GROUNDBREAKING Neurogeneticist Xandra O. Breakefield ’64 conducts trailblazing research and mentors the next generation of scientists
Faculty Support Inspires Student Research | Reunion Recap A Dauntless New Graduate | The Value of Service Learning volume 88 | SUMMER 2015 | number 2
PREPARE TOMORROW'S
LEADERS The Wilson Fund is vital to providing a quality education at Wilson College. Donations have an immediate impact, supporting students and faculty and providing for a rigorous liberal arts program that prepares students to succeed in a global society. Join your classmates and the Wilson community today in supporting the Wilson Fund.
WWW.WILSON.EDU/GIVE or contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 717-262-2010 or advancement@wilson.edu
volume 88 | SUMMER 2015 | number 2
FEATURES
12
10 “Seize this Moment” Wilson commencement speaker Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, advises graduates to take a few lessons from the animal kingdom. 12 The X Factor By Mark Blackmon Xandra O. Breakefield ’64 is a groundbreaking scientist in the field of dystonia research and an exemplary mentor, as Jyotsna Dhakal ’14— Breakefield’s most recent protégé— can attest. 18 Discoveries, Big and Small By Coleen Dee Berry Student-driven research coupled with supportive faculty mentoring fosters student discovery, both academic and personal.
AROUND THE GREEN 28 Dauntless Adult degree graduate Jessika Dockery ’15 uses art to tell her life story and inspire others. 30 Helping Home When a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shattered their homeland, Wilson’s Nepali students found a way to help. 32 Spreading Smiles A new Wilson Facebook page provides an outlet to compliment and encourage members of the Wilson community. 33 Championship Rounds Both the women’s softball team and men’s golf team advance to tournament play in the spring.
ALUMNAE/I
34 22 Teaching How to Make A Difference By Cathy Mentzer Sociology professor Julie Raulli stresses service learning as a key component to 46 students making a difference in their community and the world. 66 22
Class Notes In Memoriam
DEPARTMENTS 02 Letter from the Editor
18
Alumnae Association AAWC President’s Report, Annual AAWC Trustees report, Reunion Weekend recap, new trips for 2016.
Medlock ’74 transmits her passion for World War II aircraft; the Harriet Lane Johnston Symposium is a success and Wilson events in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
03 Wilson News Wilson Fund meets its goal; bridge strategic plan announced; rededication date for John Stewart Memorial Library set; annual academic awards announced; athletes receive honors; dual certification in early childhood/special education approved; streetscape and pedestrian safety project delayed; 2015 Golf Classic; call for volunteers to build a sculpture.
26 President’s Forum: Mentors and More By President Barbara K. Mistick
08 Alumnae/i News Patricia Vail ’63 writes about her experiences in Kazakhstan; Mary Jane
68 Last Word A tin man with a big heart.
27 Hidden History By Leigh Rupinski Find out about those classic Jensen class rings.
ON THE COVER Xandra O. Breakefield ’64 examines data on an autoradiograph at her lab at Massachusetts General Hospital.
STAFF
WILSON MAGAZINE COMMITTEE Coleen Dee Berry, Managing Editor Mark Blackmon, Director of Communications Samantha Burmeister, Director of Athletics Communication/Sports Information Mary F. Cramer ’91, Alumnae Association President Amy Ensley, Director of the Hankey Center Marybeth Famulare, Director of Alumnae/i Relations Lisbeth Sheppard Luka ’69, Alumnae Association Cathy Mentzer, Manager of Media Relations and College Editor Camilla Rawleigh, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Brian Speer, Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kendra Tidd, Graphic Designer Courtney D. Wolfe ’12, Class Notes Coordinator Judy Kreutz Young ’63, Alumnae Association Wilson Magazine is published quarterly by the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Alumnae Association of Wilson College. Send address changes to: Wilson College Alumnae/i Relations, 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201-1279, 717-262-2010 or mag@wilson.edu. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors or the editor and do not represent the official positions of Wilson College or the Alumnae Association of Wilson College.
CONTACT US: Wilson Magazine mag@wilson.edu 717-262-2607 www.wilson.edu/magazine Alumnae Association aawc@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/aawc Office of Alumnae/i Relations alumnae@wilson.edu 717-262-2010 www.wilson.edu/alumnae
FPO
— letter from the —
editor E
veryone can make a difference.
During her commencement speech at Wilson in May, Class of 2015 President Taylor Staudt recounted the parable about a beach littered with thousands of stranded starfish and an old man throwing them back, one by one, into the sea. When told his efforts can’t possibly make a difference, the man tosses another starfish into the waves and replies, “It makes a difference to this one.”
PHOTO BY JAMES BUTTS
Brian Speer Executive Editor Coleen Dee Berry Managing Editor Kendra Tidd Design Cathy Mentzer College Editor Courtney D. Wolfe ’12 Class Notes Coordinator Contributing Writers Coleen Dee Berry, Mark Blackmon, Samantha Burmeister, Cathy Mentzer, Leigh Rupinski, Brian Speer, Courtney D. Wolfe �12 Contributing Photographers Coleen Dee Berry, James Butts, Bill Green, Philip Lindsey, Cathy Mentzer, Ryan Smith, Bob Stoler, Kendra Tidd, Brian Wilson Cover Photo by: Brian Wilson, Massachusetts General Hospital
Staudt said she was entrusting her fellow graduates “with the task of making a difference, even if, at the end of the day, it’s simply to just one.” Fresh from the high hopes of Commencement and the spirit of renewal found in Reunion Weekend, this magazine celebrates the ability of those in the Wilson community to make a difference in many ways, both large and small. Our main feature is about two women who graduated from Wilson 50 years apart. Noted researcher Xandra O. Breakefield ’64 is mentoring—and making a difference for— Jyotsna Dhakal ’14, who works as a research assistant in her lab at Massachusetts General Hospital. Read also about how Wilson faculty are effectively guiding students through research and about a sociology professor who instills the value of volunteering in her students. When earthquakes struck Nepal, Wilson’s Nepali students responded immediately with a fundraising campaign for their homeland. Read how their efforts brought in $10,000 that helped make a difference to quake victims. Find out why one student chose to hand out unexpected compliments and encouragement via Facebook. And check out the “Last Word” for an interview with Wilson employee Tom DeShong about his mission to bring a little happiness to little ones. There is also wonderful news about the Wilson Fund: the $1 million goal was reached and a $300,000 challenge gift from Marguerite Lenfest ’55 was met by mid-June. Everyone who made a donation—whether it was large or small—made a difference to Wilson this year. Now for another success story: On Friday, Oct. 23, a rededication ceremony will be held for the reimagined John Stewart Memorial Library. Once again, the library project could not have been accomplished without each and every contribution. Thank you to all our donors! And that same weekend, visitors will see the completed, one-of-a-kind environmental sculpture created for the Wilson campus by renowned artist Patrick Dougherty. So save the date for the weekend of Oct. 23! Fall semester at Wilson promises to be special, indeed. Read on, and enjoy! Coleen Dee Berry Managing Editor
You can read Wilson Magazine online at:
www.wilson.edu/wilsonmag Class notes are not published online for privacy reasons. If you would like to receive a PDF of the class notes, please email Wilson Magazine at mag@wilson.edu.
WILSON NEWS WILSON FUND TOPS GOAL,
MEETS LENFEST CHALLENGE T
he Wilson Fund reached its $1 million goal and met a $300,000 challenge gift from Marguerite Lenfest ’55 by mid-June and according to the Office of Institutional Advancement, signs point to a renewed confidence in the College among alumnae/i.
As of June 22, a total of 1,092 donors had contributed $1,040,387 to the Wilson Fund compared to 1,013 last year, said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Camilla Rawleigh. The final total for the annual fundraising effort, which continued through June 30, was not yet available when this issue of Wilson Magazine went to press. The Lenfest Challenge, which matched gifts dollar for dollar up to $300,000, had a total impact of $600,000 and was a huge success, encouraging many new and returning donors to step up to the challenge, according to Rawleigh. “Without the Lenfest Challenge, we wouldn’t have hit the goal,” she said. “We are deeply grateful to Marguerite for this important gift.”
The challenge was completed by June 1 with 468 donors contributing. Gifts ranged in size from $5 to $25,000 and came from graduates from 1938 to 2009, Rawleigh said. “We had 184 donors who gave more in fiscal 2015 than they did in 2014 and we had 118 donors who gave multiple gifts to this year’s Wilson Fund.” In addition, she said, 103 donors who did not make any contributions to the College in fiscal 2014 made gifts this year and 52 who hadn’t given since prior to the 2013 Wilson Today decision contributed to the Wilson Fund this year, indicating that those who had stopped giving to the College have begun to return. “I think a lot of people have continued to sit on the sidelines, worried about the viability of the College,” Rawleigh said. But, as news of positive developments at Wilson—including new programs and library and residence hall renovations—spreads, “Little by little, people are coming back.” —Cathy Mentzer
LIBRARY REDEDICATION SET The renovated John Stewart Memorial Library with new learning commons is on schedule for completion this fall and a rededication ceremony is planned for Friday, Oct. 23. A ribbon-cutting will begin at 11 a.m. Further details are forthcoming.
An academic quadrangle being constructed as part of the library project will not be as far along. It’s still in the design phase, but work will be under way by the time of the rededication, Ecker said. “That’s going to be in some state of construction,” he said, adding that the quad should be completed by the end of the 2015 construction season. The quad, which will replace the existing roadway and parking between the library/Warfield Hall and the Brooks Science Complex, will feature a large grassy area with walkways and an elevated center area that Ecker described as “a place for people to gather.” The quad project also includes widening the Park Avenue entrance—which will become the main entrance to the College—and improved signage. Landscape architects Derck & Edson Associates, who developed Wilson’s Campus Enhancement Plan, are designing the quad.
PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD
Fundraising for the library is near the $12 million goal, according to the Office of Institutional Advancement. Construction is on schedule and in addition, the outdoor plaza on the north side of the learning commons will be “substantially completed” by the time of the rededication, said Vice President for Finance and Administration Brian Ecker.
Construction proceeds with a stonework faÇade on the John Stewart Memorial Library learning commons addition. Rededication ceremonies are set for Friday, Oct. 23.
In the original Stewart library, the new slate roof has been completed and workers are restoring some of the stonework on the façade. Inside, most of the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems have been installed, walls are being painted on the ground floor and drywall is being hung, according to Ecker. He said the roof is being installed on the learning commons and work on the exterior façade is about 50 percent complete. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems and drywall installation are underway. —CM
summer 2015 03
WILSON NEWS
A STRATEGIC BRIDGE The 2014-15 academic year marked both a beginning and an end. It was the first full year of operation under the Wilson Today plan and it was the last year of the Strategic Plan for Wilson College: 2010-2015. The College made significant progress on the five goals of the 2010-15 plan, but with only one year of experience under the Wilson Today plan, it was too soon to enter into a comprehensive strategic planning process. Early this year, a subcommittee of the Strategic Planning Committee was assigned to create a bridge strategic plan that would informed by the expiring plan, Wilson Today and additional considerations from the Commission on Shaping the Future of Wilson College. The 2015-2017 Bridge Strategic Plan was completed this spring and approved by the Board of Trustees at its May meeting. It continues the five goals of the previous plan, but the actions to reach those goals have been more purposefully blended with the
Wilson Today plan. A sixth goal has also been added to address some of the ideas that came from the commission regarding workplace concerns. The six goals are: • Strengthen the student learning experience. • Provide distinctive, innovative programs. • Strengthen the College’s financial stability. • Increase the College’s visibility and reputation. • Enhance campus facilities. • Make Wilson a workplace of choice. The bridge plan will provide sufficient time to gather results from the Wilson Today decision in order to conduct a strategic planning process that will guide the College through its sesquicentennial and beyond. The bridge plan is available online at www.wilson.edu/president. —Brian Speer
DUAL CERTIFICATION PHOTO BY PEGGY CLARK
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD/ SPECIAL ED APPROVED Hedging Your Bets (2009), Mulvane Art Museum of Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, a Patrick Dougherty creation.
VOLUNTEERS
SOUGHT TO ASSIST ARTIST Internationally acclaimed environmental artist Patrick Dougherty will create a one-of-a-kind “stickwork” sculpture on the Wilson College campus this October, and you can be part of the project! Dougherty is looking for volunteers to help with the construction of the sculpture on Oct. 5-16 and 19-23. If interested, please contact Professor of Fine Arts Philip Lindsey at plindsey@wilson.edu for more information. The interactive sculpture will be available for public viewing beginning on the weekend of Oct.24. To see some of Dougherty’s other creations, go to www.stickwork.net. —Coleen Dee Berry
04 wilson magazine
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved a new, early childhood (preK-4)/special education (preK-8) certification within Wilson’s education major. The dual certification program will be available this fall, along with a new minor in special education. Students who choose the dual certification program—which will also be available to those enrolled in the Teacher Intern Program—will be prepared to teach both typically developing students and those with disabilities. Upon graduation, they will be qualified as an early childhood (preK-4) and/or special education (preK-8) teacher in both public and private schools in Pennsylvania. Lynn M. Newman, associate professor and chair of the education department, said Wilson receives numerous inquiries from potential students seeking dual certification in early childhood and special education. The College conducted a survey of special education supervisors for Pennsylvania school districts, who “overwhelmingly stated an anticipated need for teachers with dual certification (preK-4/special education) over the next five years,” according to the college’s program proposal. —CM
ACADEMIC AWARD
WINNERS
Lucy Bremmer Global Citizenship Award—Katelyn Wingerd ’16 Alice Martin Brumbaugh Award in Sociology—Stacy Hess ’15 CRC Press General Chemistry Achievement Award— Gaser Ahmed ’17 Marel Harlow Cheng Memorial Prize—Christina Gonzalez ’16 Regina Shaputnic Cuomo Mathematics Award—Jennifer Skinner ’18 Estep-Lawson Memorial Prize—Jesse Smith ’18 Mildred Franklin Prize—Tia Shearer ’16 Donna Gomer VMT ADP Award—Jena Forsythe ’17 Davison Greenawalt Grove Award—Jessica Meck ’15 Dorle Haas Memorial Prize—Taylor Staudt ’15 Margaret Strode Haines Award—Katelyn Wingerd ’16 Gloria Randle Scott-Frances Richards Hesselbein Prize— Sonja Hess ’15 Joanne Harrison Hopkins Literary Achievement Award— Caitlyn Minelli ’15 Josef Michael Kellinger German or Foreign Language Award— Katelyn Wingerd ’16 Catherine Herr Langdon Award—Nicole Melanson ’15
John D. Rose Award in Environmental Studies— Sadie Repp ’16
PHOTO BY BILL GREEN
James Applegate Award—Annika Dowd ’18 and Ghada Tafesh ’16
William and Ivy Saylor Prize—Darah Wolf ’17 Grace Tyson Schlichter From left, professor M. Dana Award—Carol Zehosky ’15 Harriger and Ghada Tafesh '16. and Shoshana Rudski ’15 Mary Beers Sheppard Prize—Jennifer Dodds ’16 Joan M. Thuebel ’52 Earthwatch Prize—Jessica Larkin ’18 William P. Van Looy Business Prize—Han Yan ’16 E. Grace White Prize—Kotchaphorn Mangkalaphiban ’15 E. Grace White Summer Scholarship—Amadea Clement ’16 and Ghada Tafesh ’16 Wilson College Education Award—Jennifer Isaac ’15 won the secondary award and Nathanael Stump ’15 won the elementary award
Wilson College Equestrienne Award—Marissa Kosko-Blyler ’15 Wilson College Fine Arts Prize—Jessika Glass Dockery ’15 Carolyn Zeleny Prize—Heather Humwood ’15 Wilson College Scholar Athletes—Nicole Bodulow ’17, Nicole Melanson ’15, Emma Miller ’16, Brittney Poff ’15, Lily Rembold ’17 and Katelyn Wingerd ’16
Mary-Eleanor Maule Travel Grant—Netha Kane ’17 Robert Shannon McElwain Prize—Kristyn T. Fogg ’18 Helen Adams Nutting History Prize— Nicole Trusky ’15
PHOTO BY BILL GREEN
Organic Chemistry Award— Nicole Bodulow ’17
From left, Elizabeth Thorpe and Sonja Hess'15.
Outstanding Peer Teacher Award—Danniele Fulmer ’17 Nicky Hoffman Reich Award—Danielle Boock ’16 Helga Rist Prize— Krista Dewald ’16
FACULTY AWARDS The following faculty members received the Donald F. Bletz Award for Excellence in Teaching: Senior Faculty Award— Julie Raulli, associate professor of sociology Junior Faculty Award— Justin Lawrence, assistant professor of mathematics Adjunct Faculty Award— Brian Hershey, adjunct instructor of psychology
PHOTO BY BILL GREEN
Alta Lindsay McElwain Prize—Haley Hutchinson ’18
Professor Julie Raulli, left, and Elissa Heil, dean of faculty and vice president for academic affairs .
summer 2015 05
SUMMER READS Summer is tailor-made for kicking back with a good book! So, what do folks here at Wilson recommend for reading this summer? Here’s a sampling: • Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan President Barbara K. Mistick ("The best-selling author of Loving Frank takes on the extraordinary relationship between Fanny Osbourne and Robert Louis Stevenson. A magical read!") • A Pirate Looks at Fifty by Jimmy Buffett Leigh Rupinski, archivist (“It always makes me feel like I’m taking a vacation even when I’m not!”). • The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (a.k.a. Stephen King) Caitlin Beggarly, bookstore associate • The Smart Take from the Strong: The Basketball Philosophy of Pete Carril by Dan White Miles Smith, men’s basketball head coach
STREETSCAPE PROJECT DELAYED The Wilson College Streetscape and Pedestrian Safety Initiative, which had been scheduled for this year, is now set to begin in the spring of 2016. Officials from the Borough of Chambersburg informed those attending a public hearing held at Wilson on May 12 that the start date for the project had to be postponed because the borough received only one bid for the project. Borough officials announced last September that Chambersburg had received a $465,429 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant from the state for a publicprivate partnership between the borough and the College to complete a variety of pedestrian infrastructure upgrades along U.S. Route 11, in accordance with the College’s campus improvement plans. The project includes repairing sidewalks, installing new curbs and ADA-compliant curb cuts, improving crosswalks and repairing/replacing storm sewer lines. Officials said that the project will be rebid, but did not expect the process to be completed in time for the 2015 construction season, which runs from April to October. —CDB
• 14th Deadly Sin (Women’s Murder Club) by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro Dianna Heim, prospect researcher • Loss of Innocence by Richard North Patterson Mary Ann Naso, vice president for enrollment (“It’s a terrific story!”) • Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand Margaret Light, director of corporate and foundation relations
• Jack & Louisa: Act 1 by Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead Mark Blackmon, director of communications (“A must for theater geeks, but recommended for all.”) • Dead Wake by Erik Larsen Dee Berry, managing editor, Wilson Magazine (“Also try some of Larsen’s other historical works, such as The Devil in the White City and In the Garden of Beasts.”)
06 wilson magazine
PHOTO BY CATHY MENTZER
• Farmacology, What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing, by Daphne Miller, M.D. Christine Mayer, director of the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living (“This was our FRESH Book Chat selection last winter and a real winner.”)
SOUTH KOREANS VISIT
FULTON FARM
A delegation of South Korean agriculture officials and farmers visited Wilson's Fulton Center for Sustainable Living on May 15 to learn about the concept of communitysupported agriculture.
WILSON NEWS ATHLETIC
Wilson’s student athletes were honored for their performances both on and off the field this spring. The women’s softball team collected several accolades following tournament play. Head softball coach Brett Cline was named North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) South Division Coach of the Year after guiding the Phoenix to a 15-5 conference record and a tie for first-place in the division. Four members of the softball team were selected to a NEAC South Division All-Conference Team. Taylor Crouse ’16 and Kayla Sullenberger ’17 were selected to the South Division All-Conference first team. Crouse finished the season with an overall .348 batting average and had six wins in the pitching circle. Sullenberger recorded a .379 batting average and led her team with four home runs and 31 runs batted in. Jennifer Hornberger ’18 and Raechelle Hilbish ’18 were named to the South Division second team. Hornberger led the conference with 21 stolen bases and Hilbish finished with a .360 batting average and was outstanding in the field as well. The Wilson field hockey team received the National Academic Team Award from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) in May. This award recognizes those institutions that achieved a minimum team grade-point average of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year. In addition, seven members of the field hockey team were recognized by NFHCA for their outstanding academic accomplishments. Nicole Melanson ’15, Taylor Crouse ’16, Lily Rembold ’17 and freshmen Kallie Butts, Kayla Butts, Amanda Haase and Bret Morgan were named to the NFHCA Collegiate National Academic Squad. Student-athletes must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher during the first semester of each academic year to receive this honor. Melanson has received the award all four of her years at Wilson. —Samantha Burmeister
PHOTO BY CATHY MENTZER
HONORS
WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES
On May 1, Wilson students, including members of the men's basketball team, participated in the "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" event sponsored by Chambersburg’s Women in Need organization. Besides accepting the challenge of walking through downtown streets in heels to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women, the students and their coaches also raised $400 for WIN programs. —CM
WILSON COLLEGE 2015 GOLF CLASSIC Wilson’s 8th annual Golf Classic on May 8 raised more than $10,000 to help students expand their educational experiences outside of the classroom by covering the cost of off-campus seminars, academic programs and competitions. The tournament hosted 64 golfers who joined President Barbara K. Mistick, Wilson staff and student-athletes at the Chambersburg Country Club.
Student-athletes assisting at the tournament included, from left, Marquise Beckett ’18, Ben Holl ’17, Rasul Jackson ’18, Rahim Bunch ’16, Annie Demmy ’18, Amanda Haase ’18, Bret Morgan ’18, Martez Beckett ’18 and Nick Kowalczyk ’16. —CDB SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2016 GOLF CLASSIC—MAY 6, 2016.
summer 2015 07
ALUMNAE/I NEWS MARY JANE MEDLOCK:
TRUE BLUE VOLUNTEER M
ary Jane Medlock’s fascination with World War II aircraft began at a young age. She would listen spellbound to her uncle tell stories about his days as a tail gunner during World War II in the South Pacific. Every week “with my grandmom,” she would tune in to watch the television series 12 O’Clock High. One of her most vivid childhood memories is the day “a big ol’ B-17” flew low over her home in Arizona, carrying water to fight a nearby forest fire and leaving her breathless. Her childhood awe turned into an adult passion when Medlock ’74 became a dedicated volunteer at the Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Mich., working as one of the ground crew for Yankee Warrior, a B-25D Mitchell bomber. She has passed on her devotion to the museum and the history of these World War II planes to her daughter, Mary Aileen, and her eldest granddaughter, Nea. The Yankee Warrior, which saw combat in World War II, is one of only two B-25Ds still flying today, and can be seen at air shows around the country. It was at one of these air shows in Geneseo, N.Y., in 1992 that Medlock first saw the Yankee Museum planes. “It was a dream come true. I finally got to sit inside a B-17,” Medlock said. She was amazed to discover that the museum was only 20 miles from where she lived in Saline, Mich. Both she and Mary Aileen began volunteering at the museum, working as ground crew, booking visitor flights on the planes and assisting at the museum’s annual Thunder Over Michigan air show every summer. In October 2004, fire struck the hangar where the museum was then housed. Medlock made the initial 911 call to the fire department. As both the Yankee Warrior and the B-17 owned by the museum were being towed to safety, Medlock and other volunteers physically pushed a third aircraft, a C-47 military cargo plane, out of the hangar before it
Mary Jane Medlock '74 worked on the ground crew for the Yankee Warrior, (pictured above), a B-25D Mitchell bomber from World War II. (Courtesy of Yankee Air Museum)
collapsed. Medlock also helped save irreplaceable computer files and other museum records. The museum was rebuilt and reopened in 2010, and is now part of the Save the Willow Run Bomber Plant project. Willow Run was built in 1941 to build bombers (including the B-24 Liberator) for the war. At its height of production, workers there turned out one bomber almost every hour. The plant will become the new permanent home for the museum, its exhibits, educational programs and aircraft. While today she is retired from ground crew work, Medlock still volunteers at the air show and helps with Willow Run fundraisers. She now has another passion she shares with her daughter and her granddaughter—they are all members of the Civil Air Patrol in Ann Arbor. Granddaughter Nea, 15, aspires to become a pilot. And Nea’s grandmom approves! —Coleen Dee Berry
HARRIET JOHNSTON LANE SYMPOSIUM On June 10, the Mercersburg Historical Society sponsored the Harriet Lane Johnston Symposium at Mercersburg Academy. Before her marriage, Harriet Lane, born in Mercersburg, served as First Lady during the presidency of her uncle, James Buchanan. Joan McCulloh '52 serves as president of the Mercersburg Historical Society and Betty Jane Weller Lee '57 serves as secretary. A number of Wilson alumnae attended the symposium. Front row, from left: Joan McCulloh ’52, Rose Gish Gerke ’59, Edna “Denise” Sites Foreman ’48, Patricia Markle Keffer ’96, Nelle Depuy Nelling ’52, Beatrice McElhaney Over ’52, Priscilla Drury Dentler ’57, Lisa Heisey ’95, Betty Jane Weller Lee ’57, Alice Brumbaugh and Marie Lanser Beck ’76. Back row, from left: Joan Applegate, Camilla B. Rawleigh, vice president for institutional advancement; and Marybeth Famulare, director of alumnae/i relations.
08 wilson magazine
Summit, N.J. Alumna Caroline Eickele Lindabury ’62 hosted a get-together in Summit, N.J., on April 30. John Ross, director of major gifts, spoke at the event along with Carolyn Hart, Ph.D., director of nursing, who provided information about the future of nursing at Wilson. Standing, from left: Gretchen Price-Rude ’67, Marjorie McCormick Peters ’46 and Caroline Eickele Lindabury ’62. Sitting, from left: Barbara Heerwagen Leach ’62, Joan Thuebel ’52, Barbara Orchard Engler ’60 and Carol Merklinger Condon ’59.
ALUMNAE EVENTS
Ardmore, Pa. Former Trustee Betty Lou Leedom Thompson ’60 hosted 18 Wilson alumnae and friends in her home in Ardmore, Pa., on April 26. Michael G. Cornelius, Ph.D., chair of Department of English and Communications and program director of the Master of Humanities program, provided an update from the academic area while Camilla B. Rawleigh, vice president for institutional advancement, shared a general campus update. Pictured, from left: Marjorie A. Musil ’61, Michael G. Cornelius and Betty Lou Leedom Thompson ’60. Others in attendance: Patricia Bennett ’68, Sarah Shetter Conover ’09, Rita Handwerk Fisk ’64, Joseph Garcia, Elizabeth Udall Gilpin ’53, Lunetta Forsyth Headley ’47, Suzanne Bounds Kinard ’58, Karen Kane Landman ’71, Margaret Crane Madorno ’61, Deborah Douie Merritt ’76, Jill Roberts ’88, Kathryn Schall Schwalm ’71, Aletha Riegel Sciubba ’61 and Constance West ’58.
PATRICIA VAIL IN KAZAKHSTAN:
LETTERS FROM BETWEEN THE HUMPS There is an upside and a downside to every adventure. On the upside of Patricia Vail’s sojourn in Kazakhstan were magnificent mountains, warm friends, countryside dachas and plenty of manty dumplings. The downside? Dysfunctional kitchen appliances, earthquake alarms, mountains of government red tape and strange food such as kumys, a beverage made from the fermented mare’s milk.
“It sounded like ‘Peace Corps for Lawyers’—a volunteer program working alongside the legal communities of these new democracies,” Vail recalls in the foreword to her book. Just a few months later in August 1996, she landed in Kazakhstan as an ABA/CEELI liaison.
For eight months in 1996-97, Vail ’63 experienced life in Kazakhstan, as she worked in Almaty, the former capital of the Central Asian nation. She was there as a volunteer for the Central and Eastern European Law Initiative (CEELI), a program run by the American Bar Association.
For the next eight months she took Russian language lessons, shopped in bazaars and dealt with a daunting array of bureaucrats in an attempt to create professional associations for both judges and lawyers, and to help the fledging Kazakh Parliament with organizational questions. One accomplishment was a program set up to explain the legal concept of private property to the Kazakhs, who had just broken free of Soviet rule.
She recounts her time there in her book, Letters From Between The Humps: Adventures and Misadventures in Kazakhstan. Based on diaries and emails, the book (named for the native, two-humped Bactrian camels) is written as a journal that chronicles Vail’s daily life and the often frustrating task of helping to bring order to the Kazakh legal system.
It took her some time to put all her notes together, but Vail said she “got serious” in 2009 after hip surgery left her with extra time on her hands. “I was almost astonished when it was actually printed—it was like giving birth to a baby when you didn’t realize you were pregnant!” Vail said of her longtime project.
Vail volunteered to work for CEELI after she retired from her job in the legal department at CSX. “At 55, I was not intending to ‘retire’ so much as to have some adventure, take a little risk and try something new,” Vail said. An intriguing article in the Florida Bar News about CEELI caught her eye in early 1996.
Vail said her favorite part of her Kazakh adventure was the people she met, and if she had a choice, she’d repeat the experience—despite the downside—“in a heartbeat.” Letters From Between The Humps is available on Amazon for all who want to share her adventure. —Coleen Dee Berry
summer 2015 09
“Seize this Mo
10 wilson magazine
W
alk on the wild side and take a few lessons from the animals, commencement speaker Barbara Baker of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium advised Wilson’s Class of 2015. Exercise patience. Don’t hold a grudge. Be creative and innovate by doing the unexpected. “Humans are the only ones who don’t live completely in the moment,” Baker said at Wilson’s 145th commencement exercises on May 17. “Seize this moment, because you will never get it back.” Gray skies gave way to sunshine as the procession of Wilson’s Class of 2015 stepped off across the green in front of family and friends. Martha Estep O’Brien ’65, whose class celebrated its 50th reunion this year, acted as marshal for the Blue and Silver Line. Diplomas were bestowed upon 96 students earning bachelor’s, master’s and associate degrees; and 24 certificates were granted to those completing Wilson’s Teacher Internship Program. During her opening remarks, President Barbara K. Mistick noted that she felt a special affinity for the Class of 2015, since their first year as students was also her first year as Wilson's president. She talked briefly of the challenges that they have faced during their four years together and shared her confidence in their future success. She also offered her support and best wishes to Wilson’s Nepali students and their families in the aftermath of two deadly earthquakes that have devastated the country.
ment”
Representing the traditional undergraduate college, Class President Taylor Staudt ’15 spoke of how her aunt’s experience with the Women with Children program inspired her to attend Wilson. Staudt stressed the importance of making a difference with your actions, even if it’s to only one person.
PHOTO BY CATHY MENTZER
Adult Degree Program speaker Jessika Dockery ’15 described the balancing act adult students must master to become graduates, and praised Wilson as a place of “encouragement, knowledge and friendship.” Staudt presented the 2015 senior class gift of $500 to the women’s studies program in honor of Professor of Dance Paula Kellinger. “Paula has always supported our class, whether it’s buying our baked goods at fundraisers or telling us to stand up for what we believe in as strong Wilson women,” Staudt said, adding that the class hopes Kellinger can put the money toward a future feminist lecture forum on campus.
PHOTOS BY BOB STOLER
Baker, who is president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium and has a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Auburn University, was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Wilson and received the traditional Wilson hood. —Wilson Magazine Staff
Clockwise, top row: Wilson's Class of 2015 celebrates with Song Wars; alumnae on the Blue and Silver Line; President Barbara K. Mistick with Lance Breighner '15; commencement speaker Barbara Baker receives her Wilson hood; the graduating class processes in; class president Taylor Staudt '15.
the
12 wilson magazine
Factor Xandra Breakefield '64 has spent her career at the forefront of scientific discovery while quietly mentoring the next generation of researchers. By Mark Blackmon ¦ Photos By Brian Wilson
“XOB.”
That’s what’s written in permanent marker on the backs of stools that sit in front of the laboratory benches in one of the nation’s most noted molecular genetics and neuroscience labs. They are the unmistakable initials of the lab’s principal investigator, Xandra O. Breakefield ’64, a lauded scientist who very nearly had a career in a discount variety store. “I had no desire to go to college at all,” said Breakefield, laughing, at the beginning of a wide-ranging interview at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) campus at the former Charlestown Navy Yard, where her laboratory is located. Breakefield is a professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and a geneticist with neurology and radiology services at MGH.
“My mother told me either I went to college or I worked in the dime store, so I decided I would try college.” She did not, however, mount a serious assault on college admissions offices. “I only applied to one school—Wilson—and that was because [her sister, Susan Breakefield Fulton ’61] was there.” She had attended public schools—and not very good ones, by her own reckoning—but within a week at Wilson, she said she was in love with the place and with learning. “I
Y
The scientist to whom Breakefield wrote was Marshall W. Nirenberg at the National Institutes of Health, one of the recipients of the 1968 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for breaking the genetic code. After she finished her post-doctoral work, she took a job in the country’s first human genetics lab. Taking the same path she took at Wilson, she went to the bookstore and purchased all the books she could find on human genetics and after reading them, had an epiphany: “I was going to
ou’re not working on an abstract problem. There are people suffering and you have the potential to find out what’s going on and to try to help them.”
— Xandra O. Breakefield '64
went to the bookstore and got 10 books and I was so excited that someone wanted me to read!”
figure out what was wrong in these diseases and by figuring out what was wrong, I could figure out therapy.”
Like many students when they begin college, Breakefield was unsure of her course of study. She explored English and philosophy, but found her Wilson science professors very inspiring.
After more than a decade of working on human genetics and the role of genes in diseases, Breakefield led the team that discovered the first marker for the dystonia gene in 1989.
And while she found science to be “fascinating intrinsically,” it was a chance reading of a newspaper article that set her trajectory.
“We were part of the initial wave. Before they’d sequenced the human genome—before we even had computers—we were there at the bench just literally, blot by blot, working our way through. You do it through linkage,” she explained, “through association of pieces of DNA, but initially it was very hard work.”
“When I was at Wilson—this is a classic story—I read in the Public Opinion that this scientist had discovered the code, OK, that three nucleotides can encode for an amino acid and this was the whole code of DNA, right? When I read that, I just was transported into another world. This was the most amazing thing I’d ever heard! Who would have thought?” Breakefield decided to write this scientist a letter and told him that she would like to visit him. “And he actually invited me! So, I went to his lab and learned a lot about how they had found out this code and everything.” Of course, the story doesn’t end there. As she was completing her doctorate at Georgetown University, she wrote to him again and said she would like to do her post-doctoral training with him. Again, he said yes. “So, I went back and did a post-doc with him.”
14 wilson magazine
Up to that point, Breakefield’s ideas had just been working theories; no one had ever found a gene that way before. Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder in which sustained involuntary muscle contractions can twist and contort parts of the body. In 1997, Breakefield and her team identified and cloned the gene responsible for early-onset torsion dystonia and since that time, they have also worked to understand the function of the defective protein, torsinA. Announcing the discovery, Breakefield called dystonia a “stealth crippler.” Despite dystonia’s frequency, its profile has not risen much in the popular media. “It’s quite unbelievable, actually,” she said, noting that dystonia is the third most common movement disorder after tremor and Parkinson’s disease.
Breakefield’s indefatigable nature, determination and intellectual curiosity are particularly evident when she relates the story of the initial discovery of the dystonia gene. All she had to go on was a theory, but she was determined to convince at least one neurologist to work with her to identify the gene. She felt that she needed a large family for the genetic samples, which proved to be difficult because the so-called “founder mutation” was in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, who tended to have smaller families.
In the case of XDP, much of the affected population is in a poor region of the Philippines and “they literally sometimes chain these people in the basement. They’re never allowed out,” Breakefield said. “And now our clinical team is going there and trying to set up clinics, and some of these people are coming to the clinic [who] haven’t been out of their house for 10 years. They’re putting them in a truck because they can’t move there on their own. These are normal, intelligent people and they’ve literally been lying strapped to
From left: Xandra O. Breakefield '64 works in her laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital; a solution awaits analysis; an autoradiographic image displays information that may help Breakefield's team determine therapies to treat XDP.
She determined that once a large family was isolated, she would videotape the subjects and have movement disorder specialists rate the tapes to determine if the subjects were showing signs of the illness. “I told this to a number of people and they couldn’t get me out of the room fast enough. They were like, ‘This lady’s crazy!’” she said, laughing. But, she pressed on. “I’d been kicked out of so many offices at this point,” she said, that it hardly mattered where she went next. So, she decided to call on Dr. Stanley Fahn, the physician who defined dystonia. Fahn told her, “OK, let’s do it.” Breakefield found the family, proved her theory and continues to be at the forefront of discovery in her field. One of the projects she and her team are currently researching is the development of possible drug therapies to treat X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP), a genetic form of dystonia found almost entirely among males of Filipino descent. Although people know how to isolate genes now, Breakefield stressed she is careful not to forget the human factor in her experimentation.
a bed for 10 years, maybe in part so they won’t hurt themselves, and now they are finally bringing them to the clinic so they can try to get them some medical care.” There is always a dramatic story that unfolds when researchers begin to probe into the whys and wherefores of a disease—and that, Breakefield said, is what makes it meaningful. “You’re not working on an abstract problem. There are people suffering and you have the potential to find out what’s going on and to try to help them.” Breakefield not only has been passionate about helping to alleviate suffering, but also in developing and mentoring the next generation of scientists and physicians. In 2013, the Society for Neuroscience presented Breakefield with its Mika Salpeter Lifetime Achievement Award honoring individuals with outstanding neuroscience careers who also actively promote women’s professional advancement in the field. In writing Breakefield’s nomination, Harvard’s D. Cristopher Bragg pointed out her unflagging efforts to promote the accomplishments of those who work for her, writing that “if there is one lesson that she has tried to teach [her trainees], it is that the focus of any lab should be on discovery, with all perspectives and contributions respected equally and all
summer 2015 15
persons given equal opportunity and resources to succeed.” Someone who agrees with that assessment is Jyotsna Dhakal ’14, a research technician in the Breakefield lab. “It’s just sort of serendipity that I hired her,” Breakefield said, describing receiving an email from Wilson Associate Professor of Biology Brad Engle, recommending Dhakal just as she was on the cusp of offering the position to a postdoctoral candidate. It was also a gamble to offer the position to someone without advanced training. Breakefield committed to Dhakal, but the true test came after she was hired, as the work requires an extremely high level of skill, precision and dexterity. “People either have it or they don’t,” Breakefield said. Soon after she began, it was clear that Dhakal did have it. “She just started churning out the data,” Breakefield said. “We’d say, ‘Here’s the question, here are the samples, let’s ask this question,’ and she’d bring us back data we could learn something from. “Brad Engle is really training at a high skill level,” she concluded. Last year, Breakefield, who was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2013 and who earlier this year received the inaugural Bachmann-Strauss Prize for Excellence in Dystonia Research from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, was also a recipient of Harvard Medical School’s William Silen Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award. “To be honest,” the self-effacing Breakefield said, “the first time I got one of these awards, nobody could have been more surprised than me.” And while Breakefield confesses that she’s still not sure exactly what makes her a great mentor, others are. Dhakal said she believes that what makes Breakefield stand apart is that she relies on kindness. “Xandra says all these great things about us and we work to achieve them.” “I just have complete confidence in her and so I think she responds to that,” Breakefield said of Dhakal. “She can do it. I know she can do it.” Said Dhakal, “Just coming from Nepal, it’s been such a privilege for me to see a fantastic woman leader like Xandra because back home, you don’t get to witness many women in leadership positions and I think I’m really lucky to have her as a role model.”
16 wilson magazine
Top: Breakefield watches as Jyotsna Dhakal '14 conducts an experiment in the lab. Below: In this fast-paced working research laboratory, thousands of vials and test tubes compete with the scientist for space at the bench.
For Breakefield, seeing the impact of her own work change lives is one of the driving factors in her determination to continue. Dhakal, meanwhile, is unsure of what her next steps might be. “I told her she had to work for us for two years; then she can go off to graduate school,” joked Breakefield. “We can’t actually do that, but…,” she said, eyes twinkling. “I’m hoping Jyotsna will go to graduate school or medical school, depending on her orientation, and continue to work in the field and make contributions.”
to new methods of scientific inquiry. He also felt that Dhakal’s already strong research skills would allow her to succeed. And while Breakefield believes that much of Dhakal’s prowess does stem from her own intelligence, she said it’s obvious that Dhakal gained a deep understanding of the rules of science and genetics during her undergraduate career. Having a very capable student coupled with a superlative teacher is, said Breakefield, “a combination that can create an individual who is really ready
I
t's been such a privilege for me to see a fantastic woman leader like Xandra … you don't get to witness many women in leadership positions and I think I'm really lucky to have her as a role model.”
Breakefield says that Wilson College was an enormous influence on her because it “did really turn me into a scholar.” “The big story to me is that someone coming out of a small school could have received the superb training that [Jyotsna] received so that she could enter into a very high-powered research laboratory and just know exactly what’s going on,” Breakefield said, demonstrating precisely the behavior that her nominations for mentoring mention.
— JYOTSNA DHAKAL '14
for the workplace. [Jyotsna had] no hesitation. Never had a moment’s hesitation as far as I could see. You explain the experiment to her and she does it. Perfectly clear.” After a moment, the mentor becomes more reflective. “I had to learn a lot along the way. Jyotsna seems to have come with a very clear idea of what we need to do and how to do it.” W
Wilson’s Brad Engle, who characterized Dhakal as having a “brilliant mind,” said that he believed training with Breakefield would expose Dhakal
A
s this issue was going to press, we learned that another Wilson graduate will be joining Massachusetts General Hospital. Kotchaphorn Mangkalaphiban ’15 will serve as a research technician in the lab of Laurie Ozelius, another former trainee of Xandra Breakefield. Ozelius’ lab and the Breakefield lab are a part of the Collaborative Center for XDP at MGH.
summer 2015 17
J
essica Meck ’15 discovered her calling in a cave.
in New Hampshire this fall to study environmental biology.
Meck, a biology major, was conducting research on an invasive cave fungus that causes “white nose syndrome” in bats and its interaction with native cave fungi. As part of her research, she accompanied members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission on field expeditions to two caves to collect sediment samples and inspect bats for signs of the disease.
Student research at Wilson takes many forms and extends across disciplines. Research projects can help crystallize a career, hone critical thinking and impart the confidence and skills needed to enter graduate school or the workforce.
“That’s when I realized this is what I want to do with my career—that I want to be a wildlife biologist and do field research,” said Meck, who will attend graduate school at Antioch University New England
Key to a student’s independent research project is effective mentoring by faculty, according to Associate Professor of Biology Brad Engle, one of Meck’s advisers. “Effective mentors encourage students, listen to students, offer advice and provide an environment in which students are willing to take risks
DISCOVERIES by Coleen Dee Berry
Student-driven inquiry and supportive faculty mentors differentiate Wilson research
and at the same time openly discuss mistakes,” he said. “In this environment, students become problem-solvers seeking out creative solutions—they sharpen their technical and analytical skills, they learn to appreciate the virtues of patience and persistence, and they develop self-confidence.”
Jessica Meck '15 on a caving research expedition with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
What makes student research unique at Wilson is its individuality, according to Associate Dean of Academic Advising
&
big small summer 2015 19
Deb Austin, who is also a chemistry professor. “Each student chooses their topic and researches it from start to finish,” she said. “It’s a very individual experience. It’s not like we have a big research lab here on campus and we plug in students to some ongoing project so that they experience just one small piece of a project.” The value of student-driven, as opposed to faculty-driven, research is evident at the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences annual meeting, according to Austin. Wilson students have been recognized for excellence in oral presentation for all of the four years they have participated. “We have a great track record at PAS and one of the reasons is that Wilson students do their own research from beginning to end,” Austin said. “They have a much broader grasp of their topic and can answer most of the questions posed to them.” This year, Meck placed second in the oral presentation category for her cave fungus research. Research also aids students as they continue their studies. Sarah Weikert Wilson ’10, whose senior capstone project at Wilson researched how the American definition of the sublime in landscape art
evolved with western expansion, said this experience gave her the skills necessary to complete her master’s thesis and delve into doctorate studies at Penn State University in Harrisburg.
dience. “Research encourages you to think, be open-minded and ask questions,” said Brad Stiles, adjunct biology professor and a retired federal research laboratory microbiologist. ”Student Re-
B
eing part of the scholarly conversation and contributing to it are the ways and means through which humanities and social science students impact not only how we understand the world around us, but change that world as well.”
—Michael Cornelius, chair
Department of English and Communications “I was definitely and deeply challenged during my research process at Wilson,” said Wilson. ”The faculty I worked with knew that I wanted to go to graduate school and eventually pursue a Ph.D., so they held me to a high standard and made sure that I sharpened my academic skills before I stepped into the graduate classroom.” The culmination for many student researchers—particularly seniors—comes at Wilson’s annual Student Research Day, when they present their work to an au-
search Day takes the strengths of the students and showcases them.” And research is not confined to science. For her research day presentation, history major Alexis Foor ’15 built a 10-by-10 foot pavilion-style timber-frame structure on the campus green as the culmination of her research into the hardships faced by the early settlers of western Pennsylvania. Inspired by the old timber-framed barn on her family’s Bradford County farm, Foor harvested the wood from the pine forest on her family’s property. She cut the beams and planks with the help of a neighbor’s portable sawmill and used hand tools to build the structure using only wooden pegs and mortise and tenon joints.
PHOTOS BY BILL GREEN
“It was really physically challenging because I’m just about 5 feet tall and a lot of the beams were 10 feet long,” said Foor, who hopes to put her research to good use in historic preservation work. “Trying to put even this small building together gave me a whole new appreciation for the settlers in the 1700s out here, building a house and barn with just hand tools. It was really eye-opening.” Alexis Foor '15 during her Student Research Day presentation on timber-framed structures.
20 wilson magazine
Kimberly Maske-Mertz ’08, M.A.Hum ’15, presented her master’s thesis paper at research day on the role of female heroes in young adult fiction such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. “I feel it’s important for girls and young women (and also boys and young men) to see strong confident role models in literature that challenge the status quo and form an identity that is of their own making and not one that society thrusts upon them” said Maske-Mertz, an adult degree graduate who received her graduate degree in May. The biggest skill that Wilson taught her during her research was “to think outside the box,” Maske-Mertz said. “My professors helped me to expand on the research that was already there and to give voice to my own theory.” Students seeking to do hands-on scientific research have also benefited from a long-standing partnership between Wilson and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2007, the USDA began using Wilson students to help with water quality testing. In 2013, the USDA offered the College an agreement to conduct various research projects through 2019. Beginning this summer, Kisha Pradhan ’15 will work on USDA projects at Wilson as part of a year-long internship. She will continue the ongoing water testing program on Conococheague Creek and will also participate in a new project on the Fulton Farm, testing herbs and their resistance to bacteria, according to Edward Wells, chair of Wilson’s Department of Environmental Studies.
PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD
Research and scholarship are essential for humanities and social science study, according to Michael Cornelius, chair of the Department of English and Communications. “Being part of the scholarly conversation and contributing to it are the ways and means through which humanities and social science students impact not only how we understand the world around us, but change that world as well.”
Kisha Pradhan '15 collects water samples from the Conococheague for the USDA.
Pradhan said research has always fascinated her. At Wilson, she gravitated to environmental science and participated in a USDA project last year. “What I like about research itself—I like that you can take the big picture and then look at something very small, very particular. It’s very precise and specific,” said Pradhan, who hopes to attend graduate school and eventually work in public health in her native Nepal. Student researchers stress the value of the mentoring they received at Wilson. “I have no words to describe how much their support helped to motivate me,” said MaskeMertz. “My advisers were amazing.” Sarah Wilson also praised her mentors and said she still discusses academic endeavors with her former faculty advisers. Gillian Barth ’14 said her mentoring experience led to a career change. She was thinking about a career as a veterinarian before a chance to help her adviser, Brad Stiles, with a research paper on the C-perfringens epsilon toxin brought about her moment of truth. She is now pursuing a doctorate at Purdue University, working
at the Stauffacher lab, focusing on the expansion of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens. “At the time of the project [with Stiles] I was torn between becoming a veterinarian and applying to grad school. This project, which gave me an appreciably greater understanding of biomedical research, was a major factor in my decision to pursue a career in that field,” Barth said. There is a critical need for biomedical research in veterinary medicine, Barth said, and her time at Wilson helped prepare her for this field of study. “My education at Wilson gave me a unique opportunity to pursue my interests in both research and veterinary medicine,” she said. “Faculty mentoring and small class sizes certainly helped me build confidence, along with a solid skill set, and gave me the time I needed to find my future path.” W For more on Wilson’s 2015 Student Research Day presenters, go to www.wilson.edu/srd.
summer 2015 21
22 wilson magazine
Sociology professor Julie Raulli in her classroom.
J
ulie Raulli is on a mission. The associate professor of sociology wants to introduce students to volunteer opportunities in the community by incorporating service learning into as many of her classes as possible. It benefits not only the nonprofit organizations who need volunteers, but also Raulli’s students—some of whom plan to go on volunteering. “I find it extremely rewarding and I feel like it’s something I really want to continue doing,” said Sarah Gipe ’17, a sociology major who volunteered this spring with the South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP). “It makes me feel like I have the power to help.”
E
mpowering students is one of Raulli’s overarching goals. She used service learning in her “Food, Culture and Society” course last fall and also incorporated it into “Race, Class and Gender” in the spring. “We are looking critically at society,” Raulli said of the sociology courses. “When you start to look at inequalities, you’re looking at racism and sexism and classism and poverty. I think it kind of gets overwhelming. One of the reasons I wanted to integrate service learning into the ‘Race, Class and Gender’ course, in partic-
ular, was that it gives students something to do to show that as an individual, you can make a difference.” By all accounts, the students are making a difference, while also connecting what they learn in the classroom to their experiences in the broader community—one of the defining aspects of a liberal arts education. “I found the service learning component to be very helpful because we got to get out of the classroom and experience different aspects of race, class and gender firsthand,” said Emily Denoma ’16, who worked with the SCCAP-af-
K summer 2015 23
filiated Circles program aimed at helping people lift themselves out of poverty. “I learned there are many more people than I originally thought who are living in poverty in this area,” Denoma said. “It was a great experience because I got to interact and form friendships with people I normally would not have the chance to do so with. I will be continuing my volunteer work at Circles after this class because I enjoyed it so much.” Raulli is gratified that her students enjoy the service learning aspect of her courses. “I think it indicates that students are willing or eager to share their time and talents with nonprofits in our community— they just need the chance to get linked up with one,” she said. Jay Eury, a former intern on Wilson’s Fulton Farm and now employed by SCCAP, has helped Raulli find service opportunities for her students. He created a program called the Gleaning Project, which harvests produce grown on area farms and orchards that is not suitable for the market but is perfectly fine for eating. Eury and volunteers collect and distribute the produce to area food banks and other food programs for the disadvantaged. “I think Julie is exploring new territory,” said Eury. “We’re trying to create a model that facilitates these kinds of opportunities. It’s fantastic for the organizations. I think Julie is setting a great example.” Another student in Raulli’s “Race, Class and Gender” class, psychology major Asia McGee ’16, volunteered at a Chambersburg elementary school with a large proportion of students from poor families. She helped with the school’s Backpack Program, which uses food gathered from food banks, churches, SCCAP and other sources to fill backpacks given to students at the end of the school day on Fridays. Backpacks contain break-
fast, lunch and snacks for each student and evening meals for the child’s entire family, according to McGee, whose daughter attends the school. “They’re generally children in low-income families and they don’t get to eat over the weekend,” she said. “We make menus and fill [backpacks] with food for the weekend until they come back to school. The kids really appreciate it and so do their parents.” Raulli has also had her students volunteer at Fulton Farm. Connecting the farm to the academic curriculum has been a goal of the College since the Fulton Center for Sustainable Living was formed more than 20 years ago. “Many [students] have never had an experience on the farm. Why not provide that? It’s right there,” said Raulli, winner of this year’s Bletz Teaching Award for senior faculty. “And the farm needs the support of students too. It’s one of those win-win situations.” This fall, Raulli will again teach “Food, Culture and Society” and plans to offer students opportunities to volunteer at Fulton Farm and at its stand at the North Square Farmers Market, as well as with the Gleaning Project and Project Share, a Carlisle, Pa.-based interfaith organization that distributes food to the needy. Raulli, whose bachelor’s degree is in English and master’s degree is in peace studies, “took a while to find [sociology], but once I found it, that was it.” She earned her doctorate in sociology from Colorado State University in 2005, landed a job at Wilson that same year and never looked back. “My interest in sociology is inequality,” said Raulli. “To me,
Top: Brittney Smith ’15, left, and Gina Rea ’16 distribute food at Project Share in Carlisle, Pa. Bottom: Emily Denoma ’16 and John King ’16, help with an Empty Bowls fundraiser in Gettysburg, Pa.
24 wilson magazine
,
,
,
“I don t know that it s going to change what anyone s going
to do with their lives, but I think it enables students to think more deeply about their lives.”
Associate Professor of Sociology Julie Raulli
that’s the heart and soul of sociology.” According to her students, she conveys her enthusiasm for the subject every day in the classroom. “As an instructor, she is probably one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met,” Gipe laughed. “Honestly, I don’t think she would be happy doing anything else.” When she’s not teaching, Raulli is as engaged as anyone in the life of the campus, showing up at gallery openings, performances, lectures, academic presentations and other activities. Students rave about her passion for sociology, her willingness to work around their schedules and her involvement—she often visits and observes students while they’re volunteering. “The students adore her,” said Amy Ensley, director of the Hankey Center, where Raulli often takes her students to use its historical resources. “I think she has such faith in their abilities and potential—and they can feel that.” Raulli, who chaired Wilson’s social sciences division from 2011-14 and coordinated the women’s studies program from 2007-13, wanted to bring more service learning into her classes for some time. Now free from those administrative duties—and following a realignment in her department, which is now part of the Department of Global Studies—she was able to tweak the sociology major and incorporate service learning and cross-disciplinary work into her courses. “For me, it’s been a positive opportunity,” she said of sociol-
ogy’s move to global studies. “In fact, this year has probably been one of the best years for me in terms of my own teaching, my own energy.” She developed new courses like “Food, Culture and Society” to reflect aspects of sociology that she believes are important, such as food insecurity. “[Food, Culture and Society] was looking at social inequality through the lens of food,” Raulli said. “[Students] had no idea about all the implications of the food they eat. It was a good tool to talk about some of those issues.” For Gipe, working with low- income people through SCAAP’s Gleaning Project and Circles support program has been eye-opening. “I learned that a lot of people really don’t know how to grow their own food or where food comes from, or how to incorporate vegetables into something that they would find tasty and appealing,” she said. “And how hard it is for people of lower incomes to just think about even trying to afford something that’s not so readily available and easy to make, because they work three or four jobs.” Providing those kinds of links between classroom learning and the real world encourages students to think critically and creatively about society’s problems, according to Raulli. “I don’t know that it’s going to change what anyone’s going to do with their lives, but I think it enables students to think more deeply about their lives,” she said. “That’s what I want all of my classes to do.” W
Sarah Gipe ’17 with Jay Eury, SCCAP’s Gleaning ProjectFranklin County coordinator, shares tips on gardening and healthy eating with participants in SCCAP’s Circles group.
summer 2015 25
— president’s —
forum
MENTORS AND MORE By Barbara K. Mistick, president
PHOTO BY RYAN SMITH
T
he path to success is not a solitary journey. We all have help along the way—from family and friends to professors and supervisors—to provide inspiration and motivation. Hopefully among those providing support will often be a cadre that serves in the special role of mentor.
Mentors and mentorship have always played a large role in the Wilson College ethos and continue to be critical today. This issue of Wilson Magazine highlights the importance of mentors in different stages of one’s education/career. From Xandra Breakefield ’64 (The X Factor, p.12)—who has been honored for her mentorship of women— taking newly minted Wilson grad Jyotsna Dhakal ’14 into her lab, to the faculty who support mentored undergraduate research that prepares students for graduate school and careers, mentors can enhance careers in today’s outcome-driven global marketplace. What I’ve discovered over time when looking for a mentor is that it’s best to identify what you hope to achieve through a mentoring relationship and then to find the right person to fill that role. Mentors can provide insight and guidance; they can open doors; or even change the course of your career. As we see in Discoveries, Big and Small (p.18), this is certainly true for current Wilson students as they work with faculty mentors on research projects. By learning what questions to ask and making connections in a particular field through faculty mentoring, students can be introduced to work within a field of study that can change the course of their education and beyond. Associate Professor of Biology Brad Engle plays a role in both of the features mentioned. He served as a mentor to Dhakal while she was a student and helped connect her with Breakefield. He was also the
26 wilson magazine
faculty adviser for Jessica Meck ’15 on her research project when she discovered where her passions lay. The closeness of the bond between Wilson’s committed faculty and their students is a cornerstone of the Wilson experience. The importance of these mentoring relationships often lasts beyond graduation. Many alumnae and alumni keep in touch with Wilson mentors as they enter their careers and some, as Sarah Weikert Wilson ’10 expresses in Discoveries, continue to rely on them while pursuing advanced degrees. Recently, the traditional mentor role has evolved into what is now being referred to as a sponsor. This is someone who moves beyond the role of adviser to a person with whom you develop a deeper bond. A sponsor is more active in helping you in your career. Breakefield displays these qualities with her mentees, working with them over a longer period of time, helping them land speaking engagements and clearing roadblocks to help them advance. These kinds of relationships are based on trust and develop over time. They are also two-way relationships. Like any relationship, mentors and mentees need to work at developing a connection with one another. Both need to communicate clearly and have clear expectations of one another. Setting milestones is critically important to maximizing and developing the relationship—whether it is a faculty mentor whose interest is in challenging a student to do their best, an alumnae/i mentor in a workplace with defined goals or a student with specific career objectives. Mentoring can be incredibly rewarding on a personal level as well— imbuing you with a special feeling when you help someone realize their dreams. I would encourage any alumnae or alumni who are interested in serving as mentors or who wish to provide career-oriented counsel to current Wilson students to contact the Office of Alumnae/i Relations or the Office of Career Development.
PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD
— hidden —
history
R
ecently, a new donation made its way to the C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives. I opened the package to find an original Jensen jewelry box and, nestled securely inside, a 1936 class ring that once belonged to the late Mildred Savacool ’36. Mildred’s class was only the second to receive the Georg Jensen-designed ring. Originally, every class chose its ring design and they often varied from year to year. For instance, the Class of 1922 picked an all-gold ring with a square top, the Class of 1923 opted for one with a gold seal set into a square onyx top, and the Class of 1928 chose a heavy silver ring decorated with pinecones and branches, and the seal set on a blue, synthetic lapis top. The Class of 1935 suggested creating a standard college ring. With the consent of the student body, a committee of administrators, alumnae and students formed to choose the final design. Sample after sample was brought in, evaluated and rejected until someone suggested they ask Georg Jensen to create a design. Jensen, a famed Danish silversmith, specialized in flower and berry motifs on his creations. Working from a photograph of the College seal and a copy of the alma mater, Jensen created a design for a silver ring embellished with pine cones and maple pods. The Wilson seal sat on a square top, outlined in blue enamel. The cost: $10. A 1934 Billboard stated, “The whole effect is very modern and much more feminine than that of the rings of former years.” Shortly after the first rings were made for the Class of 1935, Jensen died. Wilson’s ring bears the distinction of being the only college ring he ever designed. By 1968, prices had risen sharply and the wait time for ring shipments exceeded six months. In 1973, students and administrators decided to sever their connection with Jensen and moved to a facsimile version from Jostens. A version of Jensen’s original square-topped design can still be ordered from Jostens by today’s graduates. For more information on Wilson’s class rings, to see donated rings or to make a ring donation, contact the C. Elizabeth Boyd ’33 Archives. For those alumnae who wish to donate their rings to a current graduate, contact the Alumnae Association of Wilson College about the Ring It Forward program. — Leigh Rupinski, Archivist
summer 2015 27
PHOTOS BY PHILIP LINDSEY
AROUND THE GREEN
DAUNTLESS Jessika Dockery ’15 inspires with her art and determination By Coleen Dee Berry
T
he bugs are dancing. On a purple and violet background, the cockroach and earwig glow, caught in elegant mid-step. Despite the whimsy in the painting, “Night Moves,” by Jessika Dockery ’15, there’s a touch of horror in the backstory. It was yet another move for the teenage Dockery, to a tiny, crowded, run-down house outside Westminster, Md., with her mother and her sister. The nightmare began after the lights clicked off. Upstairs in the bedroom she shared with her sister, bugs would start to fall from the ceiling onto her bed—roaches and earwigs and silverfish. Every night. All summer long. “Night Moves,” which was part of Dockery’s senior capstone exhibition, is her favorite painting from the project. “I guess it’s because there was some inspiration to be had from all those sleepless nights,” she said with a grin. The road to Wilson College for Dockery was not easy. Perseverance and a thirst for knowledge led Dockery to enroll in Wil-
28 wilson magazine
son’s Adult Degree Program at age 28. She graduated cum laude in May with a double major in sociology and fine arts, and was given the honor of being ADP speaker at Commencement. She was awarded the Wilson College Fine Arts Prize for outstanding achievement. She was both a work-study student and intern at the Hankey Center and produced three videos while there, earning praise from director Amy Ensley for her “dedication, determination and unique insight”—qualities also recognized by Dockery’s professors.
school, “I was one of the poor kids, but I was also smart and shy and quiet on top of that, which of course branded me as weird.” By high school, “I was an outcast. I was the one with the blue hair eating lunch by myself in the cafeteria.” Her family life was tumultuous after her parents divorced. One day in grade school, a state trooper arrived to pull her from class. Her mother had been shot by her ex-fiancé. Her mom survived, but the incident still haunts Jessika, as evidenced in another of her paintings.
“She’s just extraordinary. Jessika is a great example of the transformative effect of a liberal arts education,” said Julie Raulli, associate professor of sociology. “Given everything that has happened over the course of her life, she could be very discouraged, but she’s always had this very positive outlook.”
Titled “Close to the Heart,” the work shows a pair of lungs and a heart hooked up to a monitor. Blood from a bullet wound drips down onto a medical chart. “This is about my mom being shot,” Dockery tells the audience during her presentation at Student Research Day, and there is a sudden collective intake of breath at the calm way she says it.
“I was one of those kids who fell through the cracks.” Dockery said. In elementary
“It’s incredibly brave of her to put her personal story out there to the public.
PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD
Left: Two paintings by Jessika Dockery '15: "River Bottom" and "Close to the Heart." Right: Dockery with her painting "Night Moves," with some of her works in the background.
Jessika has the talent of talking about issues of class and poverty in a way that enables people to be able to hear what she’s saying—and that’s a hard thing to do,” Raulli said. “She speaks very eloquently, especially through her art.” Though Dockery had always been interested in art “since I could hold a crayon,” she never had any formal training before she became a student at Wilson. Philip
“She really got into the storytelling side of painting. What’s unique about her is how matter-of-fact she is about some of the truly terrible things that have happened to her. She’s very honest and comfortable talking about them,” Lindsey said. “Despite the painful topics, often there’s a little joke in the paintings.” Dockery is a first-generation college student from a family that did not value educa-
She's just extraordinary. Jessika is a great example of the transformative effect of a liberal arts education. —Julie Raulli,
associate professor of sociology Lindsey, professor of fine arts, said her talent blossomed when she began classes with an emphasis on narrative painting.
tion highly. “The goal was to go out as soon as you could and get a job to earn money, not go to college,” Dockery said. She found
the support she needed from her husband Leo, who helped care for their two young children while she was at class. As she progressed in her studies, both her mom and dad became supportive. At Wilson she found her confidence. “Before Wilson, people would tell me, ‘Hey, you’re crazy,’ for something I said. I’d say the same thing here and they’d say, ‘Hey, you’re brilliant!’ I love that everything is open to discussion here.” Now with a Wilson degree, Dockery hopes to make use of her education in counseling or academia. “I want to help the kids who fall through the cracks—kids like me,” she said. And, no matter what, she plans to continue painting. W *Several weeks after graduation, Wilson College welcomed Jessika Dockery as an alumnae/i relations associate in the Office of Alumnae/i Relations.
summer 2015 29
HELPING
HOME Wilson's Nepali students are spurred to action after quake By Cathy Mentzer
A
phone call from a friend woke Neena Gurung ’15 at 4 a.m. Saturday, April 25, with news about a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck her native Nepal two hours earlier. The quake’s epicenter was approximately 85 miles east of the capital of Kathmandu, hometown of both Gurung and her roommate, Kisha Pradhan ’15. The young women spent the next several hours on the Internet and their cell phones, frantically trying to reach their families back home and searching for more information about what was happening in their country. “I kept refreshing the news every five minutes,” said Gurung. Finally at around 6 a.m., the two were able to reach their families by phone and confirm that they were OK. “That two-hour [period] was the most horrible experience of my life,” Gurung said. The scope of the disaster was hard to comprehend, but they knew it was bad. “I was very shocked to hear that the [Dharahara Tower] had collapsed,” said Gurung, whose home is only 20 minutes away from the historic, nine-story tower. Sitting in their Chambersburg apartment 7,000 miles from home, Pradhan and Gurung were overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and worry. Although their families were not injured in the initial quake, with significant aftershocks occurring frequently, they realized that could change in an instant. Gurung and Pradhan decided to channel their anxiety into something positive. They quickly connected with a friend from Nepal, Jyotsna Dhakal ’14, who is working as a research technician in Boston. By that evening, they had created a page on the
30 wilson magazine
fundraising site GoFundMe.com to collect money for earthquake relief. “We had to do something,” Gurung said. Their initial goal was $5,000, but within a matter of days, they increased it to $10,000. As word spread through the Wilson community and the students’ network of friends, contributions came in quickly. By the end of May, their GoFundMe page— Earthquake Relief for NEPAL—had raised more than $10,000 from 134 people. Donors included Wilson students, staff, faculty, administrators, trustees and alumnae/i, as well as area residents—including members of the College’s Friendly Family program—and friends. “Wilson is such a small community,” Pradhan said. “To raise so much …” Gurung finished her roommate’s thought, “It’s amazing.” The students gave a lot of thought to how they would distribute the funds. “Kathmandu is getting a lot of help and attention,” said Gurung. “We want to make money more accessible to rural areas.” They are sending the funds to a friend in Nepal, Nischal Neupane, who worked with Pradhan at the Center for Integrated Urban Development in 2013. Neupane and a group of volunteers in Nepal are using funds to buy supplies—including tents, tarps, medical supplies and food—and taking them into rural areas where help has been slow to arrive, according to Pradhan. Meanwhile, the students—including another Nepali student, Amrisha Vaidya ’15—received an outpouring of emotional support from the Wilson community as they were dealing with the crisis just as the most demanding part of the academic year was beginning. The quake occurred just one week before Student Research Day, when Gurung and Vaidya were to make presentations.
“We abandoned studying completely for a week,” said Pradhan, whose family lived outside for a brief time after the quake because of aftershocks. The College made accommodations for the students, who all graduated in May. The support of their fellow students and faculty and staff meant a lot, they said. “We were just feeling helpless and sad,” Gurung said. “All the support motivated us to study.” Pradhan’s mother, sister and uncle eventually were able to come to Chambersburg after the quake to be here for her graduation on May 17. Pradhan and Gurung will not return to Nepal any time soon. Pradhan, who has a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, will spend a year in Chambersburg, working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its partnership with Wilson (see more in Discoveries, p.18). Afterward, she wants to stay in the U.S. and attend graduate school. Gurung, an international studies graduate, plans to work for a year before continuing her studies in the States. But both said they plan to return to Nepal eventually. “This crisis has made us realize that we want to be with our family members,” Gurung said. The Nepal earthquake, along with a second one three weeks later and numerous aftershocks, has killed more than 8,500 people and injured countless others, making it the worst disaster in the country’s history. To read more about the work being done with the money raised by the students, visit www.wilson.edu/nepal, where you can also find a link to their GoFundMe page. W
AROUND THE GREEN
Wilson students Kisha Pradhan '15, left, and Neena Gurung '15 helped raise more than $10,000 for their native Nepal in the wake of devastating earthquakes.
summer 2015 31
AROUND THE GREEN
SPREADING SMILES Wilson Compliments Facebook page accentuates the positive By Cathy Mentzer
S
ocial media on the Wilson campus has become more than just a place to connect with friends or get information about classes and assignments—it’s become a group hug. Created this spring by a student as a way to counteract negative social media posts, the Wilson Compliments Facebook page provides a discreet way for members of the campus community to encourage and support one another. Here’s how it works: Anyone who wants say something nice to or about someone submits their compliment to the page administrator who, in turn, posts the compliment. The recipient doesn’t know who gave the compliment; however, he or she is tagged so that they and their Facebook friends can see the compliment. “Wilson Compliments is an example of why Wilson is such a great place to live and go to school,” said Kerry Salmi ’16, a Women with Children participant who received this compliment in early May: “ … you are one of the most amazing mothers I know. All that you do for your daughter is pretty incredible … Keep being your amazing self!” “I cannot express how much it meant to me, especially since I was struggling at the
32 wilson magazine
time with giving my daughter the attention she deserves because of finals,” Salmi said. “It made me feel so good that others see me trying to be a good mother, and that they felt I deserved to be acknowledged for it.” Having her family be able to read the post was a bonus. “Since they live so far away, none of them have been able to visit Wilson (and) they have had to take my word for how great the community support is, but the post confirmed it for them,” Salmi said. Since Wilson Compliments was created in March, it has accrued 420 friends and has featured compliments for a variety of students, including Nicole Brown ‘16. “You amaze me by your drive and talent to excel at all you set your mind to … You are going to breeze through these finals because that’s just how you do!” The post came as a surprise to Brown. “It was unexpected, refreshing and made me feel good,” she said. “It was definitely a much-needed burst of positive energy.” The creator of Wilson Compliments, who wants to remain anonymous, said she has seen similar pages at other schools and felt the time was right this spring to create
one for the College. “We get in the habit of being so negative and it’s kind of a vicious cycle sometimes,” the student said. “This is an outlet to be positive. I felt like it was the kind of thing that Wilson could really benefit from. More positivity is always a good thing.” Most of the posts have been from student to student, but the page creator would like to see faculty, staff and alumnae/ posting more compliments. Conversely, anyone in the Wilson community can receive a compliment, including faculty and staff. “It’s cool when I see someone who’s been complimented,” the page creator said. “You can just tell that they’re happier and they’re smiling.” Tianna Weist ’18 recently received a compliment encouraging her during final exams. The post, she said, warmed her heart. “I love the whole idea of the Wilson Compliments Facebook page because we have no idea how much it can mean to others when they are having a rough day,” Weist said. “I think it is a perfect representation of Wilson College itself because we are like a big family. We are here to grow together and encourage one another.” W
CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUNDS Women's softball and men's golf teams earn tournament berths By Samantha Burmeister
B
oth the Wilson women’s softball and men’s golf teams earned trips to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) championships this spring. The softball team marked its sixth entry into the championship tournament in as many years, while the inaugural golf team notched its first qualification for the championship round. The women’s softball team concluded the 2015 season with an overall 20-14 record and 15-5 in conference play. The team finished in a first-place tie with Penn State Berks in the NEAC South Division
Wilson's 2015 women's softball team.
standings and was awarded the title of 2015 co-champions. The softball team entered the NEAC championship tournament as the second seed in the division—Penn State Berks won
the tie-breaker to host the tournament—which was held May 1-3. On May 1, the Phoenix defeated SUNY Poly in the opening game of the tournament by a final score of 6-4.
The men’s golf team kicked off its first season by hosting the inaugural Wilson College Golf Invitational on April 16 at the Chambersburg Country Club. The invitational welcomed competitors Penn State Harrisburg and Eastern University. Wilson finished in third place in the tournament, shooting a team score of 393.
With the win, the team advanced to play Keuka College but fell to the Wolfpack 5-3 on May 2. With a double elimination format, Golfer Demitri Keopradit '18. the Phoenix immediately Men’s golf also particfaced off against SUNY ipated in the NEAC championship golf Cobleskill in game two tournament, hosted by Rutgers Univerand earned an 8-4 win, sity-Camden in April, finishing in eighth tallying its 20th win of the place in the two-day tournament. Demitri season and advancing to Keopradit ’18 finished in a tie for eighth the final four. But, in its place individually and earned NEAC third game of the day, the All-Conference second-team honors. team played Penn State Keopradit became the first male Wilson Abington and lost 8-2. student-athlete to be awarded all-conferWith the loss, the Phoenix ence honors. W were eliminated from the tournament. In addition to competing in the NEAC postseason tournament, the team also was awarded an Eastern College Athletic Association bid as a result of its notable record. It faced off against Bethany College on Wednesday, May 6, in West Virginia and fell 12-0, ending the team’s outstanding 2015 season.
summer 2015 33
ASSOCIATION NEWS
A
nother year has quickly gone by! It has been a year full of activity. I would like to share our achievements with you.
ALUMNAE/I RELATIONS OFFICE Marybeth Famulare, our alumnae/i director, what can I say? She certainly makes my job easier. We have been meeting weekly to coordinate activities and keep the lines of communication open. We review the feedback we receive and respond accordingly. Marybeth is doing a wonderful job for the College and our association. Please take the time to praise and thank her for the excellent job she is doing. Our monthly e-newsletter took on a new look this year. It is an avenue to share upcoming events, provide updates and seek volunteers for activities. We continue to encourage news from other campus offices to share with you. Look for it around the 15th of every month. Our website also lists events and volunteer opportunities. We post announcements and summary overviews following our board meetings. Both the newsletter and website serve as communication vehicles to foster outreach among alumnae/i, students, faculty and staff. The association and WCGA have rejuvenated our relationship. A representative from WCGA meets weekly with Marybeth to exchange ideas about opportunities, raise questions and make suggestions. On several occasions, local alums have joined these two for lunch to foster positive interaction between alumnae/i and students. This student representative is also a member of our Student and Parent Relations Committee. FINANCE We received a clean FY14 audit. The association’s financial resources are such that we are only required to have a compilation performed in lieu of a full audit. We have total assets of $106,638. Of that figure, there are restricted assets—Class Treasuries $73,393, Internship Gifts $8,227, and Preservation and Restoration $6,164. Operating funds total approximately $6,300 before 2015 Reunion expenses are paid. This past year, an ad hoc fundraising committee was appointed to work on ideas to help increase our income. One idea resulted in the raffle being held Reunion Weekend. Other ideas are a coast-to-coast garage sale and a 5K walk/run to be held in 2016.
34 wilson magazine
ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE The Engagement Committee focuses on how the association markets itself and the College through the alumnae web pages, Wilson Magazine, and Facebook. The chair of this committee is a member of the magazine committee, along with three other alumnae. Together, we determine the content of the next issue of the magazine. We encourage you to keep us informed of your contact information so that we may keep you engaged. During our winter retreat in January, we hosted a luncheon for participants of the Women with Children program, as well as a reception for adult degree students and graduates. As part of the activities for Women’s History Month in March, a panel of six alumnae shared strategies and words of wisdom regarding the age-old quest for work and family life balance. In April, the association co-hosted our first luncheon for the 36 alumnae/i who are employees of the College. Alumnae/i led in the 2015 graduating class in the Blue and Silver Line. Martha Estep O’Brien, Class of 1965, celebrating her 50th reunion was the marshal. The main event for engagement is planning Reunion Weekend. This year we celebrated I Am WILSON! We plan many and varied activities while allowing time to spend with friends. HERITAGE COMMITTEE The Heritage Committee is working with the admissions department to be available to them as needed and to participate in on-campus events to educate prospective students and their families about the role AAWC plays in college life. The association participated in the graduation fair with a display and information table. The Ring-It-Forward program is a great success. Six rings were “forwarded” this year, bringing our total to 11 rings. The next presentation is scheduled for Saturday of Fall Weekend. As I mentioned last year, the Edgar Bell housing is in desperate need of repair. The association is working with the College to preserve and restore the bell. Be on the lookout for more information. The committee is working with faculty and staff on an “author’s hall” in the reimagined John Stewart Memorial Library, which would include books written by alumnae/i.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Nominating Committee requests nominations to fill board seats and makes contact with nominees. Each year at our annual meeting, a slate representing a wide cross-section of alumnae/i is presented for election. Each new board member is given a handbook. In order to facilitate a smooth transition to board service, mentors for all incoming board members were identified. The guidelines for mentors were revised this year.
In our stewardship initiative, the committee, along with Carolyn Woods, director of the Wilson Fund, created a “thank you” note from the board of directors to be sent to those donating under $1,000 to the Wilson Fund.
The committee fulfills all governance responsibilities required for the BOD (conflict of interest, code of conduct, board self-assessment).
We have some exciting trips scheduled for the second half of 2015, including:
STUDENT AND PARENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE Throughout the year, we had 120 pairings of students and alumnae/i in the Aunt Sarah Program. The program is open to any student, in any program—traditional college, Adult Degree Program and Women with Children. The pair stays together throughout the student’s years at Wilson. Each year our list of pairings is updated. It is important to keep in touch with the Office of Alumnae/i Relations concerning your involvement in this program. We raised just more than $300 from our link with Amazon.com. Monies from this endeavor help with the cost of alumnae/i-student opportunities. The committee sponsored a day for Food for Finals each semester and participated in Senior Bash. Together with the alumnae/i relations office, we supplied giveaways to the athletics department to use at games for students and families. Career Day offered an opportunity for several alums to join a panel with local community business leaders. They discussed what organizations are looking for in employees and offered words of wisdom from their life experiences. The association received one request for internship monies in the amount of $450. These funds are given to us by individuals and regional clubs. RECOGNITION AND STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE The committee also selects the association award recipients. The service of these individuals is to be applauded.
TRAVEL COMMITTEE Do you like to travel? Then do so with fellow Wilson alumnae/i. Last year, 28 alumnae/i joined us for some great tours and trips.
• Canadian Rockies Parks and Resorts—August 6-12 • Barge Cruise in France—August 23-29 • Sicily, Italy—Sept. 25-Oct. 4 • Flavors of Northern Italy—Oct. 3-11 • Mediterranean Mosaic—Oct. 4-13 There are at least six adventures planned for 2016. Information will be published in Wilson Magazine and through the website, e-news and other venues. A successful year! Successful because of all of you. Leadership does not have the whole responsibility. You do your part. You are willing to give your time, talent and treasure to your alma mater. Wilson enriches our personal, professional and cultural lives. You are willing to give because of your sense of community and traditions. Community—a group with common interests. We have so much that unites us. From the moment we enrolled as students, we became part of the Wilson community—and we remain so today. The alumnae/i now have an even more crucial role to play. As citizens of this community, is it is up to us to muster both the volunteer energy and financial support that Wilson College needs to carry on its important, ongoing work. Regards, Mary F. Cramer ’91 President
summer 2015 35
ALUMNAE TRUSTEES REPORT — JUNE 6, 2015 The Wilson College Board of Trustees met Oct. 23-25, 2014; Feb. 19-21, 2015; and May 1416, 2015. ACADEMIC AFFAIRS: • Approval to move the course credit system from a unit system to the universal semester-hour system. • Approval of onsite BSN degree program to begin Fall 2015. • Approval of dual certification in early childhood education (preK-4) and special education (preK-8). • Women with Children program to celebrate 20th anniversary. • Commencement was held on the main green on Sunday, May 17, honoring 96 graduates: 22 – Master of Education 2 – Master of Humanities 17 – Bachelor of Arts 51– Bachelor of Science 3 – Associate of Arts 1 – Associate of Science Honors included: 2 – Summa Cum Laude 8 – Magna Cum Laude 14 – Cum Laude 2 – Distinction Nine students were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa on Saturday, May 16, 2015. • The commencement speaker was Dr. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. In addition, the Class of 2015 presented a special gift to the College’s women’s studies program in honor of Professor of Dance Paula Kellinger. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS: • Acceptance of campus enhancement plan. • On Thursday, Oct. 23, members of the buildings and grounds and advancement committees, along with Wilson administrators and athletics personnel, visited athletic facilities at Chambersburg Area Senior High School and Hood, York and Gettysburg colleges. • Approval of fitness, athletics and recreation facility as next capital priority. First step
36 wilson magazine
will be feasibility study to gauge donor support and land-use impact study. • Approval of Rosenkrans renovation project. Based on housing study, it was determined that FY16 provided a window of opportunity to renovate Rosenkrans, which was built in 1964. Project cost is $2.6 million. COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT (INCLUDES INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS): • Personnel 1. Institutional Advancement: Denise McDowell: senior director of advancement services with supervisory oversight of the Wilson Fund Diana Heim: prospect researcher working with Margaret Light, director of corporate and foundation relations John Ross: director of major gifts 2. Marketing/Communications: Mark Blackmon: director of communications Coleen Dee Berry: managing editor, Wilson Magazine • Fundraising report: 1. Total giving as of 5/13/15 = $9,386,853 (up from 2014 giving of $7,895,569). 2. Library Project as of 5/13/15 = $11,937,477 ($12.1 million project). 3. Wilson Fund as of 5/13/15 = $901,585 (up from 2014 giving of $500,281). • A gift of $500,000 was received from Margaret Duprey for the VMT program. • Marketing plan involves active content, passive content and visibility marketing; consistency of presence—use of new logo. ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT LIFE: • Personnel: Linda Boeckman: director of career development • Fall 2014 enrollment was 759 across all cohorts—a 14% increase over 2013; 141 new students in the traditional undergraduate cohort—the largest in 40 years. • Spring 2015 enrollment was 805, including nine transfer students.
• Undergraduate admissions statistics as of 5/14/15: 1. Applications started—1,238 (vs. Fall 2014 - 1,079). 2. Applications submitted—1,035 (vs. Fall 2014 - 869 • Wilson is an NCAA Division III college; 91 student-athletes competed last year (up from 55 in ’13); soccer and volleyball to be added as men’s sports in 2015-16. FINANCE: • Approval of FY14 audit and IRS Form 990. • Approval of tuition and fees for FY16. Undergraduate tuition held at 2014-15 level. • Market value of the endowment as of April 30, 2015, was $58,245,561, of which 42% is represented in the quasi-endowment and 58% is permanently restricted for various purposes. • Approval of Revised Investment Policy Statement. • Approval of FY16 budget. • Approval of FY16 capital budget with a total allocation of $1 million to address deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure improvements. TRUSTEESHIP AND GOVERNANCE: • Approval of various governance policies and procedures (executive sessions, new trustees, etc.) • Re-election of incumbent trustees for 2015-18: Pamela Francis Kiehl ’66 Sheldon Goettel Tracey C. Leskey ’90 James A. Smeltzer • Election of new trustees for 2015-18: Debra Caplan Christopher Gable Lisbeth S. Luka ’69 James A. Orsini • Acceptance of Alumnae Association President Mary F. Cramer ’91 and alumna trustee Lynne E. DiStasio ’74 • Election of officers for 2015-17: Chair: Barbara L. Tenney ’67 Vice Chair: Susanna N. Duke ’71
ASSOCIATION NEWS Secretary: Judith R. Stewart ’73 Treasurer: James A. Smeltzer • Recognition of trustees leaving the Board: Leslie Durgin ’69, Betty Lou Thompson ’60, Heather Long and J. Edgar Howells The Board also approved the 2015-17 Bridge Strategic Plan, which blends the goals of both the Wilson Today plan and existing strategic plan to strengthen the student learning experience (focusing on student retention and enhancement of a transfer-receiving culture),
provides distinctive innovative programs (to include global studies, equi-assist concentration within veterinary medical technology and the onsite and online nursing programs), strengthens the College’s financial stability, increases the College’s visibility and reputation, enhances campus facilities and makes Wilson College a workplace of choice. Mark your calendars for the following important events: • Oct. 5-23—Art installation on campus by Patrick Dougherty
• Oct. 23—Rededication of the John Stewart Memorial Library Respectfully submitted, Lisbeth Sheppard Luka ’69 Patricia W. Bennett ’68 Dorothy M. Van Brakle ’09 Alumnae Trustees
UPCOMING ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION TRIPS PHOTO BY CAROLYN VON BULOW DITTMAR �70
After the success of the Wilson’s first customized trip to Cuba this past March, alumnae/i can sign up for a Long Weekend in Havana on Jan. 13-17, 2016. Enjoy five days and four nights in Cuba’s capital city, led by Insight Cuba's excellent local guides. Experience Havana’s art, music, dance and Cuban cuisine. Accommodations will be at the five-star Meliá Cohiba. Registration deadline is Oct. 1. For more information, contact Insight Cuba at 800-450-CUBA(2822) or go to insightcuba.com/custom-cuba-tours.
TRI PS I N TH E WORKS FOR 2016 Information on alumnae/i tours is available on the Alumnae Tour and Travel page at www.wilson.edu/alumnae. March 13-20, Colorful Caribbean: Luxury Cruise on the Oceania Riviera. Departing from and returning to Miami, the cruise includes stops in Key West, Fla.; Honduras; Belize and Cozumel, México. Contact Go Next at 800-842-9023 for more information. April 22-May 1, Portugal: Porto and Lisbon. This trip includes four nights in Porto and four nights in Lisbon and a visit to seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. For more information, call AHI at 800-680-4244.
PHOTO BY JANET PETERS YANCE �61
June 22-29, Coastal Maine and New Brunswick. Two nights in Bar Harbor, Maine; three nights on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada and two nights in St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick. For more information, call AHI at 800-680-4244. July 15-22, Discover Southeast Alaska. Seven nights on the Admiralty Dream. Enjoy Sitka, Hidden Falls, Glacier Bay, Point Adolphus, Juneau and Baranof Island, with an optional pre-tour in Denali National Park. Note: this ship has a 66-guest maximum. For more information, call Orbridge at 866-639-0079 or visit wilson.orbridge.com
Photos from top. On a walking tour down historic Old Havana's narrow streets you'll pass people from all over the world! Cuban artist Jose Fuster, known as the Picasso of the Caribbean, painted intricate murals on his entire multi-level home in Havana—then went on to do the same to his neighbors' houses.
August 10-18, Oxford, Cambridge and English Countryside. Visit Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle and Bampton village and then jaunt over to Blenheim Palace for a private lunch and a meeting with Lord Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough. For more information visit www.gohagantravel.com Sept. 8-16, Italian Lakes and Venice. Spend three nights in Venice and four nights in Bellagio, Lake Maggiore, Verona and Cernobbia on Lake Como. For more information visit www.gohagantravel.com
summer 2015 37
ASSOCIATION NEWS SUPPORT
WILSON STUDENTS— BECOME AN
“AUNT SARAH” At Wilson College you have the unique opportunity to inherit a new relative by participating in the Aunt Sarah program, named in honor of our namesake, Sarah Wilson. In the Aunt Sarah program, alumnae/i volunteer as “aunts” and students sign up to be “nieces or nephews.” Aunt Sarahs will be in contact with their nieces/nephews each month through letter/email or an occasional package to brighten trips to the mailbox and provide encouragement. For decades students have enjoyed developing a relationship with their Aunt Sarah, learning about shared memories/ traditions, as well as career opportunities and other personal life adventures. For alumnae and alumni, it is an opportunity to remain connected to campus life and give back in a personal way that perhaps someone did for them.
AAWC FALL
WEEKEND SAVE THE DATE—ALL WELCOME!
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25–27, 2015
38 wilson magazine
Traditionally, Aunt Sarah was a secret connection with hints and clues to discover identities. However, over the years with new technology, many decide to email, text, Facetime, Skype or even meet face to face for ongoing interaction. There still remain secret connections with packages and letters going back and forth, using staff in Alumnae House as go-betweens. This program is meant to be interactive and as the saying goes, you get out what you put in. Some of the pairings last a semester, some through graduation and others last a lifetime. It’s not about expense—it is about meaningful connection. For more information on the program, please visit www. wilson.edu/alumnae/news-events or email alumnae@wilson.edu.
Join us on campus for an activity-filled weekend, including: • Paint Nite Wilson style • Athletic games and tour athletic facility updates
• Ring-It-Forward presentation • Library update
• Reunion 2016 planning sessions
• Mix and mingle with students
• AAWC Faculty Award presentation
• And MORE!
REUNION WEEKEND
—2015—
More than 250 alumnae, alumni and guests representing 24 states and the District of Columbia gathered for Reunion Weekend June 5-7, 2015. The theme for the weekend was “I am Wilson.”
Alumnae and alumni received a special sneak peek of the Reimagining the John Stewart Library project in a tour of the construction site led by Camilla B. Rawleigh, vice president for institutional advancement, and Kathleen Murphy ’67, interim dean of library, information and technology services. Other special sessions included a presentation on “Sharing Alumnae/i Stories—Why Oral History Projects Matter” by Amy Ensley, director of the Hankey Center; a talk by Margie Ward ’65, who read passages from her book Missing Mila,
Finding Family: An International Adoption in the Shadow of the Salvadoran Civil War; and a visit to Rocky Spring Church. A special performance of Orchesis/Orcheswas featured current and alumnae members. Reunion attendees enjoyed a Friday night picnic on the green, the State-of-the-College presentation by Wilson President Barbara K. Mistick, the AAWC Annual Meeting, Saturday All-Alumnae Luncheon, AAWC Awards presentation and Saturday class dinners. It was the 50th reunion for the Class of 1965, and the official reunion for classes ending in 0 and 5, though many other years attended. Alumnae and alumni came from as far away as Washington, Oregon, New Mexico and Texas, with the oldest class year represented being 1946.
ALUMNAE/I SPECIAL SESSIONS
ORCHESIS/ORCHESWAS PERFORMANCE
summer 2015 39
WELCOME PICNIC ON THE GREEN
STEP-SING ON NORLAND HALL PORCH
PRESIDENT BARBARA K. MISTICK GIVES HER STATE-OF-THE-COLLEGE ADDRESS
AAWC GENERAL MEETING
40 wilson magazine
ASSOCIATION NEWS
CLASS LINEUP AND PROCESSION
ALL-ALUMNAE LUNCHEON
CLASS DINNERS
summer 2015 41
ASSOCIATION NEWS
From top: Jane Bennett Frazer '55 with President Barbara K. Mistick; Mary F. Cramer '91 and Mary Lou Kerfoot Wells '65.
42 wilson magazine
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNA Patricia Clough ’95 is director of strategic communications at Gregory White PR in Brooklyn, N.Y., specializing in wine and spirits marketing. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English and mass communications from Wilson, and was an Alumnae Association board member from 2004 to 2007. She is an Aunt Sarah program volunteer and has hosted Wilson students while they were on academic trips in New York City. She was a member of Orchesis while at Wilson and continues to be a supporter of the program. The Outstanding Young Alumna Award was established in 1989 to honor an alumna who has graduated within the last 20 years and who has brought honor to herself and Wilson College through her intellectual and professional growth, and her contributions to her community through professional or volunteer activities. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA Margaret Ward ’65 is a supporter of the Reimagining the John Stewart Memorial Library project and a member of Wilson’s Pines and Maples Society, as well as the creator of the Margaret Ward Foreign Language Collection Endowment at Wilson. After graduating from Wilson, she spent 39 years teaching in the German Department at Wellesley College, served as department chair and holds faculty emerita status. While at Wellesley, she assisted in the establishment of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department. She is the recipient of National Endowment for the Humanities, Fulbright and Mellon fellowships, and is the author of Missing Mila, Finding Family: An International Adoption in the Shadow of the Salvadoran Civil War. The Distinguished Alumna Award was established in 1983 to honor an alumna who has distinguished herself in her professional or volunteer career and who has demonstrated continuing service, interest and support in the growth and quality of Wilson College for a period of at least five years. DISTINGUISHED ADP (ADULT DEGREE PROGRAM) ALUMNA/US (awarded posthumously) D’Arcy Charney Wagonhurst ’90 influenced many through her work as a Federal Emergency Management Agency reservist and through her work with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. She served on the Alumnae Association board from 1992-95, 1997-99 and 2013-14. She was a Pine and Maples Society member and a donor to both the Wilson Fund and the Monica Moon ’94 Award. She was a very active volunteer with many state and local groups, including the Girl and Boy Scouts, American Red Cross, Pennsylvania State Museum and Friend of Historic Peace Church, among many others. Her son and daughter were present at the ceremony to accept her award. The Distinguished Adult Degree Program Alumna/Alumnus Award was established in 2012 in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Adult Degree Program, and is presented to honor an alumna/us who has distinguished herself/himself in her/his professional or voluntary
PHOTO BY KENDRA TIDD
ALUMNAE AWARDS Receiving the award for Distinguished ADP Alumna/us, which was given posthumously to D'Arcy Charney Wagonhurst ’90, are (left) Wagonhurst’s son Douglas T. Charney, brother Robert G. Stephens and daughter Christine C. Cook.
career, and who has shown continuing service, interest and support in the growth and quality of Wilson College. Service to the College must be demonstrated for five years or longer. TIFT COLLEGE AWARD Freya Burnett ’85 is the current director of the veterinary medical technology (VMT) program at Wilson. She has been influential in the expansion and growth of the VMT program, including the areas of recruitment, accreditation and club activity. She is responsible for curriculum development and has been involved in the creation of the new VMT equi-assist concentration. She has also served on various Wilson committees, including Title III and First-Year Seminar. The Tift College Award was established in 1989 and is presented to an alumna who has demonstrated exemplary efforts to promote the continuing growth of Wilson College. The award is in appreciation for the example and assistance given by members of the Wilson family to the alumnae of Tift College in their efforts to save their college. HONORARY ALUMNA The Alumnae Association also honored former Trustee Julie Englund by presenting her with Honorary Alumna status, and welcoming her into the Class of ’69 (the year she graduated from Briarcliff College). She served on the Wilson College Board of Trustees from 2005-14, proof of her devoted support for Wilson. She has enjoyed career success with many institutions, including serving as: chief financial officer of the National Academy of Sciences; treasurer and vice president for finance and administration at The Catholic University of America; dean for administration at Harvard Law School; and treasurer and vice president for finance and administration at the Brookings Institution. FACULTY AWARD Karen Adams, an associate professor of mathematics, served as chair of the Department of Mathematics/Computer Science at Wilson from 2007-13. She currently teaches at Shepherd University in West Virginia. Due to her schedule, her presentation will occur on Saturday, Sept. 26, during Fall Weekend. If you would like to nominate a classmate or former faculty member for a future award, send an email to alumnae@wilson.edu.
summer 2015 43
Class of 1950 – Front row, from left: Carolyn Trembley Shaffer, Ruth Audet Kellett and Pat “Nan” Wicks Lawler. Second row, from left: Jane Forsyth Messimer, Ann Vanderhoff Watral and Janet Wright Bloomfield.
Class of 1955 – From left: Mary Wagner Vlahos, Carolyn Chandler Chen, Jane Bennett Frazer and Dorothy Smith Wagner.
Class of 1960 – Front row, from left: Elizabeth McCracken, Marcia Hicks Kozub and Donna Larson Robertson. Second row, from left: Ann Heald Meyer, Ann Kirsch Gilbert and Judith Carl Moyer. Third row, from left: Nancy Wilker Fitch, Sarah Flowers and Betty Lou Leedom Thompson. Fourth row, from left: Helen Hoffa Hughlett, Mary “Ziz” Redington Galbraith and Barbara Orchard Engler. Fifth row, from left: Susan Sheffey Gatliff, Nancy Hackett, Jocelyn Ripley and Carol Kozlowski Bajor.
44 wilson magazine
Class of 1965 – Front row, from left: Mina Bancroft Wuchenich, Margaret “Robin” Buck Nicolls, Pamela Fleet Murray, Anne Coffin Herman, Mary Augusta Burgess Boogaard, Laila Maley Dawson, Mary Longcope Smith and Sharon Wilderson Lawyer. Second row, from left: Cathryn Samuel Wolf, Gail Monteferrario Gersch, Janna Brown Cracas, Julia Tan, Margaret McAbee Cox, Suzanne Hough Pedersen, Carol Schelin Updike, Margaret Ward, Janice Landsdowne Webb, Janet Lane Antippas and Timi Garritt Parsons. Third row, from left: Jeanne Crawford Beck, Carolyn Clinton Chuatiuco, Joyce Dorian Richter, Martha Estep O’Brien, Elaine Vernon Stevens, Antoinette “Toni” Cutaiar Hoffacker, Joan Nestor McDonald, Tobi Wobbe Graham, Leslie Weng Embriano and Ellen Artinian Strickland. Fourth row, from left: Mary Lou Kerfoot Wells, Jean Tucker Hitchens, Carroll Morgan Davenport, Bonnie Alexander Beck, Jane Bellis Heintzelman, Joan Fleischhauer Smith, April Knight Barth, Marilyn Powell Ferstl and Barbara Nevin Moore.
Class of 1970 – Front row, from left: Rebecca Stout, Elsa Beyer Heintzelman, Virginia Sachse Alworth and Alene Markwood Boyar. Second row, from left: Molly Manor Heylin, Gwen Taylor Monroe, Paula Schmuck Roberts, Margaret Overhoff and Amy Ohlandt Rork. Third row, from left: Emily Gaston Muller, Beth Oehrig Lange and Sally Jung Beucler. Fourth row, from left: Carolyn Cordonnier Eckhardt, Grace Venable Jenchura and Lydia Saris-Mechenbier. Fifth row, from left: Leslie Hickland Hanks, Cazella “Casey” Hinojosa Goodall, Susan Smith and Carole Stoehr Ashbridge.
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Class of 1990 – From left: Erin-Joi Collins, Lee Bennett Stephens, Victoria Barnes-Lewis and Tracy Leskey.
Class of 1975 – Front row, from left: Carolyn Woodcock Berglund and Elizabeth May Shead. Second row, from left: Amy Neilson Clapp and Debra Miller Latsha. Third row, from left: Elizabeth Collmus Fisher and Holly Brey Kingman. Fourth row, from left: Jill Ross, Deborah Gilmore and Susan Muller.
Class of 1995 – Front row: Barbara Alexander Haimbach. Second row, from left: Madaid Lopez and Kathleen Toms Watkins. Third row, from left: Dawn Cochran Baumgardner and Stacy Stallsmith Brosius. Fourth row, from left: Patricia Clough and Heather Young Weeks.
Class of 1980 – From left: Susan "Susie" Czibik Olevnik, Sandra "Sandy" Graffley Small, Kendal Hopkins and Nan Laudenslager.
Class of 2005 – From left: Dorothy Blake Newman, Kaitlin Klotz Eck, Jessica Doyle, Tracey Condon-Kneifl, Stephanie Burgess and Sara Patterson.
Class of 1985 – Front row, from left: Karen Dwyer Gregor and Alison Hubbard Crouse. Second row, from left: Vicki Valentine Danjou and Patricia Spatig McGuire. Third row, from left: Robin Ernst Smith and Ellen Chen-Cooper. Fourth row: Margaret Majesky.
Class of 2010 – From left: Elizabeth Heyer and Sarah Weikert Wilson. Class of 2000 was not available to be photographed. Photos by Pictures Plus.
summer 2015 45
— in —
memoriam Elizabeth Koch ’32, March 10, 2015, at 103. Koch graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin and taught Latin and civics at Conshohocken High School in Pennsylvania until 1944, when she joined the U.S. Naval Reserves as a member of WAVES. In 1946, she left the Naval Reserves to become the executive director of the Norristown, Pa., YWCA. In 1950, she joined Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Philadelphia, where she worked until retirement in 1976. Throughout her life, Koch was an active member of the Methodist Church and the Philadelphia Alumnae Club, which she served as president, area chairman and secretary. Koch was part of a legacy family extending back to 1897 as the cousin of Zora Koch Mowery, Class of 1897, and Helen Koch Boone, Class of 1911. Alice Dorr Putnam ’37, April 17, 2015, at 98. Putnam graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and was in the first graduating class of the Navy WAVES. While a first lieutenant, she met her husband, Travers Putnam, a naval pilot. The family eventually settled in St. Petersburg, Fla., where Putnam was active in the St. Petersburg League of Women Voters and the Reading is Fundamental program, and volunteered for environmental causes. Putnam enjoyed writing and published six children’s books, one a runner-up for the Newbery Medal for children’s literature. She is survived by one daughter, one son, two grandchildren and one great-grandson. Elizabeth Caldwell Zimmermann ’39, April 12, 2015, at 98. Zimmermann graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and French, after which she taught in Bedford, Pa., for three years. In 1942, Zimmermann became a Red Cross employee and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and later at Lawson General Hospital in Atlanta. In 1945, she was relocated to Bethesda Naval Hospital outside of Washington D.C., where she met her husband, Dr. Bernard Zimmermann, director of research for the Naval Medical Research Institute. In 1960, Dr. Zimmermann was appointed professor and chair of surgery at West Virginia University and the family settled on a farm in Morgantown, W.V., where Elizabeth Zimmermann oversaw daily operations of the
66 wilson magazine
farm and volunteered with the Red Cross. She spent her later years in Massachusetts, splitting time between her residences in Westwood and North Chatham. Zimmermann was an active alumna and served as a class officer from 1989 to 2005. She is survived by her two sons, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Vivian Atkinson Bird ’46, May 20, 2015, at 90. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and French, Bird attended graduate school at Pennsylvania State University, where she met her husband, Robert George Bird. The couple resided in Baltimore; Ithaca, N.Y., and Ormond Beach, Fla., with Bird teaching language in each city in the middle and high schools in their communities. Bird was a member of the Methodist Church, Episcopal Church and the Religious Society of Friends, where she was a member for most of her adult life. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by two sons. Marion Thomas Harbaugh ’46, May 9, 2015, at 90. Harbaugh received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and later earned a master’s degree from New York University. After working in New York for a few years, she returned to Biglerville, Pa., to help her sister, Jean Thomas, operate the family business, Thomas Brothers Country Store and Museum. Harbaugh was active in Biglerville and served as chair of the Harbaugh-Thomas Foundation; was the cofounder of the Biglerville Historical Society and the Biglerville National Apple Museum; and served as president of the Biglerville Senior Citizens. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the Biglerville Garden Club, Biglerville “Kitchenettes” and the Gettysburg Rotary Club. In 2004, she received the Callie Award from the Biglerville community. Advocates of literacy and education, Harbaugh and her sister envisioned a public library for Biglerville and in 2006, ground was broken for the Harbaugh-Thomas Public Library, which was dedicated in 2008. Harbaugh was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Harbaugh, and her sister. Lucy Briel McGowan ’47, April 24, 2015, at 89. McGowan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and following
graduation, she worked for NACA, now NASA, as an aeronautical science editor at Langley Field, Va., where she met her husband, William. The couple had six children. Canning and PTA kept McGowan busy, as did her love of knitting and baking. She was an active member of St. Luke Catholic Church in McLean, Va., and of the McLean branch of the American Association of University Women. She is survived by a daughter, five sons and nine grandchildren. Nancy Owen Cooley MacFarlane ’50, December 14, 2013, at 84. MacFarlane graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology and worked as a medical technician in Illinois, where she met her first husband, Nelson Reeds Cooley. Before his death in 1988, the couple made several trips abroad to France, England and Scotland, visiting family and digging up histories for work on the family genealogies, which was one of her hobbies. In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by her second husband, Duncan MacFarlane, and is survived by her two children. Lynn Malkemes Sharpe ’50, March 31, 2015, at 87. Sharpe was active during her time at Wilson; she rode Eastern Saddle in the equestrian program and was voted May Queen during her senior year. Sharpe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and following graduation, continued to be significantly involved with Wilson. She served as a class officer, helping with reunion planning and fundraising efforts, and served as a host family for international students from Sri Lanka. Her focus on community extended beyond Wilson. Sharpe was active with Meals on Wheels, Reach for Recovery, the Afternoon Club, Norland Garden Club and Children’s Aid Society, as well as the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring in Chambersburg. A cancer survivor, Sharpe dedicated hours to volunteer work with cancer patients. International travel was a favorite pastime, and she traveled the world, including two trips to Gotemba, Japan, as a representative of Chambersburg in the Sister City Program. Sharpe is survived by her husband, John M. Sharpe, three children and five grandchildren. Helen Allewelt Young ’50, April 15, 2015, at 87. After graduating with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in English, Young worked for the United States government and in 1952, she was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, where she met her husband, Robert C. Young. The couple lived abroad for a few years before his work with the CIA brought them stateside. The nature of her husband’s work kept the family moving and his retirement found them in McCall, Idaho, where they lived for 31 years. Young enjoyed reading, gardening, hiking, swimming and snowshoeing. She is survived by her husband and two sons. Ann Barnhart Dunning ’52, April 17, 2015, at 84. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry, Dunning received a master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Pennsylvania and worked as a physical therapist in the Prince George’s County school district in Maryland. She continued providing physical therapy service during retirement as a volunteer at the Joint Camp at the Anne Arundel Medical Center. An active resident of Sherwood Forest, Md., Dunning received the Sherwood Forest Severn River award for service to her community. She was an avid golfer and a member of the Maryland Women’s Golf Association. She also enjoyed tennis and bridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, Beverly Dunning, and is survived by two daughters and six grandchildren. Dunning was the sister of Alice Barnhart Andersen ’54, sister-inlaw of Marjorie Bauernschmidt Barnhart '47 and the cousin of Jane Dunning Carpenter ’50 and Jeanne Dunning Tyrer ’50. Judith Stoner Kell ’57, April 14, 2015, at 79. After leaving Wilson, Kell graduated from the Harrisburg-Polyclinic Hospital School of Nursing and throughout the 1960s and ’70s worked as an operating room nurse at hospitals in Harrisburg and Carlisle, Pa. In 1976, she moved to Baltimore, where she was able to satisfy both her love of nursing and sailing by working at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and living on her sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay in Essex, Md. Retirement brought with it a passion for RVs, and Kell traded in her sails for wheels and toured the United States. When home, Kell enjoyed supporting her community as a volunteer with the Boys Ranch, Heartbeat Pregnancy Center, CASA and Child Protective Services. She is survived by her sister, brother and two nieces.
Judith Rudrauff Wilkinson ’59, April 10, 2015, at 78. Wilkinson was predeceased by her husband, Richard T. Wilkinson, and is survived by a son, a daughter and four grandchildren. Barbara Greenstreet Hauk ’60, December 27, 2014, at 77. A prolific writer, Hauk had more than 100 literary works published by various small presses. In 1993, an anthology of her poetry titled Confetti was published, followed by a second collection, Makars’ Dozen, in 2006. She shared her love for writing by teaching workshops, volunteering as a literacy tutor and serving as editor of Pearl magazine for more than 20 years. She is survived by her husband, four daughters, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Virginia Heller Keiley ’61, October, 12, 2014, at 74. After leaving Wilson, Keiley graduated from Denison University in Ohio and worked for the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. In 1965, she married Stephen Lyon Keiley and the couple toured Europe for five months. Upon returning to the States, Keiley worked as a secretary at Harvard while her husband studied at the University’s Business School. The couple later resided in the D.C. area and Keiley enjoyed hiking, canoeing and traveling. Botany was also a hobby. Elizabeth Fisher Eberts ’64, April 9, 2015, at 72. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Eberts spent the next 20 years living abroad in Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. In 1984, she returned home and later earned a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School. She went on to serve as law clerk to the Circuit Court of Washington County, Md., before switching gears to focus on estate and trust law. Eberts remained dedicated to Wilson throughout the years, serving as a staff member, a member of the Pines and Maples Society, and as a Trustee of the College from 19992008. In 2008 she was awarded trustee emerita status. Dana Printup ’77, March 24, 2015, at 59. Printup lived on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation in western New York and was a member of the Turtle Clan, Reservation Volunteer Squad and V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, and she worked at the Tonawanda Clinic. She is survived by her very special
friend, Sam “Chico” Thompson, two sisters, two nieces and one nephew. Susan Shrum Baer ’78, July 16, 2014, at 58. After leaving Wilson, Baer graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and from Allegheny Community College with a Bachelor of Arts in nursing. Her hobbies included gardening, skiing and caring for her English setters. Sandra Reed ’93, March 22, 2015, at 58. Reed earned an associate degree in computer science and spent 25 years working for the federal government. She enjoyed quilting, reading and researching her family genealogy. She is survived by one daughter, two sons and four grandchildren. Debra Tate Anderson ’97, May 7, 2015, at 58. In addition to her elementary education certification from Wilson, Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in art education from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science degree in art education and instructional certification to teach K-12 art. After 33 years of teaching art, she retired from the Mifflin County School District in 2013. Anderson was a member of the Mifflin County Garden Club and was the creator and founder of Strodes Mills Outdoor Classroom and Garden Club. She is survived by her husband, Jack Anderson. Friend of the College Ellen Albertini Dow, May 4, 2015, at 101. The rapping granny from The Wedding Singer, Dow gave the Commencement address to the Class of 2000 and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the College. Dow earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in theater from Cornell University and later moved to New York City, where she studied acting, dance and mime from some of the biggest legends in the city. While in New York she worked as a director and choreographer for Beggars Opera, The Magic Flute and Julius Caesar. After her marriage to Eugene Dow, the couple moved to the West Coast, where Dow taught drama at Los Angeles City College and Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif. She retired from teaching in 1985 and began studying film and television acting, landing her first TV role in the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone series. Other film and TV credits include the Sister Act franchise, Wedding Crashers, ER, Golden Girls and Scrubs.
summer 2015 67
— last —
word
IRONMAN SPEAKS Y
ou might know him as Ironman. You’ve seen him at some campus events. But that’s not the flamboyant Tony Stark inside the armored suit— it’s Wilson’s own Tom DeShong, IT systems administrator.
HOW MANY ARE IN THE HEROES GROUP, AND HOW DID YOU ALL GET TOGETHER? There are currently eight to ten “heroes.” We have Batman, Supergirl, Captain America, DeadPool and even Elsa from Frozen. I never asked for help. My friends just came together and asked if they could be a part of the group. I’m very lucky to have such amazing and caring friends.
DeShong’s Ironman doesn’t hang out with the Avengers. He’s too busy with another group, Heroes for Little Heroes, a nonprofit volunteer group he founded that cheers and entertains children with illnesses and assists at local fundraisers.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR UPCOMING EVENTS? We are doing a number of appearances for local libraries in the area, including Hagerstown, Md., and we will be part of field day for Salem Middle School in Hagerstown. We are currently awaiting our next date to visit Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., and will be at Hershey Medical Center on Sept. 16.
Wilson Magazine went behind the mask to find out why DeShong is so passionate about his superhero calling. WHAT IS HEROES FOR LITTLE HEROES AND WHY DID YOU START IT? It’s a foundation that I started initially to visit children in hospitals. We’ve also helped at local fundraisers for sick children, and at events held by libraries and other community organizations. I was inspired to start Heroes for Little Heroes after my son, Wyatt, was hospitalized at the Hershey Medical Center. I was totally impressed with the care the nurses there gave him and I wanted to do something to help lift the spirits of the kids at the hospital. WHY DO YOU THINK HEROES HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL? I think everyone connects with a superhero. It’s something that crosses all boundaries of age, gender, race. It’s amazing to see children of all ages, adults and parents just light up when we are present. And I enjoy making the costumes. HOW IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY? We can help bring attention to whatever cause the community is undertaking, whether it’s a benefit, a fundraiser or to help those in need. We can be their walking billboards. We are definitely a positive force!
68 wilson magazine
WERE YOU ALWAYS INTERESTED IN SUPERHEROES? I read my first comic book when I was five years old. I was always into comics and heroes. I loved reading my dad’s Sgt. Rock comic books. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO? Ironman and Batman, because they are basically normal people with no real superpower who have to use just their wits (and money of course!) But they age and hurt and feel like us; they just chose to do something more. WHAT WAS THE FIRST COSTUME YOU MADE? I used to make costumes with my parents for Halloween. My first real costume was Evel Knievel, which was all fringed white pleather. When I first went to the hospital in Hershey to visit the kids, I had a Batman costume made out of an old scuba suit. Now I’m on my second Ironman costume. I used Worbla® thermoplastic. It looks like metal but it’s soft. WHAT IS THE COSTUME YOU’RE WORKING ON NOW? I am currently building a seven-foot costume of the Incredible Hulk, complete with an internal cooling system. The goal is to be done by the end of July. For more information on Heroes for Little Heroes, follow this link to the group’s Facebook page: www.wilson.edu/heroes.
SAVE THE DATE John Stewart Memorial Library REDEDICATION
Friday, October 23, 2015 Join us as we rededicate the John Stewart Memorial Library with a day of celebration. Ribbon-cutting and Ceremony at 11 a.m. followed by lunch in Jensen Dining Hall
www.wilson.edu/jsml
1015 Philadelphia Ave. Chambersburg, PA 17201-1279
PHOTO BY RYAN SMITH
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Making a Difference: Sociology professor Julie Raulli empowers her students and encourages an ethos of volunteerism through her emphasis on service learning. Story on Page 22.