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Alumnae Notes and Profiles
Alumnae Notes
Updates and Profiles Celebrating the Accomplishments of Archer Alumnae
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CLASS OF 2001 Notes compiled by: Shireen Shafai shireenshafai@gmail.com & Lauren Hochberg Finkelstein laurenfinkelstein1@gmail.com
It is an exciting time for Archer’s first graduating class, full of personal and professional milestones. Rachel Katz married Chris Guerin at a farm on Mt. Hood in Oregon in September of 2012. Rachel is teaching college writing and getting ready to have their baby who is due this July. She is also preparing to go back to school next year for a second Master’s in Education so she can teach high school Language Arts. Heather Cagle Zackheim, who now goes by Roupa Manjari devi dasi Zackheim, married her love Nathan Zackheim,
aka Naaara Narayan dasa Vishwakarma, in 2007 and they welcomed their beautiful daughter Jyotir Gamaya devi dasi in June 2010. They are currently working together at Nathan Zackheim Associates, an art restoration firm, on an exciting new project to remove a WPA-era mural from the former Venice Post Office and reinstall it on the property of the future home of Silver Pictures. Dominique Miller moved to New York City in the fall of 2010 to pursue her MBA at New York University Stern School of Business. She graduated this past May and now works full-time at American Express as a Client Manager in their Global Merchant Services division. Dominique says one of the best parts of living in New York City is her close proximity to the East Coast contingency of her Archer girl family! Minka Marcom-Rehwald completed her Master’s in Clinical Psychology in June 2011 and is now working to complete her required hours toward getting her license as a marriage and family therapist. She is working at Open Paths Counseling Center in Culver City and works in LAUSD schools as a
counselor. Shireen Shafai married Adam Zacharius in July 2011 and is in the midst of moving from Los Angeles to New York City where she will be working with Adam at Kensington Publishing. Shireen already misses her LA Archer girls, but is very excited to be part of the close-knit group of New York City Archer alums. Lauren Hochberg Finkelstein married Andrew Finkelstein, a talent agent, in 2012. They
eloped last August with friends in the British Virgin Islands and then decided to have a proper wedding at the Bel-Air Hotel this past November. Lauren recently left her job of six years at Fox Searchlight Pictures to work at boutique public relations firm Sunshine Sachs, in West Hollywood. She currently is in the process of moving to the West Hollywood area and enjoys serving on the Archer Alumnae Association Board.
This has been a great year for the Class of 2002, with more professional and personal milestones. They celebrated their ten-year reunion in August with a delightful cocktail reception and an awesome slideshow that brought back loads of funny and poignant memories. Cailey Hall is a second-year PhD student studying English literature at the University of California, Los Angeles. In addition to finishing up her coursework this year, she is working as a teaching assistant for undergraduate English courses, which she finds fun and rewarding. Cailey also tutors high school students, working with them on writing, college applications, and more. Helen Vera is also continuing her graduate-level education and will complete her final year of law school at Yale University in May. Congratulations to Alisha Perry Bunch and her husband, D’Juan, who welcomed their first child, Ava Janene, last October (pictured, Alisha with baby Ava). Alisha writes that Ava “is a total delight and has brought new meaning to being in love and being tired.” The family is currently living in England and will relocate to Germany in the fall. A few months ago Korinne Mitchell Hinderliter began a new job as an assistant merchant at Bebe, which she loves. Korinne and her husband, Victor, traveled to Spain in the spring to attend Natalia Serrano’s gorgeous wedding to Alejandro Sanchez-Dominguez. In typical Spanish style, they celebrated late into the night! Natalia and Alejandro visited Los Angeles over the holidays and it was great
to see them. Congratulations to another newlywed from the class of 2002, Ashley Sawtelle Kietzmann! Ashley and her husband, Joey, were married on the banks of the St. Vrain river in Lyons, Colorado, in a beautiful celebration that included several Archer alumnae (pictured above left to right, Helen Vera, Korinne Mitchell Hinderliter, Ashley Sawtelle Kietzmann, Samantha Estrada, Elana Schwarzman Besserman, and Cailey Hall). Ashley continues to run her own successful photography business, which has taken her all over Colorado and beyond to cover weddings and take family portraits. She credits much of her professional success and passion to her first photography teacher and mentor, Archer’s own Harris Hartsfield, who passed away in January. Ashley writes, “I look forward to connecting with Mr. Hartsfield through my work and through teaching others this art, as he did with all of us.”
Carly Salindong is a full-time mom to daughter Emalee, who turns two in April. She is also a freelance graphic designer and most recently worked on the logo and brand design for Tie The Knot, a non-profit started by “Modern Family’s” Jesse Tyler Ferguson, which sells bowties to raise funds for the fight for marriage equality (www.TieTheKnot.org). Laura Korman is the Director at TAG Gallery, a fine art gallery located at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. She is thrilled to be participating in the Los Angeles arts community representing this particular gallery, where she works closely with forty artists and manages the gallery exhibitions, publicity, and sales.
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Meet Alexandra Kogan ’05
Alexandra Kogan credits Archer with finding her voice. Now her voice is being heard by Fortune 500 companies in her role at Edelman, one of the world’s largest public relations firms. A Senior Account Executive, Alexandra serves on the Digital Public Affairs team in Washington, D.C., providing companies and organizations strategic counsel specific to online reputation matters and crisis-related issues.
Prior to joining Edelman, Alexandra served as a Communications Specialist for the Asian American Justice Center, the nation’s premier civil rights nonprofit serving the interests of the Asian American community. Right out of college, she worked at the Embassy of India as Press, Information and Cultural Coordinator where she organized a number of initiatives and reports during the negotiations of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Deal. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from American University, a language proficiency certificate in Hindi from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. Alexandra has served as guest lecturer at Georgetown University, teaching various digital and social media topics.
When asked about her Archer education, Alexandra says, “I will forever cherish my time at Archer, and as I get older realize more and more what a unique and valuable experience it was.”
Brenda Meaney is in her final year at the Yale School of Drama, sleepdeprived and happily overworked in pursuit of an MFA in Acting. Jacqueline Mention continues to live a happy pastoral life in Port Townsend, Washington as a freelance writer for the local newspaper, the Marketing Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for Centrum, a local art nonprofit, and serves on the Board of Directors of the local community radio station. She has also officially started a family by getting married last year and adopting a rat terrier named Murray. Chloe Clifford graduated from Columbia School of Law in May and passed the California bar in July. She is now working as a lawyer at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in downtown Los Angeles. She is now She is living in Santa Monica and is happy to be back in California near her family again after nine years on the East Coast. Vanessa Anderson runs AM PR Group, a successful boutique public relations company in Los Angeles which focuses on entertainment and digital content. Devon Dunlap returned to Los Angeles last summer after two years in New York. She continues to work as a freelance television producer, most recently on TLC’s “Cake Boss” and ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars.” Isabelle Edwards moved from London to New York last year and now works for Gagosian Gallery, where she manages Mr. Gagosian’s private collection. In February, she will begin to travel regularly to Europe, Asia, and South America on behalf of the collection.
It’s been another busy and successful year for the class of 2004, as the group continues to follow their passions and succeed in a variety of fields. Liza Epps is currently working for the animated FOX series “Bob’s
Burgers” in the background design department. In her spare time she works on her own paintings in preparation for an art show this coming year. January marked Hillary Newman’s third year working at GOOD (www.GOOD. is), an online platform for “people who want to live well and do good.” Hillary is serving her second year on Archer’s Board of Trustees and first year on Archer’s Alumnae Association Board as Board Liaison. Maria Vera continues to work at PBS’ national headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., where she oversees publicity for PBS KIDS® - the number one educational media brand for children. Maria serves as her class representative for Archer and on the community service board of the Yale Club of D.C. Taryn Haar recently graduated from nursing school and landed a job as a Registered Nurse at Cedars-Sinai. As Executive Assistant to Paramount’s SVP of Publicity, Melissa Bank is keeping busy this awards season. On a personal note, she is engaged to be married this October in Puerto Rico. Also on a personal note, Hannah Zeiler Hodgen is expecting a son this May. Lauren Haas recently started her own endeavor as a Holistic Nutrition Health and Life Coach. She works with clients in Los Angeles and New York City to create individual and balanced “life maps” to help promote health and wellness. Leylie Aghili runs her successful boutique Tribute on Montana Avenue. She also is creating her own line of women’s clothing, with a fall 2013 collection launching internationally as well as nationwide. CLASS OF 2005 Notes compiled by: Rachael Rebujio rachael.rebujio@gmail.com
The bright women of 2005 continue to show their commitment to academic pursuits, with many recently earning graduate degrees and a few even going on to pursue careers in education. In August 2012 Archer Davis moved to Millbrook, New York to teach Spanish II and IV at the Millbrook School, a co-ed 9-12 high school. She lives on campus and coaches cross country, helping coach the team to a win in their division this year! Having graduated from the University of Southern California with best friend and fellow Archer alumna Sami Chaikin, Samantha Schotz went on to Pepperdine University to receive her Master’s in Education and multiple subject and History credentials. Samantha credits the amazing teachers at Archer for inspiring her to give back some of the gifts she received and pursue a career in education. She has been teaching at Laurence School, a private school in the Valley for the past two years. Last year she taught fifth grade and this year is teaching Kindergarten and she absolutely loves it! Alexandra Kogan is currently living in Washington, D.C., working as a Senior Account Executive for Edelman- the world’s largest public relations firm. She specifically works on the digital crisis communications team and provides counsel to Fortune 500 companies and institutions facing crises. In the spring of 2012, she graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. Kaci Taylor is graduating from Tulane University with a Master’s in Architecture this coming spring.
The class of 2006 has a pretty exciting slate of accomplishments. No surprises here; they are Archer girls after all: bold, courageous, and ready to change the world. Rocio Cabrera is busy pursuing painting while working at a downtown Los Angeles law firm and volunteering at the Los Angeles Mission and the Museum of Contemporary Art. She recently exhibited her own art in a show downtown and will start working at the University of California, Los Angeles in grant writing for non-profits. Thisbe Gensler, once a star in Dr. Friedman’s Art History class, is now in grad school at New York University finishing her Master’s in Art History at the Institute of Fine Arts. Nicole Grierson has called Vienna, Austria home for the last four years, working as a translator and post-production editor in film. While she misses the Los Angeles weather, she wouldn’t trade living in Europe. Marisa Guterman graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and is now working as the San Francisco Marketing Rep at Sony Music and guest starring in a number of television series. She has returned to Los Angeles to
pursue acting, writing, and music. Selected from a worldwide search, along with Grammy Best New Artist Esperanza Spalding, Marisa was named one of Splashlife’s 30 Under 30 Musicians to Know and most recently performed her original music at the Sundance Film Festival. This last year Marisa appeared on the television show “Breaking In” and finished writing her second pilot and first feature film. Sara Hirsch, Kenyon College graduate, lives in Los Angeles and works at an organic edible heirloom plant nursery, designing and installing gardens all over the city. Maxie Optican brought a little California sunshine to the Windy City. She works for “Chicago Social” magazine, a sister of “Angeleno,” in their production department and also freelances as a writer for the magazine. Jewel Rose recently moved back to Los Angeles from Atlanta, where she is the talent producer on the hit reality television show “Big Rich Atlanta.” Jasmine Shackelford is a Case Manager with an agency called Project 180 located in downtown Los Angeles. She provides legal services to young mothers (18-25) with mental health and substance abuse histories who are trying to get their children out of the DCFS system and/or foster care. Carina Sohaili graduated from George Washington University and did a year-long graduate program at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She launched her own company, Vibrant Healthy Life, and has a private nutrition practice in Beverly Hills. Carina has been a featured health expert in various publications, including a video series titled “The Mindful Munch” for E! News Host Giuliana Rancic’s “FabFitFun” newsletter. Charlotte Steinway, former editor of the Archer Oracle, merged two of her favorite pastimes — travel and writing — at a new job at Jetsetter. com as an Editorial Producer, reviewing hotels and writing about her travels to exotic locals, including a recent trip to South Beach. Charlotte currently resides in New York’s Lower East Side where she runs into Archer girls daily. Lizzie Stromberg graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2010 with a degree in American Studies. For the last year and a half, the former captain of the Archer Robotics team has been working at a tech company in Palo Alto called Box. Lizzie lives in the NOPA area of San Francisco.
CLASS OF 2007 To submit future notes: Natalie Babcock natalie.babcock@gmail.com
The Class of 2008 has just recently graduated from college and is now out in the world starting their lives! Storey Sheinberg just graduated in May from Pitzer College. She is the lead in a band called Storey and The Tellers as the songwriter, lead guitarist, and lead singer of the band. Her secret is playing shows without wearing her glasses because that way she can’t see the audience and it helps her avoid stage fright. Helen Keyes is living in Japan and teaching English to grades 5 through 9. She just signed her renewal contract to work through July 2014. Anna Funke is living in London and applying to graduate school. Veronika Syrop is living in East Los Angeles, mothering two kittens from a litter of strays that Darby Vickers ’06 took in. Alyssa Lanz is also back in Los Angeles and working at United Talent Agency as an assistant in the Digital Media department. Lauren Meepos is waiting to hear back from medical schools, volunteering in pediatric literacy at the Venice Family Clinic, and traveled to Haiti in February to do research.
CLASS OF 2009 Notes compiled by: Chloe Makhani cmakhani@wisc.edu
Each member of the class of 2009 may be following different paths; however, it looks like they are all moving swiftly. From traveling to exotic places to expanding their knowledge through academia and incredible experiences, these ladies have already left deep imprints all over the map. Madisen Siegal is graduating from the University of California, Davis a quarter early with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Education. After graduation, Madisen will begin work as a preschool teacher in Los Angeles at Beth Shir Shalom. Her senior yearbook prediction of “most likely to sing in a Disney movie” has almost come true as she works with the Cinderella Company performing as Disney princesses
Meet Shauna Higgins ’05
A future doctor, Shauna Higgins credits Archer’s challenging and supportive environment with preparing her for both professional and personal success. While at Archer, Shauna received the Wellesley College Book Award for outstanding academic achievement and leadership within the school and community. A founding member of Archer’s crosscountry team and a member of the budding track team, Shauna also earned the Scholar-Athlete Award for academic excellence during cross-country and track seasons. After graduating from Archer in 2006, Shauna attended Brown University to study Human Biology and Business Economics. After initial exposure to the art of photography at Archer, Shauna also furthered this interest at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), taking advantage of the Brown-RISD partnership.
Her passion for healthcare has manifested itself in a journey that began at Brown with involvement in childhood obesity prevention programs and with coordinating a mentoring program for inner city Providence high school students interested in the healthcare field. She also worked with organizations such as the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine and the Venice Family Clinic during school vacations. Upon graduating from Brown, she traveled to Quito, Ecuador with the organization Dr. Interns to staff medical clinics and learn about local healthcare infrastructure. She also performed biomedical research for the Doheny Eye Institute at USC.
Currently, Shauna is a medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where she also serves as co-editorin-chief of UCLA’s The BEAT Art and Literary Magazine (uclabeat.com).
In her free time, among other things, Shauna enjoys being outdoors, staying creative, and modeling. She has appeared on the hit television show America’s Next Top Model, and has done freelance work with RISD and musical artists such as Audio Push and Kaki King.
Jasmine and Pocahontas. Skye Optican, now a yoga and SoulCycle fanatic, is attending the University of Southern California’s film school, and loving her internship at Annapurna Pictures. Erin Pearlman just completed her internship with Joe Kennedy’s victorious campaign in representing the 4th district of Massachusetts in the United States Congress. Erin worked as a press intern and campaign photographer, which enabled her to acquire wonderful skills before returning to her class routine this semester. Malka Sender will be graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and earning certificates in LGBTQI and Women’s Studies. She is the radio DJ for the campus station where she hosts her show “Californiacation.” Upon graduating, she plans to look for a job in the music industry in New York City. Malka additionally spent last spring in Sevilla, España studying Spanish while traveling around Europe. Madison Besser is currently interning for dream team Los Angeles Lakers in their public relations department. Madison will be graduating this May with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Sports Media Studies from the University Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Kate Geller just recently moved back to New York from Berlin after living there for a year. Kate is graduating from New York University Gallatin School of Individualized Study with a
Meet Zoe Ravich ’08
“Archer taught me how to learn, which has enabled me to excel as a student, as a teacher, and as a researcher,” says Zoe.
No stranger to the laboratory, Zoe currently works in the Adult Development Project (ADP) lab performing studies on aging. She has conducted suicide prevention research at the University of Rochester as well as traumatic brain injury research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is also a Teaching Assistant in the Psychology Department at Scripps College.
In her spare time, Zoe is an active board member for the PHASE ONE Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Phase I clinical research and treatment programs for patients with cancer. During her time at Scripps College, she served as co-president and chief financial officer for the Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology and as a board member for the Scripps College Institutional Review Board (IRB).
If that’s not enough, she authored an artist’s book depicting the effects of the eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, on a young woman patient.
A member of Archer’s Class of 2008, Zoe attended Scripps College where she received a bachelor of arts in Psychology and graduated summa cum laude. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and received The Margaret Siler Faust Psychology Senior Thesis Award.
Zoe says, “Archer undoubtedly provided me with the solid foundation of a wellrounded education. Perhaps more importantly, though, Archer showed me how to seek out knowledge independently and how to ask for help when I needed it.”
Meet Leylie Aghili ’04
Leylie Aghili has kept busy since graduating from Archer in 2004. In 2010 Leylie opened Tribute Boutique, a women’s clothing store in Santa Monica. With its success, the boutique garners attention from the press, and was recently featured on Good Day LA and was also named one of “LA’s hottest new boutiques” by The Hollywood Reporter.
Leaping into her latest venture, last year Leylie started her own line of clothing exclusive to Tribute that quickly became her bestseller. Her eponymous clothing line, “Leylie” will be made available in other boutiques with the official launch of her 2013 fall collection. “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for fashion, but more profoundly, a love for storytelling--whether it’s telling a story with clothes I buy or create seasonally or with my journalistic endeavors.”
Prior to launching into entrepreneurship, Leylie graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in English, and earned a Master of Arts in journalism from USC’s Annenberg School of Communications. She has also written for fashion magazines and worked in public relations for the fashion industry.
Leylie says, “Archer instilled within me a confidence and creative fervor that allowed me to ask questions in lecture halls of 200 plus people and later, to start my own business. Most importantly, the Archer experience taught me that I don’t have to limit myself—today I’m a shop founder and designer, tomorrow I might finally write that novel I’ve been dreaming about.”
concentration in Creative Writing and Comedy as well as a minor in German Language. Danyelle D’Andrea is hoping to move to San Francisco after she graduates from Loyola Marymount University this coming May with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minor in Political Science in order to continue with her passion to work with autistic children. Danyelle worked the 2012 election as an exit poller and currently works as a classroom aid with high functioning autistic students. Additionally, she is the group leader for “Free Arts For Abused Children.” Chloe Makhani spent the spring of 2012 living and studying Italian in Rome and is graduating from the University of WisconsinMadison with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate in Business. She is currently applying to graduate school for Hospitality Management, while simultaneously looking for jobs to have all sorts of options when decision time comes. Chloe is currently managing the Friday night life in Madison, where she has used the stability of her company CRE8 to book DJs, and musical acts and monitor the distribution of tickets and sales.
CLASS OF 2010 Notes compiled by: Georgina Stage gstage@usc.edu
Archer’s graduating class of 2010 has taken on the entire world as they venture into junior year at their respective colleges; many of whom are becoming worldly, cultured beauties as they study abroad. Ari Cohen just got back from studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem for the semester, and is now conducting research for her honors history thesis on the Westernization of Yoga. The University of Pennsylvania will be home to three Cohen kids next year, as her sister will join Ari and her brother. Tea Clayton is currently majoring in Psychology with an emphasis in pre-law, and minoring in Business Law at the University of Southern California. She works in recruiting at the USC Football Department and is also an English tutor for a program called Readers Plus. Georgina Stage was re-elected as Team and Alumni Development Coordinator for her dance team, “Break Through,” for her second term this semester. Ashley Durrer is keeping busy. In addition to being a full time student she works at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in the Accessibility Department. They create programs and services for people with different abilities: sight, hearing, physical, and cognitive. Ashley has created her own program for the Starlight Foundation to come to the Museum. She also works at Global Pathways- a program that helps international students transition to their degree program in America. Ashley is taking ballroom dance classes at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Numerous girls of the Class of 2010 are studying abroad, including Jennifer Hourani, Jillian Hurwitz, Daisy Dennerline, Sophie Du Pont, Elisa Glubok, Elissa James, Shade Quintanilla, and Molly Smith. Archer girls are charming the entire world with their brains, beauty, and language skills that originated in their 9th grade language courses at Archer. Once an Archer girl, always an Archer girl!
The talented women of 2011 have settled into college life and are leaving their marks at their respective universities and around the world. Emily Idell has an amazing paid internship in San Francisco for Allied-THA. She is a studio intern for Focus Features Films helping coordinate and plan events on campuses in Northern California to promote
movies. Caitlin Topkis (pictured above) traveled to London last summer and interned with social media marketing company UMI Marketing. She currently interns with Chirrpet, a website helping women with everyday and not so everyday problems. Mary Chavarria is majoring in Evolutionary Anthropology and will travel to Costa Rica in the fall to study Global Health and Tropical Medicine among indigenous populations. Leasly Salazar studied abroad in Spain where she fulfilled one of her
dreams and visited the stadium for FC Barcelona. She currently works with America Reads/ America Counts and tutors at public schools in the area. Lydia Decoud is a student ambassador at Loyola University, Chicago giving tours to prospective families. She recently changed her major from music to journalism and will be doing an independent study in Cordoba, Spain this summer. Chelsea Montgomery-Duban has been cast in four main stage productions at Muhlenberg College including the role of Suzanna in “The Marriage of Figaro.” She is living with her best friend from Long Island and is having a blast. She will study abroad in Italy next fall. Horatia Hopper just completed an amazing semester abroad in London taking classes about immigration, British history, human rights, and imperialism. She is now back in New York working toward her major at New York University Gallatin. Cynthia Ambriz just declared a History major and Film minor at Colorado College and is working on campus at the day care center. Courtney Salindong is majoring in Chemical Engineering with a petroleum emphasis. At school, she is a part of AlChE, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and just recently joined
the Society of Petroleum Engineers. She is also a part of a FilipinoAmerican culture club, called Troy Phi. During the fall semester she joined Pi Beta Phi. She says it has been a great experience meeting girls in a place that reminds her of the Archer community. Kim Horn joined Kappa Alpha Theta in the fall of this academic year. She just finished a five month long fashion journalist internship, in which she wrote weekly fashion advice articles representing the University of California, Los Angeles for www.collegefashionista.com. She is on the Marketing Staff of the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA under the Cultural Affairs Commission. She sits on the Academic Development Committee with the Office of Residential Life as the only undergraduate representative. Samara Josephson is currently in her second year at New York University Tisch in the Meisner studio. She was cast in two plays, as Betty in “The Crucible” and as Rosalie in “The Children’s Hour.” She started a community service program within the Meisner studio where they are hoping to raise money and donate their time to the victims of hurricane Sandy. Rebecca Peaslee is enjoying campus life at the University of Southern California, grabbing lunch with friends at Lemonade, enjoying sunny days on her apartment’s rooftop in Los Angeles, working out at the gym, and spending time at her sorority Pi Beta Phi. Over the summer she hopes to go on Birth Right to Israel and travel to Vietnam where she will teach kids English and receive her Teaching Foreign Language certification. She also hopes to have an internship in Los Angeles that incorporates her interest in communication and passion for marine biology. Kandace London is currently the Assistant Director on The Community Affairs Committee on her campus. She hopes to Intern in either New York or Los Angeles this
summer. Caitlin Kramer lives in Oregon in the Pi Beta Phi sorority house. She started selling her handmade jewelry, too (www. caitlinkramerdesigns.com).
The post-Archer years have only begun for the class of 2012, who boldly dove into their college lives
despite the apocalyptic prediction in December. Cora Cull worked for Reading Rainbow (yes—you read it correctly, the PBS show!) between her semesters at Bennington and joined her school’s fencing team, which will compete at nationals this year. Christine Zaccaro continued to pursue her passion for dancing in college, joining Boston College’s main hip-hop dance crew, Uprising, and competing at World of Dance. Tess Morgan writes for her school’s newspaper, The Wesleyan Argus, and promotes Middleton-Wesleyan relations though a number of social groups. Juliette Hourani joined WashU St. Louis’ professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, and has been involved in student theatre productions since September. On the west coast, Benina Stern is taking Stanford’s theatre groups by storm, as she is assistant producer and choreographer for a completely student-produced spring musical and just finished acting for two other student-produced plays in the winter. At the other side of campus in the San Francisco Bay, Celena Staff rows for Stanford on the Women’s Varsity Crew team. (Go Trees!) Faced with befriending new people, learning how to deal with non-Archer professors (it is actually quite difficult), and acclimating to new weather patterns, I am proud to say that Archer’s 2012 graduates have successfully assimilated into their wondrous and exciting college environments! Continue rocking it ladies!
Are you an Archer Alumnae with news to share? Email your Class Representaive (listed under your graduating class) to be included in the next Alumnae Notes.
Meet Michelle Maile ’08
Michelle Maile says, “Archer encouraged me to ask questions, think critically, and step out of my comfort zone in order to explore new interests.”
Undoubtedly, these skills have contributed to Michelle’s role as Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award Fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. As a research fellow, she is currently conducting biomedical research exploring how variations in genes and environments interact and lead to certain behaviors or illnesses like OCD, anxiety, depression, and Autism. Her lab utilizes mouse models of mental illness. She studies mice that are over or under-expressing in certain neurotransmitter systems. These manipulations allow their research team to look at the impact certain genes have on behavior and physiological functioning.
Michelle graduated with honors from American University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She also is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and has participated in several scientific publications and presentations.
She is excited to continue her education and is in the process of applying to PhD programs in Behavioral Neuroscience.
Michelle says, “I am thankful for the wide range of experiences I was exposed to while [at Archer], especially the unexpected ones.”
11725 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049 ambitious, joyful learning
Student STEM Symposium
Archer is committed to empowering girls in the STEM Fields. This year’s student STEM Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at The Archer School for Girls in Brentwood.
This one-of-a-kind symposium is an exhibition of independent student research projects in STEM subjects and any high school student is encouraged to submit their original research.
For more information, please visit archer.org/STEM.
