ALUMNI ILLUSTRATE

One of her highest-stakes assignments came 1986, when the National Gallery of Art exchanged works of art with The Hermitage (in what was then Leningrad, now St Petersburg), following a high profile summit agreement signed in Geneva. This collaboration between US and Soviet museums represented significant intergovernmental rapprochement after years of political estrangement.

Understandably, the world was watching as Russian First Lady Raisa Gorbachev attended the exhibit’s opening in Washington.

Mary Fainsod Katzenstein ’59 mfk2@cornell.edu

Continued from Page 14: The Protocol Chief position married her love of art with the intercultural skills and foreign language fluency she’d honed over decades of living in Europe and North Africa during her husband’s foreign service postings.

A protocol officer must be a good facilitator, negotiator, researcher, conversationalist, networker, and event organizer. Genevra oversaw countless installations and special events marking exhibit openings, often hosting international VIPs. Having a deep understanding of culture and appropriate representation was key, in every case and led to her receiving a number of foreign awards, including a Japan Foundation Travel and Study Grant, and the award of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France.

For instance, when the National Gallery mounted a “Matisse in Morocco” exhibition, Genevra called upon her experience living in that region to curate an event for the esteemed guests with flavors, sights and sounds that were authentic and culturally appropriate.

“No one knew quite what to expect, since there had been such a freeze for the past seven years,” says Genevra. Per the protocol, American press could be present but they were not allowed to ask Mrs. Gorbachev any questions.

“She impressed everyone by stopping periodically during her tour to engage with the press. She was warm and lively, curious and intelligent.”

True to form, Genevra had thoughtfully prepared for the highstakes visit; every detail was in order. Just one example: in keeping with Russian tradition, Genevra had arranged for a little girl to present a small flower bouquet to Mrs. Gorbachev; in return the little girl was gifted a special box of Russian chocolates.

These examples illustrate the crosscultural competence required of a protocol officer. Looking back at her career, Genevra reflects, “My studies were put to use in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I got to travel and expand my knowledge, living and learning across cultures. The love of learning all started at Shady Hill.”

Continued from Page 14: Along with other socially and politically engaged faculty and staff, they initiated the Cornell Prison Education Program (CPEP), which now offers classes and an Associates degree to over 200 incarcerated men in four prisons. Unusual among higher education programs in prison, Cornell offers opportunities to campus undergraduates to work in the prison as Teaching Assistants and tutors.

As a result, Cornell’s comparatively privileged undergraduates spend long hours in conversations with men, mostly African-American and Latino, who have grown up in lowincome neighborhoods, and whose chances to attend college have been limited or non-existent.

Spending time in prison, students from campus are often stunned by the life-accounts of incarcerated students who situate their learning in the context of the prison environment and in their experiences growing up in impoverished and chaotic neighborhoods.

Mary tries to make sense of what it means to work with and support those who have been convicted of violent crimes causing grievous injury.

“Until teaching in prison, I would have said that the idea of ‘multiple perspectives’ which Shady Hill so rightly commends means learning from a diversity in social backgrounds and intellectual perspectives; but what I know now is that it also means a confrontation with a moral diversity. It means understanding the multiple parts that make up both individuals and society,” said Mary.

She explains, “A former Canadian prosecutor I admire greatly, named Rupert Ross, has said:

‘I shudder when I see headlines screaming “Get tougher on those offenders.” I don’t know how to lock up and torture only the ugly offender parts of people while comforting the hurt parts, teaching the curious parts, nursing the starved parts, unearthing the hidden parts, emboldening the cautious parts and inspiring the dreaming part.’”

“This to me perfectly captures one additionally important meaning of the ‘multiple perspectives’ lessons that Shady Hill values so highly.”