ALUMNAE MAGAZINE

Volume 79 Number 1 Winter 2007/2008 Note from the

hen I was a high school student looking at colleges, I was dragged kicking and screaming to look at Sweet Briar. Sweet Briar touted the refrain that women’s colleges offered far more opportunities than coeducational schools did for womenW to become leaders. I was one of those students who matriculated despite the fact, not because it offered single-sex education, and I took the leadership mantra with a grain of salt. After all, I attended a small Catholic high school where everyone seemed to be involved in everything and I could not imagine that women, especially me, needed help with anything. (This was the early 1980s, and I was only 17!) Not until I attended law school did I really begin to recognize what Sweet Briar had given me. Then, as now, College leaders led by example and provided ample opportunities for the studentsalumnae to take a lead somewhere, association somehow. I was involved in presidentall sorts of campus activities as a student and remained involved with Sweet Briar in some capacity since my graduation because I believe so strongly in the Sweet Briar Promise. In my years on the Alumnae Association Board, I have served under the leadership of two fabulous presidents, each of whom I admire for her wisdom, diplomacy, and dedication to our alma mater. I feel privileged Being a leader does not to have been given the opportunity to follow in their footsteps. Although I have served on mean that you have to several boards in my professional and residential communities, Sweet Briar’s Alumnae Board is special to me in the way that Sweet Briar is special to each of us, but for reasons we cannot be in the position at the always articulate. Right now is a particularly exciting time on campus as Ken Huus, the dean of admissions, top rung of the ladder; and his staff helped Sweet Briar enroll her largest class since 1983! Louise Swiecki Zingaro it can be as easy as ’80, executive director of alumnae affairs, and all the ladies in the alumnae office planned our third annual Homecoming Weekend, which was so successful that we had over 1,000 setting an example by participants from the alumnae and campus communities. Of particular interest at Convocation were our Keynote speaker, Prudence Bushnell, former Ambassador to Kenya and Guatemala, the manner in which and our Distinguished Alumna Award recipient, Gay Hart Gaines ’59, both of whom are you do something or worthy role models. As you read on, you will get a glimpse into the lives of several Sweet Briar alumnae who agreeing to accept a are leading the way in their varied career fields. Being a leader does not mean that you have to be in the position at the top rung of the ladder; it can be as easy as setting an example task nobody else will. by the manner in which you do something or agreeing to accept a task nobody else will. Opportunities for leadership present themselves to us each day and throughout our lives. After reading this issue I hope that each of you will be inspired to recognize the opportunities in your lives and to rise to the challenge. I am certain most of you already have. Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine winter 2007/2008 Vol. 79, No. 1 Leadership at Sweet Briar INSIDE FRONT COVER: Note from the Alumnae Association President 2 Homecoming 2007 4 the Pink and Green Team Competition Continues! 5 Scholarship Recipients Express Gratitude 6 gay Hart Gaines ’59 Receives the 2007 Distinguished Alumna Award 8 wanted: Women Leaders for the 21st Century contents 10 Bee and Bradley Thayer Inducted into the Keystone Society 11 life at Tusculum during the Nineteenth Century 13 Cardboard Boat Regatta 14 Homecoming Horse Show Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine Policy Face-to-Face Homecoming Event tops Facebook Web site One of the objectives of the magazine is to present interesting, thought-provoking material. 15 Homecoming Sports Feed Publication of material does not indicate endorsement of the author’s viewpoint by the 16 athletics Hall of Fame magazine, the Alumnae Association, or Sweet Briar College. The Sweet Briar Alumnae 18 Samantha Brodlieb Platner ’98: From Pink Bubble to Big Apple Magazine reserves the right to edit and, when necessary, revise all material that it accepts for 20 Katherine Polevitzky ’93: The Story of a Sweet Briar Marine publication. Contact us any time!

Boxwood Alumnae House, Box E, Sweet Briar, VA 21 Frances G. Laserson ’70: First President of The Moody’s Foundation 24595; (434) 381-6131; FAX 434-381-6132; E-Mail: 1) (Office) [email protected]; 22 nicole File ’95: Senior Editor for CNN 2) (Magazine) [email protected] 23 nicole Streeter ’94: A Director at Heart Alumnae Association Web site address: www.alumnae.sbc.edu 24 Cathy Packard ’73: Serving Her Community Sweet Briar Web site address: www.sbc.edu 25 SBC Development VP Wins ATHENA Award The Alumnae Office Staff www.sbc.edu/alumnae/staff 26 Sweet Briar College: Leadership Certificate Program Louise Swiecki Zingaro ’80 Executive Director of Alumnae Affairs; 28 leadership at Sweet Briar Today Managing Editor, Alumnae Magazine Melissa Coffey ’98 30 excerpt from “Learning Leadership Discipline by Discipline: Cultivating Metaphors for Leadership Associate Director; Tour Coordinator; through the Study of the Liberal Arts” Advisory Councils Melissa Gentry Witherow ’80 teaching Leadership through Outdoor Adventure Associate Director; Homecoming Coordinator; Advisory 31 leading through Philanthropy Councils Colleen Karaffa Murray ’06 33 transitions Assistant Director; Reunion Program; Editor, Alumnae Magazine nancy Douthat Goss ’55 Bonnie Seitz ’01 Assistant Director; 34 Bulletin Board Alumnae Computer Services Nancy Kleinhans ’06 35 in Memoriam Assistant Director; Reunion Program; AAR Program 36 Recent Deaths Donna Dodd Assistant to the Executive Director 37 Class Notes

Sweet Briar Alumnae Magazine Production INSIDE BACK COVER: “In the Sweet Briar Tradition” Graphic design by The Design Group, Lynchburg, VA. Cover: Laura Jett ’11 at the Founders’ Day Ceremony. Major: Mathematics. Minors: Statistics and Business Management Printed by Seckman Printing, Forest, VA. Photo © Aaron Mahler

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 1 MISSY GENTRY WITHEROW ’80 A SSO CIATE DIRE CTOR , ALUMNAE ASS OCIATION 2007 I am reminded each year during Homecoming Weekend, that as a community, we continue to weave relationships while bonding to a common experience, born long ago by the school’s founders. This is the Sweet Briar College experience and it is our Homecoming Weekend experience. Now in its third year, Homecoming 2007 celebrated with more than 1,000 registered participants including students, alumnae, faculty and staff, and friends of the College. Final registration counts included 195 alumnae, 122 faculty and staff, 471 students, and 305 guests. Alongside the many social, athletic, and academic events shared with students, faculty and staff, the weekend opened with a panel discussion led by the College’s senior staff on the Sweet Briar of today. “It was great to see the camaraderie and sense of team among the senior administrative staff. As usual, it was too short. It is always nice to learn about the College’s new initiatives,” commented an alumna returning with classmates to plan for their 35th reunion. Throughout the weekend, updates, training, and annual meetings were offered by the Alumnae Association Board, Annual Fund, Visiting Committee

Photo © Photo on the Riding Program, Friends of Athletics Steering Committee, and Advisory Councils. A

aron aron Advisory Councils, now in their third year, are comprised M

ahler of alumnae, faculty and staff, Homecoming2 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu parents, and friends of the College. As one of the guarantees outlined in the Sweet Briar Promise, Advisory Councils offer students advising beyond the traditional academic borders. A young alumna who serves as an Advisory Council member responded, “This meeting was excellent. I hope more alumnae will attend in the future. It was good to hear from all appropriate faculty and student majors

Photo © Photo and minors. I look forward to becoming more involved.” Once

A a year, these off-campus advisors aron aron meet with students to share

M career experiences, participate ahler in one-on-one meetings, and hear student presentations on Members of the Class of 1958 met during Homecoming to plan for their 50th Reunion in May 2008. recent internships and research opportunities. Faculty also share department updates. Currently, there are five disciplines with advisory councils including: business; classics, philosophy and religion; English and creative writing; modern languages; and psychology. There are a number of ways to engage in the life of the College, and we hope you will consider attending Homecoming 2008 if you have not visited campus recently. You will leave with renewed knowledge and interest, Photo © Photo © Photo knowing that Sweet Briar continues to shape and fulfill

A A the goals and aspirations of its aron aron aron students. M M Next year’s Homecoming ahler ahler Weekend will be held on September 25–28, 2008. Mary Frances Ballard ’49 announces the winners of Seniors place flowers on Daisy’s grave at the the Cardboard Boat Regatta during Saturday night’s Founders’ Day Memorial Ceremony. Cocktails and Dinner. Photo © Photo

Laura Glover ’86 opens the A

aron aron Gold Star Reunion Giving Panel for questions and discussion.

M Reunion Giving Chairs offered ahler wonderful tips about keeping the classes connected to each other and to Sweet Briar.

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 3 HOMECOMING

In late summer, members of the Classes Association counts on you and the students The of 2011 and 2009 came in droves, clad to keep the spirit alive! in greens of all sorts, to the Farm House The competition is always close; challenged by the Classes of 2010 and however, the Green Team was victorious 2008 who were dressed thoroughly in pink. this year! The Class of 2011, the largest The gathering on a balmy August evening class to enter Sweet Briar College since Competition ignited the friendly competition for the third 1983, attended events throughout the year in Sweet Briar history. This end-of- weekend with good cheer and clothed Continues! summer fling was the perfect chance for the in their greens. The Pink Team remains teams to come together and relax before the a force, but the large and enthusiastic Itrue competition began during Homecoming incoming class tipped the scales for the odd Weekend 2007. year classes. More than 88% of the first year During Homecoming, alumnae and class registered for Homecoming Weekend. students attend events donning their color, The annual victory party honored the and the class years with the most color Green Team (First Years and Juniors, Classes Girls Just support win a victory party at the Farm of 2011 and 2009) this year on Tuesday, House, home of Louise Swiecki Zingaro December 4, 2007 at the Farm House. ’80, executive director of alumnae affairs. As plans for next year’s Homecoming Wanna Have Class years ending in an even number flaunt are already underway, both students and Pink & Green their “pinkest” outfit, while those with alumnae know the competition continues! Fun! odd years sport their greens. The Alumnae

SBC Homecoming 2007 Green Team Photo © Photo A aron aron M ahler

Alumnae and students enjoy the Saturday picnic before the boat race. 4 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu HOMECOMING Scholarship Recipients Express Gratitude SHEILA ALEXANDER, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Students shared remarks and thanks with

ahler alumnae for their generous support at the

M Silver Rose Society and Williams Associates Luncheon. aron

A L-R: Kristin Barnes ’08, Tania Salas-Platt ’11, Kate Lydin ’09, Erin Rogers ’08, Anne Lojek ’08, Kathryn Brock ’09, Katherine "KC" Ellis ’08, and Michelle Sanchez ’08. Photo © fulfill. These students, and all of our students, are learning their vision of philanthropy from all of you, and they have wonderful role models. Their comments will give all of us some insight into how your philanthropy has changed their lives and made their Sweet Briar education possible.” KC Ellis ’08 explained that On Friday of Homecoming Weekend, a

ahler her scholarship special luncheon honored Indiana Fletcher ahler M M allowed her to Williams Associates and Silver Rose Society aron

aron take an internship A members. Williams Associates provide for A in Washington, Sweet Briar in their estate plans, and Silver D.C., one of the Rose Society members have consistently Photo © Photo © most expensive made gifts for 25 years or longer. This year’s internship locations. “With my scholarship, honorees were joined by another group of I was able to afford a semester-long very special guests: donors who generously internship, where I worked at a firm dealing give to scholarships and endowed funds. with humanitarian aid issues for Catholic Nannette McBurney Crowdus ’57, alumnae O Relief Services in addition to working for board and planned giving chair, gave the Congressman Joe Baca. I also volunteered opening remarks to hearty applause. “We with Bethany House for battered women had founders with a dream of making young and children and in Hope’s Kitchen with the women the equals of men in society; early Women’s Dinner program.” Scholarships faculty who believed in women’s education; allow students to accept internships that students who believed in going after what match their goals most closely, even if they they wanted, even if the world wasn’t ready are unpaid. for them. You are in this room today because Each year the cost to educate every Sweet you share those early visions and believe that Briar student grows. We rely on scholarships women’s education knows no bounds!” to help bring the best and brightest to Sweet Michelle Sanchez ’08, a philosophy Briar to realize their dreams, no matter what major and Sweet Spirit, gave the invocation. able to visit Sweet Briar again, but her dreams their financial circumstances. While dessert was served, eight slightly live on through her daughter. nervous students stood to speak about how In her remarks, President Muhlenfeld scholarships help make their dreams come said, “the game isn’t over with the end of true, a theme that surfaced repeatedly. Their the campaign; it is vital that our vision and words were heartfelt, and the audience was our giving continue every year, faithfully, overwhelmed by the sincerity with which they so that new generations of young women spoke. can live out their dreams of success as “… I am incredibly thankful for being educators, scientists, athletes, writers, awarded a scholarship to study at Sweet Briar. mothers, volunteers—whatever their dreams, I have probably never been happier in my our goal is to help them live out those dreams Photo © Photo life than I am now, because I am constantly successfully.” reminded that dreams can be reached every The president’s introduction of the student

day. I wouldn’t have been able to make this A speech portion of the program made clear the aron dream come true without my scholarship.” So value placed on these donors and honorees: spoke Tania Salas-Platt ’11 from Ecuador. Her M “Today you will hear from some of our ahler mother, Deirdre Platt ’83, studied at Sweet students whose dreams you are helping to Briar 20 years ago. Ms. Platt has not been

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 5 Photo © Photo A Recipients of the aron M ahler

The Distinguished Alumna Award, established in 1988, recognizes alumnae who have brought distinction to themselves and to Sweet Briar College through their outstanding accomplishments in a volunteer or professional capacity.

Dorothy Rouse-Bottom ’49 Distinguished Diana Muldaur Dozier ’60 Alumna Karin Lawson ’74 AwardHallam Hurt ’67 Virginia Upchurch Collier ’72 1988 Katherine Upchurch Takvorian ’72 Ann Henderson Bannard ’49 Sadie Gwin Allen Blackburn ’45 1989 Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp ’68 Molly Haskell Sarris ’61 1990 President Muhlenfeld and 2007 Distinguished Alumna Anna Chao Pai ’57 Gay Hart Gaines ’59 1991 Joan Vail Thorne ’51

Beryl Bergquist Farris ’71 1992 Gay Hart Gaines ’59 Receives the Georgene M. Vairo ’72 2007 Distinguished Alumna Award 1993 Katharine Crommelin Milton ’62 INTRODUCTION OF HONOREE AT FOUNDERS’ DAY CONVOCATION 1994 Patricia Traugott Rouse ’48 DELIVERED BY ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT JENNIFER CROSSLAND ’86

1995 Connie Burwell White ’34 1996 It is with great pleasure that I introduce Gay boarding school in the United States in 1951. Joanne Holbrook Patton ’52 Hart Gaines of the Class of 1959, recipient The rest of her family crossed the seas in 1997 Nella Gray Barkley ’55 of the 2007 Distinguished Alumna Award, a 1954. That was the year that Gay began her special honor that recognizes extraordinary “marvelous Sweet Briar experience,” as she 1998 Elizabeth Morton Forsyth ’36* accomplishment within a career field. Gay has calls it. She earned her B.A. in psychology 1999 shown outstanding leadership in the fields of and graduated with honors in 1959. A glowing Anne Litle Poulet ’64 education and politics. We are recognizing May Queen, she was truly one of the shining her today with one of the most esteemed stars in her class. “Beauty Blessed with 2000 Jo Ann Soderquist Kramer ’64 honors the College can bestow because of the Wisdom,” is how she is described forever in 2001 Elizabeth Perkins Prothro ’39 laudable action she has taken regarding her the 1959 yearbook. Although she was also beliefs in bettering our nation. known as the “Queen of Diamonds,” it was 2002 Gay Hart Gaines ’59 Gay was born in Toronto, Canada, and said of Gay that she had a “sparkle on more 2003 lived much of her young life overseas in than just her finger.” Her dedication to the Bombay and Sydney. Independence was field of education and related projects has * 2004 Deceased instilled in her at a young age when she began proved this phrase true time and time again. 62005 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu 2006 2007 HOMECOMING Ever the activist, yet also the lovely Ladies’ Association for a term of three years. lady we remember from her four years at Her mission as regent has been to restore SBC, another quote reads from her senior and preserve George Washington’s estate Keystone Society yearbook: “many men came, but only one for future generations. Since she has been conquered.” Stanley Noyes Gaines won involved with Mount Vernon, the Gay Hart Members Gay’s hand and they were married in 1959. Gaines Distinguished Visiting Fellowship was Together with their four children they lived established as well as the Legacy Theater, also Anonymous in 13 different places throughout the United known as the Gay Hart Gaines Theater. Mildred Lewis Adkins ’29* States. After studying interior design for two In 2002, Gay was elected President of the Ann Ritchey Baruch ’62 years at the University of Minnesota, Gay Palm Beach Republican Club for a two-year Florence Woelfel Elston-Beemer ’21* worked for Robert Lenox Associates and term. The PBRC is one of the oldest clubs in Gordon G. Beemer H ’21* then opened her own company, Gay Hart the nation. Under Gay’s leadership, it became Audrey T. Betts ’45* Gaines, Inc., of which she was president one of the largest. Betty Bean Black ’49* for ten years. Gay was involved with the In 2003, Gay was appointed to the board Ann Young Bloom ’59 educational climate of nearly every city in of Corporation for Public Broadcasting by J. Bruce Bredin* which she lived. She served on the Board of President George W. Bush. In November Octavia M. DuPont Bredin* The Guthrie Theater and American Diabetes 2004 she was confirmed by the United States Catherine Barnett Brown ’49 Association in Minnesota; The Auxiliary Senate for a term of six years. She is currently Walter H. Brown H ’49 Board of The Chicago Art Institute and The vice chairman and, to use her own words, she Ruth Simpson Carrington ’21* Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in Illinois; The is “totally committed to public broadcasting’s Nancy Hancock Coe ’31* McCarter Theater in Princeton; The Juvenile role of providing excellence in learning, not Flora Cameron Crichton ’46 Diabetes Foundation in Palm Beach, Florida; only for children but for Americans of every The Charles A. Dana Foundation The Best Friends Foundation, and the Hudson age.” Gay also said as she was confirmed The Jessie Ball DuPont Foundation Institute in Washington, D.C. She has been to the board of the CPB, “Although we live Charlotte Heuer de Serio ’57 a member of the Madison Council of the in dangerous times, Americans have the Frances Johnson Finley ’37* Library of Congress since 1994. freedom to be risk-taking, creative, and bold.” James D. Finley II Gay is a strong supporter of conservative We recognize her accomplishments today Carol McMurtry Fowler ’57 values and politics. She has upheld her specifically because of this attitude that she The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation convictions not only for herself and her has ascribed to not only in theory, but also in Nancy Hall Green ’64 family, but also in the greater scope of the action. political realm. She has gone out and made a Gay is a member of the Oak and Silver Evelyn Lorraine Haire Greer ’91 difference in the most admirable ways. With Rose Societies at Sweet Briar College. Silver Margaret Bell Hare ’32* unwavering consistency, she has supported Rose Society members are those friends George W. Jackson* Republican candidates for local, state, and of Sweet Briar who have made gifts to the Donna Pearson Josey ’64 national offices. She served as Republican College for 25 years or more. We thank her Helen Murchison Lane ’46 County Committee person in Mercer County, for her continued generous support. Alice F. Laubach ’35* New Jersey, and became the first elected I speak on behalf of all of us when I Richard E. & Eleanor C. Leslie Chairman of the National Review Institute, say that we are honored to share a common Helen Martin ’33* an organization founded by William F. history with Gay. Mary Lee McGinnis McClain ’54 Norma Patteson Mills ’60 Buckley, Jr. and John O’Sullivan “to promote Read Gay’s acceptance speech conservative ideas and causes.” J. Wilson Newman* at: www.sbc.edu/alunmae/awards/ The Perkins-Prothro Foundation In 1993, Congressman Newt Gingrich distinguished.html recruited Mrs. Gaines to be the new © Photo C. Wrede Petersmeyer* Chairman of GOPAC, the Republican Frances Gregg Petersmeyer ’43 Kitty Corbett Powell ’38 Political Action Committee. She held this A position for four years, during which time aron John Lee Pratt* she helped to elect Republican majorities M Charles N. Prothro* ahler in state and local offices across the United Elizabeth Perkins Prothro ’39 States. She played a vital role in helping to Sally Reahard ’30* achieve a Republican majority in the House of Bettie Katherine Arnold Reed ’64 Representatives in 1994. Anne Wilson Rowe ’57 Through her active lifestyle involving Josiah P. Rowe III family and friends, politics and other Bradley R. & Mildred “Bee” Newman volunteer obligations, Gay was admired as a Thayer ’61 leader in each and every role she was granted, Ann Samford Upchurch ’48* and this led to leadership in other areas of her The Virginia Foundation for Independent field. In 2000 she was elected Vice Regent Colleges for Florida of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Cornelia Wailes ’26* Association, the oldest preservation board Edward T. Wailes* in the country. In October of 2004, she was Gay Hart Gaines ’59 speaks at Founders’ Day Margaret Jones Wyllie ’45 elected the 18th Regent of the Mount Vernon Convocation

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 7 Sweet Briar Homecoming My husband, Dick Buckley, and I have been on campus less than 24 hours, Convocation Keynote Address but it did not take us that long to be filled with admiration for the shared commitment to Sweet Briar’s mission we noticed all around. In my view, this mission was appropriately refined in 2004 to prepare Wanted: Women women to be productive and responsible members of a world community. This resonates with me because I have spent many years in that “world community.” I have been exposed to different ways to be productive and Leaders for the responsible, and, for the 24 years I was in the Foreign Service, I promoted American concepts and values of productivity and responsibility. I have also been exposed to the shackles that limit the productivity of women, who make 21st Century up 50% of the world population. MIn our busy American lives, it is easy to be persuaded that this is not our PRUDENCE BUSHNELL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR issue, or that we lack the power to make a difference. But if we recognize, as to GUATEMALA AND KENYA Sweet Briar does, that we are members of a world community, we will also recognize that these assumptions are wrong. Women currently make up 60–70% of the world’s poor. We know that lifting a woman out of poverty is lifting an entire family out of poverty. We know how to do so, but have yet to act on a global scale. We understand how wars and conflict impact women. Studies show how critical their participation is to lasting peace, but we have yet to include them in meaningful ways of peacemaking. In this country, working families lose $200 billion annually because of the wage gap between men and women. At the current rate of change it will take another 50 years to close that gap. Where is the talk of urgency? In the corporate world, studies show that businesses with greater numbers of women in senior positions can point to a return on equity up to 35% higher than others. Never mind the fact that women make up 50% of managerial and professional ranks, the rate of women corporate leaders still hovers at around six percent. Balancing work and family life remains an enormous burden on all working women, but continues to be considered a personal issue. Two-thirds to three-fourths of business leaders recently surveyed do not believe discrimination against women exists. These are the realities of the world for which Sweet Briar is preparing young women. We used to consider these gender issues, but I see them as political, economic, and social challenges that responsible members of a world community will embrace. To do so each one of us must develop and use our leadership capabilities. When I was growing up, leadership was a guy thing. Leaders were born, not made, and they were male—preferably tall and handsome. Leaders held positions at the top of the hierarchies of our governments, workplaces, religious establishments, schools, and homes. If women did exercise leadership, it was of the personal kind and often very subtle. Raised in those environments, it never dawned on me that as a female I could be a leader. Fortunately, leadership has been redefined. It is not the role you are in, but the way you think and behave. Leaders think strategically and behave intentionally and with integrity. Look at what Indiana Fletcher Williams did. Profoundly affected by the death of her young daughter, Daisy, she created a vision and acted intentionally and strategically by leaving her legacy to create this college and an endowment for scholarships. Miss Indie may not have had opportunities in her day to fill many formal leadership roles, but nothing stopped her from exercising personal leadership. Doing so changed thousands of lives for the better. My last assignment in the Foreign Service was as dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute during Colin Powell’s tenure. He had a passion for leadership and wanted it practiced at all levels of the Department of State. He mandated leadership training for all employees. My colleagues and I were tasked to implement that mandate.

Photos © Photos We addressed leadership from the inside-out. We helped people develop an awareness of themselves, their values, their behaviors, and their impact on others. After all, leadership is not about you, it’s about others. We did a lot A

aron aron of work on skills like active listening, giving feedback, building teams, and strategic thinking. M ahler

8 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu HOMECOMING We found no difference in the aptitude or international television waving good-bye with specifically mothers or teachers. Remember the skills between men and women. At all levels, tears coming down my face. (It just shows that tone that went with: “Children, you’ve got to we found a reverence for Colin Powell, a huge a woman threatening to cry can still work in all do something about the mess in your room?” I relief to finally get the training needed, and sorts of situations.) It was neither pleasant nor have used that tone to say “Mr. President, you’ve an equally great sense of powerlessness to use career-enhancing, but it was my responsibility. got to do something about official corruption in these behaviors at work because “they won’t let As a woman, a lofty title will only get you your country” and get away with it. me.” Even people with the power of positional a place at the table. It is no guarantee you will This is my challenge to you: use every leadership felt constrained from using personal be heard. I had to adapt a variety of behaviors opportunity to think strategically, act leadership. As a result, the changes in culture and gimmicks for that. For example, in the intentionally, and behave with integrity no Powell sought have been a long time coming. Washington policy arena, where information is matter what role you play. If we want a different I was lucky because I learned in early power, I cultivated people “in the know,” and world for ourselves, if we want more women adulthood that I had to use personal leadership found that women colleagues were particularly to hold positions of leadership or have greater if I was ever to reach positional leadership. I helpful. In presenting myself, I learned to use a opportunities to be productive and responsible practiced the behaviors intentionally in positions particular tone and demeanor: always assertive; on an equal footing, we need to develop and from secretary to ambassador. always confident; and, in anger, very focused, practice personal leadership now. When I received the formal leadership calm, and low in pitch. I learned never to end a What an incredible place Sweet Briar is to do position of ambassador to Kenya, I was very declarative sentence as if it were a question and just that. Think about the lessons you, alumnae, intentional to develop teamwork and trust as we to avoid at all costs self-diminishing statements can pass on. Consider the culture of leadership enthusiastically addressed policy interests. To like “you may disagree but …” or “I’m not that you, faculty and staff, can create, and look develop trust, I had to listen to what people were an expert …” I learned to dress for my next at the opportunities you, the students, have. saying. What community and staff conveyed position and always wear comfortable shoes; it Sweet Briar is a premier women’s college in the were concerns about their security and the is hard to do what is necessary to be heard when most powerful nation of the world. What a gift! placement of the embassy chancery building on your feet hurt. My hope is that you use it intentionally. a busy corner in downtown Nairobi. As a leader, No one told me about the cultural mores I wish all of you gentle adventures. I had the responsibility to do something and for of alpha male organizations, which abound in two years I banged on doors in Washington to Washington, and I was initially hesitant to adopt get attention. Attention did come, but not in the some of them. After some internal debate as to way of security relief. In the spring of 1998, my whether it would taint my pure annual performance evaluation for the first time soul, I decided I had to start ever had a coded reprimand. That evaluation interrupting if I was ever to get prompted me to write a letter to the Secretary a word in and to intentionally of State. keep people from interrupting On August 7, 1998, we were blown up by me. As ambassador, I advised a truck bomb sent by Osama bin Laden. It my senior staff in our first detonated in our small rear parking lot and meeting that I was to be called instantly killed 213 people, injuring around 5,000. Ambassador in public because About half of the occupants of our building were I was a short woman and either killed or severely wounded. It was left to didn’t need to be diminished the other half to go back in, with the help of other even further. At the suggestion members of our community, to bring out our dead of one of my male colleagues, and rescue others. The leadership and courage I I asked whoever accompanied saw displayed that day was extraordinary—and me as note-taker in meetings had nothing to do with position. with foreign government Although they did not have to, members officials to keep eyes focused of our mission chose to stay in Kenya to on me so that my interlocutor, reconstruct our organization, assist the Kenyan usually a man, would not community at large, and help begin healing engage my male note-taker from a tragic and traumatic event. Leadership instead. I learned a leader at every level, regardless of formal position or never carries anything (my role, got us back on our feet. We had no time husband was particularly good to learn about leadership, we had to act. It was about carrying my purse). through action that I learned the most important Most important of all, I leadership imperative of them all, taking care learned what I brought to my of your people. I also learned how rough, tough, job as a woman. In private, and nasty that can be. I found, women can say About six weeks after the bombing, things to men in power that we crowded into another vulnerable U.S. would likely get the male government building. I was told that there was of the species thrown out of not sufficient funding for the marines providing the room. I was perceived as our security to stay. I went head-to-head less of a threat. I also found with senior people in Washington more than out that, as a woman, I could once, telling them that the day they withdrew adapt a tone of voice that President Muhlenfeld introduces Keynote Speaker Prudence the combat marines they would see me on conjured important archetypes, Bushnell

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 9 HOMECOMING

Photo © Photo Bee and Bradley Thayer A aron aron Inducted into the M ahler Keystone Society SHEILA ALEXANDER, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

“We have accomplished much at Sweet Briar College in the past ten years and we are on the brink of achieving another goal: constructing the updated Fitness and Athletics Center,” says Mildred “Bee” Newman Thayer ’61. WBee and Bradley Thayer share enthusiasm for Sweet Briar athletics. Their recent gift of $400,000 to help fund the new Fitness and Athletics Center is one of many generous donations provided by those who share a vision for Sweet Briar’s future in the twenty-first century. “In helping to shape the lives of young women, it is imperative that we support the national mandate to improve physical fitness by providing modern facilities. It is important to cultivate holistic wellness habits in our students for their lifetimes and future generations as well.” Bee and Bradley have always supported Sweet Briar. They are the newest members of the Keystone Society, those valued donors who have made lifetime commitments to the College totaling $1 million or more. “We are proud to be part of a College that responds to the needs of its students as times change, and focuses on the future while still being

Bee and Bradley Thayer

Saturday Night 10 • Winter 2007/2008Cocktails... Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu HOMECOMING Homecoming Alumnae College: Life at Tusculum during the Nineteenth Century H.CHRISTIAN CARR, DIRECTOR, SWEET BRIAR MUSEUM AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ARTS MANAGEMENT

Below: Celery vase owned by the Crawfords.

Tusculum at its original location.

When visiting old houses, people a teaching position in North North Carolina by offering him the often muse; “Oh, if these walls Carolina. more prestigious, and presumably could talk, the stories they’d In late July Elijah finally more lucrative, position as the tell.” Without a doubt, Tusculum reached Alexandria, Virginia. By president of the New Glasgow would have a lot to say about our that time his mare was exhausted, Academy in Amherst. College’s heritage. Sweet Briar’s as were Fletcher’s funds. He wrote After only one month, a letter three brothers at Tusculum. In family tree starts with Daisy, the to his father that he was “as poor arrived from home containing a his letter, Elijah described what only child of Indiana and James as Job’s cats,” having only four plea for $150.00. Realizing that life was like there, relating that: Henry Williams. To get to the dollars left and had eaten only such a request would soon come “They live in a two story, upright Tusculum connection, we have five full meals since leaving New again, Fletcher offered lessons in house, painted white. Mr. C. Wto go back to Indiana’s mother, York. With his pockets empty, he French and music for young ladies is … quite grey headed, was Maria Antoinette Crawford, who was forced to take on a temporary to supplement his income. These educated at Princeton, formerly grew up at Tusculum. She married tutoring position with the Mason lessons were held at Brick House, a distinguished lawyer. Mrs. Elijah Fletcher in 1813, and their family of Northern Virginia. and one of the students was the C. is most amiable … and the marriage endured for 40 years, That winter, Elijah made an younger daughter of William young Ladies distinguished for until Maria’s death in 1853. important connection with David S. Crawford, a trustee of New their sense and accomplishments. Elijah Fletcher came from a Shepherd Garland, a member of Glasgow Academy who resided They dress in their silks daily but respectable but cash-poor family Congress who was also a lawyer, a nearby at Tusculum. At Christmas, have too much good sense to be in Ludlow, Vermont. As one of 15 landowner with extensive holdings, Elijah joined the Crawfords for the proud. The young lady I anticipate children, he was the only one his and a leading citizen of Amherst holidays and by the following fall, making my future companion … parents could send to college. In County, Virginia. Known as he wrote to his father that “I have is sincere, candid, intelligent, and return, he was expected to help “King David” for his wealth and long been intimate with a most sensible.” support the rest of the family. influence, Garland resided at Brick amiable, accomplished, sensible, Elijah and Maria were married Soon after he graduated from the House, now the home of Sweet lady, of one of the most rich, in 1813, and he became the University of Vermont, Elijah Briar alumna Mary Smith Brugh extensive, respectable families in estate manager in 1815 when Fletcher set out on a journey. In ’57, who has kindly welcomed the state.” his father-in-law died and left April 1810, he left the family my students on more than one This was Maria Antoinette his considerable plantations to farmstead on a little bay mare occasion. Garland convinced Crawford, who grew up in the Fletcher’s stewardship. In true with $50 in his pocket to pursue Elijah to give up his plans to go to company of seven sisters and Cinderella style, going from

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 11 HOMECOMING penniless schoolteacher to There is another key reason prominent landowner in four why Tusculum will be right at years, Elijah was able to parlay his home at Sweet Briar. We are wife’s connections into two terms fortunate to have an incredibly as Lynchburg’s mayor and became diverse range of collections here, a powerful force in that city. His many of which belonged to our marriage connected Elijah to founding family. We have a two of the oldest and most active history of taking our stewardship families in central Virginia: the of these collections very seriously, Penns and the Crawfords. I am and we consider buildings to be indebted to Judy Evans-Grubbs, a part of those collections—our former professor of classics at largest artifacts, if you will. Sweet Briar College, and now Architecture is an element well- at Washington University, for represented on campus, and when disentangling the lines of our it is rebuilt, Tusculum will be founding family, which were set erected in near proximity to other forth in a privately published historic buildings. It will stand genealogy of 1883. adjacent to Sweet Briar House, Several pages of this imposing which shares its eighteenth- to the countryside to relax and contents of Tusculum, described tome are devoted to Maria’s century roots, and our slave cabin, attend entertainments at the as “The Mansion House,” were grandfather Gabriel Penn, who a significant structure dating theatre. It was a place so suited items from two other plantations was born in 1741 and died in from the early nineteenth century. to the cultivation of civilization belonging to Crawford: Tye 1798. He fought in the French and These buildings rest against the that Cicero wrote one of his River and Indian Creek. In the Indian Wars as a sergeant in a buildings of our campus historic greatest works, the Disputations, nineteenth-century usage, a regiment under Colonel William district, designed for Sweet there. These writings became plantation denoted any tract of Byrd, and in the American Briar by architect Ralph Adams one of the foundations for acreage that could be planted, and Revolution he was the captain of Cram. Adding Tusculum to this a classical education in the it was unusual to find a substantial one of two companies of recruits collection will allow us to present eighteenth century, and that dwelling on more than one of from Amherst County. He had a the history of regional architecture is how Crawford’s Tusculum them. Listed along with grubbing successful mercantile business from the eighteenth through plantation got its name: it was hoes, a large black cow, and sets here and served as magistrate both the twentieth centuries. These a conscious linking on the part of harnesses, there are more before and after the Revolution; he buildings comprise a remarkable of the Crawfords, who drew a elegant items for the household was also the Amherst delegate to resource and are studied and used clear parallel between an ancient listed that would have been used the revolutionary committee that for the benefit of our students, our Roman location of pastoral idyll exclusively at Tusculum. crafted Virginia’s “Declaration local community, and visitors to and learned civilization, and their In the long lists of these of Rights” in 1776. Gabriel Penn our campus. own home. luxury items, one piece stands was clearly a man of note in Interestingly, Elijah Fletcher When we try to piece together out to the historian of material Amherst County, but he had much remarked in 1845 that his the contents of houses of the past, culture: the celery vase. In the era more famous relatives: his cousin daughters, upon their return from we turn to the written record for of hand production, specialized John Penn was a signer of the their European travels, might be historical accuracy. For records items for the table were rare, Declaration of Independence and useful to society by establishing on Tusculum, we need go no and most Americans were eating another relation was the Quaker “a sort of a nunnery or a school further than the Amherst County with spoons from a communal leader William Penn. In 1761 at Tusculum.” We know how Courthouse, where inventories tell trencher. Yet the Crawfords had a Penn married Sarah Callaway, important education was to our us how the house was furnished celery vase: a piece of expensive the daughter of a well-known founding family. Indiana attended at the time of Elijah and Maria’s handcut glass reserved for one Bedford county family, and the Georgetown Visitation Convent marriage. They have provided a vegetable, an almost unimaginable couple had ten children. In 1779 in Washington, which her father rich resource for faculty at Sweet extravagance. Penn purchased a house worthy of referred to as a “nunnery.” Briar who have been studying our The new location for Tusculum his status, “The Glebe,” another Perhaps it was Elijah’s remark nineteenth-century history, and is just outside the edge of Amherst County treasure. One of that inspired Indiana to found my colleagues Kate Chavigny, the outer circle of boxwoods their daughters, Sophia, married a women’s college in memory associate professor of history, and surrounding Sweet Briar House, William S. Crawford, who had of her daughter Daisy, which Lynn Rainville, visiting assistant and its orientation near the Upper established a successful legal makes Tusculum an even more professor of anthropology and Lake is sympathetic to the house’s practice in Amherst County, significant part of our Sweet Briar archeology, have contributed to original location. This placement and they made their home at history. our understanding of this period Tusculum. allows Tusculum to retain its in the family’s history. Tusculum was named after an listing on the National Register When Crawford died, Elijah ancient town, an Italian center of of Historic Places even after it and widowed Sophia Crawford villa culture located not far from is rebuilt here on our campus, a were named administrators of the Rome, a place where senators singular distinction shared by only Crawford’s estate. Along with the and philosophers would retire a handful of relocated houses.

12 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu HOMECOMING Photos © Photos Cardboard Boat Regatta A

DOREEN MCVEIGH ’09 aron biology major, chemistry minor M ahler As a member of the Student contrasted spectacularly against Relations Committee, this is my the clear blue sky, but those in favorite time of year: all of our attendance certainly came color ideas and preparations come to coordinated in their own way. fruition through the laughter of Dr. John F. Morrissey of the old friends catching up and new Biology Department and Donna acquaintances becoming fast McLaughlin, although new to the friends. The Cardboard Boat campus, were in full Vixen regalia Regatta and picnic at the lower to support the players. lake makes Saturday during My roommate and I noticed AHomecoming one of the most an alumna watching the game exciting days of the weekend. intensely, voicing technical Engineering students design and phrases of support to our girls. build streamlined, sturdy boats As neither my roommate nor I to brave the waters through an knew the rules of field hockey, we obstacle course while everyone struck up a conversation on what cheers them on. makes a good pass, and the best Atop the sea of pink and way to navigate the ball across green décor and picnic ware, the field. It was then that she a group of friends shouted my noticed my roommate’s course name. Wiggling between them book resting on the grass. By the to watch the boats, I continually end of the first half, they were scanned the scene, waving and discussing the author, his work, SBC’s Engineering students are ready to race! shouting greetings to many and their own understanding of passers-by. One person asked, the material, with occasional “Do you know every single person interrupting shouts of “Go here?” I smiled and laughed, but Sweet!” The second half was just something about her question as thrilling; each team proved struck me while watching the their worth and prowess on competitors paddle and splash the field, and Sweet Briar won around the course. I realized that the game. The flush of victory this is the unique beauty of Sweet evident on the players’ faces was Briar. All of us share a similar exciting to us all as we cheered devoted spirit for a school that in celebration of a job well done. has shaped our view of the world The exhilaration I felt at the game and created unbreakable bonds and the conversation I participated between Sweet Briar women past in with an enthusiastic alumna left or present. Friendships that form a lasting impression on me. I’m at every Homecoming are no looking forward to Homecoming coincidence, but the result of our 2008, to the fantastic events, and strong foundation at Sweet Briar. to the friendships I will make. After the Cardboard Boat A day for all ages. Danielle Briggs ’07 Regatta, afternoon activities were just beginning. I returned briefly to my room and found my roommate deep in study. “Oh you can’t stay locked up in the room for Homecoming, come join me for the field hockey game!” I shouted. She finally conceded to come on the condition that her work could accompany us to the game. Finding a shaded patch of grass on the hillside, we took in our surroundings. The Spectators cheer on the racers. vibrant green hues of the trees

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 13 Homecoming Horse Show Face-to-Face Homecoming Event KATE BEACH ’09, English and creative writing tops Facebook Web site major, business minor KATE BEACH ’09, English and creative writing major, business minor On the warm, sunny Homecoming Saturday, Sweet Briar Photos © Photos riders wore wool hunt coats and black helmets. They led On Friday evening of shiny horses from their stalls, saddled them, and mounted. Homecoming Weekend,

With the outdoor arena drug, the jumps set, and the course A current students and alumnae aron maps posted, SBC equestrians were ready to ride in the first met at the Elston Inn and M

in-house show of the year. Conference Center for a night ahler This intramural event was the first opportunity for of networking and dancing. qualified first-year students to compete on campus, This is the first year that riding either their own horse or a Sweet Briar horse. The the “Who Needs Facebook sophomores, juniors, and seniors did not let the first-years When You Have Face-to-Face Diane Dale Reiling ’73 and Kate Lyndin ’09 have all the fun though, as they were also eager to gain Time?” event has taken place, meet at the Facebook event. more experience riding in a supportive, learning-emphasized but with a catchy name and show atmosphere. Equestrians of all levels were encouraged plenty of publicity, it was well Services Kristin Ewing introduced to attend the show to watch and learn, even if they did not attended and enjoyed. me to Kelly Meredith Iacobelli compete. From the sidelines, Kimberly Rosenberg ’11 rooted At the beginning, alumnae ’88, and we talked about her for her friends and said “it’s really interesting to see all kinds office personnel and Student experiences working in advertising. of people compete at different levels.” She also noted, “I like Relations Committee members As an English and creative writing to watch because it helps me learn about my own position greeted attendees with enthusiasm major and business minor, I’m and riding skills.” and pointed out tables staffed always looking for ways to find Riders entered equitation classes, in which a rider’s by SBC Alumnae Club Regional out more about fields in which position and effectiveness are judged, and in jumper classes, Chairs. These alumnae board my specific skill set could be in which the horse’s speed and agility are paramount. Former members graciously and happily applicable. Kelly shared specifics Associate Director of the SBC Riding Program Jill Randles volunteered their time to meet about the industry with me from a served as judge for the day. with current students who were first-hand perspective. Diana Simpson, who will graduate this spring, rode in either from one of the states of Julia Pittman ’11 also had a the show. She commented, “It was a beautiful day to ride, their region or had an interest positive experience at this party. and it was great fun to see some alumnae come and watch in interning or working there She stated that she met friendly the show. There were quite a few people there, even some in the future. Connections were alumnae that “were very interested alumnae that didn’t ride. It was very bittersweet to see my made based on fields of interest in what I planned to do.” Julia also friends who had moved past Sweet Briar; I miss them, and it and career industries, which are explained, “I had fun and would was a stark reminder of how quickly May is looming. It was invaluable to students hoping to like to see this event repeated next also a sad realization that this was the last homecoming at gain insight into potential job year.” which I would be a student and not alumna.” areas. About an hour after the event Rider participation in the event was comparable to After students grabbed snack began, the lights dimmed and previous years, while spectator attendance rose slightly. plates full of chocolate fondue, DJ Mix Master Mike got the Holding the show on Saturday gave families and alumnae a nachos, and other munchies, they dance party started. Students chance to get settled on campus chatted with their new alumnae and alumnae rocked out to a mix beforehand. Chairs were set acquaintances while meeting other of modern hits and oldies-but- up in the shade beside the current students from their home goodies. Those that still wanted to arena, yet some spectators still region. The casual, yet focused chat either yelled over the music preferred the soft grass. Many environment was conducive to both or moved out into the foyer and horse shows on campus are only informative discussion as well as huddled around the food tables. attended by students, so it was the light-hearted sharing of stories Some suggested that next year, nice to have some additional about the Sweet Briar experience. we should have two separate crowd support for this one. The Associate Director of Career rooms, one for dancing and one Alumnae Office generously for networking, allowing provided adorable horse-head people to participate in carabineers as souvenirs, which the activity of their choice. were set out in the Bailey room All-in-all, I heard many and at the in-gate. positive comments, and this event is definitely worth a repeat.

Lydia Winants ’11 is mounted and ready to ride!

14 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu homecoming

ahler unfortunately took the match in three games. M After Lynchburg and Mountain State aron faced off, the Vixens took on Mountain State A to round out the action. Our ladies won with a close score of 30–28 before dropping the Photo © tri-match 3–1. Vixens compiled 66 digs as a team. On “Alumnae Sunday” the Hall of Fame Breakfast honored inductees of the 2007 Class of the Athletics Hall of Fame. Cara Gascoigne, director of physical education from 1912–1923; riding champion Jamie Planck Martin ’81; and swimming star Jennifer Ellen Crossland ’86 received high honors for their sporting accomplishments at Sweet Briar and beyond. Members of senior staff, the Athletics department, the Riding Department, current student athletes, and family and friends of the inductees gathered for the induction ceremony. Each inductee was presented for induction and those who were able to attend Homecoming Sports Feed the ceremony were given the chance to CAMERON ADAMS, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR respond. Current student athletes served as hosts for each inductee and introduced their Homecoming 2007 was packed with athletic minutes, but the one-goal differential was as presenters. events. Saturday, five varsity athletic games close as the team could come. The Wasps won “The Hall of Fame Breakfast was were played on our campus fields and courts with an insurance goal in the 68th minute. inspiring. We were able to hear the inductees followed by a busy “Alumnae Sunday.” The “I was really nervous playing in front of speak of their accomplishments and how Sunday schedule, featuring the 2007 Class former students because athletics are the front Sweet Briar sports have forever changed of the Athletics Hall of Fame inductees porch of a college, and how we represent them,” commented junior field hockey at breakfast, was filled to the brim with our school affects how people see it,” said student-athlete Blair Sutton. alumnae-student competitions in field hockey, Alexander. “In the end, I think we worked as Alexander added, “Being in that room, swimming, and volleyball. hard as we could, we showed good progress surrounded by my fellow student athletes and On Saturday the SBC Varsity Field Hockey within the program and offered a glimpse of seeing what those who have come before us team faced non-conference Shenandoah what’s to come. I was proud to be a first-year have accomplished was beyond inspiring. University’s players, Varsity Soccer took on athlete representing Sweet Briar.” What amazing women!” conference-foe Emory and Henry College, While field hockey and soccer were The athletics portion of Homecoming and Varsity Volleyball hosted a tri-match competing outside, volleyball took on Weekend concluded with alumnae players with Lynchburg College and Mountain State Lynchburg College and Mountain State in challenging the current student athletes in University. the gym. The Vixens faced Lynchburg in the field hockey, volleyball, and swimming. Vixen hockey treated the Homecoming morning, kicking off the tri-match. Hornets crowd to a win, defeating Shenandoah 3–2. Amey Landreth ’11 gave Sweet Briar an early © Photo 1–0 lead with an unassisted goal 15 minutes

into the game. Shenandoah answered with its A aron aron first goal 20 minutes later.

Sweet Briar came out strong as Lindsay M ahler Eneguess ’11 and sophomore Molly McGonegle each sent a ball to the back of the cage, giving Vixens a 3–1 lead. A late goal by Shenandoah made the game close, but Vixens held on for the win. The crowd then flocked to the soccer field where Vixens did not fare as well. Down 2–0 after the first 45 minutes, Sweet Briar tried to make a comeback. First-year Kat Alexander put Sweet Briar on the board in the 60th minute with an unassisted goal. Alexander’s goal brought us within one point of tying the game in the final 30

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 15 Cara Gascoigne Jamie Planck Martin ’81 JENNIFER CRISPEN, Associate Professor of Physical PAUL CRONIN, DIRECTOR EMERITUS, SWEET BRIAR RIDING Education PROGRAM AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS Cara Gascoigne “arrived at the College in 1912 to start an unusually well-directed program of physical education” wrote Martha Lou Stohlman ’34 in her book, The Story of Sweet Briar College. Cara remained at Sweet Briar for 11 years, and during her tenure the students played Virginia’s first women’s intercollegiate field hockey Cgame in 1919, as well as the first intercollegiate basketball game in 1920. The hockey game was the first women’s intercollegiate contest of any kind in the state of Virginia. In one of her student assignments, Jennifer Frost ’86 wrote, quoting Gascoigne: “Although the game had been played

on campus since 1909, it was Miss Jamie Planck Martin & Paul Cronin at Sweet Briar. Gascoigne’s hope that, someday, ‘the gentle art of knocking a rubber Jamie Planck Martin was the epitome of SBC’s recruiting slogan ball down the field without being “Riders and Scholars.” She graduated Magna Cum Laude with massacred on the way’ would be honors in 1981. As a student, she was a member of Phi Beta mastered.” Kappa and received the Sweet Briar Presidential Medal given to In 1914, Gascoigne also started an outstanding athlete and scholar as well as the Lawrence G. hall ofclub lacrosse fameat the College. Lacrosse Nelson Award for excellence in English. She entered Sweet Briar is now a very popular varsity sport at shortly after the Harriet Howell Rogers Riding Center moved from Sweet Briar. She returned to England the 17-stall shed. A new 60-stall facility and larger arena looked in 1923 and was followed by Harriet Rogers. “real good” to riders, trainers, and prospective students at SBC. As Gascoigne was a favorite amongst her students as evidenced by a training and competitive programs developed, Jamie helped lead remark written in the 1920 Briar Patch. “We are fortunate in having the way with her talent, experience, work ethic, and sportsmanship. Miss Gascoigne again as athletic instructor after her absence abroad. JAlways a keen and interested riding student, she was open to We should now be able to advance steadily towards our ideal, and new ideas and approaches and was refreshingly comfortable both perhaps, some day, to reach it.” questioning and encouraging fellow students and faculty. As one of In an earlier yearbook, a student remarked, “Aesthetic dancing these faculty members, I dedicated my book, Schooling and Riding [is] the desire and ambition of every awkward student in college. The Sport Horse, to “The horses and students who have taught Miss Gascoigne does really, at times, turn some of them into Graces, me all I know, especially those at Sweet Briar College.” Jamie is

but some others–ye gods!” certainly one of those students, and I will always be grateful to her. Long-time field hockey coach Jennifer Crispen says, “You Before coming to SBC, Jamie competed successfully in the cannot underestimate the influence of the early physical educators southeast, as well as on the Florida circuit and at the northeast indoor

at Sweet Briar. They valued athletics and competition not only as horse shows. She rode a range of horses at SBC and competed with necessary, but as good for their students. Much of the early progress consistent quality performances and good sportsmanship. Jamie was in women’s competition was due to the competitive philosophy the ANRC National Collegiate Equitation Champion each year of her of women’s college athletics, particularly the Mid-Atlantic and “ college career with the exception of her junior year abroad. Southern women’s colleges. Cara Gascoigne left a legacy that still After Sweet Briar, Jamie received her J.D. from Vanderbilt benefits Sweet Briar student-athletes today.” School of Law. Careers as an attorney and as a mother have filled her life, yet now Jamie is returning to riding in a big way. She has been involved with the government of the sport through serving on The hockey game was the first committees for the USHJA, USEF, The American Hunter Jumper Foundation, and The Mississippi Hunter Association. Recently, she women’s intercollegiate contest of built Providence Hill Farm, a quality equestrian facility. We expect to hear great things from her as she continues riding and sharing her passion for horses. “16 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu About Providence Hill Farm… Jennifer Ellen Crossland ’86 BONNIE KESTNER, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PHYSICAL “By chance we ended up with this facility,” Jamie said about her EDUCATION AND ATHLETICS farm, Providence Hill. “The other barn in our area decided to stop going to horse shows, so we designed and built Providence © Photo Hill Farm.” On the Web site, www.providencehillfarm.com, you A

will find the farm’s mission statement: “Our trainers and staff aron are committed to providing the highest quality training and M

care available for our horses and riders in a nurturing and warm ahler environment. Honesty, integrity, and a commitment to Christian principles form the basis for all of our programs.” Aside from other activities at the farm that include raising cattle, growing crops and trees for timber, Providence Hill is also the base for the Mississippi College Equestrian Team. The venture began last spring when a group of girls from the college asked Jamie if she would help them start an equestrian team. “As God would have it, I happened to be there that day. Having such wonderful memories of Sweet Briar riding, I was excited about trying to help them. I met with the girls and we submitted Jennifer Crossland and Bonnie Kestner at the Hall of Fame induction a proposal to the college president. Now, riding is a varsity ceremony. women’s sport at Mississippi College.” Jamie attributes much of her success to experiences that have Jen, Jenny, Jennifer—she goes She still holds the school and taken place throughout her life. One such experience was her by all three, and I’m never sure pool record for the 100-meter college career. “Sweet Briar prepared me to do all of these things. what to call her, except FAST. breaststroke, and her 50-yard and I wasn’t trained to own and manage a farm; I was trained as a Jenny showed us her speed as 50-meter breaststroke records lawyer. SBC taught us to give back to our community and to think recently as last year during the will probably never be broken. critically, so it was easy to take skills from another profession and first alumnae swim meet, when Her 100-yard breaststroke record use them in different areas.” In helping to start the Mississippi she beat every swimmer past stood for 16 years, and her College program, Jamie is able to give back to her community. She and present in the 50-meter 200-yard lasted for 17 years. also organizes a summer camp at Providence Hill for inner-city breaststroke and helped our Jenny is a member of four of children. alumnae team tie the current the Sweet Briar record-holding “The name Providence means divine intervention. This farm is Jswimmers. relays in yards and three in God’s intervention. There is nothing I have given or done that could In 1981, Jennifer Ellen meters. She was the breaststroker have earned this farm.” Providence was the name of a Baptist church Crossland applied early decision on all of our medley relays and where Jamie’s great-grandfather-in-law was a music minister, and to Sweet Briar and was accepted. swam on the 200- and 400-yard using the church’s name for her farm is her and her husband’s way of She began swimming with us freestyle relays as well. She recognizing God’s hand in their life. in the fall of 1982. In March was a member of the 200-meter As owner and activities manager of the farm, Jamie has a full of her freshman year, she freestyle relay team that still schedule. “My daughter, Tinsley, who is 12, also rides and travels represented Sweet Briar in five holds our pool record. to horse shows with me,” Jamie says. “You will often see my events at the National Collegiate Teammate Linda Mae Visocan mother, Jacquie, cheering for us at the shows and helping at the Athletics Association Division Gabriel ’87 reminded me of barn. It’s a family affair.” Jamie participates in approximately 15 III Nationals. In the 50-yard the team dinner at the close of shows each year and considers it “a great blessing” to have taken breaststroke, Jenny entered Jenny’s freshman year when we home Champion of the amateur-owner-over-36 division at the the meet seeded 28th. In the teased her for trying to miss Harrisburg, PA, indoor horse show, and Reserve Champion at the preliminaries, she dropped 1.6 practice. It seemed she constantly Devon, PA, outdoor horse show, for two years in a row. These are seconds and moved into third. complained that something was two of the most prestigious shows in the nation. —C. Murray With that determined look in hurt, and she could not exercise. her eye, Jenny told us she was But when meet time came, she going to win the event. She came would blow away the competition very close! In the final heat, she and set records left and right! dropped another three tenths of a Linda Mae remembers a gift we second, capturing second place. gave to Jenny: a doctor’s kit with Her time qualified her as an band aids, ace wraps, aspirin, and NCAA Division III All-American Pepto Bismol. and put Sweet Briar on the map During her sophomore year, nationally that year. Jen was quite sick. To quote her Providence Hill Farm in Jackson, Mississippi Jenny consistently set records. mother, Linda Crossland, “The Courtesy of Providence Hill Farm

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 17 scenario of one event made me laugh, and I am sure the swimmers from other schools thought it was an act. Jenny would dive in, swim, pull herself halfway out of the water, lean on the edge of the pool, squirt her inhaler Samantha Brodlieb Platner ’98: into her mouth, and finally drag herself from the pool. What was truly funny was that she had won!” At the end of that season Jen helped our From Pink Bubble to Big Apple 200-yard freestyle relay team capture 13th place at NCAA Division III SUZANNE RAMSEY, STAFF WRITER, COLLEGE RELATIONS Nationals. It seemed to take an eternity, Healthy and in good shape, Jen was stellar during her junior year. but this past July at Saint- Sweet Briar defeated Division I Georgetown University in our own pool. Germain-l’Auxerrois Church in We had tied them at Georgetown the previous year. In a newspaper article Paris, Desperate Housewives written at the conclusion of the dual meet season, I am quoted as saying star Eva Longoria finally wed about Jenny “She is having the best year of her life!” San Antonio Spurs player Tony Jenny finished her Sweet Briar swimming career on a strong note. Parker … in an Angel Sanchez During her senior year she was ODAC Champion in the 100-yard dress. breaststroke and part of two Sweet Briar and ODAC record-setting relays. “It took me a year to get These school records stand today. She also was the breaststroker on our that placement!” said Samantha 400-yard medley relay that placed 12th at NCAA Nationals, giving her Brodlieb Platner ’98, public All-American Honorable Mention recognition in her last race representing Irelations manager for the Sweet Briar. Venezuelan designer whose Jenny excelled in the classroom as well as in the pool. A political evening and bridal gowns grace economics major at Sweet Briar, she made the Dean’s list, was a member the covers of magazines and of Phi Gamma Mu, the International Honor Society, and was the recipient frames of the Hollywood elite. of the Whiteman Scholar-Athlete Award. After Sweet Briar, she attended “Angel designed her Emmy the University of Richmond’s School of Law where she was president of gown in 2005 and also her Phi Delta Phi, the nation’s oldest legal fraternity. dresses for the Alma awards the Today, Jennifer past two years. I was always in

ahler is President of the contact with her stylist. Once I M Sweet Briar Alumnae Samantha and John Platner heard that Eva and Tony were

aron Association and a former

A engaged I contacted her stylist to see if he wanted Angel to Alumnae Club President submit sketches.” for the Richmond, Several months—and many sketches, meetings, swatches Photo © Virginia Club. Confident, and fittings—later, the celebrity wedding went swimmingly mentally focused, a with Longoria in an Angel Sanchez mermaid dress and Platner fierce competitor, 4-year breathing a sigh of relief. varsity athlete, Division “Normally a custom couture gown comparable to hers III All-American, a high takes many months to make but this dress was completed in achiever in the classroom, three months,” she said. “It took a full year of follow up and outstanding in her persistence to secure Angel designing the gown.” service and devotion to But that’s what Platner does as the PR professional of a small Sweet Briar , fun-loving, design house in New York City’s fashion district. She spends her generous, and loyal friend, days “running back and forth,” working with celebrity stylists I can think of no one more and magazine editors, producing fashion shows and photo deserving of being the shoots, updating the company Web site, and even writing a few first swimmer inducted to press releases here and there. the Sweet Briar College When she graduated from Sweet Briar College with an Athletics Hall of Fame. Italian studies degree and a year in Florence under her belt, Platner planned to work in the fashion industry.

Jenny’s good-luck swimming bear and other memorabilia commemorate her swimming success.

Please email your nominations to the Sweet Briar Athletics Hall of Fame to: Kelly Morrison, Athletic Director and Assistant Professor of Physical Education, morrison@sbc. edu, or Jennifer Crispen, Associate Professor of Physical Education, [email protected].

18 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu “I had always really, really been interested That’s when she decided her future was in projects,” Knaus wrote in an essay following in [the industry],” she said. “My sister public relations. After working her way up to her internship. “I do believe that her interns … [Jennifer Brodlieb Cacioppo ’92] actually assistant of the Prada Men’s and Sport lines, do a lot of the day-to-day duties. worked in the industry as well, so I remember Platner accepted a position at The Gap as “I learned a lot about what it’s like to work during college coming home on break and public relations coordinator for Old Navy. in New York City and how competitive the visiting her and going to her office. I really She stayed there for two years, working in industry is. Completing this internship made liked the environment and pace of the the children’s and maternity markets. It was me realize how much I enjoy working with industry.” “very large, very corporate,” she said, but also other people and also that the majority of the Ten years later, the 30-year-old New “really good exposure.” people working in the fashion industry started Yorker is living her dream, working for Angel After leaving Old Navy, Platner did at the bottom and had to work their way up. Sanchez and living on the Upper East Side production for photo shoots, securing locations “It is a very elastic industry—there is with husband, John. Occasionally, she even and photographers, and coordinating hair always the expectation of promotion as long shows up on the Big Apple’s society pages. and makeup for the models. “I wanted to try as one is a responsible and hardworking When she arrived in New York fresh out of something different because I had been in PR individual. I couldn’t have had a better the Pink Bubble, the young Samantha Brodlieb for a little while,” she said. internship experience.” worked as a receptionist at Prada. Being fluent But two years ago, she found herself Platner appreciated the assistance and the in Italian helped, she said, crediting advisor missing public relations and saw an ad for PR opportunity to mentor a future Sweet Briar and Italian professor Rosalia Ascari with manager at Angel Sanchez. “I read the job alumna. “[Lucy] was a great help,” she said. teaching her the language and encouraging her description in a trade Web site and it was my “It was nice to have a Sweet Briar student. I to study abroad. exact experience so I applied and got the job,” have interns from FIT and Parsons, but it was “She was really amazing,” Platner said. she said. special to have a Sweet Briar student. We have “Obviously in my first job my Italian skills Before she was hired, Angel Sanchez didn’t a connection.” helped me tremendously. It’s probably part of have a PR person, let alone a PR department, When asked if she’d like to have more the reason I got the job because I was fluent in so Platner has built the office from the ground Sweet Briar interns, Platner was quick to answer: “Definitely. I would love to have Italian, and she … really influenced me to go up. With no assistants—the designer employs another one this summer.” away for a year, which was life-changing. It’s only about 20 people—she has had to rely on In the meantime, though, Platner presses really eye-opening.” interns to take the edge off the workload. on as the PR department for Angel Sanchez. Platner says the exposure she got through That’s where Sweet Briar re-enters the The hours are long, the days are crazy, but she her junior year abroad and the confidence she picture. “I actually contacted the career spotlights loves her job and the responsibilities that gained at Sweet Briar have positively affected services center to say if any Sweet Briar come with it. her career. She also says the intimate setting students are interested, and they’re going to “I’m responsible for a ton,” she said. “That at the College has correlations in the fashion be around New York during the summer, I’d includes advertising, and I also work extremely world, which she describes as a “very small definitely be looking for interns, and they can close with the designer, and his schedule is community, and similar to Sweet Briar in that just forward me their résumé,” she said. super busy with meetings and designing. sense.” Lucy Knaus ’08 contacted Platner and “The design studio is on the sixth floor and After six months at Prada, Platner went spent four weeks last summer working with I’m on the ninth floor, so it really back to Italy, where she worked for a short her at Angel Sanchez. Knaus worked on photo involves leadership every day because often I time as an assistant booker for a modeling shoots and “lookbooks,” did editorial analysis just have to make decisions for him on his agency. Homesick for New York, though, she and sent gowns to celebrities and magazines. behalf, and lead.” soon returned to the states and Prada, where “I really appreciate that Sam … gave me she served as executive assistant to the vice a lot of daily responsibilities and asked for president of advertising. my opinions and help on a lot of important

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 19 SPOTLIGHTS Katherine Polevitzky ’93: The Story of a Sweet Briar Marine JENNIFER MCMANAMAY, STAFF WRITER, COLLEGE RELATIONS

Katherine Irene Maj. Gen. Michael D. Jones. CPATT’s mission who is true to their word, leads by example, Polevitzky ’93 is to advise and assist Iraq’s Ministry of the and always remembers: Accomplish the became a Marine on Interior in building its police forces. mission and take care of your Marines.” Aug. 13, 1994, the Polevitzky’s military occupation During her career, Polevitzky has traveled day she graduated specialty—her MOS—is communications abroad, serving six months in support of from Officer officer. Ordinarily her job is setting up radio, the U.S. mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina in Candidate School at satellite, and wire communications systems to 1996—a post that allowed her to explore Marine Corps Base enable field units and their commands to talk Europe when she was on leave. In 1998 she Quantico in Virginia. or send data in any environment. deployed to Kuwait with the 31st Marine Her parents, Serge Her home base is 1st Marine Division, Expeditionary Unit during Operation Desert and Gege Polevitzky, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Fox. She also earned a master’s in business Kwere there. As Pendleton, California, where last year she administration from Boston University. they watched their commanded the nearly 300 troops of 1st Her decorations include a Meritorious smartly uniformed Marine Division Communications Company. Service Medal with gold star, Joint Service daughter receive her She considers the post one of the best Commendation Medal, Joint Service commission, Gege assignments of her career. Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Polevitzky let go of long-held reservations When she was given the command, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. about Katherine’s military vocation—a path it had a “particular reputation,” she said, You have to want the life of a military she had stuck to since she was about 10 years diplomatically. But within a year, the Corps’ officer to succeed, Polevitzky said. But if old. communications headquarters had hand-picked there are SBC women who feel called to do it, “This really fits you,” Mrs. Polevitzky told her company to develop new instruction and to she wants them to know they can. the brand-new second lieutenant as soon as be the “test bed” for new equipment slated for “It’s an awesome experience to lead she had the chance. use by all Marine communications units. They Marines,” she said. “My mother was telling me I found my also were tapped to train the units based in calling, not just a job to clock in to from Southern California. nine to five,” Polevitzky said, recalling the She and Sgt. Maj. Peter A. Hall, who was conversation. her first sergeant at the time, achieved that “I always hope that young women going recognition through “elbow grease,” she said. through college—especially at Sweet Briar— “The first three months were focused on pursue a career that gives them a sense of reinforcing discipline and communications accomplishment. Their career choice should training. The company needed to be reminded be a positive contribution to society, not just that they were a team, not a group of earning a paycheck.” individuals.” As a leader, Polevitzky stresses being true They went for field training for a week to oneself. At Sweet Briar, an environment rife at a time, “setting up communications with opportunities to lead, she saw classmates architecture, making sure it works, taking it who took charge Monday through Thursday down, moving it, setting it up again. For an Katherine Polevitzky receives a care package from the United States. “adjusting themselves to socially interact, to Infantry Division Headquarters, this is no hang out with guys,” on the weekend. small job,” Polevitzky said. “It wasn’t true across the board, but I did During that time, she drew on her own six Serving in Baghdad’s International see that,” she said. “There’s just no reason to months at The Basic School, the next step for Zone, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Katherine change the woman who is an incredible leader all USMC lieutenants after Officer Candidate Polevitzky ’93 has seen an outpouring in the classroom and on campus during the School. At TBS, every officer—regardless of of support from Americans for troops week to somebody else on the weekend to future specialty—is trained to be an infantry serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It impress the guys.” platoon commander. comes in the form of letters and care Trying to be someone you’re not wouldn’t Because the Corps emphasizes unit packages from ordinary people addressed fly in her job. “Marines can smell a façade cohesion, Polevitzky makes no allowance to any soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine. a hundred miles away,” said Polevitzky, who for gender. “If I tried to separate myself as “Whether they agree with why we’re has risen to the rank of major. something other than a Marine and say, well here or they disagree, they support the She spoke by cell phone from her office I’m a female and here’s what I do as a female, troops,” Polevitzky said. “It is greatly in Baghdad, where she arrived in June for then I separate myself from the team.” appreciated.” a one-year deployment. She works in the To lead Marines, be competent in your If you want to add your voice, go to International Zone as the executive officer specialty, be confident, train them well AmericaSupportsYou.mil, an official to the commanding general of the Civilian and make sure they understand the mission Web site of the Department of Defense. Police Assistance Training Team, U.S. Army objective, she said. “Marines respect a leader

20 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu SPOTLIGHTS Frances G. Laserson ’70: First President of The Moody’s Foundation

Frances Griffith Laserson, vice president, with ease. “By September 1994, I felt that Corporate Communications at Moody’s the window of opportunity was closing Corporation, and president of The Moody’s for reestablishing a professional career. I Foundation, lives amidst the large-scale prepared a ‘functional’ résumé that focused excitement of New York City’s corporate on the skills I had gained through volunteer community. Surrounded by skyscrapers and work: marketing communications, strategic taxis in the heart of the city’s financial district, planning, and program management to Moody’s is a 100-year-old company employing counterbalance my hiatus from the workforce. 3,400 people throughout the world. I approached Moody’s as an independent Fran’s career success began with her marketing consultant.” Fran’s self-confidence, positive experience at Sweet Briar and determination, and past experience earned Fliberal arts education. Though a sociology her management positions first in Marketing major, Fran comments: “I recall classes with and then in Corporate Communications, “a Dr. Ernest Edwards who taught ecology, substantial shift from my prior analytical field biology, and ornithology. I am still position … but one that hearkened back to my a birdwatcher and keep binoculars and a initial interest in sociology at Sweet Briar.” Peterson’s Guide to Birds on hand to identify As leader of Corporate Communications what visits our birdfeeder. My favorite for Moody’s, she developed a corporate SBC memories revolve around individual philanthropy program. “[This was] an friendships: playing on the field hockey team, assignment that called upon all the skills I spending time with my fellow QV’s, planning had acquired in the volunteer sector.” She events with the Social Committee, step became the first president of The Moody’s singing … and walking to Guion early in the Foundation in 2002, overseeing the firm’s morning.” charitable giving programs and community of New York Downtown Hospital. With After graduation, Fran moved to affairs. “In 2008, I will transition to managing the chief medical officer, she co-chairs the Manhattan during a time when “Wall Street the corporate social responsibility program Quality Council, responsible for maintaining was [just] beginning to discover the business full time and exploring the possible expansion and improving patient care. She is a member value in employing women,” Fran says. She of the company’s philanthropic efforts beyond of the board of trustees of Prep for Prep, “an joined the Chemical Bank Management the U.S. and the UK to other countries where organization that develops the leadership Training Program, which had only seven our businesses are growing.” potential of able young people from segments women in its large trainee class. Fran enjoys the challenge of creating of society grossly under-represented in today’s Undaunted, Fran gained experience in the a corporate giving program with new leadership pool.” She serves on the board financial realm that took her to her next job partnerships and community activities that of her high school alma mater, Kent Place with Moody’s Investors Service. As a fixed mold a pipeline of talent and diversity for School, Summit, New Jersey, and was recently income securities analyst, “I managed public future Moody’s employees. “Having the elected president of the board of trustees of finance ratings in the Midwest …and was a opportunity to develop and fine-tune a The Brick Presbyterian Church of New York. member of the rating committee that assigned strategic corporate giving program from She is also a member of the Gender & Policy credit ratings to state and local governments, scratch has been immensely rewarding,” Fran Program Advisory Board for the School of nonprofit hospitals, utilities, colleges and says. “Branded community programs can International & Public Affairs, Columbia universities,” Fran said. create a positive public image and position University, and the task force for The Center During her tenure as a financial analyst, a company as a committed corporate citizen for Work-Life Policy examining “The Hidden Fran was diagnosed with cancer. “[It] and leader in its field. Corporate philanthropy Brain Drain: Women and Minorities as sidetracked my career,” she commented. “I is about ‘doing good,’ but it is also about Unrealized Assets.” took 11 years off to regain my health and the use of shareholders’ dollars to support When asked what advice she would give to devote time to raising my two daughters and corporate strategy. Balancing both objectives young alumnae and students at Sweet Briar, volunteering within my community.” At this is satisfying work.” One such community Fran said: “Start volunteering right away. time, Sweet Briar stepped back into Fran’s program is the Moody’s Mega Math (M³) There are special kinds of leadership skills life. She became a member of the Sweet Challenge, an internet-based competition for that are developed through service to others, Briar Board of Overseers, now the board of high school students awarding scholarships skills that become useful in business and directors. to those who demonstrate excellence in their for life, in general … Regardless of context, “I joined the board just after my second understanding of mathematics and modeling. [whether] volunteering in the community daughter was born and served for eight “This year, CNBC featured the competition or having a professional career, attitude years, participating on the marketing and on Wall Street Report as an example of a determines experience. Asking for more development committees and chairing the corporation’s successful effort to interest responsibility and taking on assignments that enrollment committee.” high school students in math and careers in may initially put you outside your comfort Fran’s experience on the board and financial services,” explained Fran. zone will develop the experience and the with other similar volunteer work enabled In her community, Fran serves on the habits that will define your personal style of her to transition back into the workforce executive committee of the board of trustees leadership.”—C. Murray

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 21 SPOTLIGHTS Nicole File ’95: Senior Editor for CNN JANIKA CAREY ’09, English Major

and editing meant I was already familiar with make a bad call.” Nicole believes that a strong those tasks when they came up in my work,” leader should think creatively, challenging and she explained. “I’m referring as much to the supporting her team at the same time. This ‘people skills’ and ‘leadership’ parts as to also means that leaders forgive mistakes. the specific technical aspects of writing and “Our culture does away with that more and editing. Also, organizing a product with a more now,” said Nicole, explaining her views specific audience in mind was helpful later that success has become too much of a focus when I would work on shows with a certain in our society. “I think the pool of people demographic.” who think like good leaders is shrinking. I’m Nicole added that her English and creative blessed to work in one of the last bastions of writing education at Sweet Briar was not only good news leadership.” superior to writing programs at other schools, Despite the fact that gender equality is still but it also prepared her especially well for her not completely achieved in many work places, current position as a senior editor. Nicole said that she has never felt that, as a “When I first started at CNN, people woman, she couldn’t do something. would ask me, ‘where did you learn to write so “CNN is one of the best places to work pretty?’” said Nicole, who specialized in poetry for women,” she said, estimating that about and fiction. She explained that professors at half of the employees are women. “But I’m SBC taught her to “write something that was not sure about management positions,” she true, even if it was fiction.” John Gregory admitted. CNN’s policy provides a maternity Brown, Mary Oliver, and other English plan, and the flexible shifts allow mothers to professors helped her to develop an eye for the spend time with their children during the day. important parts of a story, and she also learned Nicole considers her experience at Sweet not to overstate facts. Briar valuable to her strong self esteem: “I “Just because somebody drops a bomb, you was actually quite a tomboy when I came to can’t call it a war,” Nicole said with regard to Sweet Briar, and I left as something more of a her job at CNN. lady, but also more of a feminist.” Landing the perfect job takes a lot of skill, but As a control room editor, Nicole is Nicole said that going to a women’s sometimes there is some luck involved, too. responsible for the final edits of a show college made her aware of the great aspects When Nicole File ’95 went to Atlanta during before it goes on air. During the show, Nicole of women. “Strong women are different from spring break of her senior year to interview updates and edits news bites as they come strong men,” she explained, saying that Sweet for a job at a law firm, she never thought in—these are what we read on the scrolling Briar gave her a different perspective on the trip would eventually lead her to a job at ribbon at the bottom of our TV screen. women and leadership. CNN. Though Nicole’s job has required her to be “Before [I came to Sweet Briar] I thought It was by accident that the North Carolina a leader at certain times, the current situation I had to be more like a man to be successful,” native walked into a random office building, is somewhat different. Nicole said. “I learned you can be a woman where she encountered a headhunter agency “We’re a team of leaders,” she explained, and be just as accomplished.” Lowned by two Sweet Briar alumnae—and saying that she is equally ranked with In her free time, Nicole tutors first-grade sisters at that. The women wanted to see her producers, executives, and supervisors. Hispanic students at her church, helping résumé and liked it immediately. Working without clear hierarchies has its them with their homework because many of A few months after graduation, Nicole advantages, but of course there’s a downside the parents don’t speak English. “I’m both was offered a one-day assignment at Turner too: “When something goes wrong, you’re not a mentor and a tutor,” Nicole said. She also Entertainment in Atlanta, which turned into a the only one to blame; but if you have a good volunteers on Sweet Briar’s newly formed permanent job. When the company underwent idea, you have to convince everybody first,” English and creative writing advisory council. drastic structural changes in several Nicole said. The council is available to help guide students departments, Nicole decided to look for Nicole defines good leadership as a in their specific career goals. another position. She responded to a posting willingness to experience things from the Nicole said she is very content, but is also with CNN and was hired right away. perspective of those you are leading. She calls exploring new things at the moment, such as Looking back, Nicole was amazed at this “servant leadership,” and explained: “The reporting and freelance writing. “There are how beneficial her contributions to the Sweet good leaders I know defend those they lead, many possibilities in my current job to do Briar News (now The Voice) were in getting [they] hire—or don’t fire—the occasional something different,” Nicole said. her the job as editor. “I really thought people unlikely candidate, and are willing to try an When asked what advice she had for wouldn’t know this small women’s college, unorthodox idea, knowing their own careers current Sweet Briar students interested in but they do,” she said, adding that CNN depend on the outcome. In my experience, they journalism, Nicole had a simple answer: was impressed that she had worked for a almost always have a better record overall. But “Learn to write!” newspaper at all. “The experience of assigning leaders need support from their own leaders, stories, researching, interviewing, writing, and from those they lead ... even when they

22 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu SPOTLIGHTS Nicole Streeter ’94: A Director at Heart “It takes courage to push yourself to places As Nicole gained experience, she felt called you have never been before ... to test your down the path to become a doctor in order to limits ... to break through barriers. And the help untangle some of the problems she was day will come when the risk it takes to remain seeing for the first time. tight inside the bud is more painful than the “It’s important to demonstrate that the risk it takes to blossom.” A quote by French route to your goal is not always a straight line. author Anaïs Nin is found at the bottom of It is definitely a journey,” Nicole said. Always each email Nicole sends. When speaking with open to opportunities in her path, she realized her, it becomes apparent that a philosophy of that dreams often change as they are followed. determination and responsibility, a passion Several pursuits in the direction of health for challenges, and a respect for the beauty of care revealed her strong talent and passion for Ichange are a part of her everyday existence. fundraising. “Everybody’s route is different,” says Nicole married in 2001 and enrolled in Nicole Streeter ’94, the new executive director the University of Texas School of Public of the Houston Texans Foundation, an NFL Health with the long-term goal of becoming franchise with a mission to be champions a doctor. While at UT, the leadership skills for youth. A career path forked by change, and self-confidence that she gained at Sweet opportunity, and a range of interests led her Briar came into play. Nicole became strongly to adopt this mantra. She was motivated from invested in community research, yet found a young age to plan for a professional life. that funding was necessary and limited. UT At 14, Nicole volunteered at The University did not offer any classes in writing grants of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the and proposals, yet posted on the student proposals for foundation solicitations, and leading cancer treatment center in the nation affairs bulletin board was a flyer advertising established national and international research and “the pride of Houston.” When it came the Jane Adams Fellowship for Philanthropy collaborations on health policy for supportive time for college, all roads pointed to Sweet for undergraduates. It didn’t take her long cancer care. I organized conferences across Briar. Close friend LaQuinta Donatto ’92 to place an inquiry about graduate student the country for pain and supportive care already attended SBC and encouraged Nicole fellowships. “A secretary told me I had just physicians, pharmaceutical representatives, to apply. A College representative gave a two weeks to apply,” she remembers. Nicole and FDA officials to discuss the implications winning presentation at her high school, and was accepted under the William Randolph and efficacy of pipeline pain medications.” soon after, an interview at the home of Natalie Hearst Fellowship for the two-year program The word about Nicole’s capabilities as a Hoyt ’72 showed Nicole that she was destined in philanthropy. “It completely turned my project director of the WHO sparked interest to become a Sweet Briar woman. life around.” She worked at the Center in the Houston community. When the director Aware of her African American heritage, of Philanthropy and attended classes that of the Houston Texans Foundation stepped Nicole arrived at SBC in fall of 1990 with a changed the course of her career. During down, Nicole was offered the job and took mission to express her views about tolerance internships and loaned executive opportunities, it, seeing a new opportunity to fundraise for and acceptance. She seized every opportunity Nicole “worked at the YMCA Urban mission, another good cause. to address the issue of diversity on campus. helped with strategic planning, assisted In her community, Nicole sits on the board As president of the Unity Club, she helped with board development, and led the donor of Girls, Inc. “This organization is interested to host diversity forums and became part of solicitation program.” She also received the in making a positive, measurable impact in an organization titled New Leadership under Bentz-Whaley Flessner Fellowship while at the young girls’ lives,” Nicole says. “Girls, Inc. faculty advisor Helen Beckstrom. “It was a Center, which allowed her to be appointed as program coordinators go into underserved challenging time on Sweet Briar campus,” a loaned executive with the National Medical communities and provide girls with hands-on Nicole stated, “We had students sitting on the Association (NMA). experiences that enable them to build lawn of the library protesting issues related After her work at the Center, Nicole confidence and develop their own authentic to diversity.” Many of these protests and switched gears from health care and medical identity.” As a board member, she also serves leadership initiatives resulted in Women and school all together. She became the director as a mentor for the girls. Gender Studies at Sweet Briar, which has a of alumni affairs and alumni giving at Martin According to Nicole, Sweet Briar offered focus on women’s leadership. University in Indianapolis. This was “a great her a foundation that enabled her to pursue Nicole received her bachelor’s degree opportunity for me to become a director,” says the path of her choice. Sweet Briar taught her in psychology from SBC and moved back Nicole. to pivot on a dime, to change course as life to Houston. “My first job was as a clinical After several years, Nicole took a job persuaded. Nicole reminisced about a trip to case manager at the Community Partners as project director of the World Health Sweet Briar: “Recently, LaQuinta Donatto and Adolescent Clinic. We saw 300 or more Organization (WHO), Collaborating Center I were driving by the Sweet Briar barn and saw adolescent obstetric patients per week.” Nicole for Supportive Cancer Care at M.D. Anderson the horses in the field. As a student, I never felt very much out of the Pink Bubble as she Cancer Center in Houston. Her experience rode, but now I love horses! I wish I had … dealt with crisis intervention, preliminary as alumni director at Martin allowed her taken a riding course for fun. Students should psychiatric assessments, and referrals. “It to delve confidently into her position as take advantage of every opportunity in which was my first encounter with a pregnant nine- an administrative leader in strategic fund they have an interest. They have no idea where year-old,” she revealed. “It opened my eyes to development. “I provided administrative life might take them. It’s important to make teenage pregnancy in Houston and in general.” direction, solicited major gifts, prepared opportunities of your own! Find your authentic voice, your passion, and enjoy the journey.”

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 23 SPOTLIGHTS Cathy Packard ’73: Serving Her Community she was in charge of organizing a high school student leadership program. Talented students visited federal establishments in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington D.C. “This was before leadership programs were ‘the thing,’” remembers Cathy. She introduced them to senators, members of the Supreme Court, and the president’s executive staff. While working for Talcott, Cathy would slip away to the Watergate hearings during lunch breaks. “Even though I didn’t agree with them, [the men on trial] spoke with extraordinary dignity in front of senators and aides on TV. [They were] very capable men who made choices that got them into trouble. It was an important lesson to not forget your core values.” For Cathy, the In 1969 the Beatles released Abbey Road, the first year out of college was “eye-opening and United States was at war in Vietnam, and men exciting, filled with good news and bad news took their first steps on the moon. In a time of as Vietnam was winding down and difficult protests and riots, of political unrest and social choices had to be made [regarding] the first war change, Cathy Rasmussen traveled eastward we weren’t going to win.” from Pearl Harbor onto Sweet Briar campus, Married and no longer staffing for a place where her family knew she would be Congressman Talcott, Cathy moved to safe from the campus turmoil reported in the Dallas, Texas; became a mother to daughters news. Cathy says Sweet Briar’s Junior Year Kelly, Lynn, and Christie; and focused her in France program sealed the deal for her leadership efforts on YMCA sports coaching Above: Cathy enjoys her work and is laugh- ing at a board breakfast with Milton Levy, one to attend a college on the other side of the and school activities. Membership in the of the founders of Special Care and Career I Junior League exposed her for the first time country. Cathy also had several Sweet Briar Services. graduates already in the family: her mother, to nonprofit organizations. With the League’s Dolly Clark ’50, and aunts Jane Black Clark support, she re-entered the workforce. Top: Expanding Worlds Luncheon, October 2007. L-R: Cathy smiles with Ramya and Tulasi ’56, and Lynn Clark ’61. Always at the forefront of change, Cathy Ponnuswamy, mother with an ECI client, and Cathy Rasmussen Packard ’73, now was fascinated with rapidly advancing Sharon Herrin. executive director of a successful nonprofit computer technology. Apple had just released corporation, views herself then as a different its first desktop in 1978. In 1983, Cathy kind of student leader. “I wasn’t a leader volunteered for the Center for Nonprofit like my mother,” she says, “who was ‘Miss Management, one of the top five management Everything’ and May Queen [when she assistance centers of its type, to help nonprofits I realized how attended Sweet Briar].” For Cathy, leading was create personalized fundraising letters using

not about being dubbed president. It was, and this new technology. “Junior League training still is, about rallying behind issues that she showed me how to build and manage a fulfilling and believes are important. “When I see a cause, I database, create a letter in WordStar, and use

like to support it,” says Cathy. the computer for more than just letters. The important it As a student, establishing the Career positive impact on nonprofit staff students and “ Center at Sweet Briar was a cause that Cathy the power that new technology gave them was “ embraced enthusiastically. When she began breathtaking,” said Cathy. is to promote volunteering there, “it was just a bookshelf.” She went on to market her skills to She took the lead in helping to start the first executives, most of whom were men, fundraising campaign for a new center. Local unwilling to take classes with secretaries beneficial boutiques loaned outfits to parade in a fashion who already knew how to type. “I realized show fundraiser that she organized. Letters how fulfilling and important it is to promote Cathy drafted garnered support, and one beneficial advancements in society.” advancements earned a significant reply gift of $1,000, an After twenty years in a successful career impressive achievement for a sophomore. of marketing and selling technology-based After graduating from Sweet Briar with a products, the feeling of “Wow, I want to find a degree in International Affairs, Cathy moved to way to do this again,” resonated with her. She Washington D.C. and staffed for Congressman left the for-profit arena and went back to The Burt L. Talcott from Monterey, California. Center for Nonprofit Management as director During her one and a half years on his staff, of Technology Services. Working there, Cathy

24 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu SPOTLIGHTS SBC Development was determined to make a difference, and she did just that with the launch of low-cost training and services for nonprofits VP Wins ATHENA and a technology fair that is now part of an annual all-topic fair for nonprofits in Dallas, Texas. In November of 2005, Cathy was recruited to be the Award SUZANNE RAMSEY, STAFF WRITER, executive director of Special Care & Career Services (SCCS). After researching the agency, she found that it perfectly COLLEGE RELATIONS matched another lifelong goal of hers to care for those with Heidi Hansen McCrory, vice president for disabilities. Its two programs, Early Childhood Intervention, development at Sweet Briar College, was which provides therapies to babies with delays and disabilities, presented a 2007 ATHENA Award Oct. and Supported Employment Services, which employs adults 23 by the Lynchburg Regional Chamber of with disabilities, allow Cathy to help individuals reach their Commerce and the CENTRA Foundation. maximum potential in school and life. She is able to help The award was presented at the annual Heidi Hansen McCrory, vice “place people in good jobs—real jobs.” Women of Worth Luncheon, held at the president for development Cathy has been executive director for nearly two years. In that wins the renowned ATHENA Kirkley Hotel and Conference Center Award for excellence in her time the organization’s adult program has grown 110 percent, in Lynchburg during National Business profession. beating all-time job placement records and gaining recognition Women’s Week, Oct. 21–27. from state and local leaders. SCCS has added 14 new employers According to the ATHENA International Web site, the award recognizes for people with disabilities. According to professional studies, this Hprofessional women who “demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative program not only benefits the employee, but also the company, in their business profession,” “provide valuable service by contributing time immediate community, and the nation at large. Cathy credits her and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community,” and team for this outstanding progress. “actively assist women in realizing their full leadership potential.” “I’m not interested in leading just to lead or be in charge. The ATHENA Award is presented each year by women’s organizations, I have to be passionate about the results I can help to achieve. chambers of commerce and universities all over the world. Since 1982, I use the book Good to Great by James Collins as a guide. more than 5,000 women in 500 communities have been honored. Effective leadership is about picking the best people and McCrory was one of 15 professional women nominated from the building a great team, cultivating your own replacements Lynchburg area. As a winner of a local award, she is eligible for the and allowing your people the freedom and support to be International ATHENA Award, to be presented in the spring. successful in their jobs. I ask God every day to help me McCrory was nominated by her employees in the development office, make wise decisions and to remember the ability to lead is both for her work at Sweet Briar as well as her volunteer efforts in the just another trait necessary to the team … but never more community. “The development office is very proud that Heidi won this important than the team. I also feel privileged to have a Sweet award,” Sheila Alexander, development communications coordinator, said. Briar education. It is a critical component to believing I can “It is a small reflection of how much we appreciate her.” go toe-to-toe with anyone, male or female, and to building a In nominating their boss, development employees praised McCrory can-do and will-win attitude.” for “being an excellent role model, not just because her position dictates Among Cathy’s professional activities and memberships, respect,” adding that she “earns our respect by working just as hard—if not she has served as president of The Center for Computer harder—than anyone on her team. She is supportive of us in our jobs and Assistance to the Disabled, what she considered “a boutique in all our endeavors and encourages each of us to explore what makes us agency in a Wal-Mart world.” She made their acquisition by happy and to strive to reach our personal goals.” United Cerebral Palsy of Dallas (UCP) possible, which helped Among other things, in addition to heading up the College’s fundraising the program stay alive. A past UCP board vice president of efforts, McCrory is active in the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council, development, she received the UCP Volunteer of the Year where she is chair of the board of directors; a parent volunteer for the E.C. Award in 2005. Cathy is a founding member and president- Glass High School Theatre, and a member of the Emerson College Parents Leadership Council. elect of a brand new Alliance of Agency Executives Serving She also has been a speaker and workshop leader at various professional People with Disabilities that has grown to more than 20 dues- conferences, including the Virginia Community Colleges Chancellor’s paying agency members in one year. Cathy is also chair of Annual Planning Retreat, Virginia Senior Leadership Seminar for Women the more targeted Supported Employment Coalition that has in Higher Education, Council for Advancement and Support of Education launched a local job bank and contract job coach list. and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Cathy advises young professionals seeking leadership President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld also commended McCrory in a letter to positions “to represent a cause, product, or initiative that you the chamber of commerce. believe in” regardless of power and fame. “Secondly,” she “Throughout the time I have known her,” she wrote, “I have been continues, “be a contributing member of a great team. Be clear amazed at Heidi McCrory’s energy and her dedication to strengthening the in what you want to achieve, be mindful of other people’s community. … Still, as busy as she is, it is Heidi who remembers people’s time, perform your assignments to the best of your ability, and birthdays, and who takes the initiative to find ways to show those around don’t be afraid to take challenges when they are presented to her how much she values them. you—then you’ll naturally rise to a leadership position in a “She is a good friend to many, many people across our community, and a form that suits you and best serves your community.” wonderful role model for the girls and young women with whom she comes —C. Murray in contact through her work with the Girl Scouts and at Sweet Briar. She is without question one of Lynchburg’s most noteworthy women of worth.”

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 25 Photo © Photo A aron aron M ahler

Leadership

Sweet Briar College

JOAN LUCY, DIRECTOR OF THE LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

ecommended by the Shape of the Future study, the Sweet Briar Board of Directors agreed that a leadership program was Rvital to a healthy college campus. The Sweet Briar Leadership Certificate Program (LCP) was created and developed in 2005 and is a three phase program open to all students. It combines academic and experiential learning that develops an understanding of the theory and foundations of leadership; fosters personal skills such as communication and ethical decision making; and teaches the organizational skills necessary to work well with others and to motivate groups working toward a common goal. By the end of the 2005–2006 academic year, 24 students were participating in the program. As of fall 2007, 23 students are enrolled in Phase III, 18 students in Phase II, and 32 students in Phase I! 26 • LeadershipWinter 2007/2008 CertificateSweet Briar College Program Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu LCP leadership defined by Machiavelli. been a blessing and a challenge because of • Attending events with an educational the nature of my major and minor. I was or cultural component outside of class fortunate in my choice to pursue the education The Sweet Briar College requirements. Recent opportunities have program because the classes I needed to take Leadership Certificate Program included Ambassador Bushnell’s Founders’ fit quite nicely with the Leadership Certificate Day speech and sessions with students, the requirements. The Leadership Certificate prepares women to become PowerShift conference addressing climate Program has allowed me to invest time and engaged and influential members change held in Washington D.C., and the energy into personal development along on-campus Fall Gospel Festival sponsored by with my other educational goals, something of a world community. Through Sweet Briar’s new minority group ONYX. which I fear I might not have made time a network of on- and off-campus for otherwise. In previous years, especially Mission Statement • Participating actively in at least two team- in Phase I, I really enjoyed the chance to mentors, students are empowered oriented activities. Students are encouraged bond with other members of the Sweet Briar to learn to lead with integrity to take leadership roles in these activities community that were not entrenched in the in Phase II, and Phase III requires that the departments I mainly work within. We were through participation in a program student assume a leadership role for at least able to compare our respective workloads that combines academic and one activity. and be comforted that we were not crazy to pursue so much. The type of student who experiential learning focused on • Completion of 12 credit hours from approved classes that have a focus becomes involved in the LCP is often an the foundations of leadership, on leadership. Courses which meet overachiever already, and to make friends individual personal development, the Leadership Certificate Program with other overachievers is a nice lifeline requirement must do one or more of the at times. This year in Phase III the focus and organizational theories. following: introduce concepts relevant to shifted a bit to a more personal development. leadership; enhance leadership skills; give I especially enjoyed the mini-workshops that Program Overview students opportunities to take a leadership have been incorporated into Phase III on role in a collaborative project. useful skills such as public speaking and time Participation in the program is a commitment management. The community we have built that spans a student’s entire on-campus career. • Attend the on-campus Student Leadership within the program has been a very tangible Each phase is completed in one academic Conference each spring. Participants in reminder of why I came to Sweet Briar in year, yet exceptions are made that allow Phases II and III have the opportunity to the first place. I feel at home with the other students to study abroad or participate in other help plan and implement all aspects of the members, most of whom I rarely see and may special programs. Students who complete conference. not have ever become acquainted otherwise.” all phases receive a certificate at graduation; • Maintain a record of leadership activities —Emily Clifton ’08 LCP III however, they may complete just one or two and classes and evaluate the ways in which phases and still receive recognition for that she has molded her concept of leadership “One of the best decisions I have made while at particular phase(s). Transfer students who and its challenges. Sweet Briar was being part of the Leadership demonstrate that they have begun a similar Certificate Program. This program has enabled program at another institution may participate. • Write a reflective essay exploring her me to combine my leadership roles both inside Students begin Phase I by being a part of definition of leadership and how it has and outside of the classroom and apply them the Leaders: Emerging and Achieving Program changed over the course of the year. She to real life situations. The requirements help (LEAP). LEAP meets weekly and provides will explore the connections between her hone important leadership skills such as verbal exploration leadership concepts, self-awareness, course work and individual experiences. communication, organization, marketing, and may include a community project. Students All students enrolled have reported that writing communication, and general problem may participate in LEAP without intending to they find the program is valuable to their solving. This program has also helped me to complete the Certificate Program. college experience and to their future, and better understand different types of people and all plan to complete the certificate. Our first how to adjust myself in order to better utilize Each program phase includes: group of students to complete the program the skills that each individual person has to will graduate and receive their certificates offer. • Successful completion of the previous this May—Congratulations! Nobody said that being a leader was easy, phase(s). but in order to be a good leader it is important • Regular meetings with the LCP Director. to note that practice makes perfect. If you These sessions include the study of do not succeed at first it is imperative that theoretical foundations, readings, “I’m lucky that Sweet Briar has this you try, try again. This program helps guide discussions, and presentations. Recent program… the things we do and study in the you on how to be an effective leader not only presentations include: Youth, Innovation Leadership Program help tie it all together… inside the classroom or on campus, but also in and Development: A Global Perspective; this program is truly my number one interest the world at large.” report on attendance at the National at Sweet Briar.” —Caroline Chappell ’09 LCP II Collegiate Leadership Conference at the —Anne Lojek ’08, LCPIII University of Arizona; and reflection on What“The Leadership the StudentsCertificate program Say… has Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 27 Leadership at Sweet Briar Today KELLY KRAFT-MEYER, ASSOCIATE DEAN, CO-CURRICULAR LIFE

he Council for the Advancement New Student Orientation of Standards in Higher Orientation exposes students to the wide array Education (CAS) believes: of possibilities they can become involved in “LeadershipT is an inherently relational to build and test their leadership interests and process of working with others to skwwsics of room assignments and course accomplish a goal or to promote registration, it also: change.” CAS believes that all colleges • informs students of the numerous clubs, should seek to develop a comprehensive organizations, and groups on campus; Leadershipprogram/opportunity that is purposeful, • familiarizes new students with local civic holistic, and consists of both curricular engagement and volunteer opportunities; and co-curricular experiences. In • exposes students to the structured Leaders, addition, the program should be Emerging and Achieving Program (LEAP), intentional, coherent, based on theories which is also an integral part of the Leadership Certificate Program; and knowledge, reflective of the • expects students to take advantage of all the demographics of the student population opportunities of interest to them, honing and responsive to the needs of those their skills and experiences; involved. • provides venues for the exchange of ideas, thoughts, opinions, and efforts. Coupling this national benchmark with George Dehne’s1 remarks that First-Year Experience Program “leadership development has become a The First-Year Experience Program is an universal theme at most small colleges, intentionally designed comprehensive, but few have programs that would curricular and co-curricular initiative that convince a prospective student that the provides new students with opportunities institution is serious about leadership.” and resources for making meaningful However, Sweet Briar College has connections to the campus community. created a leadership program that Students are introduced to a community that fosters a greater sense of self-knowledge, is focused and comprehensive. a heightened appreciation and respect for “Leadership is a relationship between others, a commitment to life-long learning, those who aspire to lead and those who and a supportive climate. This is done through choose to follow. In addition, leadership professional staff support and guidance, is found everywhere—offering hope, student leaders living and learning with because there is a generation of leaders students in the first year halls, and a variety searching for opportunities to make of sponsored lectures, events, and programs focused on the transitional issues that new a difference.” Sweet Briar College’s students face. The efforts of the First Year leadership program allows students to Experience Program are ongoing as we help become involved and explore leadership students develop their identity as women and in a way they choose to define it. There as leaders for the future. is not a one-size-fits-all formula. As a In 2001, the Houghton Mifflin Company

Photo © Photo result, there are nine core elements to and The National Resource Center for First- Year Experience and Students in Transition the current, yet ever evolving, leadership recognized Sweet Briar’s First-Year A aron aron program. Experience Program as one of ten outstanding

M first-year programs nationally. ahler

28 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Executive Student Leaders To unite the Sweet Briar campus and promote positive community involvement and personal growth through a network of peer support and encouragement that exemplifies the standards of all Sweet Briar women.

New student orientation: Learning on the Land.

LEAP: Leaders, Emerging and of the student body, these leaders play a • mesh students, staff and faculty on a basis Achieving Program crucial role in New Student Orientation, but of mutual interests, understanding, and moreMission importantly, representStatement Co-Curricular of commitment. LEAP is a semester-long workshop that has Life throughout the academic year. They are Since its inception at Sweet Briar, more taken on a variety of formats. Students have held to a high standard of expectation and than 50 students and ten staff and faculty taken advantage of meeting weekly with a responsibility. have been honored. ODK provides another different leadership topic each week. The means to recognize and encourage excellence presenters have included faculty and staff who Who’s Who Among Students in in leadership where it is combined with have discussed leadership theory, self-identity American Universities and Colleges excellence in academics—the basic premise of and development, ethics and values, balance, Co-Curricular Life. mediation and resolution, and more. Asking Each February, selected students are called community members to participate also forward to accept one of the most prestigious exposes students to campus resources. LEAP awards in the academic community—selection Volunteerism and Civic Engagement has utilized books as the common reading into Who’s Who Among Students in Many Sweet Briar students find that personal and foundation for the course from which the American Universities and Colleges. More volunteerism and civic engagement is both weekly units are based. Texts have focused on than 1,900 schools in all 50 states and the enjoyable and rewarding. It also provides the leadership lessons with humor, to an award- District of Columbia confer this exclusive opportunity to move beyond the bounds of the winning, historic non-fiction work (with honor. Nominations are encouraged and College into the larger community. the author speaking to the class), to a more received from all community members: staff There are a number of ways to become scholarly work on the sole topic of leadership. and faculty as well as students. involved. In addition to academic courses, the An experiential component is built into the This award is given to outstanding Sweet Career Services Center assists students with framework—whether a one-time volunteer day Briar leaders for scholastic ability, participation options related to internships/externships and to a week-long spring break trip composed and leadership in academic and extra other ways to combine their interests with the of civic engagement, history, and physical curricular activities, and community service. opportunity to help and serve others. challenge. In the 2006–2007 academic year, Sweet Briar All clubs and organizations are required inducted 20 of her best student leaders. The benefits to participating in LEAP to complete community service projects. The include: director of Student Involvement and Programs • the opportunity to earn a Leadership Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) and other College staff maintain contact Certificate—a complement to their In April 2004, SBC was granted a charter with a variety of local organizations, which academic transcript; for the Circle of ODK. The initiation have civic engagement and volunteer focused • an understanding for the various theories/ of this endeavor was co-sponsored by projects. languages of leadership; Co-Curricular Life, with campus support, Sweet Briar College’s Leadership Program • the chance to enhance their communication and the vice president of the Student recognizes differences amongst students and and interpersonal skills; Government Association. The VP is in charge allows them to become involved to whatever • compiling a reference notebook of of promoting the importance of leadership degree, in whatever fashion they choose. leadership materials; amongst the students. Being affiliated with The co-curricular life model fuses endless • development of critical thinking skills this nationally recognized honor society for possibilities for out-of-classroom experiences and engaging in the SBC community and leadership and being given the honor to wear with the far-reaching liberal arts education forming a network of support. the ODK key serves to: provided by our faculty. It is an ever- evolving process. The expectations placed • recognize individuals who have attained a Executive Student Leaders upon the students regarding personal and high standard of leadership in collegiate social responsibility combined with Sweet There are currently 65 Executive Student activities and encourage them to aspire to Briar College’s mission help to develop the Leaders who applied and were either selected higher achievements; intellectual skills of our students and create a or elected to represent Co-Curricular Life • bring together individuals that represent all realm of leadership opportunities for students through a variety of leadership roles as para- facets of collegiate life and thus to create to take advantage of and make a difference. professionals. To more fully represent a “real an organization that molds the sentiment world” situation, these students were required of SBC on questions of local and inter- 1. Mr. George Dehne of GDA Integrated Services, to submit cover letters and résumés in lieu of collegiate interests; the firm selected to conduct market research for the traditional applications. As representatives SOF Committee

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 29 Teaching Leadership through Excerpts below are from an essay by President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld in a forthcoming volume of essays entitled Educating Leaders for the Modern World, Ronald Riggio, Michael Genovese, and Thomas Wren, eds., to be published The Sweet Briar Outdoor Program this year. LAURA STAMAN, DIRECTOR OF OUTDOOR PROGRAMS oday, many colleges and universities are attempting to be intentional about developing leadership skills and abilities; ndiana Fletcher Williams stated has been shown to have particularly Ta number of excellent programs in leadership studies have in her intentions for the College strong effect. The goal is for this grown up just in the last two decades…. Almost every such that all students should have effect to last, which can only program provides a strong foundational statement as to the I“physical and moral ... training ... be accomplished if individuals value of broad study in the liberal arts. In fact, however, the to be useful members of society.” are provided with knowledge of curricula of today’s finest leadership studies programs are not This concept speaks to what the how to transfer their newfound as broad as they could be. Steeped in the social sciences, outdoor program offers the students learning into other contexts…. The Leadership today. Following in the footsteps potential for lasting transformation psychology and anthropology, students are taught theories of group dynamics, the history of social movements, the of programs such as Outward in people’s lives is what makes Bound and the National Outdoor development of public policy, and the skills of conflict resolution outdoor leadership such an exciting Leadership School, the Sweet Briar practice.” This is the philosophy we and change management. Little curricular attention is paid Outdoor Program (SWEBOP) embrace at Sweet Briar as we teach within these leadership programs themselves to the study of has been providing “outdoor our students transferable leadership the arts (especially the doing of creative work), the humanities recreational opportunities that foster skills through outdoor programs. or the sciences. Most such programs trust that students will personal growth, responsibility, To SWEBOP, the wilderness is study within these disciplines by virtue of the general education leadership, and environmental an outdoor laboratory for leadership courses required of all students. And yet it is in the arts that sensitivity” since 1980. “The training. On an adventure trip, creativity (an essential characteristic of the best leaders) is OutdoorSWEBOP trips have been a great Adventureparticipants are in an unfamiliar nourished; in the humanities that communication skills (the sine test of my character,” says Sarah environment, and they have to qua non for all leaders) are honed; in the sciences that the Doyle ’09. work together to achieve goals most rigorous approaches to problem-solving (again, essential Personal habits and reactions such as setting up a camp, cooking to leadership) are taught. that go unnoticed in our a meal together, climbing a cliff “… Serious study of the arts, humanities, and sciences everyday routines are revealed face, or paddling down a river. as well as the social sciences, when these subjects are well in the unfamiliar outdoor setting Time is set aside for students to taught, insures the development of a deep understanding of the provided on SWEBOP trips. reflect on changing group dynamics connectivity between disciplines, the integration of knowledge. Through experiential learning and individual accomplishments One cannot understand the structure and development of music and reflection, students begin to and challenges. Skills are taught without understanding math, physics, chemistry, electronics, or weave what they learn into their through experience, and as the without a knowledge of history, art, poetry or the conventions everyday lives. “SWEBOP has group builds competencies in of theater. Musicians must be multi-lingual. Interdisciplinarity is, given me many leadership skills. technical and relational skills, they in other words, essential to the liberal arts—not a modern fad. I have learned how outlook can show less need for the direction of One cannot study biology today without solid knowledge of determine perception …,” says Sara professional staff. As they progress, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science, not Rothamel ’09. SWEBOP uses as students will lead others on outings Outdoor Leadership, to say environmental science and geography. To understand a reference, of their own. The following excerpts Theory and Practice, a book are from current SWEBOP student literature, one must be at least conversant with philosophy, written by acclaimed adventurers instructors reflecting on their own history, theater, economics, art, and religion, and in many Bruce Martin, Christine Cashel, outdoor leadership journeys. instances, psychology, sociology, economics and the sciences. Mark Wagstaff, and Mary Breunig. “My attraction to and A good liberal arts education provides constant opportunities to In their book, they say that an motivation within SWEBOP is make these connections, to integrate what students are learning “outdoor setting provides a unique the chance to lead students on in one classroom with what they learn in another, and with site for personal growth as well as successful trips that contribute to their experience of the world outside the classroom altogether. process. Mastery alone can provide the personal growth of all parties This facility should be regarded as a core skill in leadership the motivation for change, but involved. The fact that I have fun development. Leaders must be able to move nimbly from one completing such a task in a unique while doing it is just an added world to another—drawing on everything and everyone that physical and social environment bonus. The outlet to use my can help reach their goals.” Sara Rothamel ’09 created this sticker sold as a fundraiser for a whitewater kayaking trip to South America. The sticker From Learning Leadership Discipline by Discipline: demonstrates the self-efficacy the students have gained as outdoor Cultivating Metaphors for Leadership Through the Study adventure leaders in what is still a male dominated field. of the Liberal Arts. —Elisabeth Muhlenfeld 30 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Leading Through Philanthropy skills to develop someone else’s is welcomed and exciting LAURA G. GLOVER, DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING for me. I am so fortunate to be able to pass on all that I have learned to participants and fellow instructors. n important aspect Being a SWEBOP instructor has also been an of leadership is an opportunity for me to demonstrate to myself that I am understanding of the a capable leader. … That confidence then translates powerA of personal philanthropy. itself into my actions as a leader and enables me to lead The Senior Class Campaign successful trips. One such excursion was the backpacking encourages seniors to discover trip I co-led this fall without a non-student leader along the joy of giving through a year- to assist. Sarah Doyle and I led that group out of our own long program of philanthropy knowledge and skills, and it was a fantastic trip. What education. This year’s campaign I am now seeing is that the participants didn’t trust me theme is “Hope Everlasting” to lead them up that mountain because I handed them a in memory of classmate Laura résumé and showed them my pay stubs. It wasn’t because Jahnke, who passed away I was the one with the compass and first aid kit. They in February 2007 after a followed me because it was obvious that I believed that courageous battle with cancer. we could do it. I trusted myself, and they trusted me in Laura was a remarkable leader return.”—Rebecca Penny ’09 and a role model of selfless Seniors Allison Carr, Diana Simpson, and Jenn Doherety enjoy the campaign kickoff. “As a rambunctious first-year [student], I could not be and joyful giving to everyone counted on for much. I have grown so much as a leader in who knew her. As Campaign the outdoor program; I am now the person people depend Chair Natalie Batman ’08 states, on and ask for guidance.”—Amanda Baker ’09 “Laura left a legacy on our “For me, SWEBOP was not about leadership, it campus by giving of herself to was about caving, backpacking, camping, rafting, rock others every day, and it is my climbing, and (most importantly) kayaking. But on the hope that we can follow her first day of the Spring Break Rock Climbing trip last year, example by making philanthropy Laura, our director, made an analogy that being a leader and volunteering part of our was a lot like rock climbing. A comment which totally lives, starting now.” passed me by because, well, I wasn’t a leader; I was simply The Senior Class kicked off the grunt work girl whose job it was to make sure that their campaign with a celebration everyone had health forms and that all the pieces of the announcing their goals to raise tents ended up in the right spot. But as the week went on $4,000 as a class gift in 2008 the comment started to make more sense. As a leader you and pledge $6,000 for 2009 can only know so much. Just as you never really know as young alumnae. President what the hand and foot holds are going to be like on the Muhlenfeld addressed the class Annual Fund Chair Mollie Johnson Nelson rock, you never really know what mother nature or crazy with a message about Sweet ’64 sits with seniors Natalie Batman and Liz participants are going to throw at you. You can set up good Killiam during SBC lunch hour to promote the Briar’s legacy of giving. Annual Hope Everlasting campaign. anchors and prepare yourself with knowledge for the trip, Fund Chair Mollie Johnson but as in rock climbing, you just have to go for it and trust Nelson ’64 challenged the that you really can reach that next ledge. Great leaders are class to support their campaign the ones who can trust their set-up and co-leaders enough and vowed to make a personal to take that risk. For me SWEBOP is about being that commitment of $7,500 to the leader.” —Carlie Adams ’10 class gift if the seniors reach 75 percent participation. Laura Jahnke’s parents, Doug and Merilee Jahnke, were special guests of the Senior Class. Mr. Jahnke’s remarks on Laura’s incredible spirit of giving follow. Laura’s spirit lives on in her classmates, and the Class of 2008 is poised to make a transformational difference for Senior Class Campaign Committee Members Sweet Briar through a lifetime of celebrate the campaign kickoff. L-R: Cat Cox, philanthropic leadership. Ellie Donahue, and Whitney Towler

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 31 these dogs, if not adopted, would not make finished some palliative treatment at M.D. it. I think if we had said okay, she would Anderson Hospital in Houston, she knew have brought all of them home with us. We she was dying. She asked Dr. Pete what she selected a cute, small German shepherd should do. “Do what would make you the mixed breed, named her Princess, and happiest,” he replied. She chose to come shared a life with her for many years. back to Sweet Briar. Through her humane Shortly after we brought Princess society experience, we had learned that we home, Laura decided to save her allowance shouldn’t and wouldn’t be able to change her for Lent to give to the humane society. mind once it was made up. So, in spite of our When it came time to send the money to the wanting to be with her every moment, we humane society after Easter, she informed us agreed to let her come back to Sweet Briar. that she also wanted to add all of the money She chose her classes carefully, trying to Laura Jahnke in her savings account to her gift. pick those that would be meaningful and that This wasn’t a whole lot of money to us, as she could handle. She had loved her previous Remarks by Doug Jahnke I recall the total was around $80, but to her it photography class with Paige Critcher and was all she had. And even at that age Laura enrolled in that. She loved the challenge Merilee and I would like to thank the had begun to develop her highly sensitized of Lynn Laufenburg’s classes and enrolled senior class for including the memory affinity to shopping, which I’m sure some despite worrying that she wouldn’t be able of our wonderful daughter, Laura, as of her friends here at Sweet Briar were aware to fulfill the requirements. She loved history a significant component of this year’s of and probably even helped to fine-tune. and Professor Berg’s inspiration, which fundraiser. While I am delivering the At the age of eight, this gift seemed like a helped her to choose that as her major. She message this evening, please know that pretty big deal to us, but for Laura it was loved music, so she chose a piano class with Merilee and I collaborated in developing this simply the right thing to do. I asked her if Rebecca McCord to supplement her banjo message so the thoughts shared this evening she didn’t want to give just a part, say half, lessons with Joe Malloy. are from both of us. of her savings, but she had made up her Unfortunately, it took only weeks before Also know that Laura was a very mind to give all of her money. she realized that her body was just too tired. generous and giving person in all ways and Merilee took Laura back to the humane She couldn’t keep up, and while everyone, would have been honored that the Senior society to deliver her savings. The director and I mean everyone at Sweet Briar was Class is thinking of her as they give to a came out and was surprised to see such a wonderful about helping, she made the worthwhile cause. Sweet Briar was a special young girl making such a generous donation. decision that the time had come to spend place to Laura, and by extension it has She received a very nice thank-you note from her time with her family and friends in the become so to us as well, and the memories the Humane Society, but the bigger thanks comfort of her own home. It was a blessing of her time here and the times we have was in knowing that she had done her part to to have her loving spirit with us until she visited will be with us always. support an organization that was helping the passed away on February 19, 2007. From childhood Laura always put homeless animals of the world to survive. We still receive warm messages from other individuals’ needs in front of her We won’t ever know whether this many of you and other friends and family. own. She would not only listen when others experience inspired her passion for The essence of many of these messages is were dealing with tough issues, but she had animals—including her love of horses, which that those who knew Laura often think, great insight into helping them, usually in was an attraction of Sweet Briar—or whether “What would Laura do in this situation?” commonsense ways that left everyone feeling it was just an in-born trait, but we do know as they go about their lives. I often ask good. She would not only see problems that her generous spirit was one of her myself the same thing because she was such in the world that needed attention, but she endearing qualities. a role model even to me, her father (isn’t would do something about them to the extent When she was at the hospital for week- it supposed to be the other way around?) I she was able. long stints during 18 chemotherapy cycles know that today she would be happy, and Giving was an inherent part after her first diagnosis, she didn’t sit in probably is happy, to have all of you think of Laura’s structure of beliefs that she her room and watch TV or videos, or read about her as you face the opportunity to give expressed at an early age. When we decided books, or sulk about what an unfortunate to this worthwhile Sweet Briar Senior Class as a family to get a dog, there wasn’t much hand fate had dealt her. When she had any Campaign, and how you can generously discussion about where we should search energy at all, she would entertain visitors, support it in her name. for the right one. We all felt that finding a chat with docs and nurses, or walk the halls Thanks again for remembering Laura in dog at the humane society would help out an and visit others who usually had similar this special final year for all of you. unfortunate puppy, so we all went down to illnesses or treatments. If they were children, the Toledo Humane Society and we found Laura would play with them or color Princess. pictures. Laura could get just about anyone Special note: Anyone wishing to Laura was eight at the time, and we didn’t to talk about themselves and their likes and honor Laura’s memory with a gift to realize until afterward how moved she was dislikes and their families and their hobbies Sweet Briar may do so, and donations by the trip to the Humane Society. While and their friends to take their minds off of will be counted in the 2008 Senior the animals were well cared for, the living what they were going through. It was never conditions were pretty spartan. Concrete Class Campaign. Gifts should be about Laura. It was always about others. She made out to Sweet Briar College with floors and block walls, metal bars like was so generous with her time. She enjoyed prison cells detained the dogs—very basic the notation “Senior Class Gift in hearing others’ stories and she brought out memory of Laura Jahnke” and mailed survival conditions. Laura was moved to the best side of everyone. To Laura, no one try to help them, and I think she came to to The Annual Fund, Box G, Sweet had a bad side. Briar, VA 24595. the realization during that visit that some of In August of 2006, when Laura had

32 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Barbara Parker, director of human resources SUZANNE RAMSEY, STAFF WRITER Photo by Suzanne Ramsey Suzanne by Photo Barbara Parker is the new director of human resources. She brings more than 25 years of human resources experience to Sweet Briar and has worked in industry, city government and education. She comes to Sweet Briar from Central Virginia Community College, where Nancy Douthat Goss ’55 she was a faculty and staff recruiter. She also teaches Nancy Goss, a supporter of women’s education and historic preservation, transitionsan HR course at CVCC. has been recently honored with several communications to the Alumnae Prior to that, she was HR director for the city of Office. She died on July 10, 2007, and her important work in historic Bedford for five years. preservation and women’s education is a noteworthy gift to future Parker has completed her Senior Professional generations. Certification for the National Society for Human After she left Sweet Briar with her degree in psychology, Nancy Resources and has a master’s degree in career became the first woman to serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals in counseling and college placement from North Worcester, MA, and took on the role of vice president of the Friends of Carolina Central College in Durham, N.C. the Goddard Library at Clark University. Among her many activities, When she’s not working, Parker enjoys traveling she volunteered at the Worcester Art Museum and received her master’s to warm places and shopping. She also is active at degree in English linguistics from Clark. Greater Brookville Church, where she chairs the N In time, Nancy became the vice president of the North Andover missionary group. Historical Society; became a guide for the Museum of Fine Arts in Parker lives in Lynchburg with her husband, Craig, Boston; and was museum house chairwoman of the Moffatt-Ladd House and has two adult sons. One is in the Special Forces in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This prompted her to become part and just left for Afghanistan; the other is a chef at Ohio of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA), State University. which takes an active approach to promoting American heritage. Nancy served 12 years with the Dames on the National Museum Properties Committee as Region IV Vice-Chairman, National Museum Properties Chairman, and chairman of two National Museum Properties Sheena Belcher Workshops. One of Nancy’s widely noted accomplishments is an article she Hubbard ’05 coauthored for The Magazine ANTIQUES, which was distributed to KEN HUUS, DEAN OF ADMISSIONS over 63,000 readers. Because of its great success, 13,000 reprints of this issue were distributed. Beyond helping to write the article, Nancy Sheena Hubbard has volunteered for four years to create this issue, which focused on the resigned her position in Dames collections and their significance. “She inspired people to the Admissions Office, understand history because of the emotion she felt in history,” remarked effective Friday, January her son. 18, 2008. Sheena has Elizabeth Hays Terry and Hilary Field Gripekoven of The worked in the Admissions Magazine ANTIQUES said: “Nancy helped lead the NSCDA toward Office since graduating an increasingly professional level of museum management by: raising from Sweet Briar. She’s the standards of preservation, record keeping and financial disclosure; been an invaluable insisting on collection policies; encouraging broadening the sources member of my staff, and of funds to maintain the properties; and, taking time daily to solve I will miss her constantly problems and answer questions from museum properties’ staff and inquisitive mind and her boards.” Truly, Nancy was a woman who has made a difference in dedication to her students. historic preservation for years to come.—C. Murray

All quotes taken from The Dames Dispatch, Vol. 17, No. 1, Fall 2007

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 33 SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE Rock vs. Hitching ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION Calling All Young Post Challenge Alumnae! 2008-2009 Join in the fun by making your best gift to the Annual Fund and boost your team’s participation in the Young Alumnae: Rock vs. Hitching Post June 3–14 A President’s Trip Challenge. It’s so easy! A Voyage Through America’s Just go to www.giving. French Heritage: From Normandy sbc.edu or call toll free 1.888.846.5722. to Paris Aboard the Cezanne Do it now! Celebrating the 60th Anniversary Team Rock: of Sweet Briar’s Junior Year in 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007 France Program bulletinTea m boardHitching Post: Sharing with Harvard and Yale 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 July 2–15 Alumni Campus Abroad in Ukraine and Romania aboard the M.S. Dnieper Princess Sharing with The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

NEW ADDITIONS!

July 28– Waterways of the Tsars: August 11 St. Petersburg to Moscow aboard Down the the M.S. Volga Dream Wedding photos will be published Sharing with Washington & Lee and the in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue National Trust for Historic Preservation of theAisle magazine. If you were married in 2007 or 2008, please send your wedding July 29– Village Life in Ireland: photo to The Boxwood August 6 Dublin and Killarney Alumnae House, attn: Colleen Murray, P.O.Box October 22–30 Alumni Campus Abroad in E, Sweet Briar, VA 24595. Alternatively, you Tuscany Wmay email a high Sharing with Northeastern resolution photo to cmurray@ sbc.edu. May 29–June 11 South Africa: Three Kingdoms (with an optional extension to Cape Town)

34 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu tours Bertha Lamar Goode Moore 1949–2007 Bertha Moore, 58, died on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, at her home after of a prolonged illness. She is survived by three children, Delmar Goode, Lawan Moore-Marshall, and Edmund Hardman; one brother, Robert Goode Jr., of Baltimore, Maryland; two sisters, Florence Simms of Petersburg, and Virginia (Johnny) Mason, of Lynchburg; and eight grandchildren. Bertha was a member of the Sweet Briar Housekeeping Department from May 1999–March 2007. She tended to the Alumnae Office and the Cochran Library. Bertha was faithful in her duties and always extended a warm smile and great enthusiasm for the College. Because of the housekeeping schedule, Bertha was most often the first person in the Alumnae Office each day. “It was such a pleasure to be greeted by Bertha, and I looked forward to seeing her each morning. Her optimistic view often set the tone for my day,” commented Missy Witherow ’80, associate director of the alumnae association. A funeral service was held Monday, October 22, 2007, at Peaceful Baptist Church, Lynchburg.

Frank H. Fedorovich Frank H. Fedorovich died on August 22, 2007 at the age of 78. Frank was Director of the Physical Plant at Sweet Briar from 1987–1997 under a contract with Service Master, Inc. Born in Akron, Ohio, Frank lived in Amherst as well as Ohio. He retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber in 1987 after 42 inyears of service. memoriam He loved boating and water skiing and was also a former member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Betty; sons, Frank (Peggy) and Gary; daughter Barbara (Donald) Oakes; stepson, David (Kelly) Willison; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Paul (Ruth); sisters Rose Uhrich Carole Fedorovich and Anne (Lee) McDaniel. A Mass of Christian Burial was held August 25th at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Uniontown, Ohio.

Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu Winter 2007/2008 • 35 recent deaths If you wish to write to a member of the family of someone recently deceased, please contact the Alumnae Office for name and address.

1927 1934 1939 Margaret Steinhart 1955 Emily Jones Baylis Rector Grace Robinson Mrs. Margaret Overly Kathleen Button Mrs. Hanson H. Hodge Mrs. George Love Mrs. William B. October 3, 2007 Mrs. L. H. Ginn III October 11, 2007 September 17, 2007 McGuire November 7, 2007 September 1, 2007 1946 1930 Dorothy Turno Margaret Coffman 1961 Adelaide Wampler Mrs. Nathaniel P. Natalie Harris Mrs. Margaret C. Smith Elinor Scherr Mrs. George G. Kundahl Gardner, Jr. Mrs. John I. Wheatley Date unknown Mrs. Frederic Mosher October 25, 2007 August 20, 2007 February 12, 2007 June 27, 2007 Carolyn Conley Sarah De Saussure 1935 Nancy McKee Mrs. Carolyn J. Danley Linda Baker Mrs. C. Elliott Heath Blandina Jones Mrs. McKee Hullett July 18, 2006 Mrs. Byron Spencer, Jr. November 27, 2007 Mrs. William E. Skilton December 1, 2007 September 15, 2007 September 9, 2007 1947 1931 Sarah Tams Inez Rosamond 1963 Elizabeth Stephenson Isabel Scriba Mrs. George F. Kreker Mrs. William G. Boone Jr. Barbara Quimby Mrs. J. W. Sills Miss Isabel Scriba October 14, 2007 September 8, 2007 Mrs. Thomas A. August 27, 2007 November 18, 2007 Gildehaus Fayth Mueller Elaine Davis June 18, 2007 1932 1936 Mrs. Philip Shirkey Mrs. Charles E. Katherine Scott Capel Grimes December 16, 2006 Blackford III 1966 Mrs. Katherine S. Soles Mrs. Charles H. Gerlach October 13, 2007 Martha Spangenberg July 11, 2006 Date unknown 1940 Mrs. John E. Moore Mariana Bush 1948 September 23, 2007 Barbara Munter 1937 Mrs. Robert R. King, Jr. Yvonne Lamon Mrs. Robert A. Purdue Dorothy Prout November 3, 2007 Mrs. Julian Olevsky 1973 November 27, 2007 Mrs. Robert W. Gorsuch Date unknown Marcia Stanley March 30, 1999 1941 Mrs. Roger Allen Verse Susanne Gay Emily Sebrell Bernyce Richstone Date unknown Mrs. C. Edwin Linville Alice Danzer Mrs. Thomas G. Lynch Mrs. Irving Manson November 26, 2007 Mrs. David W. Fletcher October 10, 2007 July 11, 2004 Kathleen Williams October 9, 2007 Ms. Kathleen Williams 1932 Emily Sebrell 1951 Stant Nell Colgin 1938 Mrs. Thomas G. Lynch Anne Louise Fletcher August 24, 2007 Mrs. C. F. Miller Florence Caven October 15, 2007 Mrs. Anne L. Bedford December 26, 2007 Mrs. Ralph Crosnoe June 22, 2007 1982 September 27, 2007 Ann Pickard Margaret Camblos 1933 Mrs. T. F. McCarry Marjorie Newell Ms. Margaret B. Anne Brooke Marjorie Miller November 28, 2007 Mrs. William D. Curlee Camblos Miss Anne H. Brooke Mrs. Marjorie H. Raber November 11, 2005 November 23, 2007 June 20, 2007 January 18, 1996 1943 Suzanne Douglas 1952 1983 Betty Attaway Elizabeth Hopper Mrs. Jay G. Terry Faith June Wildes Suzanne Flagg Mrs. Robert F. Wiemer Mrs. John Turner II Date unknown Mrs. Douglas MacArthur Miss Suzanne D. Flagg July 7, 2007 November 10, 2004 September 26, 2007 June 28, 2000 Harriet Pullen 1953 Dorothy Eaton Mrs. J. Ormsby Phillips Donna Anderson 1990 Mrs. E. Leigh Johnson, Jr. December 17, 2007 Mrs. Donna A. Mullens Melissa Grandle December 2, 2007 January 6, 2008 Miss Melissa Ann 1945 Grandle Margaret Mueller March 22, 2006 Mrs. George W. Haldeman June 10, 2007

36 • Winter 2007/2008 Sweet Briar College Alumnae Magazine • www.alumnae.sbc.edu In the Sweet Briar

Virginia Cummings Davis ’31 SHEILA ALEXANDER, DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

When Virginia Cummings attended St. clothes.” He was Catherine’s School in Richmond in the stationed at Wright late 1930s, there was just one name on her Field near Dayton, college application list: Sweet Briar College. Ohio, when he and When her advisor suggested that she should Ginny married. They list more schools as college acceptance was moved three or four becoming competitive, Ginny declined. times during their “If Sweet Briar doesn’t want me,” she marriage until the war declared, “I don’t want to go to college at all.” was over, and then lived Virginia Cummings Davis, Class of 1942, in Rome, Georgia, died on November 4, 2005. Her memory has for 35 years where been honored by her husband, August, with a Mr. Davis worked bequest of $750,000 to Sweet Briar College. for General Just as Sweet Briar was the only choice for Electric. They later Ginny, when Mr. Davis decided to make a moved back to donation in his wife’s memory, for him Sweet Richmond, where Briar was still the only choice. Ginny had grown “We met on a blind date,” he says. “Giving up, to be near her Mrs. Davis as a senior at Sweet Briar. Mr. Davis honors this gift in honor of Ginny also honors the mother. August his wife, Virginia memories of that special time when she and Ginny had Cummings Davis ’31, with a bequest to solid foundation upon which faculty salaries attended Sweet Briar and I was at VPI.” fond memories of Sweet Briar. and academic programs, student services, Mr. Davis chose to make his bequest their dating years. and maintenance of our beautiful campus unrestricted rather than specifying how the “Ginny was the belle of the ball,” Mr. are based, which are clearly necessities for money should be used. traditionDavis remembers, “and I was shy. When I the labor-intensive, highly individualized “I trust the College to know best what worked up the courage to ask her to come education that Sweet Briar provides. The they need,” he says. “I don’t think I need to to a dance at VPI, the words were hardly magnitude of a college’s endowment is the designate what they do with it.” out of my mouth before she said ‘yes’! We best indicator of the strength of its academic Ginny attended Sweet Briar for surely enjoyed those dances. I couldn’t dance program, because it is that endowment that Sociology/Economics from 1938 to 1942, well, but Ginny had been dancing since she provides the resources to attract outstanding during the height of World War II. The war learned to walk. Other men would ‘cut in’ faculty and top-tier students. had little impact on the courting couple, on our dances, but I didn’t mind; I would although gas rationing coupons required go stand by the orchestra and wait for her. I You, too, can honor a loved one by some planning. Ginny would visit August at enjoyed the music so much, and she enjoyed making Sweet Briar a part of your Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College the dancing.” estate plan. A simply executed Letter of and Polytechnic Institute, now known as Although Ginny was the first in her Intent, attached as a codicil to your will, Virginia Tech. He came over to Sweet Briar family to attend Sweet Briar, she must have indicates your support for the College. when he had time off. Ginny would take a made an impression on the family with To learn more about the personal, bus from Sweet Briar to the Lynchburg train her stories of college life—four of Ginny’s financial, and charitable advantages station, and then traveled by train to VPI. cousins followed in her footsteps. of making an estate gift or to request “VPI was a military school then, of Like Mr. Davis’s gift, unrestricted a Letter of Intent form, please contact course, but not so regimented as other bequests to Sweet Briar’s endowment The Office of Development on (434) military schools,” Mr. Davis remembers. “If signify a profound belief in our mission, our 381-6161 or toll-free on 888-846-5722. we weren’t in class, we could wear civilian history, and our future. These gifts create a Jennifer McManamay, staff writer he Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association presented the newly planted white ash in the Sweet Briar House garden in honor of Gay Hart Gaines ’59 on the occasion of the College naming her the 2007 Distinguished Alumna. Gaines is regent of the MVLA, which owns and Tmaintains Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington. The tree was dedicated in a ceremony following the award presentation during SBC’s Founders’ Day convocation on Sept. 21. The young tree’s DNA from the trunk up is believed to be a genetic match to a gigantic white ash growing at Mount Vernon since 1918. The estate’s horticulturalists cloned the original tree to preserve its offspring after it was nearly destroyed in a storm. Convocation speakers L-R: Chaplain Adam White, 2007 2007 Distinguished Alumna Gay Hart Gaines ’59, Mount Vernon Distinguished Alumna Award Recipient Gay Hart Gaines ’59, Executive Director James C. Rees, MVLA Vice Regent Lynn Crosby Gammill Dean of Co-Curricular Life Cheryl Steele, President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, Alumnae Association President Jennifer Crossland ’58, and President Elisabeth Muhlenfeld are pictured watering the new tree ’86, Former Ambassador to the Republics of Kenya and at the dedication ceremony. Guatemala Prudence Bushnell, and Dean Jonathan Green.

Sweet Briar College Non-Profit Org. Box E U.S. Postage Sweet Briar, VA 24595 PAID CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED Lynchburg, VA Permit No. 132 Tree Dedication