Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine | Vol. 92, No. 1 | Spring 2022 by Sweet Briar College

Dear Sweet Briar Alumnae and Friends, This May will mark five years since I became the president of Sweet Briar College. I confess that when being considered for this position, I asked myself if I had the right skillset and fortitude to take on the presidency of this storied institution. In my deliberations, I found that the more I learned about the College, the more I realized just how remarkable its graduates were. I was impressed and moved by their “can-do” spirit, their assertiveness, and their resolve—and in that realization, I found my answer. I had to be part of a college that educates and prepares women for leadership, particularly as our world is in need of the democratic and humanistic leadership women can provide. I’ll make another confession. I love being Sweet Briar’s president! One of the best things about this job is that it enables me to get to know the people—the students, faculty, staff, parents, alumnae and friends —who make up the Sweet Briar family. I enjoy teaching our students in the classroom, welcoming our alumnae back to the College and seeing them on my travels, recruiting prospective students by calling them and meeting them when they visit, interviewing job candidates and representing the College through my professional service on various boards and advisory groups. I relish the opportunity Sweet Briar affords me to be a hands-on leader, closely involved in all of our initiatives. It’s been my privilege to work alongside the faculty on our innovative leadership core curriculum, and to teach the Core course, The Consequential Citizen. Recently, I’ve been meeting with community members on projects as varied as the redesign of the College’s website, the selection of the architectural firm to manage the restoration of two of the buildings in our historic district and the plans to make our campus dining experience (which already earns rave reviews) even more distinctive. And along with members of my president’s team and key input from community stakeholders, we’ve been working on a strategic plan to guide the College for its next five years. Of course, any institution faces challenges. One of the greatest problems faced by Sweet Briar and its community in recent years has been living and learning in the midst of a global pandemic. When thinking about how to surmount obstacles and find the path forward, we can look to the College’s history and draw inspiration from Sweet Briar’s first president, Mary Kendrick Benedict. President Benedict helped create Sweet Briar from the ground up, hitting the road to recruit students, hiring the faculty and staff, and presiding over the building of the nascent institution’s structures. This remarkable woman set an example of leadership for us all, and you can read more about her, as well as leadership education at Sweet Briar, inside. The achievements of Sweet Briar women, past and present, continue to inspire us. From current students conducting research in our Honors Summer Research Program, to graduates working as veterinarians, and more, the stories in this magazine demonstrate the truth of one of the favorite sayings of Sweet Briar women everywhere: There is nothing you cannot do!

Sincerely,

Meredith Woo President

Spring 2022, Vol. 92, No. 1

MAGAZINE

This magazine aims to present interesting and thought-provoking news about the College and its alumnae. Publication of the material does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the College. We reserve the right to edit and revise all material that we accept for publication. If you have a story idea or content to submit for publication, contact the editor, Amy Ostroth, at aostroth@sbc.edu. Magazine Staff Amy Ostroth, Editor Clélie Steckel, Director of Development Communications and Data Analytics David Stanley, Lead Design Cassie Foster Evans, Photographer Contributors: Abby May, Dana Poleski ’98, Kathleen Placidi, Robin Dowdy, Sybil Slate

CONTENTS 2 Leading from the Core

Sweet Briar launched its leadership core curriculum in 2017 and since then, it’s become a distinctive part of the Sweet Briar experience. Learn how it has evolved in the last five years.

16 Tony Ryals: An advocate for every student

Meet Assistant Dean of Student Success Tony Ryals, who has a transformative impact on Sweet Briar students.

20 Honors Summer Research Program Students Dive Deep

Each summer, Sweet Briar’s Honors Summer Research Program gives students—and faculty—a chance to dive deep into multiple fields of study. Learn more about what our students explored in summer 2021.

24 Mary K. Benedict: Building a college from the ground up

Launching a college from scratch is not a job for the fainthearted. Learn how Sweet Briar’s first president, Mary K. Benedict, did it.

Contact Information Office of Communications P.O. Box 1052 Sweet Briar, VA 24595 434-381-6262

28 For the Love of Animals

Office of Alumnae Relations and Development P.O. Box 1057 Sweet Briar, VA 24595 800-381-6131

Stapleton ’01: Finding purpose and passion in 34 Sarah environmental science

Find Sweet Briar Online sbc.edu

Sweet Briar has an excellent track record of sending its students to veterinary school. Meet some of the recent graduates who have leaned into their love of animals.

Meet Sarah Stapleton ’01 who followed a path that began in the main dining room in Prothro and took her to a stint in Africa with the the Peace Corps and eventually to the College of Education at the University of Oregon.

DEPARTMENTS Parents of Alumnae If this magazine is addressed to a daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email us at alumnae@sbc.edu with her new address. Thank you!

Donor 10 On the Quad 40 In Memoriam 92 Honor Roll 36 Giving 42 Class Notes

LEADING

FROM THE CORE

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There is a traditional sense of leadership as being the person who is out in front—a president, CEO or monarch, for example. Quite often, those leaders have something else in common: they’re likely to be men.

Sweet Briar’s Women’s Leadership Core Curriculum, launched in 2017, turns that traditional notion of leadership on its head with 10 interdisciplinary courses that focus on the habits of mind of great leaders— good communication skills, creative problem solving and the ability to bring people together, to name just a few. President Meredith Woo believes that these are skills that can be taught. More importantly, she believes that women’s leadership is often different from traditional male leadership. “At Sweet Briar,” says President Woo, “we define women’s leadership in a very distinctive way—it’s the leadership of a people who were historically distanced from the traditional sources of power. In response, women developed a collaborative, democratic, non-hierarchical style of leadership with a humanistic focus. It’s the kind of leadership that the world needs today, and it’s the kind of leadership that we are imparting to our students.” Dean Teresa Garrett agrees. “At Sweet Briar, we have a wide lens on what it means to be a leader,” she says. “Leadership is sometimes what you do when you’re in front, but it’s also what happens when you are a member of a team or group. That type of leadership isn’t always valued and that is to our detriment. Here at Sweet Briar, we teach our students to explore that.”

Evolving the Core Sweet Briar’s Women’s Leadership Core Curriculum is part of what sets Sweet Briar apart from other colleges. The first classes of the leadership core were taught in the fall of 2018. Now, in 2022, all of the core courses are taught each year and the vast majority of current Sweet Briar students—with the exception of some transfer students—are taking the courses.

Assistant Professor of History Dwana Waugh is one of several faculty members who teach the capstone course in the core, The Consequential Citizen. “ The idea was to use Virginia as a laboratory of leadership, to learn about Virginia’s early presidents, tour their presidential homes and tie in experiential learning to that course,” Dwana explains. It hasn’t turned out exactly that way, however. For one thing, the Covid pandemic impacted the College’s ability to implement the course as intended. In addition, the course was influenced by Sweet Briar’s reaccreditation process and by feedback from students who wanted opportunities to study leaders other than early presidents and who wanted to apply what they were learning about leadership to their own interests and disciplines. Changes are a common feature of new courses, which often undergo shifts as the faculty teach the class and learn what students need in terms of outcomes. For Dwana, this meant looking at leadership through historical case studies. The class looked at the older, more traditional presidential model of leadership by studying Jefferson and Madison, but she also taught the Civil Rights model where students studied Ella Baker and Martin Luther King, giving them a chance to explore how gender and race impact leadership. Students also studied a more collaborative style of leadership, looking at Colleen Kiernan of the Sierra Club and Debbie Toomey of the Green Tea Party. Students in the course looked at the complicated issue of legacies as well. For example, Jefferson and Madison were slaveholders and that has led to complications in how we view them. “ The legacies of Madison and Jefferson have been tarnished and that’s a chance for us to talk about what students make of

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Jackie Vari ’22

QEP Scaffold Courses CORE 110: Design Thinking Meenakshi Verma ’22

that and how they can apply that to their own lives,” says Dwana. “ Talking about the legacies of early presidents can have resonance in our contemporary moment.” Class projects focused on areas where students felt they could really make a difference and included topics as diverse as ecological issues surrounding oceans, social media algorithms, social justice issues, fast fashion and more. The projects were also a great opportunity for students to link their continuum of learning back to the first class in the core, Design Thinking. Making that link is a key goal of the core curriculum. “For me, the class is really getting students to think about a complicated way of how you see leadership,” Dwana says. “Is being a citizen the same as being a leader? How do you define what leadership is, personalize that to you and make a difference in your local community, the state and the nation?” What does she look forward to for the class in a world without Covid? The chance to travel to places other than presidential sites. Richmond, for example, has a number of excellent sites, from Monument Row to the home of Maggie Lena Walker, who was the first woman of any race to charter a bank in the United States. “That is a different story than presidential leadership,” Dwana says. “I want to look at the differences and similarities in those groups.”

What Comes Next?

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Enhancing the core and adding a co-curricular component was part of the College’s recent reaccreditation process. As part of that process, Sweet Briar had to submit a Quality Enhancement Plan, which involves an institutional assessment that looks at student learning outcomes that help accomplish the institution’s mission. In Sweet Briar’s case, the QEP aims to build students’ leadership capacity through integrated academic and

CORE 130: Women and Gender in the World CORE 210: Contemporary Ethical Questions CORE 300: Consequential Citizen co-curricular programming. Sweet Briar will become even more deliberate in how it infuses leadership development into the flow of life at the College, enhancing not only the core and other academic classes, but also by creating vibrant campus programming around themes of leadership. With the reaccreditation process now complete, planning has already begun to implement the activities in the QEP. As the QEP comes together and the core matures, leadership will become even more embedded in the life of the College. One key part of the QEP is how Sweet Briar will build deliberate connections among the core courses. Erin Pitt, assistant professor of archaeology and ancient studies, will serve as the QEP faculty director and will facilitate faculty development and training to make that possible. “My primary role is to work with instructors of our four scaffold courses and talk about how they can align and assess the learning outcomes listed in the QEP,” she explains. “ The goal is to create building blocks so that as students go through these four classes, they will learn a set of principles and how to apply them in the different contexts of the other core classes.” What that means is that the faculty teaching each of those scaffold courses need to be keenly aware of what students will be learning in the other courses. On top of that, Erin notes, is encouraging all of Sweet Briar’s faculty to know more about design thinking and student leadership education. “Although not every class will have a leadership component, we want all faculty to be able to pick up on things that interest them and incorporate them into their

them the path and create programming about leadership or issues that are important is distinctive.”

Leadership Outside the Classroom If you know anything at all about Sweet Briar, you know that leadership here has always been about more than what students learn in the classroom. It’s also about the opportunities our students have to be leaders in a variety of ways across campus. Dean of Student Life Kerry Greenstein will join Erin Pitt to oversee the co-curricular parts of Sweet Briar’s QEP. This companion piece to the leadership core is called the ROSE Leadership Program. “ The co-curricular aspects of the QEP will support what students learn in the classroom,” says Kerry. “It’s the hands-on part to the theoretical in the classroom.” The ROSE Program will enable the College to empower students who might not normally think of themselves as leaders. In January of students’ first or second year at Sweet Briar, they will be invited to join the two-year ROSE Program. They will form a cohort with a faculty or staff mentor who will help them develop leadership skills and create connections between their curricular and co-curricular experiences. In the first year, they will focus on self and interpersonal understanding through a retreat, weekly meetings and a group project that requires team effort to reach a goal. In November, they will attend the ROSE event. In their second year of the program, they will be fully responsible for planning that event as well as the January retreat where they will welcome the first-year cohort. The program is grounded in positive psychology and encourages students to know and understand their strengths. They’ll graduate with a great sense of confidence and self-assurance and they’ll be able to own who they are and what they’re good at.

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classes when it’s appropriate,” she says. “That will help students have consistency throughout their Sweet Briar education.” As part of that, faculty across the College will have the opportunity for training to help make the notion of leadership more cohesive. In addition, more faculty will be offered the opportunity to take design thinking through Stanford University’s online program. Design Thinking is the foundational course in the core and making sure that all faculty teaching the core have a good understanding of its principals will ensure that the skills students learn in the first course are carried through the rest of the classes, as well as classes outside of the core. Plus it will mean that Sweet Briar has even more faculty resources to bring to bear as our incoming students take their first Sweet Briar class. Throughout the spring, Erin will be meeting with the faculty who are teaching the scaffold classes to learn more about what they’re doing and how they’re already addressing the learning outcomes outlined in the QEP. She anticipates those meetings will become a regular event in the next academic year, keeping lines of communication open. Wider faculty development opportunities will take place this spring, such as a speaker from the University of Virginia who will talk about using design thinking principles across the curriculum. Erin plans to have another speaker who can talk to faculty about how to support and motivate students in their leadership journey. In the end, Erin wants students to see that leadership is an evolution. It’s not about teaching them leadership styles; in fact, many of our students come to Sweet Briar knowing about that already. What’s more important, Erin says, is for students to understand and see themselves evolve over time. She hopes that as students progress through the core—or even after they graduate—they will be able to go back and work as mentors or teaching assistants in the earlier courses. “Seeing that evolution of ‘Oh, I learned it, and now I’m helping other people to learn and exercise that’ is kind of the ultimate outcome because that’s what happens in the real world,” she says. Erin also observes that Sweet Briar students take on a lot of initiatives and projects without having to be pushed by their faculty, which is a long-standing trait of our alumnae. We have orientation leaders, peer academic mentors, resident advisors, club leaders and more. But what makes Sweet Briar distinctive for Erin is seeing that take place in the classroom, with students taking a role in the mentorship and guidance of other students. “The students’ motivation and initiative to work with other students, show

Jackie Vari ’22

“ The goal of the ROSE Program is that students should leave with a clear perspective on themselves as a leader and how they function in teams,” says Kerry. “They will be able to talk about their leadership experiences beyond ‘I was president of a club.’ They will be able to articulate their personal leadership philosophy.” As a faculty member who teaches the capstone course in the core, Dwana has similar goals for the core curriculum, which is what makes the potential impact of the College’s QEP so profound. “Learning about themselves as leaders and how they can do leadership is important,” Dwana says. “But one of the most valuable things that they could take is the ability to know themselves and harness the power of their own voice.”

Leadership Evolution in Action

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It’s all very well to talk about the core curriculum and leadership opportunities at Sweet Briar, but for our students, these things are not theoretical. They have a real impact on our students’ experiences at the College. So, what do Sweet Briar students have to say about learning leadership?

Jackie Vari ’22 Jackie, a biology major and arts management certificate recipient, graduated early this past December. This spring, she joined our Office of Admissions as a counselor to help recruit the Class of 2026, while continuing her job search. She has a clear vision for her future: to work for a nonprofit such as Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens where she can combine her love of and expertise in plants, gardening and art. But flashback four years ago when Jackie arrived at Sweet Briar and found herself in a very different environment from her large coed high school where her graduating class was as big as Sweet Briar’s total student body. This is far from a unique experience as many of our students experience a similar transition. And, what did Jackie notice right away once she began the leadership core? “Sustainable Systems was one of my first core classes,” says Jackie, “and I noticed how many people were participating in class. That was something I was totally not used to, having gone to a really large coed school.”

Hanna Epstein ‘22

Jackie also experienced how leadership education is woven throughout Sweet Briar. “I definitely saw it in clubs and events, especially big things like Earth Check out The Crafty Vixen on Week and PhilanInstagram at @thecraftyvixen. thropy Week, which teach us how to lead in our communities and shows us what we can do right now to lead in some way.”

Hannah Epstein ’22 Hannah has been a busy and highly visible leader on campus from her first year at Sweet Briar. Not only has she assumed numerous leadership roles, she created her own academic path by declaring a multidisciplinary studies major. This type of major is designed by the student and faculty advisor to reach specific goals and career pursuits after college. It takes discipline, focus, determination and a high level of self-awareness. Hannah said her customized academic path was one of the highlights of her Sweet Briar experience. Her major was designed around educational leadership with a focus in higher education and student affairs. “I’ve learned so much about creating my own curriculum and what that meant, but also gained a lot of experience with different faculty and programs.” Even before her major took shape, Hannah took advantage of how she saw leadership woven into the Sweet Briar fabric.

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She saw how everyone participated and shared ideas. “I think that the first stepping stone is having that comfort to share your thoughts and opinions,” she says. “And then from there, once you’re sharing your opinion, you realize, ‘Oh, these are my strengths, and this is how I can contribute to the conversation.’” Jackie took note of her contributing factors and strengths and sought out ways to apply them beginning in her sophomore year. “I realized I could do this in a club and that excited me. The first leadership role I had here was the ICC [Inner-Club Council] director of club programming.” Jackie reflected on how she was able to be part of the whole dynamic of ICC as the most collaborative executive meeting for students. She excelled at troubleshooting on the job and then on campus “because I’m a really crafty person,” she says with a knowing smile. Her experience in ICC and across the student community showed her that there was a need for a craft-specific club, and she knew this was something she could organize. “By being on the ICC board, I knew the pathway, and I took advantage of that knowledge to introduce the club.” That club is The Crafty Vixen. “That was my big leadership role. All the challenges along the way like learning how to multitask, how to organize people, how to organize events, everything built up to that point,” Jackie says proudly. The popular club has 115 members and is now led by Bryanna Ortega ’22 and Vicky Harder ’24. Not only did Jackie become a leader on many levels, she created a legacy.

Hannah Epstein at her scroll game

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“I’ve had a unique experience because I’ve definitely gotten to use what’s in the leadership core in my extracurriculars at Sweet Briar. They’ve been very combined,” she reflects. “In my first year and second year here, the core was really the basis of what leadership was supposed to be,” Hannah observes. “Faculty teaching those courses were adamant on making sure that we were getting a broad view of leadership and what that means in different areas of the U.S. and the world. It definitely opened my eyes to what is out there in the world and the impact that specifically women leaders have had.” For her first leadership role at Sweet Briar, she went straight for the top. “Actually, I jumped right in and was my sophomore class president.” During her first year, Hannah used her outgoing personality and voice to get involved and make an impact. “One of the big things that I helped with my first year was Step Singing. It was one of the first things that we were introduced to, could be hands-on with and could get involved in. And so I definitely ran with that tradition!” Of course, Hannah didn’t stop there. Student life had become her passion both academically and as an active member of the community. She has been an orientation leader and lead OL, an admissions ambassador, a Pannell Gallery assistant, the SGA vice president of internal affairs and president, the student life office intern, the treasurer of the SGA Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the historian of Earphones and the historian and secretary of Bum Chums. She also serves on several committees.

Another highlight of her Sweet Briar experience, in addition to her multidisciplinary major, is working with the student life office. “My internship has been one of the most amazing experiences. I learn something new every time I attend our staff meeting. Also,I can tell Dean Kerry or [Director of Student Engagement] Jess Austin what I want to learn about like curriculum development or leadership programming, and they’ll give me a project that allows me to do that and gain skills.” Recently, Hannah announced that she will be attending the University of South Florida for a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in college student affairs. While pursuing her master’s, she also will be serving as the graduate assistant for their Office of Summer Initiatives. “Sweet Briar has definitely given me a lot,” she shares. “ The community, faculty, staff, everybody has really helped me grow as an individual and as a leader. One of the biggest things for me is that I want to do that for somebody else, and I see my impact being most useful in higher education.” Through her time here, Hannah discovered her love of advocating for people and shared a simple yet powerful insight of her personal growth journey: “I’ve learned a lot about compassion and empathy for people around me and making sure that I’m not living in my own little bubble of my issues and problems, but making sure that I’m paying attention to what’s happening around me.”

Meenakshi Verma ’22 As a middle and high school student in India, Meenakshi was involved in the SGA, debate competitions and other classroom and extracurricular leadership roles. “I’ve always been involved in leadership, so when I came to Sweet Briar, I really wanted to be a part of it here because, as an international student from India, my experience there is different from how things function here. Having that experience in both countries has provided good insight into my learning.” As opposed to student-led projects in middle or high school, Meenakshi enjoys how, at college, there is an elevated level of responsibility. “Here, I literally can be the one in charge, and that’s something very different from my leadership experience in India.” That sense of responsibility quickly became apparent to her right from the beginning of the leadership core. Meenakshi is a biology and dance double major with a chemistry minor and she laughed while saying that she doesn’t like business or economics but that “the leadership core gave me the opportunity to take courses like Dollars and Cents where I gained a basic idea of how business and the economy works, so that’s something that I really appreciated! Also, the Consequential Citizen course helps with developing your own ideas and that was pretty amazing.”In addition to learning the ropes of business, economics and finance, the leadership core is built on the Design Thinking course. “That was one of my favorite courses my first year here,” she shares. “It is one of the most different courses I’ve ever taken, and it really made

me think and use my brain in a sense that I would have never used before.” Meenakshi is quick to credit Sweet Briar for building on the foundation started in India. “I have learned to not be afraid of speaking for myself and finding my own voice. I feel like I’m more confident. I’ve matured a lot over the years here.” She describes her leadership style as inspirational. Rather than being the type to dictate orders, she feels that being more inspirational helps encourage others in forming their own opinions in addition to increasing a group’s efficiency and quality of work. Her natural leadership style led her to wanting to get involved in numerous ways. In her first year, she was the vice president for her class; she is currently the president of Taps N Toes; she’s a member of Paints N Patches; she was the vice president for the Culture Club; and she’s the senior class student representative for the Academic Affairs Committee. For her life after Sweet Briar, Meenakshi has her sights set on becoming a neurosurgeon. She is looking at all her options, including applying for medical school later this year or possibly taking a gap year to gain experience in the medical field while continuing to pursue her love of dance, perhaps as an instructor. Of her life at Sweet Briar, Meenakshi shares how “it’s been pretty wonderful and helpful with all the resources available and people at your disposal. It’s really good to have a home away from home, you know, and having that support system definitely has helped me grow into the individual that I am right now.”

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Meenakshi Verma ‘22

ON THE QUAD

on the QUAD

news & notes around campus

From Vine

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to Wine

ON THE QUAD

LIVE FAR FROM SWEET BRIAR? NO WORRIES!

You can buy wine glasses and other swag at shopsweet.sbc.edu.

eventually leading to the decisions as to how the juices will be incorporated into their wine production plan.” We hope to see our grapes used in a few of Pippin Hill’s wines. In order for that to happen, the quality of juice must be evaluated. Preliminary indications from Pippin Hill suggest our Merlot will be used in a rosé. Some of the Chardonnay could be used in a malolactic varietal and depending on eventual quality, a portion destined for a reserve wine. The

Cabernets likely will be candidates for vintage wines. Bottling has not yet commenced as several options require aging well into 2022. While our grapes pass their rigorous exams, be sure you have the appropriate drinkware from the Book Shop!

President Meredith Woo with Gabriele Rausse

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Since our first commercial grape harvest in early fall where we harvested our four varietals—Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon—we know you’ve been eager for an update on wine production and other grape news. Our total harvest from 2021 was sold to Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyards. Sweet Briar’s business and finance project manager Gary Canfield shares: “The juices extracted from Sweet Briar grapes are still in the early stages of fermentation. As the aging process proceeds, Pippin Hill will be sampling the juices for quality and flavors,

ON THE QUAD

BRIAN HENSLEY’S VISION FOR SWEET BRIAR SOFTBALL

Brian Hensley

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We are less than a year away from softball returning to Sweet Briar and we are excited to have another team of Vixens to cheer on! New head coach Brian Hensley has been a softball coach for about 17 years across various levels. His first college coaching experience was just down the road at Liberty University as the assistant coach and director of camps and clinics. He also studied pitching under Denny Tincher and became a certified pitching instructor. He earned his B.S. in religion from Liberty University and received a M.S. in sports administration and an Ed.S. in educational leadership. “I was attracted to Sweet Briar for many reasons,” shared Brian. “First, I agree and appreciate its mission and purpose. Having been raised around women leaders that influenced my life and having four daughters, I feel strongly

that as a coach of a women’s sport, I needed to be at a place that aligns with my mission to develop female student-athletes into not only strong softball players, but women of integrity and strong character.” Brian hit the ground running and has already recruited some great players for the program. “Right now, we have 11 players who have committed to the program,” he said. “We have had a lot of potential athletes visit the campus and current students who have reached out to them about the program. We also will have conditioning opportunities for those who are already on campus that are interested.” Brian said the main goal for the first season is to build a competitive team with well-rounded and respectful players that contribute to the Sweet Briar community. “ This will continue to be my goal, but the most important thing is using softball to train young women to be valuable leaders in their communities,” he explained. “I have set some lofty goals for the recruiting of players and getting the field renovated,” said Brian. “I had a goal set to have 10 recruited players by the end of November, and I reached that goal before Thanksgiving, with one more committed just after that. So far, everything is either on-pace or ahead of schedule regarding the field renovation and equipment needs. We have also ordered training equipment and equipment for the players when they arrive in August.” Sweet Briar hosted a pitching and catching clinic in December that had around 30 participants, which brought a lot of students and families to campus. Brian hopes to do more clinics to spark the interest of both high school and younger players. “We continue to have a lot of interest in the program,” he shared. “Everyone that I have spoken with is excited about the potential of the softball program, and there is genuinely positive energy surrounding the foundation and future of the program.”

ON THE QUAD

Rendering of how Sweet Briar’s turf field might look

On Our Turf program. Initially, the upgrades will include a state-of-theart, water-based turf. Ideally, the grass field will be reoriented and resodded, if we can raise the necessary $240,000 to do so. Both fields will feature LED stadium lights. The grass field will be used for soccer and lacrosse while the first turf field will be home to field hockey. The inaugural season on turf will kick off in the fall. Students are really excited for the speed of play and the lights will allow teams to have consistent practice times, especially in the beginning of the spring season, when it still gets dark pretty early in the evening.

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This past August, we announced that the College would be building a new water-based turf field for our field hockey team. With generous support from Sweet Briar alumnae and friends, as of press time, we had raised $2.6 million from more than 50 alumnae. In January and February, the field hockey and lacrosse teams joined alumnae relations and development for a phonathon that called upon past players and other alumnae. They shared their excitement and asked for their participation by giving a gift that incorporated the number 22 in honor of the 2022 inaugural season. With fundraising well underway, the College will break ground this spring on this new chapter for its athletics

ON THE QUAD

Sweet Briar Caps Off 2021 with Reaffirmation of its Accreditation At the end of last year, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Sweet Briar’s accrediting body, reaffirmed the College’s accreditation. Every accredited college and university must go through the two-yearlong reaffirmation process every 10 years. At Sweet Briar, the reaffirmation process was managed by the academic dean, but required the active support and participation of the entire campus. The re-accreditation process includes an exhaustive review of all its programs and operations both by the College itself and by representatives of SACSCOC from peer colleges and universities. Colleges are required not only to review all their programs

and operations to assure that they are in compliance with SACSCOC standards, but they must submit documentation to demonstrate their compliance. As part of the reaffirmation process, Sweet Briar developed and instituted a quality enhancement plan (QEP) designed to enhance student learning. Sweet Briar’s QEP centers on enhancing women’s leadership development through the core curriculum and co-curricular activities. After receiving the College’s report of its own review, together with the required documentation, the SACSCOC Reaffirmation Committee conducted a virtual campus visit to engage with campus personnel and ask questions. After the committee

filed a report of its findings and the College responded, the commission, consisting of representatives of the 11 states making up the southern region, voted to approve Sweet Briar’s re-accreditation. “At Sweet Briar College,” said President Meredith Woo, “we take pride in this remarkable outcome. Unlike some colleges — large and small, elite and not-so-elite, rich and poor, that end up with results that are not clean and stellar — Sweet Briar’s accreditation is not subject to monitoring reports, warnings or probation. I am most grateful to the faculty, staff and students who worked together to make this outcome possible.”

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S&P Global Increased Sweet Briar’s Bond Rating

The improved financial health of Sweet Briar College has been recognized by S&P Global, which has raised the school’s long-term rating to BB from BB- and noted that the College’s outlook is stable. One important factor in the rating is Sweet Briar’s enrollment, which has been steadily increasing over the last three years and has resulted in positive net tuition for the College. “ The strong financial profile reflects adequate financial performance for the rating category, healthy available resources, modest debt with rapid amortization and no additional debt needs,” S&P said in its release. It noted Sweet Briar’s operating surpluses

in 2019 and 2020, with the expectation of further improvement in 2021 and 2022, and also recognized the College’s healthy endowment and recent capital improvements. “Our financial health is at the heart of our ability to serve our students,” said President Meredith Woo. “Our success in recruiting students has been a critical component of that, as has our sound financial management. Our hard work is paying off, and I’m glad to see that it’s being acknowledged by S&P Global.” In addition, the S&P release commented on Sweet Briar’s successful navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular noting that the

College re-configured classrooms and learning areas to enable social-distancing, required vaccination and testing of symptomatic students, and strongly suggested mask wearing indoors and in other confined spaces. The high level of commitment to health, safety, academic excellence and financial responsibility demonstrated by the entire Sweet Briar community has been the cornerstone of the College’s upward trajectory. The Sweet Briar community is grateful to S&P for the validation of the College’s progress and prospect.

ON THE QUAD

Under Construction: New website on the horizon A new way to digitally experience Sweet Briar is in the discovery and planning phase. In January 2022, the College decided that it was time for the institutional website to get a makeover. After speaking with several top website contractors, White Whale, from Oakland, Calif., was chosen to lead this exciting project. Over the next year, many hours will be spent planning, writing, designing and creatively thinking about how we present and tell our story and how we serve prospective students and the Sweet Briar community. We look forward to the final product!

Liz Parr ’18 Returns to Lacrosse uplifting environment where coaches and players push and encourage one another to succeed. Liz knows that building good habits in lacrosse, academics, sleep and nutrition will help ensure the team’s success in the years to come. That’s important because Liz told us that she wants the Sweet Briar team to be one of the top three teams in the conference. Talk about fierce! “My favorite part about coaching is the impact you have on the lives of your athletes,” Liz explained. “Being able to push them to accomplish things that they didn’t think were possible, empowering them to ask more of themselves and having the confidence to try something, mess up, and try again. Failure is not the end, it is an opportunity to try again.”

Liz Parr ’18 spring 2022

We are excited to welcome (back) Liz Parr ’18 as our interim head lacrosse coach. She will be leading the Vixens this season. “I wanted to contribute to this team and the athletics program, and help them continue to grow, while seeking a new coach,” said Liz. “I knew that I could help sustain and grow the program because I already know and have coached many of the women on the team.” “One of my goals for this season is to focus on the process,” she said. “If we create good habits and focus on the smaller things like strength training, refining techniques, and fine tuning nutrition, sleep and energy, then we will see success on the field.” This is part of a bigger focus on building a strong team culture and an

FACULTY PROFILE

Tony Ryals:

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An advocate for every student

It’s no surprise that Assistant Dean of Student Success Tony Ryals is truly great at transforming and supporting our students’ academic careers. Tony, who was born and raised in Goldsboro, N.C., comes from a family of educators, and he believes it was always meant to be.

spring 2022

FACULTY PROFILE

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Most of my position is listening. I realize that our students want to be heard, and I have learned the value in not jumping to problem solving, but to first listen.

Tony had an interesting college career, which began with the intention of working in broadcasting or public relations. He received his bachelor’s in communications at the University of Toledo. There, he joined a fraternity whose community service event was tutoring middle schoolers. “It was then that I realized my love for education,” Tony reminisced. “This was during my junior year of college, so it was too late to switch my major, instead I moved to Boston and pursued my master’s in curriculum and instruction while teaching eighth grade. After enduring three winters in Boston, I decided it was time to move back to the south, and I settled in Virginia.” Tony went on to receive his education specialist degree in 2017 and his doctorate of education in 2019. “One reason why I am attracted to this line of work is because I had so many people in my corner during my academic career,” he shared. “As a first-generation college student, I received incomparable guidance and resources that impacted my success, and I hope to do the same for Sweet Briar students.” Tony’s journey at Sweet Briar began in the fall of 2020 as the director of student success and accessibility. In December of 2021 he was promoted to assistant dean of student success. Tony noted, “In this new role, I continue to build on student success and accommodations. The newest part of my role is to help retention efforts and continue leading a first-year student success group for incoming students.” “I am thrilled with his leadership on the first-year student success program that we launched late last summer,” said Dean Teresa Garrett. “This will be a program that will continue to positively impact students for years to come.” “Every day at Sweet Briar is different, which is what I love,” observed Tony. “Most of my position is listening. I realize that our students want to be heard, and I have learned the value in not jumping to problem solving, but to first listen.” The importance of listening has been one of the most valuable lessons he has learned from his position. “I am a natural problem-solver,” noted Tony. “If students walk into my office with a problem, I want them to leave with the perfect solution. While sometimes that does happen, that is not always what the students may have wanted. So, I have learned to listen before I speak.”

Tony spends a lot of his time helping students address issues and connecting them with peer academic mentors and tutors at the Academic Resource Center. He’s also the go-to person for all things related to the animal companions you see on campus. “Our emotional support animals and service animals are truly part of the Sweet Briar family,” he said. “All in all, I do what I can to ensure every student is successful here.” Crafting a successful academic career is different for each student, he told us. “For one student, success could be a 4.0 GPA, club leadership and community service activity,” he said. “For another student, success could be overcoming anxiety, becoming more organized and showing up to class on time. I think each journey of student success should be valued and celebrated.” “ Tony has taught me to be more assertive when it comes to my needs for academic success,” said Shee Young-Mitchell ’22. “I sometimes found I was scared to inform my professor if I was struggling, and [Tony] has always encouraged me to have open communication with the professors in classes where I struggled. Tony has also taught me it’s okay to fail, and that college isn’t about getting perfect grades. I would often come down extremely hard on myself when I didn’t receive the grade I wanted, and he has helped me look past that and just appreciate the hard work I put into the course no matter the outcome.” In addition to student success at Sweet Briar, Tony champions accessibility for students. “In regards to what accessibility means to me and to students, the meaning is in the word: access,” noted Tony. “If there are barriers keeping students from reaching their full potential, we need to create systems that remove those barriers and give every student access.” For Tony, whether it’s about accommodations, emotional support animals or counseling service, all students should be privy to the range of resources that can help them be successful. “ Tony has always made sure that I was comfortable and that I had the fairest opportunities in my academic career,” explained Kay Humes ’24. “He aids in speaking with professors when talking about my needs and creates a safe liaison between students and professors.”

“Whether it’s creating that accessibility or ensuring accommodations are available to all students, he has never once questioned what I needed for my classes,” said Channing Entrican ’22. “He gives great advice and is willing to help you in any situation whether it’s with academics or your peers. He really listens to you and helps you if you are in need of any accommodations.” “Tony has helped others by creating programming through the ARC to help give students the tools they need to improve academically,” said Shee. “Just last year he held an event where students received bullet planners to help plan out their assignments, and he took over the firstgeneration student mentoring program.” He has not only been a great advocate and problemsolver for students, but he has also been a great collaborator with staff. “Tony is a great colleague,” noted Dean of Students Kerry Greenstein. “He cares about his job, works hard and gets things done. Most importantly for me, when I’m working with students who are struggling with academic issues or need support dealing with accommodations, I know that Tony is going to take great care of them when I direct them down the hall. The students that work with Tony and his office love him and for good reason. For many students, he’s their go-to person on campus when they’re having a hard time, and Tony is always there to listen and support them.” Unsurprisingly, Tony’s favorite part of the job is the students. “ They feel comfortable sharing their stories and lives with me. I enjoy moments when students may not necessarily need my help, but just come by to talk and check in. Those are the moments that keep me going.” “Tony is such a great asset for our community,” said Dean Garrett. “He works one-on-one with students to help them navigate challenges in and outside the classroom. He is approachable and available. I so appreciate his partnership in supporting students.” Put all of that together and it’s no surprise that Tony has truly become an important asset to the Sweet Briar community. We look forward to watching his program and outreach grow.

Tony’s advice to all students wanting to have a successful college experience is: “Ask for what you need! Your voice is powerful. Do not feel intimidated by asking questions or asking for help because of what people may think. Advocate and ask. Chances are someone else had the same question or needed the same thing.” Sweet Briar students are known for being highly involved in their community, expressing their needs and taking advantage of the resources available to them. Shee Young-Mitchell ’22 is the perfect example: “Serving as the Class President of 2022 and being involved in many clubs, I had a hard time balancing school with other responsibilities. Tony helped me find a balance and helped me excel further in the classroom. The tools that I learned from Tony helped me so much that I made the Dean’s List not once but twice since he joined Sweet Briar.” Shee shares how Tony has helped others by creating programming through the ARC, which gives students the tools they need to improve academically. “Last year, he held an event where he gave students bullet planners to help plan out their assignments,” she said, “and he took over the firstgeneration student mentoring program.” “The only thing left to say,” Shee adds, “is ‘Thank You, Tony,’ for all your help throughout my time, and when I graduate in May, it is because of the help you have given me. I will miss you as I leave, and I am not the only one who feels this way.” For Shee and many other students, Tony has elevated their academic experience, not because of any one thing in particular, but simply because he listens to and advocates for them.

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FACULTY PROFILE

Honors Summer Research Program

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students dive deep into multiple fields of study

Each year, the Honors Program awards fellowships to a select group of students to support them in conducting independent research projects under the supervision of a faculty member. The eight-week Honors Summer Research Program brings together students and faculty from all disciplines to create a unique academic experience. The students are able to dedicate time to intensely focused research and one-on-one work with their faculty mentor. Throughout the summer, both faculty and students present highlights from their ongoing research. This past summer, 10 honors students and their mentors took advantage of the program, working in a variety of subjects, including three engineering and two environmental studies students. Their studies ranged from microplastic behavior to climate change to creating a new archiving system for the Sweet Briar Museum’s collection. We wanted to share their research and findings:

Elisa Garcia ’22

Ruth De Souza ’23

Mary Katherine Baker 2’ 2

Elisa’s program mentor, Professor Bryan Kuhr, tells us about her research: “Elisa researched and designed electronic musical instruments. Music professor Joshua Harris conceived the idea when he saw an Instagram post by engineering professor Michelle Gervasio showing an arduino controlled flex sensor input device. Elisa started by developing prototypes with several types of sensors and input devices. She then worked with musicians to find out which sensors and input devices they like the best and what mode of performance they can envision with such a device.”

“The long-term goal of my research was to further analyze how different synthesis methods influence the photoluminescence response of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. There are a lot of methods used to create ZnO particles, and during my research, I worked with three of them: sol-gel, chemical precipitation and solution combustion. Through the three synthesis processes, I tried to control for the size, density, pH and other variables that are already known to alter the photoluminescence of the ZnO so I can analyze each process and compare them knowing the other variables are identical.”

“My summer research project was about the sympathetic representation of the Jewish character, Shylock, in William Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and the play’s historical significance,” says Mary Katherine. “I argue that there is enough evidence within the text to suggest Shylock is deserving of sympathy from the audience. “I found that Shakespeare establishes his Christian characters’ religious hypocrisy and subverts the audience’s expectations that they will be redeemed and Shylock will be proven to be the villain. Shakespeare condemns anti-Semitism by making it impossible for his audience to defend the morality of those engaging in antiSemitism throughout the play.”

engineering

english & creative writing

spring 2022

engineering & music

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Allison Wandling 2’ 3

Sarah Mihelic 2’ 2

Annika Kuleba 2’ 2

engineering

archeology

environmental science & economics

“My research focused on microplastic behavior. I specifically focused on creating a simulation of microplastics when submerged in water. This simulation will help remove microplastics in water during wastewater treatment. This is important research because the health risks of microplastics consumption for humans is unknown.”

“My summer research focused less on the research aspect and more on the action,” says Sarah. “I was tasked with creating and carrying out a new archival system for the Sweet Briar Museum which was also a continuation of work I had already done through my internship in the spring of 2021. I digitized the collection and provided some light preservation work for many of the artifacts. Other objects that were in less stable condition, I noted, and reached out to several professional restoration companies to get their opinion as well as an estimate on cost. In retrospect, I believe I may have set my expectations of what was able to be completed in eight weeks a bit higher than what was technically possible. However, I have been assured through my faculty sponsors that the work I have done is impressive on its own and that I should be proud that I have completed such a thorough system that can now be followed by future generations of Sweet Briar students.”

“Climate change is a key issue that is currently impacting humans and agriculture at the same time as anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are its primary cause,” says Annika. “My honors summer research looked into the role of phenology in switchgrass carbon fluxes, which focused on how phenology metrics relate to photosynthesis. Phenology means studying the timing of recurring events such as switchgrass seasonal growth. The Eddy Covariance Carbon Flux Tower that was established in 2016 provided me with remotely sensed data which included the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (reflectance index related to biomass) and Green Chromatic Coordinate (vegetation greenness). I also completed switchgrass field composition through the collection of percent cover and species identification which led to the creation of the ‘Sweet Briar Switchgrass Field: Species Field Guide.’ I found that phenology metrics such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and the Green Chromatic Coordinate are successful when capturing big seasonal changes in photosynthesis but may not be reliable during periods like grass ripening and senescence.”

environmental science

“One of the most important principles to live sustainably is recycling, especially food waste,” says Emma. “According to the EPA, in 2018 about 68% food waste ended up in a landfill, which releases greenhouse gasses and pollutants that deteriorate surface and groundwater quality. As a biology and environmental science double major, I wanted to work on research that touched on both areas. I decided to investigate the environmental and agronomic effects of green manure (plant-waste-based composts) on vegetable crops. This research aided in identifying alternative sources to inorganic fertilizers commonly used in agricultural operations and municipal areas.”

Veronica Nelson 2’ 2

Ciara Kocik 2’ 3

“In my research, I set out to find the amount of time needed to extract the most betulin from birch bark and to find a way to enhance its antimicrobial properties. The long-term goal of this research was to develop a medication that can be used to fight bacterial infections in humans. In particular, I worked on synthesizing betulin to fight Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a bacteria naturally found in the environment that can make immunocompromised people sick, especially cystic fibrosis. This research is important because of the evermore increasing antibiotic resistance. Betulin is a great source for new medicines as it is a product that can be naturally sourced from birch bark and already has properties to fight bacterial and fungal infections.”

“In one of my honor’s classes, I researched and wrote a paper on the pipeline for women in STEM,” says Ciara. “Through this, I found that there was a lack of in-school support, especially at the elementary level, which is where it is most crucial. I researched programs in K-12 that exist to support the pipeline of women in STEM. In particular, I focused on best practices and strategies used by out-of-school programs and compared them to what is being done in public schools. With this research, I created a unit plan or resource for elementary teachers to use and infuse these supports into their curriculum. My framework has far exceeded any expectations that I could have had.”

chemistry

education

spring 2022

Emma Leaseburg 2’ 2

A snowy road to campus, c. 1914

MARY K. BENEDICT:

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Building a college from the ground up

In the spring of 1906, a 32-year-old graduate of Vassar and Yale was teaching in Missouri when she received a letter from Rev. Carl Grammer telling her about a new college in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. By the end of May, she had been hired as that school’s first president. In fact, Mary Kendrick Benedict wasn’t the first choice of the College’s Board of Directors. It had been hoped that John McBryde would take on that role. McBryde was the 5th president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and had played a large role in the College’s early years, serving on the board and bringing in Ralph Adams Cram to design the buildings. Unfortunately, it had become clear that McBryde’s health would not allow him to be the president Sweet Briar needed.

HISTORY

So it was that on June 6, 1906, Mary Benedict arrived on campus with a substantial job in front of her: to build a college from the ground up. She wrote later that she was scared and felt very inexperienced. And well she might have been because there was a lot to do. The buildings weren’t ready, she had one student enrolled and just two faculty members on staff. “I remember especially my first sight of the inside of the academic building,” she wrote in a 1937 article for the Sweet Briar Magazine. “There was nothing in it except piles of plaster on the unstained floors, not even a black

Ms. Patteson and Dr. Harley, c. 1911

Mary Benedict

board…. The water supply was ready, but the steam fitting had not been done, the electric light wiring had not been put in, and so we were concerned with getting ready our steam heat, hot water, electric light, steam laundry and cold storage as well as with staining floors, decorating, getting kitchen and dining room furniture, and academic furniture and equipment.” Miss Benedict got to work, reorganizing the administration and overseeing the completion of the physical plant. One early faculty member recalled: “In these days everything was more or less experimental and scarcely a day passed without its

quota of decisions to be made which set a precedent, good or bad, for the future. Everything that happened was a First Time, and what a thrill there was when the entire community assembled in the refectory to see the electric lights come on!” While most of the essential matters were taken care of by September, it would be the end of the first year before everything was running smoothly. Of course, a new college needs students, so Miss Benedict petitioned the board for $5,000 to spend on advertising and to print a “book of views.” Then she and McBryde went on the road to sell the new college.

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Members of the Class of 1910

Academic Building, c. 1914

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Their success was notable. When the school opened, there were 51 students, 36 of whom were boarders. “I doubt if a college ever started with a more joyful group,” Benedict wrote. “I see the girls come on the first day—so enthusiastic, and so eager to discover Sweet Briar, for they, too, had the pioneer’s spirit, or why should they have come?” The College’s A.B. degree was immediately recognized by graduate programs at leading universities—and three of the College’s first five graduates went on to pursue advanced degrees.

Encouraging her students to take up the mantle of leadership was important from the very beginning. “There was no question in the minds of the members of the Faculty or the Trustees that Student Government should be established at Sweet Briar. The girls did not have to ask for it. It was offered to them.” The faculty were mostly not so far removed from their own college experience and offered the students lots of advice about what their student government should do, but Miss Benedict noted that the students were building traditions that

Mary Benedict was one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. from Yale. In November 1951, she was invited to a luncheon on the occasion of Yale’s 250th anniversary, which celebrated the 41 colleges and universities which had been founded or first administered by Yale graduates. Sweet Briar College was the only women’s college represented.

were “characteristically Sweet Briar’s.” Miss Benedict’s sister, Agnes, a student at Vassar (as Mary Benedict herself had been), regularly came to visit Sweet Briar with friends. Agnes wrote of those visits as having songs and laughter, but she also noted that there was something more serious going on at Sweet Briar. “Happy though they were, young though they were, [the Sweet Briar students] were responsible. They were laying foundations, pioneering, helping to mould an institution. We had our traditions—and they were very hallowed

Mary Benedict visiting campus later in life

HISTORY

First-year class, 1906

and precious to us. They were making theirs—and the process was making women of them.” Of course, there was plenty of time for these pioneering first students to make Sweet Briar their own. Back then, it was an all-day trip to Lynchburg and an all-afternoon trip to Amherst. “Automobiles were in use, but roads were not good, and the urge to go somewhere else which our young people feel so much had not yet appeared,” Miss Benedict recalled. Once at Sweet Briar, they were expected to stay until vacation came. Even the trains weren’t reliable she wrote. “. . . We really never knew when we could get a train, and, since there was no station or station agent, there was no way of finding out except to go and see.” The success of Miss Benedict’s efforts became clear quickly. By the fall of 1907, it was evident that a new dormitory would be needed by the following year. Randolph was ready for use in 1908, followed soon thereafter by Manson, which was also home to a chapel and an assembly hall. By the end of the first decade, Grammer had been built. There were obvious challenges. College preparatory work was not standard in those days, particularly for girls, so Miss Benedict did have some trouble finding qualified students and because of the impressively large physical plant at Sweet Briar, students

were very much needed. As a result, Sweet Briar was forced to offer those preparatory classes, which it did as part of its “Academy,” whose students were called “sub-freshmen” and “special students.” The Academy would persist at Sweet Briar until the College’s second president, Emilie McVea, ended it in 1919. By 1916, Miss Benedict had been managing myriad enrollment and financial challenges at the young college for a decade, and she determined the time was right for her to move on. She enrolled at Johns Hopkins and was licensed as a doctor in 1919. She spent the rest of her working life prac-

Connie Guion, c. 1911

Read more about Emilie Watts McVea in the fall 2020 issue of the Sweet Briar Magazine. sbc.edu/magazine ticing medicine, including five years spent as dean of students and resident physician at Connecticut College for Women (now Connecticut College) and a medical practice located in New Haven. But although she left Sweet Briar physically, she was a devoted supporter of the College. Her devotion was recognized in 1934 when several alumnae donated the portrait of Miss Benedict that now hangs in the Mary Helen Cochran Library. “ To those of you who did not know her we hope that the portrait may give you some idea of Sweet Briar’s first president, one to whom you as well as we, owe a debt of gratitude; for the College of today is what it is largely because at the end of those first 10 years nothing had to be undone. There was much room and need for expansion, growth and development, but the foundations were sound,” they said in making the gift of the portrait. In 1945, the College named a scholarship after her and throughout the years, Miss Benedict’s name was often featured in the class notes of the magazine as many alumnae made it a point to visit her and those visits were often returned.

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Mary Benedict, c. 1910

ALUMNAE PROFILE

For the

Love Animals

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For many alumnae, building close friendships are a hallmark of their Sweet Briar experience, but one trio—Hailey Montalbano ’16, Torrey Schwartz '16 and Noell Cosby ’17—took it one step further. After graduating from Sweet Briar, they went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine for graduate school. Now they all have a strong start to their careers as veterinarians.

Hailey Montalbano ’16 Hailey knew she wanted to go to vet school and that biology was the major that made the most sense to meet that goal. She met vet-med advisor John Morrissey on her first trip to Sweet Briar, for a prospective student weekend, where she sat in on one of his classes and loved it. “Knowing who your teachers were going to be was a big factor in my decision to attend,” she told us. “I realized how well professors at Sweet Briar knew their students and that was a game-changer.” As he does for so many Sweet Briar students, John Morrissey played a big role in Hailey’s vet-med experience. “Dr. Morissey was familiar with the vet schools I wanted to apply to. What were their requirements? Did I take this class that I needed for this school? He was on top of it, and I went straight to vet school after graduating from Sweet Briar,” Hailey said. While at Sweet Briar, Hailey enjoyed riding, especially out of the ring and on the trails. “I loved it, and I feel like that should be taken advantage of by everybody, at some level,” she advised. Hailey was also involved in a number of other activities, including Relay for Life, a cooking club and the Chung Mungs. But for Hailey, the biggest highlight of her time at Sweet Briar was the friendships. “I was part of a pretty big group of friends who, I would say, are still my best friends,” she shared. “We talk every day, and I feel that’s something not a lot of people who went elsewhere can say.” Hailey’s last year at Sweet Briar “was a little bit strange” as it was during the attempted closure. Then, her last year of vet school was during the first COVID shutdown and ended without a graduation ceremony. But after these difficult times, Hailey and her dog moved to Washington, D.C., to be with her fiancé. She joined Union Veterinary Clinic, a small animal general practice, and focused on wellness, primary care and dentistry. “I feel like a key piece of advice for people interested in vet school is that you truly must enjoy working with people,” she stated definitively and with a chuckle. “You spend so much time with them, and I love that. The other piece of advice is to keep an open mind about what you can and want to do as a vet. Use school — at every level — to gain many different experiences. Don’t get stuck in a rut.” Hailey firmly believes in the ability of liberal arts to make you a well-rounded person. “From a practical standpoint, that is exactly who vet schools are looking for,” she noted. “Anybody who wants to go to vet school I would absolutely send to Sweet Briar. I think it’s a perfect way to prepare.”

ALUMNAE PROFILE

There is something special about the all-women aspect. I got to be in leadership roles that I probably would’ve never been in because I wasn’t always the most outgoing person. It gives us the confidence to go for what we want. It’s a unique environment to get outside of your comfort zone, which I really enjoyed.

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Torrey Schwartz ’16 Torrey took a slightly different path to vet school. While she completed all the prerequisites to enter vet school through her biology and chemistry minor, she majored in business. Torrey acknowledges that Sweet Briar encourages its students to do just that kind of thing. “I really liked how I was able to do a lot,” Torrey reflected. “I think the small class sizes, the personal attention and the support at Sweet Briar made it easy to overload my schedule while not feeling overloaded at all.” Like Hailey and Noell, Torrey also did a lot with Relay for Life. She played lacrosse for two years and was a member of the Aint’s N Asses, the Chung Mungs and the cooking club. Torrey knew before starting college that she wanted to go to vet school. “It was hard not to pick Sweet Briar because they have such a good acceptance rate into vet programs,” she stated. As Torrey prepared for an 8-year academic path from undergrad through vet school, she knew she didn’t want to only study science. “I like learning, and business made it possible for me to understand another side of veterinary medicine. The business department was absolutely amazing, and Prof. Lotfus was so supportive. On the biology side, there was obviously Dr. Morrissey who always does so much for us.” Being a multidisciplinary student helped her stand out while applying for vet school. “Having something a little bit different is good because all the applicants are smart and intelligent people with good test scores.” “Sweet Briar shaped the person that I am,” Torrey shared. “ There is something special about the all-women aspect. I got to be in leadership roles that I probably would’ve never been in because I wasn't always the most outgoing person. It gives us the confidence to go for what we want. It’s a unique environment to get outside of your comfort zone, which I really enjoyed.” Torrey told us that she’s always felt a need to help people and animals and create a bond with them. For her, it’s the best of both worlds: To help the animals you love and the people who love them. “It’s not easy, but you feel you are making a difference,” she said. Torrey is one of five vets at the Portland Veterinary Wellness Center in Oregon, a small animal general medicine practice. Her business degree helps her see the center’s operations in a holistic way. While she thoroughly enjoys her work, she keeps an eye on her future, which might include opening her own business one day.

ALUMNAE PROFILE

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Go to a school that you see yourself loving. Have fun and get involved. I think it’s also very helpful to work or volunteer in your field. Work in various aspects of the job to make sure that it’s actually what you want to do.

Noell Cosby ’17 Most of Noell’s time at Sweet Briar was spent “on the other side of campus” in Babcock and Guion as a biology major and chemistry and dance minor. She was an admissions ambassador, the president of Taps N Toes, a member of the QVs, a teacher’s assistant for biology labs and head of recruitment for Relay for Life with Hailey. “Pre-vet was always the plan,” shared Noell, “When I talked to my parents about it, they said ‘e ver since you could talk and knew about animals, you wanted to be an animal doctor.’” “I learned a lot from Sweet Briar’s biology program,” she proudly stated. “Even though nothing can really prepare you for vet school, I think it did one of the best possible jobs. Working with Dr. Morsissey and Dr. Davis was great, and I still call both of them friends.” Originally, Noell, a lifelong dancer, wasn’t planning on taking many dance classes in college. But once at Sweet Briar, she decided to take an intro dance class, and that inevitably led to her declaring a second minor. Noell believed that dance was great for her vet school applications as it demonstrated a well-rounded education—part science, part art. “It also was nice to have something to do other than the sciences,” Noell said with a laugh. “I applied to the University of Illinois because I knew Hayley and Torrey,” she said. “When I got an interview, honestly, I only went so I could see them. I thought I wouldn’t go there, but once I visited, I loved it.” After graduating from vet school in 2021, Noell returned to Virginia and joined Mechanicsville Animal Hospital, a small animal clinic outside of Richmond, where she is one of eight veterinarians. “Right now, I see small animals like dogs and cats, and I eventually want to expand into exotic medicine,” Noell said of her future plans. “I really enjoy surgery and am doing a lot of dentistry. I like educating clients and building relationships.” When asked what advice she had for future college and vet students, Noell shared: “Go to a school that you see yourself loving. Have fun and get involved. I think it's also very helpful to work or volunteer in your field. Work in various aspects of the job to make sure that it’s actually what you want to do. Stand in surgery for extended hours and make sure that it’s still fun. Be part of euthanasia and make sure you can handle it. And, of course, snuggle puppies!”

ALUMNAE PROFILE John Morrissey is well known for his sense of humor—and fashion—and is a sought after emcee for events like the Cardboard Boat Regatta

What does the pre-vet track look like at Sweet Briar? This surprises nearly everyone, but there isn’t a single prevet path. For one thing, vet schools do not care which major an applicant completes. For another, they are idiosyncratic and variable in terms of the prerequisite courses that they require. A student who intends to apply to one particular school might need to complete a variety of courses that are different from those needed for another school. Nevertheless, there is a theme. No matter which vet schools are being targeted, students can definitely look forward to completing biology and chemistry courses, plus some math, English and physics. After that, there is an enormous variety of courses that a given vet school might require, from public speaking to medical terminology to humanities.

grades, an excellent score on the entrance exam, excellent letters of recommendations, an excellent personal statement and an impressive showing during their interview. Our size makes it much easier for a pre-vet student to attain all of the above. Professors are able to get to know students, which enables them to prepare comprehensive letters of recommendation that are thoughtful and persuasive. Finally, our unavoidable leadership opportunities cultivate assertiveness, maturity, self confidence and a host of soft skills that enable students to shine. Our track record demonstrates that Sweet Briar is the single best school to attend if one hopes to become a veterinarian: 93% of our applicants were accepted to vet school in the last 13 years, and 100% were accepted in 10 of those 13 years!

For students who go on to veterinarian school, what qualities do they have? The ease with which they accumulate high GPAs while being very active on campus is impressive. But being bright isn’t enough. A student who isn’t motivated to stick with it for the long haul will not make it. The single quality that I would anoint pre-vet students with is passion. If they are incapable of conceptualizing any other career, then I would bet the farm that they will be successful applicants.

What do you enjoy most about being the pre-vet advisor? Ironically, I take the most pride in helping those students who do not go to vet school. Because the academic bar is so high, and the path is so rigorous, about 90% of entering students who self-identify as pre-vet never apply to vet school. The expectations, workload and rigor persuades them to seek out a different career path long before the application phase of the process rolls around. This can be an extremely difficult moment in their lives. That’s when I have the honor to step in to help them identify a new directionality for their future. This is, without question, the most rewarding aspect of my role as the pre-vet advisor.

How does Sweet Briar prepare students for their veterinarian future? The best feature of a Sweet Briar experience is our small size. To be a successful applicant, a student needs excellent

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John Morrissey: Biology professor and pre-vet advisor

ALUMNAE PROFILE

DaZané Cole ’20: A future vet and scientist with a vision

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DaZané Cole ‘20 has always had a clear vision for her life. As a first generation college student from Connecticut, DaZané followed the pre-vet track at Sweet Briar with a double major in biology and psychology. Currently, she is in her second year at Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine—one of the top five vet schools in the nation— where she’s studying pathology and has a special interest in infectious and zoonotic disease. DaZané received numerous scholarships while at Sweet Briar, and in her senior year, she was the recipient of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation scholarship. The foundation’s scholarship program awards grants for the education of women with financial need at more than 200 accredited educational institutions in nine southern states. Most of the scholarships support undergraduate education, with a special interest in health and medical studies. As a Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship recipient, DaZané was recently selected by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond to be highlighted in their upcoming exhibition on the life of Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans.

ALUMNAE PROFILE

DaZané’s mindset is a reflection of the multidisciplinary thinking that the liberal arts embodies. “I wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as I can remember,” DaZané reminisced. “I also went through a phase in my early life when I wanted to be a veterinarian, a forensic medical examiner and a NICU nurse. I’ve always believed that you don’t have to be one thing in your life, that you are many things, and why would that not manifest in careers?” As she grew up, her love of science continued to strengthen along with her love of animals and her certainty that she wanted to be a veterinarian. As DaZané entered high school, she began researching pre-vet programs and requirements. “I originally didn’t apply to any schools in Virginia, but I ended up doing so on a whim, which turned out to be a strategic whim,” she said with a laugh. “When I visited Sweet Briar, I knew I’d love it here. I enjoyed the environment and the access to professors, both for academic work and for personal hobbies that you both enjoy, or just to have a great conversation.” DaZané saw the pre-vet program as a perfect fit. “I knew I wanted to prioritize research, which is why Sweet Briar was on my radar. I wanted to attend a smaller college and get first-hand experience doing novel research. I believed Sweet Briar could offer me that, especially after visiting.” “One of the best things about going to a liberal arts college is that you see the importance of it all,” she said. “It’s interdisciplinary just as the world is interdisciplinary. I felt like I was doing things in psychology that directly contributed to what I was doing in biology. It was a wonderful time for me, despite the hard work and stress.”

The vet school experience

Ohio State also was a strategic whim for DaZané. They weren’t on her radar, and she didn’t know anyone there. But, as one of the top five vet schools in the U.S., she was drawn in by their research and funding opportunities, their leading edge resources and their teaching hospital. “All of this was important to me because the field will change and evolve and you should be able to change and evolve with it. I also knew I wanted to be a dual-degree student with the hope of getting a doctorate of veterinary medicine as well as a Ph.D. in applied science. Ohio State had everything I needed,” she said. In her first year of vet school, DaZané explored many different areas of veterinary medicine to help her decide which track she would like to take. She took a comparative biology of disease class and a clinical pathology class, which she loved because it fed her interest

Like so many Sweet Briar students, DaZané was active in many activities. She was the historian for Tau Phi, co-editor of Red Clay, a two-time summer research fellow, a Pannell scholar and she worked in financial aid. in investigating disease processes. “While I think it is incredibly important to have sciences with a narrow focus and expertise, I want the ability to study it all, which falls in line with my belief that you don’t have to be one thing,” she stated with clarity. “I settled on pathology, and currently I am planning to finish vet school and go directly into a combined anatomic pathology residency and Ph.D. program.”

Lessons for life

Experiences gained at Sweet Briar echo throughout one’s life—something that our alumnae know well. For DaZané, it’s no different: “Key lessons that have continued on in my education are honing my studying style and seeking balance in my schedule and life. One of my greatest lessons was learning how not to overextend myself. At Sweet Briar, I learned how to prioritize and how to say no. Two very important life lessons.” “Veterinary school and Sweet Briar are both brilliant spaces where you get to explore many different fields,” DaZané shared. “You become excited and want to expand your skills. My advice to future college and pre-vet students is to truly enjoy this great experience and prioritize yourself and your mental health. College is a tricky, challenging and transformative time. Every day you should work hard, put your best foot forward and participate. And, listen to Morrisey, he really knows what he’s talking about.”

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A veterinarian vision

ALUMNAE PROFILE

Finding Purpose and Passion

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l a t n e m n o r i v in En ience Sc

direct line. “It’s been a long serendipitous path of defining moments that changed my routes in different ways that After a brief moment reflecting on how she couldn’t have helped me get to where I am,” she explained. possibly name only one or two highlights from her time When she arrived at Sweet Briar with her horse, she at Sweet Briar, Sarah Stapleton, Class of 2001, began to wanted to be an equine surgeon, which led her to the scishare the most profound yet routine experience. ences. She chose chemistry because of the con“One of the things I loved was eating “I would hear nection she made with Professor Sue Piepho, in Prothro and having a space where we who was her advisor. “She saw a lot of potential all gathered and ate together. Professors students say in me, which meant a lot,” Sarah remembered and staff would sit with us and there were so many lovely impromptu conver- they’ve never had fondly. She switched her focus to pre-med, but at sations that happened around the tables a science class the last minute, decided not to apply to mediin Prothro,” reflected Sarah. “Because that seemed like it cal school. She felt she wasn’t ready to go into I’m a bit of a slow eater, I would sit down with one group and then it would actually mattered.” medicine and wanted to do something different. That “something different” was going to Africa turn over and bring another group and with the Peace Corps, which she did right after then another. That was one of the most graduating. She stayed a little over two years, special things to me about Sweet Briar.” and while she was there, she taught science. In those moFlash-forward to today and, as an environmental science ments, she realized how much she loved it and knew she professor in the College of Education at the University of was destined to be a teacher. Oregon, food studies is a big part of what she teaches. She Sarah returned to the U.S. for her master’s in internaaddresses the role of food in sustaining school communitional education policy, thinking she’d return to Africa. ties and how much these common spaces—particularly But her partner—whom she had met while in the Peace around meals—mean to building a community. Corps and who was working on his Ph.D. at Stanford— But Sarah’s path to environmental science was not a

ALUMNAE PROFILE Sarah points out how issues like these aren’t regularly taught in school but need to be because they’re deeply tied to place, injustice and environmental issues. She feels the weight of these ethical issues, and firmly believes that we, especially in the United States, have the responsibility to step up and take action in our communities, our country and around the world. Having this dual mindset of local and global goes handin-hand with what she observes in environmental science students: “ They are very multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or even antidisciplinary because they see how everything connects. It’s like a food web: You can’t touch one part without impacting infinite numbers of other things across social and ecological systems.”

Sarah shows her son Calvin the native wildflower camus, which is important to the Kalapuya people.

Everything we do and everyone we meet can leave a lasting impression with a rippling effect. And, what better place to learn about environmental and social justice issues than in the field and in the classroom? Perhaps, the tables in Prothro.

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proposed, and so she moved to California and decided to teach. For several years, she taught science and a variety of classes for middle school and high school. Next, she took a job at a high school teaching environmental science. “I had never studied environmental science and had to be talked into it, which is wild to me because once I started, I found my passion,” Sarah said. “It was interesting to see all the things that happened with teaching environmental science in terms of students’ identities and the ways in which race, class and gender get associated with who are considered ‘environmental people.’” “I was fascinated by this,” she remarked. “I would hear students say they’ve never had a science class that seemed like it actually mattered. I felt that every student needed to have environmental issues embedded in their science curriculum, and that’s what drove me to get a Ph.D.: the quest to make sure that every student in the U.S. gets environmentally embedded science education.” Now, as a professor, she works with future teachers who are getting their teaching credentials, as well as doctoral students who are trained to be researchers. “I teach science method classes for elementary and secondary teachers and deeply embed environmental perspectives, indigenous perspectives and justice approaches in my work,” Sarah explained. “I created a class about the ways in which food intersects with schooling in complex ways, such as food insecurity, food and culture, the importance of school food and ways to be more sustainable and supportive of local agriculture. I also lead a class on how to teach climate activism in a way that inspires hope and action.” In December, the Environment Initiative at the University of Oregon named Sarah as its faculty fellow for spring 2022, which is part of a new program funded by the Office of the Provost. Through the Environment Initiative Faculty Fellows Program, Sarah is working on a project with Beyond Toxics, a local, grassroots environmental justice organization. Environmental justice addresses the ways in which marginalized communities, particularly people of color and low income communities, are being disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards. “For example, in our community, there is a wood treatment plant that is causing problems with air and soil contamination in the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Sarah.Thanks to their work and research, Beyond Toxics shared their findings with the state, and the chemical plants are required to dig up and remediate the soil in these neighborhoods. “This summer, we’ll work with social studies and science high school teachers to create a curriculum around this environmental justice organization’s data to teach students about these real environmental justice issues that are happening in Oregon,” she explained.

Your Gift to the Sweet Briar Fund

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MATTERS

We get it. Annual giving may seem a little routine: The needs rarely change, the goals are usually about the same from year to year and it does the mundane work of keeping the College operating. It certainly isn’t as exciting as something like buildings, which have names and require flashy amounts of giving. But, as we have all learned, annual giving is critically important for the College. It provides predictable revenue. Sweet Briar can’t thrive without it. Even as Sweet Briar’s tuition revenue increases, the annual giving program will continue to provide a strong foundation for Sweet Briar’s success. In fact, our annual giving program, formally named the Sweet Briar Fund, has represented the lion’s share of the College’s fundraising for the past seven years. At most colleges, the annual fund provides, on average, just 10%. At Sweet Briar, the numbers are a little different. In the 2016 fiscal year, the Sweet Briar Fund provided 83% of revenue to support the

GIVING giving program is one of the key metrics used in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings. This is the reason that we say “every gift makes a difference”—no matter the amount, an alumna making a gift to the Sweet Briar Fund has a positive impact on our participation rate, thus potentially increasing our place in the rankings. Participation is measured in two ways, depending on the definition of “alumna.” The Voluntary Support of Education Survey (VSE), which collects the data used by U.S. News and World Report, defines alumni as people with degrees who can be contacted by the College. At Sweet Briar, we prefer a more personal definition. We consider all of our former students who applied for admission and attended at least one semester of courses to be an alumna, whether or not she graduated. As of March 25, 2022, our participation rate according to the VSE method is 22.3%. According to our internal participation method, our rate is 16.8%. We have a goal to reach 30% participa-

tion according to our internal calculation method and every new alumna donor gets us closer to that goal! Alumnae class leaders have been reaching out to their classmates to encourage participation in giving to the Sweet Briar Fund. If they haven’t already, they’ll be calling soon as we get closer to the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2022.

Making your gift is easy. • Make your gift online at sbc.edu/give. • Mail a check to PO Box 1057 Sweet Briar, VA 24595. • Call our office for instructions for stock or wire transfers or to ask any questions you may have about other types of gifts at 800-381-6131. From all of us at Sweet Briar, thank you for your annual gift and continued support!

spring 2022

operating budget of the College. This year, the Sweet Briar Fund comprises 19% of the College’s budget. The Sweet Briar Fund may be routine, but it’s not boring! If you’ve read this magazine before, you know that unrestricted gifts support three key areas of the College: scholarships to support our students, funding for our academic program and faculty development, as well as the stewardship and maintenance of our historic natural and built environment. From sending students and faculty on conferences like the Society of Women Engineers, to funding our Grants for Engaged Learning for internships and study abroad experiences, to replacing the bulbs in our trademark lamp posts with LED lights, the annual fund is there to support both the expected and the unexpected. Alumnae participation in the Sweet Briar Fund is just as important—if not more so—as the dollars. For all colleges and universities in the United States, alumni giving to their annual

GIVING

Anyone Can Leave a Legacy at Sweet Briar

Planned giving can seem like a delicate subject, but it’s more than just thinking about what happens after you or a loved one passes. It’s an opportunity for a discussion about your most significant and heartfelt passions. While this is a personal topic, a discussion with family members or close friends can help you determine how you want to leave your legacy. From our schools to our places of worship and from the causes we support financially to the organizations we give our volunteer time to, the institutions that will outlive us provide a way to leave a lasting legacy. For alumnae and friends of Sweet Briar, there are tools available to make the

planning component easier for you. For Norma Bulls Valentine ’93, making a planned gift to Sweet Briar was a natural next step in her commitment to the College. After she read about Heather Colson Ewing ’90’s scholarship at Sweet Briar, Norma contacted the Office of Alumnae Relations and Development to establish a scholarship for students who ride. If you know Norma, you know horses have played a big role in her life. While she had initially named the College as a beneficiary on her life insurance, Norma has expanded her planned gift to Sweet Briar with an estate gift. “Sweet Briar gave me confidence I don’t think I would have received at

another college,” says Norma. “My professors taught me amazing problem-solving skills that I still use today. The College is in such a beautiful setting, it always felt comfortable and like home to me—with the added benefit of being able to ride there!” Because of what Sweet Briar provided to Norma, she was compelled to provide support for future generations of students. “I hope my planned gift can help other women attend and thrive at Sweet Briar,” says Norma. While Norma plans to leave a portion of her estate to Sweet Briar, there are numerous ways to make a planned gift, including with gifts of insurance and retirement funds. Ultimately, the best planned gift is the one that suits your needs as well as Sweet Briar’s.

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Making your gift to Sweet Briar

To find out more about making a planned gift to Sweet Briar through a bequest, please visit freewill.com/sweetbriarcollege. There, you can get started on preparing a legally-binding will.

For other types of planned gifts, from gifts of insurance to retirement assets, please visit sbclegacy.org.

If you are 70 ½ or older, making a gift from your IRA to Sweet Briar is also easy. Please visit freewill.com/sweetbriarcollege to get started making a taxsmart gift to Sweet Briar.

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ON THE QUAD

Show your pink and green pride!

shopsweet.sbc.edu spring 2022

No matter where you are, The Book Shop is your source for all kinds of Sweet Briar swag, including sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps, mugs, decals and more.

in MEMORIAM 1940

Linda Learnard Whitfield

Jan. 18, 2022

November 2021

1953

1957

Carol LeVarn McCabe

Carolyn Scott Arnold

Nov. 16, 2021

Jan. 9, 2022

1964

Mary “Midge” Chace Powell

Sydney Graham Brady

Nov. 1, 2021

Dec. 18, 2021

Nov. 15, 2021

Carlisle Morrissett Branch

1954

1958

Oct. 22, 2021

Mary Hill Noble Caperton

Lynn Prior Harrington

Lynne Riley-Coleman

Dec. 23, 2021

Oct. 20, 2021

Oct. 21, 2021

Anne White Connell

Ruth Carpenter Pitts

Nov. 8, 2021

Dec. 14, 2021

1965

Margaret “Maggie” Mohlman

1959

Sept. 30, 2021

1943 Effie Siebling Bowers Jan. 19, 2022

1944 Paulett Long Taggart Jan. 12, 2022

1946 Lillian West Parrott Nov. 12, 2021

Degler July 20, 2021

Barbara Sampson Borsch Oct. 14, 2021

Carol Cline Palmer March 17, 2020

Kate-Roy Massie Christian

Patricia Todd Higley April 27, 2021

Helen Scribner Euston Nov. 25, 2021

1966 Anne Overton Haile

Nancy Waite Ward

Beverly Smith Jeans

May 3, 2021

Oct. 3, 2021

1948

1960

Janet Cozart Ramsdell

Nancy Beekman Carringer

Janice Cullum Hodghead

Nov. 23, 2021

Oct. 25, 2021

Dec. 6, 2016

1955

Kate Penney Schumann

Philena Werden

Sept. 30, 2020

Oct. 1, 2021

Dec. 21, 2021

1961

1967

Susan Hayward Collins

Elizabeth “Betty” Pease Hopkins

Margaret Vose Armao

Nov. 28, 2021

Sept. 23, 2021

July 25, 2020

Emily Hunter Slingluff

Judy Bullock Pattison

Emily Chenoweth

Jan. 11, 2022

2008

Oct. 29, 2021

1962

Jill Berguido Gill

Edith Brooke Robertson

1956

Dec. 5, 2021

Mary Alice Major Duncan

Margaret “Mimi” Lusk Deithorn

Jan. 17, 2022

Jan. 12, 2021

1969

Mary “Bunny” Burwell Nesbit

Carroll Gatliff Herkimer

Pamela Steffens Sailer

Oct. 4, 2021

May 21, 2021

Dec. 24, 2021

Norma Davis Owen

Marilyn Graf Sullivan

Anne Suber Wilson

Dec. 28, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

Ardis Fratus Porter Oct. 22, 2021

1949 Anne Fiery Bryan Oct. 8, 2021

1950 Sally Anne Bianchi Foster Jan. 11, 2022

1951 Nancy Pesek Rasenberger Feb. 6, 2022

1952 sbc.edu

1963

Rebecca Yerkes Rogers

Cornelia Chalkley Kittler

As of Feb. 28, 2022

Kathryn “Kathy” Beard

Donna Robinson Cart

Jane Street Steele

Dec. 2, 2021

Feb. 2, 2022

Dec. 7, 2021

Nov. 10, 2021

1970

1971

1980

1984

Barbara Brewster

Tricia “Honey” Hammer

Karen Black Meredith

Jennifer Kirby Savin

Nov. 26, 2021

Oct. 13, 2021

Oct. 24, 2021

Nov. 11, 2021

Sally Anne Hewett Conway

Katherine “Kathy” Jones Youell

Feb. 2, 2016

Jan. 12, 2022

1981

1989

Hope Wright Puckett

1974

Susan Rowat Steiner

Helen Bradley Tarbutton

Dec. 27, 2021

Oct. 12, 2021

2013

Maureen Hynes Brouse Nov. 5, 2021

1995 Lynn Martin Aug. 5, 2016

MEMORIAM:

Emily Hunter Slingluff ’55 year. When I unexpectedly was voted class president during 2015 Reunion, she immediately became my guide, helper, and promoter. With Emily at my side, these last six years have been a joy. She truly loved her classmates and the College. Bless her.” Remembered affectionately by classmates and all who interacted with her, Emily possessed enthusiasm for living, insightful compassion for others, and a kind demeanor rarely encountered. Emily is survived by her beloved children, Dr. Craig Lee Slingluff, Jr., of Charlottesville, Va., and his wife, Dr. Kristin Marie Swenson; and by her daughter, Mary Slingluff ILL, of Virginia Beach, and her husband, Peter Markle ILL. She is survived by two granddaughters, Emily ILL Bealle, of Riverside, Conn., and her husband, Griffin Douglas Bealle; and by Hannah ILL Crenshaw, of Richmond, and her husband, Gordon Roper Crenshaw. She is survived by two great-granddaughters, Mary Williams Bealle and Louise Clarke Crenshaw and two great-grandsons Hunter Slingluff Bealle and Gordon Lee Crenshaw, III.

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Emily Hunter Slingluff ’55 died peacefully on Jan. 11, 2022, in Virginia Beach. After graduating from The Graham School in Norfolk and Sweet Briar College in 1962, Emily was an assistant editor of the Virginian Pilot until the birth of her first child. Devoted to raising her two children in a loving and supportive environment, Emily was asked by the principal of her children’s school to articulate how she had raised her small children. The concept of kind parenting was presented

in Emily’s first book, “A Present to the Newborn.” Upon publication, the Associated Press heralded the book by stating that the world would be a different place if everyone read this book. Emily believed in working with the child rather than against the child, talking and explaining rather than punishing. Emily went on to publish four books in total, sharing her passion for kind parenting. Recognized for her insight and compassionate childrearing, Emily appeared numerous times on radio, television and podcasts, earning awards and recognition. She was the recipient of the Fulltime Homemaker of the Year for the State of Virginia from Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum in 1988 and the Safe Harbor Award in 2014 for her “commitment to helping children and families.” Her website EmilySlingluff.com offers wisdom on various parenting topics. Mitzi Halla ’55 remembers Emily fondly, “Emily was smart, a bundle of fun and a friend to all. The 1955 Sweet Briar Patch write-up about her included ‘a little package packed with dynamite.’ I cannot imagine a better classmate to write our class notes and she did that year after

CLASS NOTES

CLASS notes 1952

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Pat Layne Winks 312 Arguello Blvd., Apt. 3 San Francisco, CA 94118 plwinks@earthlink.net

Throughout 2021 we managed to accommodate ourselves to the “new normal,” meeting with vaccinated and boosted friends in our community and venturing farther afield whenever restrictions were lifted. We can point to happy highlights of the year. By now we have celebrated our 90th birthdays. (Yes, I know I haven’t—you all remind me I’m a mere child of 88.) Jackie Razook Chamandy, Kate Shaw Minton, and Joanne Holbrook Patton, who live in nearby Connecticut retirement communities, held a luncheon get-together. Later Joanne celebrated a splendid Thanksgiving weekend with more than 20 family members of several generations. Benita Phinizy Johnson spent Christmas in North Carolina with her sons, granddaughter, and a new great-granddaughter. Nancy Hamel Clark traveled to spend the holidays with her son and daughter. Pauline Wells Bolton welcomed her children from other states and Mexico to her home in Texas. The highlight of my year was a trip to New York City in October with daughter Cathy. We were able to reunite with my sons who live there. The weather was ideal, museums and theaters were reopening, and the entire city seemed to be celebrating. At this point in our lives we inevitably mark losses of loved ones. Phoebe DeFoe Adams, Lynn Lane Fozzard and Laura Radford Goley lost their husbands of many years. We mourn, too, the death of our own Sally Gearhart, a trail-blazing activist for gay and lesbian rights. Perhaps you read our President Meredith Woo’s beautiful online tribute, or the New York Times obituary, followed by the article in the New York Times Magazine’s annual “Lives We Have Lost.” A documentary of Sally’s re-

markable story is in the works. I’ve been interviewed about her days at Sweet Briar. Coincidentally, Joanne Holbrook Patton was interviewed for 2 documentaries: one about her great-grandmother, a gifted painter who studied art with Impressionists in Paris, and another about the Patton family in Hamilton, MA. I want to express my deepest gratitude to all our children and grandchildren who have helped us navigate these difficult days. Some of us have children who live nearby. Those who live in other parts of the country or world are just a FaceTime or Skype away. The digital era, so often frustrating, does have its advantages. I can only hope that we were all spared the fires, hurricanes, storms and floods that have devastated so many. Unfortunately, Omicron has crept ever closer as I write this, and many who had weathered previous outbreaks report that COVID invaded households despite abundant precautions. Let us hope that by the time you read this, all the variants have slunk away. And let us hope, too, that we can commemorate our 70th Reunion at Sweet Briar in June, in person or in our hearts.

1954

Bruce Watts Krucke 201 West 9th St. North, Unit 184 Summerville, SC 29483 bwkrucke@gmail.com You may have wondered why our class had no notes in the fall issue of the Sweet Briar Magazine. I didn’t forget you! Because of so many classes now, the magazine has had to divide our columns up. All even numbered classes will have notes in the spring magazine and odd numbered classes will be in the fall. It’s good we are in the spring—I can glean news from your Christmas cards since the notes are due in mid-January. Starting as usual with the obits, we send condolences to the families of those we lost in 2021. I’m picking out interesting things from the obituaries to help us remember our

classmates. SBC sent this nice notice about the passing of Janet Cozart Ramsdell. We remember how Janet was known for living each day by her principles, the most important of which was kindness. Her motto, learned while a student at Madeira, was “Function in disaster; finish in style.” Always youthful at heart, she loved to laugh and she loved to dance—teaching her children the Charleston, though she always danced it best. Mary Hill Noble Caperton was born on Aug. 23, 1932, in Annapolis, MD, to the late R. Adm. Kenneth Hill Noble and Anna Hanson Iglehart Noble. Her family and father were stationed at Pearl Harbor, and survived the attack in 1941. She died on Dec. 23, 2021. Mary Hill worked in the biology department at UVA, worked for years at the SPCA, and owned and operated Guesthouses BnB. She was a 30 year veteran of water aerobics at the city pool, when COVID hit. Mary Hill is survived by son Ian Christopher Day (Lucinda); daughter, Emily Forsyth Day Whitworth (Chip), daughter-in-law, Sarah Barbee Day; stepdaughters, Kathryn Caperton Wright (Doug), and Mason Caperton Hood; 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Anne White Connell died in November after an illness of many years. She was very involved with the Episcopal Church. An extrovert with a life full of friends, Anne did not simply watch the world pass by, she made sure to fill her days with all those things that make life worth living; call her up on any given day and she could be found studying Shakespeare, painting in her home studio, tending flowers in the garden, or cheerfully setting off on some “high adventure” with her grandchildren— like her many appearances starring as the grandmother in the Ballet Memphis Nutcracker, dancing with her granddaughter Kate. Her love for the French language and culture led her to teach French for many years and she also led friends and family on tours of France. Anne was also an

artist in her own right, and passionately pursued this through studies in France and Italy, producing beloved oil paintings. Anne is survived by her 3 children and 6 grandchildren. (Ann was very good about passing on news to me about her seeing Jean “Sissy” Morris Long, Virginia “Pony” Bramlett Lowrance, and Anne “Peaches” Davis Roane at a literature class they all took together. The Ramages would be proud.) I have no details, but Margaret “Polly” Van Peenen Grimes died May 7, 2021. Ann “Pinkie” Walsh Cahouet passed away last June. She is survived by her 4 children and 6 grandchildren. Everyone knew her as pure light. Despite longtime physical challenges, she remained the same warm, kind, wise, funny and appreciative person everyone had always known. Among her gifts was a musical ear that she revealed at the age of 4 when she climbed onto the piano bench and played a perfect rendition of the piece her older brother had been practicing. As her dad’s career led them to relocate to other cities, she founded volunteer singing groups in each new community. She would direct and accompany the groups on piano, often by ear, and they would sing at nursing homes and prisons. Another of her passions was tutoring children in foster and group homes. We were sad to read that Hattie Hughes Stone’s husband died last year. She is trying to do the normal things that they would have done together—going to the theater and museums in NYC, which has been made even more difficult because of COVID. Hattie has kept up their season tickets to the Met and the NY Philharmonic. With all the safety measures being used she feels safe attending still, especially since she has had all the vaccinations. (Hope you all have too.) They had a big family gathering to celebrate Hattie’s oldest son’s 65th birthday. Her daughter Kathleen retired from the Methodist ministry and is working on justice issues with NAACP now.

CLASS NOTES

Kathleen’s son is a drummer for the rock band Bleachers, which is up for a Grammy. His brother is a puppeteer who toured the world with War Horse. Hattie is returning to Vestry this year for a two-year term. Exciting news! The class of 1954 has a new president. Faith Rahmer Croker has agreed to be the president of our class following the death of our beloved Mary Jane Roos Fenn. Faith’s family and friends celebrated her 90th birthday Oct. 14. She is enjoying her new townhouse back in her original Williamsburg neighborhood. Martha “Billie” Isdale Beach writes that she was still having “fuzzy head” problems as she recovered from a bad case of COVID late last year. Caroline “Kobo” Chobot Garner says no news is good news these days. She hasn’t traveled anywhere. But Jerry Dresbach Ludeke is traveling a bunch. Starting with going to San Francisco, then to Petaluma for their traditional Thanksgiving and her birthday Reunion with all the family and many friends, including son Scott and family from Costa Rica. Jerry went back to Costa

Rica with them til the new year. She helped edit some books and also received an award from the Conference of California Historical Societies for over 25 years of service to history in her community of Bakersfield. Jerry has also decided to move to a retirement community in Mill Valley and has begun the challenging process of down-sizing. Her grandson has helped with cataloging her book collection. Shortly after moving into their new retirement community, Norris tripped and fell on Shirley Poulson Broyles, resulting in her having a broken femur and a 10-year-old hip replacement replaced. She recuperated and rehabbed where they live, but unhappily won’t be able to travel until next fall. Shirley sent the sad news that Emily Hunter Slingluff ’55 whom many of us knew passed away in January. Last year was good and bad for us. We had a big party with 23 of Bill’s relatives to celebrate his 95th birthday in June, just a couple of days after, he had a small TIA which left no damage. Then in July, our middle son, Kurt, in better than excellent health, died of “sudden fatal arrhyth-

1958

Eleanor St. Clair Thorp 3 Stoneleigh #6D Bronxville, NY schatzethorp@gmail.com Winter is here again, and a Happy New Year to all my classmates. Although not many of you responded to my emails, many thanks to those who did. It was good to hear from you. Ann McCullom Floyd has moved from her home in Murrells Inlet, SC, to Hoes Community in Columbia. She misses her old home, but is closer to her children and gets to see them more often. Ann keeps in touch with Beedy Tatlow Richie, Sandra Elder Harper, Jane Oxner Waring, Eleanor Cain Pope and others. Ethel Ogden Burwell writes that she is still very busy, despite the

COVID, with family, her community and her church. Ethel enjoys much time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as with her daughter Lisa, Class of ’84, who is the grandmother. Ethel spends January to May in her condo in Lexington, VA, and then is off to summer in Michigan. Betty Rae Sivalls Davis writes that she and Paul are enjoying life together and enjoying their good health. We feel very fortunate, Betty Rae says! Tibby Moore Gardener and Bill celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year and congratulations to them! All is good with her family, boys and their families are doing well. Mary Taylor Swing and Bill are still very much involved with URI and enjoying life in CA. Bill was a very good friend of George Schultz and played a big role in his funeral service and after. He is now doing the same for Schultz’s wife Charlotte who was a very active and beloved member of the San Francisco community. The report from your secretary is that all is well in Bronxville and on Cape Cod where we spend our summers. Our 3 girls and 7 grandchildren are all thriving. We had the pleasure of being at the wedding of our oldest grandson this summer, which was a very special occasion. The most heartbreaking event for me this year was losing one of my oldest and dearest best friends, and our classmate, Lynn Prior Harrington. Peter and I and our oldest daughter drove down to Bay Head for the service where we briefly saw Lee Cooper Vanderveld and her husband, Chris. I expect we have lost other classmates this year, and I am sorry I do not have their names to add to Lynn’s for you. Have a good winter and good summer and keep in touch.

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Lura Coleman Wampler 1406 Thomas Rd Wayne, PA 19087 lcwampler@comcast.net Sue Cahill: Bessie Bulkley Bradley ’61 and I could not take our annual ski trip out west last year because of

spring 2022

Betty Rae Sivalls Davis ’58 and Mary Lane Bryan Sullivan ’58 who had a fun visit in Midland

mia” in the night. We won’t ever get over it, but we are very close to our “daughter-out-law” of 20 years Clare, which helps. Older and retired son, Carl, helps us a lot—he can fix anything. He rides his bike 20-30 miles several times a week. Younger son, John, is Charleston’s premier piano tuner now—Steinway calls him from NY to make appointments and he does all the work for the College of Charleston. He also tours as stage manager with the band NRBQ several times a year. As you read this I will have just happily retired as president of the Village Resident Council after 5 years of a 1 year term. We’re very lucky to have been so well protected during the long pandemic here in our retirement community. Life goes on—we both still sing in the chapel choir, belong to a book club, Bill exercises and I play mahjong. Thanks to everyone who responds to my multi-annual pleas for donations to Sweet Briar. It was disappointing to see we were lowest in the ’50s decade for participation in the fall with less than 10%. But there were 3 classes lower than us in the amount given. I hope by the time you read this, the health of the country will be better. Do send me bits of news about you and your family. It would be good to have more news and fewer obits. Thanks.

sbc.edu

CLASS NOTES

COVID—first time in 35 years— but we are going to Aspen/Snowmass this year in March. My son and family will drive from Denver where they live and join us for 4 days, so I have achieved several things on my bucket list, skiing with my grandchildren and giving my granddaughter horseback riding lessons. Rhett Ball Thagard: All the Sweet Briar news is good. I am especially happy about the bees, the vines and the greenhouse, and hope Sweet Briar wine and honey will be for sale one day. Jane Tatman Walker: This year has been very busy for Frank and me. In January we moved into an independent 2 story house on the Hoosier Village Retirement Community campus in Zionsville, just across the county line of Indianapolis. While preparing to move and selling our Indiana house, we also sold the Florida house long distance via Zoom. It was a crazy period, but we are happy we did it all. The pandemic helped us focus on what to keep from FL and arrange to ship north and what to keep period. We headed to the Sweet Briar 61st Reunion in July where 7 other classmates also returned. It was great seeing everyone and the changes in the campus and the fact that the Greenhouse and the wine areas were used for some events. Time to explore was appreciated. I very much wanted to meet President Woo and was able to share 3 special occasions with her. In November we took a week Crystal cruise to Bermuda. We plan on traveling around Florida in late January and early February visiting friends and family returning home via Atlanta and visiting with roommate Nina Wilkerson Bugg and Bill and seeing Linda Sims-Grady Newmark and Ann Crowell Lemmon. Elizabeth Meade Howard: I’m still upright and continuing to do some volunteering with the IRC (International Rescue Committee) with newly-arrived Afghans. Barbara Murphy Hale: All the Hale family made it here for Thanksgiving: Phil’s son, his 2 grandsons, the 3 wives and 2 great granddaughters. A loving tribute to Philip. My volunteer activities involve working to restore our rivers through 3 organizations, League of Women Voters, Shore Rivers, and Dorches-

ter Citizens for Planned Growth. I am party to a lawsuit filed against a major polluter. We attend and testify at public hearings held by state agencies. Reunion was great, and our class is amazing. My daughter, Lenetta McCampbell ’85, is also a member of an amazing class, and I always enjoy talking to them at Reunions. All those who attended Reunion shared pride in what the college has accomplished. Ann Crowell Lemmon: I am sending this from St. Croix where my daughter and her family live. Sally’s husband, Bill, is Nina Wilkerson Bugg’s son. It has been wonderful to be in paradise over Christmas—perfect place to recover from hip surgery followed by a broken kneecap surgery! Lesson is to stay vertical! Carol Barnard Ottenberg: Nothing to say of interest as dodging Omicron becomes a new national sport and climate change seems to increase our rain and heat extremes in Seattle. I hope to get back to SBC one year to see all the marvelous changes that have occurred. Isabel Ware Burch: A reaction to a medication caused me to be hospitalized, but I am on the mend now. I was happy to have my son Charlie and his family with me for Thanksgiving in Williamsburg and I also enjoyed being with my son, Allen, and his family for Christmas in Philadelphia. It was the first time in a year that I have been with my grandchildren. I am looking forward to spending some time in Florida starting at the end of February. Sadly, my brother, Latane Ware, died on Dec. 26. Elsie Burch Donald: My book, “Youniverse: A Short Guide to Modern Science,” was published in the UK by Duckworth, in September. It’s aimed at all those who, like me, had a liberal arts education that left us knowing beans about science. It’s never too late, ladies. My book can be ordered on Amazon.com. Betsy Buechner Morris: We are still sailing, skiing, biking, and traveling when we can. Also, our son, Peter, and his family have joined us in this big old 300-year-old house. Betty Forsyth Harris: I still enjoy quilting and seeing close friends who have all been triple vaccinated. We were very blessed to have our whole family plus a granddaughter’s boy-

friend here for 3 days over Christmas. I am very proud of SBC right now and all that is happening. Lots of students, greenhouse, grapes, bees and honey and all that money raised. Becky Towill McNair: I think I can report for all of us who were able to get to Sweet Briar for our multi times postponed Reunion. It was worth waiting for. The campus was once again impressive! Such fun to see the classmates who joined in the tours, the class gatherings and the Reunion wide meetings. Bill and I are enjoying our new stage in life at Sharon Towers Retirement Home. So easy to travel now—and nowhere to go with COVID looming. All trips postponed. Sandy Schumacher Lawrence: My husband of 56 years, Jay, died in 2020 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s and I’m just appreciating what time I’ve got left. Carolyn King Ratcliff: We’re headed for Florida in a couple of weeks and are putting our house in White Stone on the market this spring. Sad to leave, but going back and forth to Richmond is not as much fun as it used to be. Linda Sims Grady Newmark: Reunion was great, even if we were a small group. The greenhouse is amazing and supplied delicious fresh salads and vegetables for many meals. The campus looked fantastic with flowers in bloom, dells mowed, and buildings freshly painted. I attended parents/now friends and family weekend in October. My youngest granddaughter is a junior transfer class of ’24. Labor Day weekend my great niece and Tila Farrell Grady’s granddaughter married. Carolyn King Ratcliffe’s granddaughter was a bridesmaid. Small world! Missi Meyers Gibbs: I am divorced and in the same apartment where I have lived for 56 years—I continue to volunteer at the hospital—formerly Roosevelt and now Mount Sinai West. I had 2 children, but my son died suddenly for no apparent reason 2 weeks before his 52nd birthday. For the last 15 or so years I have had a Romanian concert pianist living with me in my big empty nest apartment. I am in the AstraZeneca COVID trial, which was a blind trial, but as it became more necessary to be vaccinated, I was “unblinded” and was one of the people

in the test group who did have the vaccine, so I was able to get a booster, which I received as one of my volunteer spots was in the “Flu Pod” assisting the staff at the hospital in the vaccine process. Patti Powell Pusey: I am very thankful that my health is good. Carolyn King Ratcliffe and Clyde have moved into the apartment next to me—a totally unexpected blessing! She and I take 2 or more mile walks in the morning. I’m starting my seventh year living at Westminster Canterbury and love everything about it. Currently, I head the Fellowship Committee. We raise money to provide a life here for residents who run out of funds as well as provide a chance to live here for folks who could not otherwise afford it. We currently have about 100 being served in our population of about 800. My 3 children and families live in this area. Currently 12 grandkids, 2 married, 2 live-ins and 3 great grandkids. My off-campus partner, Phil Morris, and I are starting our 5th year of weekly date nights. Never dreamed I would fall in love again— especially with an 86-year-old lawyer! I went to Reunion last summer with the Ratcliffes. The campus was as beautiful and seeing the vineyards and bee hives, which will provide needed revenue, it was fantastic! Heidi Wood Huddleston: I am dealing with the aftermath of a tornado, which badly ripped through our Kentucky city. Although we are okay, we are badly shaken because the 3 story home of friends where we sheltered took a direct hit and the section above us was destroyed. Cars were also destroyed so lots to take care of. Lucy Martin Gianino: Surprisingly, our family has remained COVID free, thus far. I am deeply involved with several volunteer activities. One, learning about the amazing work Sweet Briar is doing to provide a stellar education for young women and spreading the word. Secondly, I am the current Chair of NYC-Parents in Action, an organization which promotes communication parent to parent and parent to child through a variety of lectures, seminars, parent talks. Also for 35 years, I have moderated the panel for Teen Scene where teens speak out on what’s impacting their lives—they

are always outstanding in their honesty and concern. Happily, I still have some theater and TV work coming along. We actors rarely retire! Lura Coleman Wampler: Thankfully, Fred and I are healthy and still living at our little farm in Wayne, PA, where we plan to stay as long as possible. I continue to serve as a judge of photography for local garden clubs and to be chair of altar flowers for my church, where I also serve on the Worship Commission. We have 7 grandchildren, 5 of whom live in our area. We go to every sports game, concert, ballet and theatrical performances both virtually and in person! I thank all of those who sent in notes for this article—keeping in touch brings such pleasure to many! Lucy and I send love to all!!

1962

Parry Ellice Adam 33 Pleasant Run Rd Flemington, NJ 08822 peaba@comcast.net Greetings ladies, by the time you read this, our 60th Reunion will be right around the corner. Since that will provide the ultimate opportunity for collecting class news, I decided to delay my solicitation until then. Sandy and I are registered to attend. However, if you are unable to join us in person and have news to share, please email me at peaba@comcast. net at any time. Your input is always treasured and it is a joy for all to remain connected! Cheers, Parry

1964

Virginia (Ginny) deBuys 7312 Saint Georges Way University Park, CA 34201 gdebuys@gmail.com By the time you read this, I hope that COVID will have receded and normalcy is returning. As I write this, most of you are saying “I have no news, why write?” As we approach our 80th decade, just knowing you all are out there and can pop up in an email, phone call, Zoom call (our class Zoom is popular), is a joy. Think of us all standing on the Senior Steps and let me (Ginny) or a classmate know how things are go-

ing with you. Just hearing a familiar voice on the phone is a treat—we are young again! VM del Greco Galgano is surviving COVID and happy that the worst of Michael’s broken ankle experience is over. She is busy—always with other people—helping, enjoying and playing. She sees Nancy Gillies and encourages visits from JoAnn Kramer and Mollie Nelson (“Mollie still makes the best salmon”). Hedi Haug White is “back to staying close to home, but grateful to be able to do so in our wonderful mountain setting—and in relatively good health!” MC Elmore Harrell is still working and bracing for another tax season, her 45th at least. “We spent spring and fall in Virginia, my 2 favorite seasons there and enjoyed a trip to Sweet Briar in late September. After being without a dog for 2 years, we got Lucy in 2020, a mainly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a bit over a year now. She helps keep us active. We enjoy living most of the year in St. Augustine where there is always something to do—the beach, historic sites, lots of restaurants. All in all, my relatively dull life is pretty good.” Your class officers: Hedi, VM, MC Elmore and Ginny all want to say that we are greatly encouraged by Sweet Briar’s news and future plans under President Woo and our board led by Georgene Vairo ’72. Our goals are rooted in the past, accepting of the realities of the present, and focused on the future. Mary Green Borg: “I slipped into retirement from teaching at our university due to COVID and my inability to teach by distance/ virtual/zoom—whatever the unsatisfying platform is called. Then I got involved in writing a book about the 6 neighborhoods surrounding the U. of Northern Colorado. This was great fun and well received, pushing the book into a second printing! We welcomed my 13th grandchild a year ago. Andrew Max is a sweet, happy, well-loved wee one. He has 5 cousins in college, 3 in high school, 3 in elementary school and 1 in preschool—all 22 of us spent a week together in our family bubble in the mountains—lots of loving, laughing, games, skiing and holding Andrew Max. Cheers to each of you for a safe and satisfying 2022.”

Dona Van Arsdale Jones: “Despite it all, I had a wonderful 2021 with my new grandson, and helped my daughter, et al, settle into their new home just minutes away. I also enjoyed a double-masked, socially-distanced trip to Nantucket with fabulous weather, food and fun. Zoom events with my garden club, social clubs, and various companies and organizations overflowed my calendar. The series on life at SBC, President Woo’s consistently inspirational presentations, and our class’s Sunday virtual gatherings were among my favorites! I hope all my dear classmates are well and happy as we wait to see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel.” Susan Jahn Mancini: “My holiday celebration was a different kind of celebration here as much for COVID as for the loss of my husband—still enjoyable, but low key. My husband passed away on Aug. 7 after several years of dementia. At the end of October, I welcomed a puppy who irritates her older step sister and gives me a lot of work and laughs—sometimes, but not always, at the same time. I can’t wait for her to shed those baby (razor blade) teeth. Both dogs are Havanese, a delightful breed. By the time you read these notes, I will be in the midst of a major remodeling of my house so that I have a more livable home. I see my son and his family often as they are 10 minutes away. My daughter and family live in Englewood, NJ— far away when there is a pandemic. Thank goodness for FaceTime.” Mary McGraw Clarke reports that she and Charles are enjoying the usual distractions during COVID— condensing, going through slides, gardening. As things opened up a bit in Canada, Mary enjoyed the ballet and is hoping to see an opera. Sarah Strother King spent Christmas with her family in Amsterdam. She has 4 teenage grandsons now. “How did that happen so quickly?” Sally Gump Berryman reports that she is doing well and still living on her farm. The animals keep her busy along with activities in support of a local art center, the senior golf program, and the Humane Society. Mary Deas Boykin Wortley: “2021 has been a roller-coaster ride for me. This spring I was diagnosed with breast cancer (very early—stage

1, and found before it could spread, thanks be to God.) But since it was a fast-growing type, I had to have the maximum chemo and radiation treatments. I am finished with all that now, and relieved to be getting back to normal. I don’t know how I could have managed without dear family and friends who support me, sustain me and bring me joy. In the meantime, I have written and illustrated a book. It’s for children and pet lovers of all ages and is called Butterbean and the Boykin Spaniel Story. It tells the (true) story of the origins of the Boykin Spaniel and is available on Amazon! Life is full of surprises and silver linings. If I hadn’t been stuck at home, thanks to the pandemic and then the chemo, I might not have had the inspiration to write it, or the time to focus on it and get it done. My kids are all thriving, and their kids are getting so grown up. I have grandkids in college, in high school, in the Navy, and 2 launching businesses on the internet. Keeping up with all their news is good entertainment, as I keep myself busy slowing down!” Dottie Norris Schipper: “The SBC reunion of 10 friends was to have been in Greenville this year, my hometown, but we had to cancel for the second time. Ever optimistic, I just called the restaurants, hotel, the Three Tenors, and Michel Bublé— hmmm dream on, and told them yet again to plan for next year. I am adding Benedict Cumberbatch and taking suggestions going forward. My youngest son is getting remarried in September and we are thrilled. I am playing lots of pickleball all over town and plan to take the paddle wherever I go (except for the family trip Dec. 27 to the Caribbean). All 15 members of the present and future family will go. While white pants don’t fit so well this year, there are always those BIG shirts! I think I will take all the pictures this year instead of being in them.” Lee Huston Carroll: “For many years I have enjoyed teaching GED math to men at the Fayette County Detention Center (jail) here in Lexington. Since COVID began, I was only able to teach for 3 weeks…that was last summer between “we are finished with this” and Delta. I have been reading a lot, masking, getting vaccinated, going to church online,

spring 2022

CLASS NOTES

sbc.edu

Wesie Rivers Robb’s granddaughter, Darby, and BSS Isa at WEC Ohio, Dec. 2021

seeing a small group of friends for bridge and truly not feeling very useful at all. I am thankful to have a daughter living here and we walk together several days a week—an effort that keeps me sane—that along with staying away from the headlines!” Ginny deBuys: “I am in good health and enjoying married life in Florida. A golf group Jerry belongs to goes to nice places where I sometimes can see a classmate. These trips and our other travel will (I hope) be part of 2022. As the big 80 approaches, I hope to celebrate it with my siblings here in Florida. We spent Thanksgiving in Massachusetts where I met a new great niece and Jerry’s family was with us for Christmas.” Anne Day Herrmann: “Another roller coaster year! We have spent most of it in Connecticut, up to our usual pandemic routine. Most days are Saturdays...we walk, read, attend webinars (me), ride, row and attend meetings over Zoom. In February, Tim will move to Luxembourg for a new job with Amazon. His family will follow after summer camp. Our other son, Jed, is in D.C. working for the Treasury. We have had several family visits this year giving me an opportunity to hone my skills at wrangling children.” [Ginny note: I am ending with Anne’s final note because she ex-

presses so well what we are all saying and thinking.] “What are we wishing for? Good health for our family and friends, good times with lots of laughs, not too many moments of despair about the world, the unending disasters, the state of our country and her people... uncertainty is certain. Maybe we will see lots of bright spots and moments of hope...I trust we will. May 2022 be a year with many joyous moments, and only small problems and lots of visits with friends and family.”

1966

Susan Hiller 4811 Garrison Road Little Rock, AR 72223 ssdh22@yahoo.com First of all, I send my thanks to Keenan Colton Kelsey and Gracie Butler Johnson for spreading the word so that the notes could happen. Since the response has been wonderful, I also thank each of you! Mary Meade Gordon Winn reported that she and her sister are in Vero Beach, FL, for the winter months and plans to go frequently to Sewall’s Point to visit her roomie Marilyn Garabrant Morris. She has also visited with Ellie Gilmore

Taylor and Marty Rogers Brown in Virginia Beach. The “boat anchor” COVID scourge has prevented further travel, especially since it has kept her from seeing her daughter Meredith and family in Jackson, WY. She is thankful to have Andrew and Tom III nearby while son Gordon is living in Madrid and Seville and that “all is well in my little world.” She sends greetings to all. Natalie Roberts Funk says that she and Jeff venture out a bit then hibernate as the COVID surges. They did visit Virginia Beach, as well as take short trips to visit family. She was unable to attend Reunion because of an accident that totaled their car. They were shaken up but, thankfully, were not injured. Coming to Sweet Briar would have been too far, too soon. On the bright side: they are planning a cruise around Ireland in August to celebrate their 30th anniversary! They are apparently very happy in their retirement community, “especially during lockdowns and snowstorms.” She feels “like the last 2 years have been mostly treading water until we can return to normal.” Keenan Colton Kelsey, feeling anguished at the state of politics and democracy, has decided to pull her activities and interests closer to home, concentrating on friends, family and local issues (especially environmental ones). She, too, is tired of the fear and reality of COVID, feelings which are complicated by a year of Arteritis (autoimmune inflammation of the temple arteries), resulting in a year on Prednisone, the only treatment. Though effective, it “does play havoc with anxiety, moods and weight gain.” With optimism, she says that she has found grace and peace staying home so much, while exploring Marin’s outdoors, trails and birdlife. Especially thrilling was her witnessing a murmuration of starlings and a migration stop of thousands of swifts! Truly precious that this focused time has allowed her and Mark to grow their relationship into a “deep and abiding love, yes, never too late.” One to shy away from headlines, Keenan was “thrilled to be honored at Sweet Briar with my name on a building.” She sends much love to all, as we share concerns about aging and loss. “I’m just glad to be alive.”

Andrea Pearson Pennington has moved from their home in Mobile, where they had lived for the 47 years of their marriage, to Mountain Brook, AL. Their house there backs up to her daughter’s home, where 3 of their grandchildren live. Despite leaving “everything and everyone we knew,” who were very important to them, she says that it was truly worth the trauma in the end. “Things you do in your 70’s you’d never imagined you would do.” Sally Kalber Fiedler hopes to be home by Easter after being in the Westminster Canterbury rehab hospital since early June. She says that Jay visits every day at lunchtime and has been a dear and done a great job of “handling things at home,” as well as visiting daily. Happy news is that their daughter, Julie, and husband have moved to Newport News, which is nearby and enables them to see each other fairly often. Son Lee and his wife live in Portland, Oregon. Their son, Alex, is a freshman in the Honors College at the University of Oregon. “Seems like he was a toddler only yesterday!” Sally sends good wishes, with the hope that all are well. Penny Winfree Gooch has moved to Brandon Oaks and lives in a Village Apartment. Her address is Mrs. Garrett Gooch, IV, 3952 Brandon Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24018-1444. Robin Cutler finds it hard to believe how much time has gone by and that her St. Paul’s Towers was starting to lock down again temporarily because of Omicron and for the protection of the retirement community. Even with masks, she said that it was wonderful to spend Christmas in person with family this year. Her younger daughter, Carlyn, and husband, Tod, drove to the Bay Area from Pasadena. Liz, Gabriel and her beloved grandsons Alex and Will (ages 13 and 11), plus 5 adopted pets “provided a warm and welcoming spot for a holiday celebration north of Berkeley.” In Oakland she stays busy with volunteer work, writing, reading, movies and a few gatherings with masks. She is truly impressed with all of the progress at Sweet Briar. “To be able to walk around the campus right now would seem like heaven, but it’s too far away.” She expresses hope that her troubled city,

our country and the world will be a better place as this is being read. “Best wishes to all of you for good health, serenity and the strength to keep your spirits up at such a challenging time.” Carole Poer Williams and husband Bill live about 5 miles south of Sedalia, CO, in a neighborhood of 5-acre horse properties. Their horses are long-gone, but she still raises and shows dogs. “Hard to believe we’ve lived here for 35 years—but then, it’s hard to believe we’re already in our 70s.” She says that it is difficult to think that our days at Sweet Briar were that long ago! They have 1 son, now 45, and a 12-year-old grandson, nearby in Highlands Ranch, CO. Muriel Wikswo Lambert reports that she is still teaching and involved in academic activities at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. It has been a challenging year as she and others have been using a hybrid system for lecturing, with lectures and exams being given and monitored electronically. Clark is still doing Dermpath. Daughter, Anastasia, has a busy family practice in Portland, ME. Their 3 young sons (4, 6 and 9) keep them on their toes. Oldest son, Phelps, also has a busy family practice, with this one being outside Philadelphia. Muriel was able to see him and his family at Christmas. Youngest son, Peter, is in internal medicine, doing a fellowship in Endocrinology in Oklahoma City. His wife, also in internal medicine, is doing a fellowship in hematology/oncology there. In late January, they are planning on getting together in a lodge in Maine to celebrate Clark’s birthday. Muriel hopes that all is going well with all. Pat Gromel Young says that a highlight of her year was having a porch lunch with Lin Campbell and Susan Kjeldsen Roos in Greenwich. She hopes that lunches in NYC will be possible again soon. Among the many books that she has enjoyed recently is Renee Rosen’s The Social Graces. Pat hopes that by next news “we have found NORMAL! Stay well.” Anne Ward Stern is delighted to have moved back to Charlottesville and to have seen many SBC classmates and family. Last year she attended a 1966 mini-reunion at Marty Rogers Brown’s in Fishing Bay. Attending were Jane Nelson,

Ellie Gilmore Massie, Mary Meade Gordon Winn, Virginia Williams, Marilyn Grabrant Morris and Betty Booker Morriss. Anne hopes that 2022 will bring good health and great joy to all. Jean Campbell Barquin reports that 2021 was quite a year for her, beginning with a hip replacement in January. She is thankful for that since she has been able to remain active and on the tennis court. Since she was vaccinated in February, she went to Hillsboro Club in Florida for a few weeks. When it seemed that COVID was waning in the summer, she had a great time, with outdoor socializing, etc. At Thanksgiving, her entire family gathered (children, spouses and 4 grandchildren, ages 3 to 11). For Christmas, everyone met in DC, where she lives. Jean took the 3 oldest grandkids (6, 8 and 11) to NYC for a wonderful weekend, which included the Nutcracker. All was fine until, on Christmas Day, the 11-year-old came down with COVID, followed by her mother, brother and father. Since no one was very sick, normal activities were able to be resumed. Then they flew to Hillsboro mid-January, hoping that a daughter and family could join them. No—COVID again, in the 6 year-old. Thus, COVID has hit her family, but at least she and her husband have so far escaped. Her wish: “that 2022 finally sees the end to COVID.” Jeannie Jackson Exum writes that, despite a challenging year, she and Joe have found some silver linings. COVID has impacted her family, but “we have been more fortunate than many others.” She stays in touch with close SBC friends and has plans to visit the wine country in California with Marcia Pace Lindstrom and her husband. Jeannie has a new rescue dog who “brings a lot of new love and warmth into our household.” She sends love to all who “touched my life so profoundly at Sweet Briar.” Jane Nelson says that this past year was in many ways like the previous one: masks in public places, large gatherings and church with social distancing in the same. However, there were many positives, thanks to the vaccine and booster. She was able to be with family at Thanksgiving and Christmas and to

have more time with friends. “Thank goodness for connections through technology during the pandemic.” She has missed the annual trip with her 3 SBC roomies (Keenan Colton Kelsey, Penn Willets Fullerton and Susan Sudduth Hiller) over the past 2 years, but enjoyed a great visit with Penn and Randi Miles Long when they were in the Culpeper area in October. “I’ve been blessed with good health so far and hope the same for all.” Gigi Hampshire is thankful for good results from open heart surgery to remove a benign tumor, although she is not fond of dragging her oxygen “leash” around. She moved to upstate NY, about 50 miles south of Montreal. She reported that as of her email it was 25 degrees, with a wind chill as low as -30 or so. Her daughter, Elizabeth, has a private family therapy practice in eastern VT, about 3 hours away. Her 5 kids range in age from 17 to 27, with one grandchild and another on the way. She is a great-grandmother! Gigi’s son lives in San Francisco with his wife and 2 precious children. He is with J.P. Morgan Chase in international banking. Since her 27-year-old granddaughter Alyssa lives with her, she is able to stay in her home. “Altogether, I am very blessed.” Ginny Lee Butters provided us with the sad news that El Griggs Diemer’s husband died in November. Ginny’s son Andrew (journalism) and his wife Nahid Siamdoust (Mid-East studies) will be moving with their 2 girls to Austin to teach at the University of Texas. Rab Willis Finlay says that she is doing well, “considering the present situation.” She has alternated between her home farm in South Carolina and her place in Middleburg, VA, near her husband’s farm, indicating that rural life is easier. She still hunts a bit and hacks out a lot. Six lively grandchildren add much joy to her life. Even though a hip replacement slowed her down a bit, she is, on the whole, better than okay, hoping that “soon we can get together more freely. Cheers to all.” Makanah Dunham Morriss and Bob seem to be doing okay, “a bit lame around the edges—or, should I say, old joints?” She wisely says that she is being very careful not to slip during this icy/snowy time. She

really enjoyed bringing in the New Year with Kit Baker Syndor and Kendall at Westminster Canterbury, in Lynchburg, where they live and where she and Bob plan to be at some point. “Celebrating the New Year with a Sweet Briar roommate is about as good as it gets.” Gretchen Miller Wintersteen moved from their house in Pennsylvania to their vacation home full time. She transferred to Boston University after sophomore year, thinking that SBC was too small and strict. She was surprised to find a big city university like BU similarly strict, especially regarding dress! Wesie Rivers Robb is living in Sullivan’s Island, SC. She spent Christmas in Arizona with her grandboys. Wesie gave up her USEF stewarding card recently after 37 years. Too much new paperwork and tedious admin duties as well as the stewarding. She still loves working with the people and will be doing only NSBA hunter and jumper stuff from now on. Also, Wesie has a granddaughter, Darby Pease, who shows GP. They were having so many conflicts since they could not do the same shows at the same time. Judy Fowler is living in Auckland, New Zealand. Grace Butler Johnson says that she and Jotham are “deaf as coots now.” Gracie deserves so much credit, as do others, for the excellent job that she is doing with our class. Thank you, thank you! Betty Booker Morriss let us know that her sophomore and junior roommate Mariana never liked “Mariana” and thus changed her name to Marianne Oechsle De Rubin. “She looks great and is a devoted, involved mother and grandmother. A grandson, Rafael Caipo, plays soccer for UVA. See virginiasports.com.” She’s primarily a WhatsApp user for those of us who are into social media. Betty sends a message to us all: “Hope you’re well and enjoying the fierce contentment of being seventy-something.” Martha Madden Swanson said that she does not have much to report. Her “children are good.” She is thankful that no one in her family has become ill. “Knocking on wood.” However, they did postpone several cruises. She did attend reunion with Cherry Brown Peters and enjoyed

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CLASS NOTES

Sally Lawrence Watkins working on a new native plant landscape project in their neighborhood

Rickey Hendricks and Jeremy Conn in Prague, Oct. 2021

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Amy Thompson McCandless and her adopted shelter kitten Otis

being recognized for the success of our class. “Well done, Gracie, and all who donated.” She remarked that the campus looked beautiful and that President Woo is quite impressive. Her reward for attending was being selected co-fund agent with Jane Nelson. “Thus, expect to hear from

me.” Martha is still working with the retired faculty and staff association at Georgetown and leading the foundation raising funds for the school in Kenya for AIDS-affected and other vulnerable children in Kibera, the largest slum in Sub-Saharan Africa. Randi Miles Long said how much it meant to have Penn Mullin Fullerton and Jane Nelson come to their granddaughter’s wedding near Culpeper, VA, this past October. Since Jane’s parents’ (now Jane’s) home is in Culpeper, she and Herb were able to have a visit with her and Penn for a few days after the wedding. Jane had first met this granddaughter during the Women’s March in Washington, Jan. 2017. Penn had seen her and her siblings every summer and sometimes at Christmas ever since she was born. “Penn and I remember that she was over for dinner the night my daughter, Melissa, and son-in-law, Andrew, told us that they were expecting a baby.” That was 24 years ago. Randi continued that friendships formed at Sweet Briar are treasured—whether with Penn and Jane or former roommates, Sally Green Ansell and Peggy Gilmore Myers, or dear friend from both high school and college days, Makannah Dunham Morriss. Makannah Dunham Morriss: Makannah had been gracious to offer book ideas for Randi’s Interfaith and Bible Study groups. She also enjoyed hearing “all the comings and goings of so many of our classmates on a Zoom Call earlier in the fall with Gracie and Jane and their team.” The wedding this past year and the upcoming college graduation this year for grandson, Matt, are indeed

highlights in Randi’s life. She recently read an opinion by Lindsay Crouse in the New York Times that truly resonated. “Her point was that ordinary days with mundane experiences are often the best days of the year. She advises that we must be intentional about marking those things we take for granted in our daily lives—like taking a walk in nature, or getting to talk with a friend. In doing so, ‘we can choose to make any day the best day of the year.’” Penn Mullin Fullerton writes that it was another crazy COVID year, but she feels blessed with health and having been able to still take some great trips and keep in close contact with family and friends! A highlight was her annual Montana fishing with her kids and some whopper trout! Also, she had a great time with Randi Cutler Miles and Jane Nelson in Virginia in October. Getting to see Keenan and Randi often is a happy thing in her life. Susan, Jane, Keenan and I hope for a mini-reunion soon. Penn is thrilled to announce that she has just self-published a children’s picture book: “Is 2 a Big Number?” It will be available on Amazon, at store.Bookbaby.com and the Sweet Briar Book Shop too! “Wishing all of you a healthy happy year!” Susan Sudduth Dodson Hiller—that’s me! Having written these Notes with Penn and Keenan and Jane for many years, it has been wonderful, not only to stay in touch with our class, but also to realize that so many of us are going through similar life situations and are willing to share them. Health issues? Sure, but that is just part of the blessing of being able to live this long. Losses? Sure— many “timely,” grandparents, parents, spouses (well, not always timely) and such. My heart bleeds for those in our class who have experienced “untimely” losses—children, and yes, even grandchildren. Recently, I was (even as a certified grief counselor) taken aback by my first loss of a very close contemporary, my friend of forty-plus years and business partner for more than twenty. I am personally blessed to be able to serve on staff (in a volunteer way) as Lay Minister for Pastoral Care at my church, St. Margaret’s Episcopal here in Little Rock.

Okay—on lighter notes! Daughter Penn and husband Christopher are successful attorneys, mainly practicing employment and family law in Georgia, New York and Colorado. Their 3 kids (Katie 19, Andrew and Ethan both 14) are wonderful! I did get to see them at Thanksgiving, after almost 2 years. Husband Chuck continues to be a very busy retiree, with vegetable gardening, beekeeping, bicycle riding and so on. He spends a lot of time visiting his 4 children and 12 grandchildren. Yes, just like with all of you, COVID has changed our normal lives, and we are ready to get on with a post-pandemic world. A real day-to-day blessing in our lives is our precious Cardigan Corgi Drea (short for Andreas—Welsh for Andrew). He is comforter, watchdog, play time and schedule keeper-in chief. Love and blessings to each of you—with the repeated hopes for “bye-bye COVID.”

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Pembroke Herbert Kyle 26 Canterbury Hill Topsfield, MA 01983 pembroke.kyle@gmail.com Percy Clarke Gwinn reports “My husband Michael and I had an interesting, challenging year. Michael had neck surgery in February. Complications caused a hospital stay for 4 weeks and a feeding tube until mid May. Fortunately, he has recovered. We had a wonderful summer in Jonesport, ME, and had interesting guests in our Airbnb suite. In November, we traveled to Lyon, France, to spend time with our son William and family. We had a great time in Lyon, Paris and the Dordogne region where we spent Thanksgiving with my cousins. Once again, it was a Zoom Christmas with our families. We have managed to dodge COVID so far!” Rickey Hendricks’ news is “My 2 daughters, husbands, and my 3 grandsons traveled this past summer and fall, as did I! I went to Prague, Czech Republic and Dresden, Meissen, Wittenberg and Berlin, Germany, with my longtime mate, Jeremy Conn. My daughter, Abby Stangier, her son Gabriel, and German hus-

CLASS NOTES

Pembroke Herbert Kyle with husband Bill, David and Molly, and grandkids Nell and Hugh

band, Christian Stangier, went to Costabella (Marbella) Spain to see Gabriel’s German grandparents. My older daughter, Adrienne, her sons George and Harry and New Zealand husband David live in Brisbane, Australia. They have been on lockdown for 2 years, but made multiple trips to the Great Barrier Reef in their boat. My daughter Abby and

family live on Monterey Bay, Aptos, California. I still live in Larkspur, on San Francisco Bay.” Sally Paradise Ingber writes “Here in Pebble Beach we personally have had no COVID experience. We have had a normal social life, wearing masks when necessary. We have been traveling in the U.S. this year from several weeks visiting family on

Sarah Paradise Ingber and Dave playing golf at Southern Highlands in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving

the East Coast to Maui to Las Vegas and Scottsdale. My New Year’s resolution is to review and refresh my Spanish. No trauma, except politics. We must never give up. Just saying. I miss having classmates close to Pebble Beach, but Frances Morse is in Palo Alto and hope to visit her soon. Thank God for every day! Wishing everyone in the class good health, happiness!” Ann Biggs Jackson tells us “I am really busy in the horse business these days. I sold my 2 yearlings at the Mid-Atlantic fall sales, I have 3 to sell this coming fall, and I am expecting 2 foals to be born this spring. Look for the February issue of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred for an article about my mares and breeding program! I was elected to the boards of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and the Temple Gwathmey (steeplechase) Foundation in 2021, so I have really become immersed in horse business. Oh, and I have a couple of race horses too, for fun!” Amy McCandless said “The COVID threat unnerved me, but I was fortunate to have a family bubble (Steve and sons Alastair and Colin), so that I was never truly isolated. I am thankful for my church, Grace Church (Episcopal) Cathedral, which not only continued services over YouTube (even when just the clergy were allowed in the nave) but also added daily online morning prayer services, Zoom Sunday School classes and multiple Zoom book studies. When the tennis courts re-opened, I signed up for 3 teams, for exercise and for the social contact. I adopted a shelter kitten who quickly trained me to

become his chef, entertainer and seat warmer.” Phoebe Brunner Peacock remains very thankful to be retired with no teleworking responsibilities. “Bottom line of my activities is that I continue to do pretty much nothing because I haven’t finished doing nothing. A few exceptions: Post vaccinations I resumed monthly trips to grandchildren in Philadelphia— via Amtrak. I have attended several theater productions at the Kennedy Center since its reopening. It is an easy commute—across the street from my Watergate South building. I have visited the Phillips Collection and the National Gallery and have enjoyed a few restaurant meals.” Catherine Porter is fully retired but staying very busy. “My husband is still working at his Washington law firm. I am organizing events with authors at The Metropolitan Club, and reading with my book club, still going strong after 30 years. Jim and I have taken up golf, a challenge, but a nice way to be outside during COVID. We enjoy going to our weekend place in Rappahannock County, VA and traveling to Aspen, CO where we spend the summers and attend the Aspen Music Festival. The biggest news is that we will be moving out of our home of over 30 years in D.C. to a townhouse with an elevator in McLean, VA.” Betsy Wolfe writes “Over one year after Ed’s death, I registered with 3 dating sites and have met 3 nice men—all widowers. One introduced me to golf; one I had planned to meet in Paris, but canceled because of COVID; and one drove down to Columbia for dinner. If you know

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Catherine Porter, Terrell and Jim at a special Christmas party

CLASS NOTES

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of a kind, single, fit man who might be interested in a fit, retired Ph.D. now living in Columbia, SC, after 50 years in San Francisco, let me know. I am traveling to CA, then to France to ski, then to a golf clinic in SC. I am helping a therapeutic horseback riding program get its national accreditation and reading for fun.” Sally Watkins sends news that “2021 was a difficult year, but I’m pressing forward in 2022 keeping busy doing my appraisals and working persistently on a kitchen renovation that just might happen in the coming months. The highlight of the year was my work on a new native plant entrance landscape project in our neighborhood made possible by a grant from the Audubon Naturalist Society. We took out 50-year-old overgrown junipers and planted new shrubs and trees chosen for their year-round interest and beneficial attributes for birds and insects. It was a very rewarding effort that gave all involved hope for the future.“ Nancy Hickox Wright tells us “Gil and I moved into a lovely senior retirement facility, Fleet Landing, around the corner in Atlantic Beach, FL. We love it but have aged 20 years making the move. My sentimental hoarding finally caught up with me! Boxes are everywhere as we are waiting for the entire apartment to be repainted—can you imagine bird’s egg blue in every room? Looking forward to my yearly talk with each one of you this spring!”

Pembroke Herbert Kyle would like you to know what fun it has been to gather news and birthday months. Bill and I were so thankful to be with David and Molly, Nell (6) and Hugh (4) in Alameda, CA during Thanksgiving. It’s so difficult living on the other side of the country from my grandkids! We were grateful to escape to Nantucket during COVID. I’m still running for the joy of it, gardening, and taking Zoom classes on Joyce & Homer’s great epics, which I missed at SBC, but find so much more meaningful at this time of life. Warm and healthy wishes to all our classmates! Finally, Frances & Nancy continue the search for “missing” classmates. Please, if you received this alumnae magazine but did not receive a request for news and photos, please send an email to me at pembroke. kyle@gmail.com

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Kristin Herzog 20060 Tavernier Dr. Estero, FL 33928 Artist.herzog@gmail.com Hi everyone, First of all, three cheers to welcome our new class officers! President, Heather Tully Click Fund agent, Barbara Offutt Mathieson

Laura Sickman Baska’s daughter Erin and her husband Kristoffer welcome baby Cassian

Co-secretaries, Kristin Herzog and Mardane McLemore Rebentisch Reunion Chair, Kay Parham Picha Sunshine and Cheer Steward, Nia Eldridge Eaton Our esteemed prez, Heather Tully Click, says, “Please watch for emails from us about upcoming class activities and feel free to share your suggestions.” The first of which is that Jane Gott was asked by our new officers to set up a private Facebook group. The group is Sweet Briar College Class of 1970. You search it under the group icon and ask to join. If you are having difficulty, just email Jane at janegott@verizon.net. For many of us 2021 was undoubtedly a year of change, uncertainty and downsized expectations. But we humans are adaptable, and as the humdrum slogs on we are actually learning to sprout a few positive experiences and develop new skills and opportunities. For instance, Joanne Hicks Robblee took up quiltmaking. “On Christmas Day we connected virtually across the country and internationally to watch eleven family members open personalized quilt gifts that I had made during the year. It was so special to be together. Next year, gift cards.” Carol Covington Bellonby related that our talented class watercolorist Jane Gott nudged her to take an online painting course (Thanks, Jane!)

while Carol’s regular occupation is on hold. “It has now been 2 years since I’ve given tours as a docent at the National Gallery of Art. We stay somewhat active with Zoom lectures but that has gotten old. One of the true highlights of 2021 for me was attending Sweet Briar’s 50th. The college looked lovely and President Woo is absolutely outstanding— smart as a whip, articulate and committed to excellence. I roomed with Betty Rau Santandrea and became reacquainted with Jane, Candace Buker Chang and Jo Shaw Lawson. For those in our class who did not attend, I am confident that you would have felt good about Sweet Briar’s prospects.” Betty Rau Santandrea is again singing with the Zia Singers, a women’s chorale in Santa Fe. “We wear special singers’ masks and sit far apart. Our concerts are in January and June. I enjoy weekly hikes in the beautiful Santa Fe area plus Zoom yoga twice a week. We plan to visit kids/grands in March (Ithaca) and April (Lynchburg). A sixth L’burg grandchild is expected in March. I enjoy lunching monthly with Megan Coffield Lyon ’80 to whom Ann Gateley introduced me. We are 3/5 of the NM Sweet Briar Club. Mardane McLemore Rebentisch took on another kind of project. “My big news is that I had knee replacement surgery on Jan. 4. It’s been a little rough recovering, but I did not like the limitations of my

Top row (l-r): Wallis Wickham Raemer, Loring Harris Amass, Connie Haskell, Frances Gravely, Jessica Holzer, bottom row (l-r): May Humphreys Fox, Katie McCardle Webb, Mary Jane Hipp Brock at Pawleys Island in October

(l-r) Jane Gott, Jo Shaw Lawson, Barbara Offutt Mathieson, Mary Kelley, Betty Glass Smith, Carol Covington Bellonby, Betty Rau Santandrea, Katy Lou Warren Towers, Candace Buker Chang

Watercolor painting of Sweet Briar during reunion by Jane Gott

worn out knee. Looking forward to the ‘fairways’ in March. My eldest grandson is a senior in high school, and his family was transferred. So he is living with me. What a wonderful experience.” As for more ways to keep busy during a pandemic, Lawson Calhoun Kelly gamely admits she turned on the tube. “The only show I have ever binge-watched is The Chosen. My sister and I blew through the entire first season in 2 days. We could barely stop to eat! It’s an excellent depiction of Jesus’ relationship with his 12 disciples. Meanwhile, in real life, Frank and I celebrated our Golden Anniversary this December so are grateful for every day of health we’ve been given. Hope you all are doing well too!” Visiting with SBC alumnae was another theme this year. Ann Gate-

ly, after healing from back surgery, had visits from Kristen Bergquist ’03, and Milan Hapala’s daughter, Mary. “In October, I had lunch in Ojai, CA with Alexa Schriempf ’97 and Georgene Vairo ’72. Georgene is our board president and informally reported that SBC is doing great on multiple parameters. Other visitors were close friends from Sweet Work Weeks. Everyone should try it! Shio and Janet Oikawa ’75 rounded out the guests in November.” When not entertaining Vixens, Ann has resumed cycling 150 miles a week. “Reunion was very special. Our class was awarded the highest participation in giving! I’m confident our new class leaders will carry on the charge.” Her plans to go to Europe were put on hold, but Ann is still itching for more travel. Canceled plans also left Pat Swin-

ney Kaufman itching to travel again. She laments that “COVID has certainly changed our lives so much. Because of Hazel (5) and Arthur (4), children of my oldest daughter Lily Hayes, Lloyd and I have been in our own version of lockdown, staying very close to home, wearing masks all the time! Our middle daughter Lisbeth will give birth to a girl at the end of January. But the good news is I’ve been able to hang out with Mary Jane Hipp Brock and Fran Griffith Laserson. So that’s been great fun. Otherwise, I am reading many great books. Congratulations to Heather. She will make a superb class president!” Candace Buker Chang agrees with Pat. “COVID has curtailed my lifestyle, for sure. I did get to Montana for a high school reunion, and to St. John for a Halloween visit with my daughter’s family who live there. I’ll go again in January. Jo Shaw Lawson was supposed to join me, but has back surgery scheduled for February. We have twice delayed a European river cruise, now planned for April. I enjoyed a September mini-reunion with Jane Gott and Laura Sickman Baksa on Cape Cod, where Laura lives. She missed reunion at SBC because she had to go meet her new grandson. “Meanwhile, my younger daughter Sonia Chang-Diaz is running for governor in Massachusetts after serving as state senator for almost 14 years. Feel free to go to her website and make a campaign contribution! Hoping for more wild adventures once it is safer to travel.” Another classmate staying close to home and actively dodging COVID, Betty Glass Smith reports, “Not much is happening here. Bill and I are doing well and so far have escaped the virus. The generation below us has been hit the hardest, but we have not suffered any deaths. We have so much to be thankful for! The Northern Neck continues to be paradise with our beautiful views and life on the water. Bill’s “water toys” were well used and enjoyed during the warmer months. Reunion at SBC in July was wonderful, with a good class turnout. There was much interest in an interim reunion at the College for just our class and I would love to see that happen.” Jane Gott adds to the glowing

Reunion reports. “At our postponed 50th in July I found Sweet Briar more beautiful than ever. The fields of wildflowers, vineyards, apiary, and greenhouse were extraordinary. I was extremely impressed by President Woo. Our beloved college is in good hands. I did paint a watercolor on aquabord of the wildflower fields which I’m sending along. Seeing my classmates was wonderful. Sharing a room at the Inn with college roommate Barbara Offutt Mathieson was especially fun. I know COVID kept some people away but no one could get in the gate without a vaccination card or negative test. Taking Zoom painting classes the last 2 years has kept me busy. Carol Covington Bellonby and I are now in the same art history/watercolor painting class, and have had a lot of fun reconnecting.” Reunion was an unqualified success in everyone’s book. Barbara Offutt Mathieson thoroughly enjoyed visiting with classmates and was thrilled to see Sweet Briar looking so well cared for. She left with enormous respect for President Woo’s work on the campus. Barbara traveled on to the D.C. area to visit her son and 2 grandchildren. And her pandemic year continued to improve when her daughter and family moved close by. Mary Kelley also had a great time reconnecting with everyone at Reunion and spent the holidays with friends in TN. “The weather was good and company and food even better!” Despite the pandemic, Heather Tully Click managed to pull off a very busy year. “COVID year 2 was better than COVID year one! Our ’70 contingent at reunion was small but we were mighty! What a treat to see ML Moore who has returned to Virginia. I somehow came home with the nomination to be your class president (blame Kate Schlech) and my fate was sealed at the subsequent class Zoom meeting. I’m honored and will strive to do it justice. Richard and I did travel to Paris twice in 2021 to visit our son and family while he is stationed at the American Embassy. The grandchildren (3, 6) already speak French like natives! We also attended Richard’s re-scheduled 50th at the Naval Academy. Our daughter is now working at the

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CLASS NOTES

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Naval Academy’s Nimitz Library, so we visit Annapolis often. With 2 grandchildren abroad, we are grateful to have 2 more (3, 5) living nearby. Although retired from nursing, I’ve found great satisfaction working as a volunteer vaccinator through the Medical Reserve Corps. Shots in arms!” Tauna Urban Durand is thankful just for the improvement. “Things are better this year than last because of the vaccine. Because of that, we were able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. Our grandchildren were able to all be together for the first time in years. It was a huge treat for us. We love to travel, and are supposed to spend February in Maui, but are trying to decide if it’s safe. And we have a 6-month world cruise scheduled for Jan. 2023 which we hope will happen. We already know of some ports likely to be eliminated due to political unrest. Scrounging for entertainment close to home, one of the best things we watched this past year was Ted Lasso. I think its popularity was due to Ted’s kindness. We have not seen enough kindness in our real world recently. I think we all long for it. Hope you all are doing well and that 2022 will be a much better year for everyone.” Laura Sickman Baska has reason to be thankful, too. “I was blessed this year when my daughter, Erin, and her husband, Kristoffer welcomed their baby boy Cassian into our family. They live in Puerto Rico, where Kristoffer is an architect.

Erin works remotely and is juggling motherhood. Joan and I had to postpone visiting at Christmas because of COVID, but will try later this winter. We did get to be with Cassian for a week in the summer, but can’t wait to see him again!” Nia Eldridge Eaton notes, “Like everyone else, a lot of my time is consumed with Zoom calls, remote offerings and various training sessions. I’m still acting as a docent in a re-imagined fashion at Winterthur and Brandywine River Museum. Remains of Hurricane Ida in September seriously damaged the Brandywine ($6.4M). No art or people were injured but we didn’t reopen until the day after Thanksgiving. Both institutions put on lovely Yuletide displays. My garden club typically decorates 6 homes, but this year no one wanted folks in their homes. So we decorated the exteriors of some national historic sites. I took ownership of the 1758 outhouse at the Peter Wentz farmstead amongst other things. We are close to Valley Forge so George Washington either ate, slept or in my case, pooped, there. Back in hibernation from the latest variant. Wishing everyone a safe and happy 2022.” Debbie Bowman has also been counting blessings. The vaccines, for starters. “I felt so grateful to see people in person. And I was able to continue with some virtual study groups, a real lifeline for me. Zoom even enabled me to do some volunteering and board work. I see ML Moore and Jonna Creaser Clark-

son, both in Nelson County, and enjoy walking in nature, reflection and webinars. Wishing a magical 2022 to all!” Mary Jane (Hipp) Brock updates us on the doings of Wallis (Wickham) Raemer, Loring (Harris) Amass, Connie Haskell, Frances Gravely, Jessica Holzer, May (Humphreys) Fox, and Katie (McCardle) Webb who call themselves The Carpe Diems. The Carpe Diems first came together when we turned 50 and took a bicycle trip in Umbria—ah, those were the days! We next gathered when I turned 60 and took a house in Anguilla and have been coming together almost every year since. For 70, we were in Barbados. We have visited everyone’s hometown or second hometown over the years so we’ve been to Long Island, Maine, Montana, Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri and California! And I, Kristin Herzog opened a busy and happy 2021 art year with my first museum show at the Appleton in Ocala, FL. It was up for 6 months, but because of COVID, I didn’t get to see it until May. It was completely wonderful. Museums really make art look very good. In July, a big gallery named MAC Fine Arts from Ft. Lauderdale arrived to go through all my inventory. They hauled away several large pieces and came back a few weeks later for more. For next summer, I’ve booked a (refundable) trip to Russia with a couple of friends, but at this point, do things look as if I’ll really end

up going in 2022? Nyet. It’s nice to dream though. I’ve got the language CDs in the car and am teaching myself Russian. And, this week, I got a wonderful surprise, a wait-list spot opened up at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts! So I’ll be on campus for the month of February, freezing, but happily painting. Johanna Yaple Wolski has a lovely parting thought as we contemplate our past year. “When I count my blessings, my 4 years at Sweet Briar is at the top of the list. I met amazing women, learned a lot about myself and was prepared to join the workforce after graduation.” I think we can all sign on to that! Here’s to more invention and ingenuity. We’re figuring this out. Hope to see you all, on screen or in person during a busy and rewarding 2022!

1972

Jill Johnson MarySue Morrison Thomas 98 Pine Bluff Portsmouth, VA 23701 72sweetbriar@gmail.com msuethomas@gmail.com Jane Powell Gray is in Raleigh, happily retired and busier than ever! COVID put many travel plans on indefinite hold but Jane, her husband Frank, their son, Matt, daughter-inlaw Lauren and grandsons Hunter (10) and Reid (7) spent a wonderful week in Cancun after Christmas. Thankfully, all tests were negative! They have trips to NYC and a Dan-

Sweet Briar Day Miami Jan. 2, 2022, with Elise Wright Wood ’83, Joan Broman Wright ’56 (Elise’s mom), Tom and Heidi Belofsky Cromwell ’85, Deirdre Conley ’72 and current senior Siena Annable ’22, and Siena’s sister Liz outside at Biscayne Bay Yacht Club in Coconut Grove

CLASS NOTES

Susan Snodgrass Wynne with her husband Dubby and two sons and daughters-in-law

Gracejanell Sherfy Straszheim in her favorite place

ube River cruise planned for April and May, another trip with the family to the Rockies in July, and a trip that includes sister, Judy Powell ’69, to Paris, Lucca and Positano in the fall. The not to be missed event, however, is the Class of ’72 50th Reunion in June! She looks forward to reconnecting with everyone. Dale Shelly Graham and husband, James, thought 2021 would be a quiet year after they got both children married off in 2020 amid COVID shut downs with multiple planned and re-planned ceremonies. So to keep things exciting they decided to take advantage of the hot real estate market last spring and sell their 5-bedroom house to downsize after 10 years in St Louis. In June, they listed their house “as is’’ and thought they’d see what would hap-

pen. Imagine their surprise when it sold in one day for full price, all cash with no contingencies—not even an inspection! All they had to do was get out in 30 days. Needless to say, the move practically killed them trying to get rid of more than half their stuff and find a new smaller place to live. Dale and James ended up renting a townhouse, sight unseen, and living with Dale’s sister for a month until they could move into it. Now they’re trying to decide what’s next. Hopefully, there will be some grandchildren in the not-toodistant future so Dale and James are keeping their options open in case they might want to move near them in either Dallas or Charlotte. In the meantime, they’re staying put since Dale can’t face another move any time soon. Margaret Hayes Brunstad and her husband, Jim, are road trippers! In 2021, they put miles on the car with frequent visits from Birmingham to their daughters and their families in Nashville and Raleigh. Any chance to visit their 6 grandchildren and they are on their way! Margaret and Jim also road trip to play golf and fly-fish as often as they can. In 2021, they golfed in Florida on courses at Streamsong and Gasparilla Island, in Mississippi at a fun place called Mossy Oak, on the humbling courses in Pinehurst, NC, and with generous friends who invited them to play in the mountains of western NC. As for fly-fishing, they enjoyed North Carolina’s Nantahala River and the beautiful White Riv-

er in northern Arkansas. Though it is not a road trip, Margaret and Jim eagerly anticipate a twice COVID postponed dream trip to play golf in Scotland! But the highlight of 2021 for Margaret has been reconnecting with SBC classmates as part of our 50th Reunion planning team. As a transfer it means so much to still feel a part of our shared Sweet Briar experience. Margaret encourages all of our Class of ’72 classmates to join our reunion, share our memories, and celebrate the exciting renewal and future of Sweet Briar College! The last few years have found Marion Walker continuing her law practice as Of Counsel with Fisher Phillips. Hopefully retirement will follow this year. She has been practicing being retired by playing golf, sailing, reading and gardening—hobbies she has had for years. Her twin sisters are thriving. Marion’s twin nieces are in college studying to be nurses. Both are on soccer scholarships and have a majority of A’s. She has 2 nephews who followed her and her brother into law. One nephew is a major in the marines and an attaché at the US Embassy in Brazil. His brother is rousting out of the Navy having served on an aircraft carrier. The youngest is an entrepreneur in Pensacola, FL. There are 2 perfect grandnieces and 2 grandnephews Marion has only begun to spoil! She has several wonderful groups of friends who lighten up her life and there are 3 major trips planned this year—Abacos, the Baltic Sea cruise and a Rhine Cruise. She stays busy serving on the

spring 2022

Gracejanell Sherfy Straszheim with Mary Phillips Carrera and Mary’s son

(back row l-r) Ginny Stevens Purcell, Mary Heller, Jill Johnson, Carter Frackelton, Martha Holland (front row l-r) Janet Nelson Gibson, MarySue Morrison Thomas, Jeannette Pillsbury at a mini-reunion in Carter’s lovely garden, May 2021

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CLASS NOTES

boards of the Birmingham Historical Society, Kirkwood by the River (assisted living facility), and a condo association in Panama City Beach, FL. Marion has loved reconnecting with those of us who have planned Reunion and looks forward to seeing members of our class June 3! Patricia Reardon Riggins formally stepped away from full time ministry in 2021 and is currently serving as an assisting priest in Seguin, Texas. She and her husband, Mike, live on the Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, TX, with their 2 cats. Patricia is currently enrolled in a 2 year program, Forest Dwelling, which focuses on the spirituality of the last third of our life. Her daughter and grandchild, Zoe, live in Colorado and despite COVID they have had fun filled visits. Ellen Moore Miller and husband, Rod, live in Horseshoe Bay, TX. During Rod’s career, Ellen was a full time expatriate wife and mother, as the family lived and traveled in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. She now serves in several positions in her church and is active in PEO and community outreach. Two book clubs and a mahjong league keep her mentally challenged. Ellen and Rod stay busy keeping up with the families of their 3 married children, including 9 grandchildren ranging in age from 20 to 4 years. She is currently planning a family celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary. DeDe Conley says she has found many ways to keep busy at home as president of her condo, complicated by being very near the Surfside Champlain tragedy. In the summer, she took a first amendment and free speech class with Professor Wheeler and classmate Jeannette Pillsbury. She continues doing yoga online and walking and staying in touch with Sweet Briar. DeDe says it is fun to be on our 50th Reunion committee, has attended zoom and in-person Sweet Briar Days and enjoys being an AA helping with recruiting. DeDe is hoping to see everyone at Reunion and looking forward to days we can all travel easily again. Gracejanelle Sherfy Straszheim retired from her legal position with a Washington, D.C., trust company in fall of 2020 to help with her nearby grandkids, then—ages 3 and

5—whose preschool was shuttered during the first part of the pandemic. A return to the far more pleasant aspects of grandparenting has now happily occurred—pony rides, walks in the woods, sleepovers and dessert served regularly before the meal, including breakfast! Current work commitments have sadly resumed involving the estate settlement of a couple who had been dear friends for decades and died within 2 months of each other. GJ is still riding the same feisty Arabian with whom she had many good seasons of endurance racing. Now the 2 of them are sticking with back roads and trail riding—on the back of a beloved horse is still one of the best places in the world to be! Golf with friends has become a bigger part of Grace’s life in recent years since her husband died in 2015. This year included several great rounds with SBC roommate Mary Phillips Carrera, and Mary’s son, Peter, who joined in for a round

this fall at Grace’s home course. Susan Snodgrass Wynne feels fortunate that she and her husband, Dubby, live near their sons’ families in Virginia Beach, especially throughout COVID caution. Their 6 grands, 5 girls and one boy, now range from 13 to 5 years old. Susan has spent the last 2 years fundraising for a sensational new pediatric mental health hospital in Norfolk. It will provide a life changing resource for families along the East Coast. Susan has also been fundraising for a new hospice in Virginia Beach. Susan and Jeannette Pillsbury are enjoying serving as co-chairs of our upcoming 50th Reunion and reconnecting with classmates. The enthusiastic ’72 reunion planning team of 19 plans, once again, to set new records! Life continues to be satisfyingly busy for Jeannette Pillsbury. She appreciates her opportunities to interact with students at Sweet Briar, almost daily. For the past 2 years, she

has been serving as a supply priest on Sundays for Episcopal churches in Amherst and nearby. She has begun to work part-time at Ascension Episcopal Church in Amherst, serving the pastoral needs of the parish. Needless to say, Jeannette cannot wait for our 50th! For the past few years, Carter Frackelton in Fredericksburg, VA, has enjoyed hosting class members from ’72 who live relatively nearby for mini-reunions in the spring and fall. Last spring’s luncheon in May 2021 was attended by Ginny Stevens Purcell, Mary Heller, Jill Johnson, Martha Holland, Janet Nelson Gibson, MarySue Morrison Thomas and Jeannette Pillsbury. Ginnie B. Payne Sasser, who stays busy with her family farm duties, was able to join this past October. They are all looking forward to celebrating their big 50th in June!

(l-r) Leslie Elbert Hill, Elizabeth Andrews Watts, Jane Hutcherson Frierson and Susan Stephens Geyer at The Broadmoor in Colorado

CLASS NOTES

The Boxwood Girls ’74 communed Nov. 2021 at Dauphin Isle, AL. Each guest brought items from home for the SBC backpack book store goodie bags to carry home. (front row l-r) Ruthie Willingham Lentz, Robin Christian Ryan, Emory Furniss Maxwell, Ann Pritchett Van Horn, Barbara Ashton Nicol Back - Liz Thomas Camp, Edie McRee Bowles, Paula Hollingsworth Thomas, Jane Hutchinson Frierson and Ellie Plowden Boyd

Rossie Ray Spell ’74 and Claire Dennison Griffith ’80 during her visit to campus in October

World Series where the local Atlanta Braves won (l-r) daughter Jessica, sister Linda, Wanda Cronic Howell and her husband Lee

Betsy Biggar Hellmuth and Janie Reeb Short, Damariscotta in ME Sept. 2021

Jim and Bonnie Chronowski Brophy with grandson Connor (5) on Thanksgiving 2021 in Chatham, NJ, Vivvie (20 months) is napping

spring 2022

Elaine Mills enjoys giving monthly Master Gardener presentations on native plants via Zoom

Our classmate, Maureen Ellen Hynes, who we lost on Nov. 5, 2021may she rest in peace. (NOTE: Not a current photo)

CLASS NOTES

On Veterans Day, Georgia’s newest Supreme Court Justice, Verda Andrews Colvin ’87 addressed the Newnan-Coweta BAR Association, pictured with Liz Thomas Camp ‘74

Season’s Greetings from Pam Cogghill Graham and Chuck in Palm City, FL

1974

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Bianca Chronowski Brophy b.c.brophy@comcast.net

Elaine Mills has been staying close to home for the past year except for time spent in the Master Gardener demonstration garden that she helps to coordinate. She has been pleased to reach a wider audience than ever with her monthly public education presentations on sustainable landscaping and native plants via Zoom. Elizabeth Andrews Watts had a wonderful time at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs in August with Jane Hutcherson Frierson, Susan Stephens Geyer, and Leslie Elbert Hill celebrating their 50+ years of friendship. Another highlight of the year was Christmas in Hawaii with Rob (a Navy commander stationed in Pearl Harbor) and his family. She

and her husband had visits also with daughter Betsy and family in Atlanta. Janie Reeb Short retired in June 2020 after 25 years in wealth management only to discover that she missed working (and the cash flow!) She started her own practice, JRS Consulting LLC, and finds helping families realize their estate plans rewarding. Janie survived a week at Disney World in Dec. 2020 with her family although being the fun grandmother caused a shoulder sprain from riding too many roller coasters! She and husband, Win, anticipate celebrating her big 7-0 in fall 2022 with a trip to Africa. Janie stays in close contact with roommate, Betsy Biggar Hellmuth, and both reconnected with Cottie Matheson Wallace to grieve the untimely death of friend, classmate Jeannie Manning Schmidley. Helen Travis enjoyed summering at The Homestead in Laurel Hollow, NY. She enjoyed “wintering” there as well since it’s her home. Her sister Betsy (who lives in Beirut, Lebanon) visited in late Sept. 2021, but it’s unclear when she can return with the financial crisis and COVID flare ups. Helen still works full time in accounting at a local construction management company remotely or on site. Roomie, Bonnie Chronowski Brophy and she keep in touch regularly through texts—unfortunately, not with many in-person visits... maybe next year. Jan Renne Steffen writes from Clarkdale, AZ, that she belongs to the local quilt guild and Scrap Rats making quilts for charities, 2 spinning and weaving guilds, and ASG, a sewing guild, although she no longer teaches quilting. Jan enjoys off-roading in her Jeep Rubicon and spending time with rescues 12 yearold Shih Tzu, Sandi and 4 year-old mixed terrier, Ollie. Leslie Elbert Hill writes thankfully that her family is healthy and so able to enjoy a few get-togethers with them during the holidays which was strengthening and uplifting in these tough times. Also she was able to see Susan Stephens Geyer’s choir’s glorious Christmas production. Sarah Johnston Knoblauch and husband, Michael, are doing well during this turbulent time, enjoying

grandkids Liam, Genevieve, Damian and Josephine. Sarah teaches watercolor classes in her kitchen studio. Last summer she was the art teacher for Ruffing Montessori’s camp. They all wore masks while inside the building, and had not one COVID case! She continues to ride her warm blood, Polly Wolly Doodle. Eleanor Magruder Harris has been volunteering in the COVID vaccine clinics in Norfolk, VA. Husband, Sandy, is nearing retirement. Their 3 sons live in New Orleans, Nashville and Virginia Beach, with 2 grandsons in NOLA. Liz Thomas Camp says they laughed ‘til their sides ached at a week-long “Boxwood Reunion” in November 2021 as guests of Barb Ashton Nicol at Dauphin Island, AL. A visit to Bellingrath Gardens, commemorative shirts, door plaques/luggage markers, SBC backpack goodie bags, and Ann Pritchett’s unsurpassable NOLA gumbo rounded out the fun-filled week. Liz and daughter, Jeaneane, busted out at nearby Downton Abbey: The Exhibition. This Paint & Patches hasbeen gives it high praise. To quote The Dowager, “If you’re tired of style, YOU ARE tired of life.” Drea Peacock Bender, Pam Cogghill Graham, Deborah Marcus Bagley and Debbie Hooker Sauers

were finally able to visit Sue Castle Rolewick at her beautiful home on Geneva Lake, MI, in July 2021. Debbie is thrilled to report that she welcomed a grandson on Valentine’s Day 2021, and has 2 granddaughters (yes, some pink in the Sauers’ household!) She loves playing pickleball and is looking forward to playing in FL with Pam in February 2022 when she and Sue rent a home near her in Palm City. Drea Peacock Bender writes that in the summer of 2021, she and husband, Mark, commemorated the beginning of year 3 in their little downsized, one-story, house on the lake. They love it as much as when they moved in, along with all the aquatic and terrestrial fauna, and are working this year on the flora to accompany it! It’s wonderful being close to all the grands: Austen (20, junior year at Tufts), Ian (16), Cath (14) and Gracie (8). On Jan. 10, they welcomed their 5th grandchild, Drew, to son, Scotty (the youngest) and wife, Sarah who live in CT. Nick-named for Drea, they plan to meet him in February 2022. They enjoy taking the German Shepherd, Sam, on daily walks through the neighboring park. Drea is serving as an elder on session in her church, much more time consuming than the previous 2 times perhaps due to COVID or advanced years! She still sings in her

Geneva Lake, MI July, 2021 (l-r) hostess Sue Castle Rolewick, a friend and Drea Peacock Bender (sitting l-r) Debbie Hooker Sauers, a friend, Deborah Marcus Badgley and Pam Cogghill Graham

Sherrie Snead McLeRoy and the director of the Amherst Museum, Octavia Starbuck

church choir, grows tomatoes from seed for her master gardener spring plant sale, and had a blast at the (almost) annual trip to Suzy Castle Rolewick’s lake house in WI. Sue Castle Rolewick so enjoys hosting the annual SBC late July reunion on Lake Geneva, WI, this time in her new house. As always, it was amazing being with the group and they had a fabulous time swimming, boating and partying. She, too, is looking forward to February in FL with Debbie Hooker Sauers visiting Pam Cogghill Graham. Sherrie Snead McLeRoy was honored in October by the Town of Amherst and the Amherst County Board of Supervisors for developing her honors thesis into the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society and for other books she has written as a historical scholar. Rossie Ray Spell visited Sweet Briar in Oct. 2021 with Daun Franklin.

Bonnie Chronowski Brophy downsized from her house in Summit, NJ, after 34 years, but is still close to the grands. What fun it is to sell stuff on FB Marketplace: someone else now enjoys her Barbie game, Dream House and dolls. Providing full time care for her dad, 94, precludes traveling, but she and husband, Jim stole an overnight in Connecticut to ride The Essex Steam Train North Pole Express with 36 family members in their own car! (Spiked eggnogs were a festive treat for the grown-ups.) Bonnie’s taken time off from leading Bible study after 33 years to unpack and settle in, and loves her smaller and more intimate parish. Love and thanks go out to Helen Travis for her unwavering support not only in preparing these notes, but during all the challenges of the past year. It saddens me to report the passing of classmate and very dear friend, Maureen Ellen Hynes. It’s been a comfort to call, text and

email others who love her to grieve and laugh, sharing photos and telling stories. Rest in peace, dearest Mo. 2021 was a great year to be from Atlanta for Wanda Cronic Howell, husband Lee, daughter Jessica and sister, Linda, who enjoyed the excitement at Minute Maid Stadium watching the Braves win the World Series. They also traveled to Disney World, The Cloister on Sea Island, GA, Kiawah Island, SC and saw the Christmas lights at the Biltmore House and the Gingerbread House competition at the Grove Park Inn, both in Asheville, NC. Wanda is honored to have been elected to the board of directors for the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association, a position her late father, J. A. Cronic, held for many years. Despite the pandemic she and her loved ones have been blessed with good health and happiness. Tribute by Sarah Clement, ’75: “In Boston today, 11/7/21, for the wake and celebration of life for one of our most beloved classmates of our era—Maureen Ellen Hynes ‘Mo’ aka ‘Beanie’. She was born with a well-honed appreciation for the absurd and in the 50 years I’ve known her, life afforded us both a million opportunities to appreciate, savor, and regale each other with examples both big and small. No one like her ever was—her 3 daughters come close however, and I know her stories will live on in them. Godspeed Mo! The Great MoBeanie has left the room but not the scene, as long as we who loved her remain on the stage.”

1976

Lynn Kahler Shirey Rock Moore House 121 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 lynnrshirey@gmail.com The “Bicentennial Class” (1976) marked our 45th Reunion in June— just 5 years and counting to our 50th in 2027! Twenty of us gathered on campus in October for our 45th mini-reunion, and to dedicate the Memorial for Ookie Hayes Cooper. It was a special time to come together for treasured memories! Now past the 65-year hurdle,

our class is beginning to revel in all the possibilities that retirement offers—and the variety is stunning! Disappointment over canceled international trips (so long anticipated during our “working years”) is a common thread running through our COVID experiences, but the “Class that Can’t Say No” has been enjoying life. Karen Strauss reports that life in Park City, UT, is beautiful, and a wonderful place to stay active. She is in training for a 10k cross country race at the Minneapolis Loppet Festival, taking some courses online, and going on a Dark Sky Camping trip with the University of Utah. In addition, Karen enjoys reading, learning to cook vegetarian meals with texture and color, and spending time on the phone with friends and family, but her travel to visit children and grandchildren (in MN, CT and MA) has been curtailed to once a season. Karen invites us all to let her know if we are in Park City, as she would love some company! Peggy Weimer Parrish is still teaching at John Tyler Community College. Her younger son is back in Richmond and her eldest son is in U.S. Special Forces. She sees Elliott Graham Schoenig quite a bit, as well as JoElla Schneider Samp ’77. Karina Schless went on a ranch trip in September to Red Rock Ranch in Kelly, WY (just outside Jackson Hole), with 6 cowgirls and did lots of riding! Undaunted, she is heading out to the C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, CO, in June. She still has her Quarter Horse, Angus (30), who she rides bareback, and her cat, Spencer (6). Karina continues as a healthcare worker for 10 doctors, and recommends that everyone get vaccinated and boostered! Tennessee Nielsen is often flying from Dallas to Alexandria to spend time with her first grandchild, Ford Bryan Soukup (almost 1). On Grandmother trips, she visits with Lynn Kahler Shirey and her husband, Steve, who live just down the street. COVID inspired her to find a new outdoor activity—pickleball. Susan Verbridge Paulson continues to live the good retired life in Colorado. She has 3 grandchildren (so far), all nearby in Denver, and sees them often. She has returned

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CLASS NOTES

Biv, Sarah Balderston ’09, Maggie Balderston ’11, Ann Works Balderston ’76 and John at their ranch home in Bondurant, WY

Emily Pegues ‘00, Lynn Pearson Russell ’69, Professor Aileen Laing, Lynn Kahler Shirey and Kate Haw ‘92

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Classmate/artist Kari Andersen Shipley won best in show this summer in North Carolina

to playing the pipe organ, which she loves, and even takes a weekly lesson. Becky Wilson McDonough is still enjoying her job as CEO of the Hopewell/Prince George Chamber, south of Richmond. This year Becky and husband Steve got to dance the night away with Jody Anderson Wharton ’75 and many of her classmates at a Wharton family wedding in Charleston, SC. Their 2 children and 2 grandchildren live nearby, and it has been easy for them to quarantine on the farm. She provided SBC with a connection to Ampac Pharma in Petersburg, VA, for the college’s engineering interns. She hopes to see

Missy Briscoe McNatt and Adele Patricia Neal in 2022! Debbie Olander is still recuperating from a broken leg, but has enjoyed taking art classes via Zoom, including a yearlong course in art-book construction. “I’m the poster child for lifelong learning.” While COVID has kept her isolated and she hasn’t driven since September, she is in excellent spirits. Gina Spangler Polley reports that she and husband, David, have scheduled a Mississippi river cruise in July. She is in her last semester of law school at the University of Southern California (Gould) for an MSL

degree, and will be graduating at the same time as her 50th high school reunion. She is now “legally gray”, no longer Legally Blond. Their son and his family—including grandson, Levi Winston Polley (7 months), plan to move from Seattle to the East coast, so she is looking forward to seeing more of them. After 38 years, Kari Andersen Shipley finally has a little girl in the family! Thanks to Blair Redd Schmieg ’83, her granddaughter, Katie, has a pink and green SBC bath towel! Kari hosted a SBC luncheon for President Woo in December with Barbara Gracey Backer ’72 and enjoyed hearing about the good news coming from campus. She is still on the board and raising money for several non-profits and the proceeds from her paintings are donated to Community Greening, planting thousands of trees in underserved communities. She spends relaxing summers in Lake Toxaway, NC, golfing, painting and hiking with her dog, but also enjoys returning to Delray Beach where her children and now grandchildren live. Ann Works Balderston moved from their home of 30 years to an apartment in Pittsford, NY, as well as to a new home in Bondurant, WY—they are splitting their time between the 2 addresses. Daughters, Sarah ’09 and Maggie ’11, live in Jackson, although Sarah is currently a traveling nurse in Seattle. Her son, John, is living in DC. Biv is on the verge of retiring, waiting for Ann to finish up as Board Chair at Allendale Columbia School. She has stayed in touch with Andie Yellott, Dede Alexandre LeComte and Felice Ludington, and encourages classmates to visit her in WY! Cynde Seiler Eister is still actively involved in her rental real estate busi-

ness and has a horse, dog and cat to keep her entertained. Her children and grandchildren are scattered, but she gets to see them several times during the year. Fortunately, she had a very successful cataract surgery in one eye, and remarks that “The results are pretty amazing!” She and husband Ron took a delightful trip to the coast of Maine and especially enjoyed Camden. In the coming year, they hope to explore parts of Tennessee. Ann Kiley Crenshaw is almost 2 weeks out from a total knee replacement, and feels fortunate that she had one of the last elective surgeries performed before COVID restrictions went back in place. “This is a great time of the year to recuperate.” Cissy Humphrey has kept in touch with many of us over the years, in her roles as class fund agent and Facebook coordinator (thank you, Cissy!). She is still employed at Bank of America (oil and gas division), working from home for most of the last 2 years. She managed to take a few trips this last year to Park City, UT, SBC for our 45th mini-Reunion and to San Luis Obispo, CA. Living in Dallas, she sees Tennessee Nielsen, Beth Bates Locke and Kay Ellisor Hopkins. Becky Burt and her partner purchased an historic building in downtown Ponchatoula, LA, intending to renovate and move their antiques and collectibles businesses in during the summer. Hurricane Ida had other ideas, leaving town with their roof in the street and 8 days to vacate their rental space. By November, they managed to open a portion of the newly purchased building and complete a grant submittal for restoration of the facade. The grant came through, but work must wait until the weather warms up. They will be busy with 3 roofs to replace (2 business and one residential), along with demolition and renovation of the interior there. Notwithstanding, Becky is still wishing she could have attended the mini-Reunion in October. Cheryl Lux enjoyed visiting with classmates at the mini-Reunion, and commented how superbly hospitable President Woo was—“SBC is in good hands.” She was especially impressed with the quality of the stables expansion, particularly as

she came to riding later in life—“onthe-job-training.” She is impressed that so many urban/suburban raised students can now take advantage of riding lessons and benefit in terms of teamwork and leadership skills while working with a large animal to complete tasks together without the ability of speech communication. She visited Denise Montgomery ’75 in Staunton, VA, for a few days in October, and enjoyed the opportunity to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway— the accomplishment of a bucket list item. She commented that there was so little traffic that she imagined she was driving on a state highway in Montana! Caroline Bickel McLoughlin and her husband decided, with COVID lurking, to do a “land cruise.” They drove from their home in D.C. down to several places in Florida: from a rental condo at Sea Oaks, Vero Beach, she enjoyed tennis. They then headed to Delray to stay with friends, next, they headed to their regular tennis spot at the Hillsboro Club, then back to Delray to stay with Meg Shields Duke and play some golf. Then she went North with a stop in Ponte Vedra. She can’t stay away from home too long, however, so as not to miss seeing their 2 grandchildren grow—their daughter, Caroline, has a son, William (3), and in April produced the seventh generation of a girl named Caroline. They live minutes away—grandparenting is the best! Hilda Dent says that friends have laughed at her report that she was retired for 5 or 6 hours. She turned down some work in Montgomery, AL, on stained glass window jambs at St. Johns’ Episcopal Church, but then received a call that afternoon about restoring other windows from 1850 on which she had worked 6 years earlier. This was the project that she had thoughts to retire on and which is now underway, though she has started thinking about life after running a job! One of her sons and his partner are also in Montgomery and sometimes work with Hilda. Her other son and his fiancée are in Los Angeles, but will be moving to Ann Arbor in June for her OB/GYN Fellowship. Maureen O’Hearn Slowinski and her husband, Hill, are enjoying time

with their granddaughters, Cameron (1) and Caroline (3), who bring great joy to their lives. Also, she sees Lynn Kahler Shirey and they talk about their love of boats and nautical stories. Kay Ellisor Hopkins traveled to Steamboat Springs, CO, last February to celebrate her oldest daughter’s 40th birthday with some of her friends. In March, she and her hubby, Joe, met their middle daughter, husband and 2 granddaughters in Jackson Hole. While Kay and Joe have decided that their skiing days are over, Kay enjoyed tubing with the family! She relished seeing Sweet Briar classmates via Zoom this past year, as well as her role as co-stewardship chairman with Norma Neblett Roadcap. Marshá Taylor Horton started a new position in July—special assistant to the chief administrator of Delaware State University and vice president for strategic initiatives— and it has kept her incredibly busy. Her daughter started her freshman year at Creighton University in Nebraska. She is a long way from home, but she is surrounded by love, as most of Marshá’s husband’s family is there. Their son has his own apartment, so for months at a time they are empty nesters! Other than her sister, Sandra ’74, she hasn’t seen any fellow alumnae for some time, but celebrates the fact that Christmas card connections are alive and well! Lynn Kahler Shirey is reveling in retirement, and the time to arrange for the restoration and touring in her 1934 Super 8 5-passenger formal packard automobile. I so enjoy my history book club, and now actually have the time to go to lunch with friends. After years of international business travel, I have enjoyed tagging along on my husband’s business trips—to Philadelphia and New Orleans. I am fortunate to spend time with Maureen O’Hearn Slowinski, Sally Mott Freeman, Tennessee Nielsen and Janet Whitehurst Bender ’75, and was thrilled to attend a mini SBC art history reunion with Professor Aileen Laing, Kate Haw ’92, Emily Pegues ’00, and Lynn Pearson Russell ’69. Sally Old Kitchin and I thoroughly enjoyed SBC Sweet Work Weeks again this past summer, and we highly rec-

ommend this fun and rewarding summer experience to our fellow classmates! Come paint and garden with us!

1978

Suzanne Stryker Ullrich, Secretary 820 Waverly Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348 suzullrich@aol.com Hello from chilly Vermont! No, I haven’t moved. (more on that later!) Who would have thought we would still be under the COVID spell still, but I am hoping you have all had moments of joy with family and friends during this past year. Thanks in advance to those who have written in! It is always fun for me to hear from you and pass along to others! Ann Key Lucas reported that all was good in St. Louis and that she gained another daughter-in-law when youngest, Hunt, married a girl from his alma mater—U. of Dayton—as did his brother! Hunt was married in early November, so now 2/3 of her boys are married. Ann catches up with Becky Mulvihill McKenna, but usually in the grocery store. She also sees Cathy Mellow Golterman and they all promise to get together for a coffee more frequently. Any planned trips were postponed but gathering the clan for a trip to Michigan this summer was to be a highlight soon! Deb Davison Klein was hoping to go to Catherine Gamper’s (Maria Rixey Gamper’s daughter) wedding in November but went to Atlanta to spend time with pregnant daughter Whitney (with another girl!), her husband Alex and 2 1/2 yearold granddaughter, Callie to spend Thanksgiving. In September, Deb was able to go to Freedom, ME, to visit with her youngest son and 4 1/2 year-old granddaughter, Brooke. “WHOO HOO! 3 granddaughters will be so fun!” Deb was also able to visit Savannah, GA, while east. Continuing to ride and jump in California, Deb is certain there will be ponies for the girls in her future! While she misses the East Coast and all her friends, she loves the weather in California (especially in the dead of winter back east, I’m sure!)

Also in California, Lee Corollo Boyes wrote that there was nothing much new for her, “except the HUGE challenges that come with Omicron and keeping the kids in school!” She gives herself too little credit. Lee and SBC Alum Libby Harvey-Fitzgerald ’68 presented a talk, Careers and Perspectives on the Future of Women in Science to the Petaluma (CA) Woman’s Club. Well done, Lee and Libby! With all the changes and restrictions due to COVID, Mimi Borst Quillman said the word of the year should be flexibility! However, Mimi was thrilled to welcome their first grandson when Pierce Quillman was born in June to Ian and Elyse. They live in Baltimore so it makes it easier to see dear friends down there when visiting. Travel highlights included summer in NH with Mary Goodwin Gamper, husband Billy, Dick Gamper (Maria Rixey’s husband) and Ginny Craig. While there, they all went to see John Davidson’s new show, as he is now a local in Center Sandwich, with his own club sandwich. (Who saw Disney’s The Happiest Millionaire and swooned a bit?) Mimi’s group got to sit in the front row of the 44-seat venue and had great fun with John playing off all of them! A trip to Estes Park, CO, with the same crew meant hiking in the Rockies with lots of elk, and even snow in August! Scott and Mimi spent their 40th wedding anniversary back out west at the Triangle X Ranch in Moose, WY, in September. After attending Catharine Gamper’s wedding in November, Mimi exclaimed how proud Maria would be of the incredible woman Catharine has become. While there, Mimi was able to catch up with Liz Day Dalrymple, Ginny Craig, Mary Goodwin Gamper, Barbara Baydush White, Sally Old Kitchin ’76, Missy Powell Adams and Mary Page Stewart (who can still dance like a 20 year old!). Mimi also gets to see Meg Richards Wiederseim who lives in the area, and Katie Keogh ’88 when she is in town. Sally Ann Polson-Slocum is still president and CEO of MedWatch, and doesn’t want to retire yet, as she is still having too much fun! She is able to travel for work, speak at conferences (2 different ones in Las

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CLASS NOTES

Lunch in chilly Vermont with Suzanne Stryker Ullrich, Barbara Behrens Peck and Lauren Place Young

Missy Powell Adams, Liz Day Dalrymple, Mimi Borst Quillman, Barbara Baydush White, Mary Page Stewart, Mary Goodwin Gamper and Ginny Craig at a wedding

Suzanne Stryker Ullrich and Elizabeth ‘Perk’inson Simmons

Anne Ellis Berry’s grandchildren

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A ‘78 mini-reunion in NYC, (l-r) Julia Sutherland, Ann Maricle Stefano, Becky Dane Evans, Sue Griest Russell, Lu Litton Griffin, Jean Beard Barden, Janet Smalley Todd and Lauren Place Young

Carrie Ruda Clark Carlsen and friend

Vegas in Feb ’21) and wrote that she had to escape to FL for 2 months after 4 days without electricity at the lake house! “Our Peace Corps skills came back although the weather is a bit different than in Africa!” There was a wonderful trip to Morocco last September with a group of only 9. Trips to Norway, England, Australia and New Zealand are lined up for 2022. Our class is certainly far and wide! Carolyn Ennis wrote that she is now a senior UN diplomat with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in Jordan, about 2 years from retirement! Both daughters are working and studying, with Sara recently married to

Manuel Ulrich and living in Zurich, working as an orthodontist. Carolyn’s partner, Rod, is a retired British diplomat. They have 2 cats, Pasha and Miss Nala Fluffytail, and Carolyn stays busy with running, scuba diving, hiking, but particularly loves desert camping. Post retirement hopes? Consultancies in border and asylum management, mixed migration and humanitarian response will round things out! Being on LinkedIn will help make those aspirations come true. You can’t keep a good SBC girl down! Back in VT, Lauren Place Young had a bit of a rough year with husband Chris dealing with some serious medical issues. Lauren gave up

her full-time position as executive director at The Greens in Hanover, NH, to be a caregiver at home, while maintaining a part-time position in charge of marketing and sales principal broker. Commuting only one day a week, with remote work another makes life much easier! “I hope to get back to my art and painting this year.” Lauren was always a skier, but considering the life changes, she and Chris decided to sell the 2 condos they owned at nearby Jay Peak. Fortunately, daughter Makenna lives in nearby Montgomery, VT, and then last August son Jake was able to move back into his Jay Peak house again after it was destroyed by a fire 2 years prior. “It is so nice to have them each nearby.” Lauren was able to catch up with Ieke Osinga Scully and her husband when they were up at Jay Peak last fall as well. Turned out Ieke’s in-laws lived around the bend! “I also got to see Suzanne Stryker Ullrich and Jean Beard Barden when they each came up for a visit while Chris was in the hospital.” In December Lauren had a much needed break with many SBC classmates! Jean Beard Barden, Lu Litton Griffin, Sue Griest Russell, Janet Smalley Todd, Julia Sutherland, Ann Maricle Stefano, Becky Dane Evans and Lauren all met at the NY Athletic Club for some wining and dining, comedy cellar hopping, lap swimming, steam-rooming, cold showering and lounging all wrapped up on the teak lounge chairs all weekend! Oh, and the 3-mile walks in Central Park as well! “I felt like a million bucks and a wet noodle!” There were laughs a-plenty, and giggles into the wee hours! “It was refreshing to get away, catch up and laugh with good friends!” It was also a bit of a whirlwind year for Muffy Hamilton Parsons, as it was spent planning for the October wedding for her younger son, Spencer. The wedding was held in Newport, RI, so a number of road trips were involved. Spencer and Devon, his college sweetheart, are now living in Salem, MA. “It was an exciting weekend, and it is so exciting for me to finally have a daughter!” Recently, Muffy has been following the athletic endeavors of their niece, Kendall Gretsch, who is a paralympian, competed and won gold in Lillehammer,

Ann Yauger’s surprise birthday with Nancy Hatch Schwartzmiller ‘79, Claire Dennison Griffith ‘80, Claire Cartwright Vaughan, Jane Lauderdale Armstrong, Francie Root ‘80 and Catherine Taylor Moore

Norway, before heading off to Beijing for the Paralympics in February. Kendall competes in both Nordic cross country and biathlon in the winter Paralympics, but also won the triathlon in the Tokyo summer Paralympics ’21 by 1 second. It was an exciting finish! (If you haven’t seen it, check it out online) Living nearby is Cindy McKay, who Muffy gets to see regularly, adding “Always funny, knitting up a storm and owns a wool shop (Yarn It and Haberdashery in Columbus, OH). Muffy and Suzanne surprised Cindy to celebrate her retirement in September, but she jumped back into things feet first with the wool shop!” Leigh Simmons reported that she and Vernon were celebrating the move to their new home in Ashland, VA (AKA The Center of the Universe! Yes, that’s what they call it!), at an innovative 55+ ‘agri community’, anchored by an organic farm, a farmer’s market, opportunities to volunteer in the garden, etc. Her mother moved out of her retirement community last February and moved in literally right next door. Leigh was relieved to have her there, no longer worrying about community quarantine or lockdown requirements! Sadly, Leigh’s father passed away at

93 years old in mid-October. The holidays were a little muted, but she was glad that he had not died from COVID and wasn’t alone. Despite having gotten the ‘Full Fauci’ of vaccination and boosters, Leigh was tired of being careful and limiting lifestyle. It is something she knows all of us can relate to! They have not been able to see their children and grands (14, 9 and 7), all living in France, for over 2 years but were hoping to be able to see them later this year after a failed attempt in Spring 2020. “The oldest grand is already taller than me—YIKES!). Leigh has been taking full advantage of being back in the U.S., spending time and thrifting with Maggie Laurent Gordy since she moved back to VA. They both joined Susan Negaard Harley and Ann Thrash Jones in Charleston, SC, for a mini-reunion in September. Leigh misses seeing Betsy Wood since she moved to Louisville from Charlottesville. For now, she and Maggie have their eyes on exploring the Shenandoah Valley/81 corridor thrift spots, as well as other favorite spots, and having fun. (At least, that was all that was fit to print!) Speaking of Maggie, she and her husband survived a move from St Augustine, FL, after 35 years to Lexington! (the one in the greatest state

in the Union, not the little town west of Boston). Maggie experienced some snow and 15 degree nights— real winter! “It’s a wonderful change, and best of all, we are 2 hours away from our 2 granddaughters in Richmond instead of 10!” The added bonus of the move is getting to see old friends, one being Toni Christian Brown, who helped Maggie find a truly lovely house (and garden) in Lexington. “I don’t get to see her often enough!” Maggie reads a lot, spends time with seed catalogs, and waits for spring when she will be able to go out and play in the yard. We have 2 published authors/ photographers in our class! Donna J. Gelagotis Lee has a number of poems in various publications and online. Look for her Haiku in World Haiku Review, Summer 2021; Bone Chill in Halfway Down the Stairs (Issue:Skeletons); and Morning in the Village online in Nightingale and Sparrow (issue:harmony). There is also her “Sidewalk for Trees”, which appears in Frontera:Revista literaria la lingue con base en Madrid y Portland//Bilingual literary magazine based in Madrid and Portland (issue:estades silvestres //natural states). Writing runs in the family, as her husband’s book, Tidal Wave was reviewed in the Kelsey Review. Our other published book comes from Anne Ellis Berry. Anne’s book “Behind Glass,” is a compilation of photographs of primates taken in small zoos in Europe, and Anne was thrilled to have Jane Goodall write a message for it! Besides the arrival of her book, Anne was happy to announce a fifth grandchild, Idobel Jane Berry, born this past November. Catherine Taylor Moore sent in a great picture from a surprise birthday celebration for Ann Yauger! SBC buddies Nancy Hatch Schwartzmiller ’79, Claire Dennison Griffith ’80, Claire Carwright Vaughan, Jane Lauderdale Armstrong and Francie Root ’80 were all there. Catherine’s news was that she and Bob were fixing up their new home in Winston Salem, which is a fun place to roost, especially during football season! They still consider Blowing Rock their primary residence, and they love having access to the trails and outdoor activities it has to offer. Son Lee lives in Raleigh,

NC, and now works with Elliiot Davis as a senior auditor, and daughter Aynsley is involved with fundraising in Washington, D.C., as deputy director of special events. There wasn’t much from Kathy Jackson Howe except a wonderful article from the Wall Street Journal about the “Secret Power of Reconnecting with Old Friends.” Something for all of us to read, and enjoy! Of course, this is something we already know! Carrie Ruda Clark Carlsen sends “Greetings SBC Sisters!” She was excited to tell us that when taking Rt. 29 north for a Notre Dame—UVA football weekend in November, she and Jim stopped and visited campus. He had never seen it before and was treated to the bells ringing in the tower, meeting a Bum Chum (hard to explain) all while “enjoying the spectacular fall foliage surrounding our noble brick buildings.” A visit to the Book Shop allowed for the purchase of numerous SBC honey products as Christmas gifts. “They smell wonderful, and have pretty branded labels, all quality products while marketing our beloved school and supporting our apiary efforts.” (Couldn’t agree more!) Despite COVID, Carrie and Jim were able to take a few driving trips around VA and NC, as well as Columbia, SC, for Jim’s Navy ROTC reunion. “It was enlightening for me to meet his friends of 50 years.” A tradition of meeting in Sea Island with siblings, cousins and spouses was developing as well. With retirement came re-landscaping with natives and non-invasive plants. ”My scheme included a very successful pollinator garden that attracted an abundance of bees and butterflies.” Carrie also enjoys dog sitting for son, Andrew’s (33) Havanese, Casey while he works in marketing for Chevy Chase Acura. “Casey is a total rascal and very entertaining!” John (38) recently moved to San Jose to oversee corporate development for a startup backed by GM. Another wedding that was able to take place despite COVID was when Katie Renaud Baldwin’s youngest daughter was married in Northern California, with a lovely ceremony and weather, and lots of

spring 2022

CLASS NOTES

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CLASS NOTES

family and friends! Katie then went to spend 2 weeks in Michigan with her 97 year-old mother and a day after returning picked up the latest 4-legged member of the family—an 8-week old chocolate lab. “I guess I don’t have to worry about being bored!” Life is busy! Anne Taylor Quarles Doolittle is moving ahead with her art full force! With shows in various parts of the country, from Laguna Beach, to Nashville, to Prairie du Sac, WI, where her work will be on exhibit until March 11, 2022, I know she is always busy ensuring her works are packaged properly and ready to ship on to the next show, except of course, the pieces that are sold! Anne’s work has been seen all over the country, both in-person and virtually, raising funds for different philanthropic groups and organizations, most recently the Trinity School in Atlanta, The Harpeth Hall School, The University School of Nashville, a food bank in southeastern VA, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation in CO. Anne sums things up, “I feel fully launched as an artist and am totally happy about it. I so often wish I had figured this out earlier in life. The Shaker song, Simple Gifts, comes to mind. ‘It’s a gift to be simple. It’s a gift to be free. It’s a gift to come down where you want to be.’” I would be remiss if I didn’t include and encourage you to see her work for yourself at www.annedoolittle.com. It is a joy to see how she has progressed with her paintings, too many to mention here! As we all find that special happy place, it is great to hear from Julie Pfautz Bodenstab, that she too has been painting watercolors, stating that winter in NH is the perfect quiet time to pick up the brushes! Keeping up with sons, daughters-inlaw and the grands keeps her busy, as well as the skiing, boating and all outdoor activities the differing seasons bring! Lisa Longino has had a busy year despite COVID. She continues to enjoy her work with Sweet Briar. Lisa enjoys speaking with so many classmates and other alums, as well as getting to experience the growth of the College firsthand. She had a wonderful trip to Colorado for Thanksgiving with the entire vaccinated and boosted family including

her 3 granddaughters. It was cold and snowy and a blast to finally be all together! It has been an interesting year for Rick and me. I still get to travel with Rick, mostly to CA where I catch up with Holly McGlothlin each time, along with a couple more vineyards to visit. We were able to escape to a ranch in WY with Liz Williams and Michelle Youree Hostler, and spouses Chuck and Bobby. The highlight of that trip, besides all the laughs, was the all-day ride up into the Bighorn Mountains. How spectacular! We have gotten to see our one granddaughter, Laurel (5), frequently as her dad, Andrew, has been living with us for some time. Our eldest son, Alex and his wife had a second little boy (Dylan) in September. Leo (4) is loving being the big brother, even when going through the various transitions! Youngest son, Ned, and his wife made a major move from Colombia, TN, to Wallingford, VT. Ned went up in September, Mariah stayed back, teaching at Vanderbilt Law School with a 16-month-old while pregnant! We all came together 2 days before Thanksgiving, with the latest little boy arriving as I was compiling these notes in January! Yes, it was a bit chilly in the 1805 house they purchased with Rick and Ned plugging up any points of air infiltration! Ben (20 mos) and Gus are adjusting well. A highlight while we were there was seeing both Lauren Young Place and Barbara Behrens Peck outside of Woodstock, VT. What fun it was hearing the history of Barbara’s wonderful find on a beautiful VT hill! Barbara also has her hide-away easel spot where she was hoping to get into her oils again. Unfortunately, a sailing trip in the BVIs with Liz Williams and Chuck (along with her sister and 2 other friends) had to be canceled for the fourth time. It was a disappointment, but we made the best of it, driving down to Edenton and Beaufort, NC, to drown our sorrows, and take in the history, sights and wool shops! (I met my goal of knitting 3 sweaters for the grands for Christmas ’21!) I got some great pointers from Elizabeth ‘Perk’inson Simmons and it was fun to visit some old haunts from January term in ’80. Dinner with Perk and Steve was a riot as

well! (If you ever want to know some great restaurants in that neck of the woods, Perk is the one to call) So, by this time next year Muffy and I will be in full swing of planning our 45th Reunion! SO very hard to believe! (And we will certainly welcome anyone who would like to join in on the fun—we will need help!) It will be a doozy, with lots of plans in the works already. For now, to the Great Class of ’78, and all SBC classes, stay safe and healthy, and continue to connect with each other! Long car trips scream out, ‘Who shall I call today?’ Hugs, Suzanne

1980

Victoria Clarendon Richter 1401 Centennial Road Penn Valley, PA 19072 vrichter@comcast.net Tamara Driskill Francis: “I am retired living with my husband of 40 years. We have a daughter and 2 grandkids, 9 and 10 years old.” Jeannine Davis Harris: “I’m not retired or have grand babies yet! Have been living in Princeton for 10 years and love the college town community. I am working as an independent rep for high end fabrics to the design community. I enjoy shooting sporting clays, fly fishing and hiking. My kids are living in NYC, Chicago and DC. I love getting together with my SBC friends. COVID has not slowed down our get-togethers. Stay Strong XOXO” Pamela Willet Hauck: “We moved here to Chesterfield, VA (from Stafford, VA), about 18 months ago. I spend a good bit of my time volunteering with our local state park. I am a master gardener with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. We have a 2-year-old granddaughter and another baby girl on the way this coming July. Two daughters reside in North Carolina so we frequently take trips to see them (and granddaughter). Our youngest lives nearby in Richmond. We adopted/rescued a beautiful 6-year-old English Lab (Annie) last summer and she keeps us on the go. Michele Baruch Jeffrey: “It’s been quite the rollercoaster with COVID but New Yorkers are indomitable.

Family is all well—all working and playing to the fullest. I continue serving on the auxiliary of Lenox Hill Hospital as treasurer. Jim and I split our time between the city and Connecticut. Jim and I managed a trip to Paris in September with Jane—it was magical and delicious. Charlie keeps us in good humor like no one else can. Hoping everyone out there stays healthy.” Phyllis Watt Jordan: Phyllis continues to work for FutureEd, a Georgetown University think tank, where she’s focused on tracking the billions in COVID relief dollars flowing to schools. Her daughter Miranda is back home, working remotely for an education nonprofit. She works in the attic, Phyllis at the dining room table and husband, Brian, in the basement. Her son, Jake, is graduating in May from the University of Vermont, so he doesn’t need a home office...yet. Phyllis made it to reunion last summer and enjoyed spending time with erstwhile roommate Fran McClung Ferguson. Amy Campbell Lamphere: “Happy and healthy in Minneapolis. Son Jake is here, working as a behavior analyst (super fun to learn all about myself from him at family dinner, LOL). Daughter Sarah is rocking social media for Ronald McDonald in KC. Jim and I celebrated 35 years at Steamboat in November. Skiing and skating are keeping me sane this winter. Chomping at the bit to get traveling again! Loving the learning that comes from launching a clothing line, and still teaching Nia online. If you want to sample a class, or an outfit to wear to it, let me know!” Annie Leonard: “I continue to focus my attention on healing— body, mind and spirit—on a cancer journey. Thus far, my experience has been both challenging and rich, something I would not have anticipated at the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer in 2019. Though I’ve not traveled abroad to see new sites or foreign countries these past years, I have explored a wide range of emotion and integrative treatments that I find equally rewarding. Retirement offers growth and adventure even when navigated from the comforts of home. Wishing each of you abundance in your own journeys!” Tish Tyler Longest: “Greetings ev-

CLASS NOTES

Angela Averett ’82 is relishing her grandmother role

eryone—I’m still working at Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General as a paralegal in prisoner litigation and coming up on my 38th year anniversary. Spent a week in Duck, NC, in Sept. 2021 and will be going again in May and Sept. 2022. I’m in

touch with Carolyn Birbick Ownby often!” Carson Freemon Meinen: “Lots of good things happening in our family in 2022. Our first grandchild is due in July and our son is getting married in September. Ed and I are

also hoping to resume our travels with a cruise from Amsterdam to Lisbon in Sept./Oct. I am currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer but by mid-February I will be back to normal activities assuming COVID allows us more freedom.” Beth Blair McKinney: “I am still practicing law and COVID has really made things pretty weird and a little scary, but with zoom at least I can wear sweatpants for client consults. So far the majority of my family and friends are making it through the pandemic. Mac is getting married in June to a really great girl and I have 2 adorable grandsons who call me LaLa and I couldn’t be more blessed. Missing fall and winter at the Briar as well as my friends from there. Bum Chums are coming!” Lisa Faulkner O’Hara: “I’ve had fun connecting on Zoom with Sally Gray Lovejoy, Janel Hughes Wiles, and Kim Wood Fuller. I’m the marketing manager for a non-profit senior center where I learn a lot from older adults about aging with gratitude for all the good in life. Our son, Bud and his wife, Kelsey celebrated the one year anniversary of their beautiful wedding at the Bay Head Yacht Club. They, and our daughter, Evan, live and work in NYC. Jim and I spent time on Cape Cod and Nantucket. I hope everyone is doing well.” Anne Secor: “My twin girls are my

1982

Patti Snodgrass Mullins 15 10th Ave Brunswick, MD 21716 pattibmullins@gmail.com Angela Averett: “A year and a half ago my husband and I moved

spring 2022

Libby Lee Castles ’82 enjoys family at Thanksgiving

world. They are 15, best friends and outspoken activists. Still living in Canada, spent a month on vacation in NYC over the summer. I am doing lots of remote graphics work. Mom’s going strong with a 94-year-old beau at age 85 in center city Philly.” Lillian Sinks Sweeney: “Hello, my friends, well it has been 2 years of working remotely and I don’t see that changing anytime soon due to the fact we have this unwelcome virus in our midst and my job has previously had me in healthcare facilities. I am about ready to get my second bionic hip in the beginning of February. It must have been all that hockey and lacrosse and running the dang dairy route! I see a bit of Jeannine Davis Harris which is lots of fun as she is close in Princeton. Looking forward to hopefully seeing more folks in 2022.” Claire Dennison Griffith can’t believe she has been back at Sweet Briar for almost 7 years! “It has been a wonderful experience meeting so many amazing alumnae full of passion for Sweet Briar. It is especially rewarding to be able to work with our students from time to time and watch them grow into the leaders of the future. We were so sorry not to be able to celebrate our 40th Reunion in person, but I hope each of you will consider a trip back to campus to see all the places you loved as a student as well as many new and exciting things. I hear a mini-reunion may be in the works!” Victoria Clarendon Richter: “As for me, my kids are 35, 33 and 31 and live in NYC, San Diego and Denver. My middle son, Peter, got married in San Diego after rescheduling the wedding twice because of COVID. The stars were aligned and gathering restrictions were lifted the week before by the governor. Many thanks to all my classmates who sent in their notes. It’s been great to see what you all have been up to in the last year.”

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CLASS NOTES

to middle Tennessee to be close to our 2 precious grandbabies. I have begun playing poker professionally across the U.S. and internationally. It has been a lifelong dream come true! Fortunately, with the success of my Rodan and Fields skincare business and the fact that I can work from anywhere, all of this is now possible. We are loving our time with these precious babies and retirement. I look forward to seeing everyone at Sweet Briar in June. Can’t believe it’s been 40 years!” Ethel Burwell Dowling and husband, Ben, have been in Lexington, VA, for 11 years and love it. Their son lives in Memphis and works as an engineer for Hino Motors, following in the footsteps of Ethel’s father. Their daughter works for Young Life in Amelia County, VA. Ethel frequently runs into Frances Mantho Belliveau in town and looks forward to seeing more classmates at our spring Reunion. Ruth Fowler Whitlow: “Since our adventuresome traveling came to a screeching halt, Bruce and I purchased a gorgeous home in the north Georgia mountains. We are thoroughly enjoying all aspects of this lifestyle: hiking, cycling, gardening, water sports and most importantly visiting area wineries. Jill Steenhuis (BFA art ’80) even conducts a workshop at one! Lisa Blake visits often as we share our obsession with Maine coon cats, and she loves this area. I still get to Athens to check on houses, family and friends.” Libby Lee Gantt Castles, has been involved with her busy and growing family, playing golf every Tuesday, community Bible study and mentoring a young man. Her husband Guy has an exhausting schedule at his pediatric practice. Their oldest daughter is a physician assistant in oral surgery in Asheville, NC, where her husband is an endodontist. They blessed Libby Lee with the first grandchild in June 2021. Her son Guy, who is in law school, married a dentist and lives in Charleston. Third child and her husband live 4 blocks away and are expecting their first child in June 2022. Of the triplets, the 2 boys are getting married 3 weeks apart this summer. Their sister loves working for Two Men and

a Truck and coaching middle school girls basketball. Libby Lee hopes to get to reunion, which will be right between the weddings. Anne Goebel Bain is still in Palo Alto, CA, while husband Mark finishes up his engineering career. With family and herself in good health and good spirits, despite the pandemic, she has kept busy. She has reached intermediate level in Italian, studying via Zoom with the Italian professor at the local community college; took an online novel writing class from Stanford and looks to finish her novel in 2022; completed a lovely trip to Kona, Hawaii and plans a trip to Lake Tahoe in January 2022. Monika Kaiser: “My immediate family and I pretty much stayed home due to the pandemic. I spent 2 months in Germany last summer to help my siblings take care of my mom. The whole family got 2 COVID vaccines, as well as a booster and we are still careful, wearing a mask in public. I found that in general—despite a small group that had to make a lot of noise—people in Germany and the Netherlands were very disciplined where COVID was concerned in contrast to the U.S. And yet, this terrible virus rages on across the world. Because of COVID, my daughter got married with only 11 family members last year and had decided to postpone the party to her first wedding anniversary in December. We were about 50 people, a lovely celebration in an old farmhouse— mostly outside. I made the desserts: chocolate mousse, lemon mousse, apple roses and a fruity vegan dessert. Except for the apple roses, all desserts were presented in individual, take-home mason jars. My flight is booked to Charlottesville in June for our reunion!” Jill Maple Fallon: “My family, along with thousands of others, moved in 2020. After spending my entire life, except for the years at Sweet Briar, in New England, and 20 years in our Massachusetts home, we moved to Florida. I love parts of it, but I’m still adjusting. My husband’s company has headquarters in Sarasota. We settled in Lakewood Ranch, voted the No. 1 community in the nation. Can’t be all bad!” Heather Pirnie Albert: “I semi-re-

tired at the end of July but will still be working seasonally with taxes. Michael retired in 2020 and is enjoying his military retirement! My grandchild is now 4, so full of energy it makes me tired just to watch her! Unfortunately, Dad passed in January 2021, so I make monthly trips to see Mom in Augusta, GA. I’m a frequent flyer on Southwest! We spent the fall traveling—visiting family and catching up. Included a vacation in Florida, Hawaii and a week cruise in Mexico and Honduras. Saw Lollie Noble in San Antonio in the fall as well. Looking forward to Reunion this year!” Jennifer Rae: “I moved back to the Washington, D.C., area in September 2020 after spending 5 months in New York, home with my mother. I continue to maintain my business during COVID. I am blessed with a new sweetheart in my life. Jean von Schrader Bryan: Still loving life in Amherst, VA. Excited for our 40th reunion this year. Thankful for my Sweet Briar girlfriends.” Lorie Teeter Lichtlen: “I will celebrate 39 years in Paris on April Fool’s Day 2022—when I just came here for a 6-month internship! Dominique and I have been married for 31 of those years. Son Nicholas (28) has a film school degree and is job hunting in the film and video game industries. Daughter Lauren (25) is interning at Estee Lauder here as part of her master’s program in luxury goods management. I’m still working at Burson Marsteller (now called BCW), where I head the corporate and financial communications practice. I also specialize in international media relations and women’s leadership issues. My four-day work week is intense, but I carve out time to participate in 2 creative writing groups. We are very fortunate, and grateful that Dom and I recovered properly from COVID and that we live in a country where good and affordable healthcare is considered to be important for everyone.” Lee Watson Lombardy: “COVID case counts finally dropped in Florida, so we busted out of here for a few trips this fall, but now it looks like the cases are skyrocketing again.

Warren and I enjoyed a few days in the Asheville, NC, area in October for a much-needed getaway. In November, I traveled to New Mexico with a girlfriend where we hiked, ate and saw sights. Gracie Tredwell Schild provided us with some helpful hints before our trip. Towards the end of our trip we met Gracie for dinner and some catching-up at her favorite restaurant in Santa Fe. We had lots of laughs as she answered our questions about New Mexico! For Thanksgiving, we traveled to New Jersey to see my husband’s family and to celebrate daughter Georgia’s 25th birthday. Georgia enjoys her work as a sea turtle biologist at the Florida Aquarium. I keep busy with work at the City of Orlando but hope to retire in spring 2022. I plan to stay busy during retirement, continuing to volunteer for Sweet Briar, my church and the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar.” Patti Snodgrass Mullins: “I continue to thrive in the advocacy work for educators in Maryland as press secretary and policy research specialist for the Maryland State Education Association, based in Annapolis (remotely working since March 2020). Daughter Virginia pursues a degree in environmental science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Husband Earl looks forward to retiring (for the third time) early in 2022 to sail more of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond, and to visit SBC with me during reunion! Also fun is that grandson, Chase Mullins, is a nationally ranked lacrosse faceoff specialist who started playing for UNC this year.”

1984

Louise Jones Geddes 2590 Woodward Way NW Atlanta, GA 30305 LJGeddes5@gmail.com Happy spring to the Class of ’84! It is always a pleasure hearing from so many of you and catching up—and sharing—your news. Sometimes though, the news is sad, such as sharing that we lost classmate Jennifer Kirby Savin late in 2021. Jen was my freshman roommate. Somehow, we landed together in a corner room

CLASS NOTES

is the intern coordinator, working with 25 college interns each summer. Ginger Reynolds Davis and Lynn visited Debbie Jones last 4th of July. They also saw Debbie’s mama, Judy Jones ’60. They traveled to Seagrove, Florida over Labor Day, and at year’s end had a wonderful quiet Christmas with the children. Ginger had cataract surgery earlier this year and says the results have been awesome. Liz Rodgers Boyd writes that: “We are happy and healthy in Minnesota...albeit a bit cold. High of -7 today.” Liz is still working from home as director of special events for The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and has served in numerous roles for The Friends for almost 15 years. She loves doing special events, although the learning curve to present virtual events has been off the charts! She is hopeful to have Opus & Olives, a huge author event, in person in October. Husband Tom is doing well and going to the office every day. His law practice has been a mix of virtual and in court, and flexibility is the name of the game. Son Tommy is back in Saint Paul teaching and coaching at Saint Agnes School (K-12). He loves working with the little kids but also enjoys coaching the high school teams. Louie is in San Diego at Camp Pendleton. He is now a captain in the Marine Corps, and Liz cannot believe he graduated from The Citadel almost 6 years ago. Lisa Burwell Reichard moved to Spring Hill, TN—about 40 minutes south of Nashville—to be closer to her youngest son Ben who’s a junior engineering student and athlete at Lipscomb University in Nashville. Her daughter Mary also got married this past year on July 11. (Lisa says they will forever drink slurpees on their anniversary!) So now Lisa’s family is split north and south: with her oldest son Drew, his wife and Lisa’s twin 2-year-old grandsons, as well as her daughter Mary, her husband and Lisa’s grand-dog all living within 20 minutes of each other in Grand Rapid, MI. Her third child/ second son Hunter, Ben and Lisa are all living in TN. Hunter lives in Memphis with his cousin Peter, the son of Lisa’s sister Ethel ’80. Lisa loves being in the Nashville

Debbie Jones’ new family addition, Sully

Cathy Cash Mays with her daughter, Ashton Mays ’18, at Ashton’s wedding on Sweet Briar’s campus

spring 2022

on the third floor of Reid, the “virgin vault” as it was called in the day. We were a little chalk and cheese: She studied best late at night and I took all the 8am classes, I frequented the frat houses and she drank at the Bistro, she spent a lot of time reading and writing papers while I trekked to Guion for science and math classes. But despite all our differences, she was a great roommate and friend, and she and I navigated that first year of college pretty successfully together. May she rest in peace and may her beautiful family be a lasting legacy to a life well lived. Anne Hutchison Pede writes that she and her husband retired from the military after 33 years. They bought a wonderful home in Gettysburg, PA, and are loving retired life. They are spending part of the time in Gettysburg and part of the time in Virginia Beach. Chuck works part time as a professor for Gettysburg College and Anne volunteers at the National Museum of the United States Army in Virginia. Anne Frierman Sewell is still in Atlanta and enjoying her business, Properly Mine, a monogram gift business. She is still married to Henry Sewell (W&L ’83). Anne’s children have graduated from college and are working, and the only thing she and Henry are paying for is their cell phone bills! She hasn’t seen anyone this year due to COVID, but she is looking forward to planning many future post-COVID girls’ weekends with Kristen Bryant and Staci Skufca. Laurie Scovel Pfeifer is teaching Kindergarten in Centerville on Cape Cod and absolutely loves it, even with all the craziness over the past 2 years. She got a yellow lab puppy right before COVID hit. He’s now a two-year-old big puppy with tons of personality named Sampson, and the beach is his favorite place in the world. She and Brad (HSC ’83) are looking forward to traveling more this year to see their families who are spread out across the south. They spend a lot of their spare time volunteering for the Cape Cod Baseball League (a summer collegiate baseball league). Brad is the president of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and Laurie

CLASS NOTES

Karen Williams Wickre at reunion

Stephanie Alford Collett and family at her son Trent’s wedding

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area, even though it’s hard to be so far from the older 2 and the grandtwins. Colleen Kuebel Lewis writes that she is slowing down after 37 years in commercial real estate, her hubby retired after 43 years with Bechtel, and they are bouncing between New Orleans and the panhandle of Florida along 30A. Her oldest, Colin, married this fall and she adores her daughter-in-law. The other son, Alex, is an elected representative of the Republican State Central of Louisiana. She is enjoying her blended family and year 7 of marriage! She has an African safari planned this summer to celebrate her 60th and welcomes any travel tips from the SBC gals. Like all of us, she is hoping COVID dissipates so she can also visit Dubai, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, The Maldives, Istanbul and London! Colleen had brunch with Penney Parker Hartline and Roger last Halloween weekend and she enjoys hearing from SBC friends. Liz Sprague Brandt writes that her biggest news was her daughter Betsy getting married to Walker Harbison (from St. Louis) last June 12. It meant so much to have Eliza-

beth Harley Willett and Chris here for the celebration. Liz and Perry are surprised and thrilled to have their girl back in Missouri. Elizabeth Harley Willett says COVID came and went through the family this past Christmas so she didn’t have the tropical vacation she expected, but had a great time anyway with family and friends closer to home. Elizabeth and hubbie Chris have sold their house and are “rightsizing” into a new house with a smaller yard. The new place is right around the corner from her old one so she isn’t leaving the neighborhood and she is super excited about enduring a gut renovation of the new place. Hoping to be in by the 2022 holidays. Chris is starting to retire-ish so she is looking forward to more free time in Atlanta and Charleston. Elizabeth writes: “It doesn’t feel like we are all turning 60, but here we are. Can’t wait to celebrate with as many of you as possible.” Stephanie Alford Collett’s big news for 2021 was that her son, Trent, married his fiancée, Amara, on Saint Simons Island in March 2021, after postponing it from 2020. It was a beautiful celebration with

perfect weather. They are living in Atlanta and practicing as dentists, though not at the same practice. Her daughter Anna and son-in-law, Riley live in Birmingham, AL, where she is working as a nurse and attending UAB for her DNP (Doctorate of Nurse Practitioner) and he is attending UAB Medical School. Seeing her “baby girl” working so hard during this pandemic reminds Stephanie every day that nurses are angels on earth! She and her husband are very thankful their children are all doing well, as are their parents. They took a couple of trips during 2021 to Napa Valley, CA, in May and to Highlands, NC, in July, and enjoyed having a little normal in between the craziness. They also had a wonderful time celebrating Helen Pruitt Butler’s daughter at her wedding in Charleston in June. It was great to see some of the SBC crowd there as well. The fall was full of UGA Bulldog football—a very exciting season for those who follow college football. Stephanie and her husband went to the National Championship game in Indianapolis where they cheered the Bulldog’s to victory! Mike is still working, mainly virtually, in IT.

Stephanie enjoys some volunteering which requires bobbing and weaving between in person and Zoom depending on the month. Marie Lascombes’s father, André Lascombes, who taught at Sweet Briar in 1979-1989, passed away on Dec. 2020. He was a professor at Université François Rabelais for many years and a researcher for Renaissance studies at CESR in Tours. Marie became a grandmother last September. She remembers her year abroad at Sweet Briar with fond memories. Virginia Lynch Kiseljack remains in Marietta, GA, though she and her husband Charles downsized to a smaller home near the Marietta Square once both kids were in college. Daughter Katie graduated from college in 2020 then completed a master’s in management information systems and is now out of the house and working in cybersecurity for Allstate. Her son Chase is in his last year at Georgia College studying general management. Virginia continues as a senior business development officer for PNC Bank in the asset based and leverage finance unit. Thus far, she and her family have weathered the pandemic well though the smaller house was quite full when everyone was home in 2020! Leslie Caroline Kirkby continues her equine assist therapy 5 days a week, staying strong—physically and mentally—with her 2 Arabian horses. She recently went trail riding and checked off another one from her new bucket list. She says it was absolutely fabulous. Her niece Natalie Cockey, of Oxford, MD, applied to SBC. SBC will love her brilliance, diplomacy, leadership and team player skills on and off the field. SBC bestie

Jennifer Ditter Collado ’83 and Leslie Caroline have been talking often, and the 2 hope to catch up in person soon. Leslie Caroline says the best part of lockdown was spending some wonderful time with her 3 adult boys. Ian Wardell is finishing his law degree from Seton Hall. Eric Wardell lives at home and is finishing his MBA and MIS graduate degrees at Rowan University. Anthony “AJ” Minerva is engaged to his long-term girlfriend Michaela Flood. When it’s safe again, Leslie Caroline looks forward to seeing SBC peeps in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. Debbie Jones has a new young horse named Sully for trail riding. Her 2 other boys really like him! Debbie sees Ginger Reynolds Davis frequently. The Square One Organic Spirits business has had its challenges and opportunities through the pandemic and Debbie and her sister are hoping to raise capital to scale it after 15 plus years of keeping it small. The new mixer and ready to drink lines are popular, and Debbie thanks all of you and many others who continue to support them. Debbie reports that being in the central Virginia SBC community is a lot of fun with so many alums. Holly Pflug Allport and her husband Peter celebrated their 31st anniversary on Feb. 2. Their oldest Pete, has moved back to Orlando where he continues to work as a software engineer. Sarah will complete her master’s degree to become a pediatric nurse practitioner in December 2022. Kate received her undergraduate degree and is in grad school, and Julia is a junior at Auburn. Holly is still working as an estate planning paralegal and Pete is still in banking. They aren’t quite empty-nesters thanks to their 2 German shepherds. Robin L Cannizzaro is still living in Florida with 21-odd animals and her long term partner of 26 years, Debbie. She is actively riding and she and Debbie are nestled in their 10acre farm haven. She is still practicing homeopathic/holistic veterinary medicine doing phone consultations nationwide. She has been doing podcasts and recently was interviewed for a documentary started by Joey’s

Legacy, an advocacy group for pet parents who feel wronged or harmed by veterinarians. The documentary may air this year. She has other podcasts listed on her website at www. wholisticvetcare.com. Robin hasn’t done much public speaking or traveling due to COVID and is just enjoying her 2 and 4 legged family! Vicky McCullough Carroll writes from Cincinnati, where she and Mike are adjusting to life as empty nesters. Vicky fills her days with tennis, paddle tennis, freelance writing and graphic design for a handful of clients and weekend travel to barns across OH, KY and IN to cheer on daughter Emma and the University of Kentucky Equestrian Team. Roxane M. Lie is still in Oregon, almost 23 years now. She has been working for Ricoh almost 6 years now, delivering mail and packages on the Nike campus in Beaverton. She has been working full time since the pandemic began. Aramis, her last Vizsla, passed away in 2021. She’s getting a new Vizsla from Minneapolis once the weather is clear enough to drive or fly safely. Her father passed away in 2016—Michigan Opera Theater dedicated the opening night of Winnipeg Ballet’s performance in his honor. Liz Boyer Caldwell and Helen Pruitt Butler got together in Charleston for dinner this past November. Liz reports that it was great catching up and that they will be vacationing together in Eleuthera the Bahamas this April! Liz owns a place there and is going to show Helen and Herb the island while they are vacationing in Harbor Island with their kids. Sue Croker Fisher started her own bookkeeping company in November, Merit Account Services LLC, which keeps Sue very busy. She says starting a new business at a “mature” age is not for the faint of heart! Daughter Katie and Sue both had COVID at the beginning of January but since they both were vaccinated, they got through it with relatively mild cases. Beth Richmond Hyder is still loving life in beautiful Keswick. She made a career change last May. After 25 years in event-planning, she is now director of retail at Michie Tav-

ern in Charlottesville. Michie Tavern is an 18th century tavern near Monticello serving southern fare for lunch, and there are 2 retail shops on the property. It is a lot of fun but also a lot of work. The shops are undergoing major changes in appearance and merchandise in addition to rebranding. Last fall, Tracy Glaves Spalding and her mother stopped by on their way to SBC and Beth enjoyed seeing them both. Additionally, Beth went to the gift show in Atlanta and ran into Mary Baker Brockman and had great fun catching up with Mary, who had some excellent pointers for the shops as she has had a wonderful store, Enchanted Antiques, in Lynchburg for over 25 years. If you are traveling through Charlottesville, please stop at The Tavern for lunch and then come shop! There is some fabulous pink and green merchandise! Camille Mitchell Wingate reports that 2021 was a challenging year for travel due to COVID, but she got to visit her girls often in NYC and Alexandria, VA, and they visited Charleston. Camille’s exciting news is that Caroline got engaged in November, in Alexandria, to a wonderful guy and Camille couldn’t be more thrilled for her! She had a wonderful Thanksgiving together in NYC watching the parade and enjoying the city during the holiday, and then Caroline, Meredith, Troy and Grady (Camille’s grand dog) visited Charleston for a wonderful 70-degree Christmas. Cathy Cash Mays continues to love her job as director of hospitality at SBC, and she enjoyed the opportunity to assist with her own daughter’s special day there. It was an exciting time for the family as they celebrated Ashton’s (SBC ’18) wedding on Founders Day weekend. The wedding party and guests included a number of SBC alumnae. Cathy’s son and daughter-in-law, along with 2 grandchildren (8 and 2), helped complete the bridal party. A truly memorable time for all! Tricia Dolph Fallon spent winter 2021 in Lexington, VA, where her eldest daughter, Christina, attends W&L Law and back surgery at UVA was successful! In May 2021,

she moved middle daughter, Caroline, to an apartment in NYC where she is a CPA at Deloitte at 30 Rock. Son Nick is at U of Richmond, and Tricia attended her first parents weekend there in October 2021. Tricia and Katie Hoffner went on a women’s equine retreat in Oakley, UT, last June. They took a real road trip through Dinosaur Alley, from Vail to Utah! In July 2021 Tricia visited Sweet Briar for Reunion with her niece, Cece Mahan ’19, who is at William & Mary Law. Tricia saw Wendy Hyland Warren and Beth Slayman Nubbe and was inspired by Wendy to go swimming in the lake! Vida L. Henry Fonseca is back in New Orleans, a nanny of 6, 60-years-old, working on a Ph.D., just remodeled a shotgun-double house to rent and dating a bunker/ musician with hair down to his derriere. She has 2 bedrooms upstairs for anybody who visits NOLA. Vida keeps up with Martha Pollard ’85, who—according to Vida—is ahead of Vida in marriages. Karen Williams Wickre enjoyed getting out more and reconnecting with family and friends this past year. She joined a couple of ’84 classmates at this year’s Sweet Briar Reunion and enjoyed catching up with Wendy Hyland Warren and Tricia Dolph Fallon at Sweet Work Week. Karen also joined SBC Hunt Club Alumnae for Polo night and prepared gift bags for SBC ’21 grads with other D.C. alumnae. She also enjoyed a bike tour in France last summer. As for me, 2021 was a memorable year. I spent several months in Australia helping my husband Jim at Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, which is still rebuilding after the devastating fires of January 2020. Probably ‘Girl Friday’ best captures my duties while there! I was also a mother-of-the-groom, or MOG, as son Giles married late in 2021, and I gained a lovely daughter-in-law. My other 2 kids are doing great. Charlie continues living/working in Atlanta and Lucia loves life in DC. Ladies, we all are turning 60 or have done so in the past year, and so I am sending all of you the happiest of wishes as

spring 2022

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES we round the corner on a new decade, that—honestly—doesn’t feel as old as I thought it would. Two more years until our 40th Reunion! Can you believe it? Stay safe everyone!

1986

Alis Piper Van Doorn 1612 Slater Street Valdosta, GA 31602 alisvandoorn@hotmail.com

sbc.edu

Missy Duggins Green 12221 Alhambra Street Leawood, KS 66209 missygreen@kc.rr.com

Alis Piper Van Doorn has had a year of both wonderful blessings and soul crushing heartbreak with the loss of her beloved Sophie. In late May, early June 2021, she and Star Hollis Waldron, Sophie and Beau embarked on an epic road trip, driving to NC. After a lovely visit with Star’s daughter (and my goddaughter), we wound our way down the South Carolina coast ending up at Karen Gonya Nickles’ beautiful new home in Sunset Beach. Meanwhile, Sophie had gotten suddenly and progressively sicker on the way. All I can say is thank God Karen is a true dog lover. And a saint. Her beautiful floors may never be the same. We had a fantastic evening visiting with Ingrid Weirick Squires and (via phone) Lee Ann Grzybowski Sakowicz while we were there, as well as a magical long (really long) walk along Sunset Beach. Karen and Lance are truly the best ever hosts. From there, we went to Charleston where we celebrated Star’s birthday in the Battery and Sophie went to the world’s most expensive vet. After a brief stop in Savannah, we finally arrived home on Friday evening. I dropped Star off at her house and Sophie perked up as we arrived home. She seemed better on Saturday but died in my arms Sunday morning. Things are a bit blurry from that point on. Star got us both to the Pets at Peace funeral home Monday, but after that, I just collapsed. I will be forever grateful to all my SBC sisters who reached out to me with such love and care. In late June, I dragged myself back together enough to have the most delightful visit with Jessica Sinnot and the adorable Radley. Jessica is living in

PA and is a patent attorney, as is her witty and wildly funny husband. I closed out 2021, missing Sophie desperately, but so grateful to have had her, grateful for the amazing friends I’m lucky enough to have, and just grateful to be alive with a world of possibilities ahead. Ann Bruce Faircloth Porter is still living in Auburn, AL, and loves it. Her daughter, Brucie, graduated from Sewanee and is now in grad school at Auburn. She writes, “I know she won’t be in town forever, but I love having her close by while she’s in school. I enjoyed visits with SBC gals Sally Engleby Farrell and Susan Swagler Cowles in 2021. So fun to catch up! Hope everyone has a wonderful 2022!” April Adelson is still in Hilton Head Island and bought a condo in November. A place to call home and an exciting adventure! Overall, life is very good, she says. April hopes to see some of her Vixen sisters in 2022! Beth Ann Trapold Newton reports, “Our older 2 have been working remotely on-and-off from our

house, and our youngest is less than an hour away where she studies and plays lacrosse at the Naval Academy. Her new assistant coach is the daughter of a life-long friend of Katie Hearn ’85, so Katie joined us at a Lax Play Day this fall. I got to have lunch with Allison Akeson Bond. She and Harry are now realtors in Baltimore after renovating and decorating more homes than I can count! Allison always had a flair for seeing the potential in any house, so she is clearly in the right career.” Beth Ann is still working as editor at The Green Book but spends the majority of her free time in Annapolis. Last spring, they purchased a sailboat. Her husband, being a lifelong sailor, helps when retreating from D.C. and using the “floating condo” for Navy Football and Lacrosse games. Beth Ann is happy to write that Carolyn Hepperle Richardson is living in the D.C. area now after being in Moscow. They had monthly Zoom calls with Lynn Mather Charette and Liz Gallagher Jeffery. “Funny/ sad to think we saw more of each other when she was halfway around

Leigh Ann White’s favorite two furriends Poppy (dog) and Dennis (horse)

the world!” Beth Ann expresses, “Hope all our classmates are healthy and well. The pandemic has certainly made one thing clear—I want to spend more time with those I love like all my SBC sisters. Stay well, friends!” Elizabeth Nott Hall is retired from teaching after 31 years. Her first job was at St. Bernard’s (all boys) in NYC followed by Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, CA, and ending at Brentwood School, LA. She writes, “It really was a remarkable career where I met amazing colleagues and a few notable parents. Our new plan is to split our time between both coasts—310 and 207, to be exact.” Betsy caught up with Allison Akeson Bond and Harry last summer in Camden, ME. Catherine McNease Stevens states, “the last 2 years have been a roller coaster for sure! COVID, parents downsized (sold house where I grew up), son stuck at home 15 months doing online Duke Kunshan University classes because China isn’t issuing any student visas, then moved to the Duke University cam-

CLASS NOTES

Julia Andrews Milstead, Kira Flores Ector, Christina Babcock Morris, Olivia Hardin Pettifer, Lee Malley-Lowe and Tracy Gilmore enjoying their annual girls weekend

Karen Gonya Nickles stopped by for a surprise visit to see Leigh Ann White last summer

pus last fall and reunited with other DKU classmates. We don’t know what 2022 will bring, but I am so grateful to be able to keep up with my SBC classmates and sisters via social media and our class notes. Hope this year treats all of us better than the last 2 have!” Elizabeth Lindsey had a big moving year in 2021. She helped her husband, an interim pastor who travels from job to job, move twice and his dad move twice. In between, she had sinus infections and tried to catch up on all the stuff left undone while helping with those 4 moves, including the manuscript she has been ghostwriting. She shares, “My mother’s little dog, The Wee One, who lived with me, succumbed to gallbladder disease and a new basset, William, joined our family. I hope for a more stationary 2022.” Holly McGovern Barber is living in Dublin, OH. She has had a tough year with her husband Ralph’s passing but is so grateful for the friendships and blessings throughout. Holly started a new job this year and is excited for the opportunity. “Our Sweet Briar sisterhood is strong. We still celebrate each other and always have a blast.”

Ingrid Weirick Squires is excited to share her retirement from teaching in June 2021 and moved to the Wilmington, NC area with her husband. Her first dinner party in her home was an ’86 gathering with Karen Gonya Nickles, Anne Smith and Jennifer Frost Holden! She states, “Despite the pandemic, I was over the moon excited to also see classmates Linda DeVogt, Star Hollis Waldron and Piper Van Doorn in 2021. As Star said, “Old friends are the best friends.” In other news, my son is UVA ’23 (still loves it) and is pondering law school. Stay well, ’86ers!” Jesse Ann White says “Hello friends. Are we really in our late 50s? I have been living in my house in Vermont since 2003. It feels like yesterday! I am still working as a school psychologist—my 11th year in this school. I find myself being more and more of a mentor to the younger staff. Without children of my own, this gradual change in role is the main sign of time passing. I was sad to miss reunion and hope that we will be able to gather again soon. I appreciate sharing your lives through Facebook if no other way. Best wishes.” Jennifer Green Mitchell continues to live in Culpeper, VA, thankfully working 100% from home. Her husband (of 30 years) has signed a new lease and will be reopening Culpeper Cheese Company. She encourages all Vixens to stop in. Son Matthew is in the midst of determining which college he wants to attend in the fall— admission to all his top schools will make it a hard decision. Things are good, and like everyone else, Jennifer is ready for COVID to be gone.

spring 2022

Anne Souder von Weise, Mary Blair Farinholt Denious and Harriet McNair Alexander met up in NYC to introduce our kids who are living and working in the city

sbc.edu

CLASS NOTES

Julia Milstead Andrews shared, “It’s been another year that felt like 5! We are blessed to have been healthy. I’ve alternated with remote work and in the office. In the meantime, my 13-year-old son & his friends have pretty much turned me into an Uber driver! My sanity remains intact due to daily texts with Lee Malley-Lowe, Kira Flores Ector, Tracy Gilmore, Olivia Hardin Pettifer, Jenny Jahos Chaladoff and Christina Babcock. We had our annual get-together plus a bonus surprise weekend. Talk about good for the soul.” Karen Harcum Levy retired in July of 2021. Eric has shifted to a slower schedule as well. They are looking for land in Virginia to move to, to be closer to their kids, currently scattered in Roanoke, Nashville and Maryland. Her volunteer hats are coming off one by one so she can focus on getting relocated. Her family has been through a lot the last 2 years with losses and upheavals, so they are hoping for a very calm 2022. Karen encourages everyone to come to Sweet Work Weeks! “I’ll see you there.” Leigh Ann White moved from Boston to Marshall, VA, in 2020, where she settled in during the pandemic. Working remotely for a company called Evidera, Leigh Ann is managing teams of writers in North America and Europe on projects for biotechnology companies. In her free time, she is riding horses and playing with her dog Poppy, who loves accompanying her to the barn (and who may have another furry friend soon). Moving has allowed Leigh Ann to see close friends in D.C. and family in Richmond. She says, “Life has been hard for everyone including me, but I’m creating a nice new life!” Mary Beth Miller Orson is still in Scottsdale, AZ, still an attorney at Meta Financial Group, still organizing the Sweet Briar alumnae events in AZ, still on the board of the Greater Phoenix Red Cross and still married to Carl (25 years!). “All that has changed is that daughter Caroline has graduated from college, son Eric has graduated high school and is now in college. I hope everyone is staying healthy!” Mary Burke Morrow enjoyed catching up with classmates at reunion. The beautiful campus taught

her about the new greenhouses and sustainability focus. After 33 years of teaching, Burke retired from high school science. The COVID shutdown allowed time for her to enjoy new and old interests. “We only get so many orbits around the Sun, and I plan to adventure travel. If we return to being shut down and I cannot travel, I will adopt stray cats.” Mary Jo Biscardi Brown continues to enjoy retiree life in southwest Florida. She stays happily busy with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, home renovations, planning community social events, book clubs and trying to meet her daily exercise challenge! She and her husband are hoping to get back to traveling some this year. Mary Jo hated missing reunion in 2021 (first one ever missed!) due to a prior commitment. She says “However, it was wonderful connecting with classmates on Zoom calls organized by our class officers last year. A huge thank you to our former and current class officers!” Maureen Mahoney Deppman writes that both her children are attending Villanova University! Jack graduates in May and Lydia, a freshman, walked onto the D1 rowing team. “I enjoy the daily grind as a high school teacher and spend my free time peddling vintage finds at flea markets. I am still living in VT and welcome anyone visiting the Middlebury area.” Meme Boulware Hobbs who lives in Birmingham, AL, says she gets to visit Holly McGovern Barber and Nancy Buckey Rothacker often. Meme is excited to be celebrating her daughter Libby’s wedding this year and in February of 2022 will be hosting a fabulous party with a few SBC friends attending and a wonderful wedding this summer. Nancy, Holly and Meme can’t wait to be together! Missy Duggins Green writes that her son Miles graduated from TCU May ’21 and is glad to have him back in KC. Her family celebrated her daughter Nancy’s 21st birthday on Anna Maria Island, followed by celebrating her 30th wedding anniversary with Ken on a trip to Maui. Missy also improved her golf game with a prize-winning year $$$. Nancy Buckey Rothacker lives in Dublin, OH, and says “2021 and

2022 have brought many milestones, some sad, but mostly celebratory for our friends.” Nancy is enjoying and getting adjusted to her twins, Jake and Sarah being off to college and the changes that come with that and the new opportunities for all. She has been director of Dublin Lax for 10 years and continues to love coaching! Olivia Hardin Pettifer writes that 2021 was a wonderful year of spending time with my SBC girlfriends. “A long weekend was spent together in Virginia at Lee Malley Lowe’s lake house. We laughed and danced until late in the evening, played board games, walked in the woods and went out in the boat. A surprise visit happened in early December when the girls arrived in Raleigh to share a weekend with Julia Andrews Milstead and my family. The weekend included Christina Babcock Morris, Kira Flores Ector, Lee Malley Lowe and Tracy Gilmore Tilkin. We missed Jennifer Jahos Chaladoff. Love these girls.” Robin Bailey Orchard says, “I retired from teaching in PA in June, moved to Jacksonville, FL, in July, started teaching at Edward H. White High school in August, bought a house in September, moved my stuff in October and sold my PA house in November. Whew!” Sally Engleby Farrell reports, “I was so happy to attend reunion and catch up with many of my SBC friends. It was great to be back on campus. This June, my husband and I embraced a new adventure. I answered a call to be the director of St. Marks Preschool in Venice, FL. We packed up our lives in NH and now live where the sun shines and the only shoveling we do is on the beach. Visitors are welcome at any time! My 3 boys are living in Bozeman, MT, Durango, CO, and Nantucket, MA. Fun places to visit! Life is good!” Sara Morrison reports that her daughter Annemarie is in her first year of college. Sara continues to love visiting her dad and stepmom on the Testa Rossa Ranch in North Texas. They enjoy riding horses, fishing and hiking. Star Hollis Waldron reports that it’s been a busy year for weddings. Her daughter Lily got married in

December 2020 and daughter Hollis is getting married in January 2022. Her son Alex is in his third year of pharmacy school, currently living in Savannah. Star says “And I am still living in Hahira, GA, being a parent to 3 dogs, 3 cats and grandparent to 5 dogs. It’s quite a handful when we are all home on the farm. My college roommate, Piper Van Doorn is now living close by in Valdosta, GA. With all these weddings, I am looking forward to some grandchildren in my future.” Susan Mann Levy reports, “After 9 months in Hendersonville, NC, I am moving to Knoxville, TN, to be closer to my family. I ended up in Hendersonville at a facility to recover from a serious car accident in April. My daughter Preston moved to Colorado a couple of years ago and loves it! She found a job in her field (physics) and is thoroughly enjoying it. I hope to get her back to the east coast at some point. I hope to get back to some legal work in Knoxville.”

1988

Maia Free Jalenak 605 Camelia Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Maiajay@att.net Our wonderful class president, Kate Cole Hite has had a busy and exciting year. Daughter Mackenzie graduated from college and son Cole graduated from high school. The following week they moved into their new home in the upstate region of South Carolina. Kate loves their new home and says, “Tucker and I could not be happier. We pinch ourselves constantly because it feels like we are living a dream.” In March 2021, Leslie Corrado Stillwagon hosted Katie Keogh, Kathryn Ingham Reese, Cary Grant Milden and Kate at her home in St. Croix. Kate notes, “We had a fabulous time. Leslie is the most incredible hostess and pays attention to every single detail. The warm weather and getting away from all the COVID nonsense was just what the doctor ordered!” This past fall, Kate hosted Mary Halliday Shaw, Katie Keogh, Beth Bennett Haga, Minta Jones Ford, Paige Apple Montinaro, Whitney

CLASS NOTES live in Cleveland and youngest son Leland is in New Hampshire. Both have careers in social media that didn’t exist when we were in school. Stacey plans to sell her home in Severna Park this year which many classmates have visited. She notes that she’d be happy for visitors before summer. She adds, “the pandemic has given me time to read more, reflect and grow. I’m focused on social justice, women’s history and historical non-fiction topics. I’ve got some great book groups and women’s groups online.” Tracy Tigerman Goodman lives in VA and is in her 32nd year of teaching. This year is her third year teaching 4-year-olds and she has 18 students in her class. Her son is a diesel mechanic/physical therapist. Her daughter attends art school at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her husband Mark is also in the educational field. Andi Fraley is designing private label scarves of pure silk imported from Italy. She has a Sweet Briar-inspired design featuring a racing vixen leaping over the Sweet Briar House. This scarf is an exclusive item for purchase only at the SBC Book Shop. She has 2 other Vixen-inspired designs to complete a Vixen trio! The scarves are fabulous and can be ordered online from the Book Shop. To complete her collection, there are also designs featuring Hemingway’s cats and sea turtles from her haiku poem books. Andi found inspiration for her books and artwork while living in Key West. Her aim is to support animal conservation and wildlife. She currently lives in Hilton Head Island. You may see work on her website: andifraley. com. Kelly Meredith Iacobelli took a job at KWI Communications. She manages internal communications for Cox Engineering. She also teaches marketing and business communications at the University of North Georgia. She and her husband John enjoy watching their daughter Kathleen compete on the Presbyterian College Acro & Tumbling team. Last season was COVID-canceled which was heartbreaking. Kelly jokingly says, “Who knew I would raise an NCAA D1 athlete?”

Caroline Corum, Beth Stookey Sargeant and Cecilia Moore in Cape May, NJ

Jeanne Rovics Dees reports “a lot has been happening in the Dees household. Blake is working a yearlong co-op job at a global company called Modine in Grenada, MS. He will graduate from Ole Miss with a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in math. His cancer remains in remission and for that we are enormously grateful. Madeleine has selected St. Mary’s Notre Dame to pursue a degree in nursing this fall. Sweet Briar was a very serious contender for her, but it does not offer a nursing degree. This summer, to celebrate Blake and Madeleine’s accomplishments, our family will travel to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, then go on a safari and finish our trip relaxing at the beach in Zanzibar.” Jeanne continues, “I was offered an early retirement from my global position at Hilton, which gave me an opportunity to have a second career in real estate in the Northern VA, MD, D.C. area with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. I have a business partner who has been in the market for 10+ years. It has been a lot of fun, and I have gotten to know and work with fellow Vixens Brooke Linville ’04 and Madeline Wilson ’12. I am also involved in a small start-up called teletour! Download our app and let me know what you think. My husband Scott Dees remains our family rock. He always enjoys our Vixen get-togethers tailgating in the Ole Miss Grove, where he, Jay Jalenak and Ran Randolph make sure our tent is well-stocked with tasty beverages!” Kristen Petersen Randolph and husband Ran are still living in Virginia Beach and in their first year of being empty nesters. Youngest son, Peyton is at UNC Chapel Hill with his brother Christian who is a senior.

Vixen silk scarves by Andi Fraley available in the SBC Book Shop

Katie Keogh, Kate Cole Hite, Beth Bennett Haga, Minta Jones Ford, Whitney Bolt Loeber, Paige Apple Montinaro, Leslie Corrado Stillwagon and Mary Halliday Shaw

They both followed in their father’s footsteps and joined the DKE fraternity and are loving everything about UNC. Oldest son, Ranny is living and working in Dallas in commercial real estate. Kristen notes that she has amped up her residential real estate work this past year since being an empty nester and loves helping buyers find their dream homes. She is excited about a trip planned this summer for Ran’s 60th sailing the

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Bolt Loeber, Leslie Corrado Stillwagon and Kathryn Ingham Reese for an extended weekend at her new home in SC. Cary Grant Milden and Grace Quirk Thompson had planned to attend but were not able to come at the last minute. Kate writes, “We had so much fun shopping, spending time on the lake and exploring Highlands, NC. Some of the group had not seen one another since graduation, so it was like we were back on campus!” After several years working in fundraising and development for SBC, Katie Keogh is director of major gifts at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Moving to CT has made it possible for her to be near family members. She remains an active SBC volunteer. Jennifer Crawley Lewis reports that her business which her husband has been running since their daughter Diana was born in 2001 has expanded so much in the last year her husband has finally caved in and asked for help so she’s back working for the first time in almost 21 years. Their daughter, Diana, is now a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute majoring in biomedical engineering. Diana is still swimming for RPI and is still on Dean’s List. Jennifer has also been busy designing and managing a complete interior renovation of their Jacksonville, FL, home. Stacey Sickels loves her job as associate VP for alumni engagement and development at UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County). She anticipates a good bit of travel in 2022 and hopes to catch up with SBC classmates. Stacey writes “I am ready to re-engage with the world. I got to attend my sister, Susan Sickels Dyer’s ’91 Reunion at SBC last summer and had a wonderful time being back on campus. The facilities looked incredible. I’ve loved hearing updates from Lea Harvey ’90 and Katie Keogh. I’m so grateful to all who serve SBC as staff and volunteers.” Stacey continues her passion for synchronized ice skating. Her team, Gardens Synchronicity, will compete regionally in Boston and nationally in Colorado Springs this year. Stacey’s oldest son Kent and his wife Jami

CLASS NOTES new vineyards on campus. We visited several vineyards in and around Charlottesville including Pippin Hill which will be producing wine using SBC grapes. Jeanne Rovics Dees drove from McLean, VA, and our families met for a fun afternoon of wine tasting at Blenheim Vineyards. I am looking forward to traveling to Colorado this summer to visit my daughter Nina who moved to Colorado Springs last year. Let’s all mark our calendars for June of 2023 for our 35th Reunion!

1990

Jean Benning 1120 Walnut Farm Road Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002

sbc.edu

Caroline Corum and Cecilia Moore had a blast a Sweet Work Week. Cecilia brought family members to help (l-r) Margaret Moore, Jane McKenzie Davis ‘03, Tina, Taylor and Cecilia Moore, Caroline Corum and LuAnn Haag Hunt ‘90

Virgin Islands. Ran is still practicing law at Kaufman and Canoles in Norfolk—going on 35 years. Nici Fraley Pechman writes from Birmingham, AL, that one of the highlights of this year was traveling to NYC with her daughter Fraley to see Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden. Fraley is finishing her sophomore year at W&L. Her son, Jake graduated from W&L in 2021 and lives in Birmingham where he works at ServisFirst Bank. Nici’s stepson, Thomas graduated from Auburn in 2021. Nici and husband Scott just celebrated their 15th anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day. By the time of this publication, Susan Detweiler, is anticipated to have completed her master’s of occupational therapy degree. She plans to return to Teton Valley, ID, and is in all likelihood studying for the national board exam to be taken sometime this summer. She expects to visit her parents again in Oregon at some point, as she did over the holidays, and to figure out work in Teton Valley. Caroline Corum reports that she had a fun trip in spring of 2021 with Beth Stookey Sargent and Cecilia Moore to Cape May, NJ. They were joined by Cecilia’s sister Margaret

Moore, who is a regular participant at Sweet Work Weeks. Caroline was happy to see Cecilia and Margaret Moore again at Sweet Work Weeks in 2021. Stacy Vilar Csaplar who lives in Salem, MA, writes, “I have had a busy year. New apartment, new job and new life. Although it was a year of challenges, I have gained wonderful new friends, opportunities and dreams! Many thanks to all my SBC friends who have my back no matter what comes my way. Lots of love! Can’t wait until we can all be together again.” I was impressed and excited for Sonia Jabbar who posted on Facebook that she was beside herself with excitement and was fulfilling a childhood dream of opening a riding school. Royal Bengal Riding & Polo School is located on the picturesque Nuxalbari Tea Estate which is owned and operated by Sonia in the Darjeeling District in the state of West Bengal in north-eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. With the new riding school, Sonia hopes to introduce hundreds if not thousands of children and adults to horses, riding and equestrian sports. She is recognized for her commitment to the environment, passion

for conservation and providing a safe haven for wild elephants on the tea estate. It’s a pleasure to reconnect with our SBC friends. Jeanne Rovics Dees, Kristen Petersen Randolph, Nici Fraley Pechman and I had a fabulous Galentines and birthday celebration (for Jeanne and Kristen) trip to Seaside, FL, in February. We missed Laura Schumacher Kasprzak and hope she will be able to join in on future get-togethers. I missed getting together with Jeanne, Kristen and Nici last fall at our second LSU and Ole Miss football tailgating excursion in Oxford (although my family did make the event without me). I was not able to go because I had back surgery 2 weeks before the game. Long story, short, don’t pick up an 80lb English bulldog! I’m recovered now, thankfully! Before I hurt my back, Jay and I had a fun trip to Napa, CA. Another highlight of the year was spending a week in Virginia in November to visit my son, Jack and daughter-in-law who live in Charlottesville where Jack has just finished his second year as a resident in internal medicine at UVA. We had a fun time including a visit to SBC and got to see fall colors on campus. It was neat to see the

Amanda Berkey 5702 Criner Road Huntsville, AL 35802 1990sweetbriar@gmail.com Greetings Class of 1990! Thank you to all who submitted notes! We loved hearing from all of you and reading about what’s going on in your part of the world. Please feel free to reach out at any time to the email address above. And thank you to Amanda and all of the other alumnae that stepped up and took on leadership roles. Your time and commitment is appreciated—and on to the updates! Squiffy Walker Christopher: ”I’m still in Richmond, working at a preschool, and I nanny for a wonderful family after school. Robert is still working for Henrico County Public Library. Wizzie ’20 works for a local interior design firm owned by 2 women, and loves it. Sallie, a junior at JMU business school, is planning on getting her master’s in accounting, loves JMU and is happy to be back in person learning. I saw Joie Tankard at UVA football games this year. I also attended a very dear family friend’s wedding in Roanoke in September, and of course there was SBC representation: myself, Wizzie ’20, Ginny Moncure Jamerson ’08, and Linda DeVogt ’86! Great time together!” Allison Miree Novellino: “My daughter and I went to Bluffton, SC, to see Nancy Jones during fall of 2020. This past August I met up

CLASS NOTES

LuAnn Haag Hunt family photo at Sunset Beach

with Leslie Carson Albizatti and her husband Nicolas at their cozy mountain cabin in Sapphire, NC. It was so wonderful to see them in person!” Amy Calandra Davis: “My oldest son Nick is now 25 living and working in Raleigh, NC. My 2 stepdaughters (Alexandra 22 and Madi 26) are both living and working in Richmond, and my youngest son Devon is turning 16 this year. After many years of discussion, in March of 2021 my husband Jimmy and I finally opened an art gallery in Lynchburg representing over 35 artists from all over the state of Virginia (as well as a few states beyond!) There were a lot of naysayers telling me it would be a terrible time to start up a business during COVID, but in true SBC Vixen style, I was determined to prove them wrong AND we have had a wonderful first year and look forward to many more! Please come visit me sometime if anyone is in town and thank you to all the Sweet Briar ladies who are following and supporting Findings Art www.findingsart.com. I appreciate it more than you know…Holla Holla!” Parker Pearson: “It was great to get back to campus for our delayed Reunion. While it was smaller, it was great to be back, and I really loved

the hospitality by decades. In particular, I loved seeing so many from ’92! There has to be a way to make “cluster reunions” work. I’m still working for the same entrepreneur, we are growing 3 B2B technology companies and releasing our first consumer app: real-time translated messaging that translates between people nearby or across the globe. We built it when an international trip showed how poor the current options are. We filed and secured a patent for our idea, so we have high hopes. We just want a better way for people to understand each other. I got promoted to chief strategy officer—which sounds exciting, but it doesn’t change much. It just better reflects what I do and now I can say I’m a C-level tech exec, which always helps for the resume! I am still riding, bought a new horse this summer and am looking forward to seeing how she develops. Hope everyone is doing well and able to see more friends as travel continues to open back up. I saw Lee Webster Raminski ’89 on a recent trip to San Francisco. I stay in close touch with Jenni Vance ’91 and I see a wide range of Vixens at horse shows!” Amy KD Tobik: “After more than 30 years spent in the publishing world, I started my own company last year called Lone Heron Publish-

ing, LLC, and launched Exceptional Needs Today magazine. The digital publication serves all individuals in need of special services and promotes awareness, acceptance and inclusiveness for ALL people. My husband Steve and I still live in the Carolinas. We are thrilled that our daughter Katie recently moved nearby to work as a genetic counselor at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC. Daughter Emily made the big move to New Haven, CT, this summer as she started at the Yale School of Public Health to get her MPH in epidemiology of microbial diseases. I miss getting together with SBC friends and hope to catch up in person soon.” LuAnn Hunt: “I’m in my second year of retirement from the City of Lynchburg, and I’m loving it! My husband and I attended several events at the 2020/21 reunion and had a great time. After reunion, I was able to help at Sweet Work Weeks painting dorms! I definitely loved helping out and meeting some fellow alumnae I had only known through Facebook. We enjoy visiting our children and grandchildren in North Carolina often, and our oldest granddaughter will be heading off to college next fall! I tried to get her to apply to SBC, but she has her heart

set on a NC school, but I do have 2 more younger granddaughters to prep! My husband and I were able to travel to Ohio in September to visit Madeleine Blanchard Corbo ’89, and her family and I took senior photos for her daughter Josie who will be heading off to college in the fall as well. I am continuing my photography business part-time and since I live next door to the SBC campus, often my photo sessions are there. You can find me on the web at www. luannhuntphotography.zenfolio. com.” Cheryl Gilman: “Our oldest, Jenna, was married Nov. 21 in Asheville, NC. Two married, 3 grandchildren, and another coming in February 2022! Our youngest graduated high school in May 2021 and has been doing a gap year traveling and working. Not sure where she will end up in 2022. My home birth practice is going strong thanks to COVID, and I’m adding another midwife in February. Still riding and loving fox hunting with Fort Leavenworth Hunt. Yearly reunion with Beth Babbitt Bowen is always a high! Sorry to have missed the last Reunions, but life is busy and full!” Brandi Beck: “Hey Vixens! I still love living in NYC, even though we keep getting hit by this relentless virus. These are both heavy and yet beautiful times to be a clinical psychologist. The world seems to offer endless opportunities for anxiety and depression and yet, the resiliency of the human psyche is a wonder to

spring 2022

Amy Donnelly Tobik and Liisa-Ann Weinberg

CLASS NOTES

sbc.edu

Allison Miree Novellino and Nancy Jones

witness. My daughter, Dasha (17), and partner, Andy (a lot older than 17), keep my life balanced and filled with joy. Sending love and good health to all.” Meg Caulk: “Ella (my cat) and I are doing well. I had a year of ups and downs. Sadly, my mom passed away in February, but I was able to be with her often in her last months. My dad is in great health and getting his spark back. I’m still on the leadership team at the National Air and Space Museum, and we’ve successfully and safely reopened to the public. The museum keeps me busy. I also bought a new place—a townhouse around the corner from my condo. I love the area and am thrilled to have a bit more space but my same routine. Plenty of guest rooms for SBC visitors!” Sarah Andres Sale: “I had a great time at our reunion last summer! There were just a few of us from our class, but we had so much fun together and we got to party with class of ’91. Hope to see more 90s at our

next one! I am still living in Staunton with my husband and our 2 Boston terriers. I get to see Joie Roderick Tankard quite a bit which is always fun. Hoping to get back to more travel adventures soon. Life is good!” Candace Collins Eccles: “I married Steven Eccles and became Candace Eccles on April 10, 2021. My daughter is graduating this May. I am still working as a prosecutor in Brooksville, FL.” Charna Manning Falls: “Fellow SBC Sisters and Bum Chums, I enjoy life with my husband and 2 sons in Houston, TX. I work as a corporate claims adjuster at CenterPoint Energy and in my spare time enjoy travel or lunch with good friends. My husband Keffus Jr. and I recently attended the college graduation of our oldest son, Keffus III, from the University of Houston. We were extremely proud when he landed a job in the social media department of the Harris County district attorney’s office. My youngest son Kyle is an independent artist who composes

Allison Miree Novellino and Leslie Carson Albizzatti

music and plays the guitar. He works as a guitar teacher and enjoys inspiring others to explore all genres of music. I am a member of the Susan G. Komen Mission Advocacy Committee and chair of the educational committee. As an 18-year breast cancer survivor, I have dedicated my life to spreading the word about women’s health and the importance of well woman exams and mammograms. I want to send a “Holla Holla” shout out to the Class of 1990! Hugs and Love to everyone until we meet again!” Nancy Dodge Kershner: “I retired in June of 2020, after teaching for 29 years in Amherst County Public Schools, the last 20 years as an elementary school librarian, a job I loved. I spent the 2020-2021 school year helping my grandson, who was a second grader, with online school. Bill retired from Sweet Briar after 34 years as chair of the theatre department. Our dreams of traveling have been put on hold due to the pandemic, so we’re glad we traveled through-

out Europe and China when we were still working. Our sons and their families live in Lynchburg, so we are able to spend a lot of time with them. We have 3 grandchildren: Theo (4), Violet (5) and Harrison (9).” Julie Brooks Nyquist: “I live in Wayne, IL, with my husband Stephen and our 12-year-old son Andrew. We continue to renovate our 1950s mid-century modern home and are cleaning up the property of downed trees and invasive species. Three chickens and 2 dogs add to the entertainment. I volunteer with several organizations, including the auxiliary board of Andrew’s school, the executive committee of the Southwest (Chicago) Women’s Platform Tennis League and a local music festival that hopefully will be held this summer after 2 years of COVID cancellations!” Lea Harvey, her wife, Kiki, and their intrepid hounds, Frankie and Sophie, continue to find their happy place escaping from northern Virginia to the woods of Greene

CLASS NOTES sues in 2020 with the pandemic, and I learned a lot of new technology skills! My husband is my office manager, and we try to hike and bike as much as we can. We moved at the end of 2020 and have almost an acre of flowers, gardens, woods and small trails. Our oldest son, John, is married with a stepson, and we just found out we will be grandparents again in July. Our middle son, Derek, has just graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College and has relocated back to Omaha and is the next Dr. Thurman. He opened his private practice in January 2021. Our youngest son, Nichollis, is back and forth between Omaha and Europe and spent several years painting at the Nerdrum school. He is dating a girl in Norway and is a kitsch painter and owns his own business and gives private lessons. Feel free to look him up online! We have one dachshund who is 13 and just got 3 Siamese cats from the same litter. Between the new fur babies and our extensive gardens, we are staying more than busy! Take care and stay safe again this year.” Allison Richards: “Scotty and I have enjoyed working together as he joined my business in November 2020 after retirement. We formulated The Richards Group with Scenic Sotheby’s International Realty focusing on real estate in the northwestern Panhandle on 30A, Miramar Beach and Destin. We have been blessed by a huge growth in our business due to the influx of families wanting to move to the state of Florida because of our no state tax financial structure and our governor being reasonable and wanting to keep business as usual in the state of Florida. I continue to stay in contact with Norma Valentine ’93 who has been my friend and real estate mentor since I got my license in Wellington, FL, in 2002. Scotty and I decided we needed a 5-year plan and wanted to put our goals into perspective after being so busy these past 14 months. We are in the process of purchasing a residence in Ocean Ridge, FL, and we will transfer our licenses to that area with another Sotheby’s affiliate. I moved my horse, Gravin, to the Wellington area in December of 2021, and she will reside in Wellington year-round. We are excited to make this change

LuAnn Haag Hunt and husband at reunion

Amy Donnelly Tobik and Stacy Gilmore Hanling tailgating at a Clemson football game––Go Tigers!

Charna Manning Falls

and to live in Palm Beach County full-time starting in April 2022. Another fellow SBC graduate that lives in the Boca area is Tracy Imse ’93. We look forward to a change in lifestyle and a work-play balance. Looking forward to the next Sweet Briar Reunion! Here’s to a fabulous 2022!” Taki Kinoshita Austin: “My family and I are still living in London, UK, and my young children are growing up fast. My dear dad died in July 2020 in NC, and I was unable to see him in person due to COVID

restrictions. I hope everyone is well and that the pandemic becomes endemic ASAP.” Leslie Carson Albizzatti: “2021 was a year of change for us. We sold our home and downsized into a townhome in Roswell, GA, and it’s been great! We are able to spend more time at our second home in NC where we enjoy hiking, biking and family gatherings. We said goodbye to our sweet family dog, Sadie, of 14 years. That was tough. Our youngest son Matthew graduated

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County and the Shenandoah National Park for hikes on the weekends. During the week, Lea is Sweet Briar’s director of strategic initiatives, while Kiki’s fly-fishing guide service, Ms. Guided, takes a hiatus while the rivers are frozen this winter! Christine Carriere Zazulak: “I had fun at reunion. It was a small group, but it was wonderful being on campus again. Scott and I will celebrate 30 years in May. John and Margaret were married in March 2021. Robert is a CPA. David is a software engineer. Stephen is a junior at LSU. Philip is a junior at Jesuit High School.” Lisa Katz: “After graduating from SBC, I attended veterinary school at UGA, followed by an internship at an equine referral clinic in Florida and a residency in large animal internal medicine at Washington State University. I then spent 6 months at the equine clinic at Oklahoma State University, following which I moved to London, UK, for a PhD at the Royal Veterinary College. I met my now husband Barry in London and moved to Dublin, Ireland in 2003 to take up a position at the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine. I have an 11-year-old son named Nathan and a 15 month old Border Terrier dog named Jimmy. I love living in Ireland but do try to travel back to the US on a regular basis to see my friends and family. Just before the first COVID lockdown in Ireland, I was in Washington D.C. in March 2020 where I met up with Kim Dickey Melcher and Jenny Chambers Glenn! It was a fabulous reunion!” Dolly Garcia: “We are doing well down in PR. I continue to work at the Kinesis Foundation as the director of marketing, communications and social media. Miguel Juan graduated from law school and little Dolly graduated from Marquette University. Mari is a freshman at Syracuse University. Had a great time with Jean Spillane Benning and Ann Beatty Malone at the Jersey shore this summer.” Rosanna Jones-Thurman: “I still own Thurman Psychological LLC and have 2 locations in Omaha, NE, and Council Bluffs, IA, and I service other areas in IA and NE as well. 2021 rebounded after is-

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CLASS NOTES

from high school, and our oldest son Ben was married to his high school sweetheart. And our daughter Grace started a new job. All 3 kids moved into new homes and/or cities. It was a busy year. Nicolas and I enjoyed a couple of trips to rest and restore to Costa Rica and Mexico. We look forward to what 2022 has in store.” Irfan Kiratli Latimer: “Rob and I moved to Old Town Alexandria, VA, after leaping into the realm of empty nesters. Our Megan, now 25, graduated from Clemson and earned her master’s from Texas A&M. She moved to Charlotte, NC, and is working for NASCAR—we could not be more proud! I left Key School after 28 years in July 2020 and am now the director of communications at Episcopal High School. My first experience in the boarding school realm has been wonderful so far. Rob and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary with tickets to see James Taylor in Norfolk—a fantastic show! We sneak away to Wilmington, NC, every chance we get, but otherwise not much to report. Life is good, and we are blessed to have remained healthy throughout all the craziness. Happy to host any Vixens who are up this way—Old Town is a ton of fun!” Karen Malmquist: “Still living in NH but considering a move as the current location no longer suits me. Took a full-remote job with Cigna in the fall of 2021 and am enjoying the flexibility that comes with not being tied to an office. Have some travel planned this summer to Europe— fingers crossed it happens. Miss everyone!” Louise Bouldin Carter: “I am still running my home staging business for real estate. Brian is still practicing with The Orthopedic Center. Our oldest child, Virginia, landed on the dean’s list her first year at Stetson University in DeLand, FL. Brian Jr. has finally decided he will go to Auburn University for sure this fall. (Need to meet Jean down there and introduce him to Paige who is also at Auburn, correct?) Amanda Priddy Berkey and I took our 2 boys and some other senior friends to the beach fall break for a special senior trip. We have 2 other boys still at home. Jack is a rising sophomore and plays football and wrestles. And

Lewis, who is a rising 8th grader, likes to dive competitively and also compete on the trampoline. This means lots of divide and conquer due to travel. Brian and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in 2021 with a trip along the East Coast to St. Augustine and Savannah. This was a delight, and I highly recommend that!” Ann Beatty Malone: “The Malone family had a lot to celebrate and be thankful for in 2021. Our son Sam was married on May 15, Alex graduated from high school on May 27, and on June 22, after 2 and a half years, Alex completed her Leukemia treatment. If that news wasn’t exciting enough, we officially moved back to the Philly area in June, literally 5 minutes from Jean Benning. It has been great reconnecting with Jean and her family over the summer, and we continue to enjoy weekend dinners out and at each other’s homes. Alex started Nursing School at Villanova University in the Fall and has been enjoying all aspects of college life except for the food. Most likely because Villanova hasn’t added “Cheese Betty” to their menu options. Sam and Aly purchased their first home about 20 minutes away, and Sam started a new job working for FEMA. My father still lives with us and remains in good health. This past December he celebrated his 92nd birthday, which we were able to celebrate with family for the first time in years. Bill is still working remotely from home for the same company, and I started with a new company in August called Oyster Point Pharmaceuticals. Finally, Jean and I got together with Dolly Garcia Simonet last summer who spent a few days with us when we were on vacation on Long Beach Island.” Joie Roderick Tankard: “I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Beth Jinks’ mom, Jean Jinks. Beth was such a caring daughter to her 91-year-old mom, and I encourage all of us to give an extra squeeze and an ‘I love you’ to any aging parent. I have enjoyed running into Squiffy Walker at UVA home football games; always great to see her and her girls and her mother. Also of interest was following SBC’s field hockey team during the fall of 2021. They had a great season and even made a run in

the postseason. I miss everybody, especially Lolly Crossland, does anybody know where she is?” Tracey Thomas Jones: “2021 was a really rough year. After a long period of fighting septicemia in the summer, my mom passed away from complications in October. She loved Sweet Briar almost as much as I do. I was so blessed to have Kelleigh Klym Friesen travel all the way from Canada to attend her funeral and support me. She was also a tremendous comfort and wealth of knowledge while I dealt with mom’s long hospital stay and plethora of medical complications. Several SBC sisters kindly reached out as well. My husband Jonathan was promoted to the director of mental health at the Duval County Jail during the pandemic. I continue to teach art at my small Christian private school, but this year I took on high school Draw & Paint as well as teaching at another urban Christian private school. Our eldest son Nathaniel is a junior at FSU majoring in civil engineering, and our youngest son is a junior in high school. Surprisingly, our college student is the only one of us not to have had COVID so far; thankfully very mild cases. Sadly, we said goodbye to our 2 elderly Jack Russell Terriers. However, we adopted our first English Bull Terrier from a rescue agency, and he’s brought us endless laughter and comfort. God bless.” Amanda Priddy Berkey: “Still enjoying semi-retirement and working part time for NAITA from home. However, I manage to stay pretty busy with volunteer work (treasurer for a local non-profit), Chase being a senior in high school and many activities getting back to normal in Huntsville. Chase has had lots of swim and dive meets (summer league, club swimming and high school varsity team). It’s a challenge keeping him in clothes that fit, since he’s now 6’ 1”. Chris remains busy with his insurance business. Chris and I have enjoyed tasting wine on a regular basis for the last 2 years to make sure we could still taste and didn’t have COVID (although he got it around Sept. 11, and Chase and I got it last weekend after he had a high school sorority dance). It has been nice having a bit more time at home to care for our aging blind

and deaf little black Schnauzer Arthur. We still miss our little white Schnauzer Daisy whom we lost several years ago. They were quite a pair! This summer, we visited UVA and Annapolis when we went to the Berkey Family Reunion in Pennsylvania. Sadly, time did not allow us to also visit Jean Spillane Benning and Ann Beatty Malone at the Jersey Shore (where we also might have seen Dolly Garcia Simonet). Chase plans to study engineering in college this fall, and he has been accepted at the University of Alabama (Roll Tide, Jean and Louise!). We are so proud that Chase has received a Congressional Nomination to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, but attendance there also requires an appointment from the Academy. We are waiting to hear from them and hope and pray he will be selected. Regardless of where he goes, I doubt “Cheese Betty” will be on the menu, Ann! Had a great fall break trip to Seaside with Louise Bouldin Carter, our senior boys and a large group of other senior boys (which also attracted the girls!). It was way more activity than I’m used to with an only child! Thanks to Jean for letting me share in her class secretary duties—I’m enjoying helping her, but she’s still in charge. Sending much love and hugs to all of you, especially those who have recently lost loved ones! Sorry to miss our last SBC Reunion (I think it’s the first one I’ve missed), and I look forward to the next one! Mini reunions are always fun too, and I’m game for that soon!” Jean Spillane Benning: “2021 was a busy year. I moved my oldest daughter into her first “big girl” apartment at Clemson where she is a junior in the nursing program. She hopes to get an externship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia this summer. Emma has become a really good cook, but of course relies on me when she comes home. Paige started her first year at Auburn (War Eagle!) and will be a public relations major, hoping to get into Formula One racing as she is quite the fan. If you have connections, let me know and I will get her connected to them! Paige will also be doing a summer abroad program to Italy and Spain this year. My youngest daughter Tara decided public school was no longer for

CLASS NOTES

1992

Amy Driscoll apdriscoll524@gmail.com Laura “Saudi” Arceneaux is still living in Los Angeles, teaching STEM for grades K-8 and is the vice principal of academics and technology at a local Catholic school. Laura reminisces back to 2015, “I was grateful to be on campus in 2015 when the court decision was delivered to save our beloved school. Witnessing the ringing of the bells in triumph, surrounded by a few classmates, was one of my most cherished memories of SBC, and I hope to return for our 30th reunion.” Janeime Asbury is still a practicing dental hygienist in Marietta, GA, and is a part time educator for Georgia Highlands College. Her oldest daughter Jaela is finishing law school this spring and her youngest daughter Janelle is preparing to take the dental admission test this summer. Janeime’s youngest son is in the 11th grade and a varsity basketball player at Dominion High School.

She is looking forward to connecting with friends for our 30th Reunion this spring. Carrie Bake-Wong is living in Northville, MI, with husband, Patrick, and son, Oscar (17) and working in residential real estate. She sees Kristina Glusac often and keeps in touch with Ann Knoke Kohudic and Toi Reynolds. She continues to enjoy playing tennis, doing yoga, skiing and reading. “I love to read about all of the wonderful developments at SBC! Though I might not make Reunion this year, I hope to be back in the next few years for a walk around the beautiful campus.” Jennifer Toomey Driscoll is living in central PA and working with her husband, Charles (W&L ’89), in their family-owned automotive business. She says “Home is a bit quieter with 2 in college and the oldest thankfully and gainfully employed!” Jennifer enjoys time spent with family/SBC grads Cathy Toomey Gregorie ’84, Margaret MClellan Driscoll and Daniella Ceccarelli Toomey ’90. She is excited to reconnect for our 30th, and thrilled to hear so many friends will be attending! Margaret McClellan Driscoll is still in Williamsburg, enjoying her remote work for Sweet Briar and getting to go to campus frequently. Daughter, McRae, is working and living in D.C. and loves the city. Son, Parker, is a third-year at UVA and is thrilled that college life is somewhat back to normal. Sean is still enjoying the investment business. Had some great times with Jennifer Toomey Driscoll and her family in 2021 and is excited for our 30th Reunion! Catherine Gornto Freeman and Peter are doing great in New Orleans and are enjoying being empty nesters! Daughter Charlotte graduated from W&L in May 2021 and is now in DC. Twins David (W&L) and Lawrence (Clemson) are seniors. She is filling time with several volunteer boards, part-time work with our Mosquito Authority franchise, and as much tennis and pickleball as possible. In August, she had a blast with Holly Caswell King at the US Open and also got a fun visit with Lindsay Jenkins Matthews and husband Paul this year. “I’ve missed being able to see more of my

SBC friends during COVID!” For Dr. Brett Haltiwanger, 2021 was a year of change. After living in Houston for the past 9 years, she accepted a new job as the Biosafety Officer at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and moved back home to Denver. Brett reports “working in Biosafety has been an adventure and a challenge for the past 2 years, but has also been very rewarding. It’s also been great to be back home after 30 years, and we are slowly settling into our new city. We hope and plan to buy a home in 2022, but for now are enjoying living downtown.” Judy Hamilton finally completed her MA from Columbia University—studying the intersection of psychology, spirituality and neuroscience. She and her husband split their time between Atlanta, Key West and Litchfield County, CT. “If you find yourself in any of these places, give me a shout!” Keeley Sullivan Jurgovan considers herself very lucky to have joined Sweet Briar’s alumnae relations and development team. She is constantly reminded how extraordinary Sweet Briar and her alumnae are! Keeley wants to encourage everyone from her class to come back for our 30th (or anytime you can!). “It is going to be a super fun weekend—which we all need after the last 2 years. You will be amazed by recent developments including the vineyard, apiary and greenhouse.” Keeley and Jon have been living in Dallas for 11 years and have 3 boys: a junior at UGA, a 12th grader and a 7th grader. Nora Oney is in her 23rd year of teaching middle school English and is still loving it. She also travels a lot with her sister and bestie Erin Oney Murphy ’95, who lives down the street from her in DC. Tracy Steele can’t wait to see everyone in June and hopes everyone is well! She and Kevin are still living on the Main Line outside Philly and Kevin is the district attorney. Tracy owns a small boutique law firm that keeps her life interesting. Their oldest daughter is a sophomore at Penn State University, their youngest daughter is headed off to college in the fall (Trinity/women’s rowing team), and their son is in 6th grade

at the Haverford School. There are few sports he doesn’t play and it keeps them busy! After SBC, Vicky Harvey White began her teaching career in Amherst and continued her education at UVA (M.Ed. in reading) and Lynchburg College (M.Ed. in administration and supervision). She spent 11 years in the classroom, 9 as a literacy specialist, and is now in her 11th year as an administrator. Currently, Vicky serves as the principal of Rustburg Elementary in Campbell County. While she and her husband never had children of their own, Vicky considers her students as her kids! Vicky is fortunate to live about 2 miles from SBC and often takes advantage of its beauty! Kathleen Davis Willis’ life continues to be eventful. She and her husband, Dave, made a COVID move from Vermont to Maine that also entailed a career change for Kathleen—from hospitality to fundraising. They currently live in Bethel, ME, about an hour from Portland, and Kathleen is working in development for Gould Academy, an independent boarding school. Their youngest, Carter, is a 9th grader and they have 2 in college in NY state.

1994

Lenora Farrington farringtonlenora@gmail.com Allison Chance Carter is still at Northern Trust in Atlanta, GA, as a senior trust advisor in wealth management. She uses her law degree as a trusts and estates and tax attorney every day! Her husband, Jim Carter, has joined Beacham realty as a real estate agent in Atlanta. Her daughter Blair is in 8th grade and son Jack is in 6th grade and just got into a new charter school, Atlanta Classical Academy. They live in Buckhead. She sees Laura Greene Silsbee regularly. Mtesa Cottemond Wright still lives outside of Augusta, GA, with Tony, her husband of 17 years, and daughters, Azariah (15) and Antonia (12). They have added a puppy to the family—a black Shihpoo named Lucky. Still “doing the lawyer thing” as in-house counsel for a federal contractor in Aiken

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her and transferred to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy as a junior. I give her a lot of credit to switch schools where she knew no one, but she loves it. We are starting the college talk soon, and I’m excited to see where she goes. As for me, I left Salesforce and went to Acquia, and then back to Salesforce working as a solution engineer on the product marketing management team for the education cloud. It’s challenging, and I’m enjoying it. My husband JR and I are still living in the Philadelphia area, and as soon as Tara is off to college, I am going to Florida for the winters! We added another French Bulldog to our family, so now we have Kona and Bailey. Feel free to follow them on Instagram at @baileybooandkonatoo. I would have a few more if I didn’t have to work! And lastly, I have heard from some of you that are simply asking for prayers in your time of need. Please keep all of our classmates in your thoughts and prayers! Looking forward to a fantastic year and Holla Holla Class of 1990!

CLASS NOTES

Kimbie Shaheen White ‘96 and family overlooking the Cumberland Plateau at Sewanee: The University of the South while visiting son Max

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Christa Perry ‘96 on her horse Gabriel

County, SC. Met up with Norma Valentine ’93, other SBC alums and new recruits at Sweet Briar Day in Aiken. It was a great success! Wendy Wall Nace literally survived 2021! Long story short, had a fluke thing happen—3 surgeries and 4 hospital stays later—she is on the mend! She is still working as an LPC in Birmingham, AL, and will celebrate 25 years with hubby Randy in July 2022. Happy to be here!

Catherine James says, “Life with me... Life is great in Oklahoma City.” She and John will celebrate their 17th year of marriage this year. He works in IT at a local university. Conner is living and working in Arkansas, Jackson is a SigEp at the University of Oklahoma and Elizabeth is in 7th grade at Catherine’s alma mater and place of work, Casady School. She is playing piano and flute and runs XC and swims. Catherine is starting

her 5th year as Casady’s director of annual giving and community relations, and loves working there. She visits regularly with Alex Stewart Manwarren and loves keeping up with everyone on Facebook. Amy Biathrow Ross is approaching her 20th anniversary with Red Hat (an enterprise software company operating in about 50 countries), currently in the role of director, global regulatory compliance. She recently had the opportunity to complete an executive leadership development program founded by Harvard Business School professor and author Frances Frei. Classes were taught by HBS professors and featured case studies and class discussions—it brought back fond memories of classes at SBC, and “I was happy to discover that I’m a much better student now!” Still married with 2 kids and 2 dogs. Her son Reid is 16 and in 10th grade, her daughter Kate is 18 and about to graduate. She just found out last week that Kate applied to SBC, got accepted and has been offered the Presidential Scholarship—“all without telling me she was even applying.” Amy doesn’t know if she will accept—she has other schools on

her list—but she’s glad her daughter is giving SBC a look. Finally, Amy is looking forward to visiting Tysha Calhoun in Austin, TX, at the end of January —”it’s been too long since I saw, well, anyone!” Kori Adkins says “I don’t have anything too scandalous (anymore).” She hit 13 years at Gannett as a UX designer, 5 years with her partner (Amy), 20 years in Arizona and creeping up on 3,000 subscribers to her DIY and camping YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/shoestringmartha. Vinca Swanson has been in PDX for 8 years now with partner (Lisa), 7 years at a marketing agency, she had an art exhibit in Missoula last spring and a couple of large mural commissions. She’s been mountain biking and skiing as much as possible and she volunteers as a trail builder for the local mountain biking community. Linda Lombardo is still loving Huntersville, NC, but moved 3 miles west to change it up. She can’t imagine leaving this town. Her family can put their kayaks in Mountain Island Lake in 7 minutes from their door. COVID helped them realize how much they love being outdoors, hiking, biking, kayaking, pickleball, finding new trails and now RVing. She retired in ’09 and Tony in ’17. Penciling in their camping trips for the year and listed the top 10 NC peaks to climb. She would love to hear from ’94 turning points and Wendy Stevenson, Katie Hall, Angie and Heather. Lenora Farrington moved to Roanoke, VA, in 2019 after/during a divorce which was no sooner finalized than a stranger walked into her open house (she’s a realtor) and hit her on the head repeatedly with a wrench. No kidding. Can’t make this stuff up. Fortunately, Lenora was already a black belt and managed to survive with a few skull fractures. (Very grateful to the folks at Carilion Roanoke Memorial!) So, Lenora spent half of 2020 and all of 2021 focused on health and recovering from a TBI. (If you’d like any advice on the same, feel free to reach out.) 2022 will be a rebuilding year, but she’s up for it!

Jennifer Smith Rucker ‘96 earned her doctorate in education and policy studies from Virginia Tech

1996

Sarah Chaffee Paris 749 Fieldgate Circle Pawleys Island, SC 29585 sazchaffee@yahoo.com Sarah Reidy-Ferguson, our class president, is thrilled to be volunteering for the SBC Alumnae Alliance as co-chair of the operations working group and looks forward to being back on campus over the spring and summer. She says, “celebrating our 25th reunion together in July was a total blast and congrats to our class on winning the Class Participation Award for reunion classes celebrating their 25th to 50th!” Abigail Phillips Hinga and her family are doing well with Maeve in 3rd grade and James now in middle school. Abby tells me pandemic parenting has been challenging, but is grateful she and her husband have flexible jobs to handle it. Abby is going into her 5th year with the Western Conservation Foundation as a senior program manager helping to protect public lands in the West. Her exciting news was adopting a rescue pit bull puppy, Indy. They recently got a teardrop camper so they can explore the Rocky Mountains with

the kids. Lucky to see Laura Powell Gatling as often as they can and got to see Mary Copeland Stockton when Maeve and Abby took a girls trip to San Diego! Amy Daugherty Michel is still living near Lexington, KY. Xander is a freshman and is about 6 ft. and still growing. He’s involved in the chess and drama clubs and martial arts. Owen is in 6th grade, also doing martial arts and participates in a D&D club. Octavia is in 3rd grade, and has tried soccer and Girls on the Run. Amy continues working as a freelance copy editor, and is in her final year as the elementary school PTO President. Husband Sam started a new job in January 2021, and is thankfully still able to work remotely. Even after 17 years, they enjoy being together all day! Xander will attend camp in Maine this summer, and after that the Michels are planning to check out the Northeast on a family road trip. Amy and Paige Vaught Campion hope to get together for a girls’ weekend at the beach over the summer as well. Angie Abel is still rocking the real estate world. Hope attends the University of Florida and Taulman attends Florida Institute of Technology. Angie and her family are happy in Chincoteague with their dogs,

horses and goats! She loved seeing you all at Reunion! Anne Osterholm Pribble’s daughter Courtney has verbally committed to attend Sweet Briar and play softball. She will be in the Class of 2027. Holla Holla Courtney! Annie Pankoski Sherman sees Janeen Sharma and Shann Fountain Alipour periodically, as they all live in the SF Bay Area, and she joined her local school board as a trustee in December 2020. Annie says, “So far it has been an interesting, challenging, and rewarding experience. I highly recommend it.” April Collins Potterfield lives outside of Chicago and loves catching up with her SBC friends in between traveling and being an awesome mom to her 4 gorgeous children (yes, they are all tall). I was lucky enough to see April when she was passing through Pawleys early this year! Catharine King Laufer and her family are living in Asheville, NC. She changed schools this year and is teaching kindergarten again, which she loves. Jackson is in middle school and Jordan is still with Kimberly Clark and has a new position working from home. Catharine enjoys volunteering with the Alumnae Alliance at SBC and organizing alumnae club events. If you want to be more

involved with your local club or start one in your area, please reach out to her at crklaufer@gmail.com. Catherine Carrick and her husband John are doing well. Catherine is enjoying her new horse, Bolero. Christa Perry is living up in the mountains with her boyfriend and their dogs, cats and horses. She’s looking forward to the spring horse showing season after a successful last season with her horse, Gabriel. Janeen Sharma says, “Life in Oakland is treating me kindly, I am enjoying my job in agriculture tech building digital tools for farmers, a new home and a new pup (a guide dog in training). My wish for 2022 is many, many visits with my Sweet Briar sisters, it’s been too long!” Janenne McKale Cook lives in Frederick, MD, with her husband Justin, a graphic designer. She is the manager of the custom design department for James Allen Diamonds where she helps customers design their dream engagement ring directly with the jewelers. They have 5 kitties—2 16-year-olds and 3 rescue kittens—and 1 bunny. Janine Schofield’s daughter Victoria will attend SBC in the fall! They visited the campus and Victoria fell in love with the campus and hopes to major in science, maybe even premed! Holla, holla Victoria! Jennifer Beck Locke says life in Huntsville, AL, is wonderful. Marte (18), Thomas (16) and Trae (13) continue to keep her busy. She’s on the board at the community gardens and they work hard planting, harvesting and distributing fresh vegetables weekly to local food banks and organizations. She spends lots of time volunteering at the kids’ schools. Hunter enjoys his work at WestRock as the director of national accounts. Jen says, “We are blessed beyond measure and enjoying every moment of our chaos.” Jennifer Smith Rucker says, “It’s been an extremely busy few years as an educator during the pandemic. Every day I am honored to work alongside these extraordinary individuals who go above and beyond to bring a sense of normalcy to their students. While 2021 was challenging, I was fortunate to have a successful defense and complete coursework to obtain my doctorate in education

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CLASS NOTES

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Catherine Lanter Carrick ‘96 and her new horse, Bolero

and policy studies from Virginia Tech—what an amazing journey! I’m blessed to have made it to the finish line and participate in in-person graduation in Blacksburg, VA. My next project is building a home with my husband in Richmond, VA. I often touch base with Yolanda Davis Saunders, Andie Thomas Young ’95, and Reneca Rose Levine ’97. The pandemic has prevented us from seeing one another as often as we’d like but hope to make up for lost time very soon. Kelly Collins Lear writes, “This past summer I worked at Waukeela Camp in New Hampshire, where I was a counselor during college! I reprised my role as head of creative arts, doing lots of tie dying, painting, pottery and sewing. My daughters, Evelyn and Penny, attend the same camp so it was fun to see them. Our dog, Rosie, was the official camp dog! My son, Teddy, attends a boys’ camp just down the road. Aaron held down the fort for us in Ohio and was able to visit for hikes. It was so much fun! Also, this spring, I was able to take a walk on the beach in Pawleys

Island with Sarah Chaffee Paris!” Kelly also volunteers as our stewardship officer and is a co-chair of the class leadership working group. Kimbie Shaheen White and husband Jeff (HSC) launched son Max into the world of college this past fall. He is a freshman at Sewanee. He is enjoying advanced French classes and the wonders of all 13,000 acres of protected woodland on the mountain. Their youngest Marley is a sophomore at Memphis University School and will begin his own college search very soon. Kimbie and Jeff still work at Grace-St Luke’s Episcopal School, he as director of technology and her as dean of students. Kimbie is also working on her master’s in educational leadership and policy at Boston College and will graduate in the spring of 2023. Lee Foley Dolan is doing great in Richmond, VA. Henry (19) attends Davidson College in NC and is playing football. They enjoyed making the trips south for home games. Mattie (17) is a junior and enjoys being back in school in-person. She is starting the college process! Fred

(13) is in 7th grade and is busy playing football in the fall, basketball this winter and baseball year-round. The Dolans are looking forward to a spring break trip to Florida with dear family friends and hope to travel this summer with Fred’s baseball, and take several short trips to VA Beach to see Laura Lechler Hornel and her family. Another trip on Lee’s short list is Dallas to visit Natalie Brown Adee. Lindsay Mactavish Vogt visited with me in Pawleys Island, SC, soon after I returned from dropping my daughter at university. It was the perfect balm to spend time with a dear friend. We walked on the beach, saw a baby sea turtle and talked just like old times. Lindsay and husband Brian have 2 amazing strong daughters Ellie (10) and Claire (7). They live with their pup, Homer, in Minnesota. Lindsay loves to run and she’s also started riding again! Lindsay was so happy to see everyone at Reunion! Mary Copeland Stockton and family live in Vista, CA, and enjoy the beach and beauty of southern California. She works with The Clearing Center helping people with their emotional navigation daily. In 2022, she is excited to start in-person seminars. Mary has a 7-year-old daughter who has encouraged many art projects and playful adventures. Martin and Mary are working on renovating their backyard and hopefully their kitchen this year. They have acquired a plethora of animals and have recently added 4 baby bunnies to the mix and love the joy they bring. The death of Martin’s parents in 2021 has weighed heavy on her family, and she is looking forward to 2022 with an open heart and would love to connect with you all. Mary Margaret Biss and her family are back home in Skaneateles, NY, from 2 years abroad in Adelaide, Australia, for Andy’s job with SAAB. Anna (14) is in 8th grade and happy to be back with her friends. Mary Margaret says, “I am missing the sunshine in Australia and trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up!” Melissa Broderick Eaton tells me, “This year has offered more positives than we expected. My husband joined me in working at our school district’s administrative building (he’s in HR, I’m in IT), so we are

colleagues again just like when we met. We checked off a major bucket list item by going to Chichén Itzá while we were in Mexico with our boys and my sister and her family in November. We missed seeing Abby Phillips in the same little coastal village by just a few days! I’m consistently getting poems and short stories pushed out into the world as I work on a couple of longer manuscripts and have even managed to land on some prize lists. Big news is that my first book of poetry comes out in July. I’m equal parts nervous and excited!” Melissa Giggenbach is the program director of the WV Innocence Project clinic at the WVU College of Law where they continue to fight for the release of those who have been wrongfully convicted. Melissa says, “Our clinic was thrilled to win the release and exoneration of a second client in 2 years! My husband, Bader, is equally busy as he opened his own law office this past June. Our younger son Thomas is a junior in high school and is currently looking at colleges. Our eldest, Nick, is a sophomore at Virginia Tech studying architecture. While Nick might be sporting maroon and orange, I stick with blue and gold, which makes us a house divided! Continued health and happiness from WV.” Monica Paul Dennis says, “We moved from Michigan to Florida full time. With our last kiddo, Lloyd, heading to Fairfield University, we decided, why not, let’s do it. Wyatt is a junior at University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Carson graduated from Wellesley in June and was recruited to play field hockey at Bryant University. She’s also playing lacrosse while obtaining her MBA. I’m working as a strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer as well as a wellness coach; we all can dream bigger and live more fully then we currently do. Feel free to reach out. Big changes for us but loving every minute. Be well.” Rachel Baltus Price loved catching up with everyone and staying in Grammer at reunion. She can’t believe it has been 25 years. She still lives outside Warrenton with her husband and 2 kids, Dex (9) and Winnie (10), and loves it. They also have 2 crazy dogs. Rachel works at trade association, NRECA, in Ar-

CLASS NOTES

lington, VA and is enjoying being back in the office after a year and a half working from home. Robin Bettger Fishburne is still rocking real estate in Charleston, SC, but is also a travel agent, home flipper and property manager. Her daughter Gibbs (junior) is starting to look at colleges and they are excited to visit SBC. Parker loves all sports, singing and traveling. Joe’s photography is flying off the walls at the gallery. They are headed to San Antonio, Boston and Cape Cod this

spring and summer. Robin would love to connect with SBC sisters. If you are headed to the Charleston area let her know and she can help you plan your vacation or just meet up for drinks. Sarah Dennis Roberts and her husband Hayden are continuing to help their oldest son, Jackson, choose a college for next year. No decision yet! Additionally, they had a great time taking both sons, Jackson (18) and Owen (12) to San Antonio (along with several of their friends)

for the Alamo Bowl in late December where University of Oklahoma defeated Oregon in football. Susan Whitehead Froehlich is living in Virginia. The Froehlich Farm consists of 9 chickens, 3 goats, 4 guinea pigs, 5 rats, 1 mouse, 1 cat, 2 dogs and 4 fish! Susan has been at Manpower for 10 years and was recently promoted to talent agent and is in the running for a trip to Hawaii. Her son Caden (14) is a typical teenager and daughter Lilah is 12 going on 21. Hubby is good and enjoying

2000

Amanda Atkinson 709 Cedar Grove Rd Broomall, PA 19008 amanda.atkinson@gmail.com Carol Skriloff Starr: “It’s been a wild year with COVID and Hurricane Ida but James (10) and William (7) are thriving. James went to Falling Creek camp in North Carolina

spring 2022

In 2019, Kim Harden Fella generously helped Amanda Atkinson fulfill a life goal of seeing former President Jimmy Carter teach a Sunday School lesson in Plains, GA

his job as a receiving manager. She just treated herself to a new car and will be getting personalized SBC plates soon! Tracy Walters and husband Daryl welcomed their son, Easton Charles Fox, in April of 2021! Tracy says, “He’s now 9 months old and we are enjoying every minute. We took him on a few trips to the lake and beach last summer but other than that, we have been busy working and being parents!” I, Sarah Chaffee Paris, am still freelance editing and hope to work more on my own writing in 2022. I volunteer with a women’s civic club and do everything from registering voters to working with local inmates. I’m very excited to be volunteering on an all-women Habitat for Humanity build this spring. Isabella (18) is at university in Wales studying art history, Stevie (14) is doing well in high school and loves sailing and Charlie (11) is playing guitar and enjoying sixth grade. Jonathan (HSC ’96) and I are planning a trip to see Bella this spring with the boys. Reunion was such a blast and I adored staying in Grammer with everyone and celebrating 25 years! I also loved seeing Nicole File ’95 and catching up with John Gregory Brown. I am so happy to be secretary of our class so keep in touch! We would all like to thank every member of the class of 1996 for their continued support. We exceeded our class participation goal this year! Our goal was 45% and we reached 46% bringing home the Class Participation Award at Reunion. We are also so grateful to our class leaders Reidy, Jesse, Kasey, Elizabeth and those who volunteer in various ways from helping to raise money to alumnae groups and admissions ambassadors! We have seen that when we all work together we can do anything!

CLASS NOTES

sbc.edu

Allison Davis Atkinson with her husband, Jon, and son, Kai William Atkinson, born Aug. 7, 2020

last summer and will be there for 3 weeks this summer. William is busy playing as many sports as possible (swimming, baseball, football, lacrosse, soccer and basketball). Pierce and I are busy re-doing our house post Ida damage. I was promoted to head of sales at Capital One Securities. I will be chairing Kids Zoo To Do in New Orleans in April and Susana Ruddock ’01 is on my committee.” Kristin Hamaker: “Mother, partner, neighbor, friend, chef, cyclist, I continue on as a shape-shifter in St. Paul, MN. Working as a writer, personal chef, end-of-life doula and growth manager for Beyond the States, a small company that helps US students find college degrees in Europe. Ah, the dynamic existence of the English major. Hoping to explore the world this summer with our daughter (14), if the virus allows us. Above all, feeling grateful for well-being and my optimistic nature in the midst of this upside-down time.” Allison Davis Atkinson: “My husband Jon and I welcomed our son Kai William Atkinson into the world on Aug. 7, 2020. I have been working from home since the pandemic started, keeping very busy leading my company’s disaster recovery services division, helping rebuild damaged public infrastructure and managing the federal funding to do

it. The pandemic also helped reconnect me with the “Grammer Girls” via bi-weekly facetime calls with Germaine Gottsche, Betsy Bagg, Kim Leach, Dina Orbison, Amy Scott and Mo Robertson.” Anne Ryan Sinnott Craig: “I live in Haymarket, VA, and continue to run my own preschool at St Luke school in McLean, VA, which is a K-8 Catholic school. In addition, I was promoted to assistant principal at the same school so I wear many hats. My 4 kids (15, 8, 5, 2) keep me busy. I am working on my master’s in school admin and leadership. Would love to catch up with any local classmates.” Lindsey Custer: “The past 2 years I’ve been inundated with COVID concerns at work and staffed some of the first COVID vaccine clinics in our geography. I completed my MBA in 2020! Recently, I made the decision to leave healthcare and while it was a difficult decision, I’m excited to start a new job. I began as director of HR for Stylecraft Homes in January. This new role gives me an hour less commute each way! I’m excited to begin a new chapter and regain my life and some work life balance! I hope to see many of you very soon!” Kimberly Harden Fella: “I’m still working as a high school counselor at Howard HS in Macon, GA. My husband Chad retired from the

Navy in November 2020 and made it almost a full year in retirement before coming to work part time at the same high school as a technology specialist. We loved being back at SBC for our belated 20-year reunion in July 2021 and to see all of the changes since 2015. We enjoyed a trip to Big Bend National Park and San Antonio, TX, over fall break. Keeping our fingers crossed for a month-long trip to Europe in June 2022.” Mandy Rice: “I am enjoying my job as a nurse in the operating room here in Louisville. I was able to escape the craziness of working in healthcare during COVID a couple of times during 2021. I traveled to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands. Nini and I are still up to our shenanigans.” Elizabeth Davis Baker: “Hi from NC! I’m in my 20th year at Johnston Community College where I’m the department chair of English, humanities and foreign languages. Brian and I lost our 17 year-old tuxedo cat, Charlie, last year but shortly after welcomed Dexter and Dolly, twin tabby kittens who are definitely a handful! I also finally became an aunt this past year! Laine Parshall Davis was born June 2021. She is gorgeous and I’m in love with being her fun Aunt EE! Sending our class big hugs and wishing all of us a healthy, safe 2022.” Emily Pegues: “I’m entering my

third calendar year of long COVID. Chronic illness has curtailed daily life, prevented attending our 20th reunion and ended marathon training, so I’m trying to redouble focus on having a productive life of the mind. In November 2021, I co-published an article on the Black Prince’s tomb in Canterbury Cathedral, using medical technologies to look inside the medieval effigy, which landed the cover of The Burlington Magazine, a small victory after a long period of setbacks. I’m still curator of sculpture and decorative arts at the National Gallery of Art, DC—come visit whenever you’re in town.” Kibby Bryenton Fergusson: “Thank you for all the extra love and support over the past few years. I highly encourage everyone to get your yearly mammogram booked! Health wise I am cancer free and (hopefully) finishing up reconstruction surgeries. Business life has been very busy. The multifamily investment world has been prosperous and growing throughout the pandemic with new investors, new locations, and new deals. Family life is busy with teenagers and blessed with love. Donnie and I celebrated our 20th anniversary in true Navy style, apart due to a deployment. He is now home!” Evangeline Easterly Taylor: “Living in Istanbul working at the U.S. Consulate, my boss’s wife is an alumna! Love exploring and traveling in

Jesse Kendyl Martin ’02 at the Regional Washington International Horse Show

CLASS NOTES

2002

Amy Mullen 2534 North Granada St. Arlington, VA 22207 amye.mullen@gmail.com

Emily Yerby ’02 at her master’s of public health graduation in Nov. 2021

Turkey with my family. I got to visit with Amanda Ankerman Miller while her 3 kids played with my son. Amy Hess Snawder and I kept in touch by playing virtual trivia on the weekends during COVID.” Amanda Atkinson: “In February 2019, Kim Harden Fella and I traveled to see former president Jimmy Carter give a Sunday School lesson in Plains, GA. Also in 2019 I served as a gestational surrogate for a second time giving birth to a little girl named Alice in November. During maternity leave I traveled to Ireland with my mom. I completed my doctorate in spring 2020 with my family watching my dissertation defense/ celebration. In January 2021 my family and I bought our first house and moved to the Philadelphia suburbs. I am excited to serve as class secretary and look forward to continuing to hear about everyone’s adventures.”

Jaime Henna is still getting through the pandemic at home in Charlottesville, VA, with her partner, Aaron, who also works from home, and their 2 cats. Gardening, home renovations, TV and online book clubs have been her primary activities outside of work. Her favorite reads of the past year were Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout and Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Liz Waring McCracken has been busy teaching dance lecture classes online at Appalachian State University. She picked up a new baking hobby this past year and has been having a great time learning to decorate cakes (and then sell them!). Her husband Chris McCracken’s (HSC ’03) family medicine practice has also enjoyed her cake baking (they usually get all the leftover slices). Their kids Isadora (12) and Athena (9) have been keeping busy with the local swim team, Girl Scouts and choir activities. Liz and family are happy to be slowly going back to normal life. Katie McNamara Brown recently accepted a new position within the Department of the Navy and is really looking forward to the 20th Reunion for the class of 2002! She hopes to see you all there! Amy Mullen had a mini 2002 reunion this past December with Aja Grosvenor-Stephens, Arney Walk-

Juliana DeSantis Perkins ‘02, Karen Story McKenzie ‘04 and Emily Harris Schmidt ‘02 in Emerald Isle, NC

er, Ashley Trantham Saunders, Jee Yon Pae, Joanna Mullen and Tia Trout-Perez. She was also able to take a quick trip to Sweet Briar to see the campus additions. Amy is excited for the 20th reunion this summer. Due to continued remote work, as well as substantial canceled international work trips, Jesse Kendyl Martin was able to return to riding and the show ring in 2021! She and Little Star (owned by Meadowbrook Stables) were Champion in the Special Adult Hunter division at the Regional Washington International Horse Show at Morven Park. Best of all—Sweet Briar was onsite at the showground the entire weekend promoting the college and its equestrian program. Jesse had the opportunity to network with some amazing alumnae. In equally exciting news, her oldest daughter Elise (6) also started riding at Meadowbrook Stables in Chevy Chase, MD, this past fall. Emily Yerby graduated with a master’s of public health in November 2021. She is glad to have her nights and weekends back, but is looking forward to having a broader and more impactful role in the realm of non-profit hunger relief. Bagpipes were a part of the graduation ceremony, so it felt like being back at SBC! 2021 was a year full of change for Mary Tassone Dunlevy. Her marriage ended after eighteen years. She decided to move with her children and begin anew. Over the summer, Mary accepted a position teaching

8th grade English/language arts and moved to Cold Spring, KY, just a little south of her brother’s home in Cincinnati. Her daughters, Ariana and Lorien, are thriving in their new home and they love having family close by. They have beautiful mountains outside their windows and an exciting city just a few minutes away. 2022 is full of new hope and possibilities for Mary’s little family. Emily Harris Schmidt caught up with Cara Meade ’01 at the KY Horse Park Spring Show 2021. Juliana DeSantis Perkins came to visit and get back in the saddle. Emily also enjoyed a wonderful trip to Emerald Isle, NC, in the summer of 2021 with Juliana DeSantis Perkins and Karen StoryMcKenzie ’04.

2004

Ginny Wood Susi 2929 Dorell Ave Orlando, FL 32814 ginnysusi@gmail.com Brienna McLaughlin Pruce is living in Italy with her husband and their son. They’ve enjoyed moving around the world from both coasts of the US, Hawaii, England, Germany, Japan and soon a forever home. She continues to teach yoga classes and paint her heart out. Her work can be found at briennapruce.com. Caitlin Webber Mazzucca started a new job in late 2021 as the deputy editor for U.S. and Canada breaking news at Reuters, ending a more than

spring 2022

(l-r) Emily Harris Schmidt ’02 with Cara Meade ’01 at the KY Horse Park Spring Show

sbc.edu

CLASS NOTES

10-year run at Bloomberg News. Caitlin still lives in Arlington with husband Tim and kiddos Enzo (5) and Serena (3). Both kids started school this year and are loving kindergarten and pre-K, respectively. COVID has really thrown a wrench in the way of our reunions, formal and informal, over the last couple years. She misses you all and sends you happy and healthy wishes in 2021. And oh yeah, a happy 40th (!) for those celebrating. Lisa Moore Walton and her husband Marshall recently purchased a new farm in Ridgely, MD, with plenty of room for their horses and their son, Harlan. In 2021, Lisa took a position teaching high school science at Queen Anne’s County Public Schools and is enjoying her new school. Kate Lawson started her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Tiffany McCabe Carr is still the choral director and general music teacher at a middle school in Suffolk, VA. She is the fine and performing arts representative on the school’s leadership team. She lives in Suffolk with her husband Joseph and 3 sons: David, Charles and Michael. Tiffany is currently enrolled at Regent University and working on obtaining her M.Ed. in instructional design and technology. Cat Scheer just welcomed her third baby, Hattie, on Dec. 22, 2021. She, along with her husband Peter and older children Sam (9) and Beatrix (3) live in Golden, CO. She’s currently working in her dream job as a privacy law specialist on the legal team for Automattic, the company that owns WordPress.com and Tumblr. Kelly Gibbons Schell is still happily living just outside of Augusta, GA. They added a third little boy to their family in October. Bennett Roderic Schell was born on Oct. 6, 2021. He joins big brothers Rowan (3) and Asher (2). Sara Gredler, now working for AncestryProGenealogists, completed the qualifications for 2 genealogy credentials: Certified Genealogist(R) and Accredited Genealogist(R). She lives in Salt Lake City, UT. Schyler Ellis Burke, husband Peter and their 6 children, moved from Houston to Galesburg, MI, for a

new job for Peter as a senior petroleum engineer. Breanne Leibering Wyman currently lives in Purcellville, VA, with her husband, John and 4 kids (Toby 8, Sawyer 6, Emerson 4 and Campbell 2). 2021 has been quite the adventure for her family. While building a house, her family and her 2 dogs lived in her 27-foot camper, traveling the country. Their stops included Indiana, Nebraska, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and other parts of Virginia. Once settled into their new house, she made the decision to go back to the corporate world after being at home for 6 years. She now serves as a technical writer for the advanced solutions group of CACI International, a defense contractor in Sterling, VA. While she definitely misses the time with her kiddos, she’s really enjoying lunches with other adults and the silence that an office provides. In addition to working and wrangling her 4 kiddos, Bre and her family still manage to travel in their camper as much as possible. In the coming year, her family has plans to visit Maryland, Tennessee, South Carolina and the Canadian side of Niagara Falls in addition to local trips. She also plans on sneaking in a girls camping trip with Mary Davis Roxer at some point. It’s definitely a busy life but one that’s full of so much adventure and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Stephanie Gleason still resides in Southern Maryland with her lovely husband Neal, 2 daughters, Elle (3) and Chloe (2) (SBC class of 2040 and 2041 respectively), and 2 hound dogs, Sherlock and Walter. While she still works with Naval Air Systems Command she assumed a new role this past summer as the chief of staff for the V-22 Osprey Joint Program Office supporting the fleet flying and maintaining the worlds’ only tilt-rotor aircraft. Although travel has slowed for her and her family these past few years, Stephanie will be celebrating level 40 of life in the fall and hopes omicron subsides enough for an epic trip to Europe. When she’s not busy with work and children, she’s busy solving “wordle” puzzles or chatting regularly with her ’04 sisters! Danielle Burton groomed for a professional 3-day event rider for a year after undergrad but returned to

Sweet Briar in 2005 to pursue the master’s of arts in teaching program. She taught high school Spanish for 5 years in Lexington, VA, before transitioning into financial services in 2011. She is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Seattle, WA. She has been with her firm for 10 years but is a Seattle transplant as of 4 years ago. She lived on her 42ft sailboat with her husband Turner and their dog Holly for most of that time. They have just become land dwellers again with a purchase of their new home in 2021. They love the PNW and enjoy sailing, hiking, camping and river rafting. Together they share a new found love of the African continent and hope to visit again soon. Kirkland Wohlrab Fiorella and her husband Mike moved back to Durham, NC, in late January of 2021. She started a new job with Epic Games, too. And along with big brother Fitz, they welcomed a little girl in April named Waverly Paige. Kirkland continues to serve as the social media chair for the class and

would love to feature you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out on Facebook and Instagram. Camille Smalling is a wife and mother of a precious little girl who turned 3 on Christmas Eve. She is enjoying her professional life in the field of human resources and is currently working in talent management. She takes great pleasure in being able to merge her background in education in her current capacity while being active on the Board of Education in Bermuda. Camille is regularly in touch with Khadine Fisher, Hailey Hickman Hermosa, Sneha Sharma Lamba ’06, and Caville Stanbury-Woolery ’06 and loves seeing social media updates from classmates. Diana “DeeDee” Marshall moved in April 2021 to Ellsworth, ME, to work at a non-profit behavioral health facility for foster kids called kidsPeace on the residence hall with the children. Diana also founded a business in Maine called Vixen Hollow Arts. She makes resin wave art including charcuterie

Cara Cherry, Michelle Badger, Lauren Martin Pinion and Nicki Brandt at reunion

CLASS NOTES

Kelly Crist, Chris and Sloan in Lisbon, Portugal, Nov. 2021

2006

Jenny Lynn sweetbriardaisy@gmail.com

Jenny Lynn at the Southern Region Oireachtas in Greensboro, NC, in Dec. 2021

boards and wall hangings, alcohol ink art, mosaics and stained glass. A stained glass panel of Vixen named Daisy is on display on campus at admissions. Vixen Hollow Arts is currently available for sale in 4 stores in Maine and Diana sells her crafts on Mount Desert Island in Maine in the summer and online at vixenhollowarts.com. Diana is look-

Joelle Andrews met up with Alexandra Blair for a wedding photo shoot in July. During Reunion Weekend, she met up with Charis Chase Lease-Trevathan for wine in Lynchburg. Abigail Adams-Moffat: “Working as a pediatric NP in an outpatient pediatric practice for 2 years has been crazy. Canceling patients, telemedicine, masking, double masking, seeing everyone back in the office, scrambling for tests, COVID counseling, vaccine counseling, whiplash with all the changing school policies (or lack thereof ) and changing

Abagail Adams-Moffett and family

recommendations. To say it’s been exhausting is an understatement. Also added another baby to the mix, Bodhi Andrew was born June 24. Big brother Grady is in love. My husband has become a stay-athome dad, taking awesome care of our boys for the past almost 2 years. Missed you all at reunion!” Michelle Badger: “It was so nice this year to get out and be able to travel again and see so many wonderful Sweet Briar friends. In June I met Julia Schmitz ’03 in Atlanta and we went to Savannah (it was so nice to be on a plane after over a year). While in the Atlanta area I was also able to see Cara Cherry. In July it was so much fun to come to campus to celebrate reunion after not being on campus for over a

year and to see so many wonderful Sweet Briar friends. Then in August I was in Virginia for work and had the opportunity to see Louise Zingaro ’80, Jenn Wiley Schmidt, Linda DeVogt ’86, Shanthi Ramesh and Grace Farnsworth Loughhead ’04. I also was awarded one of Cape and Plymouth Business Media 40 under 40 in September. It was such a nice and unexpected honor to receive. I am in my 11th year on the Plymouth Public School Committee. I hope to see so many more of you over the course of 2022 and don’t forget to make your gift so our class reaches 30% participation!” Kelly Crist is living in Roanoke, VA, with her husband Chris, infant daughter Sloan and 2 dogs (Riker and Raul). She works for and is pur-

spring 2022

ing forward to a very successful 2022. Ginny Wood Susi is still living in Orlando, FL. She stays busy rearing her 3 kids (Evie 10, Nick 6, Jameson 3) with her husband Phill. She recently started taking dance classes again after an almost 4 year hiatus. She met up for breakfast with Lisa Renfrow ’03 in May 2021.

CLASS NOTES

Joelle Andrews met up with Alexandra Blair for a wedding photo shoot

sbc.edu

suing a graduate degree at Virginia Tech. After spending the last 4 weeks of parental leave in Portugal, she is enjoying being back at work, and settling into a new normal. Leigh Darrell Dillon, her husband Eddie and their son Charlie welcomed future Vixen, baby Emily Ruth Ann, on May 24, 2021. Victoria Chappell Harvey: “Moved to the island of Oahu and excited to explore life in Hawaii!” Casey Knapp lives outside of Milwaukee with her 2 wonderful kids— Charlie (11) and Hadley (8). Casey is a partner at a large international corporate law firm where she focuses her practice on executive compensation and employee benefits. In her free time, Casey hangs at the barn with her kids and their pony, Jack. This year, Casey is looking forward to traveling again solo, with her partner and their 5 kids. So far, trips are booked for San Juan, the Bahamas,

Switzerland, Paris, Palo Alto, Sonoma and Boston! Jenny Lynn: “I’m still working at Colonial Williamsburg in my sixth year as an apprentice tin smith. In November, Caroline Baxley Chambers and her family stopped by the shop to say hello on their way down the East Coast. It was so nice to catch up with her! Due to closing for part of the year for pandemic protocols, I lost some time being in the Tin Shop and making projects for my apprenticeship level, which has put me 2 years behind, but my research project for my final paper is well underway. Speaking of writing a lot, I’ve now started pursuing a master’s in museum studies from the Harvard Extension School at Harvard University. I’m also Irish dancing competitively in adult championships and competed at US Irish Dance Nationals in Phoenix, AZ, in July 2021 and at the Southern Region Oireachtas in

Britt Schneider Williams and her husband, Wren (HSC ’11)

Greensboro, NC, in December 2021. I placed 10th at Regionals (a personal best!) out of 60 very talented adult dancers.” Jenn Wiley Schmidt: “Another crazy year working in the vaccine industry. It was exciting to see my family and friends get vaccinated with vaccines that I helped test. Otherwise a great year where we adopted a new pup Hamilton, had our dream trip to Slovenia/Croatia and invested into a local cidery. For fellow cider lovers, Buskey Cidery was founded by a 2013 HSC grad. The cider is 100% Virginia apples, no added sugar! They ship everywhere, try some and cheers!”

2010

Victoria Nilsson vgnilsson@gmail.com In November 2021, Temma Clark-Braverman accepted a fulltime position with Nike as a senior transportation analyst. Temma is currently living in Portland, OR, with her 115-pound bullmastiff named Appa. She loves being in the PNW, especially because she gets to hang-out with her Sweet Tones baby (Stacy Ludington ’12) all the time. Isabel Patterson recently started an amazing job working in business development and will be graduating with her M.S. in sports management from George Washington University in May!

CLASS NOTES

Fellow classmates Isabel Patterson and Helen Bradshaw both served as Alysha M. Norbury’s bridesmaids

begun an exciting new chapter. As Wren takes his seat as delegate for the 9th district of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Britt is holding down the fort and managing the law firm at home in Stuart, VA. In addition, Britt and Wren are building their forever home in Stuart and hope to move in by Christmas of 2022. No kids yet, but their 2 horses, 1 donkey, 1 goat, 1 bull, 1 steer and 3 dogs keep them busy for now. Send Richmond recommendations to Britt, or better yet, meet her there!

Caroline Heltzel Overstreet and Eleanor Bryant ‘12 in Savannah, GA, summer 2021

2012

Carol Holbrook Ferguson Prickett 978 Ravine Dr. Villa Hills, KY 41017 ferguson12@sbc.edu Lindsey Arnett has been dreaming about idyllic castle mansions on the beach, while hibernating from negative weather. She has spent the year slowly checking off house and life to-do’s to hopefully move in the near future, and is hopeful for more family fun and travels next year. From Heather Bradley: “At the start of 2021 I began a new career as a police officer for the City of Charlottesville. Before my supervised training was even complete I earned a lifesaving award for a call I was first on the scene to. I’ve never been happier with my choice in career and am

Courtney Lewandowski: SWW July 2021 with my mom, Alexa Schriempf ’97, Jane McKenzie Davis ’03 and LuAnn Haag Hunt ’90

spring 2022

In September 2019, Alysha Norbury married Christopher Smith at the Vineyard Haven Yachts Club. Alysha and Christopher closed on their first house on Martha’s Vineyard in September 2020. Alysha currently works for Seacoast Properties as an assistant broker and is a new member of the board of directors for the MV multiple listing service and the Island Theatre Workshop. In her spare time, Alysha loves to bake bread, read and snuggle with her dogs. Sarah Strapp Dennison is currently working for the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, in Washington, D.C., as a senior major and planned gifts specialist. Sarah and her husband Philip are enjoying life in Maryland after buying their first home. Sarah and Philip are also looking forward to taking their second honeymoon (after 7 years of marriage) as soon as it is safe to travel! After 2 years of freelancing for publications, including Bon Appetit, Eater, and Condé Nast Traveler, Carina Finn Koeppicus recently took on a new role as the senior features editor at Food Network Magazine. Molly McLemore and William Fenn were married on Nov. 19, 2021, in a private ceremony in New Orleans, LA. Britt Schneider Williams and her husband, Wren (HSC ’11), have

sbc.edu

CLASS NOTES

Courtney Lewandowski attending wedding of Ashton Mays Richards ’18 in Sept. 2021 at Sweet Briar College

Meaghan Hogan and beau Andy Koenig at the Washington Assembly’s recent Christmas dance, hosted at the Sulgrave Club in Washington

Caroline Heltzel Overstreet and Keri Falk ‘11 at the pumpkin patch in Mississippi, fall 2021

thankful to be able to give back to the community daily.” From Isabella Formento Davidovich: “2021 has been a rollercoaster! We welcomed our beautiful daughter Madison Reese into the world in January, and moved to Northern Tennessee. Now, as 2022 begins my husband Alex Davidovich (HSC ’12) and I are set to put down roots in Miami, FL, with our darling daughter.” Emily Jones Dent continues to teach STEAM Lab and is looking forward to a 10-year reunion this year! Victoria Bradley Gentry and husband Jesse welcomed their second daughter in July 2021. She was born at home and eagerly greeted by her big sister. Christmas was extra special with these 2 little sweeties to spoil! From Emily Koch Hodge: “Last April, I started a new job working for the South Carolina Technical

College system as an Apprenticeship Consultant. I serve a 10-county region working with companies to develop apprenticeship programs to train their workforce. I have also been spending a lot of time fly-fishing in western NC with my husband and our 2 pups, Brody and Annabelle.” From Cortney Lewandowski: “Attended Sweet Work Weeks in July 2021 with my mom and made some incredible connections with other alumnae. Attended the wedding of Ashton Mays Richards ’18 in September 2021 at SBC. Left my job in Lynchburg, VA, to pursue and further my career in Wilmington, NC, at a skin surgery center where I am excited to move into a new townhouse. Took a family vacation on a Carnival Cruise to Mexico and Belize in early November 2021. After residing in Savannah, GA, for the past 2.5 years, Caroline Hetzel Overstreet and husband

CLASS NOTES

it could possibly have been 10 years since graduation! From Greer Gordon Spangler: “We moved into a fixer upper in our hometown, where we welcomed our son James. Lucy is smitten. We’ve also been able to spend time with Victoria Trudeau ’11, Britany Casale ’11, and their daughters.”

2014

Katherine “Kati” Wood 115 Blincoe Lane Charlottesville, VA 22902 katherinejanedecker@gmail.com

Caitlynn Bragg Akin and husband Steve Akin with their daughter, Evelyn Anne Akin, as a hibernating bear on Halloween

Nina Rezai and Ilisa Weinberg at Amrit Judge’s 2014 wedding in Boston, MA

Frank have now moved to the greater Jackson, MS, area! During her time in Savannah she visited with classmate Eleanor Bryant and launched her professional organizing business, Overstreet Organizing, LLC! Since moving to Mississippi she has already connected with Keri Falk ’11. If you find yourself in MS, know that her door is always open! Carol Holbrook Ferguson Prickett celebrated 5 years with her congregation in Northern Kentucky last summer. She’s looking forward to Reunion even if she wonders how

Natalie Dubishar: “I started a new part-time job as a tutor in April of 2021. I visited Gettysburg and toured the battlefield via horseback with my dad. I went on a sunset picnic with an Amish family with my dad in September, and I visited SBC with my dad in October.” Simone Faas: “After graduation, I attended Michigan State University for a M.Sc. in agricultural economics. In February 2016, I began my Peace Corps service in Zambia, in southern Africa, where I worked with farmers to improve household food security and soil conservation. To include some equines in my life there, I bought a pair of donkeys for fieldwork (and fun). In March 2020, I moved to Washington, D.C., and am working on research related to

women’s empowerment and food systems in developing regions. I hope to connect with more alums in the area soon.” Meaghan Hogan: “My partner Andy (Georgetown ’12) and I recently relocated to East Georgetown, DC. We love the close-knit neighborhood—and there are Vixens nearby! We enjoy heading out to hunt country for beagling and fox hunting on foot (until we get back into riding). Recently I’ve seen Hailey Floyd, Megan Link Freeman, Alexis Meares, Sydney Bolton Retan, Mary Hamlin Sherrod and Caroline Baker ’15, and her cute new house in Richmond, which gives me great joy.” Hannah Atwood: “Since graduation, I’ve been growing my recruiting career in San Francisco, CA. Currently, I manage engineering leadership hiring at Meta (also known as Facebook). Previously, I grew technical leadership teams at both Airbnb and MasterClass. I also got engaged in October of 2021 to my now fiancé, Jake Adams!” Adrianna LaCandia: “The pandemic sure makes the time fly, doesn’t it?! I am still a distillery supervisor at Wild Turkey Distillery here in Kentucky. Please let me know if you’re in the area, I love to give tours! I bought my first home in August of 2020 and am loving it so far. Still live streaming on Twitch as a side hustle, so if you’re

spring 2022

Shannon McCarthy co-hosts a podcast and would love to hear your SBC ghost stories

CLASS NOTES

Ashton Mays Richards and Hunter Richards on their wedding day at SBC

Elizabeth Parr at the trailhead after elopement

sbc.edu

Jona Cumani with NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman

Elizabeth Parr’s graduation from Slippery Rock University

Jules Sudol Browning and Steven Browning (HSC ’15) at their wedding in Amherst, VA

CLASS NOTES

into video games and all-around drunk shenanigans please reach out. Missing my Vixens every day!” Mary Earnhart: “After 5 years with DHS, I started a new job with the Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency. It has been a bit of an adjustment, but a fun and fast-paced one!” Spencer Beall: Spencer (“Spence” to all SBC friends!) was recently admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and is now a licensed Solicitor in the High Courts of England and Wales. She is also admitted to practice law in Washington, D.C. and

New York. Spencer graduated from Georgetown Law in 2018 and currently practices intellectual property law in D.C., specializing in trademark and brand protection. She lives on Capitol Hill with her 2 golden retrievers, Violet and Lily. Caitlynn Bragg Akin: Caitlynn Akin and her husband Steve welcomed their first baby, Evelyn Anne, on Sept. 12, 2021. They have also recently moved to the Dallas, TX, area to set down roots near family. Caitlynn works remotely as a sales and marketing coordinator for an automotive warranty company and

Steve is an after sales and service director for an aviation fueling equipment company. Nina Rezai: “This year I settled into my new role as the economic director of Campbell County and that has been filled with meeting all sorts of new connections in the central Virginia region and ensuring that the major employers of the locality are thriving, especially after the hardships everyone endured throughout 2020. In April, I also launched the PAD Center of Central VA with a committee from Junior League of Lynchburg; connecting impover-

ished women with feminine hygiene products. (padcenterva.org) In July Ilisa Weinberg and I were able to attend the wedding of Amrit Judge in Boston, MA.” Nikki Thompson Mitchell: “I am a charge nurse at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Emergency Department going on almost 2 years and have been an RN there for 5 years. My husband and I also own 4 Mexican restaurants in and around Roanoke, VA. We have a 2-year-old little boy, Colton!” Kati Decker Wood: Kati and her husband Dr. Garrett Wood pur-

spring 2022

Sweet Briar alumnae at the wedding of Ashton Mays Richards (back row l-r) Cathy Cash Mays ‘84, Maeve Xavier, Alexa Dahlin, Annabeth Griffin, Ashton Mays Richards, Lauren Passaretti, Emily Hudson ‘20, Mattie Nicholson, Shelby Macurak Lynott ‘17, Cheryl Warnock, Cortney Lewandowski ‘12, (front row) Tristin Burke ‘17 MA’18, Kylene Hayslett ‘08, Courtney Nelson ‘20 and Bayley Worth.

CLASS NOTES chased their second veterinary hospital this year with Old Dominion Animal Hospital. Kati continues to serve with the Junior League of Charlottesville as their provisional chair. She added Bentley, an Aussiedoodle to their family. Kati learned how to golf and beat her husband on his birthday trip to The Greenbrier.

2018

sbc.edu

Cassandra Fenton 10015 Bordley Drive Houston, TX 77042 fenton18@sbc.edu

Shelby Benny: “What a year! After graduating from University of Florida Law in May 2021 and sitting for the Florida Bar Exam in July, I started working as an assistant public defender for Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit. I was in the middle of a jury trial when bar results came out and it was the most nerve-wracking day of my life! I also recently purchased a home here in FL, where I currently live with my horse, Merle, and my jack russell terrier, Otis. I am looking forward to what 2022 will bring. I miss my SBC sisters each and every day, and I can’t wait to see you all at Reunion!” Marina Biel: “I moved from south FL to Madison, WI, and bought a house. I also made a career change and am now working in finance and business operations for a health tech start up. I spend lots of time exploring Wisconsin and volunteer as an exercise rider at a therapeutic riding center.” Jules Sudol Browning: “Steven Browning (HSC ’15) and I relocated to Roanoke in February 2021. We were married on Nov. 6th, 2021 at a family friend’s farm in Amherst, VA, with 2 Sweet Briar sisters, Cassie Fenton and Annabeth Griffin, among my bridesmaids.” Jona Cumani recently bought an apartment in Boston, MA, where she is finishing NASA research and will graduate from a postgraduate program at Harvard University this year. She is also working as events director at the Quin House, a social club in Back Bay, Boston. Cassie Fenton moved back to the UK in September where she is studying musicology at the Univer-

sity of Bristol, researching medieval English pontifical manuscripts. She also started working for the university as a postgraduate student ambassador with the admissions team. Annabeth Griffin has been working in tech sales and recently moved into a new house in Raleigh, NC She also began leasing a horse, Kenzo, and has been competing in the jumpers. Lydia Gullicksen became engaged to Brice McGee in January after he proposed during a fireworks display at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida. April Boyd Hastings: “My husband Chance and I bought a house in June and are so happy to be back in Virginia. We also found out we are expecting a little boy, and baby Hastings should be here in February 2022!” Tia Johnson is now living in China, and recently became engaged when her fiancé proposed during her birthday celebration in January. Kollin Kirven: “So many beautiful, amazing things happened in my art practice this year. I got to learn from artist Justine Kurland in a workshop taught collaboratively with Naima Green. I then attended Naima’s solo museum debut, “Brief & Drenching,” at Fotografiska, NY. I met Vogue’s first black cover photographer, Tyler Mitchell, at Hauser and Wirth in Los Angeles. I also attended Hugo Boss prize winner Deana Lawson’s show at the Guggenheim. I made a print for my first exhibition with Justine’s printer Gérard, was a part of a juried group exhibition in Chicago and was selected to study with artist D’Angelo Lovell Williams in a class about intimate and self-portraiture. So much good is happening behind the scenes and I cannot wait to say what.” Leyte McNealus moved to the Vail Valley in CO and has been working in advancement for Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, as well as coaching part time. Elizabeth Phaup Parr: “I graduated in May 2021 with my master’s in adapted physical activity and completed a summer internship with the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Colorado. I loved being in such an inclusive environment that taught me how to better facil-

itate recreational activities for individuals with disabilities. We rock climbed, went white water rafting, shot archery and kayaked. It was an amazing experience and I hope to continue to use those skills in my own community. In September, my husband Trace and I eloped. He flew out to CO and we got married at sunrise in the mountains.” Ashton Mays Richards: “I am so excited to announce that on Sept. 18, 2021, I returned to SBC to say “I do” surrounded by family and friends! It was truly the best day ever!” Emily Dodson Sadler: “2021 was a big year in the Sadler household! We bought our first house in Lynchburg and are so excited to start a garden this spring. Rupert and Magnolia gained a temporary cousin, Bonnie, this winter while my sisterin-law worked in Colorado. I loved seeing Courtney Barry and Caroline Thomas ’19 for ‘Friendsgivingmas,’ where Emily Hawk Melson planned a gingerbread house decorating tournament and other festive games! What a great time with Sweet Briar friends. We cannot wait to see what 2022 has in store!” Emma Thom: “I graduated with my master’s degree in secondary education in English from Vanderbilt University in 2020, but walked officially in 2021 due to COVID. I completed a full year teaching 8th grade English in Brentwood, TN, and in the fall of 2020 found out that my boyfriend Michael would be permanently stationed in Clovis, NM, on the west Texas border. Within a few months, we bought a house, moved halfway across the country and now have a sweet husky puppy named Indy, after Indiana Jones. I accepted a job in Muleshoe, TX, teaching high school English at Muleshoe High School, and I also help coach the cheerleading team. Michael is currently deployed for the next few months, and I am so incredibly proud of his journey as a pilot in the Air Force and honored to know someone defending our country. I’m doing my best to stay busy in the meantime and am planning to run a Spartan Race in March. It’s a different world out here in west Texas, but I’ve grown to love the community and even the tumbleweeds.” Baylee Worth: “I started in June

2021 as a behavioral health specialist at Johnson Health Center, a federally qualified health center in Lynchburg. I graduated with my M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling with a 4.0. In October, I became a resident in counseling in the state of Virginia and began seeing patients for therapy, leading groups and continuing screening processes. I won Virginia Counseling Association Member of the Year for the Lynchburg Area Counselors Association where I serve as membership chair, and joined the Junior League of Lynchburg, where my idea to create bags for children taken into DSS custody with items they need to prevent the use of trash bags, was chosen for the provisional project. I passed the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam, and I will be able to apply for my license after completing practical hour requirements.” Claire Zak: “In December 2021, I received my master’s degree at Texas A&M University in anthropology with a concentration in nautical archaeology. I am continuing my studies and pursuing my Ph.D. in nautical archaeology.”

Class of 1956

434-381-6131 alumnae@sbc.edu

Class of 1998

Cyndi Hineline 419-575-7479 cyndi.hineline@gmail.com

Class of 2008

Jessica Latray Wilson 434-426-3159 henson08@sbc.edu

Class of 2016

Julia Friend Eckstine 301-491-0503 eckstine16@sbc.edu Megan Ellen Shuford 757-812-9898 meganeshuford@gmail.com

Class of 2020

Jordan Adams Sack 860-575-9461 jordan.adams.sack@gmail.com

CLASS NOTES

Start Planning Your Legacy

In 1899, Indiana Fletcher Williams founded Sweet Briar College through a visionary planned gift. Indiana’s vision of a college for the education of young women inspired her to establish a trust of land and other assets that became her enduring legacy. This planned gift has provided transformational education opportunities for generations of young women for more than 100 years.

Please join us as a Williams Associate to ensure that her legacy—and yours—will prosper in perpetuity.

Donors who are 70 1/2 or older may find an IRA charitable rollover gift to be particularly beneficial to you and Sweet Briar College. Visit our website to learn more.

Become a Williams Associate

Not sure how to get started? Visit: plannedgiving.sbc.edu For questions, contact: Margaret McClellan Driscoll ’92 434-381-6337 | mdriscoll@sbc.edu

Box 1057 Sweet Briar, VA 24595 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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If this magazine is addressed to a daughter who no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please email us at alumnae@sbc.edu with her new address. Thank you!

Reunion 2022

The party begins once you arrive! June 3-5, 2022

Visit sbc.edu/reunion for details.