WINTER 2019
THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE · CLAREMONT
Data Driven Over the past 20 years, the proliferation of digital information has radically changed our world. From the 24-hour news cycle to the instantaneousness of online reactions to the glut of images in our social media feeds, understanding how to sort through information—and cut through the noise—is now an indispensable critical thinking skill. Enter the increasing relevance of information science. Broadly defined as the analysis, collection, classification, dissemination, and protection of data, information science historically has been closely associated with computer science, but in fact it touches fields as diverse as archival science, commerce, law, linguistics, museology, management, philosophy, public policy, and the social sciences.
Information science is already playing an important role in innovative humanities research at Scripps. As an epistemologist, Associate Professor of Philosophy Yuval Avnur has a scholarly interest in information as a set of truths or facts. As this year’s director of the Scripps College Humanities Institute, he’s bringing anthropologists, journalists, psychologists, sociologists, technologists, and others to campus to address the theme “Ignorance in the Age of Information.” These scholars are working across disciplines to interrogate some of the thorny issues that have resulted from information proliferation, such as fake news, implicit bias, filter bubbles, and conspiracy theories. On the other end of the spectrum, Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Spezio is part of a growing wave of humanists interested in “virtue science,” a discipline that uses the scientific method to better understand character traits. He believes that his big-data approach to humanistic questions can uncover some of the dynamics that make people and organizations both function and flourish.
Scripps continues to build a suite of opportunities for our students to learn the information science and technology skills and concepts necessary to be leaders in all fields. Our unique approach is women-centric and interdisciplinary and includes new computer science courses offered on and off campus through partnerships with major technology firms and other schools. In the long term, we hope to see a Scripps College that has interdisciplinary computational faculty chairs, computational postdocs, and visiting technologists in residence as well as speaker series and career planning dedicated to the topics central to computational science, information technology, and the role of technology in society.
The essential goals of a liberal arts education are to understand the human condition and to put that understanding to good use. Scripps commits to fulfilling this goal by facilitating learning contextualized by the wider world. By engaging in areas such as information science, the College improves its ability to recognize and be responsive to the technological shifts that are shaping our students’ perspectives and their futures.
SCRIPPS MAGAZINE Scripps is published three times a year by the Scripps College Office of Marketing and Communications. Lara Tiedens STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS President Binti Harvey Vice President for External Relations and Institutional Advancement, Executive Editor Elizabeth Hamilton Director of Editorial and Creative Strategy Rachel Morrison Writer and Editor Jacqueline Legazcue Photography DISTINC_ Design and Art Direction Southern California Graphics Printing EDITORIAL BOARD Lara Tiedens President Amy Marcus-Newhall Dean of Faculty Vol. 89, No. 1, Scripps, 1030 Columbia Avenue, P.O. Box 2004 (USPS #486-940), Claremont, CA 91711 © 2019 Scripps College IN THIS ISSUE Browsing Room — 2 —
Focus on the Faculty — 10 — Sheila Walker, Professor of Psychology by josie winslow ’21
Misinformed — 14 — An interview with Associate Professor of Philosophy Yuval Avnur
Data Driven — 18 — Scripps integrates computer science skills into a liberal arts curriculum by rachel morrison
Ahead of the Curve — 26 — Scripps alumnae are applying information science in a variety of fields by sharone carmona
The Science of Virtue — 30 — Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Spezio uses hard data to illuminate the human condition by rachel morrison
Alumnae News — 38 — ManuScripps 46 | Remembrances 48 | PostScripps 56
SCRIPPS MAGAZINE Scripps is published three times a year by the Scripps College Office of Marketing and Communications. STAFF AND CONTRIBUTORS Binti Harvey Vice President for External Relations and Institutional Advancement, Executive Editor Elizabeth Hamilton Director of Editorial and Creative Strategy Rachel Morrison Writer and Editor Jacqueline Legazcue Photography DISTINC_ Design and Art Direction Southern California Graphics Printing EDITORIAL BOARD Lara Tiedens President Amy Marcus-Newhall Dean of Faculty Vol. 89, No. 1, Scripps, 1030 Columbia Avenue, P.O. Box 2004 (USPS #486-940), Claremont, CA 91711 © 2019 Scripps College WINTER 2019 Newsflash
JENNIFER MARTINEZ WORMSER ’95 JOINS DENISON LIBRARY In January, Scripps welcomed Jennifer Martinez Wormser ’95 back to campus as librarian for the Ella Strong Denison Library. Wormser is taking the position vacated by Judy Harvey Sahak ’64, who retired last year.
STRATEGIC PLAN LAUNCHED Following 18 months of intensive community input and conversation, the Scripps Board of Trustees unanimously approved the Scripps Centennial Plan, which outlines how we will strengthen our mission as a women’s college over the next decade. For more information about the plan and related initiatives, visit scrippscollege.edu/strategic-plan .
LASPA LAUNCHES MILLENNIAL SARAH DEGRAW ’02 INDUCTED INTO LEADERS PROGRAM CMS HALL OF FAME From June 19 through 22, the Laspa As a two-time All-American in the Center for Leadership will pilot the hammer throw, CMS track and field star Millennial Leaders Program, an executive Sarah DeGraw ’02 established herself leadership program designed for young as the best women’s thrower in CMS women who are three to seven years out history. She was inducted into the CMS in their careers. For more information, Hall of Fame at a ceremony and banquet visit scrippscollege.edu/laspa . on November 10.
ATHENAS VOLLEYBALL WINS AGAIN CMC women’s volleyball defeated Cal Lutheran 3-0 on November 3 to win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship for the second year in a row.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES Fashion plates published by Bow Bells magazine, London, winter 1872; The Queen magazine, London, January 1868; and The Morse-Broughton Co., New York, 1902.
The Myrtle Tyrrell Kirby Fashion Plate Collection comprises 650 fashion plates, part of the Ella Strong Denison Library’s Ida Rust Macpherson Collection by and about Women. The plates were donated in 1948 by Scripps Trustee Benjamin Kirby, and the collection is named for his first wife, Myrtle Tyrrell Kirby.
First circulated at the end of the 18th century in Europe, fashion plates were used by tailors and dressmakers to advertise the sorts of garments they might make for men and women of means. Historians now study them to glean information about the dressing habits and tastes of the middle class as well as changing social customs and mores. Fashion plates also help chronicle the development of the fashion industry throughout the 19th century, including the effects of industrialization, as made- to-order garments were replaced by ready-to-wear clothing for all but the very rich.
3 WINTER 2019 A Love of Music Reunites Generations of Claremont Colleges Alumni
By Josie Winslow ’21
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For the first time in over 25 years, Joint she says. “It was challenging (learning Music Program choir alumni reunited to seven pieces), nostalgic (sharing stories celebrate a common passion: choral music. and memories and connecting with choir On September 29, more than 50 alumni members and the conductor from my era), from Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, and collaborative (not only singing with Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges gathered alums from five decades and with current in Garrison Theater to sing with current students, but also singing under the students. Three former conductors of the direction of the four different conductors). Concert Choir—John Lilley, Michael Deane I was worn out at the end of the day, but I Lamkin, and Anna DeMichele—directed the loved every minute of it!” forces, as did Scripps Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choirs Charles W. Carol Woods ’78 agrees. “The choir Kamm, the current conductor. reunion was a terrific opportunity to see old friends and sing with folks who love “The power of music drew this diverse group choral music. I hope we get many more of students and alumni together chances,” she says. to create art through community,” says Kamm. The choir reunion was an event that truly showcased the Claremont Colleges’ This sense of unity resonated with the strong, multigenerational community. participants. Merrilee Stewart ’70 was For those unable to attend, recordings one of the choir’s first members—her first of the concert are available online year at Scripps coincided with the start of at jointmusicprogram.org/choirs/choir- the program, making this reunion special reunion-2018 . for her. “The 50-year reunion was an opportunity to relive and celebrate one of the most rewarding experiences of my four years at Scripps—singing in a choir,”
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Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler ’72
6 BROWSING ROOM Special Remembrance
Scripps College alumna and former Perhaps best known on campus for trustee Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler ’72 the residence hall named in her honor, passed away on November 1 in London. Gabrielle contributed extensive financial Born in Hong Kong, Gabrielle arrived at support to the arts and humanities at Scripps in 1968 with a strong interest Scripps. The creation of the Gabrielle in art and chose to major in art history, Jungels-Winkler Foundation Scholarship spending her junior year abroad at the has afforded many graduates the École du Louvre in Paris. Of her Scripps opportunity to earn their master’s experience, she said, “The humanities degrees at the prestigious Courtauld curriculum at Scripps was seminal Institute of Art in London. In 1998, she in giving me the intellectual, ethical, created the Gabrielle Marie-Louise and social responsibility and cultural Jungels-Winkler Contemporary European curiosity that have served me in such Studies Endowment to support faculty good stead all my life.” She went on to and programming in European studies. earn a graduate degree in London in the The following year, she instituted five late 1980s. full scholarships to be awarded each year to academically outstanding students. Gabrielle spoke five languages, and her life took her from The Hague to Angola, Gabrielle was the largest single donor Borneo, Brussels, Paris, and finally to the College’s Campaign for the Scripps London, where she oversaw the Jungels- Woman, which concluded in 2004. Most Winkler Charitable Foundation. The recently, she advanced the More Scripps foundation has provided funding to Campaign with a $3.1 million gift in numerous institutions, including the support of the arts and humanities, Courtauld Institute of Art and the Royal which enabled the College to create an Academy of Arts, as well as to programs endowed faculty chair in the history for making the arts accessible to the of architecture and art and provide visually impaired. ongoing support for the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery. Gabrielle was not only a champion of the arts, she was one of Scripps’ Gabrielle is survived by her daughter, most committed benefactors. Over the Alexandra, and her son, Christophe, past five decades, she was a steadfast who currently serves on the Board advocate, ambassador, and supporter of Trustees. To commemorate her of the College in numerous ways. A lifetime of service and philanthropy, trustee from 2003 to 2017, Gabrielle Scripps has commissioned the Gabrielle hosted many Scripps gatherings at her Jungels-Winkler Rose in her honor. This London home for students, faculty, and delicate English rose will fill the new friends. Her legacy of giving to Scripps Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Rose Garden was truly transformational, creating adjacent to Balch Hall. A dedication will experiences and opportunities for take place on May 16. students and faculty that will endure for decades.
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“Greatness is the third cousin once- removed of crazy.”
— Lena Waithe
SEEN AND HEARD AT SCRIPPS
Actress, producer, and screenwriter Lena Waithe kicked off the fall season of Scripps Presents with an appearance at Garrison Theater on September 13 that included a meet- and-greet with Scripps students. Waithe was the first black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, for Netflix’s Master of None.
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FOCUS ON THE FACULTY Sheila Walker, Professor of Psychology
By Josie Winslow ’21
Over the past few decades, the United her adolescence. Walker found that States has become increasingly racially “affluence is not a guaranteed protection and ethnically diverse. However, within the against the identity-damaging effects of discipline of psychology, studies of the lives racism, and poverty is not necessarily a of people of color in the U.S.—especially risk factor for an irresolute identity.” young women—have been much too narrow, according to Professor of Psychology “I hope that the book will contribute Sheila Walker. “The field of psychology to psychological studies in general tends to essentialize and pathologize the by demonstrating the importance of study of racial and ethnic minorities,” she class and its intersection with other explains. “There is an implicit assumption social categories as a lens through in the psychological literature that African which to explore various psychological Americans, for example, are mostly living phenomena,” says Walker. “There is no in poverty. Because of this, many studies aspect of our lives that is not touched in focus primarily on problems, such as profound ways by our class positioning substance use, teen pregnancy, or poor and all that it affords. Class determines academic performance.” where we live, how we live, what we believe and value, how much social and Walker is helping to remedy this gap cultural capital we have, our access to in literature with a study of her own. the opportunity structure, and so on.” In September, she published African American Girls and the Construction of Identity: Class, Race, and Gender, a book- “There is no aspect of length examination of how different racial and socioeconomic contexts impact the formation of identity for young our lives that is not African American women. Her book is an intimate look at how class, race, and touched in profound gender intersect within familial and social contexts—homes, neighborhoods, ways by our class churches, and schools—to shape girls’ sense of self. positioning and all Walker and her Claremont Consortium that it affords.” research students spent two years visiting the girls in her study and their families, attending their extracurricular The book’s cover art is by Scripps events, and bringing them to the Professor Emerita of Art Samella Scripps campus on weekends. During Lewis. The work, titled Cleo, captivated this time, Walker observed how each Walker, who explains, “It’s a haunting girl’s sense of self changed throughout image of an African American girl with some of the most pivotal periods of huge, innocent-looking eyes, holding a
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long-stemmed rose. But if one doesn’t male-dominated spaces they inhabited, look closely, one misses that the rose making her transition to Scripps stem ends in a dagger! I thought that this all the more interesting, from a image was perfect for a book on black psychologist’s perspective. “It is a girls, as the image captures their beauty, different sort of experience to be able their sweetness, and their toughness.” to teach and mentor young women who have both the confidence and the Walker has been a professor at Scripps opportunity to imagine whatever sort for 25 years. Prior to Scripps, she of future they want and to interact taught at a large state institution where with and be guided by faculty who may she worked with many young women themselves have undergone similar who struggled to find a voice in the challenges as young women.”
11 WINTER 2019 Celebrating More Scripps
This fall marked the end of More Scripps: The Campaign for Scripps College. The most ambitious in Scripps’ history, this five-year campaign strengthened the College in many more ways than can be named here. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this unprecedented effort. $ 179MLARGEST CAMPAIGN IN SCRIPPS’ HISTORY
FINANCIAL STRENGTH Securing the Future 25 10,407 TOTAL GIFTS & PLEDGES UNIQUE DONORS TO ENDOWMENT TO THE CAMPAIGN
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Investments in Knowledge 7 42 2,686 ENDOWED FACULTY ENDOWED DONORS WHO CHAIRS SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORTED SCHOLARSHIPS
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders 1 22 85+ LASPA CENTER FOR LASPA “WE ACT” ANNUAL INTERNSHIP LEADERSHIP GRANT RECIPIENTS GRANT RECIPIENTS
SIGNATURE CAMPUS Facility Improvements
16 17 110 POTTERS’ WHEELS FACULTY OFFICES BEDS FOR STUDENTS and space for teaching and AND MEETING in the LEED Gold–certified artmaking at the Joan SPACES at the Katharine Nan Elizabeth Walsh and David Lincoln Ceramic Howard Miller ’55 Schow Hall Art Building Wing of the Edwards Humanities Building
COLLECTIVE POWER Scripps Fund Participation 5,564 2,873 474 ALUMNAE PARENTS FRIENDS CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTED CONTRIBUTED
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14 MISINFORMED An interview with Associate Professor of Philosophy Yuval Avnur
Illustrations by Brooke Irish
In our digital age, information is more accessible to in that they target users’ interests. So, because of more people than ever before. Yet one of the central the speed at which misinformation spreads, and concerns of public life is our susceptibility to the because we tend to engage more with and believe influence of bad information, whether in the form of in stories that reflect our biases or interests, we fake news articles, doctored images, or manipulated now have an information environment that makes video. Associate Professor of Philosophy Yuval Avnur our susceptibility to these biases much worse. comes to this dilemma as an epistemologist, interested We’ve always been biased about how we process in how we arrive at knowledge in the first place. But information, but now it’s on steroids. he’s also interested in how other fields might contribute to the conversation. That’s why, as this year’s director What is new about our information environment of the Humanities Institute, he’s made “Ignorance in is the “echo chamber” problem: The way we get the Age of Information” the focus, inviting a cadre of information is often from likeminded sources and academics, researchers, and technologists to campus to often excludes serious consideration of opposing discuss fake news, biases, echo chambers, conspiracy views. For better or worse, all Americans used to theories, and virality—and how they all work in concert watch the same couple of news programs every to disrupt the foundations of a healthy democracy. night and get the same info from the same people. Now, there’s an echo-chamber effect because we Scripps Magazine Most of us have heard by now of can pick and choose where we get our information the “fake news” phenomenon. Tell us more about it in a way that’s determined by whether we generally and how it affects our understanding of truth. agree with the source. We filter our news so that it reinforces what we believe by designating as the Yuval Avnur Fake news is a form of manipulation arbiters of truth—whether Fox News, CNBC, or through false facts, explanations, and narratives. Breitbart—those who are likely to share our outlook. Many people think of fake news as a new phenomenon, but actually, it’s quite an old problem— SM So, right or wrong, at least we all used to receive one as old as the press. One of the things that the same information; there was less suspicion and differentiates fake news now is the speed of our doubt among the citizenry. How is our modern echo news cycles and how quickly it proliferates. There’s chamber, then, more pernicious? an incredible MIT study, published just last year, in which researchers looked at the dissemination YA It’s not always about what information you rates of false and true statements on Twitter. They receive. People reading news feeds representing found that false statements spread much faster and polar opposites, politically, often get the same basic wider, presumably because they’re more entertaining information. Rather, it’s what’s said about the
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information, or what conclusions are drawn from misleading evidence or work to cover something up. the information, that changes according to the echo They happen. A conspiracy theory, on the other hand, chamber. Which echo chamber you’re in will decide is just that: a theory. It’s a way of trying to make which information gets emphasized and which sense of evidence, and conspiracy theories often sources get trusted. provide ways of accounting for why the evidence might appear to suggest one thing but really So, this echo-chamber phenomenon is the product suggests another. Conspiracy theories mess with of how we now receive information. We get it from how we interpret evidence. It’s a fascinating topic— people with similar interests and fears and views as I couldn’t possibly do it justice here. us, and our biases are thus reflected back to us as credible. What makes it especially insidious is that, SM So how do we become media literate in a way along with our information comes encouragement to that enables us to distinguish between, say, a well- downplay unpleasant information and make more of researched article and the blog post of a nonexpert? information that helps us arrive at the conclusions How can we overcome our desire to have our biases we like. confirmed and instead seek out the best information?
SM So, we inoculate ourselves from opposing YA We need to learn a new kind of critical thinking arguments, opposing facts—such as they are—and about how we get our information and how to opposing interpretations of those facts. weigh the trustworthiness of different sources. But perhaps the best thing we can do to avoid the YA Exactly. One of the most interesting versions of trap of the echo chamber is to practice intellectual this involves the Mueller probe, the Special Counsel humility, which involves being critical of our own investigation into whether there was Russian views, biases, and tendencies. We are all vulnerable interference in the 2016 election. For a long time, no to misinformation, but nobody thinks they are— one on the Trump campaign was specifically charged that’s the nature of the disease! We are so good at with any crimes relating to helping Russia interfere spotting cognitive bias in others but not so good at with the 2016 election. [Editor’s note: Professor spotting it in ourselves. David Hume, the Scottish Avnur and I went back and forth about how to most Enlightenment philosopher, once said that we should accurately phrase this statement, during which always be suspicious of the hypotheses favored various news sources and political blogs were cited by our passions. He said this because the more and/or dismissed—an irony that was not lost on us.] strongly we feel about something, the more likely our Some journalists represent this as proof that either feelings are to influence and bias our reasoning. This Mueller has no evidence or that he’s being secretive must involve more than just looking at a diversity and inappropriate. Others, however, represent this of sources—we’re very good at finding reasons to as proof that Mueller is strategic and has something dismiss evidence and arguments from the “other” big coming down the pipe. I’m not saying that both side. If you really want to know what it feels like to sides are equally credible, but what is obvious is navigate our information environment well, think of that our opinions are reinforced by the source of how you form an opinion on a topic you don’t have our information, which we choose based on its any personal investment in. When your passions conformity with our biases. If you’re in a pro-Trump and preferences aren’t at play, you can really look echo chamber, you’re likely to hear a lot more from at different sides of an issue and draw conclusions those who think that Mueller’s inaction is a sign that based on what’s important: facts and credibility. It’s he’s found nothing supporting collusion. only at that point that traditional critical thinking can operate the way it’s supposed to. SM And the more we hear our own biases reflected back to us, the more entrenched in our beliefs we SM What are some of the larger ramifications of the become. fake news and echo-chamber phenomena?
YA Definitely. And this is one way that conspiracy YA They tend to lead to an increasingly polarized theories are born. There is a difference between a population, which is bad because we aren’t just conspiracy and a conspiracy theory. Conspiracies disagreeing; we hate each other. We’re turning away do exist—like Watergate. They either provide from the ideal of a public sphere of dialogue—and
16 toward sectarianism. I think everyone knows this, and some think it’s a good thing. I don’t. I think it undermines the whole structure of democracy. If half the population thinks that the other half is misinformed or lying, if we don’t trust each other to a degree, then we can’t really believe that we are in a democracy. Think of the lie that Trump lost the popular vote because of mass illegal voting: How can we feel we are in a democracy if we are led to believe that the system itself, or official statements about it, can’t be trusted? If we can’t trust the democratic process, we can’t believe that we are in a democracy. If we can’t reliably get at the facts or rationally arrive at beliefs about the facts, then we cannot rationally vote. If you can’t do that, you don’t have a government that works for the people. Instead, the government supports whatever interests are supported by the misinformation. In the current milieu of fake news and the echo chamber, the “wisdom of the crowd” is playing a diminishing role.
SM So, what do we do? By which I mean, what action can we take, or who should be charged with dealing with this problem?
YA It’s a truly multifaceted topic. Is this a question of public policy? Is this a legal question? Is this a question about journalistic ethics, or a definition of “the press” that should include purveyors of echo chambers, like Facebook? Is this a question for sociologists and psychologists? For computer scientists? How information in groups travels and how the new tech affects that—is this a question for epistemology and philosophy, perhaps along the lines of how to form rational beliefs in such an environment? Or is this a question for those who study power dynamics and oppression? I think the answer is “all of the above.” We need to look at the problem through all of these lenses to develop a more sophisticated, updated way of dealing with disagreement in society in order for our democracy to flourish.
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By Rachel Morrison
18 In 2016, the National Academies of Sciences, to strengthen the school’s computational Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, capacity. Understanding that computational D.C., convened a committee of experts from skills touch everything from traffic lights government, industry, and academia to examine to health records to literary and musical undergraduate enrollment trends. Two years archives, the team generated a series of later, it issued a 200-page study on the initiatives intended to strengthen Scripps’ current state of computational science (CS) ability to train students in those skills. in higher education that warned, “The leaders of the institutions of higher education that Yet, as Amy Marcus-Newhall, vice president have experienced rapid increases in computer for academic affairs, dean of faculty, science course enrollments should take and professor of psychology, explains it, deliberate actions to address this trend with Scripps isn’t looking to start a computer a sense of urgency.” science department but, rather, to infuse computational skills into its established More than 2,600 miles away in Balch Hall, liberal arts curriculum. “Our students are Scripps president Lara Tiedens, along with more and more interested in computer science, students, faculty, and staff, had been but they are coming to learn those skills quietly doing just that. And they were ready within a humanities background——within the to take action. framework of the interdisciplinary humanities core, the arts and letters. They are drawn
During the 2017–18 academic year, the Faculty “Regardless of the cause, we want to take a Executive Committee, the curricular policy different approach to solve this,” continues body of the College, agreed that Scripps Tiedens. “We want to solve it the Scripps needed to do more to meet students’ needs way, which is to recruit faculty from for computational training. Around the same various fields who use the methods of CS and time, President Tiedens was drafting the data science within their home disciplines. College’s new strategic plan, which includes Our approach is decidedly interdisciplinary, a pillar devoted to a renewed emphasis on taking seriously the notion that women are being an innovative learning organization more engaged with technology in context, and (ILO). An ILO “theme team” composed of that our best learning and thinking happens faculty, students, and staff concurred with at the intersections of disciplines.” the faculty committee’s recommendation
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data science through hands-on, project-based a training program in New York last summer coursework designed to attract students who modeled on a “flipped classroom” approach. might not be planning for careers in tech, The basic course content was delivered but who want to develop the skill set to meet outside of the classroom, via an interactive the ever-changing technology demands of the online textbook, so that instructors could workforce. Scripps is currently one of only use their class time to tackle specific eight schools working with Google on the projects. Google wanted the instructors to project. There will also be a 10-week machine experience the same teaching model that learning summer intensive led by Google staff their CS pupils will enjoy: a largely self- and local faculty in summer 2019. guided exploration that empowers students to take ownership of their learning through “We are really lucky to be working with trial and error. “Google’s idea is that Google. First, because on a fundamental people learn best in an atmosphere in level, we wouldn’t be able to do this without which they are completely comfortable—— them, and second, because they are offering in a setting where there is no shame. One their considerable professional insight,” of the ways this mindset is cultivated is says Ou, who is teaching the course and the by reframing the concept of ‘failure’ by summer intensive. creating an environment in which being stuck or making mistakes are not viewed To prepare the instructors (all of whom are negatively, but as crucial components of the from disciplines outside of CS), Google held process,” Ou continues.
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Ou knows, perhaps better than many, the According to Professor of Math Chris Towse, importance of the classroom environment to who served as a faculty representative learning. In his Core III class, Women and during its initiation, the six-week program Math, students explore the cultural factors will be a part internship, part off-campus that lead to “math phobia” as well as the study opportunity; students will earn self-removal of women from many STEM fields. academic credit. “Teaching computer science, “We have read studies that show how women both the hard skills and computational have higher standards for themselves: Where thinking, to liberal arts students opens a female student will get a B in a course up a world of discovery for them. I had a and think, ‘I clearly don’t get this, so I student recently ask me, ‘I study Spanish won’t continue pursuing the subject,’ a male history from the Middle Ages. How would student may say, ‘I did pretty well,’ and go computation apply to my area of study?’ I on to the next course. Women cut themselves told them, ‘When you discover a painting off from——and out of——certain fields or a painted artifact and want to know inappropriately,” he says. what’s beneath the paint, you use imaging technology to peer into the layers using “According to the Googlers, CS classes are the language and tools of computer science.’ often discouraging——or are even, because We can use these tools to interrogate even of staffing limitations, designed to be humanistic questions, questions about discouraging for many students. We want our history,” Towse says. “The technology isn’t course to be encouraging and empowering,” just about learning a set of skills—— continues Ou. “Instead of just using a learning to code: It enables you to ask program, you will become the person who different questions, next-level questions.” makes the program. Students will gain an additional, versatile outlet through which
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In order to offer CS training regardless fields, but they are true disciplines with of the shortage of faculty, Scripps is on methods and deep intellectual questions with track to hire a faculty member who holds a great scholarly work fueling curiosity in the PhD in a field other than CS, but who has world. These scientists are as much academics an interdisciplinary track record of the as other professors.” computational, programming, and analytic expertise necessary to teach introductory “Computer science and technological skills computation courses to Scripps students (for are not just vocational training skills—— an example of what this kind of teaching their application goes far beyond the and scholarship looks like, see “The Science workforce,” adds Marcus-Newhall. “They are of Virtue” on page 30). This new endowed increasingly necessary to be an educated position was made possible by the Fletcher person in this world. And as it relates to Jones Foundation Scholar in Computation the workforce, the liberal arts background grant in October 2018, along with a matching gives our students the analytical skills and donation by Betsy Weinberg Smith ’74. “This perspective to be able to apply tech skills is a first step in expanding faculty with in line with employers’ expectations.” computational expertise to teach classes that are in demand by our students,” says Research by the labor market analytics firm Marcus-Newhall. Emsi and the Strada Institute for the Future of Work support these assertions. They While these initiatives provide a timely recently released a report based on more than and necessary antidote to the limited CS 100 million social and professional profiles, learning opportunities available to students applicant resumes, and more than 36 million at Scripps, some wonder how CS fits into job postings to understand what liberal a liberal arts curriculum. But as Tiedens arts students learn and what employers want. explains, “CS and data science may be newer “There are those who believe that the ‘hard’
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skills of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are most critical to the future, and those who believe the uniquely ‘human’ skills of the liberal arts are the ones that will endure in the face of automation,” the report says. “We say . . . It is the integration of human and technical skills that will provide the best preparation for the future of work.”
For Ou, workforce applicability is important, but only part of why Scripps should embrace computation. He argues that knowledge for its own sake is one true hallmark of a liberal arts education: “The ability to code is a skill that ultimately everybody will have and, further, will be enriched by having. It will only increase possibilities for our students: like learning another language, CS opens up ways of expressing yourself that would not otherwise exist.”
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Ahead of the Curve
Scripps alumnae are applying information science in a variety of fields
By Sharone Carmona
Though the reasons to come to Scripps are as diverse as It’s in this spirit of becoming that the College has Scripps students themselves, they are often rooted in developed its new strategic plan, part of which is to beliefs about the transformational power of a liberal arts integrate computation, programming, and data science education. Scripps students are less concerned about training into its liberal arts curriculum. It’s a response specific vocational goals and more interested in the to the clear need for such analytical skills in the 21st kinds of people they hope they will become: grounded, century—and the need for greater opportunities for well-informed, thoughtful citizens of the world. Heather women in STEM fields. Though these new initiatives will Phillips ’98 chose Scripps because she was seeking an bring a more visible tech focus to campus, they do not environment where her interests and ambitions would signal as much of a shift as it might seem. Rather, they be supported: “In high school, I felt like the odd person formalize what students, faculty, and alumane have out, the girl debater in a room where boys were the been doing for decades: taking the range of skills, the norm. I wanted the opposite of that . . . and I really felt broad liberal arts foundation, and the critical acumen that Scripps was a place that had the kind of values they’ve developed and charting their own paths in that would lead to the experience I wanted.” Natalya professional environments that demand increasingly St. Clair ’06 agrees: “I wanted to be a well-rounded, sophisticated technological knowledge. When it comes educated person, and I thought Scripps would be a safe to meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing world, place for me to spread my wings.” Scripps has always been ahead of the curve.
26 THE PATTERNMAKER –––––––
Natalya St. Clair ’06 didn’t consider herself St. Clair taught middle school math for a humanities person in high school. seven years before earning a master’s in “I loved physics, and I did a lot of math,” technology, information, and education she remembers. But she was drawn to the from Harvard University. Now, as a liberal arts focus of Scripps, especially research associate and project coordinator the Core Curriculum. “I got the reading with the Concord Consortium in the Bay list, and it felt like such a beautiful Area, St. Clair studies how high school background for me,” St. Clair says. students learn in STEM capacities. She works with developers, observes students On her journalist mother’s advice, in the classroom, and does outreach to St. Clair enrolled as a media studies educator researchers, all as part of the major, but after her first year in both larger project of understanding how young media studies and math classes, she learners connect with data. “We know found herself torn between the two people are really interested in data, but departments. Her mentor, Professor of only when it’s personally meaningful to Math Christopher Towse, helped show them,” she says. Part of her job is to figure her the way. “At one of those ‘choose out how to make it meaningful to high your major’ events he said to me, ‘You school students, including through the know, you could do both. I think it would development of web-based data science work, and you’d have a really marketable education materials and activities. set of skills at the end.’”
St. Clair quickly came to see that her two majors were much more similar than she had thought. “There was a degree of creativity in problem solving, thinking in problem spaces in math, and then I’d go into my art classes and I’d almost try to interpret it even further, but more in an abstract, visual way,” she recalls. Artists like Helaman Ferguson inspired her to continue thinking through the ways that problems can be solved through aesthetic and creative exploration.
Her experience studying studio art Today, St. Clair marvels at the ways alongside math led St. Clair into the field her unorthodox education is still very of education after college. “One of the much part of her career, and she sees things that intrigued me about education computer science as an important part was the idea that math or physics or of the next generation’s liberal arts STEM are the ‘hard majors.’ But it turns education. “There’s beauty to be found out that developing skills as an artist in unexpected places,” she says. “We is just as hard as developing skills as a think of STEM subjects as hard, but mathematician,” she says. “And what they’re beautiful, and there is room for mathematicians do is a kind of visual interpretation.” thinking—they’re creators of patterns.”
27 WINTER 2019
THE INTERPRETER –––––––
Vicki Molina-Estolano ’11 attended a large on her own. In her current role, she has public high school in San Diego, and to interpret both large data sets and most of her classmates were UC- and narrative-based market research about Cal State-bound after graduation— user behavior and preferences, but she but she wanted something different. acknowledges that this kind of hybrid “I liked that Scripps had so many role is more the exception than the norm. different requirements in your first year, There can be as much of a divide between so you were exposed to many different qualitative and quantitative fields in the disciplines, whereas everywhere else professional world as in the academic one. there was this pressure to apply to a “They don’t always know how to talk to certain program right away,” she recalls. each other,” she says. Having a grounding in both is a significant advantage. That freedom to explore led Molina- Estolano to her Latin American studies What’s more, Molina-Estolano loves it. major, inspired by a history class she took “I was surprised to find I was actually during her first year. “I’ve always liked pretty good at analytics,” she says. history and writing, and by the time I “The practice of analytical thinking, needed to pick a major I had taken a lot whether it involves a bunch of historical of classes on Latin American politics and data sources you’re trying to weave culture, and it seemed like a good fit,” she into a narrative or taking numbers and says. She planned to go to law school, but weaving that into an interpretation while she was working what she thought of what’s happening with a product— would be a temporary job at Facebook, life they aren’t that different. I didn’t learn took a turn. “I was doing user support for quantitative data analysis at Scripps, Latin American users, so a lot of my job but I did have experience in the thought was focused on knowing the nuances of process of how to collect information Latin American politics and pop cultural from different sources and use it to references. Beyond speaking Spanish, you interpret something. Knowing how to really had to be bicultural to do that job ask questions, process a problem, develop well, so it was a perfect fit,” she says. a hypothesis, or find data to answer it— these are all things I learned at Scripps.” When Facebook’s user support offices moved to Ireland, Molina-Estolano missed California and began looking for a different role. Over the last six years she’s moved from ad analytics, monitoring the quality of the advertiser experience, to marketing science, using internal data to explain how people use Facebook products. In her current role as a consumer research manager, she helps determine what advertisers need to know about how consumers behave so they can make advertising decisions.
In her first role, Molina-Estolano’s skill set was a perfect fit for Facebook’s needs. As her responsibilities have changed, she’s had to pick up more technical knowledge. Facebook offered some training, including learning the programming language SQL, and Molina- Estolano took statistical analysis classes
28 AHEAD OF THE CURVE
THE INFORMATION EXPERT –––––––
As the daughter of a wildlife biologist, as “feminist political philosophy.” She Heather Phillips ’98 moved around went on to law school at the College the American West throughout her of William & Mary and then spent a childhood, following migratory birds year with AmeriCorps, working for the along what’s known as the Pacific immigration law firm Casa Cornelia in Flyway. It was an unusual childhood, one San Diego. Managing the law library that included stints in small towns, rural there, she saw even more clearly how areas, and even a wildlife refuge. High information was power. “The right piece school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was of information could turn somebody’s her first taste of anything like city life. asylum case entirely around. It could take the immigration judge from skepticism to agreeability in the snap of a finger,” she says. Her grounding in feminist research methods also helped her know where to look for data— regional nongovernmental organizations like Red Crescent and Doctors Without Borders had access to information the State Department did not, and so did journalists, all of whom could help immigration clients.
After that experience, library school at the University of Arizona felt like a natural move; Phillips has been working as a law librarian ever since. As Competing on a National Forensic League assistant branch librarian for the Ninth debate team in high school, Phillips Circuit Court of Appeals, she consults began to appreciate the difference the on large research projects for judges and right information can make. “I realized their research staff, helping researchers that how well you can grandstand only refine search strings and filters, select gets so you far. You can deflate the most databases, and work with material that beautiful speechifying with the right hasn’t been digitized. “Everything isn’t piece of data,” she says. “It was my first on the internet, it isn’t free, and you taste of the power of information.” still have to know how to find it,” she says. The exchange of information is But the debate team also revealed to multidirectional: she also gives feedback Phillips some of the challenges she would to databases about use and effectiveness face. “At the time, New Mexico felt very and negotiates the contracts that make conservative and patriarchal to me,” she the information available. recalls. “I knew that some of the things I got scolded for were valued in the guys Phillips’s work as a law librarian requires in my class, and that struck me as very resourcefulness and a sophisticated wrong.” Her search for a place that would synthesis of ideas, skills she began to help her to grow in her own way led her hone during her undergraduate years and first to a community college, and then has continued to refine over the last two to Scripps. She credits her grandmother, decades. The ways we access information herself a library technician, with helping have been revolutionized, but being a her figure out what she was looking for in librarian has always required adapting a school. to changing technology. “Librarians have been around since papyrus,” Phillips Once at Scripps, Phillips focused on a notes. “Information hasn’t changed, just political science degree she describes the format it comes in.”
29 WINTER 2019
closedness acceptance adventure another
continual compassion firmness deepens concern
gentleness gentle THE humility merciful inwardness inspires kindness littleness mercy mystical nourishes openness manifested opening permit
radiance SCIENCE response sacrament rooting symbol
to and fro smallest toward
warmth wholeness
30 abandonment
authenticity blockage awaken OF cycle dirt egoism frailty flaw emerge
humiliation ignorance inability incapacity monster liberate jealousy VIRTUE protection protecting putting parched remove rising self-centeredness sensitivity simplicity tragedy vulnerability transforms
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Michael Spezio uses hard data to illuminate the human condition
By Rachel Morrison
31 WINTER 2019
closedness acceptance adventure
From a neurological standpoint, humans Thinkers as early as Aristotle have understand speech through the brain’s asked this same question. For the Greek “semantic network”—areas across the philosopher, humility entails an embrace cerebral cortex that are engaged when of self-effacement and thus works against we are exposed to language. At the level human excellence. For others, humility is of linguistics—the study of language and inherently prideful—always running the risk deepens its structures—language’s meaning arises of hubris—and therefore is a moral vice. from the complex interplay of semantics anothers (meaning), phonetics (sounds), and syntax “Historically, there is strong disagreement (structure). about humility’s value as a moral concept,” explains Spezio. “Previous definitions The rest of the time, we use a dictionary. posit humility as an absence—the absence of arrogance, or the absence of pride— But for Michael Spezio, associate but we saw humility as something else, professor of psychology and neuroscience, something active.” language contains hidden multitudes that have meanings beyond those listed in the Spezio was reflecting on a quality he dictionary. To find out what they are, he had witnessed during his work with two uses advanced mathematics, a real big organizations: Homeboy Industries, a computer, and a humanitarian’s thirst for Los Angeles–based nonprofit aimed at bettering the world. reducing recidivism among previously incarcerated ex-gang members, and “Traditional research methods from L’Arche, an international federation compassion science and the social sciences aren’t dedicated to the creation of homes, wrong or inferior, but our algorithm is just programs, and support networks for a useful means of complementing other people with intellectual disabilities. Both modes of inquiry in a way that can provide organizations are widely acknowledged additional insight,” says Spezio. for the high value that members place on the self and others. Spezio is a cognitive scientist (as well as a gentle neuroscientist with training in theological In previous research based on interviews ethics) who studies moral action, human and cognitive behavioral tasks in the freedom, and religious experience. He’s laboratory, Spezio and his colleagues dabbling in complex, 300-dimension found that members of Homeboy vector spaces (which result from algorithms Industries and L’Arche understand using applied linear algebra—but more humility as a form of “openness”—that on that later) because he’s among a is, an acceptance of other people based growing number of virtue scientists, an on shared personhood rather than interdisciplinary lot who use the methods on relatability or acceptability. The of one field—here, math and computation— researchers named this version of humility to answer the questions of another: “kenotic empathy.” Three years later, they humanistic inquiry into human flourishing. set out to test whether they could further Along with co-researchers Gregory prove the existence of kenotic empathy Peterson and Robert C. Roberts, Spezio set among the L’Arche community using a out with a seemingly simple question, but new, mathematical approach. one that turns out to have a complex and radiance surprising answer: What is humility? response
32 THE SCIENCE OF VIRTUE
Many scholars in the humanities and start gathering data,” he continues. social sciences use what’s called “We are using the same tools. We want “qualitative data” to surmise truths about to understand the qualities of moral phenomena in their fields. A sociologist character in persons who bring moral may conduct interviews or observe light to the world, so we have to go subjects and, through reasoning and find communities in which illumination continual interpretation, arrive at a deep insight. is brought. This is why we are studying Spezio, too, relies on qualitative data— L’Arche.” such as his interviews with Homeboy and L’Arche members—but he also employs L’Arche is federation of communities quantitative data: the collection and spread over 37 countries in which people analysis of facts through mathematical with and without intellectual disabilities models and statistical inferences. live and work together as peers. Its founder, Canadian theologian and “The first part of any empirical, humanitarian Jean Vanier, started the firmness quantitative study is to know your first community in 1964 in northern France concern phenomenon. How does your phenomenon as an antidote to the institutionalization actually work? Where is it present? If we of the disabled, premised on the idea want to understand difficult concepts like that such people are teachers of— empathy, humility, or courage, we have to not burdens on—society. Members of go where they reside,” explains Spezio. L’Arche communities regularly study and discuss ideas drawn from a corpus “Think of scientists studying bioluminescence. of books and essays by Vanier that They want to know how an organism outline his philosophies, which can be makes light, so they start by finding broadly characterized as treatises on the gentleness which organisms make light and then human values of humility, compassion, go to where those organisms live to tenderness, and love.
“We want to understand the qualities of moral character in persons who bring moral light to the world.”
symbol
33 WINTER 2019
humanity goodwill society inwardness “It turns out that our smallest computations were correct all along.”
littleness
The corpus of Vanier’s work used “Basically, we use a model based in kindness by Spezio, which includes five texts applied linear algebra that sets up totaling about 5,000 unique words, numbers associated with each word such was transformed into a quantitative that the neural network is able to fairly dictionary using a computational linguistic well predict that word’s meaning, given sacrament method called word2vec (developed its context,” explains Spezio. “We did not by researchers at Google). Each word expect the results that we got.” was a “neuron” in what would become a semantic neural net. Each word-neuron Google has its own computational mercy in Spezio’s model has 300 weights—one linguistic platform, UNBC, that houses way to think of it is that, given the various a broad corpus of Standard American permit contexts in which the word occurs, its English. When “humility” was run through meaning is contextualized 300 ways. UNBC, the results were on par with what After training the neural network and one would expect from the dictionary inputting the words and their contexts definition: gentleness, modesty, and (the two or so words preceding and after meekness. “This, of course, reinforced each occurrence—the “window length”), a the idea that humility entailed some kind model was created that shows how words of debasement,” says Spezio. But when warmth interrelate with one another—with 300 he ran “humility” through Vanier’s corpus wholeness dimensions for each word. When Spezio in word2vec, the results amazed him. It entered “humility” into the system, as defined humility as “radiance, simplicity, well as each context in which it occurs, he and openness.” “We couldn’t believe it,” was able to create a neural network with recalls Spezio. 300 associated weights, or meanings, for humility. These results do not simply mean that there are alternative definitions of
34 THE SCIENCE OF VIRTUE
Jean Vanier, founder of L'Arche.
mystical openness
inspires
humility. Recall that previous, qualitative the virtue. “In a complete reversal of research had concluded that L’Arche how we would expect things to go, our community members both exhibit and qualitative analysis [the interview with describe a version of humility as openness Vanier] reaffirmed the findings from our and that their behavior, as they tell it, is quantitative data analysis,” says Spezio. guided by their engagement with Vanier’s “It turns out that our computations were foundational texts. Though Vanier never correct all along.” explicitly says as much, Spezio’s data analysis revealed that Vanier's texts Humanists and social scientists are are imbued with a deep undercurrent increasingly using interdisciplinary of humility-as-interpersonal-openness methods to augment the methodology (kenotic empathy), and that practicing traditionally used in those fields. this kind of humility leads to an alternative What’s now referred to as the “digital mode of relating to one another rooted in humanities” encompasses such projects openness and grace. as digital archives, textual visualization, cultural analysis, and the type of applied Indeed, so unexpected was their finding linguistic analysis performed by Spezio’s that Spezio and colleagues initially team. “We are using these methods not chalked it up to possible computer error to understand how humans construct nourishes and set the project aside as they prepared meaning from language (that’s what for a trip to France, where they had linguists do) but rather to understand the plans to interview Vanier himself. At the latent meanings that may be present in appointed meeting, and entirely without received texts but that are hidden or less prompting, Vanier began to discourse evident using ordinary literary critical on the concept of humility—and offered methods,” explains Spezio. up “openness” as a vital component of
35 WINTER 2019
strength fortitude courage truth
“True courage requires humility. True justice requires humility. And, certainly, true love.”
deception honesty
balance
tension
decency
tenderness
generosity decorum grace
heart
36 THE SCIENCE OF VIRTUE
There are additional benefits to the Asked about the broader implications of application of computation to humanistic his work in virtue science, Spezio likened research. Every field has its received his research to the contributions of a wisdom—the agreed-upon consensus scientist working at the cellular level to handed down by experts to generation cure cancer. after generation of students. Consider the centuries-old interpretation “No, she’s not treating patients. But are of Shakespeare’s Hamlet: that the we sure that the symptoms of cancer protagonist’s tragic flaw is his inability are rooted in cellular science? Yes. to act. Literary scholars have relied on So, do we research cellular science? interpretation and logic, through close Yes. And are we sure that the primary readings and historical analysis, to arrive locations of our societal cancers—racism, at this understanding. But what if it’s sexism, bias against people identifying not complete? What if it’s the result of a as transgender, etc.—are rooted in the particular cultural bias; what if we could ways we value the self and others? Yes. train a neural network to assign weights So, what we do is basic research into the to the words of the play’s text and have structure of communities for which those it generate a network of meaning, one dysfunctions have been overcome. We that could potentially open up hitherto turn to alternative visions of human life unknown understandings of one of our and possibility—visions and communities, most enduring literary works and thus like L’Arche, where there are spaces of illuminate a novel perspective on the forgiveness—empathy, and a celebration of human experience? difference, and from there we might begin to cultivate that same kind of valuation in “The advantages of our approach offer a other contexts—to cure the cancer.” check on the claims of experts who have spent generations building upon one The Latin root of the word humility is another’s work—no person can go back humus, meaning “grounded” or “from the and check their work. But if you have earth.” “Some people interpret this as these techniques available—and, yes, they humility requiring a lowering, a lowering of have built-in biases, too—we can see if the status,” says Spezio. “No, that’s not what it computation supports the conclusions of means. It means it grounds everything. It traditional scholarship. In other words, refers to the grounding and central virtue can the conclusions be replicated? I can necessary for all of the other virtues to find out in a year. Without the computer, it be present and flourishing. True courage would take a lifetime.” requires humility. True justice requires humility. And, certainly, true love.”
humility rooting merciful
37 WINTER 2019 Alumnae News
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES FOR ALUMNAE AND FAMILIES
38 FROM THE ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Kendra Armer ’93
My role as Alumnae Association president brings me to the Scripps campus several times each year, and it’s always a treat to visit. Of course, there are dozens more times that I’d like to attend a campus celebration or event but can’t. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that I can stay connected to the College, even when I’m unable to be there in person.
For campus and community news, this magazine is obviously a great way to stay informed. The 10th & Columbia alumnae e-newsletter, published every other month, also includes profiles of alums, calls for nominations for volunteer leadership positions and Alumnae Association awards, and campus news of interest to alums. You can follow the College’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts to keep up with what’s happening, and President Tiedens’s office sends out important news via email.
Whether you live in Southern California or happen to be visiting the area, you are always welcome at campus events, from Reunion Weekend to commencement to the Scripps Presents speaker series. But, even if you can’t attend, you may be able to watch online—more and more Scripps events are being live-streamed on Facebook, and many are recorded so that you can watch them any time on the College’s YouTube channel. Visit youtube.com/ user/scrippscollege to catch up on some of the amazing Scripps Presents events from this past semester, including talks with Lena Waithe, Abbi Jacobson, and Liz Lerman.
If you would like to hear from Scripps more often, update your communications preferences with the Office of Alumnae Engagement by contacting them at (909) 621-8054 or [email protected] .
I hope you find new ways to connect! And if you have ideas or suggestions for other ways, let us know.
Best wishes,
KENDRA ARMER ’93
39 WINTER 2019
MARRIAGES BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS 1966
Madelaine Shellaby (Washington nearest and dearest, Monica 2005 Crossing, Pennsylvania) I was Streifer, who honored us with the married to Edward D’Ancona most beautiful reading of e. e. Jane Repass Klein (Seattle) I gave (CMC ’66) on October 27, cummings’s “i carry your heart birth to a son, William, in July 2018, in a small wedding in with me” during the ceremony. 2018. Lawrenceville, New Jersey, with After successfully defending my family in attendance. We moved dissertation in August 2016, the to Washington Crossing to be following May, I was hooded as a close to family and friends. graduate of the doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. In January 2005 2017, I joined the Department of Family Medicine and Sara Merritt (Bodega Bay, Community Health at Penn as a California) I married Seth Herve qualitative research consultant to in Bodega Bay on October 7, researchers across the university Top: Whitney Eriksen ’09 and Christopher 2018. Katherine Taylor (Seattle) I and city. In May, we bought Harley at their wedding in Washington married Andrew Hicks on Mount our first home in the East Falls State on August 5, 2017. Rainier on July 18, 2018. neighborhood of Philadelphia and have been settling into life Middle: Holly Underhill ’13 married Kael Kristof (PO ’10) in Mount Hood, Oregon, there happily. Chris, a director on September 2, 2018. The bride and 2009 and cinematographer, has kept groom, holding pennants, were joined by us on our toes with many work (from left to right) Rahul Misra (PO ’12), Jesse Stoneman (PO ’12), Nicola Parisi (PO Whitney Eriksen (Philadelphia) adventures, taking him (and ’12), Mary Padden (PO ’11), Bryan Kevan I married the love of my life, occasionally us) from the Grand (PO ’14), Greg Wright (PO ’12), Zara Klaff Christopher Harley, on August Canyon to Kakuma, Kenya. If (PO ’10), Ben Brostoff (PO ’14), David Liss 5, 2017, in my home state of any Scrippsies find themselves (PO ’10), Danny Brown (PO ’12), Meredith Kertzman ’13, Evan Zahniser (PO ’12), Eliot Washington at a little bed and in the Philly area, I’d love to hear Chang (PO ’10), David Brown (PO ’08), breakfast in the middle of the from you! Justin Sexton (PO ’10), and Nathan Yale Columbia River Gorge. We were (PO ’14). blessed with gorgeous views Bottom row, from left: Sara Merritt ’05 and and to be surrounded by our 2013 Seth Herve at their wedding in Bodega many family and friends on the Bay, California, on October 7, 2018; special day, including one of my Holly Underhill (Mount Hood, Katherine Taylor ’05 and Andrew Hicks at their wedding in Washington State on July Oregon) I was married on 18, 2018; and Madelaine Shellaby ’66 and September 2, 2018, in Mount Edward D’Ancona (CMC ’66), who wed on Hood. October 27, 2018.
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41 WINTER 2019
1947 1952 Scripps was fantastic, as always, this June—the age range spanned Mary Sherwin Faulkner (Pacific Kathleen Niven Lechner (Laguna over 60 years, and no, I wasn’t Grove, California) I am doing well. Niguel, California) My memoir, the oldest alum there! Norma Blair Gilmore (Hamilton, A Valentine to Life, was printed Montana) My eldest son, who this year. It describes my is 70, visited for a month this ancestors’ lives as well as my 1965 past fall. He had been teaching own. I mention Scripps and how English as a second language in fortunate I was to make dear Ann Ewart Hughes (Shoreline, Brazil for some years and is back friends there and to have Henry Washington) I recently moved, in the U.S. McFee, Millard Sheets, and Phil after the death of my husband of Dike as my art instructors in a 53 years on Easter Sunday 2017 1948 beautiful setting. due to pancreatic cancer.
Natasha Chapro Josefowitz (San 1953 1969 Diego) I have reached the age of 92. I now have three great- Nancy Shroyer Howard (Colorado Ruth Hatch Rahimi (Clark Fork, grandsons. I was inducted into Springs, Colorado) I more or less Idaho) Over the years, I’ve the San Diego County Women’s commute between Colorado realized that I am happiest Hall of Fame in 2015. My 21st Springs and Geneva, where my when I am outside. I love all book, He Writes/She Writes: A son, Malcolm, works for the Red horses, and when first I rode Dialogue of Contrasting Views Cross. En route, I stop to see son Icelandic horses, I knew that Written in Verse, was published Billy, a Long Island firefighter. this was the breed for me. In my in 2018. I continue to write a psychotherapy practice, I used bimonthly column that appears my horses for a group of women in the La Jolla Village News. 1956 with eating disorders. One summer, I gave a horse camp for Nancy Nelsen Rude (Walnut Creek, boys with ADHD. I now teach 1950 California) I had a wonderful horsemanship classes for kids summer in France, visiting from a local Waldorf School. Beverly La Fromboise Carlson relatives and friends and playing (Portland, Oregon) I’m still chamber music. enjoying painting as a hobby. 1970 I have three children, eight grandchildren, and five great- 1958 Anne Maltman Campbell grandchildren. I don’t remember (San Mateo, California) I much about my first impression Elizabeth Cook Mitchell retired in November from my of Scripps, just the many flowers! (Middletown, New Jersey) position as San Mateo County It was 68 years ago. Marylynn Brown Miller and I are Superintendent of Schools after still close friends, talking on the 44 years in education. In addition phone often. My grandson is at to celebrating with over 200 1951 Rutgers here in New Jersey. family, friends, and colleagues, I received a state legislative Pat Dozier Drew (Laguna Beach, proclamation from State Senator California) Marv and I celebrated 1960 Marc Berman. A proclamation our 68th anniversary on in my honor was also entered December 29, 2018. Yes, we’re Marcia Davidove Baugh (Palo Alto, into the Congressional Record slowing down, but we’re blessed California) My husband and I by Representative Jackie Speier, to be doing so well. had a great trip to New Zealand and the new San Mateo County in January 2018. We’re both still early childhood learning center busy with volunteer work. Camp was named for me. The frosting
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on all of this cake was the director left. The board asked Huffman (San Francisco) I went birth, one week earlier, of my me to step in, and I did, for three to Yellowstone and the Grand new (and present for the party!) years. This July, I finally retired Tetons in mid-September with granddaughter, Daphne. Shelly again! As I think back on the odd Janet Redding Richardson and Foote (Ventura, California) In set of circumstances that led her husband, Tom, and some September, I flew to Honolulu to to such a career change, I know friends of theirs. It was truly visit Ronna Chock Morris ’70. that Scripps had a hand in it. amazing, and the national parks She and her husband, Gordie, After three years of humanities are our best idea. Tom drove squired me all around Oahu to (the “old” humanities), I felt well patiently as we watched a herd see historic sites and eat local versed in the issues that came of buffalo cross the road. The food. Merrilee Stewart Howard up in preserving the history animals were moving from (Tillamook, Oregon) Constance of our city. While there were summer to winter pastures, so Norwick ’70 and I attended the many challenges, my liberal arts we saw everything from moose Claremont Concert Choir 50- education as a science major was to a gray wolf, with the exception year reunion with more than very helpful in managing them. of a bear—we decided we were 50 other alums on September okay not seeing a bear. We are 29. A full day of rehearsals in planning on visiting more of the Garrison Theater, with time for 1971 parks. I retired from Children’s meals and socializing on the Day School in July and am Scripps campus, culminated Margaret Collins (Santa Cruz, trying to figure out what is next. in a private concert featuring California) This fall, I was in Chutatip Vadnasindhu Umavijani performances by the Reunion the Hudson River Valley, where (Bangkok, Thailand) Since we Choir, Claremont Concert Choir, Tempe Johnson Javitz, Deirdre are approaching 70 next year, I Claremont Treble Singers, and Taylor Johnson ’70, and I were stopped teaching a full course Combined Choirs. The chance to looking at Hudson River School load last semester. My main perform with current students artists and visiting stately project is to take good care was a bonus! Anna DeMichele, homes and gardens. We got the of myself and my sister, who Chuck Kamm, Michael Lamkin, run-down on the last 200 years is 80. I exercise almost every and John Lilley shared conductor of American architecture; it day, swimming, playing table duties, and Gary Berkson (PZ was quite the art history course. tennis (as my sister loves it), ’74) and John Gilmour were the Unfortunately, there was not and practicing Qigong. I admire pianists. Connie and I were two much leaf color, as the weather Diana Ho and all of our friends of three alums in attendance who was warm until late in our trip. who are wonderful contributors belonged to the original Concert Also unfortunate was the fact to this world in many ways, and Choir. We joined in the fall of that Laura Noble couldn’t make I am sure Miss Scripps is also 1966—its inaugural year—as it due to a health challenge in very proud. My daughter set first-years. It was fitting that her family. But we did see her for up a niche perfume boutique Haydn’s Te Deum was performed lunch in Cleveland, our starting in Paris called Parfums Dusita. at the reunion by the Combined and ending point. We also went She uses her dad’s poetry in Choirs, as it was performed to Niagara Falls; I thought it the marketing of her perfumes. by the Concert Choir with an might be overhyped, but was My son is working on his PhD orchestra in Big Bridges in I surprised by the beauty and in military warfare at SOAS, December 1968! Catalina Peters awesome splendor of this natural University of London. Nancy Preskill (San Diego) Twelve years feature. Diana Ho (Los Angeles) Trimble Worthington (San Rafael, after I retired as a pediatrician, I recently attended a gathering California) We are happy to I was hired to be the executive in Santa Barbara that included announce the arrival last March director of a small museum, the Carol Otis, Vicki Wilhelm of our newest granddaughter, Davis-Horton House, at the Plavchak, Rebecca Sparks, Alex Nora Worthington. Now we Gaslamp Museum in San Diego. Wilhelm Hendrix ’80 (Vicki’s have three little girls to spoil. I had been on the board, serving sister), Jennifer Schweitzer Bruce and I keep very active as chair for three years, when Brickman ’70, and Hannah- with babysitting and traveling, the recently hired executive Beth Jackson. Molly Hoffstetter with Hungary, Austria, and
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Switzerland being our latest on the Tubac Fire board. Our six I am relearning to exercise my destinations. Although our children are spread across the freedom and have control over daughter and the twins live near U.S., and one lives in London. minutiae (such as not having us, we must venture to Brooklyn Diana Lee Crew (Denver) I’m to follow a school bell schedule, to see our son and his family. loving retirement—no day is which limited use of the Beth Culp Johnson and Joan the same, nor do I have a plan. restroom) as well as the entirety Isaacs visited here last spring. I enjoyed a great Scripps tea of my life. I am revitalized and in Denver at the Brown Palace again feel the enthusiasm that and loved learning about Career something exciting will happen 1977 Planning & Resources! Jackie as soon as I decide. One event Spaulding McCoy (Pasadena, already on my agenda is Camp Maria Aguilar (Las Cruces, New California) After 39 and a half Scripps 2019! Cynthia Winter Mexico) My life has been busy years at various positions with (Chicago) The architecture and since I retired in May after 18 Pacific Telephone, PacBell, SBC, design business I established years as an Adult Protective and now back to AT&T, I retired in Chicago in 1992 continues Services social worker. Retiring on January 2. I won’t miss the to thrive, and I’ve expanded before age 65 has been a learning work (“Really, managing budgets, my project work to Santa Fe, experience for me, as I am not Jac? Remember: you went to where I also have a home. Dottie a numbers person, but I think Scripps because there was no Schlesser Ashley in Bend, Oregon, I’m almost to having a budget math requirement!”), but there is a favorite client—I continue that I can live with and enjoy. are numerous folks I will miss. In to provide design for her ranch After lots of paperwork and addition to retiring, my husband, property. I’ve also begun to make some retirement celebrations, I Perry, and I will be moving to art again, and my paintings have moved to New Mexico, where Olympia, Washington. We been exhibited in Chicago and I’m taking care of my dad. I am bought a house there and are Santa Fe. adjusting to living with him— looking forward to exploring a as opposed to just visiting him. whole new part of the country. He loves that I am here, but he My son, Alex, will remain in 1979 has forgotten the independence Los Angeles. I grew up in New I nurtured while at Scripps. He York, so the cold and rain sound Ginger Payne Keller (Portland, is more stubborn than ever and more revitalizing than daunting Oregon) I have four kids, and the fights me on things, like going to to me. Perry is obsessing over fourth wedding was this summer medical appointments. I have to new plants to play with. And in North Carolina. pick my battles, but I like a good there’s still Camp Scripps on the fight. Folks here seem to have lots horizon! Big shout-out to Lynne of tattoos, young and old alike, Thompson ’72—congratulations! 1980 and many drivers here wouldn’t Gina Nessel (Irvine, California) make it on California freeways. On June 1, I retired as an Bridget Anderson Latka (San Cris Beck Algeo (Tucson) I read education specialist in the Santa Anselmo, California) I’ve recently the Ellen Browning Scripps book Ana Unified School District. had some wonderful celebrations. by Molly McClain. It’s fabulous; What I’m feeling now is similar My daughter was married on every Scrippsie should read it. to what I sensed during the May 5, 2018, graduated from the She was a remarkable lady who summer of 1973, after graduating University of California, San brought us all together. I never from high school and anticipating Francisco, medical school on realized how much of Scripps she beginning Scripps in September. May 16, and started her pediatric was—I always gave the credit These feelings were a mixture residency there on June 13. I to her brothers and uncles. We of relief and pride that I had turned 60 on June 27. I would really should celebrate her more. earned a diploma with honors love to connect with Bay Area Katherine Spring Clancy (Tubac, and had been accepted to the alumnae. Julie Wright Powell Arizona) Bob and I continue to college of my choice, along with (Allen, Texas) I published One enjoy Tubac. Bob is on the board the excitement that the future (Wo)Man, One Vote, A History of the Tubac Presidio and I am was mine to discover. Currently, of the Fight for Voting Rights in
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America in October 2018. In the 1995 assessment, and research on book, I tell the story of what it teaching and learning. I earned took for women and minorities to Poonam Sharma (Los Angeles) my PhD in education in June 2018 be able to vote and the historical My architecture practice, LOC from the University of California, effort to limit and suppress their Architects, was profiled in the Irvine. Sarah Einowski Villanueva voices that continues today. Visit international online journal (Portland, Oregon) I am an attorney my website, juliepowell.org, for Archinect. at the firm Tonkon Torp and on more. the board of the Oregon League of Minority Voters, a nonprofit 2005 working to advance minority 1987 voters’ rights within the electoral Amanda Batarseh (Sacramento, process. Its programs are focused Kristi Johnson (Seattle) I want California) I am a Chancellor’s on education, empowerment, and to encourage Scripps women to Postdoctoral Fellow at the bringing a voice to the issues that engage in democracy and vote! University of California, Riverside, are unique to communities of color. Blake Kessel-Susick (Arlington in the Department of Comparative Heights, Illinois) Shout-out to the Literature. I was awarded my PhD Toll Hall students who started in comparative literature from the in 1983/84! Scripps women will University of California, Davis, in help lead us out of this mess! 2018. My dissertation was titled Julie Richards Friedberg (Arcadia, “Beyond the Novel: Palestinian California) After completing my Narrative in the Post-Oslo Era.” PhD in education at the University Brandy Jenner (Los Angeles) I am of Southern California in 2007, I a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. began my private practice as an Army War College in the Office of educational therapist, which I Educational Methodology, where thoroughly enjoy! I assist faculty development,
Left: Diana Ho ’71 at a gathering with classmates Carol Otis, Vicki Wilhelm Plavchak, Rebecca Sparks, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Jennifer Schweitzer Brickman ’70, and Alex Wilhelm Hendricks ’80 (Vicki’s sister). Below: Julie Wright Powell ’80; and Cynthia Winter ’77.
45 WINTER 2019 ManuScripps
Natasha Chapro Josefowitz ’48 Edith Pattou ’75 Julie Wright Powell ’80 and Irwin Zahn West One (Wo)Man, One He Writes/She In this thrilling tale of danger, Vote: A History of Writes: A Dialogue magic, adventure, and revenge, the sequel to East, protagonist the Fight for Voting of Contrasting Views Rose sets off on a perilous journey to find her true love Rights in America Written in Verse when he goes missing. Powell’s narrative shows that A businessman and his female Published by HMH Books for Young safeguarding the right of every consultant write poetry to each Readers, October 23, 2018. citizen to cast a ballot is an other, entering into a dialogue ongoing struggle, but one that about their contrasting views must continue in order to protect of life. our democracy and progress Published by CreateSpace Independent toward a government that is truly Publishing Platform, November 1, 2017. representative of all its citizens. Published through BookBaby.com, 2018.
Molli Osburn ’04 Beyond Math Anxiety: 99 Insights (and a Calculation’s Not One!) Math is daunting for many—bringing up feelings such as anxiety or shame. In her helpful guide to getting more comfortable with calculations, Molli the Math Lady shares some effective techniques and tools. Published by Molli the Math Lady, September 27, 2018.
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FROM THE SCRIPPS PARENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS Michele-Anne and H. Mac Riley P’18
Each fall at Scripps, during New Student Orientation, incoming students are encouraged to “try something new!” This might mean participating in a club or organization, taking on a leadership role, or signing up for a class covering a daunting subject. As parents, it is rewarding to witness our children’s growth as they embrace new opportunities and discover the passions, purpose, and confidence that the Scripps experience brings. It’s so rewarding, in fact, that as Scripps parents we often say, in jest, “We wish we could enroll at Scripps ourselves!”
While enrolling at Scripps may not be possible, we have joyfully discovered that by connecting with the Scripps community, our lives have been enhanced. As 2019 begins, we encourage you to take a cue from striving Scripps students and consider how you might try something new and get involved with the College. Family involvement takes many forms, but all of it serves to strengthen the experiences of our students and the power of the Scripps network.
Care-package gatherings are an emerging tradition, bringing families together to offer a touch of cheer to students during Finals Week. In December, we had the pleasure of hosting members of the Scripps community to create small gifts for students from the greater Washington, D.C., area. We love the idea of expanding this tradition to other parts of the country—perhaps you would like to host one in your region this spring! Families have also helped to hire Scripps students and alumnae and offered career advice to those interested in their field of work. These conversations can be life changing, opening doors to unique opportunities. The way in which the greatest number of Scripps families support the College is by making a gift to The Parent Fund. This year, we named our first-ever Parent Fund Scholar, harnessing the generosity of our network of families to make a Scripps education possible for a current student.
The Office of Parent Engagement and Philanthropy can be a useful resource to help you discover new ways you might get involved. Join us and try something new this year—you might be surprised by how a small gesture can have a lasting impact.
With warmest regards,
MICHELE-ANNE AND H. MAC RILEY P’18
47 WINTER 2019 Remembrances
THE COLLEGE HAS LEARNED OF THE PASSING OF THE FOLLOWING ALUMNAE AND SCRIPPS FAMILY MEMBERS.
Clockwise from top left: Shirley Jean von Kleinsmid Novo ’55, Jean Tarr Fleming ’48, Ethlyn “Dickey” Rowan ’39, Patricia Stanley Lang ’49, Helen “Lal” Sick Minton ’41, Valerie Thom Read ’57, and Deborah Warner ’75
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1939 1941 She lost her daughter, Taffy, and was devastated. She married Ethlyn “Dickey” Rowan, of West Helen “Lal” Sick Minton, of for a third time, briefly, while Hills, California, on June 5, 2018. Concord, Massachusetts, on continuing her career and raising Dickey was raised in Long Beach, September 21, 2018. Born in her youngest children. In 1989, California, and enrolled at Scripps Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Lal Kit sold her home in Laguna when she was just 15 years old. moved to Seattle with her family Beach and bought a home and She doubled majored in art and in 1933, where her father opened investment properties in Bend. music and math and science, the Rainier Brewing Company, Kit was happily single there for finishing her degree requirements owned the Seattle Rainiers, and many years (with trips to Maui), in only three years. Professor of built Sick’s Stadium. She lived able to live independently until Art Millard Sheets was Dickey’s in Concord for more than 50 90. Kit is survived by her five mentor, and she spent her years, with stints abroad in Paris children, eight grandchildren, senior year working with him and Munich with her beloved and six great-grandchildren. on one of his murals for the San husband, Robert W. Minton. Lal Francisco World’s Fair. She also married Robert in 1942, began a contributed her class’s mural on family in 1943, and moved east 1948 Graffiti Wall, and she designed after World War II. She held a one of the mosaics that is still PhD in French literature from Jean Tarr Fleming, of Pasadena, in place in Seal Court. Following Boston University, attended the California, on August 16, 2018. graduation, Dickey spent a Annie Wright Seminary, Scripps, Jean majored in American year at Claremont Graduate and Columbia University, taught history at Scripps and went School obtaining her teaching French for many years, and was on to earn her master’s degree credential. Rather than becoming fluent in five languages. Lal is in human development at a teacher, though, she was hired survived by her two children, Pacific Oaks College. She was by Bullock’s Department Store three grandchildren, and four a lifelong advocate for quality in Los Angeles to execute murals great-grandchildren. early childhood education. She designed by Tony Duquette. Upon served on the Board of Trustees completion of the work, she of Pacific Oaks College, and in opened her own business as a 1944 1963 she helped to organize a mural designer, and her clientele group of women who transported grew to include major department Kathryn “Kit” Mather Dailey, of mothers and children to Families stores across the country as well Bend, Oregon, on November 4, Forward Learning Center as Paramount Pictures, Standard 2018. Kit was born in Santa Ana, (formerly Mother’s Club). Jean Oil, and the City of Los Angeles. California. After graduating was an active member of the She retired in 1987 and took from Scripps, she worked for the League of Women Voters and fine arts classes at California United States Department of the also a member of All Saints, Art Institute, transitioning Navy in Honolulu during World Pasadena. She was a strong, to a profession as a portrait War II, where she met Keith involved advocate of social artist. In 1995, Dickey helped Michelsen. They were married justice throughout her life. found the art school Associates in 1946 and lived in Manila, Jean was predeceased by her in Art in Sherman Oaks, Philippines, followed by Newport husband, Louis B. Fleming, and California, which opened with Beach, California, for 20 years is survived by her four children, an enrollment of approximately while raising six children. After 11 grandchildren, and eight 200 students. She was also an their divorce, Kit was married a great-grandchildren. active Scripps alumna during second time to a widower with her life, serving as president of four children, but the marriage the Alumnae Association from did not last. Kit then started 1949 1948 to 1950. Dickey is survived work at a local newspaper in by four grandchildren and eight corporate communications and Patricia Stanley Lang, of Diamond great-grandchildren. as a freelance writer and teacher. Head, Hawaii, on September
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11, 2018. Pat was born in tennis and golf, and continued to in the region’s culture, cuisine, Honolulu, but when the U.S. swim until just before her death. and art (and wine) while living became involved in World War Pat envisioned a path for her life in a 300-year-old château on II, her father sent his wife and and followed it happily. She is an estate in Provence. Their children to the mainland while survived by her brother. wanderlust gradually began to he stayed behind. She crossed fade, and the couple returned to the Pacific on the SS Lurline, the United States, making their newly requisitioned for use in 1950 home in Las Vegas. Wishing to the war effort, experiencing remain relevant and engaged, lockdowns, blackouts, and battle Clara Galloway Bradfute, of Tega Clara put her knowledge and love drills during the five-day trip. Cay, South Carolina, on October of art to use by volunteering as a The family went to Boulder, 31, 2018. Clara graduated from docent at the Las Vegas Museum Colorado, then to Palo Alto, Scripps with a BA in English of Modern Art. She was active in California, where Pat graduated literature. During her senior many chapters of the American from Castilleja High School. year, she was elected student Association of University Women She attended Scripps, coming body president, and the bonds and belonged to numerous book home for the holidays on the that she formed with many of clubs in the various cities in Lurline on the “college cruise” her classmates would follow which she lived. Clara’s greatest with all her Hawaii friends her throughout her life. Clara passion was cooking, and John who were also attending school married John O. Bradfute in 1950. was known to have told many a on the mainland. She studied The couple had four children, and guest in their home that in spite interior design in New York Clara flourished as a wife and of having dined at some of the before marrying Howard Lang, a mother, tending to her children, finest restaurants in the world, former Hollywood director and doting on her husband, and the best meals he ever had were a Honolulu businessman. They savoring the contentment that the ones prepared by Clara in her built a home in Kahala with came with typical suburban own kitchen. Clara was preceded the architect Albert Ives, and life in postwar America. John’s in death by her husband and is Pat contributed many ideas for career was just beginning, and survived by her four children and the home’s design, as well as that meant frequently having three grandchildren. directed the interior decoration to relocate. Clara cheerfully and garden plan. Pat and followed, shepherding the Howard traveled frequently children and dutifully setting 1952 and had a happy life together. up household wherever John’s Eventually, Pat sold her Kahala job took them, including a two- Joan Tavernetti Ward, of home and moved to a retirement year stint in Germany in the Pasadena, California, on October community in Carlsbad, early 1960s. Upon their return 13, 2018. Joan was married for 60 California, but she missed the from Europe, the family settled years to Ken Ward (CMC ’52), islands and soon moved back to in Loomis, California. As her who died in 2011. Their daughter, Hawaii. She was a sustaining primary role of homemaker Joanne Ward Turner, graduated member and benefactor of the came to an end, Clara enrolled from Scripps in 1976. Honolulu Academy of Arts and in several business courses, a member of the Garden Club brushed up on her clerical skills, of Hawaii, the Garden Club of and entered the workforce as 1955 America, the Diamond Head an administrative assistant Theatre, and the Outrigger and office manager. In 1997, she Shirley Jean von Kleinsmid Novo, Canoe Club. She had a fine eye and John retired to the South of Haverford, Pennsylvania, on for beauty, loved plants and was of France, where they spent August 26, 2018. Shirley was adept at growing them, played the next two years immersed the second of four generations
50 REMEMBRANCESALUMNI NEWS
of Scripps alumnae; her mother, (under Molly Mason Jones) and Her volunteerism and sense of Hildreth von Kleinsmid, minored in art at Scripps. She civic duty established her as graduated with the Class of also pursued acting, was social a quiet yet respected force for 1933; daughter Laurie Novo chairman of Grace Scripps public good in her community. is a member of the Class of Hall, and worked as a campus Valerie is survived by her two 1981; and granddaughter Mary representative for Bullock’s children and three grandchildren. Chawaga belongs to the Class Department Store in Pasadena. of 2017. After graduating from She received her California Scripps, Shirley worked as an State Teacher’s Credential from 1959 editor in New York at Prentice Claremont Graduate University Hall and in San Francisco, and taught kindergarten for Karen Allen Parry, of Fallbrook, where she met Ricardo “Dick” the better part of 10 years in California, on August 23, 2018. Novo of Buenos Aires. They Ontario, Orinda, and Pasadena. Karen attended Scripps and the married in 1958 and raised She married Lawrence Rogers University of California, Santa their family in Buenos Aires, Read (CMC ’57) in 1960, and the Barbara, where she graduated Athens, and Madrid before couple raised two children while with a bachelor’s degree in settling in Haverford. Ingenious, enjoying traveling together and sociology. While at Scripps, she friendly, curious, and kind, expanding their collection of met her future husband, Walt Shirley embraced expatriate California plein air paintings Parry; the couple were married life. Wherever she found herself, and Asian art. Yoga was one in 1957 and raised three children. she joined a book club and the of Valerie’s great passions. She Karen loved reading, travel, and local Association of University began teaching yoga in the family gatherings, and she had Women. She quickly became 1980s, and she traveled to India a great love of people and of expert in her interests, which numerous times to study at the Christ. She was an elder in the included editing publications of Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune. Presbyterian Church and very all kinds, quilting, Shakespeare Many Scripps alumnae knew active in her parish, participating (Hamlet above all), computers Valerie as the yoga instructor in the Women’s Association, (always Apples), architecture that taught at Camp Scripps initiating the first women’s and design, opera, travel, every summer for over a decade. retreat, and leading the Worship dragons, and genealogy. She She was deeply connected to the and Building and Grounds embraced her children’s adult Scripps community, opening her Committees. She and Walt also lives with enthusiasm, and home in San Clemente countless started the Mariners, a second her grandchildren reveled in times for alumnae events and to adult Sunday school class, and her quick wit and up-to-date help plan alumnae activities in hosted dinner fellowship groups engagement with the world. Orange County. Known by her and an annual community Shirley’s husband predeceased classmates as the class historian, senior citizens brunch. Karen her in 2015; she is survived she served as a class volunteer served on the Salvation Army by her four children and eight for her 50th reunion and was Disaster Team in Oklahoma grandchildren. the recipient of the Alumnae after a tornado and in New York Volunteer of the Year award in City after the 9/11 attack. For 2011. Valerie was also an active several years, she was a medical 1957 and dedicated volunteer with the assistant to two physicians and Pasadena Symphony Orchestra, the Indian education coordinator Valerie Thom Read, of Capistrano the Pasadena Art Museum, the at the local high school. Her love Beach, California, on November Pasadena Museum of Modern Art of books made her a good fit as 2, 2018. Born and raised in (now the Norton Simon Museum), a technician at the Fallbrook Pasadena, California, Valerie the Pasadena Art Alliance, her Library. She supported many majored in child psychology children’s schools, and Westridge. causes that she believed in,
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including volunteering for the Republic of Congo, where, in 1984 Angel Society and the Fallbrook an effort to access restricted Hospital Auxiliary. Her kinds of knowledge, Mary, in Loralyn Ledwell Cropper, of admirable traits were endless— consultation with a female Wilton, New York, on October she was loving, caring, gracious, diviner, underwent a rigorous 13, 2018. Loralyn earned her generous, resourceful, grateful, Luba initiation. Mary’s second bachelor’s degree in women’s gentle, dependable, and genuine. exhibition, “Memory: Luba Art studies with a concentration Karen is survived by her three and the Making of History,” a in modern dance from Scripps children and four grandchildren. collaboration with her husband, before striking out on her followed in 1994. It was one of a own on the Lower East Side of series of shows produced over the Manhattan, where she pursued 1975 next decade at the museum that a career in dance. She had some altered standard institutional success, performing at the New Deborah Warner, of Durham, North presentations of African art by York Civic Center and PS 124, but Carolina, on September 10, 2018. acknowledging its spiritually, after several years of struggle socially, and physically she decided to enroll in business interactive character. In 1999, school. Loralyn graduated from 1981 Mary was appointed chief curator Columbia Business School in of the Fowler Museum at UCLA, 1992 with an MBA and worked Mary Nooter Roberts, of Los and in 2001 she assumed the role as a marketing executive for Angeles, on September 11, 2018. of deputy director. In 2003, she various cosmetics companies, Mary was a scholar of African and her husband organized the including Avon, Estée Lauder, art who helped change the way Fowler exhibition “A Saint in the and L’Oréal. While raising her non-Western art is presented in City: Sufi Arts of Urban Senegal,” children, Loralyn took a break Western museums. Her father which focused on the Mouride from the corporate life to work was a member of the Foreign movement devoted to the Sufi as a community counselor for Service and her mother was an saint Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba. Au Pair in America. In 2011, she anthropologist, and as a child Mary asked the museum’s embarked on yet another career Mary lived in Uruguay and security staff to permit devotees change, finding her passion in Liberia. At Scripps, she majored visiting the exhibition to touch fundraising. Loralyn began by in philosophy and French the portraits of Bamba, as raising money for Riverdale literature before enrolling at physical contact is an essential Country Day School and City Columbia University, where she part of Mouride religious practice. College of New York, but she received her PhD in art history in In 2008, she left the Fowler to really hit her stride working for 1991. There, Mary met her future take up full-time teaching at the U.S. Coast Guard Foundation, husband, Allen F. Roberts, now UCLA, but she continued to soliciting donations for facility a professor in the World Arts organize exhibitions at other improvements and scholarships and Cultures/Dance department institutions, among them the for the children of Coast Guard at UCLA. She also met curator National Museum of African Art employees. She was a natural- Susan Vogel, who founded the in Washington, D.C. In 2011, she born fundraiser, and the secret Center for African Art in New was made a consulting curator at to her success was that she loved York, hiring Mary as her first the Los Angeles County Museum people. Loralyn is survived by staff member. When the center of Art, where she established her husband of 22 years, Patrick was renamed the Museum the museum’s first gallery Cropper, and her two children. for African Art in 1993, Mary for African art. Her work in organized its first exhibition, Francophone West Africa led to “Secrecy: African Art That her being decorated as a Knight Conceals and Reveals.” The show of the Order of Arts and Letters was the product of two years by the French government. Mary of doctoral research among the is survived by her husband, three Luba peoples of the Democratic children, and two grandchildren.
52 REMEMBRANCESALUMNI NEWS
1995 on sustainable farming practices. She was also active in the Farm Debra “Debby” Dell Zygielbaum, Bureau’s political and community of Boyes Hot Springs, California, education endeavors. Debby is on November 8, 2018. Debby survived by her wife. was raised in Southern California, and her self- professed lifelong fascination 2004 with “creeping, crawling, flying, walking, running, and rooting Chelsea Marie Fox, of Nevada things” inspired her to pursue City, California, on September a career as a conservationist. 3, 2018. Chelsea was admitted to She majored in biology and Scripps as “the firefighter from women’s studies at Scripps, Rough and Ready, California.” spending a semester abroad in She was a fire cadet, fire the Australian rainforest. After fighter, and EMT with Nevada graduating, she worked in the County Consolidated. She later verdant jungles of Costa Rica, transitioned to Cal Fire as a where she saw shade-grown communications operator and 911 coffee, banana, and pineapple operator for Nevada, Yuba, and plantations and witnessed the Placer Counties. She found her beginnings of the global organic calling in this profession. She movement. In 2000, Debby helped people in their darkest married Kerrigan Valentine, and hours as the calm voice on the the couple made their home in other end of the phone. This Sonoma, California. Kerrigan brought her a deep satisfaction. is the author of many science- Chelsea was a chicken whisperer, fiction and fantasy novels, and a cat herder, and an amazing Debby partnered with her in baker, following Thomas Keller their creation and publication. In recipes to the gram. She made 2001, Debby discovered organic quilts as well as apothecary oils and biodynamic viticulture, and salves. She is survived by her which seemed a wonderful way husband. to blend her myriad horticulture and management skills. She was hired as a vineyard manager 2017 for Robert Sinskey Vineyards, believing that environmental Lis Ghadar P’17, of Washington, conservation begins with the D.C., on September 24, 2018. food we eat and the wine we Lis was a very engaged member drink. She later transitioned of the Scripps community, to work as a vineyard farm participating in the Parent consultant in Napa and Sonoma Leadership Council and hosting Counties. A vibrant, caring, and several Scripps events in their engaged person, Debby’s passions home, including small dinners, a were horticulture, organic Welcome Reception, and an all- farming, and social justice. She constituent event. was a member of the board of directors at the Napa County Farm Bureau and led the Napa Organic Group, which focuses
53 WINTER 2019 Mark Your Calendar
Visit scrippscollege.edu/events for a full listing of events.
January 26–April 7 Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery 75th Ceramic Annual
This year, the Ceramic Annual, the longest-running exhibition of contemporary ceramics in the nation, turns 75! Curator Kirk Delman has selected works from the College’s renowned Marer Collection for display. ∆
Tuesday, March 5, 7pm Her Own
Devices: Dessa in ∆ Conversation
Hailed by the Utne Reader as a “one-woman powerhouse,” the singer, rapper, and writer Dessa will discuss her recently published memoir. ∆
Tuesday, April 9, 7:30pm Mark Taper Auditorium at the Los Angeles Central Library (Downtown Branch) Rachel Cusk: A Conversation
In a rare Stateside appearance, the U.K.-based novelist visits for a reading and conversation hosted by Scripps at the Los Angeles Public Library’s Central Library location in downtown L.A.
54 ∆
Tuesday, April 16, 7pm Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Samin Nosrat in Conversation
Nosrat, creator of the popular Netflix series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (based on her James Beard Award– winning book of the same title), brings her passion
for food and cooking to campus. ∆
Tuesday, April 23, 7pm Losing Earth: Nathaniel Rich in Conversation
Rich’s latest book, Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change, offers a clear-eyed assessment of how we got to now, and what we can and must do before it’s truly too late.
Friday, May 3–Sunday, May 5 Reunion Weekend
∆ Reconnect with old friends and make new ones at our annual alumnae gathering on the Scripps campus. For more information, visit alumnae.scrippscollege.edu .
55 WINTER 2019
POSTSCRIPPS The Daily Reward
By Nicole D. Carr ’84
An impoverished childhood and being for families and individuals through raised by a single mom were my housing policies aimed at reducing inspiration to not simply do better than the incidence of homelessness. After my parents, but to excel with passion and my HCD appointment, I sought a persistence. The words of my late mentor, different challenge: empowering civil the American folklorist Roger Abrahams, servants and aligning their work with “Use only quality ingredients in life’s departmental missions to create an stew,” became the impetus for me to engaged workforce. In my current role create a life recipe of my own: a dash as a Human Resource Services (HRS) of friends, a pinch of work, and a daily director for the Department of Social sprinkle of applied knowledge from my Services, I achieve this goal by drawing Scripps education. In fact, my education on the analytical skills I developed at has become a primary ingredient in Scripps. With the help of my HRS team, reaching my life’s goals. I have streamlined hiring processes to recruit and retain the talent needed to I vividly recall waving goodbye to my meet the department’s mission to serve mother and boarding a plane for the first and protect needy families. time, knowing that Scripps would be the catalyst for many transformations When I’m not working to strengthen in my life, the most significant being the capacities of public administration, the multiyear investment by Scripps I serve as a staff writer for the faculty to help me, a shy, intelligent International Public Management girl with uneven grades, become the Association, where I am tasked with confident woman who would go on to developing content related to government lead a public service organization. At innovation. In my private life, I write Scripps, I was mentored to develop for pleasure, and my poetry and fiction strong communication, leadership, and have been published and recognized writing skills and inspired to lead my with awards from the Methow Valley’s life with passion and purpose. This led Writing by Writers Society, the to my next transformation: I earned California Poetry Society, and the Lillian a full fellowship to attend a joint New Osborn Memorial Foundation. York University/City University, New York, graduate program to study public I am grateful for my admission to administration, earning my Master of Scripps, as my education enabled me to Public Administration degree. secure a fellowship to graduate school and serve in executive-level positions Later, my leadership and communication to develop policies that help vulnerable skills were immediately put to use populations shape better futures. The when I was appointed assistant deputy skills I acquired at Scripps afforded me director for the California Department of opportunities to find my life’s work as Housing and Community Development a writer and a public servant, which (HCD). At HCD, I was responsible for allows me to enjoy the daily reward of administering grant and loan programs improving the lives of others.
56 TAKE A LOOK BEHIND BEHIND THE SCENES
Behind the Scenes is Scripps College’s yearlong regional events series.
Inspired by the Scripps community’s love of lifelong learning, programs offer unique cultural experiences guided by our expert alumnae, families, and friends.
THURSDAY, MARCH 14 TUESDAY, APRIL 23 SEATTLE WASHINGTON, D.C. The Seattle Art Museum with The National Portrait Gallery Geneva Griswold ’07, Associate with Ann Matteson Shumard ’76, Objects Conservator Senior Curator of Photographs
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, THURSDAY, APRIL 25 CHICAGO NEW YORK The Art Institute of Chicago The Museum of Modern Art with Victoria Sancho Lobis, with Anne Umland P’20, Prince Trust Curator in The Blanchette Hooker the Department of Prints Rockefeller Senior Curator of and Drawings Painting & Sculpture
For more information and to get involved, visit alumnae.scrippscollege.edu . NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID ANAHEIM, CA PERMIT NO. 1351