Her Story in Her Words

50 WOMEN OF GOVS PROJECT

HER STORY IN HER WORDS

One could argue that fall 1971 marked the most meaningful change in the history of the Academy. The twenty-four girls who came to Byfield as day students that year ended the over two hundredyear tradition of Governor Dummer Academy as an all-boys institution (excluding a few brief swings at coeducation in the 1800s). They were pioneers who paved the way for the next fifty years of girls—Morse Flag winners, residence hall proctors, national award-winning artists, and threeseason varsity athletes.

The 50 Women of Govs project shares the unique stories of Governor’s women—students, faculty, staff, and friends—and celebrates their courage and the challenges they faced, their hard work and the passions they discovered, their leadership, and the impact they had on the Govs community. The project showcases the diversity of thought, backgrounds, and experiences of women who have called Byfield home over the last five decades. Over the next fifteen months, we will share their stories in The Archon, on our website, on social media, and in spaces on campus. Sit back and enjoy this first installment of 50 Women of Govs stories.

GOVS

My gender was not a factor in my Governor’s experience. And when I say that, I mean that in the most positive sense, because I never felt different. I always felt like we were a small group of people, part of a whole. I think my access was the same. I think the attention I received was the same. All the relationships were as special. So I didn’t feel different.

PASSION

One of the things that was sparked at Governor’s and which I continue to feel strongly about is community service and mentoring. I definitely felt a strong sense of mentorship. I do a lot of that at Bank of America. I do a lot of career counseling. The concept of doing for others and mentoring young people is something that I felt and learned at Governor's and certainly continue.

CHALLENGE

One of my biggest challenges was having very young children and working. We moved to New York City. I had a demanding job. It wasn’t just something I could do and leave at three. It was difficult having no flexibility. I think that was my greatest challenge, figuring out, do I want to take time off? Can I bridge this time to a period where I will feel the children will be less needy? The amount of flexibility afforded and the amount of respect for women and mothers who want to work has completely changed.

COMMUNITY

My husband and I are involved with the Whitney Museum of American Art and several other art and educational institutions. I am also on the board of an organization called Worldwide Orphans. And I am involved in general with kids out of college. There’s always a resume on my desk.

ELEA KEMLER ’83

GOVS

The four years I spent at Governor’s were life changing. The investment of faculty in the students was huge for me. The Chaplain, Charlotte Dudley Cleghorn, fostered a very special community of students. Even though my beliefs are very different now, being part of that kind of spiritual community was profound. It gave me an example of how transformative that could be.

PASSION

I was very involved in the drama program at Governor’s. That has absolutely changed. I have gone from thinking I would live in New York City and be an actor, to happily serving as a small town minister. My passion now is about building a community where people can bring all of who they are, and learn compassion, how to be more generous, and more grateful.

CHALLENGE

Growing up with financial struggles, being a scholarship kid at Governor’s was hard. It was like I had crossed a border into a different country that I knew nothing about. Overcoming that was the challenge of my young adulthood. Now I can say that everything I went through has helped make me who I am. I feel lucky and grateful for the life I have. My time at Governor’s helped shape me and gave me things I have carried with me.

COMMUNITY

One of the things we’re always working on in the congregation I serve is to ask, who’s not here yet? And why? How do we become people who are able to welcome everyone who comes through the door? How do we become truly inclusive? It’s about doing internal work first and teaching our children to deeply value themselves and others and to do good work in the world. I think that is one of the most important ways I can give back.

GOVS

September 1983. On the second night at Brantwood after we had climbed Mt Monadnock, the adults were relaxing together when a group of seniors walked in. "Come play with us!" "No! We're too tired!" "OK! If you won't come to us, we will come to you!" Many seniors returned with cards and spoons, and, together again, we played into the night. I cherish this supportive way of living.

PASSION

I "lived" in the ceramics studio where the doors were always open, and the room was filled with generous and talented potters. Due to a generous parting gift from the Trustees in 1999, I have a complete studio in Exeter, which keeps me connected to the pottery world. I am forever grateful.

CHALLENGE

Our greatest challenge was striving to make Governor's a first-choice school. Top priorities were increasing the endowment, faculty salaries and housing, and improving facilities. We needed more women in leadership positions, increased student responsibility, and more boarding students. We embraced the Old Guard and did extensive traveling. With the support of the GDA community, many of these goals were achieved.

COMMUNITY

Saturday Night Open House. I have grand memories of burnt cookies, dripping hot fudge, loaded studentmade pizzas, scary haunted houses, train tracks meandering with the engineer conducting, and always "Mansion House Rules" for bridge— hand signals got a pass and the open secret that participating was a reliable way to escape the earlier 10:30 p.m. departure hour.

NAOMI FINK ’99

GOVS

I had a lot of fears around, how do I establish myself within this community as a person of color? I realized quickly that I did have a community at Govs. Despite coming from different geographies, having different socioeconomic backgrounds, it was shared life experiences that forged really strong bonds with people I’m still friends with to this day.

PASSION

I definitely have a passion for media. Having studied sociology and being from Hollywood, I understood how easily influenced people could be by the media. I’ve tried to align my career to companies that use their influence for good. Now I help higher education institutions market degree programs. At the end of the day, I’m selling ads. But I’m able to connect a person being exposed to that ad, and then obtaining a degree, to the work I’m doing. I want to make sure I’m doing something that’s having a positive effect.

CHALLENGE

I think it is hard trying to balance the need to support your family, and the need to be fulfilled at work. I’ve been lucky so far to have jobs that allow me to do so. But the few times I’ve gone astray, I’ve become miserable pretty quickly.

COMMUNITY

I donate to financial aid funds to help diversity and inclusion efforts on campus. There are experiences I had at Govs that I couldn’t afford. The support of others made it possible. I know for a fact there were faculty and alumni going out of their way to make sure students who needed support could have similar experiences to others. It always stood out to me that there were people looking out for us. It’s the notion of giving back in a way that can inspire a similar experience for a current student.

GOVS

Our junior year soccer team winning the semifinals for the New England championship was a high point because I was the goalie and the match ended in penalty kicks. We had the most amazing team and coaches. I didn’t grow up playing on every travel team, so to get to be part of something like that was really special.

PASSION

Travel is one. Obviously everybody loves a great trip, but it’s beyond that. I really enjoy the fact that we move every two years and I get to know the community in a completely different place. Going from New Orleans to Hawaii, to San Diego, to Memphis, to Newport… those are very different places with different cultures. It’s a total pleasure to be able to experience each one’s flavor.

CHALLENGE

My greatest challenge has been learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It’s something I learned as a Junior Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy. On my first day onboard my first ship, the USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112), I was put in charge of a division of thirty sailors, most of whom were older than me and had significantly more Navy experience than me. I think my time at Govs helped me gain the confidence to thrive in moments like that one.

COMMUNITY

In San Diego I served my Navy community during COVID when we weren’t allowed to go to any sort of non essential establishments. I offered an eight-week, free, Pilates mat class on Zoom. The largest number was eighty-something service members that attended, and I led them through an hour long mat flow. I enjoyed being able to provide a virtual space for my fellow service members to move and gather during a challenging time.

SIOBHAN MCDONOUGH ’13

GOVS

My parents both said you can play whatever sports you want. It wasn’t until I was playing soccer professionally that I noticed the differences between the men’s side and the women’s side. Although I think women’s sports, especially soccer with the recent USWNT settlement, are headed towards greater equality. But I always felt Govs was supportive of female athletes. We had great coaching and they celebrated any accomplishment we had.

PASSION

Soccer has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, but I have found joy being able to transition and explore other passions. When at the University of Pittsburgh, my role as a captain highlighted how important it is to invest in your teammates on and off the field. Those desires to support the ones around me translate into my role as a healthcare worker. I’m interacting with patients every day. If I can make things easier for them that makes me happy.

CHALLENGE

My greatest challenge was when playing soccer professionally. In college, I felt a lot more grounded because I still had other outlets. When I transitioned to professional sports, all my worth became tied up in who I was on the field. I really struggled. Now I feel I’m in such a more comfortable space with who I am and my direction in life.

COMMUNITY

I have my work community. I still carry a lot from when I was an athlete to who I am in the work setting. And then my best group of girlfriends. We were all on the Governor’s varsity soccer team. And I just try and be a good daughter. My circle’s very small. I just try to make people happy and let them know that I care about them.