The Brearley Drama Department brought Arthur Miller’s classic to life. Audiences were enraptured by students’ performances, which featured a cast and crew of Upper School students and guest appearances by three members of Class VII. A huge congratulations to all!
VOLUME XCIX • NUMBER 2 • FALL 2024
18 News and Events
Events Recap, What’s on Your Desk?, Award Winners, The New Brearley Website and More
24 Brearley’s Free Tuition Program
26 Community Engagement: Our Commitment to the Greater Good
32 2023–2024 Giving Review
Letter from Sue Meng ’99 and Jane Foley Fried, Total Gifts to Brearley, Benefit Committee, Fundraising Volunteers, Memorial and Honorary Gifts and Samuel Brearley Society
52 Births, Marriages and Deaths
56 Class and Faculty/Staff Notes
Special thanks to Jennifer Bartoli, Jennifer Stewart, Brooke Slezak, Samuel Stuart, Carla Torres and members of the Brearley community for sharing photos and artwork with us.
Head of School
Jane Foley Fried
Content Manager
Haley Swanson
Director of Graphic Design
Jennifer Bartoli
Director of Communications
Jennifer Stewart
If you have any questions or comments about the Bulletin, please contact Haley Swanson at hswanson@brearley.org or (212) 570-8588.
Brearley has offset the equivalent of 8,969,928 total standard pages of paper consumption by reforesting 1,076 standard trees since joining the PrintReleaf Exchange on August 7, 2018.
THE BREARLEY SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2024–2025
Sue Meng ’99, President
Susan Berresford ’61, Senior Vice President
Ning Jin, Vice President
Lauren Wasson, Vice President
Lita Tandon ’06, Secretary
Olivia Wassenaar ’97, Treasurer
Tara Abrahams
Eloise Austin
Tanisha Bellur
Alexander Brodsky
Ranika Cohen
Daphné Crespo-Helm
Amina Elderfield ’94
Thomas Farrell
Jane Foley Fried
Martha Haakmat
Lindsay Higgins
Megan Lui ’10
John McGinn
Margo Nederlander
Terri Seligman ’78
Sidaya Moore Sherwood ’90
Bill Shutzer
Nekesa Straker ’97
Alan Yan
Trustees Emeriti
Modupe Akinola ’92
Christine Alfaro ’91
Georges F. de Ménil
Evelyn Janover Halpert ’52
David T. Hamamoto
Stephanie J. Hull
Ellen Jewett ’77
Alan Jones
John F. Savarese
Priscilla M. Winn Barlow
Faculty Representative
Runako Taylor
REMARKS FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Last Day 2024
Welcome students, families, faculty and staff to Last Day for the Class of 2024. We are so pleased to welcome you to this celebration. For those of you for whom this is your first Last Day ceremony, please know that Brearley has a long tradition of referring to this rite of passage with this unique term, the idea being that no one at Brearley “graduates” from education. Simply put, one has her Last Day in this academic institution before embarking on her first day of college. Learning and a love of it are lifelong. With characteristic Brearley moderation, the celebration is conducted on campus, we don’t have outside speakers and we sing joyously to each other.
Before I begin with my reflections on our seniors’ time at Brearley and impart lessons and pearls of wisdom that I hope you will all remember well after today, I want to jump ahead.
Typically, a graduation speaker waits until the end of the speech or maybe even the reception to express gratitude to those departing. With the Class of 2024, I see no need to wait. I want to start by saying how much my colleagues and I have enjoyed this class. You are 63 strong seniors who have made an impact—your actions, your compassion, your talent and your dedication have been meaningful to your teachers, your peers across three divisions and the school—and I am so happy to bear witness to it.
So, there you have it, my heartfelt appreciation and admiration for something that sprung 13 years ago and grew in numbers over the years, culminating here today.
Making a meaningful impact at Brearley is a pretty good place to start this morning. We strive for meaning in our lives, and along the way, our actions and passions confer a meaningfulness upon us. Happiness is great: Grab it, seek it, revel in it. But don’t confuse it with meaningfulness.
Seniors, I’ve observed how you treat and connect with one another, and it belies the difficult circumstances and events that separated and isolated you and your classmates not so long ago. The way you interact with your peers, Middle and Lower School students, your teachers and the staff here is all the more impressive given your time in Class VIII and IX, learning remotely or masked—walking round and round in that hallway carousel. These hardships were trying. But instead of fracturing, you bonded. And in doing so, the actions you took were meaningful. The work you did, I’m sure, gave you a greater meaning.
This distinct and strong bond that you share is how you propelled us post-Covid-19. You rushed in to fill those empty spaces and helped carry everyone along. And you set a course that tomorrow’s talented and committed seniors will ably follow. You are, in essence, water.
I am reminded of Lao Tzu’s work from the Tao Te Ching:
True goodness is like water; it nurtures everything and harms nothing. Like water, it ever seeks the lowest place, the place that all others avoid. This is the way of the Tao.
For a dwelling it chooses the quiet meadow; for a heart the circling eddy.
continued on next page
“
Where you’re headed is where you’re needed most. You need to continue to strive for meaningful impact. You need to continue to rise and lift all others, just as you did here.”
lunch, refurbishing the basketball courts or laying soil in the park, even just hanging out together, I thought first: They are squeezing every last moment of their Brearley experience. And second: They are going to miss us and we them when they are gone.
Seniors, this community’s impressive creativity, unflinching drive and close connections are the outcome of your leadership. Never has that powerful combination been at a higher level during my 12 years as Head of School.
I just referred to you as a “community.” Such an apt word for who you are and what you’re about. I’ve long felt that what made this class so special is its belief in community and its desire to build a community.
I also just referenced “close connections.” We see all too often in the media a lack of dignity accorded to others in virtually every aspect of our society. It seems everywhere we look, differences are dividing communities. Never before has it been more imperative to speak with one another. To be respectful and to listen to one another’s plight or point of view. Never before has there been such a need to build community—close connections—as you head to college.
Go forth from Brearley and do what you’ve always done so well: Bring people together. Continue to listen to your peers, connect with them in and out of classes and across cultures, races, religions and political perspectives. You have this ability to create bonds, and I implore you to use it to connect classmates, roommates, dormmates, teammates and total strangers.
In your freshman year, a circling eddy became our maelstrom of misery. But it was your spirit that helped right the Brearley ship. You led us toward a distinct culture you had created—a refreshing Renaissance that we can now see, feel, hear and even taste. Once again, you, with the support of your extraordinary teachers, peers and the staff, set a course and lifted us along.
Is it just me or did the scoreboard this year usually seem to be in our favor whether in athletics or Model UN and Congress, or Mock Trial, debate, math, robotics or chess teams? Weren’t there waiting lists to get into Brearley dances (a fact that may shock our Brearley alumnae) and wasn’t every concert and play performed before unusually large and enthusiastic crowds? Can you believe the growth in clubs, affinity groups and publications? Did you realize that we ran out of adults to act as advisors with this explosion of student engagement? Was anyone not wowed by the campus-wide, multimedia art show? Did you notice how our events, such as the Hackathon and Beaver Coffeehouse, attracted so many students from all over the city from both independent and public schools? How is it that the music sounded better, the art touched us more deeply, the writing stirred us greatly and everything appeared to entertain and pull our community closer together?
I’m not kidding, even the B-Flats (our beloved spoof on the B-Nats) were amazing at the recent Acapalooza. We had a record number of 3-by-4 athletes (10 of them)—meaning seniors who played three seasons of athletics for four years—and every time I turned around this spring, seniors, who had completed their last fantastic production Much Ado About Nothing, were filling in during younger students’ class plays when actors were unable to perform. How they knew the lines, I do not know. And there was that surprise senior sword fight and swirling fire in Courage, the Class VII play, too. Each time I saw members of this class assistant teaching across divisions, supervising Lower School
Where you’re headed is where you’re needed most. You need to continue to strive for meaningful impact. You need to continue to rise and lift all others, just as you did here.
“There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story,” said the peace activist and Benedictine nun, Sister Mary Lou Kownacki. I can’t say unequivocally that this statement is absolute, but the point is that you’ll never understand unless you’re open to hearing where someone is coming from. You will undoubtedly form new friendships once you leave Brearley, and the first step with every budding relationship is to listen to one another’s stories. Tend to your inner life, but reach out to those with different views and perspectives. Your beliefs may deepen in some ways and change in others.
You have been privileged to have had the support all these years of your families, teachers, staff and friends here at Brearley. You are about to meet new faces—hear new stories—of those who maybe haven’t experienced the academic rigors that you have, or who haven’t been given the advantage of the programs, facilities and guidance afforded you.
That is why I encourage you to carry Brearley lightly. I know we always say to be proud of your time and education, but it’s easy to fall prey to the tempting path of turning freshman year into an extension of what you’ve known here. Push yourself to have uncomfortable conversations with those possessing different points of view and different backgrounds. Connect with those who have traveled a different road. And be open to piercing any bubble that constrains you and have the courage and integrity to stay the course.
Yes, these interactions pose for us uncertain outcomes, which can be intimidating, especially when you are a college freshman who is trying to figure out the lay of the land. American philosopher Martha Nussbaum advises that “To be a good human being is to have a kind of openness to the world, an ability to trust uncertain things beyond your own control.” She asks us to “trust the uncertainty” in our lives and to
embrace the fragility that it exposes us to. This is easier said than done, especially when you are adapting to a new community. But here, again, is where your enduring Brearley friendships provide some ballast. You may be moving on from daily life on campus, but you can draw on your classmates’ belief in you and strength as you take these risks. With their support, you can trust the consequences of embracing the unfamiliar. This is where your greatest growth and learning will happen. Listen, connect, build and make meaningful impact through your openness to the world.
As I was writing this speech, I recalled the letter I submitted 13 years ago as part of my application to be your Head of School. It cited Professor William Cronon’s essay “’Only Connect . . . ‘: The Goals of a Liberal Education.” (There’s that word “connect” again.)
As I look at you now, I see the outcomes he applauds of this increasingly rare course of study. For it is not only what and how you study that matters, but also, as Cronon states, “the human freedom and growth” that your education ignites.
I invite us all to consider which of Cronon’s 10 outcomes describe the Class of 2024.
1. They listen and they hear.
2. They read and they understand.
3. They can talk with anyone.
4. They can write clearly and persuasively and movingly.
5. They can solve a wide variety of puzzles and problems.
6. They respect rigor not so much for its own sake but as a way of seeking truth. (Sounds like a line from Class VII’s play Courage.)
7. They practice humility, tolerance and self-criticism.
8. They understand how to get things done in the world.
9. They nurture and empower the people around them.
10. They follow E. M. Forster’s injunction from Howards End: “Only connect.” Cronon continues: “More than anything else, being an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways. A liberal education is about gaining the power and the wisdom, the generosity and the freedom to connect.”
The mission of Brearley aligns with these outcomes: We challenge girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively, and to act with courage and integrity. We ask you to uplift one another; to grapple with complex concepts; to do original work and to serve the greater good.
You, dear seniors, are connectors and, in my opinion, you are well on your way to “gaining the power and the wisdom, the generosity and the freedom to connect.”
So, as we approach the last minutes of the Last Day, I return to my observation of this class as water. I posited that you seep in to fill gaps, and provide an ease and flow that carries us along while bringing us together.
Of all the iterations of water, the most inspiring, poetry-inducing and transformative to me is the river. As many parents in the audience who have gone through the admission process since I’ve been here know, I talk about children being like rivers. Each one is unique, with its own origin and flow, and should not be redirected in its essential qualities by continued on page 12
The Class of 2018 Fund for Building, Kitchen and Administrative
Staff Support
Martha Arias
Kymari Phillips
Class of 1992 Award
Olivia Ball
Teacher of Drama and
Head of the Drama Department
Serena Marshall Weld 1901 Award
Jody Krause
Registrar and Teacher of Music
Sandra Lea Marshall ’73 Award
Keith Driscoll
Transportation and After School Services
Manager
Margaret Riker Harding
Lower School Fellowship
Jill Minello
Class III Homeroom Teacher
Chairs for Excellence in Teaching
Luigi Cicala
Teacher of Art
Susannah Terrell
Class V Homeroom Teacher
Robert Duke Teacher of Drama
Class of 2024 COLLEGE DESTINATIONS*
KUNZ ART COLLECTION
Class IX
Amalia Cheng
Elizabeth Cicala
Ilene Cohen
Eva Dawson
Julia Dische
Sarah Duncan
Jade Enyenihi
Rachel Faigen
Chloe Goldberg
Elle Hennes
Sophia Holme
Lyria Hunte
Sophia Jafri
Julia Johnson
Charlotte Jones
Kira Joshi
Ava Kruckeberg
Isabelle Lee
Kaia Lefcourt-Taylor
Eleni Lejas
Violet Lynch
Eliza Mack
Camille Mahoney
Olive Moscahlades
Athena Nicholson
Wareesha Nizam
Mina O’Neill
Sabine Park-Jacobs
Anais Pinard
Caroline Powers
Abigail Roman
Renna Rubenstein
Allegra Sandell
Sophia Schultz
Tazzi Siddiq
Serena St. John
Meadowlark Sutter
Paulina Taibi
Fiona Tehan
Lara Veedon
Anabelle Wong
Meg Yan
Sophie Zhu
Class X
Priya Acharya
Josephine Allen
Emi Arabadjiev
Noa “Benny” Berger
Cassandra Analei Calupe
Chloe Casanova
Labiba Chowdhury
Sarah Elliott
Annabel Feigen
Taylor Foster
Eloise Geary
Gemma Hayes
Ann Higgins
Claire Huang
Samara Islam
Janelle Mena
Beatrix Mironoff
Eva Nelson-Torres
Amelia Neuburg
Atalanta Pfeister
Samantha Philip
Alejandra Piedra
Sirrye Pierre
Caroline Racanelli
Jessica Ren
Cristina Rodriguez
Yasmeen Romero
Anna Semel
Jada Shutes
Polina Strela
Sybil “Sadie” Tribe
Lillias Trowbridge
Lucia Xiao
Class XI
Katherine Arnall
Beatrice Glasman Walker
Ameera Karim
Alice Lee
Hadley Meyer
Edith Paterson
Margaret Ratzan
Danna Rios-Sosa
Mira Schubert
Sophia Seckler
Amaani Sehgal
Jaya Shri
Charlize Solares
Annabel Thomas
Grace Zhou
Class XII
Ines Alto
Sophia Andrews
Nicole Chang
Louise Crary
Stephanie Garrett
Ruqayah Mahmud
Eleanor Nangle
Lili Piesanen
Emma Resetarits
Alice Richmond
Amelia Roman
Natacha Ross
Maria “Daphne” Ulke
Katherine Wepsic
Harmony Zhu
Adelphi University (1)
Boston College (1)
Brown University (5)
California Institute of Technology (1)
Cambridge University (1)
Colby College (1)
Colgate University (2)
Columbia University (3)
Cornell University (2)
Dartmouth College (1)
Davidson College (1)
Georgetown University (4)
Hamilton College (2)
Harvard University (6)
Johns Hopkins University (1)
Kenyon College (1)
Lafayette College (1)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1)
McGill University (1)
Northwestern University (1)
Oberlin College (1)
Pomona College (2)
Princeton University (2)
Rice University (1)
Stanford University (1)
Stony Brook University (1)
Swarthmore College (1)
Trinity College (1)
Tufts University (3)
University of California: Los Angeles (1)
University of Chicago (1)
University of North Carolina (1)
University of Pennsylvania (2)
University of St. Andrews (2)
University of Virginia (1)
Wellesley College (2)
Yale University (3)
*as of 6/3/2024
Co-heads of Self-Government
by Cade Keys and Isabella Arabadjiev
One sunny day during Senior Spring, we took our laptops to Carl Schurz Park to finish some work. We were studiously typing away when suddenly the sky darkened around us. Scientists called it an eclipse, but at that moment, we knew something metaphysical was happening. Out of nowhere, we heard a soft voice speaking to both of us!
“Right beneath you, just a meter or two,” the voice said. “I’ve hidden a special surprise. It’s a capsule of sorts, full of fun and good sport.”
While we had never heard this voice before, we immediately knew— “Mehitabel,” the spirit of Brearley students, was speaking to us!
We dug into the earth to discover a time capsule holding objects that, according to Mehitabel, perfectly represent the Upper School experience. In sharing the first couple of objects, we hope to reflect on the experiences that shaped our time in the Upper School, and to celebrate all that we have learned and achieved.
The first item is a telescope. This year, Brearley’s club environment thrived. We had over 25 clubs who met cyclically to lead discussions, craft performances, create art and so much more. Of course, our inventive Brearley students couldn’t stop there. We received an additional eight club proposals! Next year, we are happy to announce three exciting new CIOs joining the club circuit: Sports Medicine, Psychology and Astronomy CIO––hence, the telescope.
What an incredible display of Brearley students’ spirit and drive!
Next, we have a drumstick from the Upper School Talent Show. Our seniors took the spring by storm, stepping beyond the bubble of the Brearley classroom to explore new activities and interests. The presence of our senior class’s newfound passions was undeniable as they made up over half of the performances at the talent show.
We also have a copy of Harry Potter. Much like the celebrated trio of Hermione, Ron and Harry, Brearley Upper School students approach all of their endeavors with courage and integrity. As a community, we have faced many trials and tribulations over the past few years—the pandemic, international turmoil and political polarization, the list could go on. But throughout it all, the student body remained steadfast in their ability to challenge the status quo and push our community toward growth.
It has been an absolute privilege to serve as your USSG Co-heads this past year. We were constantly inspired by the passion, drive and kindness demonstrated by everyone. Our community’s strength comes from each student’s willingness to voice their opinion and share their unique perspective. We are grateful that we got to work with and learn from all of you and are infinitely proud of the community that we have built together.
Above: Cade Keys and Isabella Arabadjiev
Class XII Speakers
by Alice Richmond and Anisha Joshi
When you think of the Class of 2024, what words come to mind? Passive, compliant, or as the juniors like to say, a collection of NPCs. And for those who don’t know what NPC means, it stands for non-player characters (or people who essentially lurk in the background).
Yes, we were the only senior class ever to lose Mountain Day games, and yes, we were consistently pushed out of the elevators by Lower Schoolers, and yes, we stayed silent when underclassmen cut us in the lunch line. But we were more rebellious than you think. Since Lower School, we were a force to be reckoned with when, in Class II, we took inspiration from Banksy and wrote an inappropriate word on a bathroom stall. No one ratted anyone out, truly showing the solidarity within our grade.
Freshman year, we had the infamous history paper uprising.
Signatures were collected on the backs of Brearley planners and many FaceTimes were scheduled to write the five-page, Times New Roman, double-spaced petition to push the deadline of an upcoming history paper. It was granted.
Now, let’s fast-forward to this year. Having inherited the rather bare and filthy senior homeroom, we started working together to borrow items from around the School to make it less cold and
more like a home. We borrowed ladders from the old Lower School library so we could sit together atop the lockers, and a radio from a French classroom so we could have dance parties with our borrowed disco ball.
In short, all of our antics were rooted in camaraderie and an attempt to bring our grade closer together. We built each other up within the Brearley community. Furthermore, our grade’s participation in all things Brearley was astounding. In athletics, no other grade has had as many tri-sport athletes all four years of high school. And our grade’s support and participation in B-Deck is so enthusiastic that you may spot the Class of 2024 not only starring in all main stages, but also acting in Middle School and Class IX productions.
On behalf of all of us, thank you to the faculty, staff and administration who have made Brearley such a warm and welcoming place to spend the last 13 or six or four years. The greetings in the hallways and the conversations waiting for the slow and steady elevators are something that we’ll miss dearly. We are truly blessed to have grown up with this talented and inspirational group of people. To say that our grade will miss this school and the community is an understatement.
Above: Alice Richmond and Anisha Joshi
continued from page 5
“ We strive for meaning in our lives, and along the way, our actions and passions confer a meaningfulness upon us. Happiness is great: Grab it, seek it, revel in it. But don’t confuse it with meaningfulness. ”
parents or teachers. Instead, the adults are present to help remove the debris so that the water can continue its natural flow.
Coincidentally, we not only stand a mere few feet from what I like to refer to as our river to our east, but we are bordered by another, several blocks to our west. So, I ask you as you are about to set sail from this oasis sandwiched between two rivers: What kind of river are you? A rushing, white-watered, white-knuckled twisty turny adventure? A wide waterway where the power is evident only below the surface? Perhaps a meandering stream that seems unhurried to reach its delta?
There is no right choice here: The river you select reflects the river you are.
Each serves an environmental purpose and is molded by its surroundings. No matter its length or volume or current, it finds its way to its destination, flowing over or working around obstacles. The key is that if one tries to control it, eventually it will find a way to break free.
Like the river, life will take its course.
And as it does, I’m confident that knowing who you are, what you have learned and how you make your way in the world, it will be a fulfilling, rewarding and meaningful one.
SINCERE THANKS to Our
Clockwise from top left: Modupe Akinola ’92, Munib Islam and family, Gideon Berger and family, Katrina McCall and Ann Saunders
As Brearley embarks on highly anticipated, innovative projects and continues to develop bold and exciting initiatives, we gratefully acknowledge the members of the Board of Trustees who retired in June 2024 after providing many years of remarkable leadership.
During their years of service, these board members faced numerous opportunities and challenges. This period of time was marked by the completion of two major building projects—the 590 schoolhouse and the Middle and Upper School library—along with ongoing guidance for future renovations in 610; the redrafting of the School Mission Statement and revision of our Strategic Vision; support for our revised health and wellness programming; an enhanced institutional commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism; and the management of the School’s fiscal and physical health through a global pandemic.
We are deeply beholden to the following trustees for their guidance, expertise and unwavering dedication to Brearley.
The Brearley School challenges girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively, and to act with courage and integrity.
The School fosters a love of learning, excellence in the liberal arts, and engagement in a lively and inclusive community. Guided by dedicated faculty and staff, students learn to uplift one another as they grapple with complex ideas and develop a strong sense of self. We value empathy, originality, and depth of thought and character.
The Brearley community cultivates the joy of lasting friendships, the confidence to pursue one’s ambitions, and a commitment to the greater good.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
The Brearley School believes that diversity of thought, practice and identity are essential elements in preparing students for principled engagement in the world. We believe in the importance of establishing and strengthening the structures and practices necessary to achieve equitable representation and participation in our school. We are committed to putting these beliefs into action and are therefore engaged in continuous study, self-reflection and dialogue in order to improve and adapt as we learn.
We embrace the opportunities and challenges of learning and working in a diverse environment characterized by respect and consideration for the needs of others. In partnership with faculty, staff, students, families and alumnae, we are endeavoring to instill and sustain shared values that promote a welcoming, inclusive and affirming community.
BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE, ANTIRACIST AND ANTIBIASED INSTITUTION
The Brearley School condemns racism and any other form of bias and bigotry in the strongest possible terms and is committed to building a community that is both antibiased and antiracist. This work requires active introspection, self-awareness and the determination to make conscious and consistently equitable choices on a daily basis. We expect our faculty, staff, students, parents and trustees to pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions. These actions include participating in antibias/antiracist engagements and identifying and eliminating policies, practices and beliefs that uphold racism, or any form of bias and bigotry, in our community.
Welcome to Our Incoming Trustees
Eloise Austin is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Columbia University Division of Infectious Diseases, where she sees patients and teaches medical students and residents (though she’s currently on sabbatical from clinical work for family time). Her past research has focused on the molecular epidemiology and pathophysiology of staphylococcal infection. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she served on the advisory board that developed a pandemic response and monitoring plan for Barnard College. Eloise earned an AB from Harvard College in history and literature and an MD from Yale University School of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency and infectious diseases fellowship training at Columbia and is the mother of William (11), Class IV student Isabelle (9), and Sally (9 months). In her spare time, she loves exploring NYC, particularly the museums and zoos, with her three kids. She is thrilled to join the Brearley Board of Trustees and to deepen her involvement in this incredible school community.
Amina Elderfield is a managing director at Morgan Stanley, where she leads a portfolio of corporate communications functions, including internal communications, digital strategy for morganstanley.com, social media and the firm’s history and archives. She leverages best practices and analytics to develop innovative strategies for engaging employees, recruits, shareholders and external audiences. Prior to her current role, Amina was the COO for the Global Technology Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships team at JPMorgan Chase. She holds a BA and BSBA in management and technology from Georgetown University as well as a master’s in gastronomy from the University of Adelaide, South Australia. From 2020 to 2023, Amina served as President of the Brearley Alumnae Association, serving on the Board of Trustees during that time as well.
Clockwise from top left: Eloise Austin and family, Amina Elderfield, Lindsay Higgins, Runako Taylor and Tanisha Bellur
Tanisha Bellur is a senior investment professional in the financial services industry with nearly 20 years of experience. She is currently a partner at LuminArx Capital Management and has held senior roles at other investment firms including Blackstone, Blue Harbour Group and Amici Capital. Tanisha graduated from Dartmouth College summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and economics in 2005. She loves to read, write fiction and explore the world with her husband and twin (Brearley) girls.
Lindsay Higgins and her husband, Charlie, are the parents of Kate (IX), Ann (XI) and Martha ’24 and have been part of the Brearley community since 2011. Raised in Newport News and Williamsburg, VA, Lindsay graduated from Hampton Roads Academy and earned a BA in English from UNC Chapel Hill. She moved to NYC in the fall of 1993 without any idea that she would still be here 30+ years later raising a family. After briefly returning to Virginia to earn an MBA from the College of William & Mary, she returned to the city to pursue a career in magazine publishing in the home fashions segment at Reed Business Information and Conde Nast. Lindsay previously served on the board of the New York Common Pantry and has been involved with the Brick Presbyterian Church as an elder and deacon and the Women’s Association as president. At Brearley, Lindsay has worked as a class representative and Middle School Alliance liaison and has volunteered for the Annual Fund and co-chaired the General Store, the 2022 Benefit Underwriting Committee and the 2023 PA Benefit. After serving as VP last year, she is currently the President of the Parents’ Association for 2024–2025. Lindsay enjoys watching Tar Heel sports, playing golf, walking her dog Archie and spending time with her family.
Sue Meng ’99
NEW BOARD PRESIDENT
Sue Meng is managing director and general counsel of Duquesne Family Office, LLC, the investment firm of Stanley Druckenmiller. She is responsible for the firm’s private investments, with a focus on venture-backed and growthstage companies. In addition to her investment role, Sue also serves as general counsel. Previously, Sue was a corporate partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Her practice at Debevoise focused on advising public companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and other significant corporate matters. In addition to her work on the Brearley Board of Trustees, Sue serves as executive vice president and secretary of the board of trustees of Prep for Prep (she herself is a Prep for Prep alumna). Sue received an AB magna cum laude with highest honors in history and literature from Harvard University, a MSt with distinction in English literature and a MPhil with distinction in modern Chinese studies from Oxford University, which she attended as a Rhodes Scholar. She received a JD from Yale Law School. Sue has two daughters at Brearley, Lucy, Class VI and Matilda, Class II.
Runako Taylor, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, joined the classics faculty of The Brearley School in 2019. He has taken on roles of grade head and advisor for the Class of 2021, 2024 and 2027. He’s also coached Middle School VII/VIII swim and outdoor varsity track and advised a few clubs. He serves on several standing committees, including the Tech Steering Committee, and co-led the Board Service Task Force. As a Faculty Staff Welfare
Committee member, he is the new faculty representative to the board and will complete the NYSAIS Emerging Leaders Institute in 2025. Runako is in the fourth and final year of leading a small classics education nonprofit and remains engaged in classics pedagogy at the local and national levels. Runako earned a BA in classics and urban planning and an MA in Latin education from Hunter College.
Alumnae Events
BREARLEY ALUMS ON WORKING IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY PANEL
Presented by the Life After Brearley Committee, Samara Epstein Cohen ’88, Laura Mistretta Kirk ’00 and Jasmine Wu ’15 shared their knowledge and expertise for navigating the world of finance. Moderated by Paula Campbell Roberts ’94, the event attracted alums from all years. The panel was followed by light bites and networking.
WASHINGTON, DC, REGIONAL EVENT
On May 13, Kathe Gates Williamson ’65 opened her home to Washington, DC-based alums for a gathering with Head of School Jane Foley Fried and Director of Advancement Phoebe Geer ’97.
MILLER SOCIETY SENIOR SENDOFF
Members of the Miller Society celebrated Black and Latinx students from the Class of 2024 before Last Day festivities in June.
2024 LOBSTER ROLLS AND ROSÉ
On a warm September evening, young alums from the classes of 2010 to 2021 came together for the annual Lobster Rolls and Rosé event, hosted by the Young Alumnae Committee of the Alumnae Association. Co-chaired by Chelsea Douglas ’13 and Mina Mahmood ’15, the gathering provided an opportunity for alums to reconnect and reminisce while taking in the beautiful sunset along the East River.
Barbara Damrosch Coleman ’60
Ellen Boneparth ’62
Melora Wolff ’79
Clara Bingham ‘81
WHAT’S ON YOUR DESK?
JAMES MCDONALD
HOMEROOM TEACHER, CLASS V
1. Leftovers from today’s breakfast (yogurt, fruit, coffee and water).
2. Binder of daily plans for Thursday, 9/12/24. 3. Various gifts from former students (please note the lollipop with the scorpion—it was a Valentine’s Day gift—and the yummy edible crickets!). 4. Tape, staples, paper clips (never leave home without them!). 5. “Happy Birthday” crown for students on their special day. 6. Paperweight holding down today’s geography work. 7. My monthly calendar. Looks like I’m busy this September!
Brearley in Taiwan
No sooner did Brearley close for the summer than a group of intrepid Mandarin students, accompanied by three faculty members, set out for the island of Taiwan. Their 11-day trip took advantage of the myriad of cultural opportunities afforded by this rich and historic country. Everyone returned home having had an immersive cultural experience—touring the city of Taipei, Taiwan University, the town of Lukang, Taichung City and more—all the while improving their Mandarin and creating newfound friendships. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Lois Kahn Wallace ’57 Writer’s Award
Established in 1999 by the late Lois Kahn Wallace ‘57, this award honors and encourages a Brearley alum at the beginning of her career as a published writer, or the beginning of writing in a new genre. Nominated books must be the first by the author, or the first by the author in its genre. Fiction and nonfiction works are eligible, as are books for young adults. This award is conferred approximately every two years and carries an honorarium. To apply, submit six copies of the work to Lizzy Youngling, Alum Relations Manager, at Brearley, 610 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028.
Julie Satow ’92
Zibby Owens ’94
Sarah Maslin Nir ’01
Alexa Jordan ’13
Frances Riker Davis
AWARD WINNERS
In 1967, the friends and family of Frances Riker Davis, Class of 1915, established an award in her name to honor the tradition of public service that Frances embodied. It is given annually to a Brearley alum for ongoing, dedicated service to the public good. We are delighted to announce the 2024 Frances Riker Davis Award recipients are Kristin Kagetsu ’08 and Jill Klein Grant ’73.
Kristen Kagetsu a social entrepreneur and engineer, recognized the pervasive issue of “period poverty” in India, where she resides, particularly affecting women’s health and economic development. She co-founded Saathi, a United Nations–recognized social enterprise, to provide environmentally sustainable solutions for menstrual hygiene. Kristin’s revolutionary models for manufacturing, business and education have spurred local growth and global influence. Since its founding, Saathi has been recognized internationally by Time magazine, Fast Company, UN Environment Program, UNIDO, Allure, Vogue, MIT Museum and others for its social impact, innovation and sustainability. Kristin herself holds honors as an MIT DLab ScaleUps Fellow, Asia Society Young Leader, TEDx speaker, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Fellow and Cartier Women’s Initiative Finalist, and was recognized by India’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Kristin has spoken at the World Health Assembly, World Economic Forum, United Nations Development Program, New York Times Climate Hub, Commission on the Status of Women, Hello Tomorrow, Nikkei Future of Asia Summit and Asia Society and was named the 2022 Waislitz Global Citizen Award winner.
Over three decades, Jill has collaborated with numerous Tribes to navigate and litigate for the protection of their natural and cultural resources, significantly contributing to the establishment of Tribal environmental protection agencies and drafting environmental laws to ensure their sovereignty and environmental well-being.
One of Jill’s major clients was the Navajo Nation, which comprises some 300,000 people, of whom more than 173,000 live on a reservation the size of West Virginia. There are over 500 uranium mines on the Navajo Reservation, and water pollution and freshwater access are major issues for the Nation. She not only helped the Tribe to create Tribal environmental laws, including a Navajo NEPA, but she also helped establish a Navajo environmental protection agency to administer the laws. She also worked with the Shoshone Bannock Tribes on their environmental waste management program, managing a reservationadjacent Superfund site. In 2013, she founded Jill Grant & Associates, focusing her practice on environmental justice and serving as a testament to her dedication to this crucial cause.
Jill Klein Grant’s professional journey began with foundational work at the US Environmental Protection Agency, where she honed her expertise. Recognizing a critical gap in legal advocacy for Native American Tribes, she moved to Albuquerque, NM, and embarked on a path that would see her become a vanguard for environmental law in Tribal communities.
Jill and Kristin have a shared dedication to advocacy for and the empowerment of marginalized communities, and their novel approaches to social progress and justice make them admirable candidates for the honor. In January 2025, Jill and Kristin will be honored at the annual Middle and Upper School Frances Riker Davis Award Assembly.
Jill Klein Grant ‘73
Kristin Kagetsu ’08
Last year, Brearley’s website underwent a major makeover—with the help of Doublespace, a women-owned branding and marketing business, whose other clients include the New York City Marathon and Queens Public Library. Brearley’s communications team worked closely with Doublespace to contemporize Brearley’s brand story, broadening its admissions appeal to girls across New York City and redesigning the School’s website to better reflect its unique offerings.
The new site features modern design aesthetics and high-quality imagery that captures the essence of the student body. The goal was to optimize the information architecture to serve all visitors effectively, from prospective students and their families to alumnae. The dynamic homepage now showcases the diverse student experiences at Brearley, while refined storytelling throughout the site emphasizes the unique benefits of an all-girls education.
As a result, our refreshed brand and website effectively communicate the School’s unique position in girls’ education. The new hub for prospective Brearley families as well as current students and their parents balances tradition and innovation, appealing to a broader range of prospective students while reinforcing Brearley’s commitment to academic excellence.
Scan the Above QR Code to Check Out Our Brand New Website!
check out: faculty and staff summer reads
Jennifer Bartoli Aruna Chung-A-Hing
Luigi Cicala Ashley Finigan-James
Jeeleong Koh Patricia Kolman
Maggie Maluf Gail Marcus
Lisa Pollack Mary Potter
Jennifer Stewart Haley Swanson
Jane Fried
Jenna Horowitz
Mariel Isaacson
James Karb
Baunnee Martinez
James McDonald
Jill Minello
Joy Piedmont
Ingrid Williams Tom Wright
Lizzy Youngling
Cordelia Zukerman
Brearley’s FREE Tuition Program
In keeping with Brearley’s mission to educate students of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds, we are pleased to announce the launch of a Free Tuition Program starting in 2025 for families earning up to $100,000 a year. This program is designed to increase applications from families who may not otherwise consider an independent school education. Students must go through the regular admission process and parents must complete the same requirements for financial assistance as all other applicant families.
The Free Tuition Program builds upon an already generous need-based financial assistance program in place at Brearley for decades; in the 2023–2024 school year, nearly $8.2 million was awarded in financial aid grants to families representing a wide range of incomes and across all three divisions. While we are pleased with the growth in upper-middle-income families applying for and receiving significant financial aid awards, there hasn’t been a commensurate increase in applications from lower-income students. With this new program, which has proven successful in highly selective boarding schools and in higher education, we hope to make crystal clear the comprehensive financial support Brearley provides to families who may have thought an independent school education was out of reach.
Once a student is accepted and qualifies for the Free Tuition Program, Brearley covers her full tuition, which includes books, lunch, technology, athletics, grade-level trips and extracurricular activities; the school also covers additional expenses generally not covered by tuition, such as our after-school and summer programs, music lessons and, for Upper School students, participation in one of Brearley’s travel study programs.
Brearley recognizes that families from across the economic spectrum are interested in accessing high-quality educational opportunities for their daughters and has long had a policy of meeting the full demonstrated financial need of admitted students. We hope this new program demystifies what can be an intimidating process and encourages applications from all students who would benefit from Brearley’s rigorous liberal arts program.
The message is clear: If you are a girl who loves to learn and wants to be challenged, Brearley is the place for you—regardless of your family’s ability to pay the tuition.
As part of the Free Tuition Program launch, we interviewed Brearley alumnae Amina Elderfield ‘94, Megan Lui ‘10, Modupe Akinola ‘92 and Sue Meng ‘99 about their time on East End Avenue and how it influenced their dynamic careers and worldviews, making them shining examples of how a Brearley education lasts a lifetime. To listen to these inspiring stories and to learn more about the Free Tuition Program, head to our website by scanning the QR code. We thank generations of community members for supporting our School as a beacon of excellence and inclusion across our city.
brearley.org/tuition-free Scan to learn more about our Free Tuition Program.
Our Commitment to the Greater Good
As Brearley students embark on yet another academic year, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose to deeply engage in this lively, inclusive community—both inside and outside of the 610 and 590 schoolhouses.
Our Community Engagement program—historically a cornerstone of the Brearley education, and an essential part of the School’s mission—has been reimagined to both inspire our students and support the local community of the Upper East Side, which has served as Brearley’s home for over 100 years. In fact, the shift from community “service” to community “engagement” reflects this ethos. “The word ‘service’ has so many different meanings,” Coordinator for Community Engagement, Transportation and the Beaver Den Keith Driscoll reflects.
“But the term ‘community engagement’ aligns perfectly with our mission statement to prioritize the greater good.”
Now, our programming brings together all three divisions of the School to uplift one another and our neighbors.
The Lower School Continues Their Local Impact
The Lower School’s commitment to enriching and supporting their community has always been a mainstay of their division. “Children this age love to help,” says Head of the Lower School Maria Zimmermann. “And they love to do so even more when they can do it with peers and family members. How meaningful community engagement is to young children is determined by the conversations and scaffolding they have around their experiences.”
These group efforts will be the focus this February during the newly updated Day of Service, now called Lower School Engaging the Community. Each class will pause its regular programming to partner with local organizations such as Women in Need (WIN), the largest shelter system for women and children in the US. Last year, Class II made spa kits for the mothers and also shopped at Old Navy with a $10 budget provided by the School to pick out summer clothes for kids their age. Other partnerships this year include Stanley Isaacs Neighborhood Center, City Meals on Wheels and New York Common Pantry. Class IV will also maintain their special relationship with the All Souls Friday Soup Kitchen, where they volunteer twice a year. On one of these visits, they will have the opportunity to serve meals directly to guests, deepening their connection to those who need support.
Learning About Advocacy in the Middle School
This year, the Middle School Community Engagement Club, led by two elected members of Class VIII, will continue their long-standing partnerships with organizations such as Little Sisters of The Assumption and the Ronald McDonald House. Students actively contribute in various ways, ranging from collecting Halloween costumes to organizing toy drives for children undergoing cancer treatment. “Community engagement is so important for Middle Schoolers because it helps them learn generosity, humility and selflessness during this period of critical identity development,” says Head of Middle School Student Life Tim Brownell. It’s just as one Middle School student recently put it: “We make the good we do about the impact it has on others, not just on how it makes us feel”. This year, Class VII will also join the Lower School by furthering their partnership with WIN, focusing their involvement on advocacy work. Students will learn about the various ways nonprofits influence legislation and secure funding at local, state and federal levels. This educational approach aims to equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in and directly impact their communities.
Clockwise: Lower School service project for asylum seekers; making sandwiches at a family service event; K visits the Stanley Isaacs House; Class III making spa kits; and Class II NYCP service project
Facing Page: Class IV trip to All Souls; MSSC gift wrapping
Inspiring Peers in the Upper School
In the Upper School, members of the Community Engagement Club continue a long-held tradition of making a difference. The club’s ongoing partnerships include work with the Clarke School, where students participate in events such as the annual Halloween party and reading sessions to support deaf and hard-ofhearing children through interactive experiences. In fact, this tradition starts with Class IX’s orientation to the Upper School, when they participate in various community engagement projects as a class. Next, they visit Camp Mariah, which is a Fresh Air Fund camp. The Fresh Air Fund is an organization that provides outdoor experiences and exposure to careers in the outdoors for children who would not otherwise be afforded the opportunity. At Camp Mariah, Brearley students participate in environmental maintenance, removing non-native plants and cleaning pathways for future campers.
However, the Upper School’s biggest change in their approach to community engagement is the shift in graduation requirements. The Board of Trustees along with Class X Grade Head and classics teacher Runako Taylor, Coordinator for Community Engagement, Transportation and the Beaver Den Keith Driscoll, and a Student Advisory Committee organized by Head of School Jane Foley Fried spent many hours talking through the previous service requirement and how it
could be strengthened in a way that galvanized the student body. Their goal was clear: Brearley students want to both support others and inspire each other to do more, regardless of where students are in their community engagement journeys.
In the past, the service requirement was hours-based and didn’t weigh Brearley-specific projects such as homework help within the Middle School or interning at the Beaver Den as heavily as partnering with outside organizations. “Upper Schoolers’ interests have always been varied,” says Head of Upper School Student Life Betty Noel Pierre. “Some have even created their own organizations. This is one of the reasons why we felt a project-based approach made sense. Students enjoy community engagement and this change helps them to center the work and needs of the organization and not to focus on the need to fulfill an hour requirement.”
Now, both outside and inside Brearley engagement will be weighed equally. Supporting the Brearley community after school hours is just as impactful as helping a neighbor on East End Avenue. Furthermore, the Community Engagement requirement for Class IX will be completed in cohorts within the class, thereby both contributing to our community while also building relationships within the grade. Then, Class X and XI will give a presentation to their peers during advisory outlining and exploring the student’s engagement project, which can focus on internal work at Brearley, a local partner in Brearley’s surrounding neighborhood, or the neighborhood where the student lives.
This presentation model deepens the requirement; it is not only a goal to be achieved, but also an opportunity to learn from and inspire one another. Class XII students will build upon this program even more, by integrating their community engagement work into their Senior Spring presentations.
A Collaborative Effort
Brearley’s community isn’t just made up of its students. It’s also our faculty, staff, alumnae and parents—whose work on the PA to engage families over the weekend continues to inspire us all. Last year’s Holiday Service Palooza in December brought out over 100 families who made 200 sandwiches for the community fridge at the John Holmes Haynes Tower, wrapped and decorated over 100 toys for the Ronald McDonald House, made over 100 cards and ornaments for the Stanley Isaac Senior Center as well as sorted nearly a dozen large bags of coats and clothing for donation to Little Sisters of the Assumption. With the B-Naturals singing in the background, volunteers worked together toward the greater good.
This truly embodies what intentional community engagement is all about—support not just of many neighbors, but also of our Brearley students, their parents, the faculty and staff. We’re all brought together in this common goal to engage with the world around us and share the light we create together. Community engagement ensures our students’ Brearley education lasts a lifetime by enriching everyone around them.
Upper School students at Camp Mariah
THANK YOU
2023–2024 giving review
Dear Alumnae, Parents, Grandparents, Faculty, Staff and Friends,
There is a palpable exuberance that courses through Brearley. Whether a grade is strengthening friendships on a class overnight trip, or students are studying together on a homeroom couch, or a class of Lower Schoolers is making chalk drawings on East End Avenue, the rigor of a Brearley education is paired with a sense of fun and camaraderie. We are confident this encourages a love of learning, which is a central goal of our School mission.
As Head of School and Board President, we also proudly witness the magic of giving back to Brearley: Older students inspire younger ones in our student-run clubs and mentorship programs; our alumnae return to speak at many assemblies, imparting wisdom to students about their potential to make a difference in the world; the Parents’ Association is composed of engaged parents who wholeheartedly dedicate their energy and expertise toward making Brearley a welcoming space for all our families; and every community member who made a charitable gift last year, of any size, had a meaningful impact.
In the 2023–2024 year, our Annual Fund again exceeded our increased goals. In February at the Brearley PA Benefit, we raised a record-breaking amount for faculty and staff support while laughing together at a one-night-only evening of world-class comedy, led by Brearley parents Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond. And, at the close of the academic year, we were thrilled to be able to confidently move forward on the next phase of our 610 projects. In the fall of 2025, we will complete a full renovation of the top two floors, debuting new classrooms, offices and a breathtaking new Studio Arts Center, thanks to the overwhelming groundswell of leadership gifts from generous community members.
To quote our school song, “Tri-UMPH-ant thanks we give,” for all you make possible through your generosity.
By Truth and Toil, Sue & Jane
SUE MENG ‘99 PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
JANE FOLEY FRIED HEAD OF SCHOOL
TOTAL GIFTS TO Brearley
July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024
GIFTS BY CONSTITUENCY
Alumnae
Alumnae Parents
Parents
Parents of Alumnae
$1,480,000
$830,000
$7,150,000
$1,160,000
Grandparents, Friends and Faculty $140,000
TOTAL $10,760,000
GIFTS BY PURPOSE
Annual Fund
Parents’ Association Benefit
Facilities Projects
Endowment and Other
TOTAL
$4,000,000
$570,000
$5,190,000
$1,000,000
$10,760,000
giving at brearley
Brearley is pleased to acknowledge the impact of your generous gifts. We are proud to celebrate the participation of our many donors and are grateful for your contributions at all levels. Please contact Development & Alumnae Relations with questions or preferences for future listings.
If you would like more information about participating in philanthropy at the School, please contact:
Phoebe Geer ‘97 Director of Advancement pgeer@brearley.org (212) 570-8609
Amina Holman Annual Fund Director aholman@brearley.org (212) 570-8610
Patricia (P.J.) Kolman Major Gifts Officer pkolman@brearley.org (212) 570-8626
From 7-Meh to 7-Marvelous
On the seventh floor of the 610 building, tucked away from the joyously raucous hallways and packed elevators, there is a haven for faculty. In recent years, the room was the embodiment of shabby chic, with well-worn, mismatched furniture haphazardly placed in front of a grand (nonworking) fireplace, a federalist-style mirror hanging above it. The only “modern” touch was a giant printer/copier that probably replaced an old mimeograph machine.
Thanks to a generous gift from the Class of 2023, this beloved faculty lounge has gotten a major facelift. Officially titled the Class of 2023 Teacher Appreciation Fund and supported by 100 percent of the class, it raised money to underwrite improvements in the lounge but also to specifically fund Brearley’s generous sabbatical program, a unique benefit that helps the School attract and retain talented faculty members.
New, comfortable furniture now invites our hardworking faculty for a quick respite. Brearley’s outstanding facilities crew repainted the walls and scrubbed the room clean over the summer. There’s even a water spout that dispenses hot, cold or bubbly water along with a built-in coffee machine that will keep the adults in the building caffeinated.
Faculty and staff in the 590 building were not left out of the improvements. The lounge on the third floor of 590 received a similar water spout, so now Lower School teachers can have water just as bubbly as their young students.
We are deeply grateful for the commitment from the Class of 2023 to improving the workplace of our faculty and staff.
Benefit Committee
The 2024 Brearley Parents’ Association
Benefit brought together over 1,100 members of the community for a much-anticipated comedy and music review produced by Brearley parents Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond— Leave It to Beavers II: Into the Beaververse . Song, dance and many, many laughs were enjoyed by all at Jazz at Lincoln Center on February 29, 2024. We are sincerely grateful to the Benefit Committee for bringing this fantastic event to life, which raised $570,000 for Brearley faculty and staff support.
CO-CHAIRS
Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond
Lilian and Scott Kim
Cory and Ed Nangle
UNDERWRITING CO-CHAIRS
Laura and Geoffrey Hsu
Shin Hyung and Yong-Kyoo Rim
COMMITTEE
Dina and Mohit Agarwal
Stacey Averbuch and Anthony Munoz
Tanisha and Ravi Bellur
Michel Botbol and Arthur Krystofiak
Alexandra Bowie and Kyle Judge
Kristen Chae and Boris Arabadjiev
Hannah and Jean-Marie Chanoine
Geoffrey and Tenley Chepiga ‘98
Praneet Gill Clemminck and Nico Clemminck
Robert and Sarah Daly ‘98
Johanna and Juan Diaz
Hadley Foss-Perker and Daghan Perker
Erica Frontiero and David O’Leary
Jenny and Alexander Gillette
Jiajun Gu and Ethan Liang
Anne and Nicholas Hayes
Nikola and David Hennes
Li and Bachir Karam
Annie Kim and Jeffrey Lin
Lizzy Kuhlenkamp and Roy Yan
Alana and Steven Levine
Arianna and Christopher Martell
Swati and Edward Olebe
Ja-Ling Or and Krishna Agrawal
Nancy Park and Matthew Turner
Pauline Klyce Pennoyer and Robert Pennoyer
Ashley and Christopher Roman
Nandita and Vikram Sodhi
Anne Stringfield and Steve Martin
Erica and Jonathan Teller
Jessica and Taylor Thompson
Michelle Tsang and Jeffrey Markowitz
Ellen and William Turchyn
Julie Wang and Richard Do
Hanako Yamaguchi and Athanasios Dousmanis
THANK YOU TO THE 2023–2024 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Modupe Akinola ’92, President
Susan Berresford ’61, Vice President
Munib Islam, Vice President
Sue Meng ’99, Secretary
Gideon Berger, Treasurer
Tara Abrahams
Alexander Brodsky
Ranika Cohen
Daphné Crespo-Helm
Thomas Farrell
Jane Foley Fried
Martha Haakmat
Ning Jin
Megan Lui ’10
Katrina McCall
John McGinn
Margo Nederlander
Terri Seligman ’78
Sidaya Moore Sherwood ’90
Bill Shutzer
Nekesa Straker ‘97
Lita Tandon ’06
Olivia Wassenaar ’97
Lauren Wasson
Alan Yan
Trustees Emeriti
Christine Frankenhoff Alfaro ’91
Georges F. de Ménil
Evelyn Janover Halpert ’52
David T. Hamamoto
Stephanie J. Hull
Ellen Jewett ’77
Alan Jones
John F. Savarese
Priscilla M. Winn Barlow
Faculty Representative
Ann Saunders
Fundraising Volunteers
Nearly 200 parent and alumnae volunteers lend their expertise, time and considerable efforts to advance projects across the School each year. We are proud to recognize them for their unflagging loyalty and commitment to sustaining Brearley’s educational mission and values.
Alumnae
LEADERSHIP GIFTS COMMITTEE
CO-CHAIRS
Emily Marzulli Rummel ‘06
Emily McLellan ‘94
Sage Robinson Mehta ‘03
Leyla Bader ‘88
Rebecca Birch ‘94
Emily Rover Grace ‘95
Hannah McGovern Gross ‘09
Meghan Magyar ‘97
Lita Tandon ‘06
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ‘96
Margaret Warden ‘93
Sarah Washkowitz ‘00
ALUMNAE CLASS AGENTS
CHAIR
Emily Marzulli Rummel ’06
1950
Shelah Scott
1953
Ann Leventhal
1956
Myra Lipman
1958
Wendy Ecker
Sally Stopford
1959
Joan Hartwell
1960
Annie-May de Bresson
Martha Mendelsohn
1961
Louise Bozorth
Ginny Keim
Wendy Kleinbaum
Carey Millard
Marcella Wainwright
1962
Peregrine Whittlesey
1963
Martha Severens
1964
Wilhelmina Martin Eaken
1966
Anne Mittendorf
Laura Page
1968
Elena Droutzkoy Corso 1969
Barbara Hauge 1970
Helen Thurston 1971
Lindsey Folsom
1972
Ann Koppen
Helen Pennoyer 1976
Kate Marshall
Elizabeth Schiff
Meyung Joh-Carnella
Jaqueline Worth
Emily Kirsch
Victoria Rowan
Karen Young
Darleen Jobson-Larkin
Amanda Kahn-Kirby
Jocelyn Strauber 1992
Katie Brennan
Lisa Falkson 1993
Mika Bouvard
Margaret Warden
1994
Caroline Adams Caputo
Jasmine Davila
1995
Emily Rover Grace
1996
Annabel Noth
Elizabeth Oelsner
1997
Annie Bystryn
Phoebe Geer
Olivia Wassenaar
1999
Courtney Andrialis
Rebecca Bloom
Amy Sharpe-Matthew
2000
Julia Foster
Melissa Miness
Dena Twain Sims
2001
Kimberly Stolz
2002
Elizabeth van Buren
2004
Natalie Moutoussis
2005
Hazel Balaban
Vana Koutsomitis
2006
Emily Barnet
Molly Battles
Lizzie Ellis
Emily Marzulli Rummel
Lita Tandon
2007
Thea Hogarth
Margaret White
2008
Nell Ethridge
Stephanie Sharp
2009
Hannah McGovern Gross
2010
Maite Cubilette
2011
Nicole Lam
2012
Rebecca McSween
Annalise Perricone
2013
Colette Macari
2014
Rachel Goldstein
Katharine Jessiman-Ketcham
Victoria Kingham
2015
Suzhen Jiang
Katherine Mann
Amelia Sawyers
Dani Seda
2016
Allegra DeLandri
Lauren Goldstein
Elizabeth Mann
2017
Allegra Colman
2018
Calista Washburn
2019
Mia Colman
Sarah Mann
Lauren Scheller
Parents
PARENT CLASS AGENTS
CO-CHAIRS
Matthew Hemberger
Kerry Kourepenos
Whitney Mogavero
KINDERGARTEN
Kathryn Auw
Kate Lee
Alonia White
CLASS I
Rebecca Bloom ‘99
David Coles
Martha Driscoll
Patricia Raciti
Mike Yin
CLASS II
Shantanu Agrawal
Jessie Ding
Mandë Holford
Elise Kang
Fay Sardjono
CLASS III
Edwine Joseph
Sarah Kessler
Katie Lentz
Brian Shaw
CLASS IV
Emily Rover Grace ‘95
Priya Misra
Natalie Sheppard
Jenny Gillette
CLASS V
Matt Hemberger
Jennifer Rogers
Lauren Wilkins
CLASS VI
Caroline Adams Caputo ‘94
Ashima Garg
Tina Klaric
Whitney Mogavero
Margo Nederlander
CLASS VII
Mika Bouvard ‘93
Tina Bristol
Olivia Wassenaar ‘97
CLASS VIII
G. Scott Clemons
Whitney Mogavero
Lila Preston ‘94
Rachel Russell
CLASS IX
Jennifer Bab
Karen Lefcourt-Taylor
Haynee Johnson
CLASS X
Osmond Allen
Helen Cantwell
Tao Cheng
Richard Do
CLASS XI
Lizzy Kuhlenkamp
Jennifer Rogers
Class XII Gift STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
CO-CHAIRS
Celeste Giannoulias
Mary Lee Murray
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
CO-CHAIRS
Margaret Lee and Michael Dees
Theresa and Mark Lymbery
COMMITTEE
Jennifer Lee and Eric Alto
Meng Yan and Jinpeng Chang
Tracey and Bruce Ewing
Rebecca Carter and Demetris Giannoulias
Claire Gilman ‘89 and Sasha Greenawalt
Jyoti Patil and Anand Joshi
Julia Martin and Lawrence Lui
Rebecca and Stuart Murray
Melissa and David Raso
Class of 2024 Sustainability Fund
The Class of 2024 Sustainability Fund is an endowed fund to provide support for curricular programming related to sustainability, which is a core element of Brearley’s revised Strategic Vision. Funds may be used flexibly each year to support students and faculty in endeavors that further Brearley’s commitment to pursuing best practices for our environment and planet, particularly as they relate to our consumption of resources. Examples may include development of curricular and co-curricular initiatives for sustainability units in K-XII, a stipend for sustainability coordinator(s) and grants for students to participate in opportunities such as research or travel related to sustainability.
Thank you to every community member who helped establish this meaningful fund.
Memorial and Honorary Gifts
Donors to Brearley have a long tradition of thoughtfully recognizing others in the community through their gifts. We thank those who made memorial and honorary gifts this year and are pleased to recognize those they wish to honor through their philanthropy.
Gifts in Memory Of
BILL ABERNETHY
Joyce and Jonathan Abernethy
LAURIE SCHNEIDER ADAMS ’59
John Adams
Giorgio Caputo and Caroline Adams Caputo ‘94
DIANE DUKE AMUSSEN ’47
Gretchen Amussen ‘70
EDITH R. ARNDT
Ann Dana ‘66
Yeou-Cheng Ma ‘69
SONIA GRACE AUSTRIAN ’50
Sarah Austrian ‘77
JANE NORTHROP BANCROFT ’31
Elizabeth Bancroft ‘84
IRENE NELSON BAREAU ’63
Katy Thompson ‘63
BEATRICE S. BARTLETT
Lucy McDiarmid ‘64
ANNE LLOYD BASINGER
Cathleen Cohen Cavell ‘62
MARY CATHERINE BATESON ’57
Carol Pepper-Cooper ‘57
PAULA BIRAN
Alisa Biran Ben-Ami ‘89
Diane Deschamps Hockstader ‘53
Cindy Spiegel ‘78
Anonymous (2)
ELIZABETH MOSS BRADLEY ’69
Catherine Moss Warner ‘68
JOY BROOKS ’81
Laura Boyer ‘81
Catherine Foster-Anderson ‘81
LORRAINE BROWN ’73
Emily Heilbrun ‘73
SARA LINNIE SLOCUM BROWNELL ’63
David Brownell
Antonia Bryan ‘63
MOLLY BRYANT ’59
Catherine Detmar Nicholls ‘59
RUTH CARPENTER
Elizabeth Levy Ward ‘74
CHRISTINE GIUSIO CHADWICK ’88
Melinda Carley ‘90
Jeffrey and Alice Keimweiss ‘88
LINDA CHILDS-VAN WIJK ’59
Anonymous
BIRGITTA CLASSON
Connie and Rolf Classon
RUBEN COHEN
Ranika Cohen
EMILY TAYLOR CRIPPS ’50
Pamela Taylor Morton ‘48
KITTY CUNNINGHAM
Sasha Cunningham Anawalt ‘74
Alison Anthoine ‘70
Katherine Cunningham
Victoria Davidson ‘84
Rebecca Dolinsky ‘80
Evelyn Janover Halpert ‘52
Sarah Hofstadter ‘70
Margaret Hivnor LaBarbera ‘71
Gail Marcus
Victoria Thompson Murphy ‘56
Allison Patrick ‘02
Hilarie Sheets ‘82
Cordelia Hodges Tilghman ‘82
Kristina Schillinger Wyatt ‘84
GABRIEL DAVIS
Cherise Davis Fisher ‘90
MARY DE KAY
Rose Schwartz ‘73
SAMANTHA DEL CAMPO ’88
Jeffrey and Alice Keimweiss ‘88
BYRON AND ELIZABETH RODGERS DOBELL
Elizabeth Dobell ‘79
MARGOT TWEEDY EGAN ’73
Emily Heilbrun ‘73
Elisabeth McMorris ‘05
Howard McMorris and Clare Tweedy McMorris ‘63
JACK AND HELEN EISNER
Alexandra Gibson ‘04
GLADYS ELY
Ruth Gais ‘64
AMY MAZZOLA FLYNN ’81
Jennifer Bicks ‘81
Laura Boyer ‘81
Faith and Peter Coolidge
David Venderbush and Joanna Delson ‘81
Christina Flynn ‘19
Terence Flynn
Catherine Foster-Anderson ‘81
MOLLY RULON-MILLER FOWLER ’53
Kate Barrett ‘53
Jodie and Douglas Fowler
Anita Mancoll
MARGARET PARSONS FROST ’56
Susan Lasersohn Frost ‘56
GIGI FUCHS ’82
Thomas and Deborah Davis Ascheim ‘82
Alexandra Fuchs ‘87
Danielle Lewis ‘87
SIBYL GOLDEN ’71
Priscilla Ryan ‘71
SUSAN SPERLING GORDON ’60
Sallie Gordon Sperling ‘62
JOYA WELD GRANBERY ’35
Barbara Granbery Dehlinger ‘60
ELIZABETH GREENMAN ’87
Victoria Rowan ‘87
RACHEL HALL ’87
Victoria Rowan ‘87
MARY HAMBLETON ’71
Priscilla Ryan ‘71
DONNA LANDAU HARDIMAN ’77
Elizabeth and James Auran
MARGARET RIKER HARDING
Linda Sonnenschein Kaufman ‘52
Elizabeth Tomlinson ‘87
MARJORIE BYWATER HARGRAVE ’28
Audrey Adams Massa ‘63
IRENE DUCKWORTH HECHT ’51
Heather Mulkerns ‘92
RUTH KISSIN HELMAN ’69
Rebecca Blank ‘94
Sabrina Geer ‘99
Charlotte and Barry Kingham
Victoria Kingham ‘14
Rebecca McSween ‘12
Penelope Sinanoglou ‘96
SUSAN SANDERS HENCK ’70
Jan Liss ‘70
Elaine Garofallou Rollins ‘70
ANNE CHICKERING HILL ’53
Sheila Muldowny Stone ‘53
EDWARD M.W. HINES
Caroline Hines
Gregory and Laura Hines Laufer ‘97
WINIFRED STEARNS HUSSEY ’78
Krysia Bereday Burnham ‘78
CAROLINE JONES ’90
Melinda Carley ‘90
JEAN HAAS JONES ’55
Walter Jones
FLORENCE MACK KELLY ’53
Alice Mack Sawyer ‘64
JEAN GOLDSCHMIDT KEMPTON ’63
Olwyn Maw Morinski ‘63
Katy Thompson ‘63
DONALD KLEIN
Sarah Gould Kagan ‘77
RACHEL KOCH SWICA
Yael Swica and Laurence Sprung
BONA KOSTKA
Ruth Gais ‘64
Jessica Levenstein ‘87
Lynn Zorn ‘73
SOPHIE DEPREZ KRY ’84
Jocelyn and Andre Deprez
Sarah Piper
PATRICIA AND GEORGE LABALME
Linda Sonnenschein Kaufman ‘52
BARBARA RYAN LACH ’59
Hope Sinauer Babcock ‘59
HELEN BEAMAN LAKIN ’95
Helen Hoffman Davies ‘62
Valerie Hoffman Takai ‘58
JUDITH LEONARD
Judith and Edwin Deane Leonard
Rebecca Q. Leonard McCauley ‘85
ELIZABETH LOEB ’55
John Loeb
MARION SMITH LOWNDES ’23
Susan Lowndes Blagden ‘58
L. EDWARD LUCAIRE, SR.
Lewise Lucaire
CATHERINE MACRAE ’96
Caroline Hines
Ann MacRae ‘00
Linda and Scott Rafferty
Timothy and Dena Twain Sims ‘00
Leigh Stearns ‘95
Sharon Stearns ‘63
SANDRA LEA MARSHALL ’73
Rose Schwartz ‘73
AMY MILLER ’70
Alison Anthoine ‘70
Simon Arnstein
Jamie Bernstein ‘70
Felicity Sargent Blundon ‘70
Michele Bogart ‘70
Ashley Cosslett ‘70
Juanita Dugdale ‘70
Rita Szanto Englund ‘70
Abigail Free ‘70
Sophie Glazer ‘70
Tonne Goodman ‘70
Lucy Mayer Harrop ‘70
Sarah Hofstadter ‘70
Barbara Landreth ‘70
Gabriel Miller
Amy Moss ‘70
Frederick Peters
Beverly Richardson ‘70
Katharine Ross ‘70
Davene Sheridan Brown
Ann Siegel ‘70
Megan Tallmer ‘70
Alice Thurston ‘75
Helen Thurston ‘70
MEREDITH NIEVES MILLINGTON ’82
Thomas and Deborah Davis Ascheim ‘82
JULIA MINARD ’03
Alexandra Bowie and Daniel Richman
SARAH MOLLOY ’87
Victoria Rowan ‘87
Lisanne Skyler ‘87
JEAN CONNELLY MOONEY ’53
Sheila Muldowny Stone ‘53
JANET BACKUS MORGAN ’54
Ellen Wood Barth ‘54
KATHLEEN MORIARTY ’71
Elizabeth Barrett Matson ‘71
LAURA MATLAW MURPHY ’70
Jan Liss ‘70
DORA HAYWARD NOBLE
Ardena Noble Landsman ‘73
SI-ZHI PAN
Allison Pan ‘02
I.M. AND EILEEN PEI
Anna Pei ‘16
KATHRYN SCHAEFLER PERSHAN ’49
Pamela Pershan Hochman ‘82
Jonathan Cohen and Julia Pershan ‘88
Richard Pershan
MARY STALTER RADSCH ’63
Martha Ryan Severens ‘63
KENDALL RICE
Dionne Rice
ANDREA ROSENTHAL ’84
Elizabeth Bancroft ‘84
Victoria Davidson ‘84
EDWARD ROVER
Elizabeth Rover Bailey ‘88
Charles Grace and Emily Rover Grace ‘95
Maureen Rover
SAMUEL RUSH
Catharine Dawson Rush ‘52
TIESHA SARGEANT ’98
Jean-Claude Michel and Ibijoke Akinola-Michel ‘99
Eliza Schnitzer Gairard ‘98
Catherine Gowl ‘98
Kimberly Kleinbaum Tsesarsky ‘98
Amanda Meigher ‘98
ANN TWEEDY SAVAGE ’65
Howard McMorris and Clare Tweedy McMorris ‘63
Elisabeth McMorris ‘05
Michael Savage
JULIE SCHIEFFELIN ’61
Karen Wetter Nathan ‘75
ANNE SHEFFIELD ’48
Linda Gross Kahn ‘85
HANNAH SHI
Yan Sun and Rong Shi
CYNTHIA FUGUET SHURTLEFF ’48
David Shurtleff
ALEXANDRA SICHEL ’81
Laura Boyer ‘81
Catherine Foster-Anderson ‘81
FRANCESKA BLAKE SMITH ’63
Deborah Bancroft ‘63
Sylvia Kalitinsky Brewda ‘63
Elisa Kessler Caporale ‘63
Martha Ryan Severens ‘63
BARBARA HADLEY STANTON ’53
Laura Stanton ‘77
RICHARD B. STEARNS JR.
Lee Grimes Evans ‘63
Mallory Rome ‘92
Sharon Gates Stearns ‘63
OTTO STEIN
Suzanne Stein
RACHEL SWETT ’07
Elizabeth and James Auran
Shelly Guyer ‘78
JILL ANSON SZARKOWSKI ’50
Natasha Szarkowski Brown ‘94
JULIA AND RANDOLPH THEOBALDS
Joyce and Jonathan Abernethy
BEATRICE THOMPSON
Rebecca Dolinsky ‘80
GEORGE TOKIEDA
Thomas and Deborah Davis Ascheim ‘82
Margaret Caldwell-Ott
Elizabeth Marshall Davis ‘79
Elizabeth Tomlinson ‘87
DELIGHT TOLLES
Ruth Gais ‘64
Carla Valentine Pryne ‘72
Ciannait Sweeney Tait ‘62
MANUEL TOMITA
Karen Tomita and Sean Megan
GORDON B. AND MARY J. TWEEDY
Howard McMorris and Clare Tweedy McMorris ‘63
Elisabeth McMorris ‘05
Michael Savage
CONSTANCE UMBERGER
Catherine Foster-Anderson ‘81
MONIQUE LEVY-SAVOYE VALERY ’46
Rebecca Dolinsky ‘80
NICOLLE WARD ’84
Sarah Gould Kagan ‘77
GRACE NICKLAS WARNE
Susanna Gellert ‘94
HELEN TWOMBLY WATKINS ’56
Eric Watkins
LOUIS WHITE
Catherine Kohler Riessman ‘56
Claire Albrecht-Carrie Tomlinson ‘58
SUZANNAH RYAN WILKIE ’53
Serena Wilkie Gifford ‘82
PENELOPE WINDUST ’63
Jane Handwerger Walker ‘63
GRETCHEN WOLFE
Janice Condit and Edward Benett
SAMANTHA WRIGHT ’03
Rebecca Levi ‘03
FRANCES HYDE ZABRISKIE ’14
Christiane Citron ‘67
Gifts in Honor Of
CAMILLE ADAMS
Anonymous
MODUPE AKINOLA ‘92
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
JULIÁN ALTSCHUL
Tao Cheng and Yiben Lin
DAPHNE ANTHOS ’06
Janet and Pano Anthos
MARY MOSS APPLETON ’65
Catherine Moss Warner ‘68
LESLIE ARMSTRONG ’58
Vanessa Cortesi ‘86
INGRID LORCH BACCI ’63
Lee Grimes Evans ‘63
ANNE BALDWIN ’09
Emily Baldwin ‘12
MARIANNE BENJAMIN
Marisa Debowsky ‘01
JULIA BERNSTEIN ’12
Jo Ellen Finkel and Donald Bernstein
DEBORAH BLANCHARD ’90
Lisa Schwartz and Benjamin Zeskind
SIMONE BLASER ’04
Ronna and Martin Blaser
TIM BROWNELL
Bona Han and EJ Hong
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
Anonymous (2)
SOPHIE PALITZ BUINEWICZ ’09
Miriam London
MARGARET CALDWELL-OTT
Juliet Caldwell ‘90
SARAI CHICO
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
ARUNA CHUNG-A-HING
Anonymous (2)
LUIGI CICALA
Anonymous
CLASS OF 1958
Phyllis Friedman Mack ‘58
CLASS OF 1997
Lydia Pace ‘97
DORIS COLEMAN
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
MARIA DUCKETT
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
ROBERT DUKE
Melinda Hamilton ‘89
CECILE MILLER EISTRUP ’58
Andréa Matos ‘88
MIKAYLA ERVIN ’21
Keisha Morris
KHYASIA FOULKS-CRUZ
Margaret Grise and Adam Silver
JANE FOLEY FRIED
Elspeth Woodcock Macdonald ‘57
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander Anonymous (2)
PHOEBE GEER ’97
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
Anonymous
ANNABEL GORDON
Linda and William Musser
SARAH GREENSPON ’17
Jennifer Gundlach and Michael Greenspon
Mary Jane Peightal Haight ’49
Nina Haight Frost ‘75
STOCKTON HALL ’87
Katherine Knight Hall
EVELYN JANOVER HALPERT ’52
Elizabeth and Anthony Enders
Susanne and Donald McQuade
Cynthia Saltzman ‘67
ELIANORA PALITZ HERBSTMAN ’06
Miriam London
AMINA HOLMAN
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
EMILY HYLE ’95
Kathryn Batchelder Cashman
PATRICIA AND LLOYD KAUFMAN
Lisbeth Kaufman ‘04
ELEANOR KEOHANE ’23
Isabella Levenson
FRANCES KEOHANE ’20
Isabella Levenson
GEORGIA LEVENSON KEOHANE ’90
Isabella Levenson
JESSICA ERNST KERNS ’00
Margot and John Ernst
DARYL KLEIMAN ’04
Laurin and Norman Kleiman
SHEILA KRAMER
Kremena Simitchieva and Bruce Pinelli
Anonymous
NOEL LAMBERTY
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
SARAH LANNOM
Lisa Baroni and James McGuire
Anonymous
ELIZABETH LAWRENCE
Juliet Caldwell ‘90
LOWER SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF
Helen Bearn Pennoyer ‘72
Anonymous
LOWER SCHOOL LIBRARY
Cordelia Hodges Tilghman ‘82
WINIFRED MABLEY
Joan Kaplan
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
AYSHA MAISONET
Katarzyna Dratewska and Pablo Rios
GAIL MARCUS
Lisa Baroni and James McGuire
Anonymous (2)
ARI MEDINA
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
THE MILLER SOCIETY
Michelle Webb ‘85
JILLIAN MINELLO
Lisa Schwartz and Benjamin Zeskind
CHARLOTTE MORSE ’05
Stacey and Robert Morse
ELLIOT MORSE ’09
Stacey and Robert Morse
MARGARET MORSE ’13
Stacey and Robert Morse
AMY MOSS ’70
Catherine Moss Warner ‘68
BARBARA MOSS ’81
Catherine Moss Warner ‘68
JIM MULKIN
Thomas and Deborah Davis Ascheim ‘82
Kate Glasner and Daniel Egan
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
Anonymous
KAREN NEDBAL
Margaret Caldwell-Ott
Linda and Alan Kahn
GABRIELLE LONDON PALITZ ’76
Miriam London
MARINA SHAW PETRO ’02
Katerina and Robert Shaw
MARY POTTER
Eloise Grace ‘32
EMMA RAMADAN
Anonymous
HANNAH RAU
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
CHARLOTTE RELYEA ’92
Susan and George Relyea
MARINA RODRIGUEZ ’23
Shawn Fields-Rodriguez and Jorge Rodriguez
SUSAN SAGOR
Victoria Tomlinson ‘89
EVELYN SEGAL
Elizabeth Tunick Cedar ‘01
MARTHA RYAN SEVERENS ’63
Lee Grimes Evans ‘63
ARIEL SANABRIA
Margaret Grise and Adam Silver
ARTEMIS SHAW ’07
Katerina and Robert Shaw
LORRE SNYDER
Tara Neelakantappa Safronoff
ABIGAIL SOLOMON ’88
Linda Schapiro
JENNIFER SOLOMON ’01
Robert Solomon
ANNIE SPADER BYERLY
Lesley and Greggory Adamo
Kathryn Auw and Varchas Prasad
Jessica and James Benjamin
Grace Benjamin Walters ‘12
Anna and James McKelvey
Granthia Preston
Anonymous
RACHEL SPRADLEY
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
KASANDRA STARK
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
GRAYSON STARKS
Melanie Ellis Starks ‘97
SHARON GATES STEARNS ’63
Lee Grimes Evans ‘63
FRANCES C. TALIAFERRO
Alison Anthoine ‘70
Elizabeth and Anthony Enders
Elizabeth Fishel ‘68
Lucy McDiarmid ‘64
Katrin and Samuel Peck
Deborah Roberts ‘67
Amanda Stiff ‘75
YUE TANG
Flavia Golden ‘83
Alex Lee
Anonymous (2)
RUNAKO TAYLOR
Lisa Baroni and James McGuire
FRANCES THORNDIKE
Guillaume and Mika Tsugiyama Bouvard ‘93
Hannah McGovern Gross ‘09
RANDI TIMAN
PJ and Jayne Kim
BEA TOMPKINS
Juliet Caldwell ‘90
JEAN LOEB TROUBH ’56
Margery Baker Riker ‘66
SARAH TILGHMAN WARDWELL ’54
Susan Popkin Wadsworth ‘54
ANNE WHIDDEN
Lucy Whidden Hampton ‘03
ELLA WICKHAM ’20
Landon Wickham and Leslie Stroth
THOMAS WRIGHT
Lisa Baroni and James McGuire
MARIA-ANNA ZIMMERMANN
Bona Han and EJ Hong
Vana Koutsomitis ‘05
Margo and Jimmy Nederlander
Samuel Brearley Society
Legacy gifts to the Brearley School leave a lasting impact and are an opportunity to magnify a lifetime of generosity. The Samuel Brearley Society recognizes supporters of Brearley who have included the School in their estate plans. Thank you for your dedication to Brearley and its future.
Reed Abelson and Jaqueline Worth ’82
Helen Mills Allen ’49*
Catherine Huber Anderson ’40*
Dorothy and Albert Appleton
Peter Aron*
Nina Kivelson Auerbach ’52*
Hope Sinauer Babcock ’59
Leyla Morrissey Bader ’88
Eleanora Gordon Baird ’42*
Emily Lind Baker ‘61
Ann Woolley Banks ’49
Irene Nelson Bareau ’63*
Mary Ellin Berlin Barrett ’44*
Beatrice S. Bartlett*
Hugo* and Louise Beit
Robert Belknap*
George Bilon
Lois Baldwin Bishop ’52*
Laura Maioglio Blobel ’50
Linda Boldt ’64*
Katherine Stern Brennan ’70
Amanda Brown ’74
Gillette Brown*
Sally Brown Brown ’57
Merrill Buice ’84
Edith Wise Burpee ’44
Cassandra Cavanaugh and Natan Shklyar
Joan Ridder Challinor ’45*
Elizabeth Conklin Collins ’54*
Henry S.F. Cooper*
Tandy Cronyn ’63
Anne Chambers Crudge ’53*
Marguerite Cullman ’54
George* and Norma Dallal and Melissa Dallal ’89
Nina Montgomery Dana ’41*
Keith David
Maude Davis*
Diane de Coppet ’62
Laura de Coppet ’64
Lois and Georges de Ménil
Diana de Vegh ’55
Barbara Granbery Dehlinger ‘60
Gioia del Campo*
Nancy and Arnold Diethelm*
Nancy Nauts Dobbs ’47*
Mary Ann Donovan ’44*
Wilhelmina Martin Eaken ’64
Malcom Edgerton Jr. and Jane Edgerton ‘43*
Cecile Miller Eistrup ’58
Margaret Condon Elting ’45
Eileen Epperson ’67
Sylvia Montgomery Erhart ’45*
Garrick Leonard and Leslie Feder ’77
Flora Feigenspan ’52*
Joan Ferrante ’54
Gwendolyn Steele Fortson Waring ’73
Beatrice Mathews Francais ’55
Barbara Schwarz French ’30*
Jane Fulton*
Jenny Gabler ’81
Philomene Gates*
Linda Genereux and Timur Galen
Gail Gillam Gerhart ‘61*
Linda B. Gillies
Jane Gladstone ’86
Toni Krissel Goodale ’59
Joan Bamberger Goodheart ‘52
Margot Brady Gordon ’52
Robin Hinsdale Gould ’47*
Sarah Sillcocks Graham ’31*
Penelope Hunter Grant ’33*
Elizabeth Greenman ’87*
Ann Richards Gridley ’58
Rosemary Blackmon Grove ’69
Mary Rodgers Guettel ’48*
Mary Jane Peightal Haight ’49
Elinor Lamont Hallowell ’53*
Evelyn Janover Halpert ’52
Dorrance Hill Hamilton ’46*
Mary Jopling Harper ’33*
Jane Andrews Harris ’50
Barbara Hauge ’69
Elizabeth Haynes ’40*
Perrin Heard
Stephen Heard
Ruth Kissin Helman ’69*
Natascha Hildebrandt ’85
Caroline Hines
Dorothy Schwarz Hines ’44*
Susan Carr Hirschman ’49
Margaret Hitchcock ‘50*
Kathrine Hamilton Hobbs ’42*
Diane Deschamps Hockstader ’53
Winifred Stearns Hussey ‘78*
Barbara Ridder Irwin ’40*
Susan Miller Jackson ’36*
Elizabeth Shackford Jordan ’39*
Emma Kalonzo ’97
Amanda Kane*
Barbara Adler Katzander ’46*
Hollis Kegg ’75
Elizabeth Harpel Kehler ’79
Marjorie Kellogg ’63
Louisa Livingston Kennedy ’52*
Romia Bull Kimball ’53*
Alice MacRae Kissel ’29*
George Labalme Jr. and Patricia H. Labalme ’44*
Ann Godoff and Annik La Farge ’78
Paul and Mary Lee Lambert ‘53
Louisa Lawrence ’55
Elizabeth Maxwell Lee ’61
Alan* and Gail Levenstein
Linda Markwett Liebes ’56
Nancy Moffat Lifland ’45*
Susan Worcester Light ’46*
Elizabeth Loeb ’55*
John Loeb
Ian and Monique Sullivan Lowitt ’79
Tamera Stanton Luzzatto ’75
Lelia Wardwell Mander ’81
Claire and Christopher Mann
Katharine Marshall ’76
Lucy Welch Mazzeo ’31*
Lucy McDiarmid ’64
Nancy McDonald ’49*
Pamela McGovern and Richard Gross
Julia Farrelly McVaugh ‘53
Ginny Meding ’38*
Marjorie Meacham Meek ’44*
David Milberg*
Carey French Millard ’61
Gwenn Miller ’88
Nancy Goldsmith Mistretta ’72
Janet Backus Morgan ’54*
Iris Frampton Muggenthaler ’47*
Frances Dell Murray ‘38*
Ilse Nelson*
Christine Vanderwarker Ness ’59*
Mary Ann Nordeman ’53*
Carol Rothschild Noyes ’35*
Barbara Baker O’Brien ’42*
Anne Pell Osborn ‘36*
Elinor Scott Oswald ’38*
Juliet Boyd Patterson ’48*
Clarissa Wardwell Pell ’26*
Joan McGeoch Perry ’48*
Kathryn Schaefler Pershan ’49*
Priscilla Kennaday Pick ’29*
Angela Hill Plowden-Wardlaw ’62
Ann Hochschild Poole ’43*
Nansi Pugh*
Julie Zwaska Quinn ’92
Mary Stalter Radsch ‘63*
Mary Louise Backus Rankin ‘52*
Signa Lynch Read ’48*
Esther Ridder ’43*
Margery Baker Riker ’66
Aileen Robbins ’65*
Felicia Warburg Rogan ’45
Jill Renaud Roosevelt ’79
Patricia Ross ’63
Mary Anne Goldsmith Schwalbe ’51*
Andrea Selch ’82
Elizabeth Munves Sherman ’73
Cynthia Fuguet Shurtleff ’48*
Cornelia and Jonathan* Small
Dorothea Wilder Smith ’33*
Frederick Smith*
Susan Bassett Southall ’58*
Helen Grace Spencer ’53*
Emily Spitzer ’72
Kathleen Steed
Anne Rosen Stern ’34*
Diane Stevens ’58
Ellen Weiler Stiefler ’76
Amanda Stiff ’75
Linda Stillman ’66
Andrea Gray Stillman ’62
Sheila Muldowny Stone ’53
Betsy Sylvester*
Ruth Sylvester ’70*
Frances C. Taliaferro
Jean Ballard Terepka ’70
Rebecca Thomson ’71
Harriet Backus Todd ’60*
Juli Shea Towell ’51
Joan Foster Twigg ’67*
Sidney Howard Urquhart ’50*
Lisa and Andre-Francois* Villeneuve
Lois Kahn Wallace ’57*
Sally Tilghman Wardwell ’54
Sarah Hyman Washkowitz ‘00
Faye Wattleton
Priscilla M. Winn Barlow
Frederick Wonham*
Karen Young ’88
Ying Zhu
Isabel Wademan Zisk ’88
Susan Forsyth*
Anonymous (25)
Estate Gifts
Nina Kivelson Auerbach ’52*
Winifred Stearns Hussey ‘78*
Margaret Hitchcock ‘50*
Anonymous *
Art by Grace Zhou,
Thank You!
annual fund 2024–2025 school year
The relationships our students make during their academic journeys are essential and last a lifetime. These bonds between friends, classmates and teachers are a source of ongoing joy, provide additional personal support and significantly impact our students beyond their Brearley years. Thank you for sustaining your connection with Brearley through the Annual Fund.
Brearley Fund
Unrestricted
Unrestricted gifts allow the School to maintain and enhance the caliber of the academic program by supporting the general operating budget, faculty and staff salaries and benefits, library books, healthy lunches, athletic equipment, art supplies and all aspects of life at Brearley. Together, we are stewards for Brearley’s future.
u nited Fund
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Antibias/Antiracism
Initiatives
By creating programming that engages our community to make equitable and conscious choices, we pursue meaningful change through deliberate and measurable actions so everyone feels welcomed, respected, supported and valued to fully participate. The United Fund powers Brearley’s commitment to create an antibiased and antiracist institution. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive school where all Brearley students feel a sense of belonging.
Opening dOO rs Fund Scholarships
In keeping with Brearley’s mission to educate girls of diverse and adventurous intellect, your gifts make possible a Brearley education for families of low, middle and upper-middle incomes. As part of the opportunity created by the Opening Doors Fund, our Free Tuition Program for families earning less than $100K a year and without significant assets covers all expenses associated with a full Brearley educational experience including tuition, extracurricular activities, technology and more. Your generous support allows Brearley to enroll an economically diverse student body, Classes K–XII.
a dventur O us i ntellect Fund Faculty Support
Providing for the dedicated architects of the School’s educational program, your gifts benefit curricular development, departmental review, professional growth and faculty salaries. To advance the curriculum and enhance culturally competent pedagogy, we are furthering learning opportunities for our faculty by providing them with the resources and skills needed to grow as scholars, artists and educators. The School’s dedicated faculty cultivates the passionate exchange of ideas that is a hallmark of a Brearley classroom.
ANNUAL FUND
online giving: www.brearley.org/make-a-gift
Venmo: Brearley_af
via mail: The Brearley School 610 East 83rd Street New York, NY 10028
Attention: Development & Alumnae Relations
Contact:
Amina Holman, Annual Fund Director aholman@brearley.org (212) 570-8610
BIRTHS
1997 To ELIZABETH CAHILL HAMID and Reza Hamid, a son, Hugo Mahmood Hamid1
1998 To KIMBERLY KLEINBAUM TSESARSKY, a daughter, Madeline Alexandra Nicolette Tsesarsky2
2000 To MELISSA MINESS and Jordan Webb, a son, Oliver William Webb
2003 To ALICE APPLETON, a daughter, Clara Bardolph Appleton3
2006 To MIA MEEKER CAMPBELL and Fergus Campbell, a daughter, Maude Russell Campbell4
2007 To LISA GOTO and Stuart Jaffe, a son, Kai Ataru Jaffe5
2007 To THEA HOGARTH and Zachary P. Schwartz, a daughter, Eleni Mara Alexandra Schwartz6
2007 To BECKY SUSSMAN and Matt Rosenthal, a daughter, Zoë Ruth Rosenthal
2010 To EMILY AURAN CLARKE and Mike Clarke, a son, Jack Gardiner Clarke7
2011 To SHANA BURSTEIN and Harris Osserman, a son, Sidney Miles Osserman8
Beatrice S. Bartlett
1928-2024
by Evelyn J. Halpert ’52 and Lucy McDiarmid ‘64
Beatrice S. (Betsy) Bartlett, the splendid Brearley history teacher who went on to become a distinguished professor of Chinese history at Yale, died on April 1, 2024, at the age of 95.
A Smith College graduate who came from a family of notable scholars and college professors, Betsy began her teaching career at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore before coming to Brearley in 1953. At Brearley, she taught history from 1953 to 1966 and served as Chair of the History Department from 1955 to 1966 before stepping down to embark on a doctoral program in Chinese history at Yale. She received her PhD in 1980, with a dissertation based on her pioneer research in the Qing Dynasty archives in Taiwan and Beijing, and after a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, returned to Yale in 1983 as an assistant professor of Chinese history, subsequently becoming the first woman at Yale who rose through the ranks to a full professorship.
in the state’s schools and explained to her tenth grade history class why she refused to teach it: The title on the cover said New York State: It’s History and Constitution, and that erroneous apostrophe was a deal-breaker for Miss Bartlett. We would not be reading or tested on that book.
“With a teacher like that, we were in good hands—excellent hands. ‘I’m not teaching you American history,’ she told the class. ‘I’m teaching you to think, and I’m doing that through American history.’ In my own 54 years of teaching, I have, with mixed success, tried to teach my students ‘how to think’ in the same way that Miss Bartlett taught us. It has remained all my life the way I write my own books.
In her Brearley years, Betsy assembled and led a legendary team of history teachers, including several who began with no previous teaching experience but went on, thanks in no small part to Betsy’s mentoring, to have outstanding teaching careers of their own. But beyond being an exemplary colleague and generous mentor, she was first and foremost an inspiring teacher. Lucy McDiarmid ’64 (a professor of English and Irish literature herself) recalls the exhilarating quality and enduring impact of Betsy’s teaching:
“One day in 1962, Betsy Bartlett (‘Miss Bartlett’ to us) held up the little yellow and blue book of New York history required for students
“In 1963, in the current events class on India, Miss Bartlett assigned us to write on the topic ‘Should India develop light industry or heavy industry?’ Seven years later, I met the head of the World Bank in India; when I mentioned that assignment, he said, ‘That’s what the World Bank is considering now.’ Miss Bartlett was not only ahead of her time; she could have run the World Bank.
“When I was studying for my PhD in English literature and Betsy was working on her PhD in Chinese history in 1970, we met to catch up, and over lunch she asked me, ‘What is the value of studying English literature?’ Her tone mixed pedagogic curiosity about how I would manage an answer and faith in the superiority of history over literature as a field of study. I can’t remember how I answered, but that’s the question I’ve asked myself every day of my life since then. I miss her and wish I could give her an answer now.”
2008 HALLEH BALCH to Andreas Bastian
2012 SONALI SALGADO to Ross Hochwert
1946 Joan Paton Tilney
1947 Harriet Heming Simpson
1950 Virginia Fortune Ryan
1950 Peggy Mellon Hitchcock
1951 Cynthia Dunn Fleming
1952 Carol Aschenbach Lee
1952 Elinor Dean Wilder
Tish Webster photographed people and understood their gravitas. Long an activist for social justice, she served as the staff photographer of the Columbia Tenants Union. She witnessed the open doors programs for the mentally ill, photographing both the psychiatrist who started the release programs and those who wandered the streets afterwards. Her work was shown at the 2014 BEAT Festival as visual media accompaniment for composer Daniel Felsenfeld’s “An Urban Cantata” based on the life and times of Bruce Bailey, the late tenants’ rights activist. A few years later she showed her photographs of the homeless in Narrowsburg.
1954 Ellen Osborne Coolidge
1955 Margaret Miner
1959 Elizabeth Williams Fox
1961 Gail Gillam Gerhart
1963 Francesca Blake Smith
1968 Nina Parkinson-Scherrer
1975 Melissa Knox-Raab
tiSh WeBSter
1953–2024
by Valerie Mendelson
Born in January 1953 in Washington, DC, she grew up in a house with a garden on the edge of Georgetown. She was the only child of Fay and George Webster. Her mother was a milliner, dressmaker and designer who ran a shop called the Hostess House for a time. She decorated for LBJ’s parties, engraved punchbowls for wedding anniversaries and was everything stylish. Her father, George, was in wholesale distribution of plumbing supply. He came from a family of farmers from southwestern Virginia. Her greatgrandmother, Tish told me, gave birth 22 times!
Tish attended Sidwell Friends until 10th grade and then moved to the progressive Edmund Burke school for the rest of high school and first years of college, finishing her college education at New College in Florida. She described herself as “arty,” liking languages—Latin, German, French—and art and photography. She wrote a thesis on teaching children with reading difficulties, mirroring her own dyslexia, after taking a class at Columbia’s Teachers College. She taught for a while at the Burke school and took many photographs of the students
there. There was no darkroom, so she built one out of two-by-fours and garbage bags. Later she became the head of the Middle School at the Field School, where she also co-taught the history class with a specialist of the American Civil War.
Her adventurousness came into play with time abroad in Italy, where she went to learn Italian but then tried, without luck, to work assembling cars in the Fiat factory. She took photographs of demonstrations for workers’ rights in the piazza, in front of the Duomo in Perugia, and one beautifully somber photograph of a woman of the streets hung in her hallway. She experimented with Polaroids, pushing the emulsions to highlight and transform the subject, and exhibited her work there.
After returning to the States she worked in a variety of framing shops before beginning her job teaching at Brearley in 1988. She was beloved by generations of girls who speak about the importance of being free to work in the darkroom. Tish would offer suggestions, show possibilities, was demanding about technique, but stayed open to the particular vision of each student. Many students share that this was a space in which they felt safe to experiment and express their curiosity about the world.
In her final weeks, she was surrounded by those she loved and who loved her—artists, teachers, lifelong friends, former students— with whom she spoke about art, politics and all of the things that matter most in a life well lived, with love, curiosity and the truth always at the top of that list. Tish’s openness and precision featured in all her work and in her life as a whole. Her piercing blue eyes and incisive spirit cut through nonsense. What a loss.
Create a legacy for Brearley.
Incubator, proving ground, home. Brearley is a singular place that is all about the girls—who they are, what they are capable of, and who they can become. When you include Brearley in your estate plans, you join a generous group of supporters who safeguard the Brearley experience for the girls of future generations.
For sample language to use in your will or trust, and further information, please contact: Phoebe T. Geer ’97, Director of Advancement, (212) 570-8609 or pgeer@brearley.org.
