Spring 2018 Meredith College Magazine

A Publication for Alumnae and Friends of Meredith College

Summer 2018, Volume 43, Number 2

M A G A Z I N E

CONTINUAL, LIFELONG, AND ABIDING Exhibition features artists’ perspectives on the Meredith Hues Iris

Meredith Magazine Volume 43, Number 2 Summer 2018 Executive Editor Kristi Eaves-McLennan, ’14, MBA Managing Editors Melyssa Allen Karen T. Dunton Assistant Editor Gaye Hill Writers Reah Nicholson Emily Parker Art Director Vanessa Harris Designer Margaret McIver, ’09 Alumnae Connection Editor Hilary Allen, ’01 Contributing Writers Donna Bahena, ’18 Miranda Daughtry, ’18 Sarah Lindenfeld Hall Christiana Parker, ’18 Photographers Christopher Ferrer Peter Finger Kaili Ingram Travis Jack Gary Knight Brian Lynn Charlotte Claypoole McKinney Susan Murray Kelsie Taylor, ’18 Caleigh Thomas, ’16 Michael Zirkle Meredith College Faculty & Staff Durham Magazine

Meredith Magazine exists to serve the Meredith community by providing readers with insight and information about the news, activities, events, programs, plans, and people of the College. Meredith Magazine is published three times a year by the Meredith College Department of Marketing. Questions or comments may be submitted to marketing@meredith.edu. © 2018 Meredith College. The Meredith name and wordmark are registered trademarks of Meredith College and may not be used without permission. All rights reserved. 18-039

CONTENTS FEATURES 18 BEHIND THE SCENES

How Meredith staff keep the campus going strong

23 STRONG SPACES

A look inside the work spaces of Meredith faculty and staff

26 CONTINUAL, LIFELONG, AND ABIDING Exhibition features artists’ perspectives on the Meredith Hues Iris

31 A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP

Celebrating Meredith’s strong alumnae connections to technology giant SAS

NEWS 2

Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement

10 2018 Summer Reading Program to Explore “Callings” 12 New Programs Allow Students to Earn Graduate Degrees Faster 13 Meredith College Holds 2018 Commencement Ceremony

IN EVERY ISSUE 1

Meredith Campus News

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Letter from the President

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Meredith Experts in the News

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Newsmakers

11 Strong Stories 35 Beyond Strong | The Campaign for Meredith 39 Alumnae Connection On the Cover: Fluidity, by Jamie Burke Moore, ’03, was one of the pieces featured in an exhibition inspired by the Meredith Hues Iris.

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NEWS Celebrating Student Achievement (CSA) Day, held April 12, is Meredith’s annual showcase of student research and creative work. CSA Day includes research presentations, posters, performances, and other creative projects, as well as award ceremonies and special departmental events. An impressive percentage of Meredith students – 51% – participate in undergraduate research each year. A wide variety of disciplines, including biology, fashion, nutrition, English, and psychology, were represented during the 2018 event. Watch a video about CSA Day on youtube.com/meredithcollege.

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Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement

By Gaye Hill

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eredith College hosted a panel discussion with women police chiefs from towns and cities in North Carolina on March 27, 2018. The chiefs shared their perspectives on challenges facing the field of law enforcement, how they have navigated being women in a traditionally male-dominated field, and how they have served, and continue to serve, as role models and mentors to younger women.

Six chiefs participated in the panel: Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown of Raleigh, Chief C.J. Davis of Durham, Chief Catrina A. Thompson of Winston-Salem, Chief Laura Fahnestock of Fuquay-Varina, Chief Winifred Bowens of Littleton, and Chief Patrice Andrews of Morrisville.

Breaking Glass Ceilings All of the women on the panel have been pioneers during their careers, including serving as the first woman police chief, the first AfricanAmerican police chief, and more. Nevertheless, they agreed that in order to succeed, doing your job well is critical.

“Instead of wearing ‘woman’ on your shoulder all the time, it’s important to just do a good job,” said Davis.

Deck-Brown agreed. “All of us have broken a glass ceiling. It may have been an assignment.

It may have been pushing a maternity policy for the first time. Let your work speak for you.”

Thompson challenged the audience to “bring your own hammer if you have to…” in order to break the glass ceiling. “But realize the responsibility and obligations that go along with it.”

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Nonetheless, Andrews said that in her experience, being a woman in law enforcement enhanced her ability to empathize with others.

“As women we are nurturers. That is an amazing trait that you can tap into. You can easily see yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

Navigating Personal and Work Life The chiefs spoke candidly about some of the challenges they had encountered professionally. Fahnestock was the first officer to become pregnant in her department in Rocky Mount.

She embraced the challenge as an opportunity to put policies in place to help other women.

All of the chiefs talked about working in a demanding field while also parenting. They agreed that the key to success is building a strong support system that you can lean on during challenging times.

“It’s your experiences that make you. In order to be strong, you must embrace all of it.”

– Chief Patrice Andrews

“I wear a lot of hats – sometimes it feels like too many. It is difficult managing your career and family,” said Bowen, adding, “God is the support system for me.”

Andrews said that her history included time spent as a single parent on government assistance as well as surviving domestic violence and sexual assault – experiences that helped to shape who she is.

“It’s your experiences that make you. In order to be strong, you must embrace all of it.”

True Leadership The chiefs spoke of the importance of mentoring young women coming up through the ranks. They encouraged women in the audience, particularly the Meredith students, to seek out a mentor.

Catelyn Armstrong, ’20, hopes to work for the Raleigh police department after she graduates. She enjoyed hearing from the women chiefs, noting that many people still think of law enforcement as a male field.

“It was interesting to hear about their experiences, and their struggles, like navigating maternity leave.”

Madison Parnell, ’19, hopes to work as a counselor in the prison system. She was inspired by the panelists and the example they set for their communities.

“I didn’t know North Carolina was so progressive in this regard, that we had so many more women police chiefs than other states.”

Katie Sills, ’17, is a recruit in the Raleigh police academy and served as the moderator for the panel. If all goes well, she will graduate from the academy in August and go into the field. Her family has a history of public service.

“The support for each other and the respect for their families – everything that was said made me know this is the field I want to be in,” said Sills. “I am so appreciative to have been on the stage with such amazing women.”

The panel was sponsored by Meredith College’s Sociology and Criminology Department and by local chapters of ASIS Chapter 119 Women in Security (WIS).

Speak Out! Events Shine a Light on History

By Christiana Parker, ’18

Meredith’s Department of History, Political Science, and International Studies hosted two events this spring to bring voices from history to the present day. Two Speak Out! events, one in honor of Black History Month and one in honor of Women’s History Month, featured students and faculty reading speeches, poems, and other works.

Works by Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, and others were included in the February event. The March event included works by Susan B. Anthony, Mary Wollstonecraft, Maria Weston Chapman, and Barbara Jordan.

“We asked students to choose something that was meaningful to them, perhaps by a speaker they particularly admired, and we also brought some texts for participants to choose from if they didn't have a chance to plan ahead,” said Assistant Professor of History Angela Robbins, who helped organize the events.

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We asked students to choose something that was meaningful to them.”

– Angela Robbins S ummer 2018 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

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Meredith Names Barbara Fredrickson 2018 Woman of Achievement

By Melyssa Allen

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ositive psychology expert Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., Meredith College’s 2018 Woman of Achievement, accepted her award and presented a public lecture on February 20.

Meredith College President Jo Allen presented Fredrickson with the award in recognition of her work in the field of positive psychology. Allen said that Fredrickson’s work has informed the College’s StrongPoints® program, a four-year plan in which each Meredith student participates.

“StrongPoints calls on students to build on their individual strengths and includes a focus on positivity that reveals the impact of believing in oneself,” Allen said.

Fredrickson’s lecture, “Why Prioritize Positivity?” explored what positivity is and why this mindset is important.

“Positivity is not always a ‘jump for joy’ form,” Fredrickson said. “There are also quieter moments when you feel grateful or at peace.”

Among the most highly cited and influential scholars in psychology, Fredrickson is Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab (a.k.a.

PEP Lab) at UNC-Chapel Hill.

“Thinking about positivity for an hour can seem misplaced because of the turbulent times we are living in,” Fredrickson said. “The only path out of despair is to bring in positivity and to bring in hope. This means taking a clear-eyed look at challenges while also yearning for something better.”

Established in 2007, Meredith College’s

Woman of Achievement Award recognizes women who are inspirational role models.

Previous recipients include former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Sarah Parker, journalist Judy Woodruff, Tony Award-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp, and N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. The Woman of Achievement event is part of The Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College.

Italy: “Eat, Cook, and Explore.”

TUSCAN INTENSIVE PROGRAM 2019 October 3-13, 2019 Designed as a 10-day Italian travel sampler, Meredith’s popular continuing education program in Tuscany returns next October! The class will begin with an exploration of some of Florence’s famous food markets, art museums, and historic architecture before journeying to Sansepolcro, the hidden gem of Tuscany, and home of Meredith’s study abroad programs in Italy.

While in Sansepolcro, participants will learn to cook authentic Tuscan food under the expert tutorage of Margherita

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Tirabosco, chef of Meredith’s Palazzo Alberti. The program includes excursions to a winery, an olive and wheat farm, and many more historic buildings and museums, as well as visits to Tuscan towns to see the production of beautifully designed Italian pottery and fabrics. Class will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. Reserve early!

Contact Tuscan Intensive Program Director Ellen Goode, Professor Emerita, at goodee@meredith.edu for more information.

FROM THE PRESIDENT CAMPUS

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Strong is Beautiful

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ne of the most consistent comments we get about Meredith (other than its reputation for educational excellence and successful alumnae, of course) is that it feels the way a college campus should feel.

I know ultimately that feeling has so much to do with connections, warm welcomes, interested admissions counselors and faculty, students and staff eager to give directions and more. But it also has much to do with the sheer beauty of this campus.

From the redbuds that bloom in the spring along the greenway on Hillsborough Street to the magnificent magnolias in front of Johnson Hall, from the ivory yellow tulip trees to the deep grape and gray ones, this campus, along with the larger natural world, is in a perpetual cycle of renewal.

How perfect that every year this lush campus beauty somehow reaches even

greater heights to coincide with the culmination of promise that is commencement.

After our students have invested so much time and energy during the cold dark hours of winter, they bloom with demonstrations of knowledge, ability, and readiness for the world. During the spring, after all, our students perform for us through their recitals, art and design shows, and research presentations. They not only demonstrate their learning in class and through on- and offcampus events, but many of them also head to regional and national conferences, where they present to their peers and even to scholars what they have discovered.

It is an awakening and performance that is the constant reminder of what we do and why we do it: to bring into being the next generation of learners, doers, problem solvers and promise seekers – our wonderful students.

And of course, with the advent of commencement also come first signs of the Meredith Hues, the lovely iris created by Lolita Powell, ’41, and named for the College. Uncannily, and despite wildly fluctuating temperatures, rain, sun and snow, every year the Meredith Hues seem to know exactly when to bloom – just in time for commencement weekend.

For all those who have given to the College in so many ways – scholarships, bricks and mortar, and – yes – the grounds, we thank you for helping us to celebrate and steward the beauty of this campus and its extraordinary metaphor for the growth and strength of our students.

President Jo Allen, ’80 S ummer 2018 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

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Author Shares Story of The Girls of Atomic City

By Melyssa Allen

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uthor Denise Kiernan brought the story of The Girls of Atomic City to life during Meredith College’s spring 2018 convocation, held on March 13 in Jones Auditorium.

Kiernan discussed her book, The Girls of Atomic City, in which she told the true story of young women during World War II who worked in a secret city dedicated to making fuel for the first atomic bomb.

These women worked on the Manhattan Project, which harnessed the power of fission and resulted in the first nuclear weapons, without knowing it. Their roles in this project were largely left out of the history books.

“The common perspective on the Manhattan Project is a male perspective,” Kiernan said. “We have a tendency to view history from the top down, from the point of view of those leading. Tens of thousands of women and people of color were involved, and without them, this project would not have happened.”

Kiernan spoke about discovering an archival photo of women working in “Atomic City,” which is now known as Oak Ridge, Tenn., and being inspired to explore this story.

“We owe it to ourselves to examine history from as many perspectives as possible,” Kiernan said.

The women whose stories are told in The

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“Tell your own stories and record the stories of others close to you.

History needs them. Nobody's story is too small.” – Denise Kiernan Girls of Atomic City show what a transformative moment World War II was in the history of women’s work.

Kiernan was able to interview many women who had worked on this project, and most of them did not think they had a story to share.

“For decades, these people had devalued their own role in history,” Kiernan said.

At the end of her lecture, Kiernan encouraged the audience to add to the country’s shared history.

“Tell your own stories and record the stories of others close to you,” Kiernan said. “History needs them. Nobody’s story is too small.”

While at Meredith, Kiernan also visited Assistant Professor of History Angela Robbins’ Women in Global Perspective course.

Students in this class were able to ask Kiernan questions about her career in journalism, the research needed for her projects, and more in-depth questions about The Girls of Atomic City project.

“A student asked her about the process of interviewing people for a project like this,” Robbins said. “She talked about the importance of listening more than you talk and working to make people comfortable so they will open up to you.”

Other questions were about the home front during World War II and how the experience of working during wartime changed women’s lives.

Kiernan’s visit was sponsored by the Meredith College Convocation Committee.

By the Numbers: Graduate Programs at Meredith There are six fields of study available through Meredith’s John E. Weems Graduate School including business, education, nutrition, paralegal, pre-health, and psychology. Visit meredith.edu/graduate-programs to learn more.

Our degree programs offer 18 concentration areas and tracks: •

Master of Arts in Psychology – industrial/organizational concentration

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Master of Arts in Teaching to enter the field of teaching – 4 specialty area options (elementary, English as a second language, health & physical education, special education)

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MBA – 4 concentrations (human resource management, innovative management, project management, entrepreneurship & family business) or a general MBA

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Master of Education for already-licensed teachers – 5 specialty areas (academically/ intellectually gifted, elementary, English as a second language, reading, special education)

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Master of Science in Nutrition – 3 tracks (dietetics track or food & nutrition studies tracks with emphasis on either community food security or health science research)

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Post-baccalaureate certificate programs: Business Foundations, Dietetic Internship, Entrepreneurship & Family Business, Pre-Health, and Paralegal.

Programs help Meredith undergraduates get a jump start on advanced degrees: Accelerated MBA and Early MAT.

Meredith Experts in the News Meredith College experts have been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer, WalletHub.com, and CollegeCovered.com “In today’s political culture, the only guarantee is that nothing is guaranteed. So much can change between now and Election Day in November, with the volatility of the President and some signs of economic uncertainty on Wall Street.”

– Professor of Political Science David McLennan and Assistant Professor of Political Science Whitney Manzo, in an opinion piece that was published in The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer offering predictions about 2018 midterm elections.

“Among the show’s fans are — surprise — philosophy professors. Steven Benko, an associate professor of religious and ethical studies at Meredith College, in North Carolina, said he had probably seen every episode six times. The curriculum of his Religious Ethics and Social Issues course is heavily influenced by the 25 episodes of The Good Place, along with readings that include works by Aristotle, Camus, and Hume.”

– Associate Professor of Religious and Ethical Studies Steven Benko was interviewed

by The Chronicle of Higher Education for an article about philosophy courses inspired by NBC’s comedy, The Good Place.

New program options added in the past two years

300+ Current students in Meredith graduate and post-baccalaureate programs

1,762 Graduate alumni

“You don't have to [choose the best rate] if you use your credit cards smartly.

That means paying off your credit card statement balance each month. By doing so, you will never pay any interest. So, whether the interest rate is high or low, it does not matter.”

– Associate Professor of Finance Bing Yu, in a roundup of expert opinions about credit card rates on financial advice site WalletHub.com.

“The campus itself feels very welcoming and collaborative. I have received nothing but encouragement from my classmates. These women are genuinely excited to see one another succeed and eager to assist in any way they can.”

Christiana Parker, ’18, was interviewed for CollegeCovered.com’s article about the benefits of attending a women’s college.

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Subscribe to Meredith’s YouTube channel to make sure you won’t miss any new episodes of The Meredith Minute video series.

Explore Past Episodes of The Meredith Minute Videos • What is in a Scientific Name?

• Explaining the Gender Pay Gap • How Do You Evaluate Information On the Internet?

• How Does the Electoral College Work?

• Why Can’t We Remember Our Childhood?

• From Page to Stage: How to Make a Play • $1 Million vs. 1¢

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Meredith College education encourages graduates to develop a passion for learning that extends beyond graduation and continues throughout their lives. That curiosity is just one reason the College developed The Meredith Minute, which is a series of short videos and essays featuring Meredith faculty explaining a topic within their area of expertise.

The series covers a wide range of topics across a variety of academic disciplines; in fact, all of the four Schools are deliberately represented. From exploring the meaning of a scientific name to delving into the implications of Title IX, each episode provides an opportunity for faculty to elucidate one aspect of their academic study in approximately one minute.

Essays • How to Help Women Succeed in STEM • The Surprising Benefits of Fidgeting and Doodling • A Social Worker’s Perspective on Feminism • Are “Natural” Products Safer Than Synthetic?

• Politics Aside: Women and the Vote • How Mathematics Impacts Your Health

A complete list of essays and videos can be found at meredith.edu/minute.

MBA Adds Concentration in Innovative Management

By Melyssa Allen

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new option for students in the Meredith MBA program has recently been approved. The concentration in innovative management is designed to complement the MBA’s core curriculum.

Through the innovative management concentration, MBA graduates will gain high-level management skills along with a broad knowledge of overall business strategy.

According to the Project Management Institute, in the U.S., demand for project practitioners is growing by more than 12% annually, resulting in nearly 6.2 million jobs by 2020. Managers in other roles also increasingly require project management skills.

“Managers need to think differently rather than just know how to manage technically,” said Kristie Ogilvie, dean of Meredith’s School

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of Business. “They need to know how to manage people, how to negotiate, and how to understand business planning.”

To earn the concentration, students will complete the 33-credit-hour Meredith MBA – including the following courses: Business Planning and Design; Strategies for Effective Negotiation; and Project Management Essentials. These required courses will provide Meredith MBA graduates with skills needed to advance in business management.

With the addition of the innovative management option, the Meredith MBA now offers four concentrations including project management, human resource management, or entrepreneurship.

Meredith is accepting applications now for the new program. Learn more at meredith.edu/mba.

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Newsmakers Catherine Koontz, ’18, took first prize at the 18th annual Undergraduate Honors Symposium, which was held on March 2, at UNC-Greensboro. She presented her paper titled “Pick Your Politics: Exploring Student Perspectives on Personal Political Influences During Their Undergraduate Studies,” which was also the subject of her Honors thesis.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Service Held

By Donna Bahena, ’18

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eredith College held a commemoration service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., on February 7, 2018. The service, which took place at Jones Chapel, was co-sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain and Meredith’s Black Student Union (BSU).

Margaret A. Brunson, inspirational speaker, author, and CEO of Illumined Leadership Solutions, was the featured speaker.

Brunson reminded attendees of King’s message about the need to work together as an interrelated network of humanity in order to combat inequality.

“All mankind is tied together. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,” Brunson said, quoting Dr. King. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

Brunson encouraged those seeking equality and justice to acknowledge and accept the discomfort of awareness and to connect with others and “be human together.”

“We need to stay uncomfortably woke

[and] accept that this awakening is compelling us to reconnect with our humanity and be okay with how uncomfortable it is,” Brunson said. “We have to learn the truth and do the emotional labor that comes with knowing the truth.”

Another guest was Dasan Ahanu, a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill, who recited spoken word poetry about the struggles of systematic and institutionalized inequality.

The musical selection, performed by the Duke Divinity Praise Team, a trio of a capella singers, included We Shall Overcome and Our God. Members of Meredith’s BSU delivered the invocation, the occasion speech, and introduced the featured guests. Daphne Moore, ’18, vice president of the BSU, delivered the litany: “Celebrating Women of the Movement.”

“Being able to see this event come together as well as partake in it really made me overjoyed,” said Moore. “It allowed a platform to speak about what it will take to see a change for black society in America through the voices of others who have paved the way for change.”

Meredith Dance Theatre’s performance of Professor of Dance Carol Finley's Figure/Ground was one of 12 dances selected from among 40 to be performed in the gala concert at the American College Dance Festival Mid-Atlantic South Conference on March 9 at Virginia Commonwealth University. The piece features an original sound score created by staff accompanist Ken Ray Wilemon and was performed by 16 Meredith students. This dance had its premiere in the Meredith Dance Theatre concert at Jones Auditorium in November 2017.

The 47th Annual Conference of the North Carolina Political Science Association (NCPSA) was held at Meredith College on February 23. The conference was hosted by the Department of History, Political Science, and International Studies, and coordinated by Assistant Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo, who was elected NCPSA president for 2018-19.

Three Meredith fashion merchandising and design students, Allison High, ’18, Patricia Kalevas, ’18, and Marie Johnson, ’20, attended the 2018 National Retail Federation (NRF) Annual Expo, January 12-15 in New York City.

Kalevas and High were semi-finalists in the Student Challenge and earned a $500 travel scholarship, and Johnson was selected for a $1,500 travel scholarship. These travel scholarships supported the students’ attendance.

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Oral History Project Captures ERA Fight in North Carolina

By Melyssa Allen

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wo Meredith student researchers have completed an oral history project meant to preserve the fight by the North Carolina Women’s Forum to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

History majors Morgan Johnson, ’20, and Miranda Pikaart, ’18, presented their findings at Meredith’s Celebrating Student Achievement Day on April 12.

The Women’s Forum of North Carolina is an invitation-only organization that brings together women of accomplishment. Johnson and Pikaart spent the summer of 2017 and into the academic year interviewing 26 members of this organization.

“North Carolina was one of the crucial states that could have changed the fate of the ERA,” said Pikaart. “The Women’s Forum’s efforts needed to be documented because the fight was so intense here. While the ERA did not pass, the legacy of the work women did

during that time lives on today.”

The student researchers worked under the direction of Professor of History Dan Fountain, who says these types of projects are valuable because they help preserve the voices of real people.

“The project furthers our mission as a women’s college by documenting the substantial contributions women have made in shaping our state and society.”

– Dan Fountain

“It is a tool that captures the stories of the rich and famous as well as documents the everyday existence of average folk,” said Fountain. “It provides a record of our world in the words of those who experienced it. It captures emotions, language patterns, and humanizes the evidentiary record by providing voices,

names, and faces to history.”

Johnson said this project brought women’s contemporary history to life for her.

“The most rewarding part of the project was being able to connect with so many remarkable women and learn from them. Before doing this project, it was easy to take the work women did to further women’s rights, even as recently as 30 years ago, for granted,” Johnson said. “Hearing about all the work they did to further women’s rights was a very humbling experience.”

Recordings of the interviews conducted for this project are housed in the Meredith College Archives. Additional oral history projects focused on other aspects of women’s history are planned.

“The project furthers our mission as a women’s college by documenting the substantial contributions women have made in shaping our state and society,” Fountain said.

2018 Summer Reading Program to Explore “Callings” The Meredith College Summer Reading Program selection for 2018 is Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, by Dave Isay.

Part of the StoryCorps project, Callings shares stories of individuals pursuing a “calling” in life. This calling may be a particular career, a hobby, or an inspired approach to one’s vocation. Examples range from the conventional (teacher, public defender) to the quirky (bridge tender, casual astronomer), and a number of the contributors have overcome great challenges to reach their goals. These storytellers all convey a sincerity and openness to possibility that can encourage Meredith students to contemplate a productive and fulfilling future that reaches beyond the paycheck.

“We hope Callings will prompt students and community

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members to think about and record the stories of their own lives and those of people close to them, where they’ve been, where they’re going, and the paths that have led them there,” said Chrissie Bumgardner, co-director of First Year Experience, who co-chairs the Summer Reading Program committee with Professor of English Rebecca Duncan.

The Summer Reading Program committee plans to facilitate opportunities for students to conduct interviews and create podcasts or digital recordings of these conversations, which will be combined into a video collage.

Meredith’s Summer Reading Program enhances the academic climate on campus by engaging incoming first-year students in a shared intellectual endeavor with the entire campus community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumnae.

STRONG STORIES

Going Strong in Science and Sports

By Miranda Daughtry, ’18

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s a four-year starter on the Meredith softball team and a double major in biology and chemistry, Erica Occena, ’18, challenged herself on the field and in the classroom.

Occena helped lead Meredith’s softball team to a USA South East Division Championship. She also has collected three USA South All-Academic honors to go along with a USA South All-Conference honor and two All-East selections. She is Meredith’s all-time leader in stolen bases and sits third in runs, triples, and walks.

“My favorite things are the friendships I’ve made with my teammates and all the good memories that we have. At first it seemed like [college softball] just changed me as an athlete, but now I can look back and say it changed me as a person.”

She also credits the faculty and staff for making her stronger and helping her overcome challenges.

Erica Occena, ’18

“The faculty and staff have always been there to help me when I needed it and were as interested in my well-being as I was.” − Erica Occena, ’18

“Between my sophomore and junior years, I decided that I needed to make myself be more outgoing,” said Occena. “I wanted to start networking harder to make sure I had an internship the following summer and set myself up for a better situation after graduation.”

Occena reached out to faculty in Meredith’s biology and chemistry departments along with the Office of Career Planning for help.

“The faculty and staff have always been there to help me when I needed it and were as interested in my well-being as I was. [It was] a big part of what helped me the most and what I’ve enjoyed at Meredith,” she said.

Besides being a student-athlete, Occena was an Honors Scholar and a chemistry tutor. She was also a member of the College’s chapters of Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honors Society, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, for which she served as club secretary.

Occena enjoyed earning her double major even though balancing softball and academic life has been tough.

“It was a challenging course load, but I had a love for chemistry in high school and I knew that’s what I wanted to do as a freshman,” Occena said. “I really decided on the double major when I took biochemistry my junior

year with Dr. [Karthik] Aghoram. Seeing interdisciplinary connections and how those two worlds come together made me want to go into biology as well.”

Now Occena is taking on her next challenge as a global manufacturing sciences associate in analytical chemistry at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

“I’ll have three rotations over three years to experience different roles in various departments at GSK,” said Occena. “At the end of the rotations, they hope to offer me a full-time job where I’ll be in a leadership position.”

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Find more stories like this one at meredith.edu/goingstrong.

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New Programs Allow Students to Earn Graduate Degrees Faster

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eredith College recently announced two new programs that will allow students to earn graduate degrees at an accelerated pace, saving time and money.

“We are proud to announce newly designed curricula that reflect the ways more students are choosing to go to college,” said President Jo Allen. “Based on well-constructed pathways and faculty/staff guidance and support, our students will be work- and life-ready by building on their strengths for more inspirational and meaningful experiences.”

tensive courses, information literacy, and oral communication, builds skills that law schools want and that prepare our students for success in any career,” said Manzo. “Meredith also has a vast network of alumnae who are practicing lawyers or students in law school who want to help our current students succeed.”

Meredith and Campbell Law School share many characteristics that make this partnership attractive to students. Both schools offer small class sizes and supportive faculty, along with all the benefits of their location in the heart of North Carolina’s capital city.

Meredith and Campbell Law School Partnership

Earn a Meredith Undergraduate Degree and an MBA in Five Years

One option is the result of a 3+3 Program partnership between Meredith and Campbell Law School. Through the 3+3 Program, qualified Meredith students will be able to earn an undergraduate degree from Meredith and a J.D. from Campbell Law in just six years.

The student will spend three years at Meredith, completing all general education requirements and the coursework for her major. In her fourth year, the student will begin study at Campbell School of Law and the credits earned during this year will complete her Meredith degree while counting toward the law degree. Students can continue to live on campus at Meredith during this fourth year.

Meredith College has a proven track record of preparing students for success in law school, according to Assistant Professor of Political Science Whitney Ross Manzo, Meredith’s pre-law adviser. Manzo will serve as the 3+3 Program coordinator.

“Meredith’s general education program, which requires writing in-

Meredith’s new Accelerated MBA option will allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in just five years. Open to all majors, the Accelerated MBA is a 4+1 program that will allow students to earn a graduate degree in just one additional year. Meredith College’s competitive, nationally-ranked MBA program is the lowest-cost AACSB program in the Triangle.

“It is a strong option for students who want to combine an MBA with their undergraduate degree in fields including, but not limited to, the arts, English, communication, STEM fields, or design,” said Kristie Ogilvie, dean of the School of Business.

Qualified students will complete a core set of business courses during their first three years at Meredith. During their senior year, students in the program will take two MBA courses that will count toward both degrees. Students will then be able to complete the Meredith MBA with two semesters and two summer sessions.

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“Keep learning, keep inquiring, keep questioning, keep challenging conventional wisdom, and keep growing. Wherever life takes you, remember you are strong. Meredith strong.”

– Adrienne Cole, ’93

Meredith College Holds 2018 Commencement Ceremony

By Reah Nicholson

M

eredith College held its 2018 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 12 at 7 p.m. in Dorton Arena. The many academic achievements of the Class of 2018 were celebrated during the ceremony with approximately 490 degrees conferred. Speakers highlighted the importance of graduates finding their purpose, believing in themselves, and using their experiences to make a global impact.

The commencement address was given by Adrienne Cole, ’93, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Cole is the first woman to lead the 129-year-old organization. The chamber is the second-largest business chamber in the state.

In her speech, Cole reflected on her Meredith commencement 25 years ago and shared with the graduates the lessons she has learned along the way: Be open to uncertainty. Trust in your competence. Do not underestimate yourselves. Try not to fear failure. Be open to opportunities and seize them when they come.

And raise your hand.

“I am very confident about the future – because I know that the Meredith Class of 2018

is ready to take on every challenge, overcome every obstacle, and vigorously embrace every opportunity. Our communities, companies, and organizations need you.”

She reminded the graduates that their education won’t end with commencement.

“Keep learning, keep inquiring, keep questioning, keep challenging conventional wisdom, and keep growing. Wherever life takes you, remember you are strong. Meredith strong.”

The graduates were represented by two student speakers, one undergraduate and one graduate.

Frances Ellison White spoke on behalf of the master’s candidates. White, who received her Master of Science in Nutrition, spoke to the graduates about the importance of finding their purpose and understanding the WHY behind their actions.

“Understanding our motive serves as the compass for the rest our lives. It transcends jobs, industries, and careers. In graduate school, it can be easy to lose sight of WHY we do what we do because we focus on WHAT we need to do to complete an assignment or get a good grade. While they are important, my professors

and the experiences that I had at Meredith always brought me back to my purpose.”

Kelsie Anne Taylor, president of the Class of 2018, spoke on the great accomplishments of the graduates and reflected on the past four years, reminding the class, “the framework you have established here at Meredith provides a firm foundation – and the direction you choose to take on your journey through life remains in your control.”

She encouraged her classmates to remember what Meredith provided them.

“I hope that you will never forget what Meredith College has taught us; we are able to succeed, able to prosper, and most importantly, able to believe in ourselves. I know that every one of you in front of me today will continue to Go Strong as we take this next step in each of our own journeys.”

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CAMPUS

NEWS

Creating a Celebration Commencement is Meredith College’s biggest event of the year. Many members of the campus community work together, from setting up the stage and decorating the venue to serving as marshals and conferring degrees, to make this a special celebration for each graduating class.

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Events and Facilities staff begin working in advance of commencement to construct the stage and bring touches of Meredith to Dorton Arena.

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Student Marshals lead the Class of 2018 into the arena, accompanied by Pomp & Circumstance and the cheers of faculty.

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Final preparations are completed as the Events team readies the venue, which allows the College to welcome more than 7,000 people to celebrate this important milestone.

The main event − the conferring of degrees! President Jo Allen offers congratulations as Provost Matthew Poslusny announces each graduate.

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The orchestra and other musicians rehearse just before the doors are opened at 5 p.m.

In a special Meredith tradition that concludes the ceremony, all graduates are given a candle that represents Lux, symbolizing the education they have received as a light they are taking into the world.

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CAMPUS

NEWS

Student Spends Spring Break Lobbying in Washington, D.C.

By Melyssa Allen

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riana Landis, ’19, spent much of her spring break in Washington, D.C., meeting with political leaders.

Landis traveled with the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society to lobby for increased funding for MS, including support for research and more affordable medications.

She and the lobbying team spent two days in training. She then spent a day in individual meetings with senators and congressional representatives.

The Meredith College junior biology major, who was diagnosed with MS at age 4, was the youngest person on the trip to the nation’s capital. She was one of 200 testifying for their cause.

“It’s such an honor to be able to do this,” Landis said. “Research is my passion, but since I have MS, advocacy is something I’ve always enjoyed doing.”

“Research is my passion, but since I have MS, advocacy is something I've always enjoyed doing.”

– Briana Landis, ’19

Landis is actively involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and has served as the featured speaker at many annual MS Society conferences.

After she returned to campus, Landis

presented about her advocacy experience in a session held during Disability Awareness Week. She shared how individuals can impact policy decisions by connecting with members of Congress about important national issues.

Students Visit Washington, D.C., for Sloan Family Student Leadership Trip

By Donna Bahena, ’18

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oordinated by the Office of Student Leadership and Service, Meredith students took a trip to Washington, D.C., over spring break for the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and understanding of the history and current state of women’s rights.

Students met with women from the National Women’s Party to learn about the history of the Women’s Suffrage Movement and toured the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument.

During the trip, students visited the headquarters of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), where they learned about the organization and their work toward promoting policies that help women break through educational and economic barriers.

They also participated in a salary negotiation workshop.

Students took an illuminated tour of the nation’s capital and visited the Capitol Building, Ford’s Theatre, the U.S. Holocaust Museum, and several museums in the Smithsonian Institution.

“This opportunity opened up the doors to meet friends who share a passion for creating equality among women,” said trip participant

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Yesenia Anorve-Basoria, ’19. “Seeing our history and our progression makes me realize that we have to fight every day by advocating for one another and talking about issues that affect all women.”

The trip was made possible by an endowment established by Carol Sloan, ’75, and her husband O. Temple Sloan, honorary co-chair of the Meredith College Beyond Strong Campaign Steering Committee.

Webb Receives State Award for Support of International Education

By Melyssa Allen

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rofessor Emerita Betty Webb, ’67, former director of international programs at Meredith College, is the 2018 recipient of the North Carolina Association of International Educators (NCAIE)’s Martha Fitch Trigonis Individual Award.

The Martha Fitch Trigonis Individual Award recognizes someone who has shown remarkable excellence in the field of international education. The NCAIE is a professional organization of more than 600 administrators, educa-

tors, and community volunteers, committed to promoting the cause of international education.

In their nomination of Webb, current and former international program staff members said, “For more than 30 years, Webb has invested deeply in the international education of hundreds upon hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and friends of Meredith College. As an English professor, she developed the Office of International Programs, transformed the culture of study abroad at our institution, and served as the visionary and inaugural director of Meredith's international home in Sansepolcro, Italy.”

The award also recognizes Webb for her mentorship of international programs staff, her advocacy of a culture at Meredith that is welcoming to international students from a variety of backgrounds, and her continuing service to the College. She co-directs Meredith

Travels, a successful series of travel programs for alumnae and friends of Meredith, and continues to be a passionate fundraiser for study abroad.

Director of International Programs Brooke Shurer and Associate Director of International Programs Liz Yaros, ’06, accepted the award on Webb’s behalf at the NCAIE annual conference on March 9, 2018.

In her acceptance, Webb thanked Meredith for its support of her dream of increasing international opportunities for students, faculty, and staff. She also noted that the values shared by international educators have never been more essential.

“We in international education are blessed to have learned through our own and our students’ travels and interactions with people from other countries that there is far more that connects us as humans than separates us,” Webb said. “We must unite to resist with all of our hearts and souls and minds and strength those forces afoot that would suggest otherwise, those forces that wish to separate and polarize us.”

Meredith Tackles GMO Debate with Film and Panel Discussion

By Miranda Daughtry, ’18

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he Meredith community gathered on March 22 for a film screening and panel discussion on the evolution of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods. The event was funded by a Kenan Grant and co-sponsored by Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society and Angels for the Environment.

Food Evolution, a documentary directed

by Academy-Award nominee Scott Hamilton Kennedy, explores both sides of the controversial debate of GMOs in food. An expert panel discussion with science communicator Anasta-

sia Bodnar and NC State faculty Fred Gould, and Michelle Schroeder-Moreno followed.

Ethical issues that surround the GMO debate were discussed. Mainly, how do GMO and organic propaganda negatively impact innovation and public opinion of GMOs globally? Panelists stressed the importance of assessing each agricultural areas’ individual needs when working to improve farming efficiency because GMOs alone cannot solve all of these needs.

“The documentary did an excellent job of introducing the process of science and how

painstakingly scientists work to contribute towards the goals of sustainable food production,” said Professor of Biological Sciences Karthik Aghoram, who coordinated the event.

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BEHIND THE SCENES How Meredith staff keep the campus going strong

By Reah Nicholson

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eredith College is known for its picturesque campus, an arboretum that houses a variety of trees and several gardens, including the Ruby McSwain Magnolia Collection. Students say that some of the things that drew them to Meredith were the beautiful campus, the cleanliness and maintenance of the facilities, and the safe and secure environment that the College provides.

“What I love most about Meredith’s campus is how beautiful it is. I was attracted to all of the trees and flowers,” said Cailyn Clymore, ’18.

“The magnolias and the gingko trees are some of my favorites on campus. When the skies are blue and the sun is out, I feel so lucky to not only attend school here, but to live here. I am

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“These staff members are truly amazing people who are often overlooked. I feel as though Meredith wouldn’t look the way it does or be what it is without them. A lot of the times we don’t realize how much work they actually do and how much they are doing for us.”

- Indyah Bryant, ’19, Communication Major

still blown away by how pretty our campus is.”

Even the surrounding community enjoys Meredith’s luxuries when visitors arrive on campus for various events. But it takes a lot of people working behind the scenes to make Meredith the place, on the inside and out, that community members, staff, faculty, alumnae, and students adore so much.

“Many hands make light work,” is a com-

mon phrase, but even with the many hands that contribute to the Meredith campus culture, it takes teamwork and dedication to maintain the campus. Among those hands are staff from departments including campus security, dining services, and more – all who impact the day-today lives of those who reside, study, and work on campus, as well as those who visit.

Let’s meet the people behind the scenes.

CAMPUS SECURITY Chief of Police Al White manages a team of 19, including a parking director and four part-time employees, with a mission to provide a safe environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors. That mission is accomplished by being proactive and patrolling the campus in an effort to deter and minimize any mischievous behavior or criminal activity.

Campus security responds to every call for service including medical calls, suspicious persons, alarms, criminal activity, and students needing assistance, to name a few.

White’s team takes the safety of the College very seriously and they understand the significant responsibility that they have to keep the community safe in today’s world.

They believe that safety and the perception of a safe campus assist in the recruitment, retention, and graduation of students.

Diversity among the team is a true passion for White. Therefore, he focuses on hiring people with diverse backgrounds including women and minorities.

“What I like most about my job is being there for the community and the daily interactions. Showing people that we care about them, not just as a student or employee, but as a person. Any way that we can assist someone and make their day better is what we are here to do.”

- Al White, Chief of Police

DINING SERVICES

Karen Jones, food service director, in partnership with Aramark, manages the dayto-day operations of the Meredith College Dining Services Department, which includes Belk Dining Hall, the Bee Hive Café, and Oak Leaf Catering. In her role, she manages 45 full- and part-time employees, including a campus executive chef, a catering chef, and eight cooks.

Dining Services is responsible for prepping and preparing menus for eight stations in the

“I love what food can do for people. It brings us together in the best of times and the worst of times, but it always brings us together.”

- Karen Jones, Food Service Director

dining hall, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also manage the Bee Hive Café which requires food preparation at the Grille Works and Sandwich Shack. Aside from food preparation duties, the staff is responsible for overseeing the We Proudly Brew Starbucks kiosk in the café and all catering requests and

needs of the campus community.

“We’re happy to provide nourishing food to the students, faculty, and staff every day.

We are a proud partner of Meredith College,” said Jones.

Dining Services significantly impacts the Meredith campus culture.

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Did you know?

DINING SERVICES

CAMPUS SECURITY

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Dining Services has numerous long-term employees with their tenure ranging from 15 to 46 years.

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As a whole, the Dining Services staff has over 350 years of food service experience.

700-800 Approximate number of customers served in Belk Dining Hall each day.

20-40

350 Average number of customers served per day at the Bee Hive Café.

Number of events per week served

by Oak Leaf Catering.

Our Campus Security team is made up of staff with diverse backgrounds from across the country.

It consists of people with law enforcement and military backgrounds, a mental health counselor, a county school administrator, an IT specialist, and an insurance adjuster.

#1

40+ 32+

Safest College in North Carolina according to Backgroundchecks.org.

Sworn officers receive at least 40 plus hours of in-service training yearly.

Civilian staff receive at least 32 hours of in-service training yearly.

FACILITIES SERVICES Facilities Services has a mission to provide a safe, attractive, clean, and functional campus that supports the work of all students, staff, and faculty. Managed by Sharon Campbell, director of facilities services, and her administration team, the department works in partnership with Aramark to ensure that the College offers a healthy environment for all who step foot on campus.

Each team member has a specific role, but their work crosses boundaries, impacts other internal departments, and plays a role in the College as a whole.

“My greatest satisfaction comes from leaving a facility in better condition through regular maintenance, project work, and improvements that have a lasting impact on those who use the facilities, and working with a strong team that has a ‘can do’ attitude, expertise, and great energy.” − Sharon Campbell, Director of Facilities Services

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As the administrators of the department, these individuals manage the day-to-day and long-term operations of the department, provide project and construction management, oversee energy and sustainability efforts, are

responsible for managing the budget, and manage procurement services that support all functions of the department.

Facilities services is made up of three areas: custodial services, grounds, and maintenance.

CUSTODIAL SERVICES Manager Tony Riddick has overseen the custodial services department for the past six years, which consists of 24 staff members (23 fulltime and one part-time).

“What I enjoy most about my job is the interaction with students and staff, and being able to assist in their well-being at their second home, and in doing so, attract others within the community to use our facilities. We are ambassadors and in a lot of cases, the first in line to meet the public.” − Tony Riddick, Custodial Services Manager

With a mission to protect the investment of the institution by ensuring elements like dust, dirt, and water are not allowed to prematurely degrade the integrity of the campus surfaces, Riddick’s team spends a total of 188 hours per

day maintaining all surfaces such as wood, metal, stone, vinyl, and glass. They are responsible for the floors, walls, furnishings, windows, carpets, walkways, and lights.

Custodial services is also responsible for

keeping germs to a minimum through cleaning and infection control methods, while also applying pest control. On average, the team cleans, disinfects, and maintains 750,000 to 800,000 cleanable square feet per day.

GROUNDS

Grounds Manager Aaron Schettler oversees the Meredith grounds crew, a group of eight full-time staff members who work from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Much like my staff, I enjoy the culmination of the spring season with the wonderful convergence of Commencement and Class Day with flowering magnolias, the Meredith Hues Iris, and the classic campus daisies,” said Schettler.

With a desire to preserve and promote a

“It’s great to see everything come together at such a momentous time of year, and to see the Meredith community enjoy and appreciate the great beauty of campus.”

- Aaron Schettler, Grounds Manager

healthy campus environment, the grounds crew takes care of all routine grounds maintenance across campus, including athletic fields, turf grass areas, gardens, and various outdoor campus venues. They are also responsible for all mowing and maintenance requirements.

Much of the mowing maintenance and soil management strategies focus on optimizing soil health, which is key to healthy plants, healthy people, and healthy communities.

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors enjoy using Meredith’s beautiful outdoor spaces.

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MAINTENANCE Maintenance Manager Jeffrey Stell oversees a maintenance team comprising 11 full-time employees who work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with one employee on call each week for after-hours requests.

The goal of the maintenance team is to provide reliable service, repair, and preventive maintenance to the equipment serving the Meredith community. With that goal in mind, Stell’s team maintains all of the equipment on campus including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, locksmith, finishes, ceilings, floors, walls, life safety equipment, aesthetics, and indoor and outdoor lighting.

In an effort to support the College, the maintenance team implements and oversees the completion of both small and large improvement projects. To complete those tasks, each maintenance tech is equipped with different sized screw drivers, ratchets, sockets, pry bars, hammers, and manhole cover lifters.

They also have access to a plethora of power tools, hand tools, saws, grinders, and pumps.

“I love being a part of the facilities maintenance team. This group is phenomenal. I continue to be impressed with their level of ability and commitment to serving the Meredith community. I am very proud of what we are able to accomplish every day.”

- Jeffrey Stell, Maintenance Manager

Did you know?

CUSTODIAL SERVICES

GROUNDS

MAINTENANCE

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For the last four years, they have eliminated eight harsher cleaning products and have moved to a more sustainable, safer process called Hydris Water.

The grounds team works with local arborists and municipalities to put their organic waste materials to use so that most of the mulch that is used on campus has been donated.

On average, Meredith goes through:

175 100 400 450 Cases of paper towels per year

Cases of toilet tissue per year

(6 jumbo rolls in a case)

(96 regular rolls; 12 large rolls in a case)

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Cases of handsoap per year (2-40.2 ounce bottles in a case)

Staff maintain 175 acres of grounds space

21.8 Acres of land are maintained per employee

Yards of mulch used per year

200-300 200-300 yards of organic material are used to optimize the health of the campus soils and trees

The maintenance team is full of talented individuals.

A taxidermist, a tree cutter, a carpenter, skilled hunters, fishermen, and a drywall installer are just a few of the credentials held by this team.

The maintenance stockroom and tool cage contains:

25 Different power tools

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100+ Different sizes of nuts, bolts, PVC fittings, steel fittings, and other fasteners

Aerial lift, scissor lift, and small one-person lift

Strong Spaces A look inside the work spaces of Meredith faculty and staff

By Melyssa Allen

EUNYOUNG YANG ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FASHION MERCHANDISING AND DESIGN B.S., APPAREL DESIGN, M.A., FASHION DESIGN, AND PH.D. IN FASHION AND TEXTILES

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unyoung Yang, who joined Meredith’s fashion program in 2007, can frequently be found in the fashion studio, located just down the hall from her office on the second floor of Martin Hall. In this space, she teaches design classes, mentors students, and works on her own designs.

“I teach all the fashion technical courses, from construction to pattern making, which consists of flat patterns and draping, and advanced construction, which is tailoring, and sketching courses,” Yang said. “All of those require cumulative knowledge. You have to do well in construction to move on to pattern making.”

Yang, who is a native of South Korea, originally planned to study classical singing, but a vocal injury before college led her to choose another path. Now, she teaches students the technical skills needed to bring their designs to life.

A normal teaching schedule for Yang begins at 11 a.m. and ends around 6 p.m. Between classes, Yang visits the studio to support students working on their own pieces.

“I peek in and see if they are doing ok. Students can drop into my office to ask me questions as well.”

Yang frequently presents her creative work at professional conferences. She has earned first place in three International Textile and Apparel Association competitions.

The opportunity to solve design problems is what drew Yang to fashion.

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On the walls of the fashion studio are framed poster presentations by Meredith students who have attended fashion conferences with Yang. This is an example of the kind of creative scholarship encouraged at Meredith.

Strong Spaces A look inside the work spaces of Meredith faculty and staff

Meredith students are frequently using the fashion studio outside of class hours to work on their assignments.

The machines are for the exclusive use of students enrolled in fashion courses.

Yang uses her work as examples for students, pulling specific pieces that illustrate concepts or techniques they are learning in class. In 2016, Yang earned first prize in the fiber art category at the International Textile and Apparel Association annual conference for this piece. The fabric, which was woven by her great aunt, had been in her mother’s closet for years before Yang made this piece. She used a natural dye technique to make the panels.

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The fashion studio is equipped with a document camera that Yang can use to project her work on this sewing machine during classes. Students are able to see her handiwork up close as they are learning sewing techniques.

Watch a video about the fashion program at youtube.com/meredithcollege.

“

The sample rack is used to show the students different techniques. The collection includes Yang’s work, work of previous students, and commercial items, all of which serve as examples of the construction techniques. “This shows them what to do and what not to do.”

In design, I’m more analytical than artistic.

When you start construction, there are so many problems that you have to solve. The scientific, analytical part of solving a design problem is the most exciting to me.”

This is an instructional piece that features all the sample techniques that students have to learn. “I call this ‘Construction 101 Lady’ because it is used to show different types of buttons, a button hole or a loop, seams, and finishes.”

This coat, part of a presentation at an international conference, was co-designed with one of Yang’s professional colleagues at another university. “She is an expert on natural dye. She gave me technical expertise on the dye and I gave her technical expertise on surface design. Collaborative work with someone at another school is unusual. We use the same inspiration and same techniques, but our two designs are completely different. We don’t force our tastes on the other person. We share each other’s technical expertise.”

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JAMIE BURKE MOORE, ’03 Fluidity Acrylic on canvas “Color, movement, and contrast unite to form an abstracted composition inspired by the Meredith Hues Iris. By cropping and magnifying a cluster of flowers, the focus shifts from the subject itself to the beauty within the details: undulating lines and edges and the interplay of lights and darks.

My passion for color emerges with the use of a heightened color scheme, adding energy and drama to further engage the viewer.”

CONTINUAL, LIFELONG, AND ABIDING Exhibition features artists’ perspectives on the Meredith Hues Iris

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artists who were active in their art community and to have a breadth of media and class years represented.

This was not merely an exhibit about the iris but the artists’ interpretations of the symbol as well as their experiences at Meredith.”

– Lisa Pearce, ’90

By Melyssa Allen

eredith College alumnae artists from the past four decades created work inspired by the iconic Meredith Hues Iris for a spring exhibition in the College’s Weems Gallery.

“Exhibiting artists took creative liberties with the form, symbolism, and conceptual narrative of the iris as it relates to their own work and media of choice,” said Associate Professor of Art Lisa Pearce, ’90, the gallery director.

The idea to hold an exhibition interpreting the Meredith Hues Iris was proposed to

“

It was important to find

Pearce by Janet Conway Rose, ’80, at another alumnae art exhibition, which was held in 2015 in honor of the College’s 125th anniversary. Rose had frequently photographed the Meredith Hues Iris, which was developed and registered in 1968 by Loleta Kenan Powell, ’41.

Pearce, with support from art program alumnae, narrowed down a list of potential artists to feature.

“It was important to find artists who were active in their art community and to have a breadth of media and class years represented,” Pearce said. “This was not merely an exhibit

about the iris but the artists’ interpretations of the symbol as well as their experiences at Meredith. The creativity of the artists was evident in political pieces on women’s issues such as politics, sexuality, and gender norms all the way to interpretations of the iris of the eye and even the mythological goddess Iris of the Rainbow.”

Featured in this issue is a small selection of the work included in the exhibition. Excerpts of artist statements allow the alumnae artists to share what inspired them about the Meredith Hues Iris.

LIBBY O'DANIEL, ’14 Perennial Oil on wood and ACM “I found my voice at Meredith College. The academic knowledge and critical thinking skills I developed as a student created a discerning world view, a healthy sense of agency, and continue to play an active role in my artistic practice. Meredith’s innate sense of honor and duty to improve our world are roots imbedded in my neuropathways; a connected network of strong rhizomes, expanding yearly, bearing perennial opportunities to share new kinds of beauty. Meredith is in every piece of artwork I make; for it was there that I learned how to be a maker of things that could speak on my behalf and to silently unveil the things I was afraid to say.”

SUSY KENNEDY HOLLOWAY, ’10 Seasons and Hues Earthenware “This project is inspired by the correlation between my time at Meredith and the seasons of growth in the plant world. Both personal growth and plant growth has its prescribed seasons, with corresponding rhythm and timing. The cycle of the seasons always brings future growth, and that certainty engenders hope.”

DREW HOOVER, ’03 Petals Acrylic, glass, resin “To me, the distinguishing beauty of the Meredith Hues Iris is the organic, teardrop shape of the petals and the dramatic contrast of deep burgundy tucking into the white tops. This painting is non-representational in form, yet it captures the movement and the lacy edges of the flowers and it is shot through the delicate gold found on the flower’s throat. The glass and resin intensify the colors and gives a three-dimensional aspect that seems wet and fresh.”

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BARBARA MIMNAUGH CHERRY, ’13 Another Shade of Hue Oil painting “The original flower of Meredith was created by one of our very own, Loleta Kenan Powell, ’41. The thought of creating an iris particular to the Meredith alumnae became my goal. The many unique women becoming hybrid with Meredith’s tight-knit, diligent campus creates an environment distinct from others. After leaving the safe haven, the sentiment of the environment leads to a sense of society. Although we are all unique amongst ourselves, we have this similar experience to unite us. I wanted to create a piece that acknowledges these hybrid alumnae and represents them as their own ‘Meredith Hue’.”

JEAN MCLAUGHLIN, ’73 Digital to Analog Commercially printed postcard, digital drawing “I have long loved correspondence art and continue to collect and write postcards. My piece is a nod towards botanical drawing but is certainly not an accurate botanical portrayal of the Meredith Hues Iris. It is my interpretation of this beautiful iris as I draw with my finger on a tablet using the program Procreate.” McLaughlin included a set of cards with her design in the exhibition, encouraging visitors to use them to write notes to friends.

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JACKIE L. PHILLIPS WEATHERLY-CADZOW, ’03 Emergence of New Perceptions Dye of silk “I am a fiber/textile artist. Nature is my source of inspiration. My art depicts my experiences as I journey through life. Meredith College holds a special place in my heart. I see it as a place of opportunity and growth. I first learned of the College when I completed the Legal Assistants (now Paralegal) program in 1995. Then in 1999, after the untimely death of my first husband, I returned to Meredith College. I decided life was too short not to pursue the art degree I really wanted. Fifteen years later, after remarriage, many moves across the country, resignation from the federal government in May 2016, I once again return to Meredith College for growth and opportunity; this time as a full-time artist. While studying art at Meredith, I was introduced to silk painting by Georgia Springer. I chose to paint three Meredith Hues irises from a 2003 photo I took of the iris during my graduation. Each iris stands for a special time at Meredith College. The College remains an important aspect of my life and I couldn’t be more proud and honored to be a Meredith alumna.”

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HOLLY FISCHER, ’99 Unveil Ceramic “Much of my work explores the paradoxes of femininity and the delicate balance between objectification and empowerment. Socially constructed concepts of femininity tend to emphasize traits of beauty, grace, sensitivity, and a nurturing disposition. Historically, many institutions for women taught pupils how to properly embody femininity thus reinforcing and solidifying gender stereotypes.

I am proud that Meredith College has a mission of cultivating strength and challenging women to redefine their sense of self and purpose beyond the confinement of gendered boundaries. In that spirit, my representation of an iris unveils a core of inner strength and self-assurance that is the foundation of true empowerment. None of us should ever have to choose between embodying femininity or masculinity if we can acknowledge the limits of these constructed categories and recognize we all possess multigendered facets and folds.”

APRIL HANSEN, ’16 Homophone Cotton thread, quilting cotton “This work was inspired by the rainbow of colors in the Meredith Hues Iris, primarily. My love of color existed before my time at Meredith, but my education has allowed me to understand much more of how it works in a piece to create a harmonious composition, and push my work in new directions with this understanding. I wanted to examine the entire palette presented in the blossom in a different form of the iris, one more familiar to the art world — that of a camera.”

LISA ELLIS, ’92 Passage Oil Painting “The Greek meaning of the word iris is rainbow. The ancient Greek Goddess Iris, a messenger to the gods, was thought to use the rainbow as a bridge or passage between heaven and earth. The painting Passage explores an abstract transformation of the iris that draws the viewer into a calm and peaceful journey. Painted with the palette knife, it provides an organic shift, creating textures that are not calculated but free and flowing, just as the iris.”

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A POWERFUL partnership

Celebrating Meredith’s strong alumnae connections to technology giant SAS

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

“Our talents lie in building relationships with others.

That’s how we make things happen.”

– Dana Sumner, Director of Career Planning

J

ust 10 minutes from Meredith College sits the global headquarters of SAS Institute, a technology company that’s regularly listed as one of the world’s top places to work.

With benefits that include on-site childcare and health care facilities, a fitness center, and even a hair salon, SAS currently is ranked among the World’s Best Multinational Workplaces, the Best Workplaces for Diversity, and the Best Workplaces for Women.

Indeed, women make up more than 40 percent of SAS’s leadership and nearly half of its entire workforce.

Among them are nearly 70 Meredith alumnae, who are building their careers at the company, which helps organizations solve problems using its analytics platform. According to Jenn Mann, SAS executive vice president and chief human resources officer, there’s good reason Meredith alumnae thrive in the organization.

“Their communication is excellent. They are confident. They just have it together,” said Mann.

Meredith’s strong connections to SAS start at the top. Mann graduated in 1992 with a psychology major. Ann Goodnight, wife of SAS CEO James Goodnight, attended Meredith before graduating from N.C. State University and is the company’s senior director of community relations.

“Ann has been a very good friend to Meredith,” said Meredith President Jo Allen of Goodnight. “... She’s been a great example of a real connector, somebody who understands which women need to be in touch with each other.”

On the ground, Meredith’s career planning office has forged a strong relationship with SAS’s university recruiter, who has been a frequent campus visitor, participating in a variety of events including Meredith’s annual career fair in February.

SAS isn’t the only major Raleigh-area employer with which Meredith leaders have cultivated relationships. They’ve also built career pipelines to Credit Suisse, MetLife Global Technology, and GlaxoSmithKline, among others.

“Our talents lie in building relationships with others,” said Dana Sumner, director of Meredith’s Office of Career Planning. “That’s how we make things happen.”

At SAS, Meredith alumnae took very different paths to get where they are today. Here are some of their stories.

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Jenn Mann, ’92

“

A class in organizational psychology at Meredith helped launch Jenn Mann’s career in human resources. At the time, there was no human resources track at Meredith, so Mann and her academic adviser put together a job shadowing program with a local HR professional. She was hooked.

“The academic adviser was very instrumental in helping me,” Mann said.

“The career counseling department, which is top notch, helped to expose opportunities in the field.”

In 1998, when she took the job at SAS, Mann never intended to stay longer than

The opportunities are endless. You never get bored.”

two years. In fact, it was a step back from the job she’d left at a startup that faced some management challenges. When she left that previous job, she vowed to never again work in a company that didn’t value its employees.

“I knew a little bit about SAS in that regard,” Mann said of its benefits. “It completely exceeded all expectations.”

As a working mother, SAS made it possible for Mann to seamlessly integrate her jobs as mom and professional. “I never felt like I had to make a choice because I could do both,” she said.

And, as a leader, she’s constantly challenged, the opportunities are “endless” and she’s traveled the world. At SAS, said Mann, “You never get bored.”

Sarah Haseeb, ’16

“ Before her junior year began, Sarah Haseeb set her sights on a SAS internship – and got it. For two years, she interned there, learning programming languages,

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I was still learning things, but they would treat me with a lot of respect and care.”

working on projects and, it appears, impressing her supervisors. Six months before her 2016 graduation, SAS offered the computer science and mathematics major a

full-time job.

Today, Haseeb is a senior associate analytics software tester. At SAS, even as an intern, Haseeb said, she has always felt like an equal.

“I was still learning things,” she said, “but they would treat me with a lot of respect and care.”

At Meredith, she developed the confidence and communication skills to speak up about her ideas in the workplace. There, in small class sizes and through her involvement in student groups, she learned how to interact effectively with others.

“It really made me into who I am,” Haseeb said. “I honestly believe, if I had gone anywhere else, I wouldn’t have the same opportunities.”

Cassondra Wilson, ’14 Elizabeth Dove, ’84

“

The company lives up to its public ethos of treating its employees well.”

The first stop in Elizabeth Dove’s retail career was a department store buyer in New York. Eventually, jobs took her to Europe where Dove began helping companies deploy software solutions. “The tech side of the job really fascinated me,” said Dove, a 1984 graduate and history major.

In 2002, SAS called, looking for somebody to help build up its retail practice.

Today, Dove is senior manager of industry consulting at SAS, supporting four business sectors, including retail. After years working in the corporate world, Dove said she still pulls lessons from her Meredith education.

“One of the things that I learned in school, and this was part of my major, is the ability to research a lot of data, refine it, and get it down to the granules of truth,” she said.

With SAS, she’s found a place that encourages her to stretch.

“The company lives up to its public ethos of treating its employees well, providing a very pretty and a very stable work environment so that you’re not worried about the next year’s performance,” she said. “You feel like you can take a risk.”

Cassondra Wilson, a graphic design major, graduated in 2014, but her story at SAS starts 10 years ago. At 16, Wilson began as an intern through Communities in Schools of Wake County, a program that helps students in need. Starting as a library assistant, she stayed on in various roles through college until she decided to focus her studies on art and graphic design.

“I’m really into storytelling, and that is what Meredith really helped me with,” she said. “They helped me find my path of storytelling through photography, through visuals.”

Once she landed on her major,

“

SAS paired her with graphic designers.

Today, she is an associate photographer, snapping headshots and capturing moments at events, working to tell stories through the photos she shoots.

For Wilson, who attended eight different schools during her childhood, SAS is more than just a workplace.

There, she’s found the support to grow – personally and professionally.

“SAS is like family to me,” she said. “This is the only place I have ever worked and the only true stability that I’ve known to this day. … I really don’t know where I would have been without SAS.”

SAS is like family to me. This is the only place I have ever worked and the only true stability that I've known to this day. I really don't know where I would have been without SAS.”

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Meg Deal, ’91

“ After years working long hours as a certified public accountant, Meg Deal was ready for a better quality of life and an opportunity to stretch her international tax skills.

Five years ago, Deal, a 1991 graduate and accounting major, made the leap to SAS.

It just opens doors – having that connection to Meredith.”

As international tax director, Deal now advises SAS’s more than 50 global subsidiaries. She works with employees who travel overseas for long-term assignments. And she supports SAS’s global transfer pricing policy.

She admitted during her interview that

she’d have a learning curve when it came to the complicated work required in transfer pricing. But they gave her a chance to learn.

“They were very supportive of me,” she said. “A lot of the people who come here don’t ever leave, so you have a lot of institutional knowledge.”

And, sometimes she’ll run into another Meredith alumna, including Beverly Carlton, a longtime SAS employee, who was roommates at Meredith with Deal’s mother’s former coworker.

“When they found out I was coming here, she welcomed me,” said Deal, whose mother, Betsy Deal, graduated from Meredith in 1965. “It just opens doors – having that connection to Meredith.”

Ashley Prince, ’00, ’05 (MBA) A year into her administrative job at SAS, Ashley Prince admits that she was “terrible” at it. “A kind soul took me aside,” she said, and recommended moving into sales.

Fast forward about 15 years and Prince, senior manager for inside sales at JMP, a SAS division, is not only working in sales, but leading a sales team.

“I’ve always wanted to be solving really cool business challenges and working with really brilliant people.

That’s what drew me to this place,” said Prince, who graduated from Meredith in 2000 with a business major and 2005

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with an MBA. She credits Meredith with cultivating the skills that propelled her to her position today. “You’re never in a passive role when you’re in a women’s college,” she said. “The leadership skills, they just kind of emerge.”

Meredith’s culture and camaraderie continue after graduation too. Sometimes, she’ll spot another alumna wearing her class ring at SAS. “It’s instant rapport because you have that collection of shared experiences,” she said. “You can relate to them on a really different level.”

You're never in a passive role when you're in a women's college. The leadership skills, they just kind of emerge. ”

BEYOND STRONG The Campaign for Meredith

Katherine Furches Rumley Remembered

K

atherine “Kitty” Furches Rumley, ’43, alumna and devoted supporter of Meredith College, passed away on March 20, 2018, following a brief illness. She was 95.

Rumley and her husband, Leon, gave

generously to the College through the years.

Their daughter Ellen Amanda Rumley, ’77, passed away during her senior year at Meredith as a result of an automobile accident, but their love and support of Meredith continued.

As a memorial to Ellen, family and friends established The Ellen Amanda Rumley Scholarship Fund. It was established as a commitment to higher education for women and a way to assist worthy students who would benefit from financial assistance. The Rumleys and other donors have made additional gifts throughout the years.

In 2015, Meredith was the recipient of a $3 million gift from Kitty Rumley to add to the scholarship fund.

The endowment has resulted in a program of financial assistance providing four scholarships each year with an Ellen Amanda Rumley Memorial Scholar in each class. The scholarship supports students

like Ellen who exemplify integrity, scholarly excellence, and character. Each graduating Rumley Scholar is recognized by the College and receives a Rumley Scholar medallion and certificate.

The Rumleys’ love for their daughter was evident throughout their lives. The College is grateful that they chose to honor their daughter in such a special way at Meredith.

“If it were not for this scholarship, I would not have been able to attend Meredith. Mrs. Rumley’s support is a wonderful tribute to her daughter, Ellen, and her generosity allows me to experience a Meredith education, the bonds of friendship, and a campus experience that is unique to Meredith.”

– Mikayla Whitnie Hoyle, ’20

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BEYOND STRONG The Campaign for Meredith

Celebrating Meredith Donors

O

n March 22, Meredith College celebrated the commitment of our donors at the Thomas Meredith Gala. The event honored the newest members of the Thomas Meredith Society who have supported Meredith at the highest level and have committed $100,000 or more over their lifetimes.

Since launching the Beyond Strong Campaign in 2015, the endowment has grown to more than $100 million. In addition, the campaign has received 26 gifts of $1 million or more compared to three in the last campaign. A thriving annual giving program has also raised more than $2 million annually since the start of the Campaign. To date, Meredith has raised more than $70 million for Beyond Strong.

Leslie Landis Hayes, ’80, chair of the Board of Trustees, was the master of ceremonies for the event. President Jo Allen, ’80, addressed the group thanking the founders of Meredith College including Thomas Meredith.

“

Yes, we thank our founders, but we also thank our sustainers — those of you whose investments in women of all ages promote the value of a college education and especially the value of a Meredith College education.”

– President Jo Allen, ’80

Recipients in the gold, silver, and bronze circles of the Thomas Meredith Society joined a group of more than 200 alumnae and friends who are also part of this Meredith College legacy.

The Gold Circle donors have committed $1,000,000 or more in their lifetime and below we highlight some of their generous gifts.

Jo Ellen Williams Ammons, ’57, and Justus “Jud” Ammons Jo Ellen Williams Ammons served four terms as a member of the Board of Trustees and during that time she established the James G. Faulk First Family Scholarship along with her aunt and sister. In 2015, the Ammons family gave a $3.5 million gift to establish the Jo Ellen Ammons Welcome Center in Johnson Hall reflecting Jo Ellen’s love of Meredith and creating an inviting space for future students.

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Anonymous Donors A $1 million planned gift from an anonymous donor to the Sansepolcro program will support scholarships and maintenance of the Palazzo Alberti, the living and learning space for Meredith students and faculty.

A $1 million gift from an anonymous donor for electrical maintenance enhanced necessary infrastructure and enabled the College to sustain a strong living and working environment for the campus community.

Aramark Corporation Aramark has provided delicious meals to the Meredith campus community and maintained facilities and beautiful grounds since 1996. They have supported multiple major renovations of Belk Dining Hall, the Meredith Golf Tournament, scholarship endowments, the athletic department, and unrestricted giving.

Robert H. Lewis Robert H. Lewis, a former member of the Board of Trustees, and his family gave a harpsichord to the Department of Music in honor of their mother and in 1984 he endowed a scholarship in the Department of Music that created the Lewis Scholars. In 2006, Lewis gifted a Steinway concert grand piano.

Ruby C. McSwain, ’54 Ruby C. McSwain, honorary alumna of the Class of 1954, loved sharing her passion for art, magnolias, and lifelong learning with Meredith. McSwain endowed the Ruby C. and Ernest P. McSwain Art Scholarship and the Ruby C. McSwain Magnolia Collection. The courtyard of the Carlyle Campbell Library is named for McSwain.

Katherine Furches Rumley, ’43, and J. Leon Rumley Katherine “Kitty” Furches Rumley, ’43, and Leon Rumley established The Ellen Amanda Rumley Scholarship Fund in memory of their daughter, who passed away during her senior year at Meredith. In 2015, Meredith was the recipient of a $3 million gift from Kitty Rumley to add to the scholarship fund.

Charles and Sandra Shelton The Sheltons’ first gift in 1987 supported the Home Economics Department, where their daughter Mandy was an interior design major. In 1991, Charlie established the Sandra Graham Shelton Scholarship for Interior Design in honor of his wife, as well as to express his commitment to higher education at Meredith.

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The newest members of the Bronze Circle have made a commitment of $100,000 to $499,999 in their lifetime.

Bonnie Scott Truelove, ’71, and Jerry L. Truelove

Judd Ammons Family

The Blackmon Family on behalf of Ruby C. McSwain, ’54

• Mary-Stuart Parker Alderman, ’71, and Jack Alderman • Barbara Blanchard Allen, ’63, and Bob Allen • Beth C. Barr, ’75, and Frank L. Orthel • Natalie Braswell Broyhill, ’09, and Penn Broyhill • Camille Griffin Camp, ’64, and George Camp • M. Linda Carter, ’82 • Mary B. and Tom Dossenbach • Eugene C. Berryhill

The Childrey Family on behalf of Robert H. Lewis

The Aramark Team

Mandy Houser, ’90, on behalf of Charles and Sandra Shelton

Bonnie Scott Truelove, ’71, and Jerry L. Truelove The Bonnie Scott Truelove Scholarship Endowment was established in 2016.

The scholarship supports students in the Department of Human Environmental Sciences, which includes child development, family and consumer sciences, fashion merchandising and design, and interior design.

• Kellie J. Falk, ’85, and Joseph Patterson • Judith Carroll Gardner, ’67 • Betty Stroud Griffin, ’88 • Paula Lowry Herren, ’66, and Ronald Herren • Hilda Austin Highfill, ’48, and Lawrence Highfill • Vivian Stanley Hughes, ’55, and George Hughes • IME BECAS Mexican Consulate • James E. & Mary Z. Bryan Foundation

Bobbitt Clay Williams, ’57, and Bill Williams A $1 million gift from Bobbitt Clay Williams and her husband Bill Williams of Newport Beach, Calif., supported renovations to Johnson Hall in 2016. In honor of the gift, a suite of offices was named the Bobbitt Clay Williams Executive Suite. The gift commemorated the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary.

• Oscar A. Keller Jr. and Elderlene R. Keller • Ann Carter Kirkland, ’96, and Bill Kirkland, Jr. • Shannon Massey Lowry, ’04, and Jason Lowry, ’14, MBA • Zeno Martin, Jr.

The Silver Circle members have made a lifetime commitment of $500,000 - $999,999. Below are examples of how their gifts have made an impact.

• Elaine Powell McLeod, ’81, and Franklin McLeod

Beth Hines Crews, ’81, has a love of plants and flowers that inspired her to make gifts, both current and planned, to support the grounds of campus.

• Lori Messina Moscato, ’99, and Robert Moscato

Jena Muntz Gallagher, ’85, established the first STEM scholarship endowment with a gift of $500,000 to help deserving undergraduate students in the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.

• Ginger Alexander Neustadt, ’05, and Bill Neustadt

Vicky and Gene Langley, friends of the College and parents of Kathryn Langley Anderson, ’85, established the LeRoy Martin Scholarship in memory of Vicky’s father, a former trustee of Meredith College.

• Vickie Owens Robinson, ’74, and James M. Robinson

Lynn B. Myers, ’65, has established a planned gift to the Class of 1965 Scholarship Fund and has consistently supported The Meredith Fund.

• Judy L. Williams, ’74

• Deborah Stanley McNeill, ’71 • Carol Lancaster Milano, ’79 • Patricia Miller Moore

• Margaret Covington Nelson, ’38

• The Honorable Sarah Parker, ’64 • Mary Jon Gerald Roach, ’56

• Anne Fonville-Sams, ’77 • Sharyn Hemrick West, ’71, ’04, and Harold West

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BEYOND STRONG

Donors Keep Meredith Going Strong

The Campaign for Meredith

Make it Count for Meredith Giving Day Exceeds Goal

O

n February 27, alumnae and friends of the College made it count for Meredith during our annual giving day. We reached our goal by 8 p.m., but the gifts continued until midnight with many donors honoring a strong woman in their life. Thank you for another successful day and for posting inspirational photos showing why you support Meredith.

Betty Simmons, ’61 “I graduated from Meredith in 1961 and my mother Clara Stroud Kinlaw made it possible for my sister, Peggy Lewis, ’63, and me to attend Meredith and we are so grateful.”

Ashley Horn Jacobs, ’10 “To all of the Meredith Mamas that have helped me the last seven weeks and for my daughter Harper, Class of 2040.”

Yvette Brown, ’90 “My sweet daughter just donated her $7 allowance for Giving Day.”

TOTAL RAISED

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“I am part of a legacy of graduates.

My mother graduated in 1936, my aunt in 1935, another aunt in 1938, my sister in 1974, and several cousins. I give because I want to see other women have strong educational experiences. I also give because I really appreciate Dr. Allen and believe she brings a lot of energy to Meredith.” − Suzanne Guthrie Letchworth, ’68

− Jane Kiser Modlin, ’71

$392,811 151% OF THE ORIGINAL GOAL

A STRONG WOMAN

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− Kellie J. Falk, ’85

“Words cannot express what Meredith has meant to me over the years and I know that our giving is the way our school will be able to go strong for other young women.”

318 GIFTS MADE IN HONOR OF Susan Lassiter Lampley, ’73 “I give to honor the members of our Class of ’73! A great, fun-loving gang of very strong women!”

“I give to Meredith because it is a strong women’s college, which we need to maintain. Women are provided leadership opportunities at Meredith and have a voice.”

1,865 NUMBER OF DONORS 134 FIRST-TIME DONORS

Help Meredith Go Beyond Strong There are a number of ways you can support Meredith. Make a gift that addresses the most pressing needs of the College.

Select another, more specific way to make an immediate impact on the College. Or, make a long-term, endowed gift.

Learn other ways to support Meredith by visiting meredith. edu/beyondstrong/make-animpact.

ALUMNAE

CONNECTION Class notes and news for Meredith Alumnae 1957 Marilyn Greene Burris danced in a Fred Astaire Showcase in Greensboro in April 2018. She is still singing and still dancing at age 83! Burris sends her best to all of her former classmates and teachers.

1962 Lena Epps Brooker has written and published a book, Hot Dogs on the Road, an American Indian girl's reflection on growing up brown in a black and white world. Lucinda Howell Glover relocated from her retirement home in Ashe County, N.C., to Carol Woods Retirement Community in Chapel Hill, N.C. Joy Adams Lucas writes that Jo Crowder Dermid hosted her, Nancy Spencer Bartlett, Nancy Evans Dellinger, Betty Hooks Henderson, Emmalee Harris Hughes, Sue Ennis Kearney, and Caroline Vaught McCall in Nashville, Tenn. They explored the city, rode the Pink Party Bus, went backstage at the Grand Ole Opry before attending the show, visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, and tried gourmet delights at several restaurants. It was a perfect introduction to Music City!

1965 Becky Parker Shue writes that along with her husband and another couple, she embarked on a Mississippi River Cruise in May. She has always wanted to do this and spring was a wonderful and beautiful time of the year to be on the river. Diane Drake Truelove was married in February. She is enjoying spending time at Ocean Isle Beach and being with grandchildren who live near Whiteville.

Traveling to bucket list spots are next on the agenda.

1966 Alice Coleman Baker, Louise Stokes Kinken, Betsy Scarborough Pierce, and Candace Welsted

Ramseur spent several days together at the Kinken home near Blowing Rock. They had a great time talking, eating, shopping, and talking. Anne Sparger Goodwin reports that she and her husband pass Meredith's impressive campus often as the joys of their lives live in Raleigh. Those joys are two sons, two darling daughters-in-law, and six perfect grandchildren. Bonnie Eicher Hood and Candace Welsted Ramseur had 40 years to cover when they got together in Charlotte. It was a great visit and a long lunch. Barbara Smith Pearce reports that she is in the process of recovering from surgeries and radiation for breast cancer and has just completed the Cancer Transitions class at Rex. She is experiencing a little fatigue hanging on but is doing well.

1967 (Correction) Joan Elaine Miller moved from Indiana, Pa., to Statesville, N.C. Miller volunteers at both Iredell Memorial Hospital, where she plays for church on the fourth Sunday every month, and at Davis Regional Medical Center, where she plays piano on the Psych/Geriatric Traditions floor each Tuesday, and pianist for the Iredell County Senior Serenaders, who perform weekly at assisted care facilities, churches, and for other requests. Judith Strickland Miller is still living in Greensboro, N.C., and has not moved.

This is correction to a note included in a previous issue of the Meredith Magazine.

1968 It is with great sadness that we let you know that Lynn Dodge, our class agent for 49+ years, passed away on September 12, 2017. After graduation and a Master's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, Lynn returned to Lynchburg, Va., to become the director of the Lynchburg Public Library. She held this position for 39

years until her retirement in 2013. The Lynn Dodge Story Time Room is a permanent reminder of Dodge’s commitment to the children of Lynchburg. She was a supporter of Meredith College giving both time and money. We will miss her. Jennie Gibbs Jones writes that after 47 years she is happily ever after in her little house a block from the water, with cousins galore, and old friends who came back after college. She was sorry to miss this year's reunion. She is a quiet person and doesn't do well with a lot of stimulation, voices talking over each other, go-go-go, but she would think it great if any choose to let her know if and when they might be coming to Beaufort! Nancy Boyd Kipp reports that although she still enjoys working as an occupational therapist, she is inching toward full retirement. She has left the rehab center environment and is now just providing home health therapy on a part-time basis.

That gives her time to hike or snowshoe with friends in the beautiful Colorado mountains as well as play with two very sweet little grandchildren who are nearby.

She and her husband continue to be a mentor couple to a younger families class at their church, and they love sharing life with them. Alma Jo Hall Langston has retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, but her days are filled with wonderful opportunities.

Volunteering at the Levine Senior Center on the Board of Directors and Advisory Council has given her wonderful experiences, especially in the areas of administration, health, and fitness. Sardis Presbyterian keeps she and husband, Warren, busy, serving as elders and deacons, Christian education workers, and Habitat for Humanity volunteers. They both traveled to Kenya for mission projects, and Warren did hurricane renewal on the Gulf Coast. They love visiting their daughter and family in Colorado and son and family, who are busy relocating to Raleigh from Pennsylvania. Their four grandchildren are a real joy to them. During Christmas

Compiled by the Office of Alumnae Relations from November 4, 2017 – March 16, 2018. Information may be edited for space limitations and content restrictions. Submit class notes online at meredith.edu/alumnae, by email at alumnae@meredith.edu, or by phone to the Office of Alumnae Relations at (919) 760-8548. Deadline for the Fall 2018 issue is August 3, 2018. Submissions received after this date will appear in the Spring 2019 issue.

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ALUMNAE

CONNECTION this year, they spent two weeks in Hawaii. What fun with family, enjoying their first trip to the island state.

Traveling in the western states and national parks has added much to their post retirement excursions. She has wonderful memories of her years at Meredith.

After having lived in Chapel Hill for over forty years, Susan Ray Smialowicz is enjoying being near family in Asheville where volunteer and social opportunities abound. Prior to moving to the mountains, she loved her position in children’s services at the Chapel Hill Public Library. Her husband died in 2015 from complications of early onset Alzheimer's. Lynne O'Dell Washington, with her husband Steve, has moved to Palm Desert, Calif., - lots of sun for tennis, golf, and other outdoor activities!

1970

“Molto Bene!”

Meredith Travels to Belgium and the Netherlands April 22 - May 4, 2019 In Italian when you respond, “Molto bene!” to the question, “How are you?” it means that you are doing very well, indeed. Therefore, since our first tour of 2019 will be to Belgium (BE) and the Netherlands (NE) we have christened this the “MOLTO BENE!” tour because we know this customized itinerary will give you an exceptional experience in this fascinating part of Europe.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam immediately immerses visitors in the life, time, and artwork of one of the world’s most compelling and iconic artists. That is why it will be our introduction to the history and culture of the Netherlands when the Meredith Travel Program begins a 13-day tour of Holland and Belgium. In addition, that first evening we will look forward to a gourmet dinner as we cruise through shimmering canals, past rows of quaint, gambrelled houses. We plan to equal those first experiences each day with an itinerary that will take us to the flower auction near Haarlem, to a family farm to learn how cheese is made, to the medieval streets of Bruges in Belgium, to the inside of windmills, and to an outdoor museum of Dutch life, to name just a few stops along the way. It is not a coincidence that the tour is scheduled when tulips should be in full bloom everywhere!

Contact Denise Parker at dpparker@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8051 for more information or to reserve your space.

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Jean Wolf Robb had a nice mini-reunion recently with Suzanne George Palmer and Donna Burgess Lupo.

They came in time to have a nice dinner out at one restaurant and dessert at another in Suffolk, Va. After their visit with Jean, Donna, and Suzanne traveled to Newport News, Va., to meet Jackie Briles Ward for lunch. All of them were home economic majors. Lupo and Palmer attended the 100th anniversary of the home economics department, so they shared about chatting with Dr. Marilyn Stuber. Suzanne George Palmer and Margaret Martin Conley had lunch together in Wilmington and discovered they both wore green dresses to their sons' weddings—Palmer to Cataloochee, N.C., in October and Conley to New York City in November. Jean Robb's younger son, Phillip, was married June 10 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Jackie Briles Ward has moved to Williamsburg, Va. and would love to see anyone from our class who might be visiting!

1971 Anne Luter Bromby, Bonnie Scott Truelove, Sharyn Hembrick West, Boyd King Dimmock, Jane Kiser Modlin, Olivia Harris Fleming, Marilyn Ballard Gardner, Lavinia Vann Evans, and Anne Bryan had a delightful evening hosting a January dinner with the executive board of our Golden Sisters of Meredith, members of the Class of 2021.We heard about their first semester at Meredith, shared stories, and sang our great class song for them. They are a delightful group of young women. Anne Bryan was quite busy this spring helping her daughter plan for a May wedding. Boyd King Dimmock led a group of 15 volunteers from her church to travel to South Africa on a mission with Door of Hope, a faith based charity saving abandoned babies. She had the opportunity to visit a baby nursery and spent time in the Village of Hope, a planned community for orphans who outgrow

[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

ALICIA HYLTON-DANIEL, ’08 Building on Success in Design Field

By Miranda Daughtry, ’18 While working in litigation for a law firm in 2002, Alicia Hylton-Daniel, ’08, experienced a house fire, caused by a faulty fireplace. That challenging experience inspired her journey to return to college and pursue a second degree in interior design.

“I wanted to know as much as [the insurance company] knew, but I also liked design,” said Hylton-Daniel. “I researched what skills I had and what my passion was, and it landed on interior design.”

Hylton-Daniel graduated from Meredith College in 2008 with a B.A. in interior design. Since then, she has earned a general contractors license, making her one of the few licensed women general contractors in Durham.

She gained years of experience working as an interior designer at HagerSmith Design and a project manager at MHAworks. Now, Hylton-Daniel uses both talents in her new venture of business ownership. In the summer of 2017, she started Hylton-Daniel Design + Construction, and seems to be breaking into her new job title well.

“I get to be my own boss and wear many hats,” said Hylton-Daniel. “I like that I have control over the kind of work I’m taking, and I get to pick the projects I really want to work on.” Most of her projects consist of building or renovating homes and restaurants, including a project that she is working on with HGTV. On an average day, she can be found buzzing to and from job sites to manage projects, studying floor plans, gathering supplies from hardware stores, meeting with clients, visiting vendors, troubleshooting problems, and handling any other issues that light up her phone.

Although Hylton-Daniel now has more control over her career, she admits that running her business has its challenges. “As a designer it’s conveying the services of interior designers. We’re more than decorators, we’re the interior architects,” said Hylton-Daniel. “For general contracting, [it’s challenging] being a woman contractor around mostly men, but it makes me stronger.”

Hylton-Daniel credits Meredith with helping her find her passion. “Meredith was supportive of me being a mother, and the professors were so friendly and approachable. The classes were very practical, and the internship programs were really valuable.”

Hylton-Daniel has been on the cover of Durham Magazine and has had several of her spaces featured in publications like The News & Observer and Architects + Artisans.

the baby facilities. Her team was able to lay out the foundations for three foster homes and also molded 1,100 concrete building blocks for the project. The week ended with a day of relaxation, featuring a safari in the Lion Park near Johannesburg and a visit with lion cubs there. Dimmock had such a positive experience that she is thinking of going again next year. Helen Wilkie is back in Burke County, living on her family’s homeplace. She is a very active person, working full time at the Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute. Wilkie does educational research in areas such as families of children with disabilities, transformational leadership, and technical assistance. Her English skills come into play with her grant applications and research reports.

She also serves in many capacities in her church.

Especially busy is her Fellowship Hall Committee, as they are breaking ground soon on a new fellowship hall. And in her spare time, Wilkie tutors English composition and reading in the Academic Success Center at Western Piedmont Community College.

1972

After almost 40 years of college teaching in numerous universities, Sandra Clemmons McClain Buller retired in May from Florida Atlantic University, where she was a member of the voice faculty and coordinator of graduate studies in music for the last 12 years. She and her husband, Jeff, have bought a home in Raleigh in Brier Creek, where they will be living part time during the coming year and moving permanently when Jeff retires in 2019. Being closer to family and to Meredith friends will be a treat. Buller will continue to teach voice from her home studio in Raleigh once they have relocated.

1973 Sara Kellam Barron and her husband recognized that employment is a major challenge for adults on the spectrum and developed an innovative model for tackling that challenge. Drawing on their business expertise and passion as parents, they assembled a board of likeminded individuals and founded a nonprofit, Ventures ATL, to address the unemployment gap within the autism community.

1974

Alice Winecoff Clayton and the class of 1974 joins the Meredith community in celebrating the new Lowery Family Fitness Center, which was unveiled in the Weatherspoon Athletic Center in August 2017. A $1 million gift from Ann Lowery named the new fitness center in honor of her parents, Herman and Ruth Lowery. Linda Thompson Fairchild has retired after 41 years at Xerox and will be relocating to her original S ummer 2018 | M E R E D IT H M A G A Z I N E

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CONNECTION home of Charleston, S.C., in late summer 2018. In a recent active committee meeting of very productive women, Karen Youngblood Padgett noted that half the women present at the meeting were wearing the "Meredith Onyx." The group included several decades of Meredith graduates, all of whom are both leaders as well as servants in their church and community. If this is true in one church in one city, just think of the impact 22,000 Meredith alumnae are having all over the country and all over the world. Padgett felt proud to be counted among them.

1977

Kathryn Christian Bender is continuing to split her time between Charleston, S.C., and Boston, Mass., so that she can consult for colleges and universities as well as spend time with her four grandsons. Life is good, and she is very grateful.

1980 Anne Cherry Price writes that she is blessed that her family is growing. Her daughter was married in 2014, and Price became a first-time grandmother upon the birth of a grandson in February 2017. Her son was married in April 2018. Molly Ferrell Twine writes that her son married Taylor Meredith Wilson, ’13, in November 2017. She was excited to have a Meredith angel join her family.

1981 Tudy Moncure moved to Annapolis, Md., to be close to her first granddaughter and family and is

now working at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Courtney Atkins Swanson finds it hard to believe that she is beginning her 30th year as a middle school counselor. Her most exciting news is that her son is being commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army and will be stationed in the special forces at Fort Bragg, N.C.

1982 Elizabeth "Betsy" Dawkins Ripley earned her medical degree at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, where she remains on faculty. She has been named a 2017-18 fellow in the Executive Leadership Program for Women in Academic Medicine. Betsy Roach Switzer and Khaki Parks shared an incredible pilgrimage adventure to the Holy Land in February. Parks’ son joined them on the journey as they visited both holy and historic sites in Israel and Jordan. After 20 years in Georgia, Mimi Santos Westbrook and her husband have moved to the east coast of Florida, about 25 miles south of Kennedy Space Center and Port Canaveral. Westbrook has left the classroom but is still using the skills she taught in high school English classes, writing and editing for the tech company Rafflecopter, in Boulder, Colorado. Her son owns the company, so her affiliation is a unique opportunity offering her many advantages including working from home or while sitting on the beach! She loves the connection it gives her to her son, and she loves having even more reasons to visit him in Colorado. If any Meredith sisters are ever in the area - leaving on a cruise, visiting Disney, or hanging at the

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beach - please let her know so you can get together.

1984 Elizabeth Ann Fordham Mebane was named the Middle School Teacher of the Year for Guilford County Schools. She teaches Math 8 and Math I at Eastern Guilford Middle School. Mary Elizabeth Weathers retired from the State of North Carolina with 33 and a half years of service on March 1, 2018. She is ready for her third act, which will likely be at Atlantic Beach. Elizabeth "Liza" Walters Weidle started a new position in February at Curtis Media Group as director of career development. This position taps into Weidle’s years of experience recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteers to key leadership positions in nonprofits across the Triangle as well as nationally through PTA and Mom Congress.

1986 Sandra Critzer Close's grandson finished law school at New York University and is living and working in Manhattan. He loves living there and he loves his job. Close is still supporting Meredith in all of the great things happening on campus, and hopes her entire class is doing the same! Lisa Robie Poole has moved her bookstore, Quail Ridge Books, to North Hills in Midtown Raleigh.

1989

Donna Fowler-Marchant recently returned from a 10-week sabbatical in England and Scotland.

During her time there, she conducted research

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 • 3:30 P.M.

Cornhuskin’ PARADE 3 ALUMNAE PICNIC 3 CLASS COMPETITIONS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 • 10 A.M. STATE OF THE

COLLEGE

PRESIDENT JO ALLEN, '80

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on various members of the Wesley family, read scripture at a communion service at the New Room in Bristol, the first Methodist chapel in the world, and preached in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis at a Scottish Episcopal church. Additionally, she writes her blog travelswithwesley.blogspot.com.

1991

Jenny Hoeppner Lang writes after departing North Carolina on their 48-foot sailing catamaran in 2012, her family is completing a six-year journey that took them across the Pacific to New Zealand and back.

They spent nine months on the Caribbean side of Panama while she recovered from shoulder surgery.

In April, they began the final leg of their return through the Bahamas and back to N.C., where they will settle is a big unknown, as they need to find their new niche in life as landlubbers again! Their 17-year-old daughter will be entering college this fall, and their 15-year-old son will most likely continue homeschooling for the remainder of high school. Alesha Still McCauley is celebrating 11 years as ESL Senior Administrator for the Wake County Public School System and finishing 27 years in education as of August 2018.

1992 Jessica Barbee Bryan is embracing the next chapter of her journey with a new career path. A life-long healer and Reiki Master since 2010, she trained in 2016 in Russian Medical Massage at the American European Massage School. She obtained her North Carolina license in massage and bodywork therapy March 2017 and recently opened ETC Bodywork, providing intuitive and compassionate massage, energy, and bodywork in multiple locations for the Triangle.

1993 Katharine Vail LeHew accepted a new position as executive director of hospitals and health systems of LabCorp. Holland Coward Muscio and her company Balloonacy & Flowers by Holland were awarded an Allie Award for Best Non-Floral Design. The Allie Awards celebrate excellence in the Atlanta special event community. Muscio and her husband, Sean, have been designing events in Atlanta and the Southeast for over 14 years. Karen Nipper North is teaching “Help Table Elections Officials” for the Wake County Board of Elections. She is in her 18th year as a precinct official and is now the chief judge of one of Wake County's Precincts. Amanda Mackie Rambo writes that she thoroughly enjoyed teaching second and fifth grades at Youngsville Elementary and second grade at Estes Hills Elementary in Chapel Hill, where she incorporated a lot

Highlands and Islands ... and Castles and Cities, Too! Tour of Scotland, September 20 - October 1, 2019 Writer Elizabeth Stuart describes autumn in Scotland as “a glorious riot of color blazing red across the moors and gleaming every shade of gold in the forests of sheltered glens ... achingly beautiful images ... painted again and again across the hills.” If you frame that image in tartan in your imagination and play bagpipe music in the background, we believe that will be a worthy introduction to our irresistible September 2019 Meredith Travel tour of Scotland.

The title, “Highlands and Islands ... and Castles and Cities, Too,” gives you a taste of the variety that will be included in this tour. While we will start and end in lively Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, once voted the friendliest city in the world, we will also spend time in stately Edinburgh, the country’s elegant capital. In between, we will visit the spectacular Isles of Mull and Skye and traverse the stunning lochs and glens of the highlands. There will be ancient 12th century abbeys, houses of the famous − like Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford in the Borders − and not one, but three castles (Eilean, Stirling and Doune), plus a day trip from Edinburgh to St. Andrews. And every day there will be lovely food including traditional pub grub and local seafood, and, of course, at least one round of “haggis, neeps, and tatties.”

Meredith tours are limited to 26 guests. Contact Denise Parker at

dpparker@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8051 for more information or to reserve your space.

meredith.edu/alumnae

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CONNECTION of dance into her curriculum. She also taught preschool for a couple of summers in the UNC Hospital where the students taught her so much about perseverance in the midst of sickness. She married Richard "Sean" Rambo on May 18, 1996. Together they moved to Dallas and Atlanta before settling back at Heritage in Wake Forest, N.C., ten years ago. This summer they moved over to Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, N.C. Rambo has two sons, Coleman and Austin. She is homeschooling Austin in economics/government, psychology, algebra II, Swedish, chemistry, and American literature II this year. They are members of the Wake County Lighthouse Homeschool Association, which is a wonderful resource for anyone who may be thinking about homeschooling.

She has been a Cub Scout volunteer, Heritage events' coordinator, Reflections' art chair, and helped start Club 4/5 at Wake Forest United Methodist Church. It has been quite an adventure these last 25 years! Her mother, Carole Evans Dubber, celebrated her 50th Meredith reunion the same weekend that the Class of 1993 celebrated our 25th.

1997

Kay Kimbrell Davis has joined Edge Office, a commercial interiors company, in client development.

Dee Dee Porter Magette recently obtained her RN license and completed the OR Fellowship at the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Va., where she worked for a full year as a member of the hospital's pediatric surgery team. She is now teaching future nurses as they start their pursuits at Franklin High School in Franklin, Va.

1998

Lisa Suther Johnson was promoted to district K-5 math curriculum specialist for Cumberland County Schools. She works in the curriculum and instruction department at Cumberland County Central Services.

1999 Chatham Fralix Kildosher has welcomed a son, Andrew. There to celebrate his birth were grandmother, Claire Sullivan Slaughter, ’72; aunts, Jane Langford, ’06, and Alison Langford, ’09 ; and great-aunts, Ayn Sullivan Cole, ’70, and Louise Sullivan Peters, ’74.

2000 Alicia Lanier Jones has joined Nashville-based Iconic Entertainment Group, where she will serve as the day-to-day manager for Kelsea Ballerini, a rising country music star. Jones previously managed the day-to-day career of Montgomery Gentry for nearly 10 years. Danielle Letourneau-Therrien is now the vice president of client service at 3BL Media.

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[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

ELLEN GRANTHAM, ’96 Community-Focused CFO Pays it Forward

By Christiana Parker, ’18 With more than 15 years of comprehensive business and financial services experience, Ellen Grantham, ’96, is well aware of the challenges of being a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She aims to avoid being a “CF-no,” trying her best to say “not yet” or “yes” and ensuring that when she does say no, it is followed by an explanation.

As CFO of K4Connect, a Raleigh-based mission-centered technology company that works to improve the lives of older adults and those living with disabilities, Grantham strives to be an asset to all members of her company, keeping in mind that a startup is not for those who are unable to take risks.

“No day is the same at a startup company,” said Grantham. “I spend most of my time negotiating with vendors, creating forecasts, creating new accounting and HR policies, and providing guidance for customer agreements.”

She enjoys working for a company with a strong mission and a desire to do good in the world. “It inspires me to do my best work every day in order to make the company successful by helping older adults live simpler, healthier, and happier lives,” said Grantham.

Her responsibilities include creating a financial roadmap for the company to follow and then subsequently align around. “I believe in the mantra of ‘what gets measured, gets done.’ We measure our progress in financial and non-financial metrics that I create and maintain,” said Grantham.

Grantham says it’s hard to imagine what comes next now that she has reached a C-suite position. “My challenge to myself for the next five years is to ensure more women in my company are in leadership roles. I can do this through our HR policies and also through mentorship of our women leaders.”

Her desire to help other women succeed has led Grantham to return to Meredith as a mock interview facilitator, where she is able to mentor young women and encourage them in their career pursuits.

Grantham describes herself as a lifelong learner. “I enjoy learning new things and I’m always open to learning from and teaching those who work for me.”

Grantham was named CFO of the Year in 2016 by Triangle Business Journal when she was CFO of WebAssign.

This eagerness to learn helped her grow into a confident person during her time at Meredith. As a high school student, Grantham describes herself as someone who was more introspective than outgoing. But Meredith helped her find her own voice.

“I felt like I could be me. Meredith allowed me to grow as a person and believe that I could be anything I chose to be.”

2001 Kimberly Clendenen Franklin is now director of trade marketing strategy & brand activation for the consumer & commercial solutions division of Newell Brands. Kelley Davidson Johnson is now serving as principal/lead learner at the Innovation Academy at South Campus in Smithfield, N.C. A new school in the Johnston County Public Schools, it is built on relationships, relevance, and innovation, offering personalized learning paths and collaborative, projectbased learning experiences for middle school students.

Melissa “Missy” Neff has returned to McGuireWoods Consulting as senior vice president for MWC Advocacy.

2003 Hunter Eddins Gentel became a board certified specialist in workers compensation and began a new position at Ricci Law Firm as an associate attorney.

Sejal Vinod Patel recently left the practice of law to take a vice president position in Bank of America's Enterprise Stress Testing group.

2005 Amanda Strawbridge Richardson was promoted to senior product development manager in October 2017 at Genworth Mortgage Insurance in Raleigh, N.C. Leslie van den Berg plans to repatriate to the United States this summer after living and teaching in Asia for

the last eight years. She will begin her new adventures in either North Carolina or Virginia. Either way, she is looking forward to being closer to family and friends and reconnecting with the Meredith community.

2011 Julia Houtchings is now playground supervisor at the Burbank campus of the Lycée International de Los Angeles, a French and English dual-instruction private school. Kathy Hughes Langfield has changed her career to follow her passion. She is now the volunteer engagement director for Special Olympics North Carolina. In her new role she oversees recruitment of 4,000 event volunteers as well as recruiting new volunteers to continue to serve 40,000 athletes statewide.

2013 Taylor Wilson Twine is now assistant director of alumnae relations at Meredith College.

2014 Jennell Little was named Teacher of the Year for Alston Ridge Elementary School in Wake County.

MARRIAGES 1965 Diane Drake Truelove to Kenneth Poole, 2/10/18.

1990 Tammy Holder to John Bolgrien, 1/6/18.

1993 Dawn Wilson Smith to Tony Summerlin, 3/14/17.

2003 C. Gail Morgan to Deanna Morgan, 3/3/17.

2005 Nephitearya Bailey to Teresa Nichols, 9/30/17.

Sarah Gransee to Tye Anderson, 1/26/18.

2009 Samantha Price to John Chiles, 9/4/17.

2010 Leah Meghan Grady to William Webster, 12/2/17.

Katherine Anderson to Edward Murphy IV, 12/9/17.

2011 Alexandria Freeman to Neil Delap, 9/30/17.

2012 Hannah Massey to Michael Sabetti, 9/16/17.

Allison Meares to Joseph Colquitt, 4/1/17. Casey Heath to Philip Necci, 10/28/17.

2013 Taylor Wilson to Taylor Twine, 11/11/17.

2014 Caitlin Davis to Ryan King, 11/27/17. Caitlyn

Make plans to join us for the annual trip to the Big Apple.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps with fellow alumnae and friends!

The annual alumnae trip to New York City is scheduled for Friday, November 16 – Sunday, November 18, 2018.

This fun-filled weekend getaway includes airfare from RDU, transfer service, accommodations at The Muse Hotel, a reception for travelers and area alumnae, as well as theatre and museum tickets.

Arrangements are available for those wishing to make separate flights as well as those who prefer an earlier or later arrival.

For pricing or additional information, please contact Hilary Allen, ’01, at allenh@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8751.

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[ALUMNAE GOING STRONG]

JUDY YATES SIKER, ’73 A Teacher’s Journey All the Way Home

By Donna Bahena, ’18 As a freshman at Meredith College, Judy Yates Siker, ’73, knew one thing for certain: she wanted to be a teacher. An elementary school teacher, to be exact.

So, she was surprised to learn that as an aspiring teacher, she was required to select a major to pair with an elementary education teaching licensure through the education program at Meredith. Her search for a major didn’t last long. In fact, it ended the moment she entered her first religious studies course.

“I fell in love with religious studies,” said Siker. “As a woman of faith who is always searching and exploring, I found the permission and invitation to explore questions I had been pondering for years.”

Having completed the teacher education program, Siker went on to fulfill her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. However, she wanted to bring her love of teaching and religion together, so she pursued an M.Div. from Southeastern Theological Seminary and an M.A. and Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Siker taught at multiple institutions, including Meredith, UNC-Chapel Hill, Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and at the Graduate Theological Union in California. She also taught at Loyola Chicago Rome Center in Italy. Her teaching included classes in the field of New Testament and Christian Origins and in Biblical Languages.

“For me there is no greater career than that of teaching,” said Siker. “It is a privilege and a responsibility to be present with people who are trying on, trying out, and discovering new ideas.”

Siker wanted to bring her scholarly knowledge to her fellow Christians, so she published Who Is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes, which was written for the purpose of being the national 2016-17 Bible Study book for the Presbyterian Church. As an ordained minister, she teaches, preaches, and leads spiritual retreats across the country.

This past spring, after a long career in education and religion, Siker retired from her position at LMU and returned to Raleigh, N.C., where she plans to continue pursuing her passion in life within her local community.

“I hope to be teaching and preaching wherever I am able,” said Siker. “I would love to teach another course at Meredith, giving back to the place that encouraged [me] from day one to think for myself, to ask the hard questions, and to explore areas of study that I didn’t know existed before.”

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DeBona to Jerry Holland III, 1/21/17. Paige McCabe to Justin Blalock, 6/3/17. Taylor Jones to Grant McGlothlin, 7/18/15. Lacy Pfeiffer to Benjamin Uthe, 3/24/18. Rosanna "Rose" Lynne Turchi to John Mark Bowman, 6/4/17.

2015 Sara Rosa Owens to Dixon Crews, 12/16/17.

2016 Leslie Bunch to Jason Jefferson, 1/13/18. AshleyRosetta Hall to Brady Gardiner, 10/7/16. Shelli Warren to David Fussell, 1/20/18.

NEW ARRIVALS 1976 Deborah Ferguson Moore, a granddaughter, Gracelyn Rose, 11/15/17.

1981 Helena Frances Flannagan, a granddaughter, Moira Alene Thompson, 7/25/17.

1993 Dawn Wilson Summerlin, a son, Shepherd Thomas, 10/6/17.

1999 Chatham Fralix Kildosher, a son, Andrew Sebastian, 2/24/18. Melinda Spencer Wallace, twins, Finnegan Wiley and Emery Brynn, 11/27/17.

2002 Lisa Tran Hicks, a son, Maxwell Edward, 9/9/17.

Kelly Mutzabaugh Williams, a daughter, Emerson Joyce, 10/6/17.

2004 Kelly Rhodes Adams, a son, Clyde Simpson Adams, IV ("Cort"), 9/20/17.

2005 Sarah Wilson Collins, a daughter, Martha Walker, 11/22/17. Amanda Strawbridge Richardson, a daughter, Avett Cathleen, 8/1/16. Mandi Troutman Whitley, a son, Alton Clinton "Clint" Whitley, IV, 10/2/17.

2006 Meredith Rhea Strub Gray, a daughter, Alexis Ruth, 8/27/17. Heidi Damasiewicz Loveall, a daughter, Elizabeth Grace, 6/6/17. Christina Adkins Steel, a son, Jeremiah Daniel, 8/11/17.

2007 Kimberly Moore Williams, a daughter, Gracelyn Rose, 11/15/17.

2008 Emily Hedrick Towery, a son, Parker Adam, 5/28/17.

2009 Sarah Elizabeth Durst, a daughter, Esme Elizabeth, 9/29/17. Courtney Meyer Plaisted, a son, Russell James, 2/3/18.

2010 Rachel Denise Bockner, a daughter, Jaimee Ryan Etheridge, 12/20/17. Sarah Goforth Edwards, a daughter, Laura Ann, 9/22/17.

2011 Halie Sue Smith Clifton, a son, William Grey, 8/25/17.

2012 Mary Katheryn Howard Bryant, a daughter, Madison Annette, 5/23/17. Ai-Vy Thi Riniker, a daughter, Evelyn Hahn, 1/19/18.

2013 Stephanie Roseman Smith, a son, Carter Williams, 10/5/17.

DEATHS 1937 Ruth Nowell Aspden, 9/14/17.

1939

1962 Victoria Glenn Weathers, 8/11/17.

1970 Dr. Ann Davis Matheny, 11/4/17.

1972 Lee Simrell Broughton, 02/02/18. Holly Schertz Fussell, 8/23/17.

1977 Jean Farnsworth Cooper, 12/12/17.

1989 Joan Bedard, 02/09/18.

SYMPATHY 1951 Rebecca Knott McKinley in the death of her sister.

1956 Mary Jon Gerald Roach in the death of her sisterin-law.

1962 Ida Carol Senter Wilson in the death of her husband.

1963

Annie Ruth Bruton Johnson, 1/24/18. Elizabeth Howell Ussery, 11/25/17.

Jean Hege Durham in the death of her husband.

1940

1964

Margaret Williams Glazener, 11/2/17. Minetta Bartlett Newbold, 02/11/18.

Penelope Senter Bethune in the death of her brother-in-law.

1945

1965 Ann Beard Buffaloe in the death of her brother.

Martha "Marty" Tharrington Jeffreys Carr, 2/19/18.

1947

1967 Fran Senter Kear in the death of her brother-in-law.

Carol Bray Bailey, 12/21/17.

1971

1948

Gail Bartholomew Kiker in the death of her husband.

Mary Frances Keene Remsburg, 1/17/18.

1974

1953

Jane Lee Cooke in the death of her mother.

Juanita Ipock Smith, 1/23/18.

1975

1954

Susan Senter Worrell in the death of her brotherin-law.

Celia Townsend Wells, 1/22/18.

1955 Margaret Ingram Bailey, 01/25/18.

1959 Mary Anne Manning, 2/11/18. Beverly Scott Rodgers, 11/10/17. Jeanne Bryan Webb, 9/20/17.

1961 Elizabeth Long Allen, 9/12/17. Anne Britton Ammerman, 10/25/17.

1980 Nancy Smith Almarode in the death of her mother.

Danette Gordon Rutherford in the death of her mother.

1981 Susan Taylor Davis in the death of her husband.

1982 Margaret McGaughey Wells in the death of her father.

1983 Pamela Dickens in the death of her father.

1984 Cindy Moss Mistretta in the death of her mother.

1986 Anna Goodwin Collins in the death of her mother.

Melanie Draughon Strickland in the death of her father.

1987 Donna Wilson Thagard in the death of her father.

Melanie Herring in the death of her father.

1990 Katie Reid Reeves in the death of her husband.

1993 Karen Nipper North in the death of her brother-in-law.

2003 Lauren Strawbridge Cookson in the death of her husband. Tracy Harward Jones in the death of her grandmother-in-law.

2004 Millee Hodges Pruitt in the death of her grandmother.

2014 Alethia "Ali" Chappell DeHay in the death of her father.

2016 Erin Elizabeth Davis in the death of her father.

1976 Laura Boone Bromhal in the death of her husband.

Cindy Lee Jones in the death of her mother.

1978 Betsy Lee Hodges in the death of her mother. Mary Nell Jenke in the death of her mother.

1979 Pandora Dunn Holloway in the death of her father.

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Alumnae Awards Presented During Reunion Weekend

By Emily Parker Left to right: Jenny Miller Tolson, '78, Laurie Dodge Hibbert, '72, accepting the award in memory of her sister Lynn Dodge, '68, Christina Cole Spears, '13, President Jo Allen, '80, Phyllis Trible, '54, Judy Woodruff, '68, Nancy Williams Cheek, '63, and David Cheek.

women in theology, and leader in the textbased exploration of women and gender in scripture.

Trible served the Wake Forest University School of Divinity as an associate dean and professor of biblical studies, and as a university professor from 2002-12. Trible, who has held 14 visiting professorships, has lectured abroad at numerous colleges, universities, seminars, and international gatherings. She has lectured at more than 400 academic institutions in the U.S. She has written seven books and 74 articles for publications. In 2007, she was the inaugural recipient of Meredith’s Woman of Achievement award.

Nancy Williams Cheek, ’63, and the Williams Family

T

he Meredith Alumnae Association and the Office of Institutional Advancement presented the 2018 alumnae and philanthropy awards on May 19 during Alumnae Reunion Weekend

Judy Woodruff, ’68 Distinguished Alumna Award For three decades Americans have watched Judy Woodruff, ’68, on television interviewing world leaders, politicians, and influencers. Highlights of her journalism career include serving as White House correspondent for NBC News and PBS, CNN’s Inside Politics and CNN WorldView host, and anchor/managing editor of the NewsHour on PBS. Woodruff is the honorary co-chair for Beyond Strong | The Campaign for Meredith, after having served on the Campaign Planning Committee. She supports the Judy Woodruff Scholarship Endowment Fund and a planned gift, the Judy Woodruff Travel Endowment, to provide study abroad scholarships.

Christina Cole Spears, ’13 Recent Graduate Award Christina Cole Spears, ’13, ’14 (MAT), embodies what Going Strong means. Spears has worked at Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School, Panther Creek High School, and as a special education teacher at Apex Friendship High School. This year, she co-taught a

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Meredith Philanthropy Award Meredith education course. She was recently named special assistant to the Wake County Public Schools assistant superintendent for equity affairs.

She has served on the Young Alumnae Board and the Alumnae Association Board of Directors, and is her class’ event agent. She is an active participant in alumnae programs and is a member of the Onyx and Ivy Societies.

Lynn Dodge, ’68 Career Achievement Award Lynn Dodge, ’68, was a committed supporter of Meredith, serving as the Class of 1968’s permanent president through many reunions. Dodge was actively planning the 50th reunion for the Class of 1968 when she passed away in September 2017.

Dodge served her hometown of Lynchburg, Va., for 39 years as the director of Lynchburg Public Library, drafting the library’s master plan, overseeing its move, launching an outreach program to deliver books to the young and elderly, and helping establish the Center for Human Rights within the library.

The library’s Lynn Dodge Story Time Room is a permanent tribute to her service.

Phyllis Trible, ’54 Career Achievement Award Phyllis Trible, ’54, is an internationally known biblical scholar, rhetorical critic, advocate for

Nancy Cheek, ’63, had parents who believed that one should give back in gratitude for what has been given to them. Her mother, Vida Williams, ’37, attended Meredith and her father, Fred, served numerous terms as a Meredith Trustee. He was an avid fundraiser and friend-raiser for the College. To honor his wife, he established the Vida Thompson Williams Scholarship.

Cheek taught elementary school for 28 years. She has served numerous terms on the Board of Trustees, including as chair. She has continued to support the scholarship in her mother’s honor, and in 2014 she established the Williams Cheek Faculty Development Fund.

Jenny Lynn Miller Tolson, ’78 Reunion Philanthropy Award Jenny Lynn Miller Tolson, ’78, has an appreciation for and loyalty to Meredith College for the nurturing environment it provided her.

Her respect for the College led her to establish a planned gift that will ensure students continue to go strong.

Tolson retired six years ago, after a 33-year career in special education near Charlotte, N.C. Her career gave her great enjoyment knowing she was positively affecting the lives of people, and now her planned gift to The Meredith Fund Endowment will do the same for Meredith students.

BEYOND STRONG The Campaign for Meredith

SHOW A STUDENT WHAT

STRONG LOOKS LIKE. Did you have a career mentor when you were a student? Was there someone in your field of study with whom you could have meaningful conversations about career choices, networking, or job shadowing?

Later this year, the Alumnae Association will start an Alumnae Mentoring Program. We hope you will be a part of this new initiative. The goal is to match alumnae with current students based on their major, career interests, location, and more.

Having stronger women in the workforce is an advantage for everyone in our communities. Students who gain career advice from strong alumnae like you will show Meredith is going strong.

Once launched, our mentoring program will include panels, webinars, and events for alumnae and students.

Contact Hilary Allen, ’01, at allenh@meredith.edu or (919) 760-8751 to stay connected to this new initiative and learn more.

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FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT EASIER. We all know the importance of a college education. But conducting an effective college search has become increasingly complicated. There’s a seemingly unending list of questions to be answered: How do I navigate financial aid? What academic programs are most important? How will I know when I have found the right school? Is a small college or a big university better?

That’s why we created a new resource: an Admissions Blog with a wealth of information from Meredith experts to help students and their families find the right school.

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