Q&A with Jalynne Tobias Redman '72

President, Alumnae Association

Jalynne Tobias Redman ’72 has been active with the Alumnae Association for more than 20 years, serving as her class secretary and on the Alumnae Council. She was named president of the Alumnae Association in summer 2021.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR TENURE AS PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION?

Santa Catalina is a very special place. As president, I hope to expand the Alumnae Council’s role as a key participant in and supporter of the school’s 2020 Strategic Plan. Additionally, I would like to enhance the involvement of all alumnae, bringing new energy and opportunities of value to each and every Association member. Our Alumnae Association is global, with a network of nearly 5,000 amazing women worldwide. This network, by its very definition, allows each of us to reach out, connect, and support one other. I see the Council as having a pivotal role in this process, particularly through its efforts to augment community engagement and volunteerism. I look forward to working closely with our school community and my fellow Council members, in a collaborative manner, where we can truly endeavor to maintain our traditions while enhancing our future.

WHAT ORIGINALLY MOTIVATED YOU TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION?

I thoroughly enjoyed my high school years at Santa Catalina. Upon graduation, I entered the University of California at Davis, a great school, but truthfully, a large and impersonal environment. That experience made me value the close friendships and sense of supportive community I had at Santa Catalina. I felt my Catalina experience was a wonderful gift, and my volunteer work has allowed me to not only express my gratitude, but enabled me to support the traditions and community that I cherish.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INTERESTING OR REWARDING EXPERIENCE AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION?

There have been so many that it is difficult to say one stands out. I served as secretary for the Class of 1972 for more than 20 years and that was a perfect way to stay in touch with my fellow classmates. I have been on the Alumnae Council since 2014 and find it a marvelous opportunity to be a part of school life today. However, in looking back, it was my participation in Envision 2000 and my involvement with the creation of our Legacy book that remains particularly memorable.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ALUMNAE TO KNOW ABOUT THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION?

We are a group of nearly 5,000 women who share a common bond through our Catalina experience. The Santa Catalina Alumnae Association in my mind is principally a service organization. We are there to support the school, its mission, our fellow alumnae, students, and staff. As one Council member stated, “We are there to help.” However, above all, the Association is a resource.

WHAT DO YOU WANT CURRENT STUDENTS TO KNOW ABOUT BEING AN ALUMNA OF SANTA CATALINA?

Santa Catalina is unique in that when you graduate, in many ways, you really do not leave. You take with you the exemplary education, the moral values, the traditions of veritas and all that Santa Catalina offers. This bond is lifelong and gifts you with a network of incredible women who epitomize the spirit of the school. Santa Catalina, in my mind, remains a bastion of all that is remarkable about an education in the Catholic intellectual tradition. As an alumna, you share in this tradition, as well as having unlimited opportunities to continue these traditions through service to school and each other.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CATALINA TRADITION, AND WHY?

That is a difficult question for me to answer. I do not really look at it as memories of Ring Dinner, Father-Daughter Weekend, or the wonderful retreats that we experienced, although these are treasured experiences. I look at my most memorable Catalina tradition as the school’s approach to education. Santa Catalina gives students an exemplary education and creates a unique environment of learning. It encourages a work ethic, moral values, and gifts us with teachers who are both responsive and nurturing. When I began my second career as a teacher in 1998, I modeled my professional conduct on memories of my Santa Catalina educational experience, memories that I cherish.