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UARTERLY Q WHEATONSUMMER 2015 The business of science Course explores balance between “greater good,” profit Page 18 Inside The business of science, the science of business 18 Course explores balance between “greater good,” profit By Lauren Cox Working through winter break 24 Interns explore careers, expand knowledge By Mary Howard ’85 Love of labor 28 Three alums begin careers as OB-GYNs together at hospital By Elizabeth Meyer ’14 Down-to-earth leadership 32 Nancy Pearlstine Conger ’67 takes reins as trustees board chair By Andrew Faught DEPARTMENTS BETWEEN THE LINES SNAP SHOTS 16 Wheaton seen 2 ALUMNAE/I Letter 2 ASSOCIATION NEWS @PRESIDENTHANNO Nick Fradiani ’08 wins “American Idol” 34 The Wheaton Edge 3 Events help establish AROUND THE student-alum DIMPLE 4 relationships 36 Great outcomes for Keeping the network Wheaton graduates 4 strong across the Wheaton in top 10 for miles 37 Fulbrights 5 CLASS NOTES AROUND THE DIMPLE Working for gender A minute with … equity in science, Joshua Gomez 6 technology 51 Watson wins 7 A positive spin 53 AROUND THE DIMPLE Vanessa Finnerty ’06, Semester in Budapest 8 from advertising to Roosevelt Institute wins supporting hospitalized awards 9 children 54 Alumnae/i Relations Office AROUND THE DIMPLE and Alumnae/i Association Extraterrestrial faults 10 host networking Honoring creativity 11 event 56 PANORAMA Alum delivers Uncovering the truth about education, fun at postal bullsh*@ 12 museum 59 Publications, honors and IN MEMORIAM creative works 13 END PAGE FIELD REPORT 50 things to do before you Hall of Fame selects graduate 64 Amber James ’04 14 Team leaders 15 On the cover Photo illustration by Keith Nordstrom Photo by Keith Nordstrom WHEATON QUARTERLY VOL. CIII, NO. 3 Editor Sandy Coleman Staff Writer Becca Manning Art Director Robert Owens Staff Writer Laura Pedulli Designer David Laferriere Administrative Assistant Ellen Cataloni Multimedia Producer Keith Nordstrom Assistant Vice President for Communications Michael Graca The Quarterly (ISSN 1068-1558) is published four times a year (summer, fall, winter and spring) by Wheaton College and printed by Lane Press of Burlington, Vt. Periodicals postage paid at Norton, Mass., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Wheaton College, Norton, MA 02766. Wheaton College © 2015 SUMMER 2015 1 BETWEEN THE LINES BY SANDY COLEMAN, EDITOR Wheaton seen They say that a picture is worth a thousand in ‘Sculpture II’ created words. Nowhere is that more true than at immersive installations Wheaton as you walk the campus on any for their final project,” given day. Before the end of the spring Professor Kelly Goff semester, as I strolled along, the point was explained. “Some were repeatedly proven in random visual narra- site-specific (around tives about how creativity is fostered and en- campus) and others were couraged here; about how highly regarded contained within these our alums, parents and friends are; and temporary booths we about how well-rounded our students are made from theater flats. because of their interdisciplinary liberal arts Charlotte Hall created education at Wheaton. a sort of version of her dorm room, clad inside Just a few examples: and out with refuse that One day an intriguing giant box appeared she personally accumu- outside of the Mars arts building. “What is lated over the last few it?” I asked. It turned out to be an art in- weeks. Passers-by are in- stallation by Charlotte Hall ’17. “Students vited to enter the booth.” KEITH NORDSTROM PHOTOS Another day, I saw a member of the col- visual narratives that help tell the story of lege’s grounds crew on his knees at the base Wheaton: Nick Fradiani ’08 on page 34 with of a tree, a big bucket beside him. What was his hand triumphantly raised in the air as he doing? Painstakingly picking the teeny he wins “American Idol,” proving that you tiny weeds from the mulch around a tree so can major in history and pursue your love that the campus could look perfect for the of music; students, on pages 25 through 27, alums, parents and friends who would be taking advantage of internship opportunities arriving on campus for Commencement. provided through the Filene Center; profes- And, finally, one of the most beautiful sors working together to create and teach random sights this spring: two violinists— an interdisciplinary business and science Kristina Danga ’17 and Ashley Wang ’16— course, which we write about in our cover on the green in front of the library perform- story on page 18; and the highly regarded ing an impromptu concert. Not only are alumna Nancy Conger ’67, giving back to they talented musicians, but they also are her alma mater by helping to successfully neuroscience majors. Well-rounded, indeed. lead it into the future as the new chair of the Like the campus, this issue of the Wheaton Board of Trustees, page 32. Quarterly brings you lots of beautiful Great images. Great stories. Enjoy. Q The Quarterly LETTER welcomes letters to the editor on The spring Quarterly featured an image of Wheaton and for her receiving a scholarship. Giovinella Gonthier ’72 (1949–2012) on the Giovinella never forgot. topics you’ve inside back cover in the gift planning promo, And I will never forget her. In her magazine read in these with a quote from her husband, Roger Wilson. photo, she is gorgeous in her yellow dress—my pages or on other Giovinella was a former ambassador of the favorite color. I am naming the yellow flowers in topics concerning Republic of the Seychelles to the United Nations my garden after her. the Wheaton and to the U.S. —Margaret “Peggy” McCarthy ’64, P’00 I knew her only from a distance and returned community. each time to Wheaton when she was scheduled Email us: to speak. I remember her at the Kollet Center [email protected] interacting with the students. At one of these Correction events, she spoke extensively about her journey We got our royalty mixed up. In the spring issue of Or send letters to: to Wheaton from Africa. (She was from Tanzania.) the Quarterly Martha Knight Koehler ’59 was identi- Sandy Coleman, editor, Wheaton Quarterly At the conclusion of her talk, Giovinella intro- fied as the May Queen in a 1957 May Day photo. Wheaton College, 26 E. Main St., Norton, MA 02766 duced the woman from the admission office who However, the queen that year in the photo was her had been instrumental in her acceptance into classmate—and cousin—Betsy Atwood Nelson ’59. 2 WHEATON QUARTERLY WheatonCollege @wheaton @PRESIDENTHANNO BY DENNIS HANNO, PRESIDENT The Wheaton Edge Wheaton students do college offers an amazing array of options. amazing things. Consider Really, our programs provide the breadth and depth of opportunities of a university, just a few examples: within the setting of a small liberal arts Alyssa Reed ’16, a sociology major and college. And because of our size, the col- community health minor from Montpelier, lege offers personalized support for each Vt., is interning with the Vermont Refugee student from faculty and staff. In addi- Resettlement Program, providing administra- tion, the Wheaton community encourages tive support, producing their newsletter and experimentation. We encourage students to working directly with clients. She is a recipi- push the boundaries, to be entrepreneurial ent of the Weil Fellowship, a stipend within leaders—to explore, launch independent the Wheaton Fellowship program. projects and businesses and shape their Karl Rivera ’16, a visual sociology major education to satisfy their interests and plans. from New York, N.Y., is building on research When you put it all together, you get an that he conducted last summer on a Mellon extremely powerful educational experience. Research Grant by returning to Ahmedabad, I call it the Wheaton Edge. India, to conduct a visual ethnographic The academic rigor, the breadth of study of a textile mill “slum.” He is traveling programs, the personal support from The challenge is to ensure that every with support as a Davis International Fellow. faculty and staff and the entrepreneurial student has the opportunity. Throughout Isabel Gorham ’16, a mathematics major environment are here for the benefit of the past year, the idea of guaranteeing the and physics minor from Durham, N.H., is every student. The final ingredient—the chance for that experience came up repeat- gathering data on climate change and analyz- opportunity for experiential learning—is edly during conversations with alumnae ing its impact on farmers, ranchers and forest harder to guarantee. Wheaton does a great and alumni, faculty and staff, students and landowners in the northeast with the U.S. job in making it possible for the majority of parents. That’s why we decided to act im- Department of Agriculture. She is a recipi- students to learn from real-world experi- mediately for the benefit of our students and ent of the K.C. Whalen Fellowship, a stipend ence. The college invests nearly $1 million for the strength of the college. within the Wheaton Fellowship program. in funding each year to support internships, Starting with this year’s incoming stu- There are so many more examples of stu- thanks to the generosity of alumnae/i, par- dents, the Class of 2019, the college will dents engaged in exciting learning opportu- ents and friends. guarantee that every student has the op- nities that make the world portunity to participate in a better place. Experiential an internship, research or learning is central to a other experiential learn- Wheaton education, and ing project. To ensure it has been that way for that this is sustainable will many years. The Filene require a broad commit- Center was founded in ment from the college 1986 to promote experi- community.