class luncheon, campus tours, (including the new academic building), individual class events, and an Alumnae Worship Service.

You will be receiving additional information about Alumnae Reunion Weekend, including on-campus events and classspecific events, from your class agents as well as the Alumnae Office in the spring. To view current details about the weekend, please visit meredith.edu/alumnae.

We look forward to welcoming you home to campus in May!

1987

Kim Weeks Braxton in the death of her mother.

Dorcas Hostetler Douglas in the death of her step-father.

Michelle Baker Haller in the death of her mother.

Nancy Floyd Long in the death of her father.

Jennifer Drinard Lynn in the death of her father.

Vivian Poulos in the death of her mother.

Barbara Bulla Simpson in the death of her mother.

Janelle Burt Spence in the death of her father.

Dawn Graham Williams in the death of her father.

1988

Lisa Ashley Harrington in the death of her father.

Bettie Shipp Rabb in the death of her father.

Elizabeth Cook Rohweder in the death of her son.

1989

Cindy Parkman Godwin in the death of her mother.

1991

Rhonwyn Curtis-Nicholson in the death of her mother.

1994

Sandra Parrish Hunt in the death of her father.

Lynnette Nelson Mann in the death of her mother.

1998

Jessica Brooks Walsh in the death of her grandfather.

2000

Kelly Andrus Beck in the death of her grandmother.

Jenna Burlington Fitch in the death of her mother.

2001

Pammy Hale Josey in the death of her mother-in-law.

2006

Mary Elizabeth Peacock in the death of her grandfather.

2014

Cecelia Blair in the death of her grandmother.

2015

Katie Shytle Gardner in the death of her grandfather.