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Alumni News
#PACKERPRIDE Meet our new City Council Representative! After an energetic on-the-streets primary campaign last spring (including many chats with Packer parents at morning drop-off), Lincoln Restler ’02 won the general election to represent District 33, which includes parts of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Downtown Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Heights. He was officially sworn at a socially-distanced ceremony outside City Hall on January 1, joined by family members and fellow alumni from the Class of 2002 [see page 51].
Lessons Learned at Packer: Aysha E. Schomburg, JD ’91 Speaks at 110th Founder’s Day
Aysha Schomburg serves as the Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau, which oversees $10 billion in funding for child welfare, adoption, foster care, and prevention services nationwide. Prior to her appointment to the Biden Administration, she expanded school support for LGBTQ children and financial services for foster youth through her work at New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services. A lifelong civil servant with degrees from the University of Virginia, New York University, and New York Law School, Aysha delivered Packer’s 110th Founder’s Day address, excerpted below.
I graduated from Packer over 30 years ago. The lessons I learned, that have been the cornerstones of my professional life, can be narrowed down to four pillars: I learned to listen, to question, to debate, and to navigate.
I remember Mr. [James] Brodie’s English class. He began reading to us from The Catcher in the Rye. I remember thinking, “Why is he reading to us? We are Ninth Graders who read at college level. This is a joke!” But it was not a joke. Sitting for an entire class period while the teacher read was an exercise in listening for comprehension. I can’t begin to tell you how important being a good listener has been for me in my personal and professional life. Some people think the smartest person in the room is the person doing all the talking. I think the smartest person in the room is the one doing all the listening.
I also learned the value of asking questions at Packer. In Erland Zygmuntowicz’s anthropology class, I remember reading an essay about the so-called “Nacirema” people, and being fascinated by questions we should be asking about our own ethnocentricity [Nacirema is “American” in reverse — Editor]. I learned to question for comprehension, and, frankly, to question authority. This simple act of questioning can lead to transformational change — within the federal government and beyond.
Listening and questioning will sometimes naturally lead to debate. I remember our history teacher, Kathleen Emery, who was also our softball coach, asked questions of us, instigating debate. With Kathy as our softball coach, we never lost: we only had wins and learning experiences. Looking back, that philosophy was a life lesson all on its own. As I’ve moved through life, I made it a point to understand the counterargument. Indeed, in my current position, I have to understand the counterargument and know what the debate is. For example, when we’re proposing policy and budgetary changes, we need to anticipate what the debate will be in Congress. We need to listen, question, and debate.
Lastly, in order to be successful, and to make it to the position that I’m in today, I had to learn to navigate White space in the Packer environment. I was one of very few Black students at Packer among wealthy, White, often narrow-minded and biased fellow students, and White teachers, including some — not all — with zero cultural competence or sensitivity.
One day, I arrived at my science class and was immediately told to report to the Dean’s office. A few days later, the teacher, who was White, had the audacity to tell my parents that she asked me to leave the classroom because “there was just something about [me].”
Was it my Black skin? My pride? The combination of the two? My parents doubted she would give me a fair grade. But I chose to stay in her class. I wasn’t going to let her off the hook. I was learning to navigate w hite spaces and to hurdle White norms.
I’m still navigating White spaces and hurdling White norms. Packer taught me the necessity of knowing how to do that. Packer instilled in me the unwavering courage to do that.
On graduation day in June of 1991, I wore a Kente cloth — a visible sign of my African heritage — draped over my neck and my graduation robe. I was approached by the Dean, and told that I could not wear my “ribbon.” I explained to him it was not a ribbon but a Kente cloth.
He told me, “Well, it’s not allowed.” I invited him to go and tell my parents sitting in the third row. I don’t know what happened, but I wore my Kente cloth that day. I walked up to the dais and received my diploma, singing.
I’m still moving, still listening, still questioning, still debating, and I’m still navigating.
Shout out to the Class of 1991! Thank you all so very much for having me here today.
Aysha’s remarks have been edited and condensed. A video recording of her entire speech, plus a Q&A with students, is available at www.packer.edu/2021foundersday.
Clockwise from top left: Malcolm, Haley, Taja, Ali, Eric, Kimberly.
Artists and Athletes in the News
Film and TV director Malcolm Lee ’88 was interviewed in the New York Times about his recent film Space Jam 2. He spoke not only about his film, but about his childhood in Brooklyn and how he played “in this league in Brooklyn called the Youth Basketball Association” while his cousin “Spike [Lee]...was the assistant coach.” Malcolm also recently directed two episodes of the new Netflix comedy series, Harlem. Ali Rosa-Salas ’09, artistic director at Abrons Arts Center, was recently profiled in New York Magazine’s The Cut for her work as co-curator of Nuyorican Mag, a website and Instagram account that amplifies the “social, political, and cultural contributions” of New Yorkers of Puerto Rican descent. Ali’s goal is to “champion undertold stories and undertold historical narratives.”
Photojournalist Eric Lee ’11’s “Where We’re Really From” exploring Asian-American identity was featured on NPR radio and online. In his multimedia project, he interviewed and photographed young Asian-Americans to learn how they navigated the rise in violence and bullying against their community during the pandemic. Eric was the featured guest at the Alumni Book Club [see page 32]. At the time of publication, he was anticipating his exhibition in Packer’s Carol Shen Gallery in conjunction with his appearance at the 2022 Packer in Action program, where he will speak about his body of work, including his remarkable photos of the January 6 insurrection. Take a look at www.ericlee.co.
Ranked 36 in the world, Haley Mendez ’11 has resumed competition with the Professional Squash Association (PSA). “Continuing to stay healthy and enjoying competing are always the goals! The next benchmark would be breaking the top 32,” she said in a 2021 interview with the PSA World Tour.
Actor Kimberly Marable ’01, who plays Persephone in the Tony Award-winning Hadestown, has received praise for her performance in the press. She has relished the opportunity to play Persephone, saying in an October 2021 interview with The Washington Informer, “It’s not often, especially as a Black actress, that you get the chance to portray a Black queen and goddess. Even more important to me, she’s a character who’s complicated and has real morals.” Kimberly has a long career on Broadway, including The Lion King, Sister Act, and national tours of The Book of Mormon, The Wedding Singer, Dreamgirls, and Hairspray.
Musician Taja Cheek ’07 performs as L’Rain, an experimentalist, multi-instrumentalist composer and songwriter. Her first self-titled album debuted in 2017, and in June 2021, she released her second album, “Fatigue.” Her work recently received a “Best New Music” review from Pitchfork, which “[highlights] the finest music of the current moment.” In a July 2021 New York Times profile, renowned music critic Jon Pareles wrote: “[Taja] joined a Baroque recorder quartet in high school. ‘I hated practicing, but then I got really into it.’”
Did we miss a scoop? Let us know! Email David Minder at dminder@packer.edu.
Zamien Allard ’19 Opens Up About @BlackatPCI
In the spring of 2020, Black students and alumni from predominantly White schools across the country posted on social media about their experiences with racism and bias. Zamien Allard ’19 watched the rise of the Black@ movement, and after a few days, he created @BlackatPCI on Instagram with several other Packer alumni, ultimately publishing 120 posts. Today there are more than 230 Black@ accounts about U.S. schools. Zamien has served as a member of the Packer Anti-Racism Council (PARC), established in September 2020 as part of Packer’s Anti-Racism Action Plan.
What was your role in the creation of @BlackatPCI?
I was aware of the movement early on. I waited a few days to see if anyone one made an account about Packer. When it seemed no one was, I realized it would feel good to share my concerns about what had happened to me, that I’d been holding in all these stories for years. The world was paying attention. I didn’t have to hold it in anymore. So I started texting a few of my old classmates and people in other grades to enlist some help with management and outreach.
What can you share about the leadership of @BlackatPCI?
There was a team of us. We decided on everything together for the most part.
You said that you had been “holding in all these stories.” Can you share one of them?
Sure. After I was accepted to Packer for Seventh Grade, I shadowed some Sixth Graders for a day: one White student and two Black students. At break time, a White student, surrounded by her White friends, shouted, “Why is this Black kid here? Why does Packer assign two Black dudes to the Black kid? How many more Black students does Packer need?” I watched in horror as she and her friends started laughing. The people around us either looked on in silence or laughed along with them. I don’t think the incident was ever reported. I chose not to say anything myself, out of fear of not being believed or even having my admission taken away. I knew an opportunity like Packer was rare for kids who looked like me.
Learning to suppress all the discrimination and racism I experienced at Packer started that day. It got to the point I didn’t even realize I was doing it anymore. I never even told my parents or friends what had happened to me, so it was extremely cathartic to acknowledge it. I didn’t have to lie to myself anymore and pretend these things didn’t occur.
If you could go back in time with @BlackatPCI, what advice would you give yourself?
I am at such a different point in my life now than I was that summer. I never got a chance to really process what happened with the account and my role in it. I wish someone had reminded me to take time for myself instead of constantly being in “go” mode.
I often wondered how other people viewed the account, especially White people. Cancel culture was brought up a lot that summer, and I hoped people realized we were not trying to cancel anyone. The majority of people contributing to @BlackatPCI just wanted to share experiences. In that context, people should consider if someone is really being canceled or just being called out. I don’t think if you’re being called out, you’re being canceled. You’re just being called into the conversation.
What were the best-case scenarios you were hoping for?
For teachers, I hoped they would find it in themselves to change and be better. For Packer, I hoped it would support that process by enacting policy changes or giving additional training. For students, I hoped they would see and understand what they did and how it made certain people feel, and that they would work on themselves over time.
Do you think that Packer helped you find your voice?
I was inspired by other students who were active in efforts to change their communities, both within Packer and beyond. So I would definitely give the credit to my classmates.
What is your hope for Packer in ten years?
In ten years, I hope the culture at Packer has shifted, and there is never a need for another @BlackatPCI account.
Lois Lowry ’54 IVAc Looks Back
Two-time Newbery Award Winner Lois Lowry is widely considered one of the most important children’s writers of the twentieth century. Her 50th novel for young adults, The Windeby Puzzle, will be published in September 2022. In a recent Q&A with The New Yorker, excerpted below, she recalled some of her most popular and influential books, including The Giver.
On the role of literature in children’s lives
Literature, for all of us, is a way that we rehearse life. And, of course, I don’t have that much life left. I’ve already experienced everything that one can experience. But kids who are ten years old, they have it all in front of them, and some of it is going to be very, very hard. When they read about people experiencing those hard things, they rehearse how they would react, feeling it without having to truly feel it yet. It serves a valid purpose for them.
On the importance of representation in children’s literature
Suddenly publishers are needing and wanting books dealing with diversity, dealing with racial issues, dealing with transgender issues. All of the stuff that’s in the news is now appearing in literature.
I think the pendulum will come back to a middle ground where those things will be addressed — and, I hope, addressed well — without being in every single book, the way it sometimes seems they are now. But those books are important. Those kids — Black, Hispanic, Asian, trans, gay, whatever — need to see themselves reflected in contemporary literature. For many years, White, intact, often suburban families have been overrepresented in kids’ books. Those are, in fact, the books I’ve written. And I’m newly aware of how lonely it must have been for those who never saw themselves as the protagonists in the stories they read. So certainly it is time. Past time.
From The New Yorker, December 26, 2021 (online edition).
Alumni Books
Check out these recent releases from Packer Alumni! Learn more about their publications in Class Notes.
Carolyn Kay Brancato ’62 IVAc released a new novel, The Night Belongs to the Marquis, set during World War II and based on interviews she had with members of the French Resistance.
Barbara Simpson Gold ’62 IVAc co-authored A Guide to Latin Elegy and Lyric, which explores the language, themes, motifs, and context of Latin poetry in the Augustan Age. She is the Edward North Professor of Classics Emerita at Hamilton College.
Suzanne Koven ’75 published Letter to a Young Female Physician. Her memoir highlights the challenges she has faced in her roles as “a doctor, mother, wife, daughter, teacher, and writer” and the “twilight of her career during the Covid 19 pandemic.” Melissa Balmain Weiner ’83 celebrated the release of her new collection of comical poems, The Witch Demands a Retraction: Fairy Tale Reboots for Adults.
Amy Sohn ’91 released The Man Who Hated Women: Sex, Censorship, and Civil Liberties in the Gilded Age, which details the history of anti-vice activist and U.S. Postal Inspector Anthony Comstock, and those who opposed his war on women’s rights. Amy is the New York Times-bestselling author of twelve books, including the novels Prospect Park West, Motherland, and The Actress.
Zachary Wright ’01, an award-winning educator, released a new book, Dismantling a Broken System: Actions to Bridge the Opportunity, Equity, and Justice Gap in American Education. Throughout his fifteen-year career, he has written about discrimination in the classroom and how to be an activist within the American education system.
Today’s Leaders, Tomorrow’s Alumni
Every year, our Director of Alumni interviews student leaders for the 5,000-strong alumni readers of The Packer Magazine. Enjoy David Minder’s conversation with Student Council President Taspia ’22 and Vice President Rohan ’23.
What do you think sets Packer apart?
Rohan: The community here at Packer is extremely strong, both student-to-student and student-to-faculty relationships. I think students feel comfortable communicating their needs and wants to teachers. Taspia: The way the school has taught me to stand up for myself and the injustices I see is very special. Packer encourages students to be advocates and prioritizes it as an important part of their education.
What was a memorable or defining experience for you?
Taspia: The Symposium trip I took to Peru sophomore year. That was the first time I traveled outside the country without my parents, so it taught me how to be more independent and encouraged my learning of the Spanish language and culture. I came home more globally minded, and the relationships I formed [with classmates] on that trip are very dear to me. Rohan: For me, it was a Packer trip to the Dominican Republic in Eighth Grade. We paired with the Mariposa Foundation and helped mentor young women while they taught us Spanish. Living with classmates and eating meals together brought everyone closer. That was very impactful.
What has been your goal for the year at Packer?
Rohan: Last year we were hybrid, which was tough on a lot of students. So, trying to bring back some school spirit and Packer clubs was something I wanted to focus on. Some of them are just for fun, but a lot of them work toward meaningful change. Taspia: For me it was to make Packer a safer, more inclusive space for everyone, especially those who feel underserved in our community, like People of Color and other minority groups. I think that was highlighted in my work as the leader of the South Asian Students Association and other diversity work I’ve done over the years. One of my other main goals was to do things within the community to help educate and spread awareness about global issues, so students are inspired to make changes to create a better world.
How does it feel to be a Packer student today?
Taspia: Packer feels a little rocky to me. I think that’s due in part to all the administration changes and everything that’s happened over the past couple of years, with protests for change. Students need to spend time getting acclimated to the new administration and all the other developments at the school. Rohan: I feel very comfortable working with the administration now. Bringing student needs to the administration, and working with them instead of against them, has been a shift over in the past two years. Now, we put an emphasis on working together. [Read more in our feature story on page 16.]
What are your thoughts and reactions after meeting with members of the Alumni Board?
Taspia: I’m very appreciative of the work the alumni do to make Packer better and keep it going for future generations. Seeing that has made me want to stay part of the school community and continue giving back for years to come. Rohan: Packer has helped make me an outgoing, friendly person who is willing to tackle issues and lead groups. I’m very appreciative of that. I would love the opportunity to be a part of the Board, donate or contribute back to this community after graduating.
What would you say to the graduating class?
Rohan: As a junior, I’ve formed very strong relationships with some of the seniors. There’s going to be a lot of “I’ll miss you.” Taspia: Oh, that’s really sweet. For the seniors, it’s also going to be a lot of “I’ll miss you!” And I’d add: “Take what Packer has given you, and use it to your full capacity.” Rohan: If I could use one phrase, it would be “inspire change wherever you go.”
Introducing Our New Alumni Board Members
Recent Events
Our alumni fulfill a wide range of voluntary roles in service to one another and our school, from Class Agents and Class Correspondents to Reunion Chairs. The Alumni Board is their leadership body, and in 2021, they welcomed four new representatives.
Gabriella Antonio ’13 [above left] attended Packer from First to Twelfth Grade, which she credits for igniting her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. After graduating, she received her BBA from Villanova University. She is currently a DEI manager at Endo International. She looks forward to continuing to work on these initiatives with Packer and is excited to serve on the Alumni Board.
Deneen Jackson ’96 [second from left] attended Packer from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. She went on to receive her BS from Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. She is the regional manager for oncology and women’s health at Invitae, a genetic testing company. She’s a successful sales and business development professional in the molecular diagnostics industry. Deneen looks forward to finding new ways for alumni to reconnect with Packer and engage with current students. Jonathan Marable ’04 [third from left] attended Packer from Third to Twelfth Grade, received his BA at Dartmouth College and MCRP from Pratt Institute, and after more than 10 years working in the public and non-profit sectors in New York and abroad, now works with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He looks forward to supporting current students and working with the board to find ways to keep recent graduates engaged.
Julian Wachner ’87 [above right] is an American composer, conductor and keyboardist. After graduating from Packer, he received his BA and DMA from Boston University. Since 2011, he has served as the director of music and the arts at Trinity Wall Street, conducting the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the Trinity Baroque Orchestra and NOVUS NY. Julian is already working with the Alumni Board on new programming that will bring more alumni in the arts back to Packer.
For our third annual Fall Back to Packer event, we invited our college-aged alumni to visit campus before the Fall break to see one another and the Packer teachers they miss, over some hot apple cider and pumpkin pie!
This year, the Alumni Office has partnered with the Upper School Career Exploration Network Club (CENC) — led by Danny ’23, Azalea ’23, and Lucas ’23 — to connect current students with alumni, parents, and other speakers who can provide insight into their careers interests. In Fall 2021, Packer alumnus and parent Harry Simmons ’94, P’35 spoke about his career in sales at IBM and Microsoft, and his current work as president at Amplify by Write Label and global head of sales at Write Label.
Our recently launched Alumni Book Club continues Packer’s tradition of life-long learning while getting alumni together to discuss contemporary books. Its third meeting focused on Cathy Park Hong’s Minor Feelings: An Asian-American Reckoning, and the guest speaker was none other than Eric Lee ’11 [see page 28]. If you are interested in joining the Alumni Book Club, please email David Minder at dminder@packer.edu. (And geography is no object: the group meets over Zoom!)
