8 minute read
Alumni Association Network
ELIZABETH HOY
A decade of creativity
A spring exhibition in Beard and Weil Galleries showcased a selective array of photography, film, illustrations and sculpture from Wheaton visual arts majors from the past 10 years.
“The Tens: Friends of Art Alumni Collection 2011–2020,” which was on display February 16 through March 27, featured student winners of the Friends of Art Purchase Prize, which was established in 2000 to celebrate and support graduating visual art majors. The artwork was chosen and purchased from senior seminar exhibitions for the Permanent Collection with funds donated by the Friends of Art.
The Friends of Art exhibition coincided with the exhibition “Time and the River’s Edge,” which featured work from Associate Professor of Art Patricia “Patty” Stone, who retired at the end of the academic year.
“As a professor of painting and drawing, Patty taught almost all of the students whose work is in the collection. With the two exhibitions together, it became a way to think about the past and future and to celebrate the rich creativity at Wheaton,” said Elizabeth Hoy, director of the Beard and Weil Galleries.
Sixteen Wheaton alumni were represented in “The Tens,” including Walker Downey ’13, Charlotte Hall ’17 and Soraya Matos ’14, who had a virtual visit with students in the visual art senior seminar to discuss
View the exhibit at wheatoncollege.edu/ wheaton-magazine how their Wheaton education shaped their careers and post-graduation studies.
Hall said she welcomed the opportunity to talk to students.
“Connections are important, especially in the art world,” she said. “I’m grateful the current seniors are getting a chance to talk to art alums within the Wheaton community as part of their seminar experience.”
The other artists included in the exhibition were: Katharine Heyl ’12, Emiko Kurokawa ’11, Rosemary Liss ’11, Skye Landon ’12, Emily Timm ’12, Timothy Oxton ’12, Caroline Isaacs ’13, Lindsey Gillis ’15, Chloë Urbanczyk ’16, Sienna Van Slooten ’16, Aleza Epstein ’18, Bhavika Dugar ’19 and Elisa McClear ’20. —Laura Pedulli
Artwork above and clockwise: “Cluster, 303 S. Broadway” by Rosemary Liss ’11; “Untitled (Nude with Composition Book) by Soraya Matos ’14; “Hedgehog’s Dilemma” by Emily Timm ’12; “Entomophobia” by Lindsey Gillis ’15; “Secret Little World“ (detail of triptych) by Chloë Urbanczyk ’16; “Maps (Japan)” by Emiko Kurokawa ’11; and “Textures of Patan IV” by Bhavika Dugar ’19
Two receive honorary degrees
In May, Wheaton presented honorary doctor of law degrees to E. Frances “Fran” White ’71, a historian and author, and James Washington, president and founder of the Washington Consulting Group, and president and co-founder of the Social Justice Training Institute.
Honorees usually receive accolades in person, but this year they were recognized by President Dennis M. Hanno and Provost Renée T. White during the virtual livestreamed Commencement ceremony.
Fran White is a professor emerita at New York University. Her many honors include the 2013–2014 NYU Distinguished Teaching Award and the Catherine T. and John D. MacArthur Chair in History (1985–1988).
“Wheaton exposed me to the value of a liberal arts education. I am especially grateful for Wheaton models for living a professor’s life that includes scholarship and close relationships with my students,” she said.
The alumna has been enthusiastically engaged with the college for many years, including serving as a member of the Black Alumni Group from 1996 to 2004, on the President’s Commission from 1997 to 2003, and as a member of the Alumni and Parent Admission Committee in 1985.
After graduating from Wheaton with a degree in urban studies, she received a master’s degree in history as well as a Ph.D. in African history from Boston University.
In addition to her career as a professor of history and Black studies, she has held distinctive positions in academic administration, including serving as NYU’s vice provost for faculty development from 2005 to 2008 and heading the university’s efforts to diversify the faculty.
She has been awarded fellowships from the Danforth Foundation, the Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities and was a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
James Washington has served as an educator, administrator and consultant in higher education for more than 37 years, including at Wheaton. The Economist has listed him as one of the top 10 diversity consultants in the world.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Wheaton for many years. The leadership has a clear commitment to building a campus community that not only values diversity, equity and inclusion, but also is committed to preparing the next generation of leaders to live into the values of democracy, anti-racism and justice,” he said.
Among his work at Wheaton, he has welcomed incoming students during the orientation session “Building an Inclusive Campus Community,” and hosted an open forum on campus titled “Leadership and Diversity in the 21st Century.”
He earned his bachelor’s degree from Slippery Rock State College; dual master’s degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington; a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park; and a master of divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity.
As the head of the Social Justice Training Institute, he works with colleges and universities to engage campus leaders, staff, faculty and students in creating a culture that values, respects and includes all of its members. —Sandy Coleman
E. Frances “Fran” White ’71
James Washington
Read more online and watch the virtual presentation at wheatoncollege.edu/wheaton-magazine
And the winners are …
The Alumni Association presented the Alumni Achievement Awards on May 26 during the Annual Meeting of the Alumni and State of the College, which was virtual.
Sharon Callahan-Miller ’84 and Oren Segal ’96 were honored for making significant contributions to society through their careers and advocacy work.
Callahan-Miller is the CEO of CDM, a health care advertising agency, and chief client officer at Omnicom Health Group, a network of health care communications companies. Her achievements include promoting an increase in the number of women in leadership positions and fostering an inclusive work environment for LGBTQ employees at Omnicom. She also is vice chair of the Victory Fund, which seeks to increase the number of openly LGBTQ officials in government.
“You are an influential and inspirational leader who has played an instrumental role in championing diversity and inclusion,” said Alumni Association President Joshua S. Bauchner ’95, whose term as president ended on June 30.
Segal, the vice president of the Center of Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League in New York, N.Y., speaks on behalf of the center on many national and international news outlets. The FBI recognized him for his exceptional service in the public interest and, in 2019, he was named to The Forward’s list of 50 Influential, Intriguing and Inspiring American Jews.
“In your two decades with the AntiDefamation League, on the front lines of social justice, you have worked ceaselessly to confront and expose the disrupting influence of extremism and hate,” Bauchner said in his remarks.
Jane Martin ’74, a former Alumni Association president (2015–2018), received the Heather J. Corbett ’86 Fostering Wheaton Community Award for her “unsung” contributions that have brought the Wheaton community together and fostered deeper Wheatonfocused connections.
Bauchner lauded Martin for her skillful leadership at the helm of the Alumni Association. Under her guidance, the board succeeded in growing alumni engagement, restructured the organization to increase its impact and improve its transparency, and developed a stronger working partnership with the Board of Trustees, he said.
“You strived for an alumni engagement model to fit different interests and lifestyles,” he said.
Patricia “Peaches” Henning ’56 was honored with the Sharon M. Howard ’87, P’09 Outstanding Wheaton Service Award for her significant and sustained contribution or service to the college.
She was recognized for being a stalwart, loyal and problem-solving alumna volunteer for decades. Henning was the founding member of the first LGBTQ Steering Committee, a member of the President’s Commission, an active alumna in the San Francisco Bay area alumni group and a longtime class secretary, among many roles. She also endowed the Patricia “Peaches” Henning ’56 Scholarship to benefit women majoring in music or having a focus on education, which will support Wheaton students in perpetuity.
“You personify Wheaton’s spirit of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging,” Bauchner said.
Sharon Callahan-Miller ’84
Jane Martin ’74 Oren Segal ’96
