Spring 2023 Meredith Magazine

CAMPUS NEWS

The interior of Carlyle Campbell Library received a makeover during the 2022-23 academic year.

Updates included paint, new furnishings, and the creation of additional study areas. Soft seating was added to allow space for students to read or to collaborate with others.

The refurbishment project took place in several phases to minimize disruption.

In Memoriam: Professor Emeritus Roger Crook

By Melyssa Allen

Meredith College mourns the loss of Professor Emeritus Roger Crook, who passed away on December 2, 2022, at the age of 101.

“Roger Crook was, without a doubt, one of the finest teachers and scholars whose commitment to Meredith, our students, and our colleagues will forever keep him in our hearts,” said President Jo Allen, ’80. “He was a role model for us all, living his faith, his kindness, and his wisdom with unparalleled humility and grace.”

Professor of Religion Shannon Grimes also remembers Crook for his kindness.

“I think it’s safe to say that Roger Crook was one of the most beloved

faculty members in Meredith’s history,” said Grimes. “He was so kind and genuine. And he was a fine scholar, too. It was a blessing to have known him.”

Crook joined the faculty at Meredith in 1949, serving in the Department of Religion. He became a full professor in 1960, chair of the department in 1968, and emeritus in 1987. Among his other service to Meredith, he led the College’s first study abroad program in 1974 and delivered the Faculty Distinguished Lecture, “Love and Law in Christian Ethics” in 1975. He also presented a convocation focused on Thomas Meredith during the College’s 125thanniversary celebrations in 2016.

Crook and his wife, Mary Ruth, were

married for 70 years, until her death in 2015. He is survived by their six sons. The family wrote of his life and work in his obituary, which states: “In so many ways, his life was exceptional. Dr. Crook is remembered for his works on Christian Ethics, Civil Rights, and the struggles of modern families. He and Mary Ruth have been both nationally and internationally recognized for a lifetime of peace and justice work and for being spokespersons for inclusion and equality. The quest for wholeness and the struggle for social justice continues to be nourished by the writings and records he left behind.”

2023 Commencement to Be Held May 13

Meredith College will hold commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2023 on Saturday, May 13.

Two sessions are planned, one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 11 a.m. The ceremonies will be held in the courtyard area with Johnson Hall as the backdrop for these celebrations.

The senior class president will address classmates at both ceremonies.

Meredith has held commencement exercises in the courtyard since 2021.

Meredith Poll Details North Carolinians’ Sentiment Toward Health Insurance Companies and Rising Costs of Healthcare

By Melyssa Allen

AMeredith College and N.C. Center for Health and Democracy Poll found that North Carolinians blame health insurance companies more than any other part of the healthcare system for the rising costs seen in healthcare. While North Carolinians are mostly satisfied with their current health insurance provider, just 8.3 % of North Carolinians feel that their health insurer has their best interest in mind.

The poll was conducted in November 2022.

“The Meredith Poll findings show us that [responders believe] North Carolina’s insurance companies consistently put up roadblocks to care and rely on a complicated process to maximize profits and reduce care for patients,” said Wendell Potter, founder of the Center for Health and Democracy and former Cigna executive.

This perception is reinforced by the significant portion of North Carolinians who have had a procedure not covered by insurance (23.1%), had a claim denied (20.1%), or had to go through unnecessary paperwork to get treatment (16%) in the last two years. In addition, those who had a procedure not covered, had a claim denied, or had to go through unnecessary paperwork had significantly lower satisfaction with their health insurer. In fact, almost three-in-four (73.6%) of those who had a claim denied reported feeling dissatisfied with their insurance company with most of those being extremely dissatisfied. Similarly, those who said they had a health procedure not covered by the insurance company or received a surprise bill also increased their dissatisfaction levels by a factor of two.

“The Meredith Poll findings show that while North Carolinians are satisfied

with their current health insurance, those who have had to navigate the insurance process of denials have significant dissatisfaction in their health insurance company,” said Dr. David McLennan, professor of political science and director of the Meredith Poll. “It is no surprise that patient dissatisfaction with health insurance companies increases with claim denials, denied care, and complicated appeals.”

The Meredith Poll partnered with the North Carolina Center for Health and Democracy to conduct the poll. The Center examines the status of health care in the state, educating patients, communities, and policymakers about the role health insurance companies have on costs, access, care outcomes, and the long-term sustainability of care for North Carolinians.

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Meredith Education Instructor Receives NCSTA Lifetime Achievement Award

By Melyssa Allen

Meredith College Instructor of Education Manley Midgett is the recipient of the North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022.

The award was presented during the 53rd NCSTA Professional Development Institute awards ceremony, which was held on November 3, 2022, preceded by a reception honoring awardees.

The NCSTA Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals exhibiting extraordinary accomplishments and commitment to the organization and the enhancement of science education.

This honor was determined as a result of Midgett’s professional excellence and contributions to science education in North Carolina as well as his steadfast dedication to NCSTA. He has been an adjunct instructor in Meredith’s Department of Education since 1987.

Heather Bower, head of Meredith’s Department of Education, praised Midgett for his service to Meredith.

“Mr. Midgett has been an extraordinary adjunct professor for us for many, many years. His hands-on approach to science education empowers our teachers to go into their classrooms and conduct experiments that bring science to life and ensure that every child realizes they are a scientist,” Bower said. “He truly is an extraordinary model and educator, and we are so grateful to have him as part of our team.”

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Mr. Midgett has been an extraordinary adjunct professor for us for many, many years. His hands-on approach to science education empowers our teachers to go into their classrooms and conduct experiments that bring science to life and ensure that every child realizes they are a scientist. He truly is an extraordinary model and educator, and we are so grateful to have him as part of our team.”

— Heather Bower Head, Department of Education and Assistant Professor of Education

Author Visit Inspires Meredith English Students

By Melyssa Allen

Afall 2022 campus visit by author Venita Blackburn was an inspiring opportunity for Meredith College students. The Department of English hosted a public reading on September 21, 2022, and Blackburn also interacted with students in a writing workshop.

In each of these opportunities, Meredith students were able to experience Blackburn’s innovative voice. Her short fiction has appeared in thenewyorker.com, Harper’s, Ploughshares, McSweeney’s, the Paris Review, and others.

The author’s visit got rave reviews from many students, including Savannah Jones, ’24, a student in Young Adult Literature.

“This has been one of my favorite academic-related events Meredith has hosted, and I admired Blackburn’s work so much that I purchased a copy of one of her books, which she graciously signed after the reading,” said Jones. “The vulnerability and brutal honesty in the pieces she read were a pleasant surprise that made for a hilarious yet heartfelt presentation.”

During the Q&A, Blackburn was asked about her creative process. She noted writing can look like “lying on the couch staring at the ceiling.”

“I’m thinking, planning, and listening to my thoughts until I get a line that is so interesting, or weird, or compelling that it gets me off the couch and to my desk,” Blackburn said. “It has to start with a line, with a voice, and the language.”

Blackburn’s answer resonated with Sarah Eike, ’23, a student in Creative Nonfiction.

“As someone who wants to be a creative writer, it was comforting to know that there isn’t any secret formula for coming up with ideas and stories,” said Eike. “The event went by way too fast because I was engaged completely with everything she was saying and reading.”

Blackburn is an award-winning writer who received the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction for her story collection Black Jesus and Other Superheroes in 2017. Her second collection of stories, How to Wrestle a Girl (2021), was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction.

Many students said they enjoyed the experience of hearing Blackburn read from her work, which brought new understanding.

Margaret Devitt, ’25, a student in Creative Writing, said “It was cool being able to hear the author’s actual voice reading the stories out loud because it helped me to imagine what kind of purpose she had or the message she was trying to get across when she originally wrote it.”

Blackburn is the founder of the literary nonprofit Live, Write, which provides free creative writing workshops for communities of color. She served on the Sewanee Writers’ Conference faculty in 2022 and is an associate professor of creative writing at California State University, Fresno.

Cross Country Wins USA South Championship

By Heath Barringer, Sports Information Director

The Meredith Cross Country program finished at the top of the USA South standings for the 2022 season while also seeing freshman Amethyst Joseph named Rookie of the Year and head coach Field Miller named Coach of the Year.

The 2022 USA South Women’s Cross Country Championship took place on Saturday, October 29 on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan University in Rocky Mount, N.C.

Meredith captured the championship for the fourth time in program history, its first since 2015, not counting the East Division championship earned during the COVID-altered 2021 spring championship. The Avenging Angels bested second-place Southern Virginia by five points and third-place Pfeiffer by 84 points.

Aerospace Engineering Option Added to Meredith Dual Degree Program

By Melyssa Allen

Meredith College’s Dual Degree Engineering Program is now offering students the option to study Aerospace Engineering. The Dual Degree Engineering Program is an agreement between Meredith and NC State University through which students simultaneously complete the academic requirements of both institutions. Students in this program earn two degrees in five years.

At Meredith, students choose between earning a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, computer science, or mathematics while earning a Bachelor of Science from NC State in one of many disciplines. The Aerospace Engineering discipline is a new option for Dual Degree students earning a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Meredith.

The Dual Degree Engineering Program agreement between Meredith and NC State was established in 2005.

Meredith’s commitment to educating, supporting, and promoting women as leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics prepares graduates to make an impact in the professional field. Alumnae of the dual degree engineering program have gone on to accept engineering positions in a variety of organizations including Duke Energy, Evonik Corporation, GE Aviation, Accenture, IBM, and more.

Students Gain Real-World Experience Through Clinical Exercise Program

By Gaye Hill

Meredith College piloted a new clinical exercise program in fall 2022. The course provides practical experience for Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (HESS) students enrolled in ESS 486: Exercise Prescription. Seniors learn how to train individuals who have health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, orthopedic conditions, and metabolic disorders.

Meredith faculty and staff volunteered to serve as clients for the students. Program participants received pre- and post-exercise testing and an 8-week, twice-per-week personal training regime. Training sessions were held in the Lowery Fitness Center, while testing was conducted in the Health & Human Performance Lab located in the new Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) Building.

Assistant Professor of Health,

Exercise, and Sports Science Heather Sanderson provided oversight during testing and training sessions. Although the course itself is not new, Sanderson added the clinical exercise program to provide HESS students with a cumulating experiential learning opportunity.

past three years and prepares them for their upcoming internship or practicum and even the next step in their career path,” said Sanderson. She welcomed the opportunity for students to apply theories and principles in kinesiology and exercise within a real-world situation.

“They learned the intricacies of screening, testing, designing, and training exercise programs for a clinical population along with exercise psychology, motivation and health behavior strategies, and effective communication,” said Sanderson.

“In addition, for many students, this was the first time they had to write Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan (SOAP) notes, which is a form of clinical documentation.”

“It incorporates what they have learned in their ESS courses for the

Senior ESS major Logan Byrd said her favorite part of participating in the clinical exercise class was being able to connect with a member of the Meredith community.

“It was great to see my client grow and become more confident as the semester progressed. It was truly rewarding to be able to educate my client so she could continue to be physically active after this course.”

— Logan Byrd, ’23

“It was great to see my client grow and become more confident as the semester progressed,” said Byrd. “It was truly rewarding to be able to educate my client so she could continue to be physically active after this course.”

This experience directly contributed to Byrd’s career plans.

“It has always been my goal to become a physical therapist,” she said. “This class has better prepared me with skills such as client-to-trainer communication, assessing conditions, planning exercise programs, and assisting clients with their goals. I believe the course material and overall experience will have a lasting impact on my health and wellness career path.”

A Mutually Beneficial Program

Sanderson sees the program as one that benefits both students in the course as well as faculty and staff participants.

“Learning how to perform safe and effective movements and how the body responds to exercise strengthens a person’s confidence and competence with their own body,” she said. “This is so valuable as many individuals simply do not understand their own health and struggle with basic activities of daily living. After the program, I hope they will continue their healthy, active lifestyle.”

Sanderson said she has received

emails from faculty and staff sharing how much they have benefited by learning from the students and appreciated the support towards their own personal health and well-being.

Counseling Center Director Beth Meier saw clear benefits from participating in the program.

“I had always taken time to exercise and attend to my osteopenia but when the pandemic happened that all went by the wayside," said Meier. “I now have osteoporosis and was motivated to get back on track.”

Meier commended her work with her student trainer, saying she was surprised to make real gains in her endurance and strength in just a few weeks.

Carolyn Koning, assistant director of disability services, had a similar experience in that the pandemic derailed her workout program. She had previously worked individually with an ESS major who needed a client so she was excited to do so again in order to regain healthy habits.

“My student trainer tailored activities and exercises to my personal goals and fitness level,” said Koning. “I was never sore after workouts, and she made sure I did exercises correctly to avoid injuries. She taught me new exercises that target my training goals. I feel stronger after working with Peyton this semester.”

Koning noted another benefit was getting to know a student she would not have otherwise interacted with. Her trainer works in the Meredith Autism Program so they had a shared interest in working with people with disabilities.

Given its success, Sanderson intends to repeat the program.

“I am thrilled about the program and how both students and faculty/staff have bonded and learned from each other,” said Sanderson. “I appreciate the feedback faculty and staff have given to the students to support their learning and look forward to offering it again in the future.”

Lecture Addresses Climate Change Impact on N.C. Coastal Forests

By Gaye Hill

On October 27, two experts spoke at Meredith about the devastating impacts of climate change on coastal forests in North Carolina as part of the 2022 Summer Reading Program.

“Ghost forests” are a stark and visible result of rising sea levels driven by climate change because the increased saltwater poisons and kills trees that can tolerate only freshwater, leaving behind bare tree trunks in the water.

In a lecture titled “Ghost Forests: Symbols of Climate Change and Resilience,” Marcelo Ardón, associate professor for the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State University, and Melinda Martinez, a Mendenhall PostDoctorate/Research Ecologist with the United States Geological Survey Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, described how they have scientifically documented the spread of this phenomenon in North Carolina, how our coastal ecosystems are adapting to this change, and how we can help to slow climate change.

Martinez spoke first, sharing her journey that started as a math major at the University of Texas-Dallas and ended with her current research on coastal wetland resilience in Louisiana, having completed her Ph.D. at NC State University with Ardón as her advisor and moved on to her post-doctorate

studies. She explained how she uses satellite remote sensing to measure the recovery of areas that experience disturbances such as hurricanes, droughts, saltwater intrusion, and freeze events.

“Climate change is happening now and in your state,” she said.

Martinez also shared photos of her research, including some from the Florida Everglades where she used airboats and helicopters to access remote locations.

Ardón focused on his work in the marshes of Pamlico Sound, N.C., where he studied ghost forests. He contrasted the North Carolina marshes’ poor performance in sequestering carbon with similar areas in Georgia, where marshes are more effective than forests at sequestering carbon. He noted that ditches and drains that have been used to facilitate agricultural efforts in the N.C. wetlands are also good at bringing salinity into the marsh.

“The answer to whether ghost forests are a good thing or bad thing might depend on where you are in the landscape,” he said.

Signs of Hope

Although the effects of climate change are dire in this region, positive efforts are being made to address areas that are capable of restoration. Ardón also noted a citizen science project

called Sentinels of the Sounds, which invites visitors to take photos and help document ecosystem change.

He concluded his portion of the lecture by crediting his wife, Dr. Erin Lindquist, with bringing him to North Carolina and inspiring him to study trees. Lindquist was a faculty member at Meredith College from 2006-19, and this lecture was presented in her memory.

“I loved trees before I met Erin, but she really loved trees. She was a professional tree hugger,” he said.

He drew parallels between the resilience of the trees he studies and Lindquist’s fortitude as she battled cancer for seven years before passing away in 2019. He said he is happy to see that her work continues to have an impact at Meredith, citing, in particular, the Costa Rica study abroad course that Lindquist started many years ago.

Saying that although it is difficult, he feels it is his duty to keep telling her story, Ardón offered some “unsolicited advice” on her behalf, telling the students “be optimistic, be kind, be persistent, and have fun.”

When a student asked how they can help regarding climate change impacts, he encouraged them to talk about the situation.

“If you see [ghost forests] when you go out to the coast, point them out. You can help raise awareness.”

Faculty Distinguished Lecture Focuses on Impact Investing

By Melyssa Allen

For the 2022-23 Faculty Distinguished Lecture, Professor of Finance Bing Yu presented “Impact Investing: Driving Capitalists to Do Good While Doing Well.” The lecture was held on October 13, 2022, in Jones Auditorium.

“Impact investing is an approach in which investors make their investments with the intention to generate positive social impact in environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) areas along with a financial return. It is also called ESG investing,” Yu explained.

This type of investing contrasts with the current capitalist system.

“Maximizing shareholders’ wealth is the goal of business in our current system. The capital invested in business pursues profit in favor of shareholders/capitalists at expense of other stakeholders such as employees, local communities, and clients in our society,” Yu said.

According to Yu, a business model will not be sustainable if it favors one group only.

“For the purpose of sustainability, we want to shift the current economic system of capitalism to the one that generates not only financial return but also the social good,” Yu said. “Only changing the way capital works can [we] make the shift effectively. That’s the reason we need impact investing.”

In conclusion, Yu emphasized the decision to choose impact investing depends on the personal preference of the investor. In the end, he said, it is “your money, your decision.” ESG, or impact investing, is gaining momentum. A recent survey showed that 84% of investors want to integrate personal values into investing, and this percentage rises to 90% among millennials.

“If an investor cares about the common good more than financial return, they might choose impact investing,” Yu said. “The more investors choose impact investing, the more the social good the impact investing will create, and the better the investment return might be achieved.”

Yu joined Meredith’s faculty in 2008. His research interests include international corporate finance; impact investing; asset pricing in emerging markets; gender diversity and corporate governance; and law, culture, and corporate finance. His research has been published in journals including the International Review of Financial Analysis, Managerial Finance, and Managerial Auditing Journal. Yu serves as a referee for numerous finance journals, including The Financial Review, Quantitative Finance, and Managerial Finance.

Before beginning his academic career, Yu was a financial analyst and then a manager of the corporate finance department at an investment firm in China. He holds a Ph.D. in finance from Kent State University and an MBA from the University of Toledo.

MEREDITH EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

Meredith College experts have recently been featured in the media discussing topics including international education, inflation and the labor market, and Gen Z political opinions.

This has been a really wonderful professional development opportunity for colleagues on campus to see an aspect of our international education that’s such a critical component of what we do here, so they’re able to return to campus and speak about their experiences and share that with students. It also has connected employees, faculty, and staff with colleagues on campus who they may not normally interact with. There have been some really wonderful bonds and relationships formed from colleagues who traveled together.”

Director of International Programs Brooke Shurer, in an Inside Higher Ed article about Meredith’s faculty/staff travel opportunity to the College’s site in Sansepolcro, Italy. The article ran in November 2022.

Gen Z has been shaped by mass shootings in schools, horrible instances of racial injustice like George Floyd’s murder, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This, according to researchers, has made them more tolerant of differences, empathetic to the needs of marginalized people, and desirous of government being more active in solving societal problems, all of which are left-leaning ideas ... However, a deeper examination of the polling data reveals some significant gender differences within Gen Z. Males are significantly less supportive — 30 percent less — of expanding abortion access or even retaining the provisions established under Roe v. Wade than Gen Z women.”

Professor of Political Science David McLennan and Associate Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo in an op-ed for The Hill, about Gen Z voter preferences. The piece ran in October 2022, before the midterm elections.

There are a variety of reasons, from lack of child care keeping some mothers out of the labor market to earlier retirements. The male labor force participation rate has not even returned to its pre-pandemic level. And there is evidence that some people do still fear catching COVID in the workplace, particularly in jobs with a lot of human interaction. Until the labor force participation rate improves, I think that the Fed will continue to fight a losing battle that will end up causing too much harm to the economy as they continue to use a tool that decreases the demand for output.”

Professor of Economics Anne York in a WRAL Techwire interview about the effect of the labor market on inflation. The story was posted in December 2022.

Tenth Anniversary of Honoring Women Veterans Event

By Melyssa Allen

Meredith College held its Veterans Day celebration, Honoring Women Veterans, on November 9, 2022. This was the 10th-anniversary event and a return to an in-person service after two years of virtual commemorations.

The event honors all veterans, with special emphasis on the contributions of women veterans. It featured a musical performance by Encore! and a keynote speech by Lieutenant General Kathleen M. Gainey, U.S. Army (Retired).

on making the military a career,” Gainey said, but the Army continued offering leadership challenges that were appealing.

She served in the U.S. Army for more than 35 years, retiring in December 2013. Her past assignments include Deputy Commander, U.S. Transportation Command, where she led the command through a major strategic review and period of increasing forces in Afghanistan and decreasing forces in Iraq. She also served as the Director of Logistics for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here she led a review of the dependency of contractors on the battlefield, updated guidance and equipment divestiture for the departure of forces from Iraq, and established an Interagency Logistics Council.

“I lived by the Army motto, ‘Be all that you can be,’ because of the people in the military who challenged me to achieve.”

excel. I am eternally grateful to these women.”

Gainey also discussed the Military Women’s Memorial (MWM), formerly known as the Women in Military Service for America Memorial. Located in Arlington, Va., the memorial is commemorating its 25th anniversary in October. Gainey serves as an MWM North Carolina ambassador. She emphasized the importance of this memorial.

“More than three million women have served in the United States military … the artifacts and memories [of these veterans] will be lost if we don’t capture them in this memorial,” Gainey said. She closed by challenging the audience members to visit the MWM and to help find and register the stories of women veterans in the memorial.

Gainey discussed her own military service, shared stories of women veterans, and talked about the Military Women’s Memorial.

Gainey came from a military family but called her career path in the U.S. Army an unlikely one. “I never planned

She acknowledged that opportunities that are now common were not always available to women.

“Every generation of women who have served has helped break open barriers,” Gainey said. “They demonstrated how women could

The College’s annual event is presented by the Meredith College Honoring Women Veterans Committee, with assistance from Meredith Student Veterans Association and Service Scholars. In addition to this commemoration, Meredith community members were able to make holiday cards that were sent to the troops via Heartillery Group.

The Transformative Power of Planning

As we draft the next iteration of the College’s strategic plan, the fourth since 2011, I am reminded of the adage, credited to leaders including Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower: “Plans are useless, but the process of planning is invaluable.”

At Meredith, both our plans and our processes have proven quite useful as they have helped us collaborate to set priorities, establish authority and accountability for pursuing those priorities, and identify the amounts and sources of funding needed. Through our strategic plans, which have lent great focus to our work and our processes that have engaged the community, we have accomplished much:

• established new programs that drive enrollment and retention

• built or renovated buildings and infrastructure

• surpassed a $75 million campaign goal with over $90 million along with continuing support for the College

• advanced our distinctive brand and image

• solidified our commitment to our students’ and employees’ health and well-being, compensation, and professional development and recognition.

At each turn, we have revised the process and timing of planning at Meredith, and that flexibility has served us well.

For one thing, people more readily buy into processes in which they have a greater voice for setting priorities and accepting authority and responsibility for progress. Second, we are less likely to suffer from planning fatigue because we can readily keep our accomplishments in mind as we design next steps for the College. And third, any ideas not written into a current version of the plan will be revisited in the next iteration of the plan to ensure good ideas are not lost. In short, success breeds success. In our current planning process, we are offering more pronounced opportunities for learning and listening sessions, with each pillar of the plan (educational excellence, enrollment, facilities and IT, financial strength, marketing and visibility, and quality of life) featured in a dedicated summit. Each summit opens with foundational information about the pillar/topic, providing data and procedural pathways for how we conduct the “business” of the pillar as well as our prior achievements and ongoing challenges. Unlike planning in corporate America (or global enterprises), politics, or the military, planning in higher education is best undertaken and characterized by grassroots insights and recommendations, rather than top-down pronouncements, but similarly set within the context of good research and data. Having a community willing to participate in our planning process through suggestions and encouragement and, yes, funding means we are collectively protecting and extending the reputation of Meredith College. And that is what makes us strong[er].

THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF MEREDITH COLLEGE

Meredith's strategic plan builds on the strengths of the College and sets the stage for a strong and vibrant future.

Ensure educational excellence through curricular and cocurricular pathways that lead to student success

Cultivate optimal enrollment and retention of highlyqualified students

Provide the facilities and technology needed to support the College’s projected growth

Strengthen the College’s long-term financial stability

Enhance the visibility and profile of Meredith College

Enrich quality of life for Meredith faculty, staff, and students

President Jo Allen, ’80

Meredith Students Hone Photography Skills at Animal Sanctuary

By Gaye Hill

In the fall 2022 semester, Professor of Art Shannon Johnstone arranged for her students to take photos at the Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary. They were charged with taking photos that depict animals as subjects rather than objects.

“In art and photography, animals are most often used as symbols, metaphors, tools, labor, or stand-ins for something else,” said Johnstone. “My hope is that we can begin to change that by depicting animals as sentient beings who are worthy of moral consideration simply because they exist – just like humans.”

For Johnstone, the project is an opportunity for students to explore different vantage points and expose themselves to new ways of thinking, including ones that might feel uncomfortable initially. She sees

this as a crucial aspect of a college education.

“I understand that some of my students come from farming backgrounds or may have religious reasons for the way they think, treat, and feel about animals,” said Johnstone. “But my hope is that students will try to make pictures through the lens of animals deserving our moral consideration, even if it is just for an afternoon. Then they can make an educated acceptance or rejection of the concept after having time to consider it.”

Johnstone has a national reputation for her social activism through photography. She met the founders of Blind Spot through volunteering at Wake County Animal Center. She then paid a visit to the Sanctuary and was impressed.

“I was blown away by how many animals they have helped and how each animal was treated with individuality and dignity,” said Johnstone. “I thought it would be a perfect fit for our ‘animal portrait’ project.”

Students were given a photographic directive of three different portraits they needed to make of each animal they photographed.

“These three different images involved changing camera settings, but more importantly, it required students to change their angle of view and respond to their subject and environment,” said Johnstone. “I was so excited to see students who had been relatively shy in class come to life on this field trip. I saw students taking photographic risks like lying on the ground and asking their peers to help compose an image.”

First-year student Lauren Shaw enjoyed the assignment.

“As a result of this trip, I learned that animals I was previously cautious around, such as pigs and chickens, are interesting creatures with individual personalities and qualities,” said Shaw. “I didn’t know pigs could be so much like dogs, but one wanted belly rubs, which I did not expect at all! It was such an amazing experience to capture the lives of animals we rarely see up close and personal, and I’m so grateful to both Professor Johnstone and Blind Spot for facilitating our visit.”

Johnstone noted the students’ photographs have also been helpful to Blind Spot. The Sanctuary shared the students’ images on its social media accounts, which helps with adoptions and donations for the nonprofit organization.

“I hope this collaboration with Blind Spot and Meredith can continue,” said Johnstone. “I love it when my students can serve the community as conduits of goodwill. And as a photography professor, I am proud of the way the students challenged themselves. Both sections of Photography I made some incredible images.”

Fostering Strengths-Based Work Environments

Not everyone gets to choose what they do on purpose. Sometimes it's just based on what's available and what you're qualified to do. I think we're better people when we get to do something that is uniquely interesting to us.

I chose to pursue my M.A. in Psychology at Meredith because of the investment that Meredith puts into their students and the success of their students.

I want to help both match individuals with work that's uniquely suited for them, as well as help organizations focus on people’s strengths and celebrate those strengths. The goal is to bring those strengths out of the employees so that they can really contribute to the team effort and overall vision. I'm hoping to do work that feels meaningful and uniquely

aligned for me and then help other people find that as well.

I served in the Peace Corps for two years. I really wanted to go where I was needed to offer what I had to offer. The common thread is doing things that are uniquely suited for you. So, I wanted to go wherever I was needed most, and I think now it's the same idea of doing things on purpose and with intention, but really wanting to take that and say what's unique to me and what are my strengths and interests and how do I celebrate those and build on those.

Meredith’s program offers small class sizes and the option to do either a thesis or an internship. I wanted to do something more applied so the internship option was something that was very appealing to me.

I'm an intern for a local consulting

company called eParamus. They help companies create assessments for training and development, to have clearer information back to the company about the impact of their training and if it's really targeting the goals and metrics they set out to target.

My ultimate career goal is to help teams work more cohesively, but also just have greater work/life balance. Then long-term, leadership development is what I really want to do. Good leadership, to me, is about celebrating people's strengths and really bringing those forward and so I want to help leaders do that well.”

Watch Luisa Jaramillo’s Strong Story.

I chose to pursue my M.A. in Psychology at Meredith because of the investment that Meredith puts into their students and the success of their students.”

LUISA JARAMILLO, ’23

Master of Arts in Psychology I-O Concentration

NEWSMAKERS Meredith Students Raise Awareness of Domestic Violence

By Taylor Sexton

For three days in late October 2022, 36 chairs were placed in the area between the Cate Center and the Science and Math Building. Each represented a victim of domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2022. Thirty-four of the chairs had photos of the victims taped to them, while two teddy bears sat in the front row to represent two child victims.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) was launched nationwide in 1987 and has been honored every October for over 30 years since. To raise awareness, the students from Kris Macomber’s gender and violence class put together the exhibit.

The class is taught each fall semester, and Macomber said she encourages her students to raise awareness on the topics they discuss in class. Since October is DVAM, she suggests that her students do something visible on campus to educate the community.

“There’s a domestic violence homicide list that the state coalition keeps updated every year. So I offer as a suggestion that they take the list and use it to honor the victims in some way,” she said.

A group of five students decided to draw attention to the growing number of homicides each year in North Carolina resulting from domestic violence by placing chairs in front of the Cate Center and having the photos and names of each victim.

“When we first began our investigation, there were 24 victims. As of the date of our display, there were 36 in North Carolina,” said Jessica Dedho-Doradea, ’23, one of the five students who worked on the project.

Domestic violence is defined as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another” by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).

“It is important to raise awareness on topics like these because they are not discussed enough. Many resources can help anyone in these situations, and it’s important to spread that information to offer these resources and show others what is happening around them,” said Dedho-Doradea. “Domestic violence can be seen in different forms, and there is a high risk of ending in a homicide.”

The exhibit, which was on display from October 25 until October 27, 2022, also contained a sheet explaining domestic violence, the common signs of an abusive partner, information and resources, and facts. According to the sheet, every 1 in 5 college women reports physical violence, and intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crimes.

“I think because violence impacts so many people’s lives, it’s simultaneously common, and it’s considered normalized in our culture, but it’s something that shouldn’t be. It’s something that we should take very seriously. Everybody knows someone who’s been impacted by domestic violence. It’s a really challenging problem to address,” said Macomber.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Betty-Shannon Prevatt attended the American Public Health Association annual conference in Boston in November 2022, to support two students whose independent projects were accepted for poster presentations. Joselyn Marroquin Aparicio, ’22, presented her research, Examining Pre-pandemic and COVID-19-era Postpartum Mental Health. Rayna Maleki, ’23, also had a poster presenting her research, Suicidal Ideation During the Antepartum and Postpartum Period. Both students’ projects were products of their work with the Advancing Insight into Maternal Social Support (AIMSS) study lab which is run by Prevatt and Assistant Professor of Child Development Pamela Norcross For more information about the study, and to see the students’ posters, visit the AIMSS website at aimssresearch.com/study-findings.

Three members of the Meredith Music piano faculty made significant contributions at the annual conference of the North Carolina Music Teachers (NCMTA), October 5-8, 2022. Professor of Music Kent Lyman was serving in his second year as president of the state organization, which included presiding over this conference. Instructor of Piano and Composition Tom Lohr presented “Exploration in Composition in Atonal Music” and had two students whose original compositions won their divisions in the 2022 NCMTA Young Composers competition. Instructor of Piano Margaret Evans served as Young Artist Coordinator, including helping run the all-day competition of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), held annually at this conference. The NCMTA is the largest gathering of private music teachers (both collegiate and independent) in the state.

Students from the Department of Communication attended the MediaFest journalism convention in Washington, D.C., from October 27-30, 2022. The convention, hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists and the College Media Association, brought together professional journalists, student journalists, and college media advisers from across the country. Students learned about journalism and media trends, new digital tools, emerging technologies, and career opportunities. Communication faculty members Alan Buck and Lynn Owens also attended the event. Owens served on the convention’s critique team for student media submissions.

Meredith Hosts High School Day of Dance

By Melyssa Allen

The Meredith College Dance Program hosted its High School Day of Dance on October 28, 2022. This was the first time the event had been held since 2019.

Approximately 400 students from 24 high schools participated, taking classes from Meredith dance faculty, alumnae, and community members. Fourteen of the schools presented dances on the Jones Auditorium stage.

“We also collaborated with The American Dance Festival for the first time to have faculty teach and staff speak to students about summer dance opportunities and scholarships. This was unique because ADF is an internationally recognized dance festival housed in Durham, N.C.,” said Instructor of Dance Courtney White, who coordinated the event.

White said the purpose of the High School Day of Dance is to support public high school dance programs and teachers.

“It’s an opportunity for students to see what other high school dance programs look like and to celebrate and share dance,” White said. “It also gives the dance education majors an opportunity to meet and connect with teachers in the

field. All around, it’s visibility for everyone: the Meredith dance program, our students, the high schools, and the community dance teachers.”

Participants indicated they were leaving the High School Day of Dance feeling supported, grateful, and inspired.

“We received lovely feedback from the dancers and the teachers. The energy and enthusiasm the students brought to their classes and the stage was incredible,” White said. “The teachers were grateful for the opportunity to connect with their peers and to provide a new learning experience for their students.”

In addition to supporting the high school dance community, the event was a learning experience for Meredith students. White praised dance students for their support.

“Meredith dance students play a large role in hosting this event. They assist in planning, act as class monitors/assistants, help students navigate from class to class, and of course, clean up. Without them, the event would not be possible. They do a wonderful job answering questions and love showing others what dance is like here at Meredith.”

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE

A Q&A WITH PRESIDENT JO ALLEN, ’80, AND DEI COORDINATOR LILIANA MADRID

By Gaye Hill

Just over one year ago, Meredith hired its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator, Liliana Madrid, who reports directly to President Jo Allen, ’80. Meredith Magazine sat down with Allen and Madrid to learn about the College’s efforts over the past year toward making Meredith a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Meredith Magazine (MM): Can we start by defining precisely what we mean when we talk about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Meredith?

So when we say diversity, we are usually asking who is in the room; when we say equity, we’re asking who is trying to get into the room but can’t. Inclusion asks if everyone’s ideas have been heard. And you will often hear DEIB, where the B stands for belonging, meaning everyone feels like a full member of the community. In my experience, creating a sense of belonging is more challenging.

When I was hired as the DEI Coordinator, it was clear that DEI is the responsibility of everyone at the institution. That means we don’t single out, “other,” or silo DEI work into one person’s position. It also means every single person forms a part of our community. And so, as coordinator, my role is to help with the initiatives and work with folks across campus who are either beginning or continuing to incorporate DEI initiatives into departments, offices, or programs.

MM: Can you tell me a little bit about the Student Collective?

The Student Collective, which launched this fall, intentionally creates opportunities to share information and knowledge that I, as coordinator, may have about DEI work with students, and for students to share with me concerns or challenges. The goal is to ensure what I’m doing with employees matches the needs of student constituents. I’ve learned that our students weren’t necessarily familiar with all the work that other students are doing. We’re still getting to know and understand each other.

Liliana Madrid (LM)

MM: DEI is a consistent component of the next iteration of Meredith’s strategic plan that’s being developed. Can you tell me why that’s so important?

President Jo Allen (JA)

If you recognize that the Board of Trustees has the ultimate say over the direction of the institution, then the strategic plan is their “marching orders” to me as president. What’s unique is that since I’ve been here, rather than the Board devising a strategic plan it has been a grassroots initiative in which we’ve talked at the foundational level about how we interact, what we’re committed to, and what we invest in that we want to preserve long term. Building DEI work into the strategic plan provides buy-in all along the way.

A top-down initiative doesn’t work. It’s most effective when people are doing the work that Liliana is describing of coming together, talking about what they see, what they’re experiencing, and what they need as resources. To me, that’s how you make a systemic difference in an institution.

Also, measurement is a huge piece that Liliana and I agree on – you have to be able to measure what you’re trying to accomplish.

MM: Liliana, how would you describe your approach to data?

To me, data is a way of listening. You can track attendance, but it is also about capturing how participating in the experience impacted someone’s relationship with the institution. Capturing those experiences really helps advocate for DEI work.

For example, the number of employees participating in the Foundations certificate is only one piece of community engagement. Supporting employee success is the second, and that doesn’t always look the same for everyone.

A number of folks have been doing DEI work across campus. Their passion and commitment shows and now we get to support professional development opportunities for additional community members, because the work is valued. To be able to say we can provide programs is one part. To be able to say we have data that shows positive student experience is the second. It can be easy to only focus on a singular story; it is different to say we have comprehensive data and information that we can share with the community about our gaps and strengths – to offer continued growth opportunities based on the feedback, and to be able to track and show how we have been accountable. If there is doubt, we have the information to demonstrate how we are working towards the goal. This helps with accountability and trust quite a bit.

I think in addition to that it really is about impact, as Liliana was saying. So if you know, for instance, that people may be reluctant to participate in a training because they’re afraid they’re going to be embarrassed or they don't know the value of the training – start with the question, what do you want to get out of this workshop? That assessment of learning is where the real educational impact is most felt.

I’m in my 12th year as president. That means I’m going into my fourth generation of Meredith students. With every generation, there’s a tendency to forget that there was a generation prior to them, and prior to them, and so on. So when they say Meredith doesn’t do X, they may not know we actually have a long history of doing X – for instance, I think about how active our faculty were from the start of the civil rights movement.

Sometimes it’s hard for students to fully understand the community they’ve stepped into. For them, it’s brand new. And they want to put their own spin on their own experience. And that may be different from what the last generation of students needed just four years ago. As educators, it’s on us to remember that. This is a subject that is always evolving.

President Jo Allen, ’80

In the DEI world, language is always evolving. I think back on some of the trainings I did 10 years ago and it’s fascinating to see how language has changed. I tell folks every time they come to a training if you’re under the impression this two-hour workshop will make you a subject matter expert, I’m sorry to disappoint you but that’s not going to happen. This is ongoing work, and every time you meet someone new, their lived experience is their truth.

MM: What are you excited about and what challenges do you see with regard to Meredith’s DEI work?

As a new person, I know where most of the buildings are now. But being able to build relationships with partners across campus – and like any good relationship that takes time – I’m really excited to have had the opportunity to work with folks in different departments to ideate about possibilities, recognizing that change takes time and cultural change takes even more time. Feeling the support for that has been very rewarding.

You know, really all of our interests or lifelong journeys – we are passionate about them because we continue to learn about them. Everyone’s field is evolving and I think it really shortchanges DEI work for people to come in with the expectation of “I’m going to take this one workshop and I don’t have to worry about my language anymore, it will all be taken care of.”

That lifelong piece is another way to remind ourselves that just like our language and our experiences are evolving, our perspectives on language and experiences evolve, too. And that’s why it’s so important to give yourself and others the grace needed to learn, to be able to ask questions, to be able to say, “you know I don’t understand the difference in these terms.”

For example, all these folks who are making the bias response process possible – that has taken time because it’s not just creating a button to submit a form. All the back-end pieces of how people have to work together and figure out what policies we have and how this plays into that. But it’s been received with nothing but support from the top down and bottom up. That has been really exciting for me to be able to say I get to work at an institution where folks are trying to do good work.

I’m certainly excited about people coming together, but also I think the recognition that people are trying to get it right is exciting – when people are trying to be allies and build something measurable, to be able to say this is where we succeeded and where we still need to focus our attention. I really think the intentionality is what I find exciting, the partnerships and just the general sense of people really wanting to get this right.

What makes me anxious is whether we are overlooking something big. There are so many little things that can derail this work. Everything is important, and everybody’s experience is important. Owning what we can change and owning our efforts to make each other resilient is important. And at the end of the day, continuing to work on the change that needs to happen in our environment, in our language, and in our relationships.

A challenge when we’re doing this work is the concern that I left someone out or there was a major stakeholder who wasn’t at the table. That’s challenging when you’re a new person because you don’t know all the stakeholders yet! So that’s been a learning curve for me. Making sure I know who I’ve missed, and what I’ve missed, and I know that’s only going to come with experience here. When you’re starting and building it takes a lot of time. Once programs are established and we’re refreshing and adding and evolving, it’s very different from creating from scratch, so I am excited for next year.

Liliana Madrid

MM: How has it been working together on these initiatives?

I appreciate President Allen’s transparency and guidance because there are things I do not know or historical context I may not have. There’s a freedom to say “Okay, where is the problem?” but also, “What’s a solution?” We can talk about the problems but I also want to move us forward to what the action is and how we take that action.

With any partner, I recognize there are things they know about the institution that I may not be privy to, and so whatever pushback, feedback, or insight they provide me is never personal, it’s part of the process. My due diligence is to figure out a way to navigate that because, again, it’s not the individual, it’s a system, it’s an institution.

A SAMPLING OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) ACTIVITIES AT MEREDITH DEI Foundations Certificate

The certificate includes three two-hour workshops for employees that introduce foundational concepts and encourage reflection. Participants discuss, learn, and help build a more inclusive community.

• Exploring Subtle Acts of Exclusion

• Implicit Bias

• Cultural Consciousness

Building Inclusive Hiring Practices

• Implicit Bias Working Session

• DEI Hiring Responsibilities

I feel exactly the same. I can ask questions: “Where is this coming from? Who’s involved with this?” Liliana and I share a strong sense of the value of assessment. The value of asking critical questions and how we know we’re making a difference. If we’ve taken another step forward and we examine the subsequent data and say look, it did make a difference – that’s when you know you’re collecting your wins. When people say yes, this place is meeting my needs as a student, as an employee, and as a community because of the work that’s going on.

And because we share those values it allows us a lot more elasticity in our relationship so that it’s not the coordinator and the president, it’s Liliana and Jo. Liliana is a great problem solver and she really does see the big and the small details of what would make a difference because she asks the questions.

One other thing I have to say about working with Liliana is that it’s interesting to her and it’s not a competition. There is joy in the exploration of how we’re different and there’s joy in making people feel comfortable with difference and not afraid of it. I just think there’s so much about her personality and her approach that makes me feel our time together is about learning and it’s enjoyable even when it’s hard. To work with somebody in an area that is so difficult and so emotional, who sees the joy in teasing out ways to make change happen, that is education at its finest.

Safe Zone

Opportunities to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender, and sexuality, and examine prejudice, assumptions, and privilege.

Advancing Accessibility Workshop Series

Workshops help faculty and staff understand individual and collective roles related to disability, gain skills to identify accessibility barriers, and strengthen advocacy and ally skills.

Bias Incident Response Team

The Bias Incident Response Team provides support resources to impacted parties and affirms the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Student Collective

I would say DEI is something we aspire to continually improve. One thing that comes up with belonging is natural segmentation, but you want to find ways to bring people together. For example, residential and commuter students, employees whose schedule can allow for participation in engagement opportunities. We create micro communities within the larger, but the goal is to create a place where everyone feels they belong.

Monthly meetings throughout the academic year to encourage discussion on new initiatives and emergent issues and to serve as a space for students to receive information on initiatives happening across campus.

A grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund has helped finance the first two years of DEI work at Meredith.

TO (RE)CONNECT WITH MEREDITH

VITAL ROLES ALUMNAE PLAY FOR THEIR ALMA MATER

By Melyssa Allen

No matter how many years have passed since you graduated from Meredith College, there are a variety of opportunities to stay connected or reconnect with your alma mater. We invite you to come back to campus, connect with the Alumnae Association, and engage in ways that are meaningful to you.

WITH THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

An easy way to stay connected to Meredith is through the Alumnae Association. Meredith benefits from an active alumnae community.

“Alumnae are vital to the life of Meredith College, and alumnae engagement leads to lifelong relationships,” said Director of Alumnae Relations Hilary Allen, ’01. “More than anything, the Meredith College Alumnae Association is a strong network based on shared experiences that connect the past, present, and future of the College.”

Allen calls alumnae Meredith’s best ambassadors. “Meredith alumnae fulfill so many roles at the College – recruitment of future students, retention, mentoring, internships, and career preparation for current students, College or class volunteer, and donor. Each alumna fosters connections within one’s class, employer, and city/region.”

Wear Meredithyourring

WITH ALUMNAE & FRIENDS

Whether it is attendance at a regional or on-campus event, sharing a class note in Meredith Magazine, wearing your Meredith College ring, going on an Alumnae and Friends trip, sharing a photo of your pet in a Meredith bandana on social media, or posting Meredith information in your classroom or office, there are many opportunities for engagement – big and small.

Allen and her Alumnae Office colleagues work hard to provide opportunities for alumnae who do not live close to campus.

“We recognize that our alumnae live across the globe and seek to involve them in the life of the College through in-person and virtual events as well as other outreach efforts,” Allen said. “Outreach events, both on campus and in regional locations, have always been at the heart of our work within the Alumnae Office.”

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alumnae Office shifted from in-person events to all virtual events.

“We are continuing to offer virtual events, such as the book club, Trick or Trot, and an election series featuring Dr. David McLennan, professor of political science and director of The Meredith Poll,” Allen said.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS WITH ADMISSIONS

The Office of Alumnae Relations also facilitates other ways to support student recruitment and engage with current students.

“Alumnae can support admissions by helping us recruit a new generation of Meredith students by referring a student or bringing a prospective student to Discover Meredith,” Allen said. “For our current students, alumnae can participate in Meredith Mentors, both in-person events and online connections through the platform, and on campus at Homecoming or during Move-In Day.”

You can help Admissions by providing prospective students with a voucher that waives the application fee. Visit meredith.edu/alumnae and click on Get Involved for the waiver link and more information.

CompiledbytheOfficeofAlumnaeRelationsfromApril2,2022,throughJuly22,2022.Informationmaybeeditedforspace orlimitationsandcontentrestrictions.Submitclassnotesonlineatmeredith.edu/alumnae,byemailatalumnae@meredith.edu, SubmissionsbyphonetotheOfficeofAlumnaeRelationsat(919)760-8548.DeadlinefortheSpring2023issueisDecember1,2022.

THE CAREER GOALS OF CURRENT STUDENTS

Share job and internship opportunities via Handshake

As a Meredith graduate, you share a special connection with students and other alumnae. Here are some ways Meredith’s Office of Career Planning (OCP) suggests alumnae can support students in achieving their career goals.

• OCP invites you to share full-time job and internship opportunities at your place of employment with us via Handshake, our centralized recruiting platform, open to all Meredith students. Access Handshake on the OCP website: meredith.edu/career-planning.

• OCP hosts several professional development opportunities for students each semester, including mock interviews, resumé reviews, and panel discussions. OCP relies on employers and professionals from the community to support these events each year, and welcome alumnae volunteers.

• Attend Meredith career fairs, networking nights, and on-campus recruiting events! Represent your company or organization at these events to connect with current students.

• OCP encourages current students to use LinkedIn frequently to make connections and build their professional network. You are also invited to join the OCP LinkedIn Group. (Search for Meredith College Office of Career Planning (OCP) on LinkedIn)

“If you receive outreach from current students via LinkedIn, accept their invitation to connect, and say yes to requests for informational interviews,” said Jane Matthews, associate director of employer relations. “These are great ways to support our students in their career decision-making process and help them make connections with alumnae in their fields of interest.”

Contact Jane Matthews, associate director, employer relations, Office of Career Planning at jkmatthews@meredith.edu with any questions about how to get involved.

Career fairs

Mock interviews

Resumé reviews

Networking nights

TO SEE MEREDITH’S UPDATED SPACES

If it has been a while since you’ve been able to visit Meredith in person, stop by and see how Meredith has changed in recent years – from the newly opened Communication and Health, Exercise & Sport Sciences (CHESS) Building to a renovated Meredith Lake, the Lowery Fitness Center, and a Welcome Center for admissions in Johnson Hall. Be sure to stop by the Campus Store in Cate Center and refresh your Meredith T-shirt collection. Can’t make it in person? Check out our virtual tour at meredith.edu/virtual-tour. While it is designed for prospective students, it is an easy way to get an overview of Meredith’s campus and facilities.

Campus Store

New building

Refresh your shirt collection

Lowery Fitness Center

Meredith Lake

ten sports

Stay Connected

Graduation doesn’t mean you have to stop learning at Meredith. You can visit campus for performances and lectures throughout the academic year.

Meredith has vibrant arts programs in music, theatre, dance, and visual art. Each program presents concerts, plays, and exhibitions that are free and open to the public. Meredith regularly hosts lectures including the annual Faculty Distinguished Lecture, the Woman of Achievement Lecture, and talks sponsored by academic departments. Friends of the Carlyle Campbell Library frequently welcomes bestselling authors in partnership with Quail Ridge Books.

Voices of Change speaker Dawn Blagrove Springconcertchoral

Arts events are highlighted on Meredith’s website at meredith.edu/ cultural-arts and college-sponsored events that are open to the public are posted at meredith.edu/calendar.

As an alumna, you can also take classes at Meredith, including degree and non-degree options.

YOUR INTERESTS ON THE AVENGING ANGELS

If you love sports, Meredith has teams you can support! The Avenging Angels field teams in 10 sports – basketball, cross country, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.

Meredith's athletics program has won 31 USA South championships and had 17 NCAA appearances.

Attendance at home games is free – visit goavengingangels.com for current schedules.

If these opportunities are appealing, make sure the Alumnae Office has your updated contact information. This will help ensure you get invitations for major events like Alumnae Reunion Weekend and smaller gatherings like chapter meetings. The Alumnae Office also uses its mailing and email lists to keep alumnae updated on Meredith College news and events. Visit meredith.edu/alumnae and use the Update Your Info link to provide your details.

LEFT BRAIN, RIGHT BRAIN

ALUMNA TAPS INTO THE EDUCATIONAL POWER OF SCIENCE + ART

By Gaye Hill

Even as a toddler, Joanna Cox, ’17, was intensely creative. So it’s no surprise that before she arrived at Meredith, she had already completed four years of study in fine arts, having attended a performing and visual arts high school.

Once at Meredith, when she was deciding on her major, she felt ready for a change. So rather than continuing her study of art, she decided to major in biology, which had always been another area of interest.

Her intention was to earn a Ph.D. and pursue a career in research. To that end, she held an internship at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the Research Triangle for two years.

“I loved research, and I loved working in a lab,” said Cox. “But just looking at how someone typically progresses within the research industry – the more senior you become, the less hands-on work that you’re doing, and much of the job involves grant writing. I wasn’t really a fan of that aspect of the job.”

Cox started exploring other career options that might allow her to combine her two passions: science and art. She came across medical illustration and discovered there were graduate programs that specialize in this unique field.

Mentors and Internships

Around that time one of her mentors at Meredith, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Maria Pickering, connected her with a colleague at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences who was doing fieldwork studying crayfish.

“I had the opportunity to do a scientific illustration internship in that lab,” she said. “So I was doing some light microscopy and sketching microbes that she found on creeper specimens. I was also doing plate photography, taking photographs of the different features of crayfish that she would use to define characteristics within species.”

Another mentor, Professor of Biological Sciences Jason Andrus, supported Cox as she developed an interactive lab manual that used QR codes to provide short videos demonstrating lab techniques.

“She was very motivated, talented, and curious,” said Andrus in describing Cox. “She was not afraid of challenges and really took ownership of her educational experience.”

Andrus said Cox worked hard to pursue a medical illustration career path, which is a niche field and one that is extremely competitive.

“It requires excellent artistic ability as well as the ability to understand biological principles,” said Andrus.

Well-Prepared for Graduate School

After graduating from Meredith, Cox studied medical illustration at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She thrived in her program, in part thanks to the support of her professors encouraging her to go for what she wanted.

“I’ve always been a very studious, organized person so the transition to graduate school wasn’t difficult for me. I had an independent drive to achieve the next step in my career.”

With a cohort of classmates who were all from out of state, she formed strong bonds with those in her program and felt supported by her professors, who she described as “great humans and fantastic teachers.”

She also immediately took to her studies.

“The content of the classes was so interesting,” said Cox. “In human gross anatomy, we were dissecting cadavers and really getting to know and understand where things lie in the body so we could more accurately illustrate. That was totally awesome.

Excerpt from the GABA modulation video courtesy of Engrail Therapeutics (engrail.com/our-science).

Outside of medical school, a lot of people don’t really get to experience that.”

They would also live-sketch while observing surgeries and then come back and create a more substantive piece using their sketches. Cox enjoyed the opportunity to produce both 2D and 3D illustrations, which drew on her fine arts background while adding new technical modeling and animation skills.

Communicating Science Through Art

As an illustrator for a medical communications company, Cox said her clients are pharmaceutical companies. Most illustrations she works on are for healthcare professionals, but some are for patients. The level of detail and information is dictated by the audience.

“The ultimate goal of our industry is to beautifully and accurately describe scientific content,” said Cox. “Obviously the work you’re producing is largely dependent upon the target audience. If your target audience

is healthcare professionals, then you’re going to include more scientific detail. For a patient audience, you would want to minimize the amount of overwhelmingly specific details you’re sharing with them.”

Cox noted that she works in medical communications but the industry is diverse, with illustrators found in research institutions such as UNC-Chapel Hill and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as well as publishers such as Science magazine. She has colleagues who work for hospitals where they design illustrations to create pamphlets for patients to help them understand surgery they’re undergoing or a diagnosis.

“It can range between truly educational and really beautiful,” she said.

Cox met Peter Domiano in graduate school. They now collaborate on scientific visuals at Boldscience, where Domiano is the lead medical illustrator.

“Joanna has worked on many Mechanism of Action illustrations and videos for large

pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients,” said Domiano. “This content has helped teach healthcare providers, patients, and internal staff about emerging treatments for diseases.”

He noted that she is an expert at using color and design to guide the viewer through scientific content.

“These color and design skills give a crisp and clean look to her illustrations, which stands out in our field,” he said. “Combined with her extensive scientific background, her work is clear and effective in teaching the intended audience.”

An active national association and conferences foster strong collaboration among colleagues, who are eager to learn about advances in technology and apply them to their work. Such connections also lead to a certain brand of humor.

“There are running jokes in our field,” she said. “Sometimes people run into illustrations that have a backward brain so the cerebellum is in the front and it’s

“ The ultimate goal of our industry is to beautifully and accurately describe scientific content.”

— Joanna Cox, ’17

Illustration of CAR T cells invading a tumor environment.

supposed to be in the back. Or DNA is twisted the wrong way. You send it to your friends in the medical illustration field and they’re like, ‘oh, that is hilarious.’”

Jokes aside, there are extensive processes in place to ensure medical illustrations are correct. Cox’s work setting comprises a scientific team and a creative team. Both teams review all illustrations carefully before they are provided to a client.

“Obviously, as a medical illustrator, you need to make sure your work is accurate. If it’s not, that completely takes away the integrity of the piece,” she said.

Bridging the Scientific Knowledge Gap

According to Cox, one of her primary goals in going into this field was to help bridge the gap between scientists and the public.

“COVID-19 was an unbelievable example of science disinformation or lack of understanding,” she said. “But if you talk to a research scientist about their research and you’re a layperson, chances are you’ll understand about three words they’re telling you because they are so excited about their work they don’t realize they’re talking in such a technical way and using jargon.”

Cox said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has medical illustrators on their staff and noted the ubiquitous virus particle with the spikes was created by one of their resident medical illustrators.

She is excited about emerging developments in the field, too. At a recent conference, she heard from a speaker who uses MRI and CT scan data to create 3D models of tumors. Such models are used to educate the patient on where their tumor is located as well as by surgeons who are operating on the patient to help determine the least invasive approach.

That kind of exciting technology is one reason Cox loves her job.

“I am immensely grateful that I found this field because it quite literally marries my two biggest passions.”

Three excerpts from the GABA modulation video courtesy of Engrail Therapeutics (engrail.com/our-science).

MEREDITH GOES STRONG WITH NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE GOING STRONG

By Taylor Sexton

It’s been ten years since Meredith launched the Going Strong brand, and recent years have led many people to ask themselves what it truly means to be strong. Students, colleges, and universities are emerging from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to a different academic world with a new understanding of strength. This is why in the Fall of 2022, Meredith decided to highlight this new definition by relaunching the Going Strong campaign to the greater community.

When the Going Strong brand was refreshed in 2019, it continued to showcase the College’s dedication to creating an educational experience that enhances students’ strengths, broadens their perspectives, and prepares them for a life of distinction. The campaign successfully garnered excitement from internal constituents, alumnae, and the community. The new branding campaign aims to recreate this excitement within the community and highlight Meredith as a vibrant, diverse, and academically strong institution.

“We felt like the time was right to remind people that Meredith is here, we know who we are, and we’re a great fit for students in the state,” said Kristi Eaves-McLennan, Vice President for Marketing and Communications.

Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the U.S. and welcomes nearly 16 million visitors annually. Given this impressive rate of growth, the campaign aims to educate recent and established members of the surrounding communities about Meredith’s reputation and remind potential students that there is a strong institution in Raleigh where they can pursue their degrees.

Transfer-specific billboard located in Johnston County.

Billboard located in Durham County.

Billboard located in Wake County.

To spread awareness, the campaign features seven billboards in Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, Guilford, New Hanover, and Pender (right off of I-40) counties. It also includes digital ads targeting 18 local high schools, and amplified social media efforts.

“While we know a great deal about our impact on campus and even in the Raleigh community, it is just as important that we know what our surrounding communities think, know, or believe about the College. These counties and high schools were targeted because they are close enough to the College to feel direct and immediate effects and far enough away that our ongoing messages may not be heard or properly noted,” said the President of Meredith College, Jo Allen, ’80.

Meredith has empowered women through a strong education for 132 years. The College has a solid track record of graduates who have had the confidence to pursue their passions, overcome difficult circumstances, and show resilience in the face of challenges.

“I want people to know that Meredith continues its long tradition of excellence. With the latest freshman class’s high school GPA of 3.5, the diversity of our population that mirrors that of the state and local community, the community engagement and volunteerism our students provide, and the career readiness they demonstrate, Meredith is committed to its traditions of excellence while constantly evolving with the world’s needs, hopes, and expectations,” said Allen.

The campaign also seeks to showcase the wide variety of strong academic programs offered and the College’s focus on helping each student discover their strengths. Many alumnae said the focus on their individual strengths is what made their education at Meredith unique and so successful. The College has continued to help students find their strengths through programs such as StrongPoints® and Success Coaching, setting them up for success in their lives.

“I want prospective students to know Meredith is a strong option for their future. I want counselors and principals who see this to recommend more students come here,” said Eaves-McLennan. “For those who are already affiliated with Meredith, I want them to feel a sense of pride that they made a good decision to choose to attend or be affiliated with the institution and know they’re part of a winning team.”

Digital Geofencing Ads

WHO WE ARE

24,000+

graduates living in all 50 states and around the world

30 & 43 Students from 30 states and territories and 43 countries

1,700

Approximate total enrollment

300

Approximate graduate enrollment (coeducational graduate and certificate programs)

32% Multicultural students

30% First-generation students

14

Faith traditions represented among first-year students in a recent survey

Alumnae, parents, and friends of Meredith are also invited to be part of this campaign. Share your Meredith experience with the high school women in your life. Hire Meredith students as interns and graduates as employees at your place of work. Or tag us in stories about your favorite Meredith memories on social media with #MCGoingStrong.

MEREDITH PHILANTHROPY

Sisters Remembered with Scholarship Endowment

By Emily Parker

Sisters Martha Browning Dicus, ’71, and Mary Woodley (Woody) Dicus, ’74, loved Meredith College, the friendships they made, and the education they received. Friends say they were leaders and beloved by their classmates. Rhett Dunaway, Martha’s partner, and Billy Dicus, their brother, have recently endowed the Dicus Sisters’ Scholarship in their memories to honor and celebrate their lives.

“They were two of the proudest graduates of Meredith and cherished their time on campus,” said Billy. “Their personalities were different, but their mannerisms were identical. They complemented each other and spoke almost every day.”

After graduation, Martha began her lifelong commitment to helping those in need. A religion and sociology major, she became a social worker in Raleigh but ultimately decided

to go to law school at the University of South Carolina. After graduating in 1978, she worked at the public defender’s office in Columbia, S.C., but an opportunity in 1981 led her to work with Native Americans on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. After returning to South Carolina, her work for various legal services began, and eventually Martha became a senior staff attorney in the Charleston County Public Defender’s Office, where she worked until her passing in 2012. She was recognized nationally as a leader in restorative justice. She received the American Bar Association's award as Best Public Defender in the Country, and Meredith College’s Outstanding Alumna Award, among others. Martha also served on the faculty at Yale Law School and was named a Wasserstein Fellow by Harvard Law School.

“Martha was more interested in

helping someone keep their apartment versus policy. After her summer internship in a public defender’s office, she was struck by the devotion and skill of the lawyers and what they did for individuals,” said Rhett. “I met Martha when she came to work in the Charleston Public Defender’s Office. I am also a lawyer. I was good but not as good as she was! She was completely authentic, loved work, and cared about her clients as people.”

Woody majored in American Civilization and after graduating in 1974, she trained as a paralegal and taught at King’s Business College before beginning a career that lasted 25 years at Carolina Power and Light Company, later Progress Energy. In 1987, she earned a master of business administration from Meredith. When she retired in 2012, she was the manager of corporate community relations for Progress Energy. In that role, she worked with organizations throughout N.C. and in all areas served by the company to conduct community-building programs and activities.

“Working for the same company your whole career is unheard of now. She worked hard and loved her career,” said Billy. “I always said she had a fun job. A lot of public relations and community engagement responsibilities. She was in charge of the suite in PNC Arena for her company for the Carolina Hurricanes games.”

Rhett says Martha and Woody were

Martha Browning Dicus

Mary Woodley Dicus

both fantastic hostesses, but Woody was also a fabulous cook. Woody, who lived in Raleigh, had a multitude of friends she enjoyed entertaining and each year had a children’s Christmas party, Christmas Day breakfast, and New Year’s party. She would have parties simply because too much time had lapsed between seeing friends. She enjoyed trips to the beach and mountains with friends, playing golf, attending sporting events, and just wanted to have people together.

“Woody paid attention to others. She really made time to entertain and spend time with Meredith and Raleigh friends. Let’s face it, we all have time to do this if we make time, but she really invested the time to be with those she loved,” said Billy.

Martha will forever be remembered for sending cards and gifts to people. You met her once and she knew you. Her cards and notes, written with a pink highlighter, were known as “Marthagrams.” She could be seen with a pink bow in her hair and pearls. And each year Rhett and her friends continue to celebrate her birthday. A pink invitation invites you to remember Martha and do some of the things she loved, like look at the stars at night, float in the ocean, take a mentee to lunch, eat a cheese straw or pimento cheese sandwich, or do something simple to help your community, just to list a few.

These two sisters have a brother and partner who remember them fondly as well as many friends. They were strong women in their work, their love of life, and their ability to care for others.

Rhett and Billy encourage all who knew Martha and Woody to consider making a gift to the scholarship endowment fund.

“They would be so happy we have established this scholarship because they had the best experience at Meredith,” said Billy. “What a way to honor them by considering a gift to the endowment we started. This scholarship will give preference to students who plan to pursue a career in business, social work, or public interest law. I think Martha and Woody would be pleased to see Meredith students walk in their footsteps one day.”

To give, please visit community.meredith.edu/ SupportMC. Designate your gift as “other” and type Dicus Sisters’ Scholarship. Questions? Contact Cindy Godwin at godwinc@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8206.

MEREDITH COLLEGE TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW ATHLETIC COMPLEX THIS SPRING

Meredith College will break ground this spring on a new athletic complex that will include athletic training space for softball, tennis, and golf, along with a student lounge. Lights have already been installed at the tennis courts and resurfacing of the tennis courts will take place as well. The softball complex will have two large indoor batting cages that will double as indoor golf driving ranges and locker rooms. There will also be a new LED wireless scoreboard.

Chris Speight Brown, ’76, gave a $1 million lead gift that will name the Estes-Speight Family Athletic Complex in memory of her mother Mary Estes Speight, ‘53, and her father Bobby Speight.

We need your support to fast-track phase one of the construction and start phase two, which will include other amenities for the complex. Meredith’s athletic program has had continued success with 10 athletic teams and keeping facilities up-to-date will support Meredith’s enrollment of student-athletes. Meredith studentathletes and coaches appreciate the support they receive from alumnae, friends, and the campus community.

A groundbreaking ceremony will take place on April 22 at 5 p.m. after a softball doubleheader. Learn more and see construction photos at meredith.edu/campus-growth.

Honor the Legacy of ASHLEY ELISE RIGGS (1973-2020)

Ashley Elise Riggs was a true champion on the soccer field and in the community. Meredith College is celebrating and honoring her legacy by raising funds for the Ashley Riggs Project. Funds will provide youth summer camp scholarships, women’s leadership, and character development training, and improve women’s athletics at Meredith College.

Ashley was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a three-time NCAA Women’s Soccer Champion (1992-1994) at UNC. She was a highly successful and beloved coach at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, Leesville Road High School, and Meredith College. We hope you will join Meredith College and consider honoring Ashley’s legacy and contribute to the Ashley Riggs Project.

To give visit community.meredith.edu/pages/ donation-pages/ashley-riggs-project or scan the QR code.

Teaching Dance is a Family Affair

By Emily Parker

The three Stephens sisters' dream of owning their own dance studio in their hometown of Sanford, N.C., finally happened in 2021. Their mother, Mary Lynne Normann Stephens, ’90, said, ”When they were little, they would pretend they had a dance studio and put on a recital at any family gettogether. As they grew older, they would always talk about starting their own studio. The stars finally aligned!”

Walking into their bright and beautiful space located off US-1, you see the welcoming environment they

life lessons they received growing up are key. Add in their mother, who helps them run day-to-day operations, and it truly is a business run by strong Meredith women.

Lexie Anne Stephens Brown, ’15, Mary Blaire Stephens, ’17, and Colbie Normann Stephens, ’20, either majored or minored in dance at Meredith and all began their formal dance lessons at age two. Lexie Anne was a dance major and received her K-12 licensure to teach dance in public schools. She interned at Leesville Middle School and after

Her love of teaching young children has led her to volunteer in public school classrooms when time allows.

Strong Meredith Connections

The sisters' varying majors and minors give them the skills to run their business. Colbie Normann’s finance background allows her to handle all finance and accounting operations at the studio. Mary Blaire’s human resources experience has aided in writing the handbook, employee contracts, and managing staff, and Lexie Anne’s varied teaching experiences provide the capabilities to handle every aspect of any classroom.

And when they have questions, they call Meredith professors who have mentored them. Eleanor Smith, an adjunct professor in dance, has been a mentor to all three of them and came to their first recital in May. Mary Blaire said, “I was having K-1 class issues and I called her for advice. I really appreciated her help.”

All three sisters credit both Smith and Carol Finley, professor of dance, with helping and encouraging them while at Meredith and in their business endeavors.

Family Matters

have created. Their studio logo features three dancers showing different dance genres and their goal is for everyone to have a sense of belonging. The studio is in the former YMCA and large enough to give them room to grow their business. Since opening their doors in August 2021, they have almost doubled their enrollment from the first year. Their initial goal was to have 50 students in the May 2022 recital. They had 250 and as of September 2022, have 430 enrolled students ranging in age from 18 months old to adults.

How have these three sisters created this space teaching dance? Their drive, passion for dance, and desire to give their community many of the wonderful

graduation, she taught at Jordan High School in Durham and then started a dance program for Lee County Schools in 2016. Mary Blaire majored in business administration with a concentration in human resources and minored in dance. After graduation, she worked in inside sales and coached the Cardinal Gibbons High School Dance Team until moving back to Sanford in 2019. She continues to work in human resources for The Select Group in Raleigh. Colbie Normann majored in business administration as well and minored in finance and dance. After graduating from Meredith, she worked at The Normann Financial Group until making the studio her full-time position.

The Stephens sisters have learned that working with your sisters has a lot of dynamics and advantages. “We can talk to each other like sisters and not co-workers,” said Colbie Normann. “So many decisions we have to make and just move on. We may not all agree with a decision but we have to move forward,” said Lexie Anne.

Other teachers at the studio are like family too, according to Mary Lynne. Their teaching staff also consists of Meredith angels: Kayla Jane Smith, ’19, Kirby Forbes, ’19, and Kensey Covert Taylor, ’17. Lakyn McGlamery Holder attended Meredith in 2015-16 and graduated from Appalachian State in 2019.

“They are all like my daughters and

Mary Lynne Normann Stephens, Mary Blaire Stephens, Colbie Normann Stephens, and Lexie Anne Stephens Brown (pictured from left to right).

it is nice to share the bond with them that Meredith instilled in us,” said Mary Lynne. Colbie Normann says the Sanford community is very supportive and Lexie Anne said they heard after their open house, “We saw you graduated from Meredith College and we wanted our children to attend classes here.”

Mary Lynne’s grandfather, Oscar A. Keller, Jr., knew how important Meredith and dance were to her and her daughters. In 2016, Keller made a six-figure gift to support renovations to the Fitness Center in the Weatherspoon Complex. In gratitude for the gift, the dance studio was named the Oscar A. Keller, Jr. and Elderlene R. Keller Dance Studio.

“He loved Meredith College. It is such an honor to see the plaque outside the dance studio. It means so much to our family for his name and my grandmother’s name to be on campus. A part of them is always there,” said Mary Lynne.

Every month they hold a service project that all students are encouraged to participate in.

“Their great-grandfather was a shining example of what it means to give back to the community, and the girls have made it one of their main priorities at the studio to teach their students how important it is to get involved with giving back as much as possible,” said Mary Lynne.

The Stephens sisters cherish their time at Meredith, appreciate the professors who have supported them in opening their studio, and look forward to continuing to grow their business. Their goal is to always teach students that dance is not only good for their bodies and mental health, but will also build their self-confidence and teach them perseverance, creativity, and determination. They strive to build a strong foundation for dance that will inspire many generations to come.

Going far, going strong –for generations

More than 130 years ago, Meredith College opened with just over 200 women. Today, we’re a nationally-ranked community of thousands going far and going strong – together. As we carry our work forward into the future, we want to share a new alumnae resource that can help you care for yourself, your loved ones, and your community for years to come.

Meredith College has recently partnered with FreeWill – a secure, online estate planning resource where you can make a plan to protect what matters most in as little as 20 minutes and at no personal cost. This self-guided platform walks you through the will-writing process and allows you to include an optional legacy donation to support the next generation of students.

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 establish a gift through your will or trust.

Also learn how you can volunteer and about 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. To make a gift, visit community.meredith.edu/supportmc.

Photo courtesy of Brynn Gross Photography.

ALUMNAE CONNECTION

Class notes and news for Meredith Alumnae

1958

Susan Moss Grigg still enjoys gardening and growing irises. She and her husband, Glenn, have been members of the American Iris Society for over 50 years and continue to learn new things. They are very active at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh and recently became friends with a younger member whose maiden name was Susan Moss. She grew up in Gastonia, a few miles from Grigg's home in Kings Mountain. Patricia Greene Long and her husband celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. They live in Columbia, S.C. Expanding over the years, their family now has 32 members, including four children, 12 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Among other special anniversaries, Long will also celebrate her 20th year as an organist for Shandon Baptist Church this year. Knowing she is fortunate to still be able to play at her age, Long is grateful to her church for the opportunity. She is especially looking forward to seeing all of her wonderful classmates at their upcoming 65th reunion weekend! Enjoying living in retirement, Molly James Sloan and her husband reside at The Pines in Davidson, N.C. One of Sloan's sons lives in Charlotte, N.C., while the other son lives in Shelby, N.C. She is proud of her granddaughters, who both graduated from NC State and work in Raleigh, N.C. Sloan is looking forward to seeing her classmates at their reunion in May 2023!

1970

Janet Morris Belvin's third book, a novel titled The Bookshop on Beach Road, was recently published. Belvin noted that her wonderful Class of 1970 has been so supportive of the whole process from beginning to publication. During a

book signing held at the Barnes & Noble in Williamsburg, Va., this past November, Jackie Briles Ward came to purchase the book and get it signed. Ann Carroll Ward and her husband, Dale, have moved into a cottage at Covenant Village Retirement Community in Gastonia, N.C. They closed on their home of 36 years but took their memories with them! Ward knows lots of folks at the retirement community and looks forward to making new memories. Her son lives in Gastonia, and her daughter, son-in-law, and twin 7-year-old granddaughters live in Charlotte. Ward sends greetings to fellow Angels in the Class of 1970. She loved spending time with classmates at the last Reunion! During the first week of November 2022, 14 members of the class of 1970 got together in Williamsburg, Va. for three days of fun and remembering. Cindy Griffith McEnery, Sue Hammons Cook, Emma Ruth Bartholomew Stewart, Evelyn Godwin Kientz, Donna B. Lupo, Cathy Moran Winstead, Nancy Williams Prevatte, Martha Kincheloe, Carolyn Langhorne Pittman, Jackie Briles Ward, Belinda Smith Helms, Suzanne George Palmer, Susan Soloway Daul, and Janet Morris Belvin have begun calling themselves the Traveling Angels. They have made three trips together – New York City, Washington, D.C., and now Colonial Williamsburg. They watched fascinating performances by "Martha Washington" who is portrayed by McEnery's daughter, a performer at Colonial Williamsburg, "General George Washington," and the "Marquis de Lafayette." The tour of the historic district included the palace, the shops, and the art museums, along with carriage rides through the town. The trip was finished with a fantastic meal at the King's Arms Tavern. Many locals were amazed at the magic of Meredith College and how

close the group remains after 50 years.

1973

Susan Herring shares that on October 19, 2022, a group of 1973 classmates from the Triad and Raleigh areas gathered for lunch at the Village Tavern in WinstonSalem, N.C. Terry McFetters Ball, Connie Everhart Burleson, Nancy Bass Drake, Linda Ehrlich, Susan Herring, Linda Armentrout Horne, Kathy Sluder Jordan, Susan Lassiter Lampley, Mary Talton, and Paula Rowe Warlick had fun catching up and reminiscing about times at Meredith. Herring is looking forward to seeing classmates this May for Reunion Weekend! She encourages all her classmates to update their contact information with the Alumnae Office so they will be sure to receive all reunion news. Marsha McCutchen Hewitt serves on five boards, ranging from a homeless shelter to the National Steeplechase Association, and remains active in many local groups and at church. Hewitt fox hunts twice a week, takes jumping lessons, and enjoys camping with her horse and horse friends. She finished second in a 5-K run this fall and is planning travels this winter. Hewitt notes that visitors are always welcome at her farm. Retired after many years in K-12 music and instructional technology education, Debra Adams Roethke now works as an educational consultant for Advanced Learning Partnerships with districts all over the country. Her work includes anything connected with instructional technology, coaching, and pedagogy.

1976

Cathy Bland Rodgers recently retired as a full-time professor of theatre at Meredith after 33 years of teaching at her alma mater. She was honored to have

been granted emerita status and proud to have been given a distinguished alumna award in May 2022. After almost 40 years in Lake Placid, N.Y., Marsha Blalock Roy has moved to Buffalo, N.Y., to be closer to her daughter and her family. She now has two grandchildren – Clemmie Berkley born on February 28, 2019, and Polly Berkley born on October 7, 2021. Because of her husband's new job, Barbara Sutton Taylor moved to Douglas, Ga., in February 2022. After retiring on January 1, 2021, Julia Turner and her husband sold their home in Kansas City and have since moved back to Winston-Salem, N.C.

1979

Tracy Vosburgh was recently named vice president of communications and marketing at Virginia Tech. Her new role was designed to elevate, align, and integrate marketing and communications work across the university. Vosburgh has served as Virginia Tech's top communicator since 2015 when she joined the university as senior associate vice president for university relations. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, Vosburgh served as associate vice president of university communications at Cornell University and held broadcast management positions at Penn State Public Broadcasting, ABC/Kane Productions, National Geographic Society, and MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.

1986

Sandra Close has two great-grandchildren under the age of two. One lives in New York City and one in Atlanta, Ga. She receives pictures every day! Close was excited to take part in the Wings Program’s 50th Anniversary this past fall and wants to congratulate Meredith College on this milestone! Enjoying the arrival of her two grandchildren, Georgia Parrish James spends as much time with them as possible. The grandchildren live in Raleigh, which is making a move a consideration. James is counting down the months until her retirement in March 2024.

1989

Lisa Joyner Brescia's daughter, Anna Marie Brescia , '20, completed the college program at Walt Disney World and is now a full-time employee with

SHERYL SCOTT, ’10 Gaining the Skills to Make Her Dreams Come True

By Taylor Sexton

When Sheryl Scott, ’10, first stepped foot on Meredith College’s campus, she was a reserved young woman looking for a supportive and safe community. With her parents by her side, they told her they felt “she could do anything here.” Thirteen years later, Scott has a career she’s passionate about at Walt Disney Television.

“I grew up thinking that TV rots your brain, but media is such a barometer for culture and can allow people to see things they wouldn’t have otherwise seen. It has the power to change and save people’s lives,” said Scott.

When Scott began at Meredith, she had a vague idea of what she wanted to study. During one of the first few days on campus, she was drawn to a flyer calling for auditions for an on-campus production. After auditioning and being cast, Scott pursued a major in theater and hasn’t looked back since.

Scott felt supported by the students and faculty on campus, and her Meredith friends became like a family to her. The encouragement she received from her professors made her feel like they had her back and she didn’t have to face her education journey alone.

“I felt like things were accessible to me. I might not have tried out for a play, studied abroad, or found my way to dancing with [Professor of Dance] Carol Finley if I had gone to another school. I was met where I was, which was the starting place for growth,” said Scott. “It was truly invaluable to be challenged in a way that worked for me.”

Scott has been with Walt Disney Television for four years and has moved around a lot within the company. After completing her two-year training program called The Executive Incubator Program, she landed a full-time position as the Manager of Series at ABC Signature.

“It took me a long time to find my way here, but I’ve entered the industry at a really pivotal time. There are more conversations about how we can create equitable spaces and opportunities for underrepresented groups to be seen, heard, and hired. I hope to find my way to having a seat at the table where I can be integral in making that happen,” she said.

The soft skills Scott gained at Meredith proved to be crucial to helping her succeed. They helped her navigate several industries and strengthened her ability to learn quickly.

Scott said she feels lucky to have landed the position at Walt Disney Television, and her time at Meredith gave her the confidence to apply for jobs she didn’t think she would have a chance of getting.

“I’ve been able to fall forward and trust that my feet would catch me, knowing I really didn’t have anything to lose. The worst answer I feel I could get in navigating life is ‘no,’ and that’s just an opportunity to try something else,” said Scott.

Disney. Sheila Liverman Forbes excitedly welcomed a new granddaughter in July 2022. After living in Hickory, N.C., for 23 years, Beth McArdle Sturdivant has moved to Greensboro, N.C. She is the project manager for new development for Hightower, located in High Point, N.C. Lynda Collier Taylor 's daughter was married in October 2022. After teaching first and second grades for 28 years, Kathryn Clark Vance has retired. Her husband, Bo, taught high school chemistry and retired in July 2021. Before retiring, her husband was able to hand their son his diploma when he graduated in May 2021. Vance's son, Ransom, is a sophomore at Appalachian State University and majoring in Music Industries. Vance and her husband now plan to travel and enjoy being retired from the school system. Meredith roommates and suitemates Mary Ann Lisenba Kirchner, Edy Speight Abshire, Susan Wiggs English, Wendy Langston Tharrington, Jan Pope Faison, and Sarah Winslow Sykes celebrated a Meredith reunion this past fall with their husbands. They all had good times, sweet memories, and lots of laughter! A highlight was being back in Carter Finley Stadium to cheer for the Wolfpack and celebrate their victory over Wake Forest.

1990

Libby Avery McCraw is now the chief operating officer at Partners Health Management in Gastonia, N.C. She welcomed a grandson in September 2021. This past July, Kay Crowder Rowe and her husband enjoyed a 14-day food and wine trip to the Puglia region of Italy. Her oldest son was married in Florida in October. Michelle White Porter has traveled a lot this past year, and those travels included visits to Switzerland, Argentina, Scotland, and Ireland. She has purchased a second home in Country Club of North Carolina located in Pinehurst, N.C.

1995

Stefanie Carraway Cox serves as the senior executive assistant to the president of Wayne Community College, located in Goldsboro, N.C.

1998

Kaye Dawn Harrison Newsome teaches second grade at Greensville Elementary

School. Melissa Ray is enjoying her position as a curriculum social studies specialist.

1999

Kim Heisser recently started a new position as a research study coordinator with Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Monica Inzaina recently became the new owner of Vintage Follies, LLC, a mobile event services company located in Fuquay Varina, N.C. Vintage Follies includes a 1970 VW bus used as a mobile photo booth and a 1955 International Harvester that is used as a mobile bar. Inzaina hopes to provide these services to the weddings, reunions, parties, etc. of fellow alumnae!

2001

After many years of working in the museum field, Rachel Perkinson Dickens has made a career change. She is now teaching fifth grade history and science at Wake Christian Academy. Melissa Willard Edwards has now published two coloring books full of Bible verses and inspirational quotes that can be found on Amazon. She has also started an art website, MelissaEdwardsArt.com, to share her whimsical creations. Edwards thinks we need more JOY in our lives, and sharing her blessings is one of her contributions toward that! Kristen Monaco Johnson and her family have recently moved to the Minneapolis area for her husband's job at WCCO-TV, a CBS news affiliate. Receiving a promotion at Dominion Energy, Ginger Yancey Phelps is now a manager of construction. Suzanne McLamb Plunket , partner/ attorney at Underwood & Roberts PLLC, was recently appointed to serve on the SAFEchild board of directors. SAFEchild, a Raleigh area non-profit, provides programming and support to protect children from abuse and empower our community's families. In May 2022, Krystal Tyndall received her doctorate in educational leadership. She successfully reached a 10-year goal of raising $1 million for breast cancer research and awareness for her non-profit Fishin' for a Cure in October 2022.

2003

Graduating in May 2022, Carolyn Morris Plunkett earned her MAT in special education from North Carolina State University. Since graduating, Plunkett

has been offered the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro while also being nominated for the Diane Kent Parker Beginning Teacher of the Year award for Wake County Public Schools.

2005

In May 2022, Jessica Rae Barbour Jones began a new career with Starbucks. She is serving as a senior demand planner for coffee and tea. Teresa Nichols Singleton has started a new position at Deloitte as the learning leader for the life sciences and healthcare industry. Singleton and Nephitearya Bailey Singleton, became the legal guardians to their son, Will Bailey.

2010

Kelley M. Petcavich is an associate attorney at Cranfill Sumner based in the firm's Raleigh office. Her practice focuses on medical malpractice, professional liability, and general civil litigation matters. While in law school, she served as executive forum editor of Volume 100 of the North Carolina Law Review, clerked for Senior Resident Superior Court Judge D. Thomas Lambeth, Jr., and served as an extern with the General Counsel of UNC Health Care. She previously served as an office services assistant and paralegal at Cranfill Sumner. Petravich received her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law and her paralegal certificate from Duke University. In September 2022, Louisa Ward Monroe was named dean for spiritual life and campus minister at Campbell University.

2012

Having graduated in December 2021, Rebecca Wright Ellis has completed her Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling from East Carolina University. She is now working in Fayetteville, N.C.

2013

This past September, Anna Dougherty launched her women's coat brand, Anna Gray Collection. The collection is ethically made in New York and is currently available online. As a student, Cassie Chasak Sigmon always felt like the child development department at Meredith was like a family. She is grateful to those

professors who helped get her to where she is today – being nominated as 202223 teacher of the year by Pleasant Union Elementary School in Wake County, N.C.

NEW ARRIVALS

1999

Chatham Fralix Kildosher, a daughter, Hayden Elise, 8/15/22.

2015

Tabitha Ostrout, a daughter, Oliviana James, 7/8/22.

MARRIAGES

1989

Christine Quante to Jack Lionel Todd, Jr., 4/24/21.

2003

Carolyn Morris Mitchell to John Andrew Plunkett, 1/21/21.

2012

Katrina Kempney to AJ McDonald, 9/17/22.

2014

Madelynn Marie Archer to Jacob Harris, 10/29/22.

Gray Moore to Ryan Michael Engels, 7/28/22.

DEATHS

1946

Josephine Hughes Cochran, 10/5/22.

1948

Rachel Cathey Daniels, 4/23/22.

Barbara Johnson Parnell, 9/13/22.

1949

Nancy Hall Headley, 10/3/22.

1950

Alice Gordon Tuttle, 8/6/22.

1951

Virginia Waldrop Powell, 8/16/22.

1953

Shelley Hart Millican McCain, 9/28/22.

1954

Janis Witherington Cannon, 10/24/22.

1955

Patricia Allen Lucas, 11/3/22.

1957

Mary Virginia Newson Broughton, 8/4/22.

1959

Mildred "Marie" Croom Ashburn, 9/20/22.

1960

Barbara Smith Jones, 8/5/22.

Jane Dorward Valentine, 7/19/22.

1961

Dorothy Harris Ford, 10/29/22.

Hilda Strayhorn Leigh, 12/27/21.

Novella Rountree Spivey, 8/16/22.

1963

Barbara Walker Hudson, 9/22/22.

Nancy Stephens Sears, 9/17/22.

SAVE THE DATE • MAY 19-21

PARTY 3 CLASS LUNCHEON & EVENTS 3 WORSHIP SERVICE

STATE OF THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT JO ALLEN, ’80

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

Class letters, including information about individual class events, and registration for on campus events can be found at meredith.edu/ alumnae-reunion.

The Alumnae Market will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 12 until 4 p.m. We invite alumnae-owned businesses to participate. Vendors that are selected to attend will be highlighted in the reunion weekend program.

Questions? Please contact the Office of Alumnae Relations at (919) 760-8548 or alumnae@meredith.edu.

ALUMNAE GOING STRONG

KATHRYN MAITREJEAN, ’05 Alumna Uses Social Work to Strengthen Role in the Military

By Taylor Sexton

When Kathryn Maitrejean, ’05, first entered the Navy, she worked in electronics and submarine repair. She then applied for a position as a master of arms and canine handler, which is what she spent most of her eight and a half years in the Navy doing. During this time, she worked presidential service and protective service details for leaders such as the Dalai Lama, the Secretary of State, Congressmen and Congresswomen, and even the Pope.

After her service in the Navy, Maitrejean applied for an ROTC commission in the Air Force and realized she needed to finish her degree for the position. She was stationed in Greece and began looking for schools with social work programs.

Maitrejean began her degree in social work at Meredith at 26 years old and soon after found herself thriving in the campus community.

“I quickly met many people in my classes, and because the faculty is so close working with you, I formed early bonds with the faculty, especially in the social work department. I was quickly brought on for student work in the department. So I got even closer with those professors, and it was incredible,” she said.

Maitrejean now works as the Director of Human Resources for the U.S. Special Operations Command Africa in the United States Air Force but is headquartered in Germany. She manages all the manpower and personnel, and human resources functions for the unit.

“I do a lot of one-on-one counseling and advising, which is why I’m glad I have my social work background. I advise people on management relations and employee relations. I’ll sit down and counsel junior members when they're having trouble with their supervisors and provide some advice on how to go about addressing a problem or working through different issues,” she said.

The most rewarding part of her job is seeing those she has helped succeed. She’s thankful for her incredible team and the positive feedback she hears from people across the command.

“Being able to be witness to people growing and developing and having that next level of greatness, to me, there's nothing better,” she said.

Maitrejean is grateful for all the opportunities she’s been given, thanks to her time in the service. She’s gained her undergraduate and two master’s degrees, received several education and leadership opportunities, and traveled the world.

“I'm so glad that Meredith was where I chose to go for undergrad and how welcoming everyone was. It was an amazing program that I was able to participate in,” she said.

1964

Jo Crowder Dermid, 8/7/22.

1965

Charlotte Burgess Mitchell, 9/10/22. A. Maynette Regan, 10/4/22.

1966

Alice Atwill Bartley, 11/12/22.

1967

Betty Bracey Dixon, 8/6/22.

Mary Frances Senter Kear, 9/22/22.

1971

Jane Smith Powell, 9/24/22.

1972

Cindy Clayton Huntsberry, 9/29/22.

1979

Barbara Shreffler McMillan, 10/14/22.

1986

April Lynn Quate Densmore, 12/13/17.

Shella Sykes Farrior, 10/13/22.

1991

Arlene Kay Hammond, 10/25/22. Susan Williams Moore, 8/10/22.

1992

Karen Parrish Jarmon, 9/18/22.

SYMPATHY

1958

Joyce Skillman McKenzie in the death of her husband.

1962

Ida Carol Senter Wilson in the death of her sister.

1963

Mary Frances Carver Perkinson in the death of her mother.

1964

Becky Matthews Barnes in the death of her husband.

Penelope Senter Bethune in the death of her sister.

Becky Watson Blake in the death of her son.

1965

Sarah Carver Adams in the death of her mother.

1966

Barbara Watson Cloninger in the death of her aunt.

1967

Barbara Jean Carver Warren in the death of her mother.

Betty Webb in the death of her husband.

1972

Elizabeth Holland Thompson in the death of her mother.

1973

Mary Beth Pruette Parker in the death of her husband.

1974

Elaine Jackson Bowen in the death of her husband.

1975

Susan Senter Worrell in the death of her sister.

1976

Sherry Long Eddins in the death of her sister.

Marsha Blalock Roy in the deaths of her mother and father.

1981

Elaine Powell McLeod in the death of her mother.

1983

Julie Elizabeth Moore Bullock in the death of her mother.

1986

Lisa Perry Sanderson in the death of her father.

1987

Melanie Herring in the death of her father.

Donna Wilson Thagard in the death of her aunt.

Shonagh McQuade Weems in the death of her mother.

1988

Beth Dermid Harmon in the deaths of her mother and father.

1989

Sheila Liverman Forbes in the death of her father.

Lynda Collier Taylor in the death of her father.

1990

Beth Outland German in the death of her father.

1991

Carol Lewis Poortvliet in the death of her brother.

Amanda Dermid Robinson in the deaths of her mother and father.

1993

Adrienne Hiner Cole in the death of her father.

1994

Mary Virginia Outland in the death of her father.

1996

Molly Shepherd Nichols in the death of her mother.

Alyce Craddock Turner in the death of her daughter.

2001

Elizabeth Jackson Fazenbaker in the death of her father.

Elizabeth Warren Hamilton in the death of her grandmother.

Melissa Denning Schmerling in the death of her mother.

2002

Ginger Moore Harrell in the death of her husband.

2004

Jillian Southerland Myers in the death of her husband.

2009

Maggie Bizzell in the death of her mother.

2013

Katie Young Harris in the death of her father.

2019

Kirby Forbes in the death of her grandfather.

MEREDITH TRAVEL –SPAIN AND MOROCCO

Spain illuminates Morocco and Morocco illuminates Spain. Meredith is excited to be providing friends and alumnae a tour that includes both. Starting in Barcelona, where we will focus on Catalan culture and food and on Gaudi architecture, we will stay by the sea in Castelldefels for our first two lovely nights. From there we head south, via Valencia and Granada to Malaga. En route we will tour the Alhambra, which is one of the world's best preserved Islamic palaces. Gaudix, famous for its pottery and cave dwellings, will be our next stop. We will spend the night in a hacienda in the Sierra Nevada where we will enjoy a wine tasting and a traditional dinner. We will travel on to Malaga via Salobrena, where we will feast on paella and feast our eyes on Picassos. Our final stop is Ronda, with its jaw dropping gorge.

A ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar ends with our first night in Tangier, sometimes called the Door of Africa. We will celebrate our arrival in Morocco with an evening of live music, belly-dancing, and traditional food. Traveling via Rabat and Meknes, where we will tour the Royal Stables, our next destination is Fez, where, like Dorothy, we will all be 100% certain we are not in Kansas. The medina, one of many World Heritage sites on our itinerary, will dazzle you, we promise. And then there is Fez's 1,000 year old tannery. Our next stop is Marrakesh, where we will tour the Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs, and the DjemaaEl-Fna Square en route to an outdoor dinner under the sky in the Agafay Desert. Our last night will be spent in Casablanca, arriving in time for a visit to the Hassan II Mosque, the largest in Africa and the seventh largest in the world. A special dinner will conclude this marvelous travel experience, one we believe will delight you.

Price: $5,587 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $1,489. Airfare is not included. Travelers will arrive at Barcelona (BCN) and depart through Casablanca (CMN).

SEPTEMBER 28 –OCTOBER 12, 2023

For updates on the Meredith Travel Program, visit meredith.edu/ alumnae/meredith-travel-program or contact Taylor Twine, ’13, associate director of alumnae relations, at twtwine@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8712.

Meredith Mentors is an online platform that fosters relationships between members of the Meredith community. Are you trying to connect with graduates who are in your field? Are you looking to launch a new career or business or thinking about returning to school and needing some advice or guidance? Meredith Mentors may just be the tool you need.

Meredith Mentors supports the personal and professional development of current students and alumnae/i. To date, there are 2,000 users on the platform representing 24 states, the District of Columbia, nine countries, and 58 industries or career fields.

Are you interested in supporting students in their professional development? Current students are also invited to join Meredith Mentors, which gives them access to alumnae/i willing to offer career advice, internships, and more.

With over 24,000 alumnae/i around the globe, the Meredith College network is STRONG!

Join today! To register and begin exploring the community for your own development or to support the development of others within the Meredith community, please visit mentors.meredith.edu.