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WESLEYAN COLLEGE, SPRING 2021
ADMINISTRATION Vivia Fowler President Melody Blake Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Andrea Williford Vice President for Institutional Advancement Clint Hobbs Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management Robert Moye Vice President for Business and Finance and CFO Christy Henry Dean of Students Tonya Parker ’01 Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator WESLEYAN MAGAZINE STAFF Mary Ann Howard, Editor Director of Communications mhoward@wesleyancollege.edu Brandi Vorhees, Designer Creative Director of Brand and Website Cathy Coxey Snow ’71 Alumnae Director csnow@wesleyancollege.edu Amands Wiggs Digital Communications Officer Kayla Stroud Web Content Manager/Graphic Design Millie P. Hudson ’75 Director of Development Julie Jones Director of Advancement Services Whitney Davis Director of Annual Giving Susan Allen ’17 Senior Development Officer Katie Sadler-Stephenson ’00 Class Notes Editor CONTRIBUTORS Christy Henry, Jan Tedders ’08, Steven Haberlin, Jill Amos ’87, Myrana Craig, Sirena S. Fritz, Dee Tanner, Mallory Neil PHOTOGRAPHY BY Maryann Bates PRINTING BY Panaprint SPECIAL THANKS TO M+H Photography and to alumnae and friends for providing photos. WESmag is published twice a year by the Wesleyan College Office of Communications 4760 Forsyth Road Macon, GA 31210-4462 phone (478) 757-5137 Contents may not be reprinted without permission from the editor.
From the President Dear Friends, As I write this message, May’s graduation events are still fresh in my mind. The weekend began on Thursday with the pinning of our nursing graduates. Friday evening’s marker ceremony started at the historic marker in front of the Candler alumnae building and was followed by a procession to Porter Auditorium for the baccalaureate service. The culminating event was Saturday morning on the quad with a grand celebration of the accomplishments of the Class of 2021. The setting was extraordinary, and the weather that day couldn’t have been more beautiful. As you might expect, every prayer, welcome, and speech I made was chosen carefully to honor each occasion and, most importantly, to honor our students. Here are some of my comments: From the nursing pinning ceremony: “You, dear nursing students, have entered a noble profession, one in which you will touch the lives of your patients and their families, impress your colleagues with your intellect and poise, and experience throughout your career hope and despair, pain and relief, joy and sorrow. From the baccalaureate service welcome: “Graduates, know that you have a special connection, not just with the members of your class, but with almost 10,000 Wesleyan alumnae throughout the world with whom you share an identity.” From the baccalaureate invocation: “Bless these graduates, O God, that they may live out their lives with purpose; enjoy happy, fulfilling, and productive futures; and always
remember that they belong to each other and to this place, their Wesleyan home.” From the commencement welcome: “I discovered something interesting in the 1921 Veterropt - from a century ago. With colors of red & white, just like you, they had a Latin motto: “Per aspera ad astra” which means “through hardships to the stars.” Each one of you has endured hardships to get to this point in your journey: personal and family hardships, physical and emotional difficulties, and occasionally an academic challenge or two. But you worked through those hardships and here you are: stars each one of you—reaching for the stars to fulfill your goals for the future.” The motto for this magazine could be “Per aspera ad astra.” You’ll read about how we overcame the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide our students an exemplary Wesleyan experience, supported by many unsung Wesleyan technology heroes, student support staff, a new meditation room, and a herculean effort to test and vaccinate our community. You’ll read about alumnae whose lives and careers have been affected by the pandemic. And you’ll hear stories of our remarkable graduates and their star-studded ambitions for the future. My friends, I hope you will pray for our graduates, for our alumnae, and for Wesleyan, that our “star in the dark” will shine into the future, lighting the way for us to continue educating and inspiring women for lives of purpose, justice, and leadership. Hail Wesleyan!
Contents
W E S L E YA N M A G A Z I N E S U M M E R 2 0 2 1
2 The pandemic
A million tests and counting Alumnae tell their stories Protecting the Pack Unsung heroes Supporting students’ emotions
20 Faith and service
Promoting student well-being
22 Wesleyan, naturally
Nature Club Nesting tubes The arboretum Alumnae conservationists
24 A balancing act
Exceptional graduates who made it happen
30 Commencement
A beautiful outdoor ceremony on the quad
40 Alumnae Section
Message from WCAA President Alumnae Connections Announcements Class notes
WESmag SPRING 2021
Dedication & perseverance in t ry ing t imes In early April 2020, the Sandy Springs, Georgia, laboratory Ipsum Diagnostics announced it had developed its own coronavirus testing protocol and would have the capacity to process thousands of samples per day. When Ipsum started its FDA application, the sole approved protocol was for a system that could process fewer than 100 specimens at a time. Leah Roberts ’08 had been working as a molecular diagnostic supervisor at Ipsum for about a year. “When Governor Kemp announced that Ipsum Diagnostics was going to partner with the Georgia Department of Public Health and provide testing for the state, we were a staff of fifteen and had been processing between 60-100 samples a day. We immediately started receiving around 400 samples daily - more than we had previously processed in a week.”
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Leah was immediately thrust into the position of molecular diagnostics manager and led her team to develop, validate, and receive emergency use authorization and FDA clearance for performing COVID-19 testing. Her normal day-to-day tasks such as monitoring personnel, inventory, and testing quality grew on an exponential scale. Leah’s new position required validating all the new instrumentation and equipment needed to increase testing and working with the laboratory information system to develop not only paperless requisition forms to mitigate the potential of cross-contamination, but also a new barcode labeling system. The work environment went from a low volume reference lab to one of the most robust COVID-19 testing laboratories in Georgia. Labs across the country that use the same equipment began using Ipsum’s protocols to start their own processing.
of the staff and owners at Ipsum to ensure that Georgia’s population received quality COVID-19 tests within 24 hours.
Molecular biologists from independent labs in underserved areas were invited to Ipsum for on-site training and were provided the resources and supplies needed to validate and implement testing. This enabled rural communities to quickly expand testing capacity. Leah said that having worked alongside the laboratory staff and the executive team, she was most impressed with the dedication and commitment
“I’m so proud of the fact that the company executives trusted and believed in me and gave me the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to develop a COVID-19 laboratory developed test. As a result, Ipsum was the first lab in Georgia and the twelfth in the country to receive FDA emergency use authorization
by using a different testing platform to quadruple the amount of patient testing and provide same-day results.” Leah said that laboratory professionals are not necessarily recognized under the umbrella of healthcare, but she thinks the pandemic raised an awareness of the vital role that laboratory testing plays in patient care and treatment. “Obstacles were everywhere, but we do what we do for the patients; they keep us on track. There is also a sacrifice that all frontline workers face. No matter how safe and protected we try to be, we must still come to terms with the possibility of exposure to an unknown virus.”
At the height of the pandemic we were processing 10k samples a day. To date, we have processed more than one million COVID-19 samples. WESmag SPRING 2021
The disorienting effect of the whole thing The pandemic continues to affect everyone in one way or another. We have had to adapt to new surroundings in supersonic mode and learn quickly. It wasn’t long before we started recognizing essential workers as heroes. Many of those workers will tell you they are not heroes, that they are just people doing their jobs. These people, who most of us would consider selfless, say they are in their careers to help people and to serve their communities, and that’s the driving force that sends them back to work every day to face the risk of being exposed to the virus. All they want from us is to take the pandemic seriously, wear masks, get vaccinated, practice social distancing,
and wash our hands frequently. Some say it’s our civic duty. All will tell you that denying the gravity of this situation and refusing to help stop the spread of the virus undermines the hard work and dedication of everyone who has sacrificed so much over the last year. In the next several pages, you will read the personal accounts of just a few Wesleyan alumnae who serve in a variety of ways. Women in careers that are considered essential. We might describe them as brave, selfless, and heroic. They use words like frightened, stressed, aggrieved, exhausted, frustrated, terrified, and confused. These women, Wesleyan women, are ready to tell their stories.
H E A LT H C A R E Nicole “Nikki” Dillard Lytle ’98 has been a physician’s assistant since June 2001. She loves her job. She says that her life has changed a lot in the last eighteen months but especially with regards to her career. Nikki works in the emergency room at Navicent Health Medical Center of Baldwin County in Milledgeville, GA, which truly is the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Having worked in the emergency room for a while now, I’ve become accustomed to death, but death from COVID-19 is different. It is ugly and it is very lonely. Nothing could have prepared us for the sheer number of deaths. There will likely be long-term effects akin to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for many front line workers.” The pandemic prompted Nikki to further her efforts to make a career change that she’s been working toward for a while. Due to fears of the coronavirus, fewer people have been seeking care in the emergency room causing emergency rooms to cut provider hours to make up for their loss of revenue. Meanwhile, psychiatric providers have seen an increase in mental health issues as a result of the loss and isolation produced by the pandemic. Nikki’s plan has been to step into psychiatry closer to retirement, when she was ready to leave the fast-paced world of the ER. “I had already completed my master’s degree in developmental psychology in preparation for this goal. The cut in hours at the ER pushed me forward and that dream has now become a reality. Now I can devote much more time to metal awareness and health.” 4
Nurse Practitioner Sarah Mannle ’00 works in the emergency department at Harris Regional Medical Center in Franklin, NC. The hospital is located in a very small rural mountain area that was sheltered from the first major COVID-19 surge until November. “This experience has brought about a lot of change within me. I have felt fear, stress, sadness, and gratitude on levels that I never have before. Early on, I was afraid to go to work. I was terrified of getting sick. I was scared I might carry the illness home and give it to my wife. On top of going to work, family and friends (wrongly) considered me to be an authority on COVID, so they were looking to me for answers and reassurances that I just didn’t have. I saw things at work I never thought I would see. For a while, whenever I walked into the hospital, I was told that one of my patients from the day before had died, sometimes more than one. I had to tell family members over the phone that their loved one probably wouldn’t make it and that they couldn’t come in to say goodbye. I watched all of this happening out in the world just like everyone else, but nothing can prepare you for how to deal with it and the level of sadness it brings until you’re just there. With all of these overwhelming negative experiences, I had to work really hard to find gratitude.”
As an inpatient staff pharmacist at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center in Athens, GA, Brandy Morris Kirkwood ’01 has continued to work on-site since the beginning of the pandemic. When elective surgeries were cancelled to conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) and people were avoiding going to the ER, everything slowed down. “At first we had one general medical floor dedicated to COVID-19 admissions but it grew to five, in addition to four medical intensive care units at the peak after the holidays. Our engineering department converted additional rooms on select floors to negative pressure isolation rooms so COVID-19 patients could be kept separate from non-COVID-19 patients. Then the surges started. We had to open an overflow ICU in the surgical recovery area to take care of non-COVID-19 medical ICU patients. At times we were dangerously close to running out of ventilators and IV pumps. In December and January our census reached a record high, and at one point, almost a third of our admissions were COVID-19 related. I have never seen the hospital so full or so busy. My coworkers and I had extreme workloads, but we were always able to get our jobs done and medications delivered to our patients. It was beyond stressful, but all of the departments really pulled together and got through the worst part as a team.”
Lisa Bridges Hines ’98 has worked at The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for twenty-one years. For the last three-and-one-half years, she’s served as associate director for communications in the Division of Injury Prevention within the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Lisa participated in the agency’s COVID-19 response plan, spending two months last year working on communications for a vaccine tracking system and says she worked with an incredible group of people who moved mountains every single day. In March 2020, Lisa and her team of thirteen planned a two-day telework trial. They haven’t been back to the office since. She said it’s been difficult to stay updated on all of the rapidly evolving information about the virus amid a new, entirely virtual work environment. “I haven’t seen most of my teammates in person since last March (2020). My team is primarily comprised of communications specialists. We like to talk, work
collaboratively, and interact with each other, so learning how to do that virtually has been challenging. I have two people working for me that I’ve never met in person as they were hired virtually during the pandemic.” Lisa emphasizes the important behind-the-scenes work that thousands of people do - work that most people will never see. “I am most proud of the incredible dedication I see every day from my colleagues. There are thousands of employees who have been working fifty-, sixty-, seventy-hour weeks for months, some for more than a year. They have sacrificed time with their families and time for themselves in order to do their jobs.”
RESEARCH
On March 7, 2020, Pramisha Adhikari ’13 began working as a scientist at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in Spring House, PA. After one week of working on-site, the State of Pennsylvania went into lockdown. As a scientist, Pramisha works in research and development of therapeutic proteins for cancer and autoimmune diseases. “It was difficult as a new employee to get training and get things done. The majority of my work consists of daily interactions with colleagues and stakeholders within and outside of the company. Some of these interactions that could have been dealt with in simple hallway conversations have now converted to long email chains and multiple Zoom meetings.” WESmag SPRING 2021
E D U C AT I O N When shelter-in-place orders closed schools in March 2020, teachers from all levels of academia were required to move their classrooms online and teach virtually from their homes. With no preparation and very little training, many also faced scheduling time to help their own children participate in virtual classrooms. Melinda Fitzgerald Goggins ’07 serves the Bibb County School District as an academic coach at James H. Porter Elementary School. She says the hardest thing to adapt to was the speed at which things changed. “We went from working in a normal school environment five days a week to working remotely almost overnight. We didn’t have time to think through what our job roles would look like in a virtual setting or how an elementary school as a whole would function with everyone teaching and learning remotely.” When school closed last March, Melinda and her colleagues thought it would be for a couple of weeks at the most. They did not see students faceto-face again until November. Some of the biggest changes, Melinda says, happened with technology. An online learning management system was implemented where students can access instructional materials, whether they are attending school virtually or face-to-face. “School looks very different than it used to. So much depends on what is happening with COVID-19 in the community. We have learned to make peace with the fact that things can change quickly and what we are planning may have to be adjusted based on circumstances that are outside of our control.” Head of Middle School at Stratford Academy in Macon, Jennifer Monjeau Sweat ’93 is proud of how flexible her teachers have been. On Friday, March 13, 2020, Stratford decided to close at noon the following Monday, March 16. At that point, the thought was that the school would close for two weeks, have spring break, and then 6
return to campus afterward. Of course, like most other schools, Stratford’s campus remained closed until the end of the academic year, and teachers and administration spent the summer speculating unknowns and adapting to new procedures and policies. This year, Stratford families were given the choice between on-campus/in-person or virtual learning, so teachers were expected to maintain a physical/ traditional classroom as well as online classes. “It’s been a rough year, and we’ve asked a great deal of our teachers. They are exhausted both mentally and physically.” Becky Wysong Sessions ’77 serves as head of school for Woodfield Academy, Middle Georgia’s only private school with a mission to educate students with learning differences. As the academic year moved through the spring of 2020, Woodfield did not have the choice to stay open due to the mandate. Administrators were extremely concerned that they were not coming close to meeting their students’ needs through a cobbled-together distance learning process. “Our students are more at risk for learning loss, depression, and anxiety. Distance learning does not offer the experiential learning opportunities that in-person schooling offers.” Applying the advantage of being a nature-smart school, teachers completely rearranged their daily routines to use outdoor spaces including tents and camp chairs for student instruction. The inherent flexibility of Woodfield’s operations enabled them to create a student pod arrangement, where a group (pod) of students remained with one teacher all day instead of every student visiting numerous teachers throughout the day. The pods do not come in contact with one another, and teachers cannot go from pod to pod. Becky is proud and says because of these successes, Woodfield remained open the entire year. The school is considering continuing a pod-like arrangement and will continue using outdoor learning options and green spaces. Anyone who knows Wesleyan Associate Professor of Education Virginia Bowman Wilcox ’90 knows she’s a people-person. If you need a hug or an
encouraging word, contact Virginia. She is proud of the way Wesleyan’s education department worked together to facilitate virtual sessions that embed engaging practices and models on how to teach virtually instead of using worksheets and videos, but she says the new environment has taken its toll. “Professionally I have struggled to balance working from home with my health, both mental and physical. Finding the motivation has been hard as I need to be around people to feel energy and to be productive. I have discovered some fabulous new tech tools and feel like I have constructed some great virtual lessons and classes, but it’s just not the same.” Virginia says that many of her students are second-guessing their majors because this type of virtual teaching is not what they envisioned doing as a full-time job. A lot of class time is spent processing emotions. “The remorse and grief students have experienced is real and it is heartbreaking to watch, both as a professor and as a parent.” In her eighth year of teaching at Wesleyan, Associate Professor of Music Chenny Gan ’02 says the uncertainty, the unknowns, and learning in which direction to put her energy and time were the hardest things to adapt to when the pandemic hit last March. “We pivoted quickly to remote and hybrid learning, and we continue to work much less from campus and much more from home.” Now, more than a year later, she worries about how young people’s mental health has been negatively affected by this pandemic.
TRAVEL Kristin Conley Lamble ’96 has served as a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines for twentyfour years and says the sudden cessation of work, almost overnight, was a tough adjustment. “The realization that things, the world, the ease of travel, and my personal travel routine would possibly never be the same has been difficult. I went from flying to Europe three to four times a month on fully-loaded airplanes to no travel at all. As a flight crew, we are always looking/planning ahead. When all of those things stopped, it made me look at what I had in front of me in an entirely different light.” Kristin explains that the airline industry, like many other businesses, is cyclical. There are ups and downs, mergers and acquisitions, and other things that can’t be controlled like oil prices, travel demand fluctuations, and terrorism. Kristin says she’s been blessed to have met and flown with countless people over the years who experienced all of these things. During the pandemic Kristin and many of her coworkers have taken voluntary severance, furloughs, and job share programs to help prevent involuntary furloughs of the most junior people in her workforce. “After 9/11, I was in danger of being furloughed multiple times during the industry’s recovery. I was a newlywed living in a new city and state, away from home, learning to adjust to flying out of a new base and airport. The stress and uncertainty was enormous as the industry had been rocked to its knees and our country was hurting. So many flight attendants with more seniority than me took the options presented at that time, and I was able to continue working. I find it an honor and a privilege to take a voluntary furlough to ‘pay it forward’ to the next generation of fight attendants.”
After a year of unprecedented, disorienting experiences; a year of isolation from family, family lockdowns, and homeschooling; a year of fear, anxiety, overload, exhaustion, guilt, loneliness, and burnout, these extraordinary
Wesleyan Woman still find things for which to be thankful. Each one of them expressed the pride they share in working to get through these tumultuous times with colleagues who pulled together to develop crisis plans, and who continue to be dedicated to serving the needs of others. They even found ways to celebrate and try new things. Nikki and her family have taken up gardening and are raising a bunny. Lisa learned to bake bread. Chenny is cooking more, and Kristin’s family got a dog. They share many of the same reflections: life is precious and should be enjoyed every day. What are they looking forward to the most in the coming months? Hugs, seeing people’s faces, live music, travel, family gatherings, eating in restaurants, going to church, and Alumnae Weekend. WESmag SPRING 2021
A TIMELINE OF WESLEYAN’S
RESPONSE PLAN
FEBRUARY 28 Provost Melody Blake called a meeting of key staff members to discuss the potential effect of the coronavirus on the College.
2020
MARCH 4 Provost Blake to Wesleyan administration:“In our faculty meeting we discussed telling students to take their course materials home over spring break, on the slim chance that the pandemic accelerates and we don’t reopen after the break.”
MARCH 2 President Fowler emailed the Wesleyan community: “On February 25, the CDC alerted Americans to begin preparing for the spread of coronavirus saying it’s not clear when it will arrive or how severe an outbreak could become… Currently, there are no known cases in the State of Georgia; however, the CDC expects the number of cases in the U.S. to rise… Based on the science and data reported thus far, we believe COVID-19 should be taken seriously.” Wesleyan is committed to following safety guidelines set forth by the CDC for the duration of the pandemic.
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MARCH 6 First meeting of Wesleyan’s COVID-19 Taskforce. The team began developing a contingency plan for the remainder of the semester to include prevention, a shutdown with active cases, a shutdown with no active cases.
MARCH 5 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a public health emergency for the state. The following day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency.
MARCH 12 Alumnae Weekend was postponed until September.
MARCH 12 President Fowler emailed the Wesleyan community: “Effective immediately, Wesleyan will extend spring break for all students and cancel all in-person class meetings and College-sponsored activities until Sunday, March 22, 2020. We will take next week to prepare for how to continue the semester after that week, whether in person or remotely.”
Against the background of an unprecedented year when the world’s population faced a major health crisis never experienced in our lifetime, the Wesleyan community enforced a response plan to keep the College open and our constituents safe. Making the best of a dreadful situation, a teaching and learning environment was created to provide support for everyone on campus. Students have exhibited maturity and demonstrated their willingness to keep one another and their community safe by adhering to guidelines set forth by the CDC and adopted by their College.
MARCH 13 USA South Athletic Conference announced all remaining regular season sporting events were cancelled.
MARCH 16 Governor Kemp ordered the closure of public schools, colleges, and universities through the end of March.
Staff and faculty worked quickly to revamp the ways their departments operated. As a result, we made it through eighteen months with only fifty-two positive cases of COVID-19. Based on a population of more than 800 students, faculty, and staff who come through the campus regularly, that’s a six percent rate of infection, which is less than one third of the infection rate locally. We are proud and we are tired. Follow the timeline below to see how quickly and thoroughly we worked to Protect the Pack.
MARCH 26 President Fowler emailed the Wesleyan community: “Wesleyan College will continue with remote instruction through the end of the spring semester.” Approximately 75 students remained on campus, including international students. May commencement ceremonies were postponed.
MARCH 17 President Fowler emailed the Wesleyan community: “Beginning March 23 until further notice, student instruction will continue remotely with hopes of returning to normal operations beginning in April.” Staff was deployed to work from home.
MAY 15 With anticipation of celebrating commencement in August, every graduating senior was mailed a gift box that contained a Wesleyan tote bag, a Candlelighting candle, a Senior Toast champagne flute, and a letter from the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association.
APRIL 24 Honors and Awards Ceremony was held virtually. MAY 14 Senior Toast was held virtually.
MAY 16 President Fowler informed the Wesleyan campus about the new Protect the Pack protocol. JUNE 10 Alumnae Weekend 2020 was postponed until April 2021.
WESmag SPRING 2021
JUNE – SEPTEMBER President Fowler announced (June 17) that plans were being made to return to in-person instruction on campus in August, that residence halls would be open for fall semester 2020, and that instruction and exams would take place remotely after November 20. The COVID-19 task force continued to meet weekly, then biweekly through the end of the semester, and continues to meet monthly. Students, faculty, and staff were asked to sign the WolfPack Pledge to protect themselves, others, and the Wesleyan Community. Signs, banners, and flyers were displayed around campus to encourage safe behaviors including wearing masks, social distancing, and not entering a building if ill.
STUDENTS ARRIVE BACK ON CAMPUS Move-In Day (August 14) for new students was held with additional COVID-19 safety protocols in place. These included limiting students to one guest, taking temperatures upon entry to campus, spreading out the move-in times to ensure social distancing, requiring masks, and enhanced cleaning processes.
In August alone, 10 positive cases led to 22 students in quarantine.
Fall semester, 23 positive cases led to 84 students in quarantine.
Spring semester, 19 positive cases led to 52 students in quarantine.
Stand-up digital thermometers were placed at the entrance of each building. Hand sanitizing stations were installed around campus and sanitizing spray and paper towels were placed in classrooms, lounges, and other common spaces. Classroom furniture was moved to ensure social distancing of six feet. Meeting Owl Pro technology was purchased to provide a hybrid-learning environment for students who couldn’t come to class.
JULY 14 The August 7-8 in-person graduation ceremonies were canceled. JULY 14 USA South Atlantic Conference announced that fall 2020 seasons were postponed until spring 2021.
DECEMBER 4 USA South Athletic Conference confirmed that postponed fall sports would be played within the spring semester.
A hybrid model for teaching and learning was created. COVID-19 rapid tests were purchased for on-campus testing. Alumnae volunteers made more than 1400 masks for students, faculty, and staff at the beginning of the academic year. 193 tests were administered through the Health Services Office from August 2020 through May 2021, with 76 of those administered in August and September. 10
AUGUST 8 2020 graduation ceremonies were held virtually.
NOVEMBER 20 Campus instruction concluded. Instruction for the final week of classes and exams were done virtually.
IF A STUDENT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 Residential students testing positive for COVID-19 had the option to go home or to stay on campus in our isolation space on the first floor of Jones Hall. Quarantined students could go home or remain in their rooms on campus. The quarantine period was 14 days for fall semester, but was reduced to 10 days in the spring. ServPro came to campus the same day to sanitize the student’s room. Notification of the positive test was sent to each faculty member teaching that student. Metz Culinary Management was notified so that meals could be provided to students in isolation and in quarantine. Every day, continental style breakfasts and hot lunches and dinners were hand-delivered by staff volunteers from across campus.
JANUARY 19 Students returned to campus. Instruction continued to be a combination of virtual and in-person learning. During spring semester, 5 NCAA sports and the equestrian team were approved to compete.
Students were supplied with necessary items including trash bags, toilet paper, medications, and other personal items. A local laundry service was contracted when a student didn’t have enough clean clothing for the quarantine period. The Lane Center for Service and Leadership spearheaded a “Quarantine Kit” initiative where volunteers purchased items that would be entertaining for quarantined students.
FEBRUARY 25 The USA South Athletic Conference announced a sport spectator policy.
MAY 12 Residence halls closed for the summer. MAY 14 Marker & Baccalaureate ceremonies held in-person on campus.
2021
JANUARY 15 Alumnae Weekend celebrations for the 2020 and 2021 reunion classes were both rescheduled to coincide with the 2022 celebration to be held April 21-24.
FEBRUARY 1 Wesleyan’s nursing department administered vaccinations during the first of eight COVID-19 clinics on campus. (February 9, March 4 and 18, April 5, 12, and 19, May 5)
APRIL 17 Candlelighting Ceremony held in-person. APRIL 21 Honors and Awards Ceremony held in-person on campus.
MAY 15 Commencement ceremonies held in-person, outside on the quad.
Senior Toast held in-person at Bradley House.
WESmag SPRING 2021
BEHIND THE SCENES No doubt about it, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been life-changing for all of us. Throughout the pandemic, and even today, we see countless stories about
heroes; those working on the front lines sacrificing their own health and safety to help others. But there are many other workers who are often unsung heroes. Those who
work behind the scenes to make a digital world possible are some of the countless others who rarely get the recognition they deserve. It’s safe to say most of us were ill-prepared for the pandemic. At Wesleyan, we were fortunate. Faculty, staff, and students were able to turn on a dime, transitioning from course schedules that were largely (95%) held in person on campus to having all courses taught online in a matter of days. We were able to do that because of our unsung heroes, Wesleyan’s Computer Information Resources (CIR) team. Thank you Sergey Chernokov, Russell Davis, Jan Giles Tedders ’08, John Thompson, and Kevin Ulshafer for all you have done, even before the pandemic, to make our jobs easier. Typically working 60-plus-hour weeks just to keep up with the enormous demand put on them, these staff members were responsible for researching, purchasing, creating, installing, and learning all of the technology we needed
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to keep the College functioning, which included training approximately 150 employees and 700 students, an incredible feat for just five people. The details are staggering. As we transitioned, faculty began uploading their syllabi to Canvas, the already-in-place learning management system used by the College. Faculty was familiar with the system from limited prior use, but needed immediate training on how to build classes online and the techniques required for taking and proctoring online quizzes, facilitating class discussion, and sharing documents. Not surprisingly, most faculty and many students did not have speakers, a web camera, or a microphone on their computers, so IT placed an order with expedited shipping to get
them on campus and installed before the start of classes, which commenced after an extended spring break. “First we had to find out from every faculty member if they had a home computer that would support their needs, including the internet connection speed they were accustomed to, or if they would be taking their office computer home. If not, the College was to provide a laptop, which we didn’t have at the time. So we placed a quick order and rushed to configure the laptops once they arrived. This all happened within a matter of days,” said Systems Administrator Jan Tedders. On March 17, 2020, staff was deployed to work remotely. Most did not have a computer at home that had the software needed to perform their jobs or to access to the College’s campus network software. Like faculty, many did not have speakers, cameras, or microphones on their computers. Some opted to take their office computers home. Everyone else was provided a laptop that, again, had to be ordered and configured. The CIR team ordered additional Virtual Private Network (VPN) licenses to enable staff to connect securely to campus networks, and then performed the installation and training. Additionally, almost every faculty and staff member had to have telephone calls to their Wesleyan number forwarded to a home or cell number. Guess who did the training. And then there was Zoom - an application used for video conferencing meetings and classes. In addition to requiring those speakers, webcams, and microphones many didn’t have, Zoom also requires installation and training. Jan explained, “We only had twenty Zoom licenses but each faculty member and most staff members needed one. We deployed 125 additional licenses in one week. We also established space to store Zoom classroom recordings for students who were in quarantine and could not attend class.”
“I could not be prouder of the faculty, staff, and students at Wesleyan College. They jumped in, learned the new technology and were patient when things didn’t go as planned. Their willingness to learn new technology and embrace the changes we were forced to make made my job so much easier. The pandemic pushed many in our community to learn things that some never thought possible. As a result, they are more techsavvy and more confident in their abilities to learn new technology. I love that! It is the computer geek in me. This was definitely a group effort by everyone involved.” – Jan Giles Tedders ’08
WESmag SPRING 2021
“I am extremely proud of our accomplishments over the last year. There were times when I was completely overwhelmed. We spent endless hours learning new software, training faculty, staff, students, and coming up with innovative ways to make things happen for the Wesleyan community. It seemed like an impossible task to convert the campus to completely online, but we did it!”
All this within two weeks of the original shelterat-home mandate. Through all of the disorientation, confusion, panic, and frustration, and the reality that literally every event, meeting, and recruiting effort had to be conducted virtually, the CIR team was steadfast in their efforts to make every single thing work. Starting with Honors Day in April, moving through the nursing department pinning and white coat ceremonies, baccalaureate service, candlelighting, senior toast, and commencement (planned for May but held in August), not to mention campus visits, recruiting efforts, and board of trustee meetings – in fact, all meetings – it was up to CIR to figure out how to Zoom and stream all of it to ensure students, families, and trustees continued to feel involved and connected to the College. Jan said, “We didn’t want anyone to miss out on these once-in-a-lifetime experiences even if they couldn’t participate in person. It was hard and took a lot of coordination. I was so stressed during these events because the process was all new to me. I was learning at the same time we were setting everything up. I didn’t want anyone’s experience to be ruined by technical issues. I think I’m a certified Zoom expert now, if there is such a thing!” With spring semester 2020 complete, what was left of everyone’s energy turned to the fall semester. There were still many unknowns about the virus, its spread, and safety precautions. Each day it seemed more unlikely that students would return to “Wesleyan as usual” in August. Because students would need
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to be socially distanced, certain classrooms could no longer be used and larger spaces never intended to be classrooms were set up to serve as such. This required the installation of new technology with each room having different needs. Meeting Owl Pro technology was purchased to provide a hybrid learning environment for students who couldn’t come to class. In addition to training themselves and every faculty member to use the technology, CIR also installed power cords and connection cords along the floors enabling each Owl to be placed on a tripod in the center of the room, and saw that cabinets were installed to store each Owls when not in use. Jan said, “I am extremely proud of our accomplishments over the last year. There were times when I was completely overwhelmed. We spent endless hours learning new software, training faculty, staff, students, and coming up with innovative ways to make things happen for the Wesleyan community. It seemed like an impossible task to convert the campus to completely online, but we did it!” For her extraordinary efforts during spring semester combined with her dedicated twenty years of service to Wesleyan College, Jan earned a 2020 Presidential Staff Award. The award is based on a high level of service, dedication, conscientiousness, and caring above and beyond normal expectations; an extraordinarily positive attitude toward work responsibilities and co-workers; professionalism, integrity, respect for others, and the traits of a positive role model; creativity, initiative, and innovation; and a commitment to excellence.
Wesleyan’s ultimate “chill” room The Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s spiritual leader, says “the mind is definitely something that can be transformed, and meditation is a means to transform it.” Recent neuroscience research seems to support this, showing that meditation can actually make physical changes in the brain and alter its functioning, resulting in positive effects, including increased focus and concentration, enhanced well-being and emotional management, and decreased depression, stress, and anxiety. With this in mind, Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Steven Haberlin created Wesleyan’s Meditation Space, located on the third floor of the Olive Swann Porter building. This space is designed to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for students, staff, and faculty to engage in quiet time, contemplation, reflection, and meditation. Having a space dedicated to self-management, renewal, and wellness, enhances the campus experience for everyone. “Observing the high levels of stress and anxiety our students experience, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, I really wanted to create a space where they could go between classes or during free time just to relax, decompress, and clear their heads…a mental refuge of sorts.” The space was completely renovated this spring and painted in new, soothing shades of sea foam green and white. Natural elements such as a small, working Zen fountain, calming lighting, Zen rocks, and inspirational painted rocks were added. At the center of the room, between the two windows, hangs
a heart formed by two hands to symbolize compassion and love. The room is filled with Zabutons and Zafus—meditative cushions, which are disinfected regularly. On the room’s bulletin board are QR codes featuring guided meditations from renowned contemplative teachers. To make the room “pop” from the outside, the door is painted Wesleyan purple. Hanging near the door is a large photograph of the late Dr. Patrick Pritchard, to whom the space is dedicated. Haberlin plans to use the space for his general education course, EDS 116: Mindfulness & Learning. Inperson meditation workshops will begin again this fall. The room will be available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm for individual use. For more information, contact Dr. Haberlin at shaberlin@wesleyancollege.edu.
“Observing the high levels of stress and anxiety our students experience, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, I really wanted to create a space where they could go between classes or during free time just to relax, decompress, and clear their heads… a mental refuge of sorts.”
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WORKING TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGH COVID-19
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The pandemic has been challenging for students all over the world with reports showing significant increases in rates of depression. According to Wesleyan’s Office of Disability and Advocacy Services (ODAS) Director Jill Amos ’87, recent survey data is alarming. Research from the Healthy Minds Network for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health indicates that eighty-three percent of students have stated their mental health has negatively impacted their academic performance, a major increase from what has been reported in the past. Among American students, ninety-one percent reported their stress and anxiety had increased, thirty percent said they’d sought help for mental health, twenty-six percent reported considering suicide, twelve percent said they had self-harmed, and five percent said they had attempted suicide. While two-thirds of college students surveyed at various institutions reported struggling with loneliness and feelings of isolation, Wesleyan students are also struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and panic attacks. Many of these symptoms have been exacerbated as students struggle with adapting to new social environments, identifying future careers, and worrying about finances. Adding to this are the many hours spent in front of computer screens and smart phones in hybrid classes rather than being in person among their classmates and professors. To combat this, Student Counseling Services (SCS), led by Counselor Myrana Craig, offered virtual and in-person counseling sessions to all students throughout the year. Quarantined students were asked to schedule counseling sessions frequently throughout their quarantine period, and Jill and Myrana were able to reach them virtually, whether they were quarantined on campus or in their homes off campus. They addressed feelings of isolation, ways to maintain mental and emotional health, and how to manage the stress of online classes. Once out of quarantine, students were encouraged to continue counseling sessions to address the stress of transitioning back into campus life. In addition to these efforts, Myrana said, “I partnered with Resident Advisor Tajah
Haywood ’22 to host Counseling Services’ Virtual Charades. It was such a success that I held a second Virtual Charades with a group of quarantined first-year students. The great thing about Virtual Charades was that it was a distraction from their feelings of isolation as students were able to meet and ‘hang out’ with other students. At the end of each event we offered coping strategies.” ODAS has worked to meet not only students’ disability and psychological needs but also their academic needs through the student support team for at-risk students. Additional accommodations have been put in place on-and off-campus for students with immunocompromised conditions to meet specific needs of students who were quarantined or in isolation. Jill explained that the pandemic has caused increased feelings of uncertainty and unknowing creating an invisible and ongoing state of prolonged stress and exhaustion. This is even more difficult for high-achieving students since they cannot find resolution, further propelling feelings of hopelessness. This type of ambiguous loss can cause the same feelings experienced when going through the stages of grief. She said, “In working with students individually and through workshops, I have focused on the concept of ‘surge capacity’ and how students have been depleted of energy, both mentally and physically. Surge capacity is a set of collective capacities we all draw upon for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations. Even if rebuilding takes a while, there is a visual element of transformation and regrowth on the horizon. The pandemic has demonstrated our limitations to these adaptive capacities. In order to move forward, from an urgent phase, we must see renewal. We have not had this with COVID-19 due to its chronic nature. This has led to an anxiety-tainted, depressed state many of us find difficult to overcome. The ‘new normal’ term we have all used, is basically a state of undefined uncertainty.” Myrana agrees. “This year was filled with so much loss from so many areas of life. Several students lost parents,
siblings, and grandparents. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic. Many struggled through a tense presidential election. We have grieved, and continue to grieve over racial tension and unfairness, protests, and riots. I was able to provide grief counseling for many to help them manage their grief as well as to find new meaning for their lives.” In February, SCS created Social Circle, a weekly group therapy session conducted via Zoom. Through seven group therapy sessions, students connected to talk about anything on their minds. They were given weekly social anxiety homework challenges. Social Circle was well received by all who participated. ODAS held a series of self-care workshops titled “Self-Care Isn’t Selfish” that focused on grit, growth, mindset, and resiliency. In April, a full week was devoted to developing a “Culture of CARE” (Community, Accountability, Respect, and Engagement). Tonya Parker ’01 in the office of equity and inclusion and ODAS partnered for “I Care” and “Pay it Forward” days. This included students making it a priority to speak kind words and also writing notes of encouragement and packing care bags for the women living in the Crisis Line Safe House of Middle Georgia shelter. “While there is still work to do, much meaningful and deliberate work has been done by Wesleyan faculty and staff to identify student needs. This is the beauty of Wesleyan and her people. We are a community of CARE every week of every year that focuses on helping our students grow and thrive, even in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Jill. Myrana added, “I believe this year has changed us all forever. We have to work to find new meaning. We all lost something. But I also believe that we learned how resilient we are. As a mental health professional, I expect that over the next year student counseling services will have higher rates of students managing grief, depression, PTSD, family violence, and anxiety.” Special thanks to Jill Amos and Myrana Craig for contributing to this story.
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Nursing Education during a Pandemic
by Sirena S. Fritz, director of the nursing program and associate professor of nursing, and Dr. Dee Tanner, associate professor of nursing The past year has been celebrated as “the year of the nurse,” but nursing education faced unprecedented challenges during the global pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis affected not only nurses on the front lines in acute care, but also nursing students who faced intense changes in their education. In March 2020, Wesleyan’s administration had no choice but to rethink the educational landscape of the College for the remainder of the semester. Out of an abundance of caution for their health and well-being,
and to be in compliance with quarantine measures, nursing students were removed from the clinical setting in hospitals, and like all campus instruction, classes suddenly shifted from in-person to virtual. Even as they adapted to a new learning environment halfway through their final semester, nursing students were mostly concerned that they would be delayed in graduating at a time in history when nurses were needed the most. Determined to continue providing quality educational experiences in a new virtual format, faculty had one week to come up with a plan. Although the classroom and clinicals looked different than before, teaching methods to prepare these future
Wesleyan’s nursing faculty includes (photo, left to right) Sirena Fritz, Nancy Brynteson, Alex Roberts, Heather Melvin, Tonya Harter, Deonna Tanner, Karen Lockwood, and Andrew Wheeler. Not shown, Alexis Hall who serves as nursing program coordinator. 18
Our nursing students have been blessed to see the impact that registered nurses can make in client care and in the healthcare community. The 2020 and 2021 graduates began their careers knowing they are making a real difference in defeating this pandemic.
nurses remained the same. Faculty held didactic classes in virtual classrooms which allowed students to participate in lecture and discussion in a user-friendly format. To ensure they maintained critical clinical competencies, students cared for virtual clients with a multitude of health issues. Certainly the human interactions experienced in a hospital cannot be replaced, but small group discussions about client scenarios were implemented to allow students to apply what they learned in class to identify and prioritize nursing interventions and provide supporting evidence. Faculty encouraged students to learn from one another, thoughtfully reflect on their decisions, and consider what they might do differently next time. Having fewer clinical hours in acute care allowed time for these valuable and thoughtful reflections that would not usually be possible in a busy hospital setting. As the pandemic continues, so does the negative impact on the mental health of nursing students. Students have responded with grace and dignity, but many have expressed feelings of fear, increased stress, anxiety, difficulty focusing, and even grief and loss. Like all of us, they have
experienced disruptions in their personal and professional lives including being isolated from friends, family, and classmates. After months of being reactive to a global health crisis, the nursing faculty and students were finally able to start being proactive by helping the College community move toward a path of normalcy. Between February 1 and May 8, eight vaccine clinics were held on campus, and more than 500 doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered to Wesleyan faculty, staff, and students. The nursing department staffed the clinics, but many people across campus contributed to their success. From the biology department sharing one of its freezers to store the vaccine, to staff members from other departments assisting with check-ins on vaccine day, it was a team effort. We offer a special thank you to CIR Application Support Specialist Sergey Chernokov who worked quickly behind the scenes to build a reservation system for scheduling vaccine appointments. This allowed the nursing department to accurately plan and prepare the correct number of doses for each day.
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A bridge between “I came here to shape students and, in that process, they have shaped me.” So says Kaiya Jennings, Wesleyan’s faith and service coordinator, a new position that is part of both the Lane Center for Service and Leadership and our campus ministries program. In her position, Kaiya is tasked with bringing together two essential elements of the Wesleyan College experience by overseeing service initiatives and faith-based programming. Kaiya sees her top priority as promoting the well-being of Wesleyan’s students and seeks to find ways to cultivate inclusive experiences that focus on community service and spiritual formation.
“I believe that my role is the bridge between service and faith. I want to help our students understand that service is not only a human responsibility but a divine duty. For me, faith informs how we live and service is what drives us to our various destinations. I also feel called to be that listening ear for students trying to navigate the murky waters of life.” Kaiya feels a responsibility not only to help students develop their personal faith but also gain an understanding of their personal calling as they explore life after Wesleyan.
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service and faith Since her arrival in January, Kaiya has wasted no time in getting involved
with the campus community and getting to know students, staff, and faculty along the way. WOW! A Day, Community Table, the International Women’s
Day Festival, and Community Prayer Hour are just a few of the activities that she has helped execute since her arrival. Her goal for next year is to have
more inclusive spaces for spiritual development. Kaiya is working with Dr.
Tyler Schwaller, Wesleyan’s chaplain, and Melissa Rodriguez, director of the
Lane Center, to develop programming for the 2021-2022 school year. Plans include establishing a speaker series to facilitate meaningful conversations
with scholars, activists, and community leaders. Kaiya also hopes to provide more opportunities for our students to serve the Macon area with new and existing community partners.
While Kaiya has been in Macon for only a few months, she already sees the College as a special place, saying she is reminded of the old adage “Good things come in small packages.” She has been struck by the warmth of
students, faculty, and staff. “To be a part of such magic is why I love coming to work every day!”
Kaiya will soon complete her Doctorate of Ministry degree from Duke
University. She is the recipient of this year’s Duke University Chapel’s C.
Eric Lincoln Theology and Arts fellowship and will present an exhibition of audio recordings and photography documenting the testimonies of Black
women pastors. Kaiya holds a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University.
She graduated from Virginia State University with a degree in psychology.
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NATURE CLUB In hopes of getting others interested in exploring the natural world around them through hikes, lake clean-ups, academic excursions, birding, and more, a group of Wesleyan students created the Nature Club in 2020. Jordan Looney ’21, a senior psychology major and Nature Club president, credits Wesleyan for sparking her interest in the outdoors and her desire to start the club. “I was never a big nature person before enrolling at Wesleyan,” said Looney. “I started getting more connected with nature because of the College’s outdoor spaces. I grew to love the arboretum and exploring around the lake. My friend and I would go on hikes out there all of the time.” The Nature Club’s mission is to get students outside. Looney feels that the club can be a perfect way to get students outdoors and having fun, especially while social distancing guidelines are in place. “All students have the chance to experience and enjoy Wesleyan’s natural surroundings,” said Looney. “Everyone should go outside and enjoy it. I don’t know of many colleges that have an arboretum, a pergola, or a lake. I think it’s really cool that we have so much to offer.” Looney graduated in May and she knows that the future of the club is in good hands. “It’s really refreshing to see club members’ excitement,” said Looney. “I was happy to hand everything off because they want to do great; they will do great.”
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BIRD’S NEST Early in the spring semester, Jim Ferrari, Wesleyan’s department chair for biology and arboretum director, and students in his conservation biology lab class built nest boxes (nest tubes) in hopes of attracting Rough-winged Swallows to nest. A summer bird, these swallows arrive as early as mid-March but typically come to the area in May and June to nest and raise their young. In previous years, Ferrari noticed that swallows would fly around campus showing interest in using it as a place to lay eggs, but would leave without nesting. Because they typically nest in tunnels or tree cavities highly coveted by many other species, he surmised they left due to limited nest site locations. This gave rise to his idea of creating boxes to help the swallows while providing a fun educational project for his students. “I thought it could be a great teaching opportunity for my conservation biology students,” said Ferrari. “It was a different type of lab that was similar to a woodshop where we’d build something and [if the birds nest] give students an opportunity to monitor them, band them, and hopefully recapture the birds in a future year.” Ferrari designed the boxes and cut all the lumber pieces himself, but left everything else to his students. “It was all very hands-on
working with tools,” said Ferrari. “The students had to drill the holes, put the hinges on, mount the plastic tube, and assemble the boxes themselves. For a lot of them, it was the first time that they had used a drill or tried to make something out of wood.” The students assembled ten boxes, each having three feet of PVC pipe simulating a tunnel with a wooden box at one end. Inside each box is an endoscope (a thick wire with a video camera at the end) that sends the image via Bluetooth back to the classroom. When completed, they were suspended over the roof of Munroe Science Center with the hope that swallows see the openings and might decide to lay their eggs there. The class plans to leave the boxes in place for a few months to monitor activity in the nests. Ferrari believes that the project was beneficial for his class. “I think they enjoyed it. It was a pretty different project than what we’d usually do. A lot of people in our department build their own apparatuses. I felt it was important to show the students some basic skills working with wood, screwdrivers, and tools, allowing them to develop those skills, and most importantly, demonstrating they are capable and giving them the confidence to bring to fruition their own ideas. The project turned out to be very satisfying.”
SUSTAINING OUR NATURAL HISTORY Established 100 years apart, Wesleyan College and Ocmulgee Mounds National Park (the Mounds) have more in common than just the city in which they reside. Both Macon treasures are lucky to have passionate Wesleyan women who care about the environment.
BIRDS ON CAMPUS Not all college memories come from sitting in a classroom or attending an event. For many Wesleyan students, one of the most lasting impressions of their College experience is time spent in the arboretum. From its beautiful trees, to its hiking trails, creeks, and wildlife, the arboretum is a standout feature of our campus. One of the main attractions is the vast array of birds that call it home. “I took a class with Dr. Ferrari (Wesleyan’s department chair for biology and arboretum director) last year and it introduced me to the birds we have in our own backyard,” said Jordan Looney ’21, a senior psychology major and nature club president. Wesleyan is a sanctuary to more than 150 species of resident and migratory birds. Students have the unique opportunity to see firsthand the multitude of birds and how they are beneficial to not only the campus but to the community. “We’d walk around the lake with Dr. Ferrari and count the different species and every once in a while we’d see a really rare one,” said Looney. “The last time I went we saw a huge Red-shouldered Hawk. It was cool to see it in person. I never realized how many
different types of birds we have right here on campus.” Accredited by the Morton Registry of Arboreta in 2013, the arboretum comprises 100 acres of mixed pine and hardwood forest and lies within the boundaries of campus. More than 100 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines provide habitat for a diverse assortment of salamanders, snakes, lizards, mammals, and birds. The five-acre Foster Lake, three streams, and seasonal rain pools are home to nine species of turtles, fourteen species of frogs, and both native and game fish. The Dice Anderson Cabin, built in 1938, restored in 1990, and renovated in 2011, and the Ellen Ann Edenfield Pavilion, built in 2011, serve as rustic focal points for classes, meetings, and special events. More than three miles of trails interlace the forest and provide year-round opportunities for strolling, hiking, and crosscountry running. The area is a remarkable resource not only for recreation and reflection, but also for use as an outdoor learning laboratory that promotes a nature-smart curriculum for Wesleyan faculty and students, as well as for local teachers and school children, youth organizations, researchers, and residents.
Wesleyan alumnae Christina Valdes ‘19 and Zoe Nuhfer ‘19 are biological science technicians at the Mounds and both earned their degrees in environmental studies and sustainability. Elizabeth Mackler ‘21, an intern at the national park and also an environmental studies and sustainability major, has been learning a lot from her Wesleyan sisters. Together, they are working on an important habitat restoration project at the Mounds that involves clearing a section of invasive species to do a habitat restoration project. They will be planting rivercane, a native bamboo species ecologically important for wetlands that has cultural significance for the indigenous peoples that once occupied the land. “Christina and Zoe have given me so much advice, but the most notable would be to a self-advocate. Tell your supervisor about the wins, not just the problems or questions,” said Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s plans after graduation are to become an interpretive park ranger. “This job’s key function is to create original content to raise awareness and understanding about the respective park’s historical, cultural, or environmental information and significance which is something I value a lot.” The goal of the environmental studies and sustainability curriculum at Wesleyan is to prepare students for careers in a diverse spectrum of environmental employment positions ranging from research scientist to writer to educator to political lobbyist while developing a conscientious concern for the world in which we live.
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“My children call me
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their superhero” For eleven years, Andrea McLendon ’20 was determined to earn her bachelor’s degree despite obstacles that kept getting in her way. During her academic journey, this wife and mother to five children battled cancer while working full-time as a supervisor and coach in the service department at GEICO. Having previously studied biology at Fort Valley State University, she transferred to Wesleyan’s online business degree program* as a junior and changed her major to business administration. Some of her credits didn’t transfer, but she was able to finish her degree in just eighteen months. With assistance from Online Academic Advisor Shara Veda and Wesleyan’s association with Acadeum (formerly College Consortium), Andrea found equivalent classes online at other schools when Wesleyan was not offering what she needed to stay on track in her program. She says her husband and children kept her motivated. “I wanted to get my degree to show my daughters that even though life gives you some harsh realities, you can change the trajectory of your life. You still can choose to be great. My mother has always told me that you can change anything above six feet, meaning if you’re not dead and buried, it’s never too late.”
“I wanted to get my
Andrea credits Associate Professor of Accounting Kara Kostiuk for guiding her to not be afraid to speak up or voice her opinions - to stand strong in her truth and never be ashamed of the setbacks that made Andrea the person she is today. “By participating in group projects, I learned that everyone has a different way of learning and that I can get my point across while not making the other person feel wrong or inferior. I also learned about sisterhood - you don’t have to be blood to be family.”
can change the trajectory
Andrea is a fighter who is determined to be the best version of herself. “Everything I do in life is for the betterment of my family and to show my daughters how to be a strong woman, how to stand for who you are, and how to take accountability for everything you do.”
meaning if you’re not
To other women who are balancing family, work, and school Andrea says, “It doesn’t matter how smart you are but how determined you are and how much you want it and are willing to push past everything and everyone to go for it. No excuses, just solutions.” * Wesleyan offers 100% online degree programs in business, accounting, and applied psychology.
degree to show my daughters that even though life gives you some harsh realities, you of your life. You still can choose to be great. My mother has always told me that you can change anything above six feet, dead and buried, it’s never too late.” Andrea’s rock and support system is her husband Charles. Her children are 10-year-old Kimmari, Charlysia 4, Genese, 3, Analiyah 2, and Charles who is a newborn.
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Motivation leads to
success
In January 2015, Mary Harper ’21 from Rayle, Georgia, the mother of three beautiful little girls and a son who was less than a year old, was working at a local restaurant a few nights a week and focusing on raising her children. She had taken courses at Georgia Southern University right after high school, but says she was not prepared for college at the age of eighteen. Sixteen years later, at the age of thirty-four, Mary was ready to continue her academic journey at Wesleyan College.
Photo Credit: M + H photography 26
For a while, she continued to work while attending school, serving as an office manager and waiting tables when she had available childcare. During her second year at Wesleyan, she had another son. “I’ve had to learn what to prioritize and how to balance work and being a mom, a wife, and a student. I still question myself every single night on decisions I made that day. I’ve also had to learn how to show myself grace, which is way easier said than done.”
In May, Mary graduated cum laude with majors in history and religious studies. For the first time in her children’s lives, she is a stay-at-home mom and plans to begin Wesleyan’s master’s program in industrialorganizational psychology in the fall to prepare for a career in human resources. “I cannot say enough about the amazing staff and faculty that have provided me with the encouragement and support I needed more than they knew, especially during my manic moments of doubt and frustration that usually happen around the end of each semester when EVERYTHING is due.” Mary credits several people for their support including “Dr. Steneck (associate professor of history) for his unwavering patience and pragmatism that kept me grounded, Dr. Donovan (professor of political science) for the solid critical thinking skills and for always having my back, Dr. Bray (assistant professor of religious studies and philosophy) for the invaluable life counsel and theology that you can’t find in books, Dr. Schwaller (assistant professor of religious studies) for being a shining light and a true example of grace, and Dean (of students) Henry for never letting me slip through the crack that I was always trying to slide myself into. Lastly, to all of them - thank you for seeing something in me that I couldn’t even see in myself.” Mary says the best advice she can give to other moms is to know that it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and it’s okay to be unsure if you’re giving enough time to each role. “Remember that you are not alone. Being a mama is hard. Building a career is stressful. Balancing that with school seems impossible, but you’ve got this!” Mary’s motivators include her husband Marco, and her children Kambry 12, Kayden 10, Korben 8, Knox 6, and Knight 5.
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Life after
graduation From HERE From HERE From HERE to to CAREER toCAREER CAREER LAST YEAR’S CLASS OF 2020 WAS THE FIRST TO COMPLETE ALL FOUR YEARS UNDER THE PLAN.
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Wesleyan College’s class of 2020 was the first to complete all four years of the signature From Here to Career program. Led by the Center for Career Development (CCD), From Here to Career ensures that undergraduate students engage with career development and exploration throughout all four years of their undergraduate experience. In addition to meeting the general education and subject requirements for their major(s) and minor(s), all undergraduate students are required to complete a professional practice seminar and a professional development experience (PDE) prior to graduation. Nursing and education majors are exempt from these requirements since experiential learning is already a major component of their curriculum. Wesleyan College students engage in career exploration beginning in their first semester. They complete a Focus2 assessment in WIS 110: Transition to College and are
encouraged to attend events hosted by the CCD. The sophomore year is the ideal time for exploration. During this time, students are encouraged to consider potential career paths and identify opportunities to build their skills and to add to their resumes. Most students are eligible to complete their professional development experience by the beginning of their junior year. The four experience categories include an internship, research, a performance or exhibit, and a leadership experience that develops civic/community engagement. Every PDE must have three specific learning outcomes and a strategy for achieving each. In addition to the PDE, the professional practice seminar allows students to explore important topics that are relevant to their life after graduation. Topics include career decisionmaking strategies, professional communication in job and graduate school applications, and financial literacy. With this training, students feel more prepared to enter into
their senior year with the tools they need to finalize their post-graduation plans. In addition to approving all PDEs and providing one-on-one appointments, the CCD also holds events each semester that are open to all Wesleyan students. Throughout the 202021 academic year, the CCD hosted a series of alumnae panels and career conversations, giving students the opportunity to interact with alumnae and talk about various aspects of post-undergraduate life. Most events were held virtually, which allowed Wesleyan graduates from across the country to participate, and all were recorded so that they could be viewed by those who were not in attendance.
We are grateful to the following alums for their participation in CCD events this year: Nanette Antwi-Donkor ’04 Sarah Belflower ’18 Danielle Cutter ’06 Amber Davis ’19 Madison McCarty Ernest ’15
The career conversations and panels spotlighting humanities majors, exploring careers in business, and offering a “real talk” discussion have enabeled students to see Wesleyan’s liberal arts mission come to life. The alumnae participants have been great examples of not being confined to one specific career path after graduation, and students learned that they will collect experiences that allow them to grow, develop, and pivot throughout their professional journeys.
Cheyenne Foster ’12
CCD Director Dr. Mallory Neil says, “I believe a valuable part of these information sessions is students having an opportunity to hear about job positions for the very first time. For a long time, it has been the belief that choosing a specific major dictated the trajectory of your entire career path, but that is no longer the case. It is my hope that through these sessions with alumnae, students will see examples of how careers evolve and change over time, and that their dream career may be a job they don’t even know exists.” She also notes that these events have led students to make appointments with the CCD to ask questions and to explore new career ideas.
Shanita Douglas Miller ’06
Special thanks to Dr. Mallory Neil for her contributions to this story.
Pragna Halder ’08 Lauren Haney Provost ’03 Wallace Hudson ’15 Joy Mastrangelo Kaczor ’96 Jessica Kendrick Thomas ’08 Jake Kryjak ’17 Debbie Stevenson Moses ’89 Zoe Nuhfer ’19 Mitsu Clark Parker ’94 Maricka Rogers-Randall ’88 Christina Valdes ’19 Najah Yasin Webb ’13 If you are interested in participating in an event with the Center for Career Development, please contact Dr. Neil at mneil@wesleyancollege.edu.
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2021
On May 15, 2021, 106 Wesleyan College students received their diplomas at a very special outdoor commencement ceremony held on the Quad.
Twenty-five students earned their bachelor of science in nursing degrees. The top five majors for the eighty-one students who earned their bachelor of arts degrees were business administration, psychology, biology, English, and music. Twenty-four graduates earned double majors and almost forty percent graduated with honors. Members of the Class of 2021 have reported graduate school acceptances to Emory University, Boston University, University of Sydney (Australia), University of Edinburgh (Scotland), University of Georgia, University of California Irvine, Clemson University, University of Rochester, Auburn University, Arcadia University, and Georgia State University. Two will be earning their master’s degrees at Wesleyan. Others are entering the workforce at local hospitals and schools, GEICO, Georgia Farm Bureau, and a Macon CPA firm. Several are completing full-time internships at Tennessee State Park; Ministerio de Educación (Spain); American Bear Association; Argus Eyed Partners; and Visit Macon.
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CAPTURE THE MOMENTS
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106
40%
TOTAL GRADS
HONOR GRADS
24
25
DOUBLE MAJORS
NURSING GRADS WESmag SPRING 2021
C a m p u s Ne w s
Wesleyan Honors Students, Faculty, and Staff at Annual Awards Ceremony Wesleyan College held its annual Honors and Awards Convocation on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. This event honors students, faculty, and staff for their work in the classroom as well as on campus. This year’s event was held with limited/socially distanced seating in Porter Auditorium and was live streamed so family and community members could enjoy the event on their devices all around the country. Eve Stump ’21 received the highest student-nominated honor, Wesleyan Student of the Year. Given each year to a graduating senior, this award is based on three principal traits: leadership, dedication to the Wesleyan community, and friendship to others. Eve served as Red Class president her senior year, as a Junior Marshal, a resident advisor, a biology teaching assistant and tutor, and was co-captain of Hyperion, Wesleyan’s color guard team. A biology pre-med major,
she plans to spend the next year focusing on clinical and medical experiences in the field before attending medical school in the fall of 2022. Kayla Nobles ’21 was honored as Wesleyan Student of Success, an award given annually to a junior or senior who stands out in academics, community service, and extracurricular activities. While on campus, Kayla volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and participated in community vaccine clinics, the College’s mental health fair, and WOW! A Day for Wesleyan. She also volunteered at blood drives, Relay For Life walk, and other community outreaches, earned a spot on the National Student Nursing Association board, and contributed to the Wesleyan Nursing newsletter. Kayla graduated in May with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and has accepted a position at Atrium Navicent Health on the ortho/trauma floor.
Head Equestrian Coach and Director of the Equestrian Center Catherine Baker and Student Affairs Program Coordinator Theresa Abercrombie were each honored with a Presidential Staff Award. Theresa Abercrombie was also honored as SGA Staff Member of the Year. Assistant Dean for Equity and Inclusion Tonya Parker ’01, was honored with the SGA Faculty/Staff Workhorse Award. Faculty award winners included Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Tyler Schwaller who received the SGA Professor of the Year and also the Ann Munck Excellence in Teaching Award; Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Deonna Tanner, the Quillian Distinguished Teaching Award; and Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Steven Haberlin, the Vulcan Materials Company Teaching Excellence Award.
Award winners pictured with President Fowler (left) and Provost Blake (right)
Steven Haberlin, Tyler Schwaller, and Deonna Tanner
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Tyler Schwaller, Theresa Abercrombie, and Tonya Parker ’01
Stallworth honored with Sullivan Award
Dr. Joseph A. Iskra, Jr. named Professor Emeritus of Mathematics
Congratulations to Natalie Stallworth ’21 for receiving the 2021 Mary Mildred Sullivan Award for excellence in character, leadership, service to the community, and commitment to spiritual values. The Sullivan Award is the only award presented to a graduating senior during commencement. A Faith and Service Leadership scholar who earned double majors in English and advertising and marketing communication, magna cum laude, Natalie participated in service initiatives all four years at Wesleyan. Natalie logged more than 270 service hours in four years - twice the average for college students - through Aunt Maggie’s Kitchen Table, WOW! A Day, and other service projects. She served as an admissions ambassador, a writing center tutor, a contributing writer for HerCampus, and as the managing editor of Wesleyan’s Literary and Art Journal. Natalie plans to continue her education after graduation. In 2012, Wesleyan College was selected to be part of the highly respected Algernon Sydney & Mary Mildred Sullivan Awards program, created a century ago to honor its two namesakes who set a high standard for character and service. Each year we give the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award to a graduating senior during commencement – to the one student who best exemplifies excellence in character, leadership, service to the community, and commitment to spiritual values.
Herbert Preston and Marian Haley endowed chair in mathematics, Dr. Joseph A. Iskra, Jr., retired in May after serving Wesleyan College for thirty-eight years. Before coming to Wesleyan he taught at Aquinas Junior College in Nashville while finishing his Ph.D. at Vanderbilt. During his time at Wesleyan, Joe served as chair of faculty council twice, as chair of the department of mathematics, as director of the mathematics program, and taught more than twenty-two different mathematics classes. He was successful in publishing papers and was a sought-after presenter at conferences. Joe said when he first came to Wesleyan College in 1983, he was attracted by its location, which was geographically midway between family members and friends. Joining a group of knowledgeable colleagues dedicated to women’s education, and especially those who contributed to advancing the role of women in STEM fields, quickly became his reason for staying. The Wesleyan College Board of Trustees votes to honor retiring faculty who have made a significant and lasting impact on the Wesleyan community by bestowing upon them the title Professor Emeritus. During commencement exercises in May, Provost Melody Blake announced that Joe earned this honor with all the rights, privileges, and honors appertaining thereto.
WESmag SPRING 2021
C a m p u s Ne w s
#Legs Feed the Wolf It was disappointing news for athletes and coaches alike when the USA South Athletic Conference announced on March 12, 2020 that all regular season sporting events were canceled for the remainder of the academic year due to the unknown health risks surrounding the COVID-19 virus. The 2020 spring semester ended with hopes that the pandemic would be contained during summer months and that athletic events would resume as usual in the fall. However on July 28, with the health and safety of student athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletics staff as their priority, the presidents of the USA South Athletic Conference schools voted unanimously to postpone all fall Conference competition until the spring 2021 semester. The sports included women’s soccer, volleyball, and cross country. The decision was made in light of several factors, including the rise in positive COVID-19 cases throughout the USA South’s geographical footprint. During these months, Wesleyan athletes continued aggressive practice and conditioning schedules in anticipation of returning to competition after the holidays. Coaches and athletes were thrilled on December 4 when the USA South Athletic Conference approved
Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach Penny Siqueiros said, “Thanks to President Fowler’s support, all sports teams were able to hold competitive playing seasons this spring. I truly appreciate our coaches’ efforts. Each coach worked tirelessly in both the fall and spring seasons to ensure our athletes were engaged, challenged, and prepared for competition.” During the last eighteen months, Wesleyan athletes shared a range of emotions that included both disappointments and triumphs. Exhibiting great dedication, maturity, sportsmanship, talent, and teamwork, they ended the 2020-2021 academic year with great accomplishments and achievements, proving that the Wesleyan Wolves are serious about their sports. Wesleyan is proud of all the athletes who have joined the pack and worked so hard to help their teams have impressive seasons despite a year of tough obstacles. Below you’ll find a few highlights. GO WOLVES!
Wesleyan Athlete of the Year: Kimmy Dick, softball
Second Team West Division Outfield: Lauran Allbritton
Wesleyan Scholar Athlete of The Year: Alison Strout, equestrian
USA South All-Sportsmanship Award: Kaitlyn Bennett
Wesleyan Spirit of The Wolf: Kelly Ann Matthews, soccer Wesleyan Multi-Sport Athlete: Kaitlyn Bennett, softball and track
SOCCER
USA South All-Sportsmanship Award: Nadia Al-Shihabi
4x100m Second Team All-Conference: Kaitlyn Bennett, Aliyah Green, Imani Higginbotham, Annmary Melendez Arce USA South All-Sportsmanship Award: Imani Higginbotham
EQUESTRIAN
SOFTBALL
BASKETBALL
USA South All-Sportsmanship Award: Ahnila Owens
International Horse Show Association Region 5 Zone 3 Team placed 7th – Daebreon Buie, Emily Evans, Nicole Gaddis, Margaret Howard, Jessica Hurst, Shayla Knight, Audrey Mecklenburg, Annmary Melendez Arce, Charlotte Reagor, Josie Scordato, Alison Strout
All-Conference Catcher: Savannah Pollock
TRACK
Sportsmanship Award: Margaret Howard
Highest GPA Team Award: Equestrian 2021 USA South All-Conference and All-Division Teams
All-Conference At-Large: Kimmy Dick. First Team West Division Catcher: Savannah Pollock First Team West Division At-Large: Kimmy Dick
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the playing of postponed fall sports within the spring semester. “The fall sports, now to take place during the spring semester months, will begin play in midFebruary and conclude in mid-April.”
VOLLEYBALL
USA South All-Sportsmanship Award: Lativa Ray
2021 USA South All-Conference Team In its first year, Wesleyan’s track team competed in five events at the USA South Track and Field Championships.
IHSA First Team All-Academic: Daebreon Buie, Emily Evans, Margaret Howard, Shayla Knight, Josie Scordato ISHA Second Team All-Academic: Nicole Gaddis, Jessica Hurst, Audrey Mecklenburg, Alison Strout
Patrick Calvin Pritchard April 3, 1950 - March 6, 2021 On Saturday, March 6, 2021, Wesleyan’s beloved Pat Pritchard, Wesleyan professor emeritus of education and alumnae chair of education, passed away in his sleep at his home in Macon, Georgia. He had spent the previous day surrounded by friends, family, and music. Students in Wesleyan’s Education Department had the privilege of learning from Pat for more than twenty years, until his retirement in May 2019. The profound impact he had on so many people is clear within beautiful tributes from family, friends, colleagues, students, and alumnae. Comments include: “The things he taught me have lasted a lifetime.” “I wonder if he could ever know what an elixir his life of encouragement and joy was and will be to those who knew him, and the change he made in the world one heart at a time.” “You loved and were deeply loved.” “By the end of my senior year he was beyond a mentor, he was my friend.” Pat was honored in 2002 with the Quillian Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2011 with The United Methodist Church Exemplary Teacher Award. He founded Wesleyan’s Music in the Arboretum program and Wolves in the Woods Week, and co-founded the Annual Pioneer Fest, the Annual Arboretum Fundraiser Concert, and the Storytelling Festival which ran for eighteen consecutive years. He also served as co-director of Wesleyan’s Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program (GaTAPP). During commencement exercises in May 2019, Provost Melody Blake bestowed upon Pritchard the honor of Professor Emeritus. He is one of only fourteen Wesleyan faculty members to receive this honor. Wesleyan’s newly created Meditation Space in the Olive Swann Porter building is dedicated in honor of Pat.
“Pat’s reach goes far, wide, and deep across the many students lucky enough to have had him for a class. His impact on the kinds of teachers they’ve become cannot be denied. His passion, humor, and loyalty will live on in those who knew him and loved him best.” – Dr. Virginia Bowman Wilcox ’90, friend and colleague
CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Library Director Kristi Peavy and Archivist Virginia Blake are working on a grant that will tell the story of Wesleyan through artifacts and narratives. They are looking for volunteers who would be interested in helping research or write brief narratives related to the artifacts. Most of the information has been digitized, and some of this can be done remotely. If interested, contact Kristi Peavy kpeavy@wesleyancollege.edu or (478) 757-5201 or Virginia Blake vblake@wesleyancollege.edu or (478) 757-5274. WESmag SPRING 2021
a Violin’s Journey Home
A beautiful violin crafted in the style of Giuseppe Guadagnini 1793 of Italy and of German origin circa 1870, has traveled the world in its approximate 151 years and now has been returned to Wesleyan College by concert violinist Claire Michaels Murray ’52, its proud owner for the past 69 years. The antique violin is accompanied by two beautiful bows that, in the hands of a talented violinist like Claire, have created lively, eloquent, introspective, sensuous, vibrant music while evoking emotions on every level. Claire Michaels from West Palm Beach, FL, entered Wesleyan College’s Conservatory in 1949 as a first-year student to study violin with nationally recognized music faculty, particularly violin professor Beatrice Horsbrugh from England. Claire began playing violin when she was nine years old and her parents recognized her as a young prodigy. Joseph Maerz, Wesleyan’s renowned music professor, soon recognized that Claire’s talents were worthy of a very special violin – one that had belonged to his late wife, Glenn Priest Maerz, a well-known concert violinist. Following Glenn’s death, Papa Maerz was approached by many Maconites
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who wanted to purchase the beautiful violin, but he declined their offers, knowing that the right violinist would soon come along. That young violinist was Claire. By the time of her graduation in 1952, Joseph Maerz knew without a doubt that he wanted Claire to have his beloved wife’s instrument, and he approached her parents about making this purchase for their daughter. Mr. Michaels purchased the violin for his daughter at the time of her graduation for the sum of $500, and it has remained in her possession until now.
This well-loved instrument and its two bows were sold to Glenn Priest’s father in 1897 by H. R. Knopf, artistic bow and violin maker in New York City. With the purchase of the violin came the following note from Mr. Knopf:
together. Soon after her husband’s death, Claire bought a second home in Augusta where Artie lived so that the two of them could practice together. Memorable performances by these two included a concert at Sacred Heart Cultural Center in Augusta as a fundraiser for Wesleyan’s Leap
“Your letter and check received with many thanks. The violin my agent sold you is really a very fine instrument, and better as many others which cost double the price or more. I believe it to be a genuine Joseph Guadagnini, the son of Joanes Baptista. I purchased it from a collector in upper Italy and the man valued it very highly.” Joseph Maerz wrote to Mr. Michaels in 1952 about the instrument: “From the time of the violin’s purchase by Mr. Priest (my wife’s father), the instrument has never been out of her possession. It was the concert violin of Glenn Priest who played it in practically every city of importance in the United States. It was well known to and admired by such artists as Franz Kneisel, Fritz Kreisler, Jacques Thibaud, and other violinists in Boston and New York.” As a student at Wesleyan’s Conservatory, Claire remembers that Bill Toole was her first accompanist, but he was soon followed by her talented pianist classmate Artemesia Dennis. Together, Claire and Artie represented the Conservatory by performing more than 300 times during their years at Wesleyan, and they remained the closest of friends for more than 70 years. Claire continued her violin training by earning her master’s degree at Louisiana State University, and then served as a public school teacher of orchestral instruments for many years. While teaching, she continued to perform, always with her exceptional violin, and became the Jackson Mississippi Symphony Orchestra’s “concert mistress,” the feminine term for the leader of the first violins and usually the assistant to the conductor. Over the years, Claire and Artie continued to perform
Claire is shown on the left, playing her violin.
of Faith Campaign in 2003 and another held in Macon’s Little Carnegie of the South, known for celebrating excellence in the arts. According to Louise Barfield, founder and director, “Claire Michaels Murray deserves accolades for her passion, commitment, and beautiful expression of herself through music. She was outstanding at Little Carnegie of the South when she performed for an extremely appreciative audience. I’ll always remember that very special concert.” Wesleyan Music Professor Dr. Michael McGhee was struck by the violin’s beauty and outstanding condition and is eager to hear it played again. He hopes that he and a talented colleague can perform a concert together next year to celebrate the instrument’s return to Wesleyan College. The violin will be kept securely as a valuable addition to Wesleyan’s newly renovated archives unless it is being played.
WESmag SPRING 2021
WESLEYAN FIRST: A Message from the WCAA Alumnae President Dear Wesleyannes, Every time. It still gets me every time. Each spring when I visit local high schools to present the Wesleyan First Award, I am renewed in mind, spirit, and soul. For the seniors, the prospect of embarking on the “next step” and the hope of what’s to come are palpable in the air at the gymnasiums and auditoriums during these honors ceremonies. Always, I am humbled to participate in these events, and always, I am proud to provide this opportunity to a surprised young woman on behalf of the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association. Having presented the awards virtually last spring, the return to in-person was welcomed. After noticing my arrival at one honors program, a school counselor walked over to tell me that the student about to receive the award would be elated. Having been pointed out by her daughter, the mother then approached me. The mother had heard about an award presentation two days earlier at another school across the county. She was nervous, thinking somehow this would change her daughter’s odds of receiving it (even though I’d personally called to make sure she knew to attend the event for this very reason). And did she attend! Along with a host of supporters in the bleachers who celebrated when I announced her daughter’s x
name: siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and even her mother’s work supervisor in tow. Extremely excited and humbled, the recipient shared that she’d watched me hand out the award for six years, and had sworn she was coming to Wesleyan, even if she didn’t receive the award! Sisters! This award has the potential to be life-changing in a multitude of ways. And not just for these students, but for their families and communities. Just like Wesleyan shaped you and I for the better, you know this to be true. And you can do this. As an alumna, you have the right to share the one-page nomination form with a school counselor to facilitate this award right where you are. Please consider learning more about the ease of giving this award and commit to trying this next year. If I can claim responsibility for the enrollment of four current Wesleyan students, so can you! The other benefit of this award is that it may be instrumental in saving the life of Wesleyan, as women’s institutions continue to close; most recently it was Judson College. Friends, it is certain that colleges will close without students to sustain them, and Wesleyan is no exception. Wesleyan needs our support by helping provide steady enrollment. While I will soon be vacating my position as president of
Wesleyan First Award recipient Lainey Hendrix from Portal High School in Statesboro, GA, with WCAA President Abbie Lacienski.
the WCAA board of managers, I pledge to remain “true, faithful, and loyal” by continuing to support the College in the ways I can. Sisters, my parting words to you are, “Please continue to choose Wesleyan so others can, too.”
Abbie Smoak Lacienski ’01 For more information about the Wesleyan First Award, a program developed by the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association, and how you can present awards to high-school students in your area, contact WesleyanBOM@gmail.com or admissions@wesleyancollege.edu
A Message from the Incoming Alumnae President Dear Wesleyan Sisters: I am honored to serve Wesleyan as president of the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association for the next three years. There has never been a better time for alumnae from across the generations to engage with Wesleyan and I invite you to join me in that engagement. As Wesleyan’s largest constituency, we have a responsibility to the students at Wesleyan today, a responsibility we accepted when we read the Benson Charge as seniors. The Association’s first constitution says that it is our responsibility as alumnae to contribute to the strength and prosperity of our Alma Mater. The objectives expressed in the first constitution also include reviving girlhood friendships. I find myself often wondering what the italicized words mean for the Association and for each alumna today. We would probably use different words in 2021. Yet, the meaning of those original words is actually pretty simple. They mean we should remain connected with each other and with Wesleyan, and that we should give back … regardless. Wesleyan celebrates more ethnic and religious diversity among her students than is found on most college campuses of similar size. That diversity makes Wesleyan unique and provides our graduates with a firm foundation for success in a world that is increasingly more global. The College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and
inclusion (DEI) has grown at least in part out of the student body influence as students have the opportunity to learn from and value each other. As alumnae, it is our responsibility to journey and grow with Wesleyan, to join Wesleyan in the commitment to DEI, to celebrate Wesleyan, to celebrate alumnae accomplishments, to encourage students, to hold the tension that a diverse campus community may create while encouraging that same diversity, to honor and support our sisters, to gently push Wesleyan and each other, and to listen to and learn from students. The WCAA Board of Managers takes our role of encouraging alumnae engagement seriously. We have been working over the last year on a program we hope to roll out with the 2021-2022 academic year that will facilitate communications between Wesleyan and her alumnae through channels already in place through our various networks. Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead the Alumnae Association these next few years. I, along with the rest of the WCAA Board of Managers, welcome your support and input at any time.
Jan M. Lawrence ’80
WESmag SPRING 2021
AlumnaeCONNECTIONS
The Best of Both Worlds. As we move forward this year, alumnae are waxing nostalgic for the “way it used to be” with that shared hope coming from a place where sisterhood meets memories that bind us together as Wesleyan women. While our virtual realities have provided new and creative ways to connect with each other using the convenience of technology, nothing takes the place of more personal interaction with our sisters. As we grow and build a more resilient Wesleyan network, our goal is to use the best of both worlds - virtual and personal - to continue to connect with each other. To schedule a virtual or in-person alumnae or class event, mentor a student, and/or volunteer for the WCAA, contact the Alumnae Office at csnow@wesleyancollege.edu (478) 757-5173 or the WCAA Board of Managers at WesleyanBOM@gmail.com. Alumnae events listed below were held after January 1, 2021.
Florida
Virtual Alumnae Midday Meet-Ups
Tallahassee alumnae enjoyed a twist on tradition when they held a first-time virtual Spring Luncheon Meeting in March. Assistant Professor of Nursing and Director for the BSN Program Sirena Fritz was the guest speaker whose topic was COVID-19 and Wesleyan. Many thanks to Virginia Barber Perkins ’63 who coordinated the event and to alumnae hostesses Shari Richardson Arrington ’71, Bootsie Laslie Brinson Bird ’58, and Martha Herring Stubbs ’68, who contacted alumnae about the event. President Vivia Fowler and Alumnae Director Cathy Coxey Snow ’71 also attended.
Conservatory Days: A look back at the life and times of Wesleyan Conservatory alumnae with Director of the Library Kristi Peavy and Wesleyan Archivist Virginia Blake who presented a brief history of the Conservatory and School of Fine Arts. Cathy Snow moderated a discussion with Conservatory alumnae as they shared memories of what student life was like on the College Street campus.
Tallahassee
Rebellious Women. Alumnae celebrated Women’s History Month in March when they joined Curator of Collections Lisa Sloben ’00 and her student assistants for a guided Virtual Tour of Wesleyan’s Women’s Suffrage Exhibition: Rebellious Women that was on display in the College’s East Gallery.
Georgia Atlanta
In January, a Purple Briefcase Seminar for Atlanta alumnae featured CCD Director Dr. Mallory Neil who discussed Wesleyan’s mentoring program. The Club held a virtual annual Atlanta Club Scholarship Fundraiser during the month of February and raised more than $2,000 for the fund that benefits local Wesleyan students. Atlanta Book Club participants focused on discussing the book Sula in March.
Macon
In March, Macon alumnae hosted a pre-Easter Grab & Go Easter Bag Hunt for all residential students. More than 350 bags were made for the event that included a Picnic on the Quad. Club volunteers were on hand to connect with students. In May, the Club sponsored a Reading Day Cookie Break where members provided homemade treats for students headed into exam week.
North Carolina
North Carolina Triangle Club (Raleigh/Durham)
Club members gathered virtually for their annual meeting/ luncheon in January. Guest speakers from the College included President Fowler, Advancement Officer Susan Brown Allen ’17, and Cathy Snow. The Club’s Pioneer Book Club continues to meet in outdoor spaces provided by Club co-leader Pamela Henry Pate ’71.
Lunch & Learn with the President / Provost Alumnae zoomed-in on the second Wednesday of each month to join in conversations with President Vivia Fowler or with Provost Melody Blake and their special guests from the College, each sharing information on a different aspect of campus life. Cathy Snow moderated Meet & Greet times before each session. Missed a session? Check out the Wesleyan website to view recorded sessions. www.wesleyancollege.edu/lunchandlearn February: The Center for Career Development (CCD). Provost Blake and CCD Director Dr. Mallory Neil discussed internships and mentoring at Wesleyan. March: Faith and Service. President Fowler, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Tyler Schwaller, Director of the Lane Center for Service and Leadership Melissa Rodriguez ’16, and Faith and Service Coordinator Kaiya Jennings shared information on campus faith and service programs and their outreach to the broad community. April: Wesleyan Graduate Programs. Director of Graduate Programs and Online Enrollment Kristina Ejike and Associate Professor of Music and Director of the M.A. in Music Graduate Program Dr. Chenny Gan ’02 updated alumnae with the latest news on the College’s graduate programs.
Got Sisterhood? Get Social . @wesleyancollege and @wesleyancollegeAA 42
For current updates on news of classmates, friends, and alumnae events check us out on Social Media.
@WesleyanCollege
wesleyancollegega
Wesleyan College
SISTERHOOD IN ACTION: Connecting with Students during COVID-19.
CANDLELIGHTING 2021: Seniors were inducted into the WCAA during a socially-distanced ceremony in Porter Auditorium in April. WCAA President-Elect Jan Lawrence ’80 administered the Benson Charge at the live-streamed event. A one-time ceremony was held at the Equestrian Center for seniors unable to attend the main induction ceremony. WCAA Treasurer Anna Cornelious Martin ’04 presided at the Center with Pat Grogan Borders ’70 serving as an alumna guest Candlelighter.
MARKER CEREMONY 2021: A pre-baccalaureate tradition, The Marker Ceremony took place on campus this year at the Candler building marker site, where Wesleyan Trustee Mary Beth Brown Swearingen ’89 served as the 2021 marker speaker. Seniors processed into Porter Auditorium for the Baccalaureate Service where Mary Kathryn Borland ’04 provided welcoming remarks on behalf of the WCAA. Following baccalaureate, the WCAA and the Alumnae Office sponsored Lemonade on the Lawn for seniors and their guests.
READING DAY COOKIE BREAK: In May, members of the Macon Alumnae Club baked and bagged homemade cookies for all residential students to enjoy on Reading Day.
GRAB & GO EASTER BAG HUNT: Macon Alumnae Club members sponsored and hosted a Grab & Go Easter Bag Hunt for all residential students. More than 350 bags were made for the event that included a Picnic on the Quad. Club members were on hand to connect with students.
SENIOR TOAST 2021: Hosted by President Vivia Fowler, the annual Senior Toast was held on the lawn at Bradley House. Mary Kathryn Borland ’04, a member of the WCCA Board of Managers, administered the Toast to nearly 70 seniors who gathered together to be honored by the WCAA. Young Alumnae Ad-Hoc Committee member Tiffany Hatch Johnson ’07 was on hand to connect with students. WESmag SPRING 2021
Sympathy The Wesleyan College Alumnae Association extends sympathy to: Mary Nunn Domingos ’46 on the death of her brother, John Robert Nunn, D.V.M., on February 21, 2020.
Dot Ogden Brown ’67 on the death of her husband, Judge Steven Phillip “Phil” Brown, on January 28, 2021.
Mary Huckabee Howard ’78 on the death of her brother, Leo Bennette Huckabee III, on September 25, 2020.
Frances Oehmig Collins ’47 on the death of her sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Oehmig Field, on November 1, 2020.
Helen Neal Kleiber ’67 on the death of her husband, Donald Gene Kleiber, on May 23, 2021.
Anita Marchman ’79 on the death of her mother, Joan Marchman, on January 29, 2021.
Ruth White Fruit ’54 on the death of her husband, Roy Elliott Fruit, on March 20, 2021.
Maribeth Wills Lowe ’67 on the death of her husband, Thomas Hall Lowe, M.D., on March 6, 2021.
Natalie Anderson Rauch ’79 on the death of her husband, Harry Alexander Rauch III, on December 27, 2020.
Gwen Jackson Lindsey ’54 on the death of her husband, Almont Edward Lindsey, Jr., on November 28, 2020.
Catherine “Doreen” Stiles Poitevint ’69 on the death of her aunt, Kathryn Stiles Stribling ’47, on December 31, 2020.
Helen Anne Richards ’80 on the death of her brother, Roy “Martin” Richards, Jr., on February 13, 2021.
Eleanor Adams Lane ’58 on the death of her daughter, Margaret Marion Scott, on January 24, 2021.
Melissa Lane Thomas ’69 and Eleanor Adams Lane ’58 on the death of Melissa’s brother and Eleanor’s nephew, Clark Hughes Lane, on April 29, 2021.
Sheila Belknap Feightner ’85 and Angel Feightner Poe ’08 on the death of Sheila’s mother and Angel’s grandmother, Opal Belknap Mitchell, on January 28, 2021.
Lynn Golson Priester ’72 and Florence Priester ’11 on the death of Lynn’s mother and Florence’s grandmother, Alice Lundy Childs Golson ’45, on January 20, 2021. Alice also was an aunt to Beth Childs Brooks ’66 and a sisterin-law to Pat Johnson Childs ’49.
Susan Foxworth Dunwody ’87 on the death of her husband, Eugene “Gene” Cox Dunwody, on January 9, 2021.
Nina Beth Sheppard Terrell ’58 on the death of her husband, William “Dean” Terrell, on April 6, 2021. Carol King Pope ’59 on the loss of her grandson, Mitchell Garrett Pope, on September 19, 2020. Andrea Morris Gruhl ’61 on the death of her husband, Werner M. Gruhl, on October 23, 2020. Mary Grace Averett Kay ’61 on the death of her husband, William Benjamin “Billy” Kay, Sr., on January 8, 2021. Lynn Cochran Thompson ’61 on the death of her sister, Betty Jo Cochran Ridley Hall ’63, on March 17, 2020. Vida Gentry Beall ’62 on the death of her husband, Holst Clay Beall, Jr., on August 22, 2020.
Betsy McPherson Farr ’73 on the death of her aunt, Gwendolyn Elizabeth “LeeLee” McPherson Wall ’49, on December 23, 2020. Carol Ann Blanchard Hood ’73 on the death of her aunt, Emmie Carlton Johnson ’49, on November 30, 2020. Patsy McCall ’73 on the death of her mother, Evelyn McCall Cannon, on November 26, 2020.
Amy Allen Ray ’01 on the death of her aunt, Becky Jones Brock ’72, on December 30, 2020. (See In Memoriam, Winter 2020, WESmag) Tereese Winfrey ’10 on the death of her father, Alvin Winfrey, on June 18, 2020. Zari L. Floyd ’16 on the death of her grandmother, Viola Elaine Vaughn, on April 20, 2020. Sara McMahon Logue ’16 on the death of her grandmother, Kathryn Lackey Baker, in December 2019.
Marian Carter Clark ’63 on the death of her daughter, Rebecca Clark Rice, on August 26, 2020.
Diane Anderson Lewis ’74 and Sally Anderson Hemingway ’79 on the death of Diane’s mother and Sally’s aunt, Doris Poe Anderson ’48, on January 26, 2021.
Susan Taylor King ’63 on the death of her husband, Robert E. King III, on March 20, 2021.
Mary Linger ’75 on the death of her mother, Mary Carolyn Barksdale Linger, on April 3, 2021.
Shirley Anne Scoggins, former administrative assistant for the business and economics department (1989-1991), died on March 17, 2019.
Faye Coleman ’65 on the death of her twin sister, Virgie Raye Coleman ’66, on April 19, 2020.
Bryndis Roberts ’78 and Jennifer Jenkins Cobb ’03 on the death of Bryndis’ mother and Jennifer’s grandmother, Josie Spencer Roberts Walls, on April 6, 2021.
Patrick Calvin “Pat” Pritchard, Alumnae Professor of Education, Professional Studies Division Chair, Director of the Center for Educational Renewal at Wesleyan, died on March 6, 2021.
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FACULTY, STAFF, AND TRUSTEE DEATHS
Marriages Congratulations to:
Beth Koon ’83 and Randall “Randy” Spiwak who married on February 26, 2021. They reside in Winter Haven, FL. Sara Mary Olufemi “Femi” Adetola ’06 and Nana Asante Bediatuo, executive secretary to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who married on December 26, 2020, at the St. Francis Cottage at Nsawam in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Allison Hunt ’20 and Daniel McKinnon who married on April 24, 2021.
Births & Family Additions Congratulations to: Parrish Smotherman Jenkins ’06 and Andrew on the birth of a daughter, Nora Mathis Jenkins, in January 2021. Taylor Bishop Deal ’12 and Billy on the birth of a daughter, Briar Ofelina Deal, on May 13, 2021. Diep Nguyen ’14 and Adi on the birth of a son, Solal, on March 17, 2021.
ALUMNAE WEEKEND NEWS (Celebrating Reunion Classes of 2000, 2021, & 2022) We Can’t Wait To Hug-It-Out! What a Difference a Day Makes, especially for 50th Reunion Classes. We’ve added a day to the weekend for extra sisterhood fun!
Alumnae Weekend 2022, April 21 - 24
This is Where It All Began: A Sense of Place
See You in ’22!
In Memoriam 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1957 1958 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1966 1967 1968 1971 1976 1977 1979 1981 1986 1993 2021
Alice Lundy Childs Golson Jane Wallace Baggett Betty Graham Bull Marion Chapman Henigbaum Mary McLendon McManus Marilyn Mathews Rebecca Train Stimson Kathryn Stiles Stribling Aurelia Bond Adams Doris Poe Anderson Emmie Carlton Johnson Gwendolyn Elizabeth McPherson Wall Jo Ann Russell Campbell Harriett Middlebrooks Roswurm Norma Lee Taylor Jean Elsom Hogan Sarah Segrest Lane Vann Snell Smith Frances Causey Spears Elizabeth Perry Bryan Marilyn Bennett Edwards Emily Cook Fawcett Ruth Forehand Miller Nita Sexton Dowling-Brandon Mary Margaret Turner Dancy Dorothy Lewis Mulcare Adele Burgin Weaver Bettie M. Willson Wynn Armstrong Creal Janet Lindsey Sheffield Charlotte Richardson Smitherman Rose Pickett Holder Sally Harmon Brown Constance Ashley Newbanks Marsha Harris Rudolph Betty Burroughs Smith Betty Jo Cochran Ridley Hall Patty F. Baker Virgie Raye Coleman Carolyn Anne Brandes Wilson Edith Wallenburg Shelton Dana L. Mitchell Karen Justyna Scheidt Nancy Watson Adams Jane Speir Brook Melinda Poole Gray Katherine Bird McCormick Susan Hartman Edwards Sylvia Fesco Bond Judy James Tucker Jennifer Gunter Eckhardt Cynthia Gail Hires McClendon WESmag SPRING 2021
1940s
Emily Bradford Batts ’46 lives with her daughter in Whispering Pines, NC. She celebrated her 95th birthday in March of 2021. “I’m happy to be around family after losing my husband in February, 2018,” writes Emily.
1950s
“My husband of 68 years, Almont E. Lindsey, died November 28, 2020. He was a wonderful productive man who founded the largest CPA firm in the southeast - Odum Hughes, in 1974 (began as Lindsey, Crisp, Hughes and Mabe). He built the first totally electric high-rise at Seven Cadness in VA in 1964 and the Chatham House and many apartments and shopping centers throughout the Southeast,” reports Gwen Jackson Lindsey ’54. (See Sympathy) Phyllis Caverly Long ’54 writes, “I’m a widow - 4 children, 3 surviving, 8 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and counting...” According to Joan Nachbaur Rathbun ’58, she feels blessed to still read about Wesleyan and to be kept informed about her classmates. “Two of my grandchildren were married in 2020,” writes Carolyn Wade Barry ’59. “A COVID-19 year made it a bit tricky but all are happy!” “2020 has been a difficult year, having lost several friends. Sadest was losing our
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grandson, Mitchell Pope. Fortunately, we have avoided COVID-19 and continue to take care. And, as always, I am proud to be a Golden Heart,” writes Carol King Pope ’59. (See Sympathy)
Katie Gibson Jones ’66 writes, “Only attended my freshman year… wonderful experience! Married twice, widowed with 7 adult children. Currently work in real estate in Naples, FL.”
1960s
1970s
Even if reunion had not been postponed, Doris V. Manning ’60 would not have been able to attend. “My eyesight is very low now. God bless to all.” My husband of 55 years, Werner Gruhl, died on October 23, 2020. I had spinal surgery on September 28, 2020. I am still active at three levels in League of Women Voters: Howard County, Maryland and National Capitol area. Zoom makes it easier to ‘attend’ many board and committee meetings. I love to Zoom!” says Andrea Morris Gruhl ’61. (See Sympathy) “I am still working with the Fore (In) Sight Foundation founded by Professor Emeritus Dr. Bernard C. Murdoch. He was chair of the psychology department at Wesleyan,” writes Sandra Combs Lewis ’61. “I still enjoy my retirement and stay very busy. I’m a rector at church where people say I am the best reader and I owe it all to my speech and drama professors at Wesleyan! I do a great job of crafting assemblage, collage, bookmaking, and photography,” reports Linda Maria Willson ’64.
“Hello classmates! Just checking in. I am married to Tom Slade (31 years) and we have 15 grandchildren together and more on the way - I LOVE being a grandmother! I am still a realtor here in Atlanta and my daughter and son and their families live nearby. My 98-year-old mother is sharp as a tack and lots of fun. I hope all of you are safe and healthy after this crazy, incredible year,” writes Kathy Owens Slade ’74. Sandi Davis Townley ’75 writes, “My husband, Chris, died March 6, 2020, after a year-long battle with Glioblastoma. He loved Wesleyan as much as I do and because we married after my freshman year, our early days of married life included many Wesleyan memories. I am making my gift this year in his memory.” (See Sympathy, Summer 2020 WESmag) “My husband died on December 27, 2020, from Glioblastoma. We were married 37 years. He served as an Army Chaplain for 29 years and loved every minute of his time in service. We lived all over the world thanks to the Army. Our daughter, Bonnie, still considers Germany ‘home.’ Harry met many of my Wesleyan friends over the years and was in awe of the close friendships we maintained over the years,” writes Natalie Anderson Rauch ’79.
Loisanne Tatum Robins ’79 was happy to see her roommate, Rebecca Tuten McClain ’79, briefly in September. “Bruce and I hope everyone is healthy and safe in the year to come!”
1980s
Congratulations to Lynne M. White ’81 who was honored as the 2020 “Woman of Influence” by Commercial Real Estate Women of Orlando. Lynne is a past president of CREW Orlando and is a Florida Bar Board Certified Real Estate attorney with Losey PLLLC. “After 59 years of being single, I married my soul-mate Randy Spiwak on February 6, 2021! Our wedding theme was “A Very Winter Haven Wedding,” held in the Museum of Winter Haven History, in Winter Haven, FL. We had a COVIDcompliant wedding and reception with a few family and friends present. We also had 630 others who watched our wedding via Facebook Live!” reports Beth KoonSpiwak ’83. (See Marriages) Congratulations to Dale Barfield Waters ’89 who celebrated her 30 Year Service Anniversary with The Boeing Company on April 9, 2020. Mom Natalie Brewton Barfield ’54 is very proud, too.
1990s
Congratulations to Cathy Lee Taylor ’93 who was promoted to director of adjunct faculty orientation and mentoring in 2020. She wrote a one page devotional for the Upper Room Magazine that was published in the March /April 2021 edition. Cathy hopes everyone is doing well. “My middle child, Elizabeth Harrell just got married to Quinton McGahee on March 13, 2021. They were married in Warrenton, GA, at his family church and reside in Gibson, GA, where he was reared by his wonderful parents, Julie and Jeff McGahee. I am a very lucky woman, as I have gained an amazing son-in-law
and extended family,” says Christina Harp Harrell ’94. Tanya Alexander ’96 has a target date of August 2023 to complete her Ph.D. in marital and family therapy. She already has earned two master’s degrees - in marital and family therapy and in art therapy.
2000s
Esther Celestin ’00 joined an amazing EdTech startup as director of customer success. “We purchased our first home in Fayetteville, GA!” reports Esther. “My husband Anthony and I have welcomed our first child, Jonathan Isaac Mercaldo, on November 17, 2020. He’s a bright ray of sunshine in our lives, especially in 2020, and we couldn’t be more in love,” reports Pragna Halder ’08. (See Births, Winter 2020 WESmag)
2010s
Congratulations to Nur-Taz Rahman ’10, who completed her 18-month Simbonis Fellowship at Yale University’s Cushing/ Whitney Medical Library in January 2021. She now works for 10x Genomics, Inc., where she is putting her Ph.D. from Yale (cell biology) to good use. Congratulations to Shui Yu ’11 who started a new job at Compenia as a consultant. She previously worked as a compensation consultant/project manager at Willis Towers Watson. “I’m happy to help Wesleyan in any way - to refer students for internship and job opportunities! I sure miss the people in the South!” writes Shui. It’s official! In August 2021, Alaina Avera Harrison ’12 will start the three-year masters of science in counseling program at ULM to become a school counselor! Betsy W. Herlong ’12 looks forward to June 26, 2021, and her wedding to Adam Powers.
After graduating from Wesleyan Swechhya Shrestha ’13 worked for a year as a research assistant at Brandeis University. She entered Wesleyan University in fall 2014 as a doctoral student in biology and then earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience in May 2020. Swechhya is currently employed at McLean Hospital as a research fellow and at Harvard Medical School as a research fellow in psychiatry. Best wishes to Beth Hurst ’14 who accepted a job offer with the Center for Applied Social Research at the University of Oklahoma. Beginning in August she will be working closely with the National Weather Center and the Center for the Analysis and Prediction of Storms as a postdoctoral researcher! Diep Nguyen ’14 says it is “so hard to put into words the incredible joy we have, but life comes in full circle when our baby boy, Solal, came into the world on St. Patrick’s Day 2021, eight years after Adi and I met in Northern Ireland! If that isn’t fate idk what is!” (See Births) Christina Mayfield ’15 and Matthew Denninghoff are busy making wedding plans. Congratulations to Amber Davis ’19 who is the new marketing coordinator for Dr. Jennifer Orthodontics in St. Paul, MN.
2020s
Valentina Huang ’20 will attend the Jacob School of Music at Indiana University, where she will begin work on a M.M. degree in organ performance in fall 2021. Rachel Solomon ’20 is a 1st degree connection claims service representative at GEICO. Proud grandmother and one of Wesleyan’s First Five Dyleane Tolbert Taylor ’72 is delighted with Rachel’s position.
WESmag SPRING 2021
Wesleyan alumnae chosen to serve the Biden administration When President-elect Joe Biden began the process of staffing his administration, he highlighted a key priority: Building a team that “looks like America.” His commitment began with the appointment of experts from across the country to form his presidential transition team. According to data, Biden’s transition team was one of the most diverse ever established and included Wesleyan College alumna and former trustee Geovette Washington ’89 who was named team-lead of a 21-person Department of Commerce review team. Prior to her current position as senior vice chancellor and chief legal officer at the University of Pittsburgh, Geovette served as general counsel and senior policy advisor for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the White House. Before joining OMB, she served as deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Commerce and was the second-highest ranking official in the Office of General Counsel for this cabinetlevel agency. Washington’s move to the Department of Commerce followed fourteen years in the District of Columbia litigation firm of Baach Robinson and Lewis PLLC (now Lewis Baach), where she was an associate for four years and a partner for 10 years. She specialized in resolving complex commercial disputes through litigating, alternative dispute resolution processes, and negotiating settlements.
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In her current position, Geovette is the senior-most executive for legal and public policy matters at the University of Pittsburgh. She provides legal advice, counsel, and support to the chancellor, the University’s Board of Trustees, University officers, and other faculty and staff groups. She and the lawyers on her staff are also responsible for providing legal advice on a host of issues across the University, including athletics compliance, construction and other commercial contracts, employment issues, environmental regulation, international initiatives, philanthropic and other financial documents, student discipline, research integrity, and technology transfer. Geovette earned her Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law. Today she is active in several civic and professional organizations. In 2012, the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association honored Geovette with the award for Distinguished Achievement in a Profession. Colonel Joy Mastrangelo Kaczor ‘96 was also appointed to President Biden’s team. Serving as vice commander of the White House Communications Agency, Kaczor is responsible for providing global information services to the president, vice-president, executive office of the president, and United States secret service, ensuring that the White House has the ability to communicate anywhere, anytime, and by any means to anyone. Previously, Kaczor served as the current operations division chief for U.S.
Cyber Command where she led, directed, and managed more than 150 joint service members of the joint operations center, and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians and contractors in synchronizing global cyberspace operations, and the operations and defense of the DoD Information Network. Prior to serving the DoD, Joy was the Deputy Commander of the 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, the Air Force’s only group tasked to execute worldwide offensive cyberspace operations. The Group readies and employs more than 250 Airmen to conduct network attack and exploitation in five geographic locations worldwide. Prior to that, she commanded the 33rd Network Warfare Squadron responsible for defending one million Air Force unclassified and classified systems valued at $10 billion, supporting over 900,000 users. In April 2001 the Wesleyan College Alumnae Association honored Joy with its Young Alumna Award. In March 2021 Wesleyan welcomed Joy back to campus where she spoke to students about her new position, her career, and how Wesleyan shaped the woman she has become. She also visited with her former math professor Joe Iskra, and members of his math class. Congratulations to Joy and to Geovette who demonstrate ways that Wesleyan Women continue to do the extraordinary in their professions and in service to their communities.
“I came to Wesleyan as a shy and timid girl, and I have grown so much more than I ever could have guessed I was capable.”
KALI GODING ’21 I came to Wesleyan as a shy and timid girl, and I have grown so much more than I ever could have guessed I was capable. I was inspired to put myself out there, to join clubs, to make more friends, and to immerse myself in sisterhood. I believe that anyone who comes to Wesleyan, even for a short visit, will be changed by the atmosphere. Sisterhood has never been stronger than it is on this campus. Community has never been stronger than it is here. I have never been stronger.
Wesleyan has fostered an incredible network that has encouraged me and given me the confidence that I will achieve my goals and live the life I always dreamed of. Kali graduated cum laude with a major in chemistry and minors in forensic science and mathematics. She will attend Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, to pursue a master’s degree in forensic science.
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