Bonds between students and professors result in greater academic achievement and increased engagement.
SUMMER ’25
LINKS THAT LAST A LIFETIME: AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella discusses how meaningful connections help students thrive in work and life.
Building relationships with industry professionals helps pave a pathway to success for Agnes Scott students.
Agnes Scott students build bonds with faculty, alumnae and each other that lead to personal and professional success.
volume 99, number 1
Editor: Debbie Ritenour
Editorial Advisers: Malaika Dowdell, Associate Vice President, Communications and Marketing; Jennifer L. Colter, Senior Director, Communications and Marketing; Cheryl Webster, Vice President, College Advancement; Mary Rinaldi Winn, Senior Director, Alumnae Relations
Contributing Writers: Michael Blanding, Meilee D. Bridges, Sue Durio, Donna Williams Lewis, Renita Mathis, Joanna Nesbit, Shelia Poole, Debbie Ritenour
Designer: Garon Hart Graphic Design
Photographers: Adam Hagy Photography, Deb Mosley, Agnes Scott College Archives, Alex Slitz, Josh Cornwall
Mission: Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.
©2025 Agnes Scott College. Published twice a year by the Office of Communications and Marketing, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030-3770.
Agnes Scott The Magazine is emailed to alumnae and friends of Agnes Scott College. Print copies are distributed by U.S. Mail to alumnae class secretaries and members of the Tower Circle Society, The 1889 Society and the Frances Winship Walters Society. Information about these societies is available at agnesscott.edu/giving/gratitude-and-donor-recognition. This and previous issues are available at agnesscott.edu/magazine.
The content of the magazine reflects the opinions of the writers and not the viewpoints of the college, its trustees or the administration.
Nondiscrimination Policy: Agnes Scott College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age or disability in the recruitment and admission of any student. For the full policy, visit agnesscott.edu/nondiscrimination-policy.html.
Change of Address: By mail to Office of Advancement Services, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030-3770; by telephone, 404.471.6472; or by email to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
Email: info@agnesscott.edu
Website: agnesscott.edu
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@agnesscottcollege @agnesscottcollege Agnes Scott College
FEATURE STORIES
16 A Bridge to Lifelong Connections
Agnes Scott students build bonds with faculty, staff, alumnae and each other that last far beyond the classroom.
20 Faculty Connections
Bonds between Agnes Scott students and professors result in greater academic achievement and increased engagement.
22 Alumnae Connections
Agnes Scott alumnae support students by coaching, mentoring and connecting.
24 Peer Connections
Agnes Scott students reflect on the ways supporting each other can lead to long-term friendships.
26 Professional Connections
Building relationships with industry professionals helps pave a pathway to success for Agnes Scott students.
28 Links That Last a Lifetime
AAC&U President Lynn Pasquerella discusses how meaningful connections help students thrive in work and life.
The Agnes Scott campus has been brimming with activity this spring. Scotties near and far returned for Alumnae Weekend, award-winning authors shared their insights at the 54th Annual Writers’ Festival and family and friends celebrated their loved ones’ achievements at our 136th Commencement. Everywhere you looked across our beautiful grounds you saw members of our community making new connections and strengthening old ones.
Connections play a critical role in not just the college experience, but the human experience. The relationships students cultivate with faculty, staff and peers during their undergraduate years support their academic achievement as well as their personal growth. Perhaps most importantly, they can open doors to future opportunities and set them on the road to professional success after graduation.
In this issue of Agnes Scott The Magazine, we share some of the many ways our students build lasting bonds. Our cover story highlights Ja’Zmin McKeel ’24, who discusses the relationships she has built before, during and after her time at the college and how they helped get her career off to a strong start. The articles that follow offer examples of students connecting with faculty, peer mentors, alumnae and industry professionals. Whether they are getting to
know their professors during office hours or meeting up with friends for a quick bite, Scotties connect with others every single day. At Agnes Scott, we know that a college education is about more than classroom learning, and our vibrant campus offers a multitude of opportunities for students to engage with one another and the broader campus community.
This issue also includes an article featuring Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Lynn shares her thoughts on the importance of meaningful connections and their ongoing role in her work today as she advocates for higher education and the liberal arts in particular.
I hope this issue reminds you of the many connections you made here at Agnes Scott. One of my favorite parts of my job is speaking with alumnae and supporters of the college, and I am delighted every time they tell me about the lifelong friendships they developed and the memories they made at this special institution.
I am proud to lead a college with such a rich tradition of camaraderie and connection. The support they receive from one another emboldens our graduates as they claim their place as leaders in our communities, workplaces and world.
Warmly,
Leocadia I. Zak President
Trustee Emerita Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes ’65 and her husband, James B. Hawkes, have pledged to donate $15 million to support Agnes Scott College’s Physician Assistant program, a newly established 24-month curriculum aimed at promoting inclusive healthcare and furthering the college’s commitment to serving diverse communities through compassionate care. The gift was announced during Alumnae Weekend in celebration of Mary Lou’s 60th reunion.
“This extraordinarily generous support will have a meaningful impact on Agnes Scott College and the greater Atlanta community,” says President Leocadia I. Zak.
In recognition of this commitment, the program will be known as the Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes ’65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant Program.
The investment includes a $5 million allocation for the renovation of the program’s home, Hopkins Hall, equipping it with state-of-the-art technology and advanced instructional facilities for medical training. It also establishes a $10 million endowment, ensuring sustained financial support for the program in the long term.
“In making this investment, we knew it would benefit everyone— the college, students and society,” Mary Lou and Jim Hawkes said. “Our long history with Agnes Scott has shown us the exceptional strength of its programs, which open doors of opportunity for students. We are proud to support a program that will have a lasting impact at the college, in our communities and beyond.”
As Agnes Scott continues to expand its offerings, support from donors like the Hawkes is
becoming increasingly important, helping to ensure the college remains at the forefront of education.
“Two and one-half million dollars of Mary Lou and Jim’s groundbreaking support was given to provide a match to help the college reach its $10 million goal for renovating Hopkins Hall,” says
Cheryl Webster, vice president for college advancement. “This challenge amplifies the impact of the Hawkes’ gift and encourages a spirit of collective action. Agnes Scott is a driving force behind meaningful change, and this commitment to expanding opportunity is at the heart of our mission.”
BY DEB
Hundreds of alumnae descended on campus April 25–26 for Agnes Scott College’s annual Alumnae Weekend. Scotties from the class of 1955 through the class of 2025 caught up with their classmates and made new memories during the two-day event, with classes ending in zero and five celebrating milestone reunions. Save the date: Alumnae Weekend 2026 is coming up April 17-18.
Students, faculty and staff at Agnes Scott College demonstrated their commitment to civic engagement and service during the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Commemorative Week of Human Rights and Social Justice, hosted by the Gay Johnson McDougall Center for Global Diversity and Inclusion. This annual celebration features programs and activities that honor the lives of the civil rights activists while continuing the dialogue around social justice and community change.
Held Jan. 18–24, this year’s event included the annual MLK Day of Service, which coincides with the national observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Leaning into Agnes Scott’s values around
sustainability and climate action, volunteers safely diverted approximately 4.5 tons of household items and waste from low-income seniors’ homes from landfills.
Other events included a community dinner, a reflection on the famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the Julia Thompson Smith Chapel and a trip to the King Center. Attorney and Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs delivered the National Day of Racial Healing keynote address.
“The time is right to do what is right,” Griggs told the audience. “It is time for you to be legendary. It is time for you to bend the moral arc of the universe. It is time for you to be like Martin.”
The Agnes Scott College community honors the legacy and impact of the college and its founders each year with a week-long celebration. The theme of the 2025 Founders Week, “A History of Courageous Leadership, Creating Timeless Impact,” recognized Agnes Scott’s past and present while reflecting on the bold path ahead.
Gay Johnson McDougall ’69x, H’10, human rights lawyer, activist and the college’s first Black student, participated in a fireside chat. McDougall, who served as the first United Nations independent expert on minority issues and worked closely with Nelson Mandela as a member of South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission, spent several days on campus, engaging with students and meeting with Scotties interested in law careers. She noted that “youth have always played a frontline role in social change” and encouraged students to carry on this tradition despite any challenges or obstacles that may come.
“It’s important to move forward. You can’t let fear get in your way,” McDougall told the audience. “I think that
we’ll find that not only this is a struggle that we will win, but we’ll gain some things from the struggle as well.”
The week’s activities ranged from the traditional kickoff with coffee and donuts to a storytelling event and workshop to the Founders Fun Fest, complete with food trucks and prizes.
The Agnes Scott College class of 2027 received their official class rings at the Sophomore Ring Ceremony on Feb. 22. Family and friends cheered on the second-year students as they were presented with the iconic ring, which features a black onyx stone and is engraved with the letters “ASC” and the student’s class year, during the celebration.
Agnes Scott College celebrated its 136th commencement on May 17. This year’s commencement speaker was award-winning journalist and fourtime Emmy Award nominee Blayne Alexander, a correspondent for Dateline NBC, the network’s longest-running primetime program. Wambũi Gitahi ’25 was selected as the class speaker. A mathematics and philosophy major, Gitahi has served as an Environmental Resident, Center for Writing & Speaking tutor, Forte Foundation Campus Ambassador, student researcher in the ‘Every Person By Name’ Project funded by the Mellon Foundation and Catalyst Fellow.
“Embrace the unknown. Embrace the unpredictability,” Alexander told the graduating class. “And whether your next step is set in stone or still a question mark, embrace it all. Because while there is no way to know what will happen in any aspect of your life, I guarantee you there is always something to take from each chapter: a lesson, a skill, a lifelong relationship or, even in the hardest times, a resilience within you that you just never knew you had.”
Students and writers came together to celebrate creativity and the written word at Agnes Scott College’s 54th annual Writers’ Festival on April 3–4.
The festival, which is the oldest continuously running literary event in Georgia, featured a statewide writing contest for undergraduate and graduate students as well as readings and workshops with visiting writers.
This year the festival welcomed three distinguished writers: Stephanie Burat, a poet, literary critic and literature professor at Harvard University; Carmen Maria Machado, author of the memoir In the Dream House, the short story collection
Her Body and Other Parties and the graphic novel
The Low, Low Woods; and Jennifer Bartell Boykin ’05, author of two books of poetry and current poet laureate for the city of Columbia, South Carolina.
The visiting writers selected the winning entries in each genre. The finalists had their work published in the Agnes Scott College Writers’ Festival Magazine and were invited to a workshop with the guest judges.
“I like to say that writing is like playing a sport or playing an instrument. You have to practice,” Boynton told a local news station. “You have to have coaches and mentors and people that help you along the way. This [event] gives them an opportunity to have conversations with writers. It gives them the opportunity to ask questions and really get that extra help with craft that every writer needs.”
The Agnes Scott College community mourns the passing of Rosemary T. Cunningham, Hal and Julia T. Smith Professor Emerita of Free Enterprise at Agnes Scott College, who died on April 3 at her home in Atlanta. Professor Cunningham joined the Agnes Scott faculty in 1985 and served the college with distinction until her retirement last June.
Professor Cunningham was both a respected scholar and a beloved teacher and mentor. She received several awards and accolades throughout her career, including the Faith Yao Yu Chao ’61 Faculty Excellence Award, the Vulcan Materials Company Excellence in Teaching Award and the Career Advisory Board Outstanding Faculty Award.
“Rosemary Cunningham was more than a mentor; she was a profoundly personal and transformative force in my life—and the lives of so many of her students over the years,” says Laurel Graefe ’07, regional executive and senior officer at the Nashville branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. “Twenty years on, I recall her extraordinary ability to see potential in her students that we hadn’t yet recognized in ourselves, coupled with her powerful vision of economics as a tool for a more just and opportunity-rich world. The intellectual curiosity she fostered and her conviction that knowledge is an instrument for societal transformation remain not just cherished memories, but guiding principles that I continue to hold dear to this day.”
Professor Cunningham’s hallmark as an educator was her ability to guide students to broaden their perspectives and embrace the value of intellectual curiosity. This was especially evident during the student trips she led to various locations, from New York to Hong Kong.
A native New Yorker and double graduate of Fordham University, Professor Cunningham studied mathematics and economics, graduating summa cum laude in 1979. She later returned to earn her doctorate in economics. She began her teaching career at Fairfield University before coming to Agnes Scott.
“Rosemary’s influence on generations of Scotties and her contributions to the field of economics will have a lasting impact,” says Leocadia I. Zak, president of Agnes Scott.
Professor Cunningham was
fueled by the love and light she received from her family, including her late husband, Tom, and her children, Ian and Sara. She fully embraced life in retirement, cherishing every moment spent with her family and friends. Her days were filled with taking her grandchildren, Liam and Lottie, to various activities around Atlanta, traveling with her daughter, Sara, and playing golf.
At the family’s request, contributions to Agnes Scott in Professor Cunningham’s memory will be directed to the Student Emergency Fund.
Agnes Scott students build bonds with faculty, staff, alumnae and each other that last far beyond the classroom.
BY DEBBIE RITENOUR
Connections are at the heart of a liberal arts education. By developing their critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, students learn to make connections between ideas, across disciplines and through different ways of thinking. Perhaps most importantly, they learn to make connections with people and the world around them.
The connections students make with faculty, staff, alumnae and each other are central to the Agnes Scott College experience. These connections not only support students’ academic achievements during their undergraduate years, but also can help lead to personal and professional success throughout their lifetimes.
Just ask Ja’Zmin McKeel ’24. As a first-year student during the pandemic, McKeel depended on the relationships she cultivated virtually to help get her through an uncertain and trying time. As her college career progressed, she continued to build connections that ultimately helped lead her to her current role as a data operations analyst at global asset manager and technology provider BlackRock. She is thankful for the advice and encouragement she received every step of the way.
“A lot of my journey so far has stemmed from the connections that I’ve made with different people at Agnes,” McKeel says.
JASON W. SOLOMON ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
McKeel began making connections through Agnes Scott before she ever stepped foot on campus. The summer after her junior year of high school, she completed the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program, which teaches coding through hands-on projects in game design, web development and more. The instructor was Kimberly Luong ’15, who now serves as a senior systems engineer at Raytheon.
McKeel, who was considering majoring in the performing arts, discovered a passion for coding during those two weeks. She also discovered an interest in attending Agnes Scott.
THOMAYSA STINSON-WILLIAMS, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
“Kimberly talked about her time at Agnes and the connections she made and recommended that I go visit,” says McKeel. “It was my last campus tour, but once I got there, I completely loved it.”
The fact that Agnes Scott offered a dual-degree program in computer science with Emory University sealed the deal. The program would allow McKeel to receive a bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott, where she studied music, before transferring to Emory to earn a second bachelor’s degree in computer science. Luong wrote her a letter of recommendation.
From the moment classes began, McKeel started forming bonds with her classmates that continue to this day. She also built strong relationships with her professors. The connections she made with Tracey E.W. Laird, Harry L., Corinne Bryant and Cottie Beverly Slade Professor of Music, and Jason W. Solomon, associate professor of music, were particularly impactful.
“I got to witness her grow over several years as a thinker, as a communicator in writing and speaking, as a musician and as a human being in the world ready to pursue a satisfying and meaningful life,” says Laird, who taught McKeel in several courses. “Encountering a student like Ja’Zmin reminds me of how privileged I am to shepherd young people through the passage of their four years here.”
Laird notes that Agnes Scott offers the perfect environment in which these meaningful student-faculty interactions can take place.
“Agnes Scott’s size creates an atmosphere where students and professors can make genuine connections and mutually alter one another’s lives,” she says. “We also push them based on knowledge and instincts about them that comes from close, personal relationships. No one can be anonymous at a place like Agnes Scott, and the hands-on reality of those educational relationships is transformative.”
“Agnes Scott’s size creates an atmosphere where students and professors can make genuine connections and mutually alter one another’s lives.”
— Tracey E.W. Laird, Harry L., Corinne Bryant and Cottie Beverly Slade Professor of Music
The staff at Agnes Scott also play a key role in supporting student success. As a work-study student in academic affairs, McKeel developed a close working and personal relationship with Senior Administrative Assistant Thomaysa Stinson-Williams.
“She helped me with adjusting to college, and we had a lot of candid conversations about how to deal with certain things,” McKeel says. “I still stop by to chat with her whenever I’m on campus.”
McKeel also worked closely with Lucy Moran, director of the Career Exploration Center. After completing her Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE) with BlackRock, she wanted to apply for a summer internship with the company, and she sought out Moran for assistance.
“She was amazing. We did a lot of mock interviews, and she gave me helpful resources about different techniques and types of interviews,” McKeel says. “She
LUCY MORAN, DIRECTOR OF THE CAREER EXPLORATION CENTER
even checked on me afterward to make sure everything went well. I’m really appreciative of her.”
McKeel got the internship. She also got accepted to Emory when it came time to apply as part of the dual-degree program. She says she couldn’t have done it without Machamma Quinichett, assistant dean for student success, who walked her through the application process.
“I know how hard it is for students to complete that path. By cultivating a relationship, we were able to have honest conversations. We discussed how to make decisions, and I empowered her to advocate for herself,” Quinichett says. “I did not tell her what to do, but I always took time to hold space for her, and I was able to advocate for her because I believed she demonstrated the characteristics needed to be successful.”
Quinichett notes that McKeel is not the only one who benefited from their relationship.
“I have benefited from our connection because I can share her story to inspire other students. I don’t have to use theoretical examples,” she says. “Ja’Zmin’s journey is a real-life example of the heights students can reach when people believe in them, they are properly informed, they have high-impact experiences and they do the work and persist regardless of the obstacles. When students follow through and perform the way she did, it helps me advocate for other students pursuing the program.”
McKeel ended up completing two internships at BlackRock. After graduating from Emory in December 2024, she accepted an offer to join the team full time. She began her current role in February 2025.
Connections run both ways, and McKeel has made it a priority to give as much as she receives. As a junior she served as a Schmidt Global Student Leader for a Global Journeys trip to the Navajo Nation led by Laird. In addition to facilitating classes and creating tools to help first-year students understand the course material, she served as a role model for the younger students on the trip itself.
“On one occasion we experienced an emotionally challenging situation, and Ja’Zmin led the students in debriefing,” Laird says. “Her approach to that challenge helped us all process the experience with maturity and compassion. I realized then the extent to which Ja’Zmin had honed a true identity as a leader, something I am confident she has taken with her in her next steps.”
As an alumna, McKeel has returned to campus to speak at dual-degree interest meetings for students interested in completing the program with Emory. She also has mentored Olivia Joyner ’24, who is currently enrolled in the program.
“The purpose of college, for me, is two fold. It’s about the education, but it’s also about the experience,” McKeel says. “The connections you make with different people make your experience better. There’s more to me than just my academic side. There’s my personal side, my musical side and so on. Those connections feed into all those different parts of me.”
BY RENITA MATHIS
One of the many benefits of attending Agnes Scott College is its small size. The college’s low student-tofaculty ratio offers a variety of benefits, from more personalized attention to better accommodation of different learning styles. Perhaps the most significant advantage, however, is the ability to build strong relationships with professors both in and out of the classroom.
“A small school like Agnes Scott allows for these deeper studentfaculty connections, which is, in my opinion, the best part of the environment here,” says Ansley Rickson ’26, a double major in mathematics and English literature. “Knowing my professors and knowing that my professors know me encourages me to work hard and ask for help if I need it.”
Charles A. Dana Professor of Mathematics Alan Koch and Assistant Professor of Physics Natalia Arellano are just two of the more than 130 faculty members at Agnes Scott who consider building relationships with students an essential component of their role. By establishing a supportive environment and making lasting connections, they play an integral part in ensuring students are able to succeed in classes and in life.
For 25 years, Koch has helped students learn abstract algebra, linear algebra, finite groups, finite fields, number theory, cryptography and algebraic Fibonacci sequences at Agnes Scott. While these concepts can be difficult, the small class sizes make connecting with students easy.
“Our students get more one-on-one interaction,” Koch says. “Because we are a small department, I see students multiple times and really get to know who they are over their whole undergraduate career.”
Koch strives to build a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to grow intellectually. Meeting with students during office hours, offering personalized feedback on assignments and incorporating humor into his courses are a few of the ways he builds bonds with students while enhancing their learning.
“Dr. Koch is always available and always helpful, and he, along with the rest of the math department, has the rare ability to never make you feel stupid or bad about asking for help,” Rickson says.
Agnes Scott’s small size and focus on undergraduate education also provide unique opportunities for mentorship and hands-on learning.
“It’s a lot easier for us to do research with the undergraduates, which at a large school might not be a priority at all,” says Koch, who conducts research with students through the STEM Scholars Program. “We can get students involved in their very first year as opposed to waiting a couple of years.”
These impactful connections often evolve into lifelong relationships.
“Dr. Koch’s support during my time at Agnes Scott and beyond was incredibly meaningful,” says Audrey Malagon ’04, senior director for programs at the Mathematical Association of America. “Over the years, he has continued to be a supportive presence,
offering advice about career decisions and staying in touch as both a mentor and a friend. I’m grateful for his support, his steady encouragement and the role he played in helping me become the mathematician I am today.”
Born in Chile, Arellano knows how it feels to not belong. As a woman in the male-dominated field of physics, she has encountered sexism and skepticism since her undergraduate years at the University of Santiago. Not feeling like she could be a changemaker in her home country—or, rather, not wanting to put that much energy into fighting for the change needed— Arellano pursued professional opportunities in the U.S. after earning her doctorate, completing postdoctoral research positions at Virginia Tech and the University of Utah before joining the faculty at Agnes Scott.
Throughout her career, Arellano has sought opportunities to create meaningful connections with students and celebrate women in science. At Utah, she organized events through the Physics and Astronomy Society for the Support and Advocacy of Gender Equality (PASSAGE), which became a magnet for students of color. At Agnes Scott, she and Assistant Professor of Spanish Ana Maria Pozo host a lunchtime table where all are welcome to come practice their Spanish-speaking skills.
Arellano recalls that when she arrived on the Agnes Scott campus, a student immediately contacted her to tell her how happy she was to have a Latina professor in a STEM field. Her experience reflects how fostering a supportive and inclusive campus culture benefits students and attracts and retains passionate faculty, who, in turn, play a critical role in student engagement and success.
“From my first day, colleagues and students alike made me feel part of something bigger,” says Arellano, who will celebrate her first anniversary at Agnes Scott in August. “It wasn’t just about teaching physics; it was about building relationships, mentoring and contributing to a community that values every voice.”
Agnes Scott alumnae support students by coaching, mentoring and connecting.
BY MICHAEL BLANDING
When Mia Iverson ’22 thinks about connections at Agnes Scott College, she looks at the black onyx ring on her finger. It’s a reminder of the generations of Scotties who walked the path before her and shared the same traditions—and those still to come.
“At the Sophomore Ring Ceremony, they tell you to point the letters ‘ASC’ toward you. At that point, you’re soaking everything in, building relationships and learning how to go out into the real world and present yourself and fight for what you believe in,” Iverson says. “But when you graduate, you turn the ring around. You’ve gotten everything you need from ASC. Now you go spread it to others.”
Iverson has been on both sides of that exchange. An Arkansas native, she played basketball in high school until she was sidelined by an injury her junior year. She was thrilled when she was able to combine her passion for basketball with her interest in business at an externship with the Atlanta Dream WNBA franchise during her Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE) at Agnes Scott. Her dream job was a marketing position with the Dream—but it felt out of reach. That changed after she attended a studentalumnae event hosted by Witkaze, the association for Black and West Indian students, where Kirnel Grishby ’12 led a vision board workshop.
suggested she pursue school psychology and connected her with Emily Graybill ’02, an adjunct faculty member at Georgia State University at the time, who encouraged her to attend an information session for the program. Grishby went on to earn her doctorate at Georgia State and later ended up working with Graybill as part of a research team.
Mia Iverson ’22, far left, led the SCALE experience with the Atlanta Dream for Agnes Scott students in 2025.
“We’re going to put the Atlanta Dream on there,” Grishby told her, encouraging her to shoot for the job she wanted.
Grishby knew the power of that kind of encouragement. A first-generation college student from Dominica, she also found her confidence at Agnes Scott, where she was nurtured by supportive faculty and staff on campus.
“I was mentored on a daily basis—not just in the classroom, but also by staff in financial aid and accounting,” she says.
Grishby found her own passion volunteering with Strong Sisters, a program supporting high school girls at risk of experiencing sex trafficking. A professor
“It was a real full-circle moment,” says Grishby, who now leads REACH A.K.G. Education Consultants, an organization that helps young adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities increase their independence and maximize their adult years.
Grishby has in turn mentored numerous Agnes Scott students, including Rachel Barnes ’23, who interned with her during college and is now following her into the same doctoral program at Georgia State.
“Without the internship I had with her, I wouldn’t have realized how much I loved this field,” Barnes says. “She is one of the people I have to thank for leading me down this path.”
Along with Tesia Ogletree Harrison ’12, Grishby also co-founded Emerge, a nonprofit mentorship initiative that connected Agnes Scott students of color with alumnae of color. Through events like the vision board party Iverson attended, they aimed to equip students with confidence and direction.
“It’s a sisterhood. The moment you see that ring and know someone went to Agnes, you’re just like, ‘We’re related’—and it’s wonderful.”
— Kirnel Grishby ’12
“We wanted to give these students a truth they needed to hear—that they were actually able to land these positions and form a network,” Grishby says. “The vision board party was an attempt to meet them where they were and help them be more intentional about organizing their next steps.”
Following the exercise, Grishby and Harrison continued to help Iverson navigate the practical actions toward a career in professional sports, connecting her with
alumnae in the field, helping her draft outreach emails and helping facilitate an introduction to Arielle Register ’13, a former intern with the Atlanta Dream. Iverson completed her own internship with the Dream after graduation before officially joining the organization in a full-time role. Today, she serves as the Dream’s strategic partnerships and community impact manager.
“At each one of those touchpoints, there was an alum connected,” she says.
Iverson now pays it forward herself. She has helped students with resumes and cover letters, participated in panel discussions and led the SCALE experience for her company. She also helps new students, especially those from Arkansas, adjust to life at Agnes Scott.
“Mia has not only been a mentor to me, but a true friend,” says fellow Arkansan Kennedi Scaife ’28. “She has created a true home-away-fromhome experience for me.”
Both Iverson and Grishby now serve in SUMMIT Career Connect, the college’s alumnae-student mentorship network. For the past two years, they’ve spoken together on SCALE panels, sharing their experiences from both sides of the mentor-mentee journey.
“I have a lot of confidence in myself because I was conditioned to feel that way for so many years in my life by people who saw my potential,” says Grishby. “It’s so important to know that people care about you—that people see more in you than you can see in yourself in the moment.”
For both women, that sense of connection is symbolized by the Agnes Scott ring.
“It’s a sisterhood,” says Grishby. “The moment you see that ring and know someone went to Agnes, you’re just like, ‘We’re related’—and it’s wonderful.”
Agnes Scott students reflect on the ways supporting each other can lead to long-term friendships.
BY JOANNA NESBIT
When Anna Hillesheim ’26 decided to participate in Agnes Scott College’s 2024 Spring Annual Research Conference, they knew they wanted to improve their public speaking skills first. The classics major typically felt anxious when speaking before large groups and hoped to feel less nervous and more prepared before presenting their work.
Hillesheim worked with a public speaking tutor, Anjali David ’26, to practice and refine their skills through the Center for Writing and Speaking’s semester-long Partners Program. David helped Hillesheim stay organized, stick to a timeline and, most importantly, gain confidence.
“The presentation went really well,” Hillesheim says. “There was a great turnout, and I felt really confident.”
Along the way, Hillesheim and David moved from mentormentee to fast friends. These days they hang out together frequently, watching “Dr. Who” or heading into town for dinner. The transition developed naturally, David notes.
“When you see a person outside the writing center in a casual context, you say, ‘How’s it going?’ and that helps you lay the foundation for getting to know them better as a person,” she says.
’26
This mentorship-turned-friendship is exactly what Agnes Scott hopes to facilitate. The aim of a liberal arts education is to teach students to think critically, communicate effectively and apply knowledge from across disciplines while developing well-rounded individuals. Agnes Scott takes that aim a step further, guiding students to make connections with others— peers, faculty, staff and alums—and grow personally and professionally along the way.
To support and nurture connections among Scotties, the college intentionally weaves opportunities into its peer programs and resources. Peer mentors at the campus tutoring centers, for example, promote a sense of camaraderie and belonging that usually expands into deeper connections and friendships across disciplines and year levels. Through these peer relationships, students get and give advice for navigating campus life, learn from and encourage each other and collaborate in ways that contribute to personal and professional growth. The bonds benefit students while they are on campus by building companionship and community but also prepare them for the professional world.
Rowan Christopher ’25 tutors at both the Center for Writing and Speaking and the Resource Center for Math and Science. Christopher credits mentoring a Postbaccalaureate Pre-medical Program student through a medical school application with helping them develop professional self-assurance of their own.
“It was definitely intimidating to help a grad student, but I thought it would be a good challenge for me,” Christopher says.
“I had this fear that I might not know enough to help her. What if she already knows everything I’m going to tell her?”
The experience turned out to be collaborative and mutually supportive, boosting Christopher’s confidence. Helping the post-bacc student craft her application also helped Christopher later frame their own grad school applications and increased their comfort interacting with graduate students.
“I learned we all have something to learn from each other, and that was really valuable,” Christopher says.
“I learned we all have something to learn from each other, and that was really valuable.”
— Rowan Christopher ’25
Agnes Scott encourages mentors in peer-to-peer programs to be casual and informal. The friendly tone promotes warmth across ages and classes and encourages younger students to tap older students for reassurance or information.
“I’ve had students come up to me and ask, ‘What’s it like to be a sophomore or junior?’ or ‘Is it hard take these classes together?’” David says. “The mentormentee relationship helps create this network from the day you arrive so you always know there’s someone you can ask who’s done this before.”
These connections not only help ease first-year students’ transition to college life, but also cultivate a mentor pipeline that benefits everyone. Those who were mentored as first-years often feel inspired to become mentors themselves, thereby extending to new Scotties the same care and advice they received. Christopher, whose own tutor suggested they consider becoming a tutor, frequently encourages their tutees to apply, especially if they notice someone is deeply engaged in the sessions or knowledgeable about a particular topic.
“I like to hope they love their job as much as I do
and will encourage others to apply,” says Christopher, who remains friends with their former tutor, who has since graduated. After nerding out on chemistry together at the college, the two of them continue to exchange kombucha and other recipes.
Agnes Scott’s small campus size organically contributes to the development of close relationships, but Hillesheim says the college’s conscious efforts to facilitate connections creates a truly special culture.
“I have more friends at all levels of closeness than I ever did in high school,” they say. “It’s really easy to get in contact with just about anyone here because everyone knows everybody.”
Christopher believes the unique campus culture stems from caring deeply for one another, whether a student knows someone else personally or not.
“Agnes cultivates an open and accepting environment for people to be unapologetically themselves,” Christopher says. “The ability to be ourselves also allows us to connect with each other in a special way, and I know the connections that I’ve made will continue.”
Building relationships with industry professionals helps pave a pathway to success for Agnes Scott students.
BY DONNA WILLIAMS LEWIS
The last two years of college were a media whirlwind for Whitney Ott ’03. Tapping the resources of the career advisers at Agnes Scott College, Ott landed an internship with Tim Russert, then-moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and supported him during coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She then interned at CNN throughout her senior year, producing segments for several shows, including “Headline News,” and began fast-forwarding herself into a broadcast journalism career.
But as graduation loomed and other possibilities surfaced, the history major was torn over which way to go. Her advisors encouraged her to talk to as many people as possible and connected her with Russ Hardin, then president of the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation.
After meeting Ott, Hardin decided she was “born to do” public relations and communications. That connection led Ott to the Jackson Spalding public relations and marketing firm, where she is now a partner.
“I know the power that one relationship can have on the trajectory of a career and a life because I’ve benefited from it many times,” Ott says.
Making professional connections is built into the Agnes Scott experience. The Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience (SCALE), a key component
of the college’s SUMMIT experience, matches all second-year students with metro Atlanta businesses and nonprofits for a three-day, on-site, immersion experience based on their career interests. Jackson Spalding is one of nearly two dozen community partners, which range from Fortune 500 companies to local nonprofits.
Ott, who was recently elected vice chair of the Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees, says that providing every student with a “Pathway to Success” is one of the pillars of Agnes Scott’s strategic plan and a top priority at the college.
“We are absolutely thrilled about any opportunity, especially SCALE or the Career Exploration Center, that gives students exposure to real-world experience,” she says.
“I think a critical part of paving that pathway to success is relationship building and connections.”
“Job seekers need a competitive edge, and networking with industry leaders is one way students can establish professional relationships that can lead to career opportunities.”
— Seretha Williams, associate dean for undergraduate studies
Building on what they learned in their first-year leadership and career readiness courses, SCALE participants observe leaders in action, offer ideas, join conversations and help assess organizational challenges or opportunities. Afterward, they debrief with faculty, reflecting on how to integrate what they’ve learned into their next steps toward internships, study abroad programs or mentored research opportunities.
Ott enjoys interacting with students “who want to have career conversations or informational interviews.” She points out that companies benefit from these connections as well.
“Organizations are always looking to build a diverse pipeline of qualified talent, so it’s a gift to have colleges come in with a program that is prepared and sophisticated like SCALE,” she says. “It’s a planned, thoughtful externship that gives companies a meaningful way to pour into students while getting students’ thoughts and perspectives.”
Seretha Williams, associate dean for undergraduate studies, says the program is Agnes Scott’s signature sophomore experience.
“SCALE is a high-impact experience that helps students understand the direct and concrete ways their liberal arts education is meaningful in the workplace,” Williams says. “Students may not know how the communication and intercultural skills they gain at Agnes transfer to a career, so programs like SCALE are imperative.”
The SUMMIT staff administers SCALE, but implementation of the externship is a collaborative, cross-campus effort that includes faculty, student leaders and career coaches from the Career Exploration Center (CEC). Williams notes there has been solid support for SCALE from the program’s community partners.
“Many partners are perennial supporters,” she says.
The CEC helps students plot their professional development throughout their years at Agnes Scott. Students are encouraged to join one of the center’s career communities and access resources on everything from internships and research experiences to career preparation and job searches. The CEC also helps students connect with industry professionals by hosting information sessions and job fairs.
“Job seekers need a competitive edge, and networking with industry leaders is one way students can establish professional relationships that can lead to career opportunities,” Williams says. “The career readiness preparation students receive at Agnes is one of the advantages our students have and use in their pursuit of careers, international fellowships and graduate and professional degrees. Scotties are competitive and successful.”
BY DEBBIE RITENOUR
Lynn Pasquerella learned the value of connections early in her academic career. In her very first semester at Quinebaug Valley Community College, Pasquerella built a relationship with a professor who gave her two pieces of advice: pursue philosophy, and go to Mount Holyoke College.
Pasquerella took both recommendations to heart. She not only graduated magna cum laude from Mount Holyoke with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, but also, after serving in faculty and administrative roles at the University of Rhode Island and the University of Hartford for more than two decades, went on to become the 18th president of the renowned women’s college.
Today, as president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, Pasquerella is a prominent advocate for higher education and the liberal arts in particular. She credits the many connections she made as an undergraduate with helping lead her to where she is today.
students make are with their professors, who can offer invaluable guidance and expertise.
“Students make all kinds of connections at colleges and universities, and those connections are more important than ever,” Pasquerella says. “We know from studies that graduates who thrive in work and in life are those who report having meaningful relationships with faculty both inside and outside of the classroom.”
“My time at Mount Holyoke and the two years before that at community college shaped my life and my career,” she says. “I had extraordinary mentors who encouraged me, expanded my horizons and gave me insights into a world I knew nothing about. I was embraced and my perspectives were valued, and I was empowered to live a life that truly was unimaginable to me.”
Making meaningful connections in college, whether with peers, faculty, staff or alumni, can significantly impact a student’s academic, personal and professional journey. Some of the most influential connections
Pasquerella notes that the value of these relationships extends far beyond developing a better understanding of class content or earning a higher grade.
“At a time when depression, anxiety and mental health issues have been replacing financial considerations as the primary reason students are either not attending college in the first place or dropping out of college, we need to pay attention to the ways in which we can help students thrive in the classroom and upon graduation,” she says. “Anything that we can do to create a sense of welcome and belonging in each of our classrooms will help students succeed academically and in extracurricular activities.”
Professional connections are critical in any field, Pasquerella observes, especially in today’s “rapidly changing, globally interdependent world in which changing technology often precedes thoughtful reflection about the ethical, legal and social implications of its use.” These connections can lead to a variety of opportunities, from mentorship and career guidance to internships and job offers.
“Networks are important because of the vicissitudes of the job market,” Pasquerella says. “They can help
“Students make all kinds of connections at colleges and universities, and those connections are more important than ever.”
— Lynn Pasquerella, AAC&U president
enable graduates to see possibilities that they otherwise wouldn’t see for themselves, to be intellectually adventurous and to take chances in roles that were unimaginable in the past.”
Students at liberal arts institutions such as Agnes Scott College are uniquely positioned to succeed in tomorrow’s careers. In addition to developing key
This exposure in turn helps liberal arts students understand what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes—a critical ability at a time when the nation appears to be at a turning point.
“Our students are less likely to give in to ideological filtering and authoritarian tendencies because they have engaged with a diversity of perspectives,” says Pasquerella. “That kind of personal growth that speaks to our nation’s historic mission of educating for democracy comes through the type of education that’s offered at Agnes Scott and other residential liberal arts colleges and universities.”
critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills, liberal arts students learn how to connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
“Getting a job is still the primary reason that students attend college,” Pasquerella says. “At the same time, they are looking for not only jobs, but careers that enable them to find meaning and purpose. Students desperately want to make a difference in the world, and through these interactions with peers, faculty, staff, alumni and the extramural community, they grow through exposure to people who are radically different from themselves.”
Pasquerella notes that connections continue to play a crucial role in her work.
“We are at a moment when higher education is under siege. This is indeed a moment of enormity for higher education and for our democracy. The connections that I have made with colleagues from other organizations that are committed to academic freedom, institutional autonomy, shared governance and the free exchange of ideas are invaluable,” she says. “Now more than ever, colleges and universities must position themselves as anchor institutions in their communities. At the same time, we need to retain our focus on student success and well-being and not get distracted from these important missions and the very purpose of the education that we are offering.”
Center for Sustainability executive director strives to build community and opportunity for fellow Scotties.
BY MEILEE D. BRIDGES
It’s one thing to relish Agnes Scott College’s purposedriven academics, tight-knit community and tailored career development as an undergraduate. But for Kimberly J. Reeves ’12, returning to the college a decade after commencement and having the enviable opportunity to mentor future generations of Scotties is a whole other level.
“It’s such a privilege and joy,” Reeves says.
The Georgia native has served as executive director of the college’s Center for Sustainability since July 2022. While she didn’t know it back when she was an undergraduate, she had been preparing for this position since her first semester on campus.
A member of environmental clubs during high
school and relative of several individuals in the sustainability field, Reeves naturally gravitated toward the environmental and sustainability studies minor at Agnes Scott. She majored in sociology and anthropology to better understand cultural shifts, behavior change and human motivation—which, she explains, “influence and inform sustainability campaigns and how we move the needle.” Her coursework culminated in a research study that focused on campus walkability and strategies for encouraging people to choose more sustainable forms of transportation. Her project adviser, then-Professor of Anthropology Martha Rees, helped Reeves apply smaller-scale solutions and classroom knowledge to global real-world problems.
“To educate students to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of our times—with climate justice being very much one of those challenges—is something we take very seriously.”
— Kimberly J. Reeves ’12
Reeves’s career trajectory was further shaped by the connections she made at the college, including “so many mentors.” One of those mentors was Susan Kidd ’78, MAT’07, her supervisor in the Center for Sustainability, where she was a work-study intern.
“She was so willing to share her time and invite us to events. She showed us that we should be at the table,” Reeves says. “That was incredibly powerful.”
During her senior year, Reeves was awarded a National Wildlife Federation Fellowship to help revitalize the college’s arboretum. She collaborated with Kidd; Jim Abbot, adjunct professor of classics; and Tammy Roundy, web developer, to create the Tree Walk—a pioneering digital tour—in 2012.
Reeves completed several internships with organizations ranging from federal agencies to local nonprofits. After graduation, she earned a master’s degree in environmental planning and design from The University of Georgia. In 2014, she was hired as a sustainability program manager at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, moving up the ranks until she became interim director of sustainability. Succeeding her former mentor as executive director of Agnes Scott’s Center for Sustainability was a homecoming in more ways than one.
Today, Reeves loves that her to-do list is so varied. It includes everything from consulting on recycling campaigns and renewable energy projects to applying for grants and brainstorming with students about ongoing sustainability efforts. Three objectives undergird all these activities: fulfilling Agnes Scott’s 2037 carbon neutrality goal, engaging students in experiential learning and supporting the college’s mission.
“To educate students to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of our times—with climate justice being very much one of those challenges—is something we take very seriously,” says Reeves, noting that the center falls within the president’s division of the college.
Climate resilience initiatives are inherently interdisciplinary, so Reeves spends a lot of time connecting ideas across fields of study. As a liberal arts
institution, Agnes Scott both nurtured her ability to make those connections and serves as an ideal setting for such applied learning. When the college recently installed its largest solar array, for example, project management and communications were in her wheelhouse. But the nittygritty of solar photovoltaic technology?
“I learned as I went, and I knew which experts to talk to,” she says. “This field is ever evolving. Who has the opportunity to learn about a new solution in ecology or about historic preservation and embodied carbon day to day?”
Beyond constantly learning, the rewards of Reeves’s position include advancing the college’s environmental goals and connecting with people. She believes that relationship building “strengthens our community—and the stronger communities we build, the more resilient and more sustainable we are.” Over the years, she has mentored more than 100 students, and she’s always energized by the high-level conversations she has with them and with her colleagues.
“Students, faculty and staff bring in these ideas, and then we get to explore how we could implement them,” she says. “Having everyone’s input to make it as intentional and impactful as possible is so exciting.”
When Reeves reflects on her education and career, she notes that each opportunity guided how she shows up for others. For instance, her internship supervisors encouraged her to develop skills outside the scope of her originally assigned projects. In turn, she brings the same person-centered mentorship and dedication to leadership development when strategizing with her workstudy students, interns and sustainability fellows.
Reeves speaks from experience when she advises students to be open to trying new things. After all, she never expected to attend a women’s college or pursue a career in sustainability and higher education, yet she’s since landed her dream role. She remains enthusiastic about every opportunity to learn and connect.
“The support of everyone here has been so foundational to what I am able to do today,” she says. “I want to pay that forward to the community that helped shape me so much.”
Longtime supporters of Agnes Scott believe in the transformative power of a college education.
BY SHELIA POOLE
Gail Savage Glover ’66 believes that the best gift you can give someone is an education. To that end, Gail and her husband, Marion B. Glover, are major supporters of Agnes Scott College.
“An education is something that no one can take from you,” Gail says. “It’s something you can carry with you that should help you make it in the world.”
This simple, powerful idea has driven a lifetime of giving back.
The Glovers grew up in Walterboro, South Carolina, and have known each other since kindergarten. After high school, Gail moved to Georgia to attend Agnes Scott, while Marion graduated from Georgia Tech before later
earning an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“Back in my day, parents often chose the college, not students,” Gail says with a laugh. Her parents wanted her to go to a women’s college, and a family friend recommended Agnes Scott. Her father also thought it would be good for his daughter to go to a college close to a big city since she had spent most of her life in a small town.
Gail always had a talent for math. Encouraged by her mother—who reminded her that math was both marketable and empowering—she majored in the subject at Agnes Scott and later earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina.
After graduation, Gail returned to South Carolina to teach, and it wasn’t long before she reconnected with Marion. They married in 1969 and settled in Atlanta, where they each made their mark professionally.
“An education is something that no one can take from you. It’s something you can carry with you that should help you make it in the world.”
— Gail Savage Glover ’66
Gail taught at Georgia State University and Clayton State University, while Marion worked for 14 years at The Coca-Cola Company, ultimately serving as vice president of corporate strategic planning and information systems.
The couple decided to start their own financial advisory companies and established Atlanta-based Glover & Associates Inc., a financial consulting company that provides succession and estate planning and valuations, in 1983. They also own Glover Capital Inc., a merger and acquisition advisory firm that has assisted in the sale of beverage businesses throughout the United States and internationally for the past 40 years.
“We said it would either make us or break us,” says Gail, who is a certified financial planner. It did the former—and then some. The couple built a life as both business and life partners.
Gail’s connection to Agnes Scott has never faded. A trustee emerita, she served on the Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2020 and helped guide the college’s financial strategy as vice chair of the Finance Committee. She also served on the Alumnae Board and was one of the reunion co-chairs for her 50th reunion in 2016.
Together, the Glovers have made impactful gifts to Agnes Scott, supporting The Fund for Agnes Scott, the Main Hall renovation and the Elizabeth Kiss
SUMMIT Directorship Endowment. They also have supported athletics because they believe physical activity is important for a long, healthy and productive life. Gail and Marion both serve on the college’s Athletics Advisory Board and were inducted into the Agnes Scott Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Business is often at the forefront of their giving. In 2015 they established the Gail Savage Glover ’66 and Marion Glover Business Leadership Professorship, a term professorship held by Amy P. Breidenthal, whose interests include organizational behavior, human resource management and employee creativity. The Glovers also have supported Bridge to Business, a collaboration between Agnes Scott and Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business designed to provide Scotties an immersive experience into the world of business.
“Gail and I wanted to add more business opportunities for Agnes Scott students,” Marion says, noting that at the same time they wanted to encourage more women to pursue graduate studies at Georgia Tech. Their estate plans include both institutions.
Gail credits Agnes Scott not just for sharpening her mathematical skills, but for broadening her mind.
“I do believe in a school that introduces you to the arts and to life,” she said. “I think it’s an important base to have even if you are in the sciences. It makes anyone who gets into management a better manager.”
She looks back on her years at the college with fondness. Most of her friendships today are a result of the connections she made at Agnes Scott.
“I value my education from there,” she says. “It was just a good experience.”
Fuller E. Callaway Professor of English is a reader at heart.
BY SUE DURIO
It has been said that to be a great writer, you must first be a great reader. That could certainly describe Fuller E. Callaway Professor of English Nicole Stamant, an avidly curious reader who has spent her career connecting aspiring young writers with a wide library of stories. Her goal: to help her students at Agnes Scott College see the world through others’ life stories and, in turn, bring new perspectives to their own stories.
“I have always understood myself as a reader more than anything,” she says. “Reading has been my favorite thing to do as a writer, but it took me a long time to see that reading is its own special reward.”
A product of Sweet Briar College, a women’s institution in Virginia, Stamant says the opportunity to teach at Agnes Scott and connect with the next generation of women scholars was a dream. She joined the faculty in 2011.
“I want to have relationships with my students, to get to know them and to watch them grow as readers and writers and thinkers,” she says. “There are a lot of cultural scripts that students often feel they have to follow in order to be doing the right thing. It’s hard to challenge those expectations and those scripts. I tell them to trust themselves and to not shape their life and their approach to the world based on what they think other people want from them.”
Stamant understands the importance of connections between students and educators. She keeps an eighthgrade teacher’s note on her office bookshelf even now. “Nicole is a phenomenal reader,” the teacher praised. “She has read 15,000 pages in the eighth grade so far!” Her students might not be surprised to read that much or more in just one of her American literature and life-writing studies courses.
“I love to read widely, and when I put a syllabus together, students will read widely,” she says. “No one thing is like anything else they’ve read.”
Stamant delights in introducing her students to diverse approaches to the broad genre of memoir in particular. A typical class might explore everything from what she frames as the “funkily formed” life story of African-American poet Toi Derricotte to Mary McCarthy’s Memories of a Catholic Girlhood, which she studied as part of her dissertation at Texas A&M University.
“The way that people articulate their experiences is infinitely variable and thrilling,” she says. “They are picking different forms; it might be a conventional autobiography, a cookbook, poems or dramatic writing. It is fascinating to see the different ways people think about who they are, the languages they speak and the family members who are important to them.”
Her own story, she acknowledges, is heavily influenced by her mother, an African-American Army colonel who taught military science at Texas A&M University and led Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) operations, among other assignments.
“Living in a biracial family, moving around a lot, seeing my mother in these leadership roles and then reading about gender and racial minorities gave me a chance to see into different worlds,” she says.
“I want to have relationships with my students, to get to know them and to watch them grow as readers and writers and thinkers.”
— Nicole Stamant
Stamant’s writing spans everything from an exploration of the life writings of Southern female authors to an analysis of culinary memoirs currently in the works, all with a focus on self-representation through personal storytelling. She spent most of her formative years in Texas and completed all of her studies in the South. Even though she doesn’t see herself as a Southerner, she has a deep affinity for the South and finds herself increasingly fascinated with the stories of Southern writers.
“The more I’ve written in the last few years, the more I’ve realized how much that experience of living in the South has affected my work,” she says. “I’m intrigued with how memory, race and tradition are commemorated in these areas.”
Stamant was recently selected as a Fuller E. Callaway Professorial Chair, a prestigious distinction recognizing outstanding faculty in Georgia. She is the second Agnes Scott faculty member to be so honored, following Fuller E. Callaway Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Richard D. Parry, who earned the distinction in 1986. The self-described low-key professor admits to being “totally overwhelmed” by the recognition.
“I never thought of myself as someone who would be considered for such an honor, and to be recognized like this is amazing,” she says. “I love this place, our mission, our students and teaching here. What a wonderful thing to be able to read and talk with students about their reading and writing, and I hope to be a person they can talk to openly about what’s important to them.”
Though she’s on sabbatical until the fall, don’t expect Stamant to be far from a good book. Her local county library celebrated its centennial year by issuing a challenge to read 100 books. That challenge was happily accepted.
All news current as of April 2025.
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Margaret V. Norris mvnorri@bellsouth.net
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
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No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
No news was submitted.
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No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
Genevieve Harper Alexander continues to live at home and goes to the office almost every day. She shares a house with her daughter, though they lead independent lives. She feels fortunate to be in good health and continues to enjoy life and mobility.
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Adele Dieckmann McKee adelemckee46@msn.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
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Mary Coulling maryc@kalexres.kendal.org
Beverly Baldwin Albea proudly announces the arrival of her first great-granddaughter, Bircli Albea, of Decatur, Georgia. She now resides at Renaissance Marquis in Rome, Georgia, while maintaining her home in Rockmart, which she visits monthly.
Mary Aichel Samford’s daughter, Margaret, shares that
her mother passed away peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 21, 2024, at age 97. Throughout her life, she touched many through decades of teaching the Bible in various high schools, mission trips to Mali and gatherings in her home in Jacksonville, Florida. She wrote her own lengthy, beautiful obituary, which can be viewed on dignitymemorial.com under her name. While she is deeply missed, her loved ones take comfort in the belief that she is now walking, seeing and thinking more clearly than ever—and, most importantly, seeing Jesus.
Mary Price Coulling is still in her cottage at the retirement community in Lexington, Virginia. Although slower and shorter, she is grateful to still be able to get around. She stays busy with activities on campus and at church. Mary is thankful for the loving support of her children and grandchildren and enjoys learning about her two lively and attractive great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Williams Henry had successful hip replacement surgery in October 2024 that resulted in pain-free walking.
Olive Wilkinson Turnipseed shares that she and her husband, Robert, have moved into a retirement community.
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Sally Aycock marv_sally@yahoo.com
Betty Phillips Lindsay resides at Carolina Meadows, a continuing care retirement community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Although her family lives outside the area, they traveled to celebrate her 95th birthday last June. She stays active and engaged in the community. Her husband, Landon,
passed away five years ago, but she continues to maintain connections with Emory University.
Cama Clarkson Merritt shares her love of poetry and reading groups at Arbor Acres in North Carolina. She often reads Robert Frost’s poems and recently opened her 1949 Silhouette yearbook to a photo of Frost signing a book at Agnes Scott College.
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Martha A. Stegar gacybergran@yahoo.com
Mary Anna Ogden Bryan moved to Sanford Estates, a retirement home in Roswell, Georgia, in December to be closer to her daughter and fellow Agnes Scott alumna, Sarah “Sally” Bryan Spicher ’81.
Julianne Morgan Garner reports that Mary “Betty” Rawls Skelton Copeland died at her home in Williamson, Georgia, on Dec. 1, 2024. Garner recalls that they met as freshmen and remained lifelong friends.
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No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
Becky Moore reports that her mother, Betty Moon Swofford, passed away on Nov. 14, 2023.
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Anne C. George acgeo@att.net
Keller Henderson Barron shares that her protest sign, “Defund Democracy,” reflected her concerns about constitutional violations on Presidents Day 2025 at the South Carolina State Capitol in Columbia. In May, she plans to travel to San
Francisco to welcome her second great-grandchild. In July, she will join her daughter and family, including Meg Jenkins Locke ’84, in Chautauqua, New York, for an event titled “The Future of the Democratic Experiment.”
Lilla Kate Parramore Hart says the weather has been a major topic of discussion in Valdosta, Georgia. In the fall, Hurricane Helene caused significant damage, and in February, snow covered the ground for about a week. Her cousin, Catherine Redles ’52, sustained major damage to her home from the hurricane and needed to move out for repairs.
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Frances Minick fminick@gmail.com
Katharine Hefner Gross lives in a large retirement community, where she feels comfortable. She enjoys walking to the nearby park and admiring the trees. When her daughter, who lives in Seattle, visits, they go to restaurants and stroll along Seal Beach Pier. Katharine enjoys meeting new people there and feels her life has been good so far.
Mary Newell Bridges has been reflecting on the life she shared with her late husband, Burt, who died on Nov. 29, 2024, at age 93 after 65 years of marriage. At 91, Mary continues to live in their home of 62 years and hopes to remain there. She says she is in good health and stays active. She frequently sees Helen McGowan French and occasionally Jackie Josey Hahne. Mary often talks with Sue Purdom Arnall and sometimes with Lou Hill Reaves and Judy Promnitz Marine.
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No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
Mary Evelyn Swezey has moved from a house to a small apartment.
Hannah Jackson Alnutt has moved to a retirement home. She and her husband, Tom, both 92, have heart problems but are doing well. Hannah has a pacemaker. She belongs to two book groups and enjoys playing bridge, doing crossword puzzles and solving sudoku. They have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Their three daughters are attentive and helpful. They love where they live.
Julia Beeman shares that Christmas 2024 brought her three new jigsaw puzzles. She began working on all three but realized she needed to focus on one at a time. Although Julia can still manage simple daily chores, she has been without a car or driver’s license since 2018 and relies on her daughter for transportation. Her three adult children live nearby, and her daughter talks on the phone with her brother every day. Julia expresses gratitude to several friends who have stayed in touch with her.
Margaret Rogers Lee is happy to share that she is still alive and mobile, using a cane for assistance. She and Tom will celebrate their 69th anniversary on Nov. 10. After many years of working and traveling, she now enjoys family vacations at Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, with their children and grandchildren.
Mary Alice Kemp regularly attends silent retreats at Green Bough House of Prayer in Adrian, Georgia, which she says feeds her soul.
Georgia Syribeys shares that in 2015 her book Sea Seething at My Feet was published through Amazon. Georgia chose this route as a new lyric narrative poet seeking an affordable option. The book contains five sections of 52 poems, most previously published in reputable journals. She wanted a design with both black and light print for non-English words. Although a smaller publisher had
quoted a high price for an artist’s cover, Georgia featured artwork by her friend Lucy Johnson, who charged her nothing. Since the release of her book, Georgia has had additional poems published.
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Helen Haynes Patton helenpatton@comcast.net
Mary Nell McElmarry Jones is now 90 and has been married to Ed for four years. They are blessed with good health and enough energy to dance once or twice a week, play pickleball three times a week, go to church, keep house, play piano and read books. Most of her friends have passed away, but she’s very thankful for the goodness of God.
Stella Biddle Fitzgerald shares that she and her husband, George, celebrated their 67th anniversary with a cruise in the Caribbean. They enjoy building Lego constructions, including a 5-footlong Titanic, the Taj Mahal and a typewriter. Now they are excited to take on the Eiffel Tower. Stella also mentions that creating Diamond Dotz pictures can be a fun activity.
Ann Alvis Shibut says, “When you reach 90, things do slow down a bit.” She still quilts, reads, knits, edits two newsletters, gardens, feeds the birds and enjoys time with her children and grandchildren. She also has a great-granddaughter finishing her freshman year at James Madison University. Ann says life is full and fun, and she feels blessed with good health.
Emmie Hay Hancock celebrated her 90th birthday with a wonderful party. She retired two years ago but still occasionally helps with the business run by her son and grandson. She currently serves on the board of directors for The Pines at Davidson, her retirement community. Emmie enjoys living at The Pines surrounded by so many wonderful friends.
’57
No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
Cynthia Bailey Pyle moved to Texas two years ago and has a small house near her daughter, Christen, and her family. She lives with a tabby cat and enjoys gardening and sewing for Operation Christmas Child and local charities. Maizie, her Agnes Scott roommate, is also in Texas, and they hope to have a reunion soon.
Lucy Robertson Greene is still serving as a consultant to the Moody Air Force Base support team, having worked with the group for many years. The team has been named one of three national champions by American Defense Communities for its support of the U.S. military. She’s a proud American.
Mary “Betsy” Crapps Burch stays busy with civic, church and genealogical activities. She enjoys keeping up with the interests and activities of her grandchildren and great-grandchild, who bring extra joy to her life.
Helen Sewell Johnson lives a quiet life, spending hours each day in her room doing what she loves: practicing classical guitar (a passion of more than 60 years), Japanese metal thread embroidery (a newfound hobby) and reading— always reading.
’58
Elizabeth Hanson Duerr ebelld@aol.com
To quote one of our 1958 classmates, “We are doing the best we can with what we’ve got.” From the news we’ve received, our class is staying active and busy with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and other groups.
Nancy Alexander Johnson and her husband, Pierce, enjoy participating in outdoor activities and have had many relatives visit
them over the past year. She notes that a bonus of their location is that Frances Gwinn Wolf and her husband, Peter, live right next door, which allows them to enjoy meals together from time to time.
Nancy Grayson enjoys life at a senior residence and feels fortunate to have her son living nearby and her daughter, who visits frequently, in Boston. She participates in two book clubs, which keep her busy with reading, and she also has a passion for completing crossword puzzles.
Carlanna Lindamood Hendrick is recovering well after her knee replacement surgery and is enjoying improved, more stable mobility. She also has good news about her son, who made it through the fires in Los Angeles safely.
Caro McDonald Smith and her husband, Paul, enjoyed a cold but delightful trip to their favorite getaway, Saint Simons Island, where they dined on delicious crab cakes and other tasty dishes at their favorite restaurants. They feel fortunate to live near their family and cherish the annual trips they take with friends to Destin, Florida.
Celeste “Tissie” Rogers Thompson often wishes she could say she has written a book, but in reality, she is enjoying a fulfilling life in her Atlanta suburb. Tissie spends her time playing various board games and participating in a drama group called the Pretenders, which she humorously describes as a group that merely pretends to act. She has organized a group that meets at her house once a month for—you guessed it—board games. With pride, she talks about her several grandchildren, whom she describes as wonderful individuals.
Elizabeth “Libby” Hanson Duerr travels to Atlanta every Christmas to visit her son and his family and spends summers in Greensboro, North Carolina,
with her daughter, Lisa Ann Duerr ’87. For 28 years, she has hosted the Duerr Lecture Series at her church, a three-day event she’s passionate about. The event is offered both in person and via livestream. Libby is grateful for the individuals who manage the technology to ensure the lectures run smoothly.
Hazel Ellis likely embodies the experience of many when she notes that she tends to move more slowly these days and tasks seem to take longer to complete. Additionally, she finds herself writing more reminders and often struggles to recall where she has placed them.
’59
Mary Clayton DuBard dubardmary2@gmail.com
Blanche Helm Nichols nchobo331@gmail.com
Mary Anne Henderson
Johnson is expecting her first great-grandchild. Her latest Road Scholar trip focused on studying the Foreign Service.
Mary Dunn Evans DeBorde is anticipating two grandchild graduations and a wedding soon.
Willa Dendy has moved from Chattanooga to Dalton, Georgia, where she is enjoying an active lifestyle and spending time with her energetic grandchildren.
Melba Cronenberg Bassett will soon be making a big move from Leesburg, Florida, to Atlanta to be closer to her daughter.
’60
Ellen McFarland Johnson ecmcjo@gmail.com
Many of our classmates plan to attend this year’s Alumnae Weekend to celebrate our 65th reunion.
Phyllis Cox Whitesell writes from the Pennsylvania retirement community where she and Bill live
that they are not as active as they used to be. Before the pandemic, they were international travelers. Last fall, they resumed their travels, spending a week in London and attending an opera festival in Wexford, Ireland. Their daughters live in Austin, Texas, and Bethesda, Maryland, and their grandchildren are in New York, Boston and New Haven, Connecticut.
Kay Fuller Mitchell enjoys life with several weekly activities, including working with early court records for the York, South Carolina, Historical Society; playing bridge; knitting for Christmas at Sea; teaching two oil painting classes; and painting for exhibit and sale. Her three children live in South Carolina, Alabama and Washington state. She has five grandchildren as well as two great-grandchildren, who live in Switzerland and are bilingual.
Wilma Muse has moved to Lenbrook in Atlanta for assisted living.
Carolyn Hoskins Coffman and her husband, Turner, have settled into life at Riverside, an assisted living facility in Smithfield, Virginia, where they enjoy the activities and have more time to read. They are happy to be a little closer to their daughters in Richmond.
Becky Evans Callahan and her husband, Tom, are doing well and still enjoy living on their beautiful lake in the North Georgia mountains. They both still drive, but it takes the two of them to go anywhere.
Mary Jane Pickens Skinner is anticipating throat surgery this spring but hopes to attend the reunion. She enjoys reminiscing about her trip to Switzerland and Italy last year.
Helen Mabry Beglin laments that the big As—age and arthritis—make life more difficult for her. As much as she wishes she
could, she won’t be able to attend the reunion from her distant home in New Jersey. She is still driving and stays active with friends and activities at the retirement center where she lives. She is still able to travel and enjoys staying connected with her bicoastal family.
Rebecca Wilson Guberman attended a recent Agnes Scott seminar, “Collections/ Connections: Contemporary Art as Personal Expression and Public Conversation.” The final class on campus emphasized the permanent art collection. Participants spent time in the Dana Fine Arts Building, learning about the history and design of the building. Other classes were held at the art-filled home of Kay Richards Summers
Although she won’t be able to attend the reunion, Eve Purdom Ingle cherishes the Agnes Scott friendships she has maintained. She says, “We were a special group—just a bunch of naive young women trying to live as we should.” She often shares this story for those who may have forgotten it: “Shortly after we arrived, Miss Scandrett came to our class meeting and said, ‘An optimist is someone who doesn’t clean the bathtub before getting in. A pessimist is someone who cleans the bathtub before getting in. The person who cleans the bathtub both before and after getting in is a lady.’”
After her husband, Dick, passed away in 2017, Laura Parker Lowndes entered seminary, a pursuit she had long wanted to undertake. The process was paused by the pandemic. However, on June 1, 2024, she was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. She is currently assigned to her home church, Trinity Church in Winchester, Tennessee, where she is involved with several food pantries, a trailer park ministry and the Wings of Hope Widows Ministry. In her spare time, she leads a water aerobics class once
a week and swims two other days to stay active after undergoing two hip replacements.
’61
Dee Irwin dee.irwin@gmail.com
Barbara Baldauf Anderson is still living in the home she purchased in 1975 and continues to remodel it. She particularly enjoys gardening and is happy to still “dig in the dirt,” transplanting and nurturing her plants. In addition to gardening, she is a member of two book clubs and plays bridge. She and her husband stay busy with their 80-pound golden retriever. They have 10 grandchildren spread across the United States from New York to San Francisco.
Faith Chao ’61 shares a photo from her April trip to Harbin, China.
Faith Chao led a group from California to Harbin, China, in April to see the ice and snow sculptures. Despite the cold weather, the sights were incredible, and the food was delicious, showcasing northeastern Chinese cuisine, which differs from the southern flavors commonly found in the U.S. Harbin also has a notable Russian influence, as one-third of its population was Russian before World War II. The sculptures are displayed at three locations: one for ice, one for snow and another for international ice sculpture competitions.
Ann McBride Chilcutt and her husband, Ben, are still living in the house they built in 1968, where they raised their four children. Their oldest son lives in Columbus, Mississippi, and his daughter is the fifth generation to run the family business. Their two daughters live in Fairhope, Alabama, while their other son teaches business at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Together, they have 11 grandchildren and are anticipating the arrival of their 14th greatgrandchild. It’s quite remarkable for a couple who first met under a streetlight at Agnes Scott.
Judy Albergotti Hines retired from a fulfilling career in social work, where she held many roles throughout her journey. Her first husband, Hans Heller, was a physician from East Prussia, but their marriage eventually foundered. Together, they had adopted two children. Judy later married Paul Hines and relocated to Stamford, Connecticut. She returned to work in New York City, where her career had initially begun. In 2000, after both she and Paul retired, they moved to Charleston. Tragically, Paul passed away in 2020 following unsuccessful open-heart surgery. During this difficult time, Judy deeply appreciated the support of her classmates Mary Wayne Crymes Bywater, Missy Moore Kuykendahll, Panni Doar Grubb and Ana Maria Aviles McCaa.
Missy Moore Kuykendall and John have continued to live in Davidson, North Carolina, since he retired from Davidson College. Six years ago, they moved to The Pines retirement community, which is filled with fellow Davidson College alumni and town residents, as well as Agnes Scott alumnae, including classmate Rachel Fowler Haynes. Missy expresses pride in the college and commends its ability to educate bright young women, adapt to the changing world and uphold rigorous academics, all while preparing women to make a positive impact with their lives.
Ann Womeldorf Noland now lives at the St. Paul Senior Living Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where she met another Agnes Scott alumna residing in the same facility.
Esther Thomas Smith has moved three times into senior living centers over the past few years following four surgeries in a short period. She initially lived in the Marsh’s Edge community on St. Simons Island but left during the pandemic to hibernate in her condo on East Beach. In the summer of 2023, she relocated to the Savannah/Wilmington Island area to be closer to family. Finally, in July 2024, she moved to Thrive on Skidaway Island.
Way in Jupiter, Florida. Alice lives comfortably in a two-bedroom apartment with her calico cat and enjoys meeting new friends. She enjoys the drama club and is proud to have served on the Resident Council for 32 years. Her children visit often; two daughters live in Baltimore, and her son lives in New York. One granddaughter attends Northeastern University, and her grandson is in ninth grade.
’62
Milling Kinard emkinard@verizon.net
Joanna Russell Hogan ’62, Rosemarie Traeger Sumerel ’62, Emily Evans Robison ’62, Betty Gillespie Proctor ’62, Jan Whitfield Hughen ’62 and Vivian “Biba” Conner Parker ’62 caught up earlier this year.
Tish Moye Unver now lives in an apartment in Istanbul, Turkey, after moving there from Ankara following her husband’s passing. She still owns a house and garden in Kazan, Russia, just outside Ankara, where she enjoys visiting with her seven grandchildren. All of her grandchildren have attended college, with some even attending high school in the United States. Fortunately, Turkish Airlines offers nonstop flights from Istanbul to several U.S. cities.
Dee Conwell Irwin and her husband, Tom, recently moved to Evans, Georgia, to be closer to one of their daughters. Dee enjoys weekly visits with her classmate Jane Weltch Milligan. Jane and her husband faced a significant challenge when they lost their home to Hurricane Helene, which caused severe damage with heavy winds and rain in the Augusta area last fall.
Alice Cochrane Swartout shares the passing of her husband on March 16, 2022, after almost 62 years together. She currently resides in a senior independent living community at Mangrove Bay
Vivian “Biba” Conner Parker, Jan Whitfield Hughen, Betty Gillespie Proctor, Emily Evans Robison, Rosemarie Traeger Sumerel and Joanna Russell Hogan gathered at the Green Bell Bed and Breakfast near Perry, Georgia, in February for a reunion. These six lifetime friends stay in touch and get together twice a year.
In October, Betsy Jefferson Boyt and Peggy Frederick Smith attended the ribbon cutting for the opening of Main Hall after extensive renovations. They toured the magnificent building and visited their old rooms, which were all much improved. They then enjoyed a slumber party with Mary Stokes Humphlett, and yes, there was plenty of talking.
“Much fun on a short trip to Atlanta,” says Betsy.
In February, Peggy Frederick Smith traveled with her two daughters, Meg and Katie; their husbands; and other relatives to Richmond, Virginia, to cheer on Meg’s younger son, Clay, during an ultimate frisbee tournament at the University of Richmond, where he is a senior. Clay helped organize the tournament, which featured 16 teams from across the country. They had plenty of fun, though Peggy bailed out on the Saturday afternoon walks through the campus and parks, put her toes up, and enjoyed a nap. She reports that ultimate frisbee is a great game that is thoroughly enjoyed by the players, who are often nothing more than goofy on the sidelines.
Margaret “Peggy” McGeachy Roberson enjoyed a visit with Sallie Boineau Freeman while Sallie was in Wintergreen, Virginia, this past summer for the music festival headed by Sallie’s daughter, Erin Freeman. Peggy shares the sad news that her life partner died on Dec. 12, 2024. She says she is learning to live alone, though she can’t say she likes it.
’63
Mary Beth Thomas thomasmb1980@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’64
Lucy Molinaro lucythelibrarian@yahoo.com
Harriet King says she is at a stage of life when the physical world contracts a bit, the pleasures of the familiar are more intense and the worries are more existential. Along with Gué Pardue Hudson ’68, Sue Feese ’84 and some other friends, she is learning to play mahjong. She adds that, unlike the bridge games in a smoke-filled hub after dinner, this game is being played in smoke-free air with a wine accompaniment!
Alvis Girardeau ’64 posed with an eagle during her travels to Mongolia last summer.
Betty Alvis Girardeau embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Mongolia last year, participating in an extraordinary two-week photo workshop. The adventure included several days in the breathtaking Gobi Desert, followed by four days camping in the remote regions of Outer Mongolia, where she had the unique opportunity to live alongside the renowned eagle hunters. The experience was rustic, without showers or running water, and the only source of warmth in their yurt was a small woodfired stove—an essential comfort when temperatures dipped below freezing. Despite being 82 years old, Betty impressed even herself with her ability to navigate the dunes and embrace the challenges of the Mongolian wilderness. Upon returning home, she continued
to thrive in her mobile notary business, now in its fifth year. This year, her travels will be more localized, as she and her daughter plan a glamping adventure for two weeks, starting in the stunning landscapes of Yosemite and making their way along the scenic Oregon coast into wine country. In August, Betty has another trip planned to Santa Fe and Taos to participate in an iPhone photography workshop. Recently, she has also taken the initiative to teach several iPhone photography classes to the women in her local club, sharing her passion and expertise with others.
Katie Shearer Schane currently resides at a senior living community in Roswell, Georgia, where her next-door neighbor is Nina Warren Jagers. Both Katie and Nina enjoy participating in musical productions at their residence. They were excited when Florence Willey Perusse moved in last summer and joined their singing group. Unfortunately, Florence is now facing significant challenges after suffering two strokes and spending time in the hospital. Katie still travels to Virginia twice a year to visit her brother and frequently attends performances by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Ballet.
When the decision was made to install a much-needed new elevator in Main Hall, several members of the class of ’64 who had lived in the dorm set a goal to raise $50,000 in honor of Main Hall friendships. So far, 25 members of the class have made gifts to name the elevator, located on the first floor of the Career Exploration Center. Some classmates have continued to give to the fund, bringing the class gift total to $69,195.
Nancy Smith Scheeler writes from Brunswick, Maine, where she and her husband, James (Jim), relocated from Reston, Virginia, in 2023. Jim, an architect, has made significant modifications to the internal layout of their condo near Bowdoin College, designing it with the concept of aging in place in mind. Their older daughter, Cate, and her family live just 15 minutes away, while their younger daughter, Emily, and her family are a leisurely three-hour Downeaster train ride away in Winchester, Massachusetts. Both Nancy and Jim are enjoying their vibrant neighborhood and are eager to connect with other newcomers.
Nancy has taken to auditing classes at Bowdoin and attending the Osler Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine, further enriching her experience in this new chapter of their lives.
’65
Carol Sutton Lumpkin lumpkin@optilink.us
The 1965 class reunion took place from April 25 to 27 on campus. May C. Brown, one of our classmates, received the Outstanding Alumnae Award for Service to the Community, and we were so proud of her!
Margaret Murphy Hunter and her husband, Jim, are planning a trip to Cyprus in March to explore the archaeological sites and museums of ancient Cyprus.
Lucy Herbert Molinaro resides in Covington, Georgia, where she and her late husband, Tony, relocated from Atlanta in the mid-1970s. Since retiring from her career as a middle school teacher and later managing a school media center for 12 years, she enjoys playing bridge and Rummikub, participating in two book clubs, singing in a church choir and playing in a small recorder consort with friends in the area. At least once a year, she visits her daughter, Susan, in Bronxville, which is not far from New York City. Her son, Andrew, lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he works as a computer technician. The extended family gathers either at the beach in South Carolina or at their 106-year-old summer home in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, which survived Hurricane Helene with minimal damage. After traveling to many regions around the globe with Road Scholar, Lucy has decided to explore more of the United States. This summer, she plans to join a local tour group visiting several national parks in the western part of the country.
Dottie Strumpf Noble has been working on a website called zonian-online.com, which features stories on various topics. She is planning a trip with her cousin in June to travel from Toronto through all the Great Lakes cities to Chicago, where she will spend a few days with her son and his family.
Adelaide Hanson is excited about her plans for a barge canal cruise in France. She is eagerly waiting for her passport to arrive in time, as she has not yet selected a specific destination. The cruise promises luxurious vessels equipped with all the amenities, including a chef to prepare delicious meals. She looks forward to dining one evening at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The trip will last a week and accommodate about 12 people per boat. After her canal adventure, Adelaide will meet her niece and two great-nieces in Paris. Together, they will take the Eurostar train under the English Channel to London for two days of exploration before boarding the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton for a week-long voyage to New York City.
’66
Peggy Marion Ryals mryals001@sc.rr.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’67
Avary Hack Doubleday avaryd@juno.com
Linda Richter Barnes and her husband, Cecil, celebrated Christmas with both of their daughters, their daughters’ husbands and their four grandchildren, who are 18, 15, 8 and 6 years old. After these festive gatherings, Linda faced two months of respiratory issues and
experienced feelings of cabin fever. She expressed her gratitude for the daily texts from Justice Waldrop Allen and Day Morcock Kennon, considering them a true gift during this challenging time.
Cindi Carter Bright is going on a seven-day trip, starting in Madrid and ending in Paris. The trip is part of an educational art tour.
Margaret “Marty” Ryan Clayton has traveled to Iceland twice in the past 12 months, with her most recent visit being for the annual November music festival, Iceland Airwaves. During the trip, Marty’s group enjoyed the Blue Lagoon, a destination that had been off limits during their previous visit due to a volcanic eruption. Additionally, Marty and a friend have attended the Carnival of Venice for the past two years. Demonstrating her commitment to the community, she has funded endowments for Florida State University’s Flying High Circus and the local Escambia County Sheriff Office’s Blazer Academy for young people. Furthermore, she is awarding college scholarships to local youth, a cause that brings her great joy as a former teacher.
Ann Roberts Divine appears to be spending all her time traveling, as she recently returned from a trip to Norway in February to witness the northern lights. Although the first eight days of her 12-day cruise were rainy and cloudy, the weather eventually cleared, allowing her to experience spectacular displays. The wait proved to be worthwhile.
Linda Colvard Dorian shares the sad news of her husband Bob’s passing in the spring of 2024 after 58 years of marriage. They exchanged vows following her junior year at Agnes Scott College, after which she transferred to the University of Maryland. Linda graduated from the National Law Center at George Washington University in 1972. She is grateful for their daughter, Brie, who
resembles her father, as well as for Brie’s two teenage daughters, Maysen and Kylie. Active in her community of DeLand, Florida, Linda serves on the board of directors of the Museum of Art and maintains connections with her special friends from Agnes Scott.
Susan Stevens Hitchcock and Garland have gained valuable insights from his first surgery, a knee replacement performed in November 2024. They have found that rehabilitation is a team effort, and it is progressing well. Always seeking positive and uplifting news, they are excited about their oldest granddaughter’s engagement in 2024 and her planned wedding in August 2025. These upcoming events, along with their renewed ability to travel, highlight the joy they anticipate in the coming year.
Day Morcock Kennon shares that her son and grandchildren in Asheville, North Carolina, are still recovering from the incredible destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. She continues to assist her Agnes Scott sister, who is recovering from surgery in Winston-Salem, during her travels to North Carolina. Life remains interesting and busy for Day in Covington, Georgia, where she enjoys doubles tennis with Larry, participates in exercise classes, engages in church activities and stays connected with her nine grandchildren, four of whom are now in college across four different states. Additionally, she cherishes her friendships, which have become increasingly valuable as time goes on.
Elizabeth Johnson Kohn, previously known as Cookie, and her wonderful husband, Bob, spent four days last Christmas in Mendoza, Argentina, indulging in the exquisite flavors of Malbec wines. After their time in Mendoza, they enjoyed five days in Buenos Aires, Elizabeth’s favorite city, to ring in the New Year. Following their Argentine
adventure, they embarked on a cruise to Fort Lauderdale. Their trip concluded with a visit to nearby Jupiter, Florida, to see their adorable 18-month-old greatgranddaughter, Sullivan, who brings them immense joy.
Susan Sleight Mowry shares her family’s passion for travel. Her eldest granddaughter has ventured to Italy to visit her Air Force boyfriend, taking side trips to Austria and Germany along the way. The middle granddaughter, a senior at Boston University, has been busy visiting other universities that have accepted her into their Ph.D. programs in biomedical engineering. Meanwhile, the youngest granddaughter is spending her junior year studying abroad in Florence, Italy, through New York University. As for Susan, she is preparing for an exciting National Geographic-Lindblad Expedition cruise around Iceland scheduled for May.
Clair McLeod Muller had a wonderful time attending the reopening of Main Hall in October with her freshman roommate, Caroline Owens Crain. They enjoyed reconnecting and meeting a sophomore pre-med student in their former tower room. In February, Clair attended Winter Seminar lectures on art with Mary Jervis Hayes, which she found enjoyable.
Carol Anne Sutherland has been teaching the Botanical Drawing Certificate Program at Atlanta Botanical Garden for 30 years. In February and March, she and 17 of her students held a drawing exhibit at the garden, showcasing Carol’s large colored pencil works alongside the pieces of students who are in the process of completing the program. More information can be found on Carol’s website (carolsutherland.com).
’68
Betty Derrick bderrick@agnesscott.edu
Sylvia Harby Hutton and David celebrated the arrival of their greatgrandson, Tate Wayne Hutton, who was born early on Feb. 24, 2024. Weighing 6 pounds 13 ounces, he is healthy despite arriving a month ahead of schedule. Additionally, Sylvia and David’s daughter, Leah Blumenfeld, has been appointed chair of the Department of Political Science and History at Barry University in Miami.
Paige Maxwell McRight and her son Robert toured as much of the Smithsonian as they could in five days between Christmas and New Year’s. The alumni council at Columbia Theological Seminary has chosen to honor Paige with its Distinguished Service to the Church Award during Alumni Weekend.
Ethel Ware Gilbert Carter and Belfield had thought there would be no more grandbabies in their family. They were pleasantly surprised to welcome a wonderful gift: Sophia DeMoss Tierney, who was born to their daughter, Eleanor, and son-in-law, Cullen, on Dec. 4, 2024.
Patricia “Trish” O’Neal Paterson has had an eventful year, attending various doctor appointments and assisting family members with their medical
visits. She continues to train her dog, Osa the Terror, although the dog occasionally exhibits disobedience. This year, Trish moved into a classic ranch home that offers a stunning view of the Chattahoochee River and is all on one level, providing ease of access as she ages. She has also recently discovered yoga and is actively involved in bridge, a book club and beach outings. A strong supporter of Wellroot Family Services, formerly known as the United Methodist Children’s Home, she serves as chair of the trustees and is a member of the board. Wellroot is always seeking new board members.
Betty Miller Layng and Bill send greetings from the Step Pyramids in Egypt. They are on a Viking cruise, prompting Betty to reflect on Mrs. Pepe and her Art History 101 class, which inspired her to major in art.
Nancylee Rast Cater was asked to join the staff of Magnolia Manor, a senior living ministry sponsored by the United Methodist Church in South Georgia, shortly after the death of her husband, Jere. Since then, she has served as the part-time chaplain on the Macon campus, where she has been for six years. Cater expresses disbelief at both the passage of time and her continued involvement in the ministry, stating that she loves every minute of her work.
’69 Lalla Griffis Mangin lallamangin1@gmail.com
Evelyn Angeletti e_mangel@bellsouth.net
Gayle Wunder Hock and her husband celebrated 54 years of laughter together. They enjoyed a fun trip to Turks and Caicos with their extended family over the summer.
Sherrie Yandle Catledge says the past few years have been challenging. She lost both of her parents, her sister Vicki Yandle Taylor ’71 and another sister, Marcy. Despite it all, she continues to count her blessings, including the success of her many grandchildren.
Lou Frank Guill and Marshall enjoy being grandparents to kids of all ages. Recently, they took four grandchildren, ages 4 to 10 (along with one set of parents), to Universal Studios in Orlando for the Harry Potter experience. They then traveled to Italy with their oldest granddaughter for a long-delayed 16th birthday trip. Lou says it was a lot of fun to see Rome and Pompeii with someone who had just finished her first semester of college and taken a classics course. Later, they took their second-oldest grandchild on a ski trip to Colorado with his boy cousins. Next, they’ll head to Spain to watch Aven play soccer with the Under-19 U.S. National Team in a tournament against the Netherlands, England and Spain.
Burnette “Bunny” Teeple Sheffield writes that after enjoying the 55th reunion, where so many of us gathered, she has found ways to stay in close touch with a few classmates. In the fall, she went birding with Carol Blessing Ray; enjoyed a fun lunch with Frankie Ansley; met her new dog, Bella; and walked through Carol Jensen Rychly’s Hurricane Heleneravaged neighborhood. The “Gang of Four” monthly Skype calls with
Winnie Wirkus Djajengwasito, Betsy Fuller Hill and Marion Hinson Mitchell continued through 2024, with each call being a delight. She’s also not far from her junior-year roommate, Marsha Williams Norman, and they are planning a visit.
’70
Janet Pfohl Brooks jbrooks48@aol.com
Chris Cope Pence embarked on two weeklong excursions: one to California’s Central Valley to witness the arrival of the sandhill cranes and another to Socorro, New Mexico, to photograph the cranes migrating in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge and the Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area. Her article, “In Quest of the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken,” was published in the fall annual report of the North American Grouse Partnership.
Cathy DuVall Vogel enjoyed visiting Sharon Van Dame Elliott ’00 during their New Year’s trip to Amelia Island. They also stopped to see Camille Holland Carruth on their way home.
Cindy Padgett Henry and her husband, Frank, continue to reside on their farm just outside Wilmington, North Carolina. They cultivate a variety of crops, including corn, soybeans, coastal Bermudagrass, sunflowers and zinnias. In addition to managing the farm, Cindy dedicates her time to volunteering with various church groups, garden clubs and Daughters of the American Revolution. She also finds time for playing golf, playing bridge, running her small jewelry business and spending time with their three young grandchildren.
Ruth Hyatt Heffron is planning a cruise on the Danube River in April and will be unable to attend the reunion. However, she invites anyone visiting Maine to stop by and visit her in Belfast.
Karen Cappel Hendrickson is enjoying life in Seattle, where her children and grandchildren live. She will miss the reunion but sends her best wishes.
Debbie Anderson Howrey announced with great sadness the passing of Jane Tarver Drewry on Oct. 9, 2024, following a brief illness. Debbie, along with Martha Allison Parnell, Mary Little Mattair and Myra Jordan Gaines, visited Drewry at her Charlottesville, Virginia, home in July 2024.
Cindy Ashworth Kesler cindyk315@gmail.com
Angie Jarrett Smith and Byron are thrilled to announce the birth of their first grandchild, Miles Spencer Smith. He was born to Bradley and Elizabeth Smith on Feb. 21 in Chicago.
Carol Durrance Dunbar and Ellis are enjoying the winter at their condo in Venice, Florida, on the Gulf Coast. Their daughter, Caroline, and her family from New York City spent Christmas with them, giving Carol and Ellis plenty of playtime with their grandson, Felix.
Melodey Mozeley Hauch completed a multiyear project as vice chair of the Galveston County Historical Commission in December 2024. She served as head researcher and writer for a comprehensive history of the county. Hauch is now presenting programs on the book to local historical societies.
Carol Hacker Evans visited Lynn White Montanari last July in New Canaan, Connecticut. They had a wonderful time laughing and reminiscing. Carol has purchased a townhouse in Atlanta and hopes to attend more Agnes Scott events.
Christine “Tina” Adams is teaching her book, Living on
Automatic, this spring at a Lifelong Learning Institute at a liberal arts college in Louisville, Kentucky. In May, she will embark on a threeweek riverboat trip to Switzerland, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Jo Perry Ely and Randy joyfully became first-time grandparents at the age of 75, welcoming their grandson, Winter “Win” Holmes Kizer, born Jan. 31. Jo is captivated by watching two 40-year-olds navigate the challenges of parenthood in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world.
Carolyn Nodell Glasgow highly recommends an incredible trip she took in February, which included a visit to the Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica.
Bernie Todd Smith, G.G. Sydnor Hill and G.G.’s husband, Fred, along with several family members, look forward to a University of North Carolina cruise along the Columbia and Snake rivers, where they will explore the route of Lewis and Clark.
Margaret Funderburk O’Neal reminds our class members that before our 50th reunion, we started a book club on Zoom,
which we have continued with periodic meetings featuring various book discussions and occasional guest authors. It’s a great opportunity to share book suggestions and simply catch up. Join us!
Anne Kemble Collins annekcollins@gmail.com
Belita Stafford Walker continues to enjoy watching movies and series. Through her church, she participates in CarePortal, a program that helps keep families together and children out of foster care. Remember “Fondue”? Belita revisited it with her 8-year-old twin grandsons after Christmas. She also had the chance to leave her footprints in the first snowfall Columbus, Georgia, had seen in seven years!
Nancy Weaver Willson survived Hurricane Helene by evacuating for a month. She and her husband were finally settling into Asheville, North Carolina, when they learned their long-awaited permanent cottage—on the same property as their temporary home but a much nicer, larger facility—would be ready this spring. Nancy is grateful that moving into the new cottage will be the last move of their lives. She says preparing for care in old age is not easy and sends best wishes to her classmates as they make similar decisions. Nancy enjoyed being on campus for the Scholarship Luncheon in late March.
Mary Ann Powell Howard continues cheering on her favorite team, Atlanta United, as well as her grandsons’ soccer teams. She proudly warns those sitting nearby that she is rowdy and loud! Oct. 1, 2024, was a special day, as she visited the Carter Center to celebrate Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday. She and Anne Kemble Collins continue working at Mission Haven, providing services to Columbia Theological Seminary students and missionaries.
then to Marseille, where they will rent a car. The couple will spend one week in Arles and another in Cassis, an old fishing village on the Mediterranean. Then they will spend two weeks in the Luberon region, home to many small, quaint villages close together. Mary and Jim will stay in one of the villages and explore the area at a leisurely pace. She says that looking forward to a getaway can certainly lift one’s mood. She sends best wishes to everyone, hoping they are aging well, and shares her mantra: to grow old gracefully— with the help of hearing aids!
Elaine “Lane” Ervin Lotspeich shared news and photos of the record seven-inch snowfall in Fairhope, Alabama, in late January. Lane and her husband, Rick, continue to enjoy life in Fairhope, close to their grandchildren in Pensacola, Florida, as they attend ball games, gymnastics events, school performances and other fun family activities.
Mary Beaty Watkins writes that since there’s not much new in her neighborhood, she planned something she encourages others to do. Early last fall, Mary was feeling down about the state of the nation. Wanting something to look forward to, she arranged a trip to the south of France in May. She and her husband, Jim, will fly to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris,
Anne Kemble Collins is “hanging in there,” as they say. In January, she underwent bilateral cataract surgery—both eyes done at once. Anne went into it with her eyes wide open in more ways than one! The procedure was successful, though somewhat nerve-racking due to the unusual experience of anesthesia, which allowed her to be calmly (and perhaps a bit too) awake and aware. After the operation, Anne was escorted to the car, where she tried to converse with her husband, Steve, as he drove her home. Midway through the trip, she began speaking somewhat incoherently, clearly under the influence of a small amount of fentanyl mixed with other relaxing medications, as described by the anesthesiologist. Needless to say, the seemingly endless walk across the back patio—during which
Steve supported her and convinced her to keep going despite her strong desire to rest in the inviting patio chairs—finally ended at their back door. A long nap followed shortly after. Anne’s real and very happy news is an upcoming trip to South Korea in May. The idea of a five-hour flight across the U.S., followed by another 10 hours across the Pacific, is daunting. The journey will be even longer with an additional three-hour trip from Seoul’s airport to Jeongeup, where Steve and Anne’s older son, Stuart, lives with his wife, Goree, and their son, Odhran. Their younger son, Penn, will travel with them, marking the family’s first trip to Korea since Stuart and Goree’s wedding in 2012. The highlight of the visit will be spending time with Odhran, the proud grandparents’ only grandchild. Steve and Anne’s only other visit with Odhran and his parents was in Atlanta shortly before his first birthday in November 2022. Anne’s message to classmates: Try to stay positive. Scotties will keep striving for excellence, leading with integrity and making us all proud.
Susan Correnty Dowd and her husband, Bryan, took several trips in 2024 to the North Shore of Lake Superior (Minnesota side), which is always a treat for them. That part of the state is peacefully beautiful but can also be forbidding. Superior is wild and deep, always cold, and littered with shipwrecks. Winter lasts a long time. But the area is stunning in every season and, fortunately, quite accessible from their home in Minnesota. Susan and Bryan have four young grandchildren who live just minutes away, keeping life fun and interesting! Bryan could have retired 10 years ago but continues to teach and conduct research in health policy and economics at the University of Minnesota. Susan is deeply involved with several boards, Episcopal Church volunteer work and philanthropy— as well as two book clubs. Last August, Susan was privileged to spend a week on the cool, windy
and wet island of Iona in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. A site of Christian pilgrimage for 1,500 years, it still looks much as it did centuries ago. The island is barren and rocky, populated mostly by sheep and cows, yet it remains a place of profound peace and depth. If you ever get the chance to go, do it!
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Peggy Callaway pcallaway51@gmail.com
Paula Holmes paulabholmes@sbcglobal.net
Harriett Schneider Williams and her husband, Blake, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this spring. They hosted their children and grandchildren in Charleston for a big family celebration.
Tish Young McCutchen splits her time between London, New Hampshire and Oregon since she retired from a life of philanthropy with the United Way, spending time with her four children and one grandchild. In addition to a flat in London, she keeps an apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, where her 98-yearold father lives. She hopes to inherit his zest for life but not his orneriness.
Judy Hamilton Grubbs and Jake live close to their four grandchildren and enjoy every minute. The granddaughters will enter middle school next year.
Jane Parsons Frazier and her husband flew to England for about 10 days last May. Oxford delighted them with afternoon tea at the Alice Room in the Randolph Hotel and lunch at the White Horse Pub. They also visited Blackwell’s Bookstore, enjoyed evensong at Magdalen College and toured the Kilns (C.S. Lewis’s home). They hiked a portion of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, staying at bed-and-breakfasts and having their luggage transferred by Hadrian’s Haul. Jane took a side
trip to the ruins of Vindolanda, a Roman fort. She said it was a delight to visit friends and hike up to Loughrigg. Both she and her husband were thankful for good weather and great food.
Mary Paige Lucas has been working in recent years with schools in Ghana and has been designated “Development Queen Mother” in one of the local communities. Her daughter, Anna Tremaine Johnson ’13, and son, Will Tremaine, were in Kokrobite, Ghana, for the coronation event, which included several festivities and changes of royal attire for the newly dubbed Queen Naa Akaaba Bentum I.
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Jamie Osgood Shepard gojamieshepard@gmail.com
Ann Elizabeth Clites annclites52@gmail.com
Patsy Cook Bates enjoyed a visit with Ann Early Bibb and her sister, Betty, when they traveled to Quincy, Florida, to see Patsy’s 101-year-old mother-in-law, who was their mother’s favorite cousin. Mary Paige Lucas ’73 works with schools in Ghana, Africa.
teaching in a kindergarten class. She’s also searching for an agent for two books she has written.
Rosanne Harkey Pruitt is enjoying many new opportunities, including taking the master gardener course. She volunteers once a week at a local free clinic. With choir singing, tennis, yoga and participation in a Bible study group, Rosanne has a full schedule.
Judy Carol Duncan Baxley spent six weeks touring Japan with her daughter and grandchildren. She also fired a cannon at Historic Camden, South Carolina, as part of the 250th celebration of the American Revolution. Judy Carol was honored as one of three people chosen to fire the cannon because her husband, Charles, served as chairman of South Carolina’s 250th (Sestercentennial) Commission.
Ann Early Bibb and Karen Dick Bruhns camped for three nights with a large group on Cumberland Island in November. Ann also made a quick trip to Florida, where she had dinner with Patsy Cook Bates and her husband, Mark.
Cindy Goldthwaite is thankful for good health. Her farm garden keeps her busy planting and tending vegetables. In addition to farming, Cindy has been substitute
Jamie Osgood Shepard continues her work as a contract instructor for the Veterans Business Outreach Center at both Florida State University and Mississippi State University. She is also a social media consultant for Shepard Health, treasurer of the local League of Women Voters and a newly appointed member of the Gulf Coast State College Foundation Board. She travels with her husband, Randall, for fun and to visit their family in California.
Retirement has given Lib McGregor Simmons the opportunity to volunteer by leading school field trip groups at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. The museum (iaamuseum.org) opened in 2023 and is a sacred space located on Gadsden’s Wharf, where thousands of African captives were brought. Lib asks fellow alumnae to let her know if they are coming to Charleston, as she would love to show them around the museum.
Lynn Williams Sox enjoyed the 50th reunion—not only as a chance to reconnect with classmates, but also to visit with family. Her daughter, Leda Sox ’10; son-in-law, Matt Emerick (Georgia Tech class of 2010); and grandson, Elliot, have lived in Decatur, Georgia, since 2018.
Taffy Stills reported that she and seven other classmates participated in the Atlanta-area alumnae chapter’s 2025 winter seminar: Ann Early Bibb,
Karen Dick Bruhns, Anne Gwynn Culberson, Mary Starling Inman, Anne Kerner, Teresa Lee and Eleni Papador Papadakis. This year’s seminar, which met weekly during January and February, was led by Agnes Scott Professor of Art History and Visual Practices Katherine Smith. It focused on selected works of contemporary art by or about women in Agnes Scott’s permanent collection. A new area of study is chosen each year. We hope more metro Atlanta classmates will join us next year for this exciting educational opportunity designed specifically for alumnae.
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Marie Newton mhnewton@sbcglobal.net
Our classmates are enjoying travel, pursuing work they’re passionate about, spending time with grandchildren and embracing life in general—one of the many rewards of being 50 years out of school.
Congratulations to Charlotte Gillis, who received the 2025 Outstanding Alumnae Award for Service to the College. We are so proud to know her—and Charlotte considers this honor a tribute to our entire class.
Becky Wilson Mistretta enjoys pursuing her hobbies of creating pet portraits and researching genealogy. She has two grandchildren: Chelsea, who is working on a master’s degree, and Tyler, who will graduate in May 2025 with his bachelor’s degree.
Lily Chan is still working but is once again considering retirement. She leads a nonprofit distancelearning university in Penang, Malaysia, that offers affordable and flexible degree pathways and professional certifications for young working adults. She lives in Singapore, a one-hour flight from Penang, and worked at the National University of Singapore until 2019. Lily has spoken at several conferences and enjoys
leisure travel. She especially loves visiting California, where she spends time with her son, his family and her 2-year-old granddaughter, Naomi.
Elizabeth “Beth” Wickenberg Ely is looking forward to our 50th reunion. She battled double pneumonia in the summer of 2024 and underwent rehab to regain her strength and navigate the steps to her home. Her son, Penn, and his wife, Amanda, recently welcomed their fourth child, another boy. Beth is thrilled to live nearby and watch her grandsons grow.
Allyn Fine Linas took a fabulous trip to Egypt in October 2024 with a high school friend. She is looking forward to traveling to Morocco in fall 2025 and will visit her daughter and family in Australia this summer. In February, she and Rick spent several lovely days in Aruba.
Marene Emanuel fulfilled a dream trip to Nepal in October 2024. She hiked through forests with the Annapurna mountain range as a backdrop, explored Kathmandu and took a flight over Mount Everest. She frequently visits Michelle Oltman, who transferred after their freshman year but remains close with the class and plans to attend their 50th reunion.
Della McMillan is helping her former assistant establish a small consulting firm in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The firm recently received its first grant to support capacity strengthening for local nongovernmental organizations and private-sector farmers collaborating with the United States on humanitarian, health and agricultural development projects. Della notes that Ouagadougou is the sister city of Decatur, Georgia. She continues her work as a consultant for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service in Ghana and Tbilisi, Georgia. Her daughter, Jane, teaches special-needs children at risk of entering the criminal justice system, while her husband, David Wilson, is retired but helps
parents who love math foster that passion in their children.
Margaret Williams Johnston and her husband, Rip, have enjoyed domestic travel. In 2024, they visited New Orleans to tour the renowned National WWII Museum. They also spent a week in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with their children and grandchildren—a trip that never disappoints.
Susan McLarin Caffery is thoroughly enjoying retirement and staying busy with various activities. She loves spending time with her grandchildren and traveled to Scotland in March. While she will miss the reunion, she will be cruising the Rhine.
Victoria Burgess Stephan and her husband, Bruce, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary while boating, traveling to Europe and spending time with their two grandchildren. Her newest hobby is pastel painting.
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Brandon Fortune fortuneb@si.edu
Gay Blackburn Maloney writes, “For the Rotary year—from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025—I will accompany my husband, Mark, around the United States and the world as he oversees the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International as chair of its board of trustees. It is a remarkable opportunity to thank Rotarians for their generosity and witness the good accomplished by Rotarians worldwide. This leadership role follows Mark’s service as president of Rotary International from 2019 to 2020.”
Alice Lightle is thrilled to announce the birth of her granddaughter, Eleanor Vollmer, who arrived at 2:49 a.m. on Feb. 12, 2024, measuring 21 inches and weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. Proud parents are Alice’s daughter, Katie, and her husband, Justin; they are joined by big brother Winston.
Beth Boney Jenkins wrote to share that she has been taking drum lessons. Beth says, “Discovery: It’s way harder than just playing ‘Wipeout’ on the side of a desk with two pencils!”
Catherine DuPree Shields checked in to share that she is “surviving widowhood with the help of God, children, grandchildren and friends. We miss Jamie but have so much to be grateful for. I’m enjoying traveling, discovering new hobbies and meeting new friends. May 2025 be blessed for us all!”
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Ruth McMullen Valdez ruthbursi@bellsouth.net
Sue Jinks Robertson hosted Harry and Linda Shearon Wistrand for an overnight stay at her home in Fearrington Village, south of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Linda and Harry were on their way to a family reunion in North Carolina. Ellen Fort and Pat McWaters joined them for a fun dinner filled with lots of laughter.
Mary Anne Barlow went on a safari to Kicheche Camps in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2024 with four family members. She says they splurged and flew Emirates business premium—a real treat! They arrived rested and ready to kick off their adventure. She reports that the scenery, people and wildlife were all amazing and highly recommends Kicheche Camps for a fantastic safari experience. On the home front, Mary Anne is in her 17th year at Clairmont Press Company, a publisher of state history curriculum materials. She edits content and helps select images to support the text. Having recently turned 70, she looks forward to embracing whatever God has in store for her next.
Mary Ihley Simmons stepped away from Emory University earlier this year after 17 years of
service as director of gift planning. She says it was a great career, but she is truly looking forward to having time to unwind and ponder her next adventure.
Ruth McMullen Valdez has enjoyed several roles working with children and youth at church and in the Good News Club in the north Atlanta area. Between her and her husband, Dave, they have 15 grandchildren—plenty of birthdays to keep track of! Ruth’s oldest grandchildren will graduate from college this year, and plenty more adventures lie ahead.
Donna Winters Samford reports that before she retired from Emory Healthcare in 2022, friends told her they were busier in retirement than they had been while working. At the time, she didn’t understand how that could be, but now she knows it’s true! Between spending time with their five grandchildren, ages 4 to 10, who live in Weaverville, North Carolina, and Covington, Louisiana, and with Charles retired as well, they’ve enjoyed catching up on travel. Their favorite destinations have included Budapest at the start of a river cruise and the Amalfi Coast; closer to home, they have enjoyed visiting Nashville, Tennessee; Highlands, North Carolina; and Key West, Florida, as well as their favorite beach, St. Simons in Georgia. Donna enjoys water aerobics at the local Y, a women’s Bible study and gardening. When people ask her how she likes retirement, her favorite response is “What’s not to love about it?”
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Paula Lipford pslipford@gmail.com
in 1977. They laughed, cried and shared the ups and downs of their lives since their last meeting. Friendships forged at Agnes Scott transcend the years.
Cindy Peters continues her work at Duke University, where she finds it an honor to support students and contribute to educating the next generation of environmental and sustainability experts. She is also offering support to friends affected by the floods in North Carolina and the wildfires in California.
more than 40 years of offering psychotherapy. Her ears are enjoying the break from listening for the underlying messages and issues her patients have brought in over the years. She’s procrastinating on sorting through years of papers, clothes and junk in her home to make room for more fun activities come spring—like camping in their small RV and hanging out with friends near and far. To stay busy, she’s offering Reiki a few hours a week to women with cancer and in recovery at the Red Slipper Warrior Project, a nonprofit started by a friend to support women and children with cancer. They hope to expand to men with cancer soon. She is also sending prayers to the area of North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene last year.
Sharon Pittman Powell and Trish Huggins Dale reunited with Caye Johnson Oglesby ’79 at her home in Atlanta. Caye recreated an English afternoon tea using the tea set she purchased while they were all in England during a study-abroad semester with Professor Michael Brown
Mimi Holmes continued her tradition of spending New Year’s Eve with Lynn Summer ’77 and Elaine Williams ’77 at Elaine’s family home in Rocky Ford, Georgia. This year, they spent six days catching up—a well-deserved reunion, as their last gathering was in 2017!
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Sandra Eichelberger sandraei@yahoo.com
Laurel “Laurie” Kramer Garber has finally retired after
Debby Daniel-Bryant has been retired since 2020, but she’s discovered that in her best attempts to stay busy, she may have overdone it! She’s the president-elect of her Rotary Club, which means lots of training. She’s an officer in her Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, with a cemetery cleanup project currently at the top of her list. With the country’s 250th anniversary approaching, the chapter is working to restore the resting place of a Revolutionary War soldier and his descendants. She’s also on a state board for Georgia preschools and is in charge of an exhibit hall for a large annual convention. She chairs a church committee and sings in a community chorus. But her best job is being Grammy. She may cut back on some activities, but never that one!
Elizabeth Wells Lang and her husband, Don, have moved from Johns Creek, Georgia, to a lovely remodeled older home in Decatur, Georgia, just a few blocks from downtown. She is enjoying being in such a walkable area and has gotten together with Sandra Eichelberger, who lives nearby. Elizabeth and Sandra attended the keynote talk at the 2024 Decatur
Book Festival in October, which featured writer Joyce Carol Oates.
Sandra Eichelberger ’79, Anne Jones Fears ’79, Sandy Fowler ’79, Ginny Lee McMurray ’79, Virginia Rockwell ’79, Elizabeth Wells Lang ’79, Linda McInnis ’79 and Peggy Pfeiffer Elder ’79 stand beside the plaque commemorating their beloved late classmate Melanie Sue Best on the third floor of Main Hall.
Sandra Eichelberger has finally retired after more than 40 years of working in technology. She is enjoying the freedom that retirement brings, including the ability to come and go as she pleases. Many mornings, she spends time “hurkle-durkling” with her cats (look it up!) before diving into various activities, including extensive volunteer work for her church, taking classes like bridge and pottery, attending the Atlanta Symphony and singing. She continues to design tatting (a form of lace-making) and will teach one of her designs at a tatting conference in the Finger Lakes region of New York in April. In May, Sandra and her boyfriend will spend two weeks in England. Sandra and Linda McColl Montreuil attended the annual Decatur Alumnae Luncheon on the Agnes Scott campus in February. The event featured an interesting lecture by Professor Jennifer Hughes, chair of the Department of Psychology. Hughes discussed how she is using applied psychology to help students with realistic preparations for choosing careers and transitioning into the workforce.
On Oct. 1, 2024, several classmates attended the dedication ceremony for the remodeled Main Hall. Present were Sandy Fowler, Elizabeth Wells Lang, Ginny Lee McMurray, Virginia Rockwell, Linda McInnis, Sandra Eichelberger, Peggy Pfeiffer Elder and Anne Jones Fears. All were very impressed with how beautiful the building looked and found the room on 3rd Main that was sponsored by the class of 1979. They were especially pleased with the third-floor hall named for their late beloved classmate, Melanie Sue Best, who made a significant bequest to Agnes Scott in her will. A large plaque by the elevator on the third floor now marks this as the Best Hall. Peggy and Anne had to leave afterward, but the rest went out to eat at Decatur restaurants and later gathered at Sandra’s condo to chat and put their feet up. The next day, they met again and visited Elizabeth Lang’s new home before going out to eat once more. After the Main dedication, Linda McInnis traveled straight to Cincinnati, where she attended training to become an end-oflife doula with the International End of Life Doula Association. The classes were intense but surprisingly life-affirming, and she even managed to meet up with Cincinnati resident and classmate Nancy Rogers for ice cream and a quick tour of the city. Other travels have included a wonderful visit to Little Rock to help Ginny Lee McMurray clean out her late mother’s storage unit. In May 2025, she and her oldest grandson plan to travel to Barcelona, Spain,
to meet up with other relatives. In the meantime, Linda continues her ongoing quilting projects, works as a tarot card reader, and hosts a podcast, Tarot Tapestry (available on Apple and Spotify), which she coleads with two other tarot mavens.
Chaille Winston Hawkins and her husband welcomed their ninth grandchild, a boy, at the end of January. They now have a wide range of ages among their grandchildren—from the oldest, who is driving and looking at colleges, to a newborn. This past November, Chaille and Michael traveled with a group of 20 from their neighborhood on a Silversea cruise to Italy, Croatia and Greece. She believes they still have smiles on their faces from all the laughs and fun times. Chaille is also looking forward to her 50th high school reunion this year.
Sandy Fowler traveled to London in September to attend a wedding at a venue that will host a scene from the next season of “Bridgerton.” Recently, she enjoyed staying with Virginia Rockwell at her mountain home in Hayesville, North Carolina, and visiting Elizabeth Wells Lang and her husband, Don, who also came up for a visit. Sandy traveled to Australia at the end of February 2025 for a three-week trip, visiting Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania.
Tish Dupont Easterlin and several classmates made their annual trip to Pawleys Island to stay at Ellen Poole’s lovely beach cottage. Present were Ellen Poole, Bette Broadwell Scott, Edith Spurlock Towns and Claire Hall. They all enjoyed lots of walking, talking and eating at their favorite restaurant, Frank’s. Tish and her husband, Bill, now have a third grandchild, Ruth Carswell Easterlin, born Nov. 14, 2024, to their son Frank and daughter-in-law Sheldon. Tish
and her sister traveled to England in June 2024 to celebrate Tish’s retirement. They visited as many of southern England’s great gardens, cathedrals and abbeys as they could fit into two weeks! Having taught British literature for many years, Tish especially enjoyed seeing Glastonbury Abbey, Salisbury Cathedral and Tintern Abbey in Wales. Finally, Tish and Bill are still recovering after being hit hard by Hurricane Helene at their home in September 2024. Bill spent the worst three hours of the storm trying to hold their French doors closed—the 100-plus mph winds proved too much for their small bolt locks—before two huge trees came crashing through the ceiling on the east side of the house, just a few feet from where he was positioned. Many in their community and surrounding areas fared far worse, and they are thankful that more people weren’t hurt.
Ginny Lee McMurray retired in May 2024. She and her husband, Shawn, have enjoyed traveling. They took a road trip to North Carolina in early June and stopped to visit Lynden Harris and Virginia Rockwell. They also recently visited Elizabeth Wells Lang and her husband, Don, at their new home in Decatur, Georgia, to plan a trip to Tuscany in the spring. The McMurrays and the Langs had a fabulous dinner at the home of Susie Gomez Boutier and her husband, Patrick. Ginny and Shawn lost their mothers during the same week in late October, so the holidays were a bit different this year. However, they are thoroughly enjoying their grandson, Wendell, who is almost 2. He frequently has sleepovers with “Gigi” and “Gumbo.”
in Quebec. Susi and Patrick spent two months in the French countryside in September. She also loves her new career as a real estate professional. Susi says she has a wonderful life and is so grateful for her family and friends. In 2025, she plans to travel to Colombia, France (again) and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
K.C. Docie writes that she met her husband, who is Canadian, while living in Leesburg, Florida. They are now snowbirds, spending winters in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and summers in Ontario, Canada, where they live in their 1830s stone house near the Rideau Canal. K.C. has four children and six grandchildren—it’s taken her a bit to get used to being called Grandma! Before the pandemic, K.C. and her mother (her frequent travel companion) went on an African safari in Kenya, sailed around the Baltic Sea and traveled down the Yangtze River in China. Her mother had always wanted to walk part of the Great Wall and see the Terracotta Army. They traveled often when her mother was well into her 80s and 90s. K.C.’s mother passed away two years ago, just shy of her 96th birthday. K.C. loves reading about all the great things Agnes Scott is doing and notes that our class members were pioneers of the women’s movement. She’s very proud of what our class contributed in paving the way for women to be recognized and accepted as leaders in the world—but she believes we still have a long way to go!
development. For her next chapter, she is publishing nonfiction books on Amazon and Audible under the pen name Delia Sikes. Ann and her husband of 43 years, David, are enjoying life in Montreat, North Carolina, where they first met.
Kimberly Clark Douglas has moved to Savannah, Georgia. She reports that, on a whim, they reached out to a real estate agent about potentially listing their home, and 18 hours later, the house was sold! As fate would have it, business travel took them to Savannah the following week, where they found the home of their dreams.
Jennifer “Jenny” Spencer Parker is enjoying her involvement as a volunteer and board member at Villa International, located across from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization provides affordable housing for individuals, primarily from developing countries, who come to study at the CDC or Emory University, mostly in the field of public health.
Lisa Beswick McLeod and Cliff moved to Lakeland, Florida, after retiring in 2018 to care for Lisa’s parents. In 2022, they returned to the Charleston, South Carolina, area and now live on Daniel Island. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their eight grandchildren, who are located in Charleston; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas. Lisa says, “Nothing is better than grandchildren.”
Susan “Susi” Gomez Boutier says 2024 was one of the best years ever! Susi and her husband, Patrick, celebrated their daughter’s wedding in May. Then, in July, Susi took off for a girls’ week trip to a lakeside cabin in Ontario, followed by a romantic 45th wedding anniversary celebration
Elizabeth Wells Lang’s mother, Susanna Byrd Wells ’55, passed away on Feb. 14. That day marked the 71st anniversary of Susanna’s first date with Jim Wells, her late husband and a Georgia Tech grad. ’80
Sarah Fairburn Pannill thepannills@gmail.com
Ann Huffines Neel retired from the corporate world last September after 30 years in systems
Kathleen “Kathy” Hollywood has discovered how much she enjoys baking with her grandkids, who are currently 2, 2 and 4. “It’s a little messier than baking alone and so much sillier, but it always tastes better,” she says. During the holidays, one of Kathy’s favorite lunches was with fellow psych majors Susan Durham Little, Mary “Mary Beth” Hebert ’81, Katherine “Kathy” Stearns Thomas ’82 and Sarah Fairburn
Pannill. It was a great time catching up on all of life’s big and little happenings. She also enjoys regular lunches with David Brookshire, the late Pat Arnzen Brookshire’s husband. They’ve yet to run out of funny “remember whens.”
Sarah Fairburn Pannill is enjoying her work with children. She helps weekly in a class of kindergarteners—one of the sweetest ages—and is also participating in the AARP Foundation’s Experience Corps, tutoring students to help them become better readers by the end of third grade. Additionally, she is celebrating nine years of volunteering with the Juvenile Court of DeKalb County as a member of the Judicial Citizen Review Panel, where she assists in reviewing the progress of foster care case plans.
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Liz Steele Forman forman21@comcast.net
The Yellow Pages are retiring, traveling, welcoming grandchildren and having all kinds of fun these days! Our Facebook Group is very active, so please join us at www.facebook.com/groups/ agnesscott1981. We also invite other Scotties to join us as we visit with classes from the 1950s to the 1980s at www.facebook.com/ groups/midcenturyscotties.
Sarah Campbell Arnett reports that she and Alice Harra ’82 discovered they were both working in New York and took the opportunity to step away from the fast pace of the city for a drink and a visit. “It’s always fun to catch up with our dear Scottie sisters!” she says. On the home front, Sarah shares that her eldest daughter, Catherine, and her husband, James Michaelov, both earned their doctorates and soon after relocated to Boston. Sarah also reports other exciting family news: Her husband retired at the end of the year, and their younger daughter
bought her first home last fall. Sarah, meanwhile, is still running her own coaching and consulting business—and staying busy!
Stephanie Segars Blevins stepped away from years in the political and healthcare fields to become a full-time artist. She writes that she refuses to view this as retirement but sees it as a career change. Her parents wouldn’t let her pursue a degree in art, so naturally she earned one in economics. Following her passion has been a long time coming. The art business is going well, and she feels extremely blessed that her husband has taken over the “business” side, allowing her to focus on creativity. You can see Stephanie’s work on her website (alittletexture.art) and find her on both Facebook and Instagram (@ alittletexture). If you’re ever in Northwest Arkansas, let her know!
Katie Bonta retired in 2024 after 43 years in executive sales management in the technology industry. She married the love of her life, Barry Rickman, this past January. Since then, they have been spending their time traveling to Japan, Austria, Rome and France.
Laura Klettner Bynum retired from Regions Bank in late October after 10 years in corporate marketing, where she provided strategy and marketing for the Georgia and South Carolina markets. While she’s enjoying her newfound freedom, she admits to feeling a bit antsy and is open to new opportunities. Laura’s daughter, Hays, graduated from Kellogg Business School in May and is now working for a consulting firm in Washington, D.C. The Bynum family took a trip to France to retrace Jim’s grandfather’s footsteps before and after D-Day, and it was especially exciting to be there during the 80th-anniversary celebrations. Laura also met up with Darby Bryan Craddock, Laura McCrary Hurban, Karen Ramsbottom Parrott ’82,
Lynda Wimberly and Meredith Manning ’82 for a long weekend in Nashville, Tennessee, where stories were shared and laughter was plentiful. Lynda knows the best restaurants, and a visit to Nashville wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Parnassus Books!
Leigh Clifford Drake shared a simple update: more renovations! Hurricanes Helene (flooding storm surge) and Milton (90-plus mph sustained winds) took a toll on the Drakes’ 110-year-old home, which they had just finished renovating. However, finding the silver lining in that dark cloud, Leigh writes that they feel very fortunate their house is still standing. Many of their friends and neighbors lost so much more in the devastating storm surge.
’82
Kathy Fuller-Seeley khfuller@aol.com
Lee Kite
lee.kite@alum.agnesscott.edu
Cathy Garrigues Szelistowski ’82, Maryellen Hittel ’82, Marjory Sivewright Morford ’82, Nancy Blake Johnson ’82 and Talley K. Wannamaker Kayser ’82 vacation together.
Cathy Garrigues Szelistowski, while at her lake house, visited Brevard and stopped by Carol Reaves Wilson’s yarn shop for a short visit. Cathy and her husband, Tom, have been on some incredible adventures recently, including one to Antarctica in January. She helped her parents evacuate and then clean up after Hurricane Helene. Cathy, sadly, lost her father in January.
Polly Gregory Sapitowicz also lost her father in January. Polly has been back and forth frequently to visit her mother, Pauline Winslow Gregory ’59, in Greenville, South Carolina. She and her husband, Tom, bought a Super C motor home in anticipation of retirement. Polly is fortunate to see her grandchildren often.
Carol Reaves Wilson survived Hurricane Helene with only a power outage. She and her husband took refuge in Raleigh with their son for a week. Carol visits her mother monthly and reports that she still drives around Decatur, lives alone and is in excellent health.
Carol and her husband traveled to Finland last February and March to chase the northern lights—and were not disappointed!
Denise Peek retired from corporate life and is now relaxing. She has published two books: one on leadership and the other a book of poetry. Her next book project is fiction: a coming-of-age story. She also has a coaching practice and works with corporate leaders and high-potential individuals to enhance their emotional intelligence and leadership skills.
Kitty Crallé Tuttle reports that she and her husband are still working. She has an interior design business, and they own three Phoenix Salon franchises, which is keeping Sam very busy.
Anita Barbee-Cunningham is keeping busy and doing well. As director of the Ph.D. program at the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work and Family Science, she works with outstanding students.
Crystal Ball O’Connor and Beth Shackleford traveled to New York City in March to visit both of their daughters who are living there.
Joy Jun Russo and Ramona Mendoza had a lovely visit together at Chateau Elan Winery last summer.
Lu Ann Ferguson and her husband, Randy, stopped in Columbia, South Carolina, recently to visit Georgia Anna Mitchell and her husband.
Marjory Sivewright Morford and Mark have taken so many amazing trips that it’s hard to keep up. Last summer, she, Cathy Garrigues Szelistowski, Talley K. Wannamaker Kayser, Nancy Blake Tiller and Maryellen Smith Hittel spent a week together at Lake Hartwell.
Margaret Carpenter Beain says she and Ander are living a thankfully rather boring life. They visit their kids in Vermont and Seattle. She and Ander took a trip to Spain in April. She’s making quilts for Project Linus.
Ann Conner Harrell and Wallace are first-time grandparents.
Susan Mead recently became a first-time grandmother. In February, she started a new full-time job as a caseworker with Valley Program for Aging Services at the Maury River Senior Center in Buena Vista, Virginia. Susan lives in her hometown of Lexington, Virginia, having returned in 2021 to be closer to her dad.
Alice Harra is associate dean of students at Reed College, where
she also directs the Center for Life Beyond Reed, the advising center for graduate school, national fellowships and careers. She loves Portland, Oregon, and welcomes visitors to the Pacific Northwest!
Sonia Gordon Dettweiler is now a part-time librarian. When the mission administration decided to close the library at the office, she offered to move it to her home.
’83
Margaret Kelly Parry maggieparry@comcast.net
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’84
Linda Newland Soltis linda.soltis@international.gc.ca
Fran Ivey Lemmen franlemmen@gmail.com
Caroline Cooper Wilhelm is very active in her Charlottesville, Virginia, community. She is a literacy volunteer, most often tutoring refugees fleeing civil unrest. She also volunteers at Hospice House and sings choral music with the Virginia Consort.
Lizanne Abreu Stephenson ’84 and Margaret “Meg” Jenkins Locke ’84 visit at Lizanne’s home in Atlanta.
Margaret “Meg” Jenkins Locke of Rock Hill, South Carolina, enjoys spending time with her one-year-old grandson, Alexander. She often visits Lizanne Abreu Edwards Stephenson in Atlanta. A highlight of her life is visiting her aunt, Keller Henderson Barron ’53, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Patricia Ballew Hibbard and her husband, John, relocated from Atlanta to Statesboro, Georgia, in March 2024 to be closer to their daughter, Sarah, and her family, including a granddaughter. They live in a fully renovated 1930s cottage. Before leaving Atlanta, Patricia enjoyed lunch with Karla Sefcik Makenna ’83.
Maria Branch Turner, a paralegal in Atlanta, received the Cheryl Naja Award from the Georgia State Bar Association. This prestigious award, for the first time, recognized a non-lawyer for pro bono efforts. The majority of Maria’s pro bono work has focused on advancing justice for underrepresented children through the Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.
Katy Esary Russell of Hayesville, North Carolina, became a firsttime grandmother in 2024 and often travels to visit her daughter, Sarah, and grandson, Russell, in Raleigh, North Carolina. She and her husband, Dean, are enjoying retirement in the mountains, pursuing hobbies and traveling, including trips to visit their daughter, Laura, in Chicago.
Patti Pair-Martin is adjusting to being an empty nester now that all five of her children are adults. She reports being “one proud mama” as her daughter Janie earned her master’s in elementary education and her daughter Maggie earned her master’s in public relations from the University of Georgia.
Julie Norton White and her husband, David, are celebrating their son Gradfy’s graduation and his new youth ministry job at their church. Julie works for the Revive Our Hearts Ministry, paints and maintains her rental properties, speaks at women’s events, and cares for her aging parents. She writes that she has a great life, which includes a new lake house on Lake Hartwell.
Marian Lewis Horne and her husband, Scott, celebrated 36 years of marriage. After 32 years of parenting five children, they are officially empty nesters. Marian feels blessed to have her 91-yearold mother living next door. After a cherished season as a stay-at-home mom and homeschooling her youngest, Marian now works full time at a local pregnancy support center, Options Now. Twelve years ago, the family moved to Valdosta, Georgia, to plant Redeemer Presbyterian Church, where Scott pastors and Marian leads the worship music team, participates in women’s ministry and assists with administrative tasks. In 2024, the church completed construction of its permanent building, a muchanticipated milestone for this successful church plant.
Cindy Stewart Stauffer of Knoxville, Tennessee, is a mother of four. With her two youngest children now college seniors, she is experiencing empty nest syndrome. In 2024, her older daughter got married and received a U.S. Air Force scholarship to become a licensed nurse practitioner. Cindy notes that this is especially exciting, as both she and her husband are retired U.S. Air Force officers.
’85
Ellen Grant Walker arizonascarlett@yahoo.com
In 2024, Eileen Altman experienced a poignant mix of highs and lows. Tragically, her father, Merv Altman, passed away on May 17 in Clarkesville, Georgia, just as she and her husband, Jeff Jolin, were en route to San Diego for her son Peter Tarantino’s graduation from the University of San Diego School of Law. Peter was admitted to the California Bar in early December and is now working as a civil litigation attorney in San Diego. On a brighter note, Eileen embraced new adventures, including becoming a grandmother with the birth of
her first grandchild, Smith McKee Jolin, on Dec. 28, 2024. Despite undergoing ankle surgery on Sept. 30, 2024, she remains optimistic about her yearlong recovery and looks forward to the adventures ahead. Eileen continues her role as associate pastor at First Congregational Church of Palo Alto (California) United Church of Christ and stays active on several nonprofit boards.
Bradie Barr and her husband, Tollie, have fully embraced retirement, finding joy in volunteer work, particularly with the board of the Cal Ripken Senior Foundation and the Agnes Scott Board of Trustees. “I love returning to campus and always enjoy the opportunity to spend time with Kathy Scott, who also serves on the board,” she says. Bradie enjoyed reconnecting with classmates at their reunion in April.
Ellen Grant Walker is busy teaching four honors English classes, advising the student council, chairing the class of ’85 reunion committee, driving to Phoenix every other weekend to care for her mom, and preparing for retirement by cleaning out her classroom ahead of her departure on May 26.
’86
Holly Rogers Markwalter hmarkwalter@yahoo.com
Ellen Weinberg Boney recently celebrated two significant milestones: her daughter’s wedding in 2022 and the birth of a grandson, Theodore James, in July 2024. Theodore was born to Hanna Elizabeth and her husband, Christian. Fellow Scotties Nancy Carter Cooke and Mary Margaret Krauth Cooke attended the wedding in Washington, D.C., and supported Ellen throughout the busy weekend.
Andrea Morris Kasuya and her husband were traveling again in early 2025. They served as substitute hosts for a couple
who manage a guesthouse for global workers in Malaga, Spain. Afterward, they toured southern Spain and Portugal, visiting another couple who also run a guesthouse for global workers. While visiting their daughter in Los Angeles, they took a trip to Catalina Island. The couple returned to Tokyo on March 1, just in time for the busy cherry blossom season at the guesthouse where they serve.
Edie Hsiung Krakowiak spent two months caring for her mother before her passing on Feb. 12.
Lena “Ansley” Scoville finally had much-needed knee surgery on Feb. 14 after waiting seven years for approval for an occupational injury with the post office. She lives in Brunswick, Georgia, working on St. Simons Island and in Brunswick as needed. Her parents, both in their late 80s, live in Griffin, Georgia, and she visits as much as possible to help them. Ansley hopes to have a job opportunity in 2025 that will allow her to move back to Griffin, whether with the post office or not. She is excited to celebrate her 60th birthday all year long.
’87
Melissa Martin Calandro melissajcalandro@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’88
No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
No news was submitted.
’89
Dolly Purvis dali.llama@yahoo.com
We mourn the loss of our dear classmate, Ebie Blizard Camelo. After a courageous battle with cancer, she passed away on Oct. 28, 2024, leaving behind a legacy
of strength and kindness. She is survived by her loving family and a multitude of friends, including her beloved Agnes Scott classmate Eleanor Dill Russo.
Cindy Franks has devoted much of her time to caring for her mother, finding solace in needlepoint while often sitting by her side. When not caregiving, she is sorting through her household belongings, marking a significant transition in her life.
Kathryn Deane Ballard has embraced a new chapter in her life, though it meant missing the class reunion. She moved to Winder, Georgia, to have her 85-year-old mother join her. While the move increased her commute to Georgia Tech, her hybrid work schedule makes it manageable. “In addition to the move, I started a new position at Georgia Tech with the development team at the H. Milton School of Industrial and Systems Engineering,” she says. “I love the work and the people I get to meet.”
’90 Teresa Ramirez Dore tdore891@gmail.com
Jean Wilson Tate retired from the Federal Reserve and became the public relations manager at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
Katie Pattillo Fisher retired from Lenoir-Ryne University in May 2023 after 21 years of service. She now teaches graduate classes in the Master of Arts in Leadership program at LRU. In late 2023, she and her husband, Jeremy, relocated to a new home in Newton, North Carolina, about 12 miles from their previous residence. They welcome guests who are in the area.
Amy Lovell embarked on a new research career in October after joining the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. She is also getting to know her amazing grandchild, who joined the family in September, and has been adapting to multigenerational living with her in-laws since November.
For Allison Adams and Dusty Hill Matthews, change came in the form of adventure. The pair traveled to Shetland in November for a week of knitting, hiking and wildlife viewing. “Allison is eternally grateful to Dusty for driving on the left side of the road while she navigated and kept the road snacks flowing,” a friend said. Their journey included encounters with ponies and sea otters, ferry rides, tea and breathtaking landscapes.
Wendy Schulz Schwartz and her husband, Craig, are enjoying semiretirement in Washington. They live just half a mile from their son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. In 2023, Wendy and Craig launched a business offering consulting, training and investigations for law enforcement and other municipal agencies. Wendy also works remotely as the dog ads lead for a dog rescue organization based in Spokane, Washington. The couple enjoys traveling with friends and appreciating the stunning beauty of Western Washington.
Teresa Ramirez Dore volunteers extensively with North Fulton Community Charities. She remains an avid runner and fitness enthusiast. Since Greg’s retirement in 2022, the couple has been traveling and leading an active, healthy and busy lifestyle.
’91
Anne Anderson Anderson.Annmarie@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’92
Aida Najarian aidanajarian@gmail.com
Amanda King Nimnicht and her family had a significant year in 2024. Her travel business, Solace Travel, is in its fifth year and doubled in growth from 2023, prompting her to hire two new team members. Her favorite travel experience was a study tour through Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. In April, Amanda and her husband, Billie, celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Their son, Billie, graduated with honors from the Bolles School in May. In August, he turned 18 and began his freshman year at Georgia Tech, which is particularly meaningful to Amanda, as her father also graduated from there. Billie, her husband, was named 2024 Chevrolet Dealer of the Year for the eighth time. Amanda’s daughter, Adair, 27, has been with the Jacksonville Humane Society for three years and is currently training to become a travel adviser.
Mary Claire King left her position teaching English at the Université Paris Cité when ChatGPT entered the classroom and turned her focus back to full-time writing. Although she has written comic sketches for a French theater troupe and has several novels and scripts in storage, she has completed a novel that she plans to try to sell and will likely seek help from the Black Ring Mafia. Mary Claire continues to live in the center of Paris and is married to her first husband. Their son Eliot, 27, is engaged and pursuing a career in acting. Jonah, 24, is working toward a doctorate in history at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Henrik, 21, has returned
home after engineering school to pursue a master’s in economic research at Sciences Po Paris.
With one son graduating from the University of the South and the other graduating from high school in May, an empty nest is approaching for Dawn Sloan Downes. To ease the anticipated sense of emptiness, Dawn recently earned her certification to teach yoga and accepted a position teaching various classes at the Chattanooga studio where she trained. She plans to offer private one-on-one sessions in the future, focusing on helping women navigate life transitions by using yoga to find and maintain balance. In the meantime, she teaches vinyasa-style classes several times a week. Dawn also continues her role as publications and content manager at the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, where she writes and publishes a magazine and manages several marketing projects. In 2024, she and her colleagues won awards of excellence. During Sewanee’s Family Weekend, it was a special treat for Dawn to see and visit with classmate Staci Dixon, who was visiting her nephew, a freshman at the university.
’93
Tonya Grieco bluesilver71@gmail.com
Deborah Watters Adams enjoyed seeing Adrienne Vanek in Dallas on Veterans Day. She also thanked Patricia Schopfer Wooldridge for assisting with the setup for Paper for Water’s Annual Event on Nov. 6, 2024.
Tonya Smith Grieco recently passed the exam to become an Inform USA certified community resource specialist. She continues working for 211 Brevard and has taken on the role of agency ambassador at community outreach events alongside her regular duties. She enjoys spreading the message that support is available 24/7.
Helen Nash purchased a condo on Decatur Square and enjoys the convenience of walking to restaurants and shows. She works part-time for the Georgia Arborist Association.
Renee Cox Ferriter passed away peacefully on Nov. 14, 2024, after a yearlong battle with cancer. She is deeply missed by her family, friends and classmates.
’94
Nikki Webb Alger nicolealger@me.com
Andrea Karyn Adams has launched a campaign for City Council in Knoxville, Tennessee. After serving as a planning commissioner for five years, she is running to represent the 1st District (South Knoxville and Fort Sanders). Her campaign website is karynforknoxville.com.
Allison Butler Felmy continues to live in Munich, Germany, where she works as an editor for the Munich City Department. Her husband, Andreas, and their two children, Sophia Marie and Franz Justin, are also doing well in their careers.
’95
Emily Stone emilyrdstone@outlook.com
Lisa Sebotnick Durette has been inducted into the American College of Psychiatrists.
’96
Mary Carol Patterson Sheffield msheff@uga.edu
Jessica Chatham Lathren cofounded Watershed Consulting Group, a public affairs and political consulting firm, in 2022. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, the firm has helped elect candidates to local and state offices and secured more than $200 million in federal grants for community projects in South Carolina and Georgia. Outside of work, she and her
husband, Jame, are helping their son navigate college decisions and supporting their daughter in pursuing a professional ballet career. This June, they will travel to Copenhagen and Amsterdam for a family trip, and in July, Jessica will join Agnes Scott friends for a minireunion on Anna Maria Island.
Kara Moore Ebbutt and her husband, Ralph, were thrilled last spring to celebrate the graduation of their daughter, Sophia Ebbutt ’24. Sophia earned degrees in biochemistry from Agnes Scott and in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech, graduating from both her parents’ alma maters in one fell swoop.
’97
Deanna Turner georgiagirl121@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’98
Jennifer Odom jennifermodom@hotmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’99
Liza Fewell scottiegossip@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’00
Yalonda Rice yalondarenee@gmail.com
Melanie Minzes and Frank Bonner were married on Nov. 9, 2024, in Greenville, South Carolina. They live in Washington, D.C., where Melanie serves as the deputy chief development officer at the Capital Area Food Bank, and Frank leads government relations at the National Endowment for Democracy.
Brook Minner took a position at the Maine Women’s Lobby, an organization focused on advancing gender justice legislation, after serving nearly 20 years as a public library director. In addition to her career change, she married Gabe Souza on March 9, 2024, in a small ceremony at Colby College, where Gabe works as a filmmaker.
Cassie Castillo ’99, Meredith Fields Kidd ’99, Lee Hayes Lindsey ’00, Alysia Newkerk Shewmaker ’99, Sandy Miller ’99, the mother of the bride, Jo Cranford Hodges ’00, Betsy Herrington Malkin ’99, Deirdre Donohue Campbell ’00 and Erin Jenkins Waylor ’00 celebrate the wedding of Melanie Minzes ’00.
Jacqueline “Jackie” Pardue Goldfinger is excited to announce that Routledge will release the revised and expanded second edition of her book, Playwriting With Purpose: A Guide and Workbook for Playwrights, in July. Retired Agnes Scott Professor David S. Thompson is the senior artistic adviser for the book.
Carolyn Stover Harvey published her second book, Notorious Bakersfield: The Book Volume II, in November 2024. The book covers more true stories about her hometown’s most notable crimes, events and people. A third volume is in the works.
Akpene Zikpi works as an auditor in the retail industry after spending years as a personal care assistant for special-needs children and adults. She was featured on the cover of the February 2025 edition of Fashion Republic magazine. Writing under the pen name Rejoyce Zikpi, she published Diary of a Shy Girl, which explores the complexities of faith, love and cultural identity against the backdrop of a strict Pentecostal upbringing.
Candace Lyn Perry shares she is a psychiatrist with UAB St. Vincent’s Medical Group in Birmingham, Alabama. She recently received board certification in addiction medicine and earned a Master of Science degree in health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in August 2023.
’01
Cristy Sellers Smith csellerssmith@pacificu.edu
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’02
Deborah Vincent Scianna deborahscianna@yahoo.com
Marguerite “Mandy” Lane is still teaching piano at Mandy Piano Studio while organizing resistance to special education funding cuts and legal challenges in Georgia. Her daughter, Penelope, is currently in sixth grade.
Owner Kim McNamara is excited to announce that Read It Again Bookstore is celebrating its 22nd anniversary.
Annea Claire Robinson was recently appointed deputy chief information officer for the City of Chattanooga.
Charity Livingston reports that she is healthier than she was 20 years ago; has her dream family, marriage, house and job; and lives in her dream town. Despite all of this, she feels that none of it is particularly newsworthy. However, here’s a detail worth sharing: She took on a principal role in a musical theater production this year for the first time in 18 years. It was a joy, even if her singing and dancing felt a little rusty.
’03
Angela Gisclair Etheridge butterflyanla6318@gmail.com
Sharon Powills ’03 was recently named CEO of Hello Mainland.
in the city until the pandemic shifted operations to remote work in 2020. After a brief return to Atlanta from 2022 to 2023, the Powills family moved back to downtown Chicago last year as part of a broader effort to restore in-person collaboration at the marketing and publications agency. The company now calls 211 W. Wacker its permanent home, marking its first owned space in the downtown district.
Eleanor Paynter’s book Emergency in Transit:Witnessing Migration in the Colonial Present has just been released by the University of California Press. The book challenges crisis framings of migration, focusing on the case of Africa-Europe migration via Italy. It is available in paperback and openaccess formats from UC Press.
Saycon Sengbloh will be featured in the upcoming world premiere of the musical 3 Summers of Lincoln at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego. This gripping new musical tells the inspirational story of one of the most important friendships in U.S. history and how a divided country came together.
Natalie Marshall natalie.e.marshall@gmail.com
Sharon Kelly Powills was recently named CEO of Hello Mainland, where she previously served as CFO for 12 years and COO for one year. Her connection to Chicago began in 2011 when she and her husband relocated from Atlanta, maintaining an office
’04
Martha Gaston magaston@aol.com
Courtney Dredden Carter was recently promoted to chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Jenner & Block. She has led the DEI function at the firm for more than nine years and is grateful that, despite ongoing attacks on DEI initiatives, her firm has remained committed.
Stephanie “Steph” Large has transitioned to the College of Nursing at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, where she works as an assistant professor and is part of the team building a new college. She has been developing courses, returning to social media via LinkedIn, teaching master’slevel pathophysiology and helping prepare for accreditation. She and her husband, Grant, enjoy traveling and recently visited Japan. Additionally, she has expanded her sports interests to include Formula 1 racing.
Sharayne Mark Coffin was named a top doctor in general cardiology for Main Line and the western suburbs by Main Line Today magazine in Pennsylvania for the fourth consecutive year. She was also honored by being featured on the publication’s cover in 2023. Additionally, she has been appointed to the board of her practice, Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia, for 2026. This will be her ninth year with the practice and her first attending position following medical training.
April Hathcock and her husband, Armando Velez, welcomed their daughter, Ailana Ruby Velez Hathcock, last September and are enjoying the rollercoaster ride of new parenthood. Along with these personal changes, April achieved a major professional milestone last fall when she was promoted to associate dean of open knowledge and faculty affairs at NYU Libraries.
Ann Willard Fiddler has been appointed county administrator for Walker and Catoosa counties in Georgia, adding a new role to her responsibilities. She is also an attorney at the Law Office of Joseph E. Willard Jr.
’05
Ruth Owen Sambuco ruth.sambuco@gmail.com
In August 2024, Katie Vesser Strangis began her new role as employee news coordinator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the birthplace of the Manhattan Project. Since its inception, ORNL has been solving the nation’s most complex scientific challenges through discovery. Katie’s team in internal communications oversees news for more than 7,000 employees. She also continues as the part-time marketing manager for the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra,
a big band celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025.
’06
Courtney Ware Lett courtneydware@gmail.com
In September 2024, Ruth Grune Gilgenbach successfully completed a circumnavigation swim around the island of Manhattan, finishing in eight hours, seven minutes and eight seconds. Her support crew and cheering squad included former Scottie swimmers and classmates Aislinn Belton and Hannah Reuter.
Sarah Meng, Elizabeth Hartman, Chris Hartung Clatterbuck, Jacquie Hauth Turner, Aden Draper and Gwen Spratt ’80 gathered their families for a pasta dinner to combat isolation and overwhelm during this unprecedented era in American history. Their families
Emily Bielawski Buckley was promoted to Denver program leader at Athletes Global Corp. She has submitted her book, Sleep Stories to a Tea, to two publishers. Emily is also enjoying Zumba dance classes. With all three of her and Steven’s children now in school, she finds time to write, work and breathe.
are part of queer, trans and disabled communities, and they are committed to standing by one another and their communities. They choose friendship as a foundation for love in action, where they can pick one issue to collectively organize around and create space for hope and laughter as well as fear and tears. They encourage Scotties to gather their loved ones, along with their favorite pasta shapes and sauces, to reflect and ask what they might do together.
Ilana Siegelman and her spouse welcomed their second son, Isaac Demetri Andrew, on Dec. 19, 2024.
Shaya Gregory Poku was invited to join the Blueprint for Belonging Advisory Council, created by Common Ground USA and Soliya to support higher education. This diverse group of experts, educators, administrators and students works to develop initiatives that help college administrators and student journalists navigate campus tensions and address crises with a human-centered approach. The council plays a crucial role in shaping the Administrators’ Bootcamp and Common Ground Journalism Workshop, offering strategic insights, feedback and guidance to ensure these programs effectively promote dialogue,
inclusivity and conflict-sensitive solutions. Members contribute by reviewing curricula, advising on best practices and helping build networks to strengthen community engagement on campuses while leveraging their collective expertise to navigate challenges.
Kathryn Smith was selected as the keynote speaker for the Georgia Tech 40 Under 40 celebration in November 2024.
’07
Kristin Hall kristinshawhall@gmail.com
Lindsay Cronk was nominated to run for president of the American Library Association for the 2026–2027 term. Cronk previously served as president of ALA’s Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, and Futures division, as well as on the ALA Council. If elected, she will serve as a spokesperson for library workers worldwide, as ALA is the largest library membership organization globally, with more than 50,000 members in the United States and internationally.
In February, Kirby Hager Johnson joined Thompson Habib Denison, a Moore company, as senior account director. In this role, Kirby will develop insightdriven marketing strategies for nonprofits, including Feeding America and the Birthright Israel Foundation.
Reem Faruqi will release her new book, Zarina Divided, on May 20. The novel is loosely based on her grandmother’s experiences during the partition of India into Pakistan.
Sara Haj-Hussein became the director of development for Fugees Family in January 2025. As the daughter of an immigrant who fled his home to escape a civil war and military coup, she is excited to join a team dedicated to helping refugee and immigrant students succeed academically—an effort that feels especially meaningful in today’s climate.
earning her Master of Library and Information Science degree.
Kristin Hall graduated last year with a master’s in library and information science from San Jose State University, receiving the department’s Director’s Award for
Excellence in Academic Inquiry. Outside her role as a librarian at Menlo Park Public Library, she now serves as the community development manager for Kepler’s Literary Foundation in Menlo Park, California.
Leah Hill recently launched Burn Brightly, a one-to-one coaching practice that helps women navigate life transitions using psychedelics, mindset work and somatic practices. She also introduced Glow State, a platform offering meditation, breathwork and embodied healing, available as a newsletter and soon as a voice meditation show. Learn more at @ burnbrightly.me.
Bailey Clark Jeremie celebrated a successful year in her new role as program director at four children’s community residences (group homes) in New York City. This month, she was appointed vice chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee of Manhattan Community Board 10. In January, Bailey also expanded her family by becoming a foster parent, and she is pursuing adoption.
Liz Ott was recently appointed associate university librarian for special collections and director of the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library at Emory University.
’08
Lily Takata ltakata01@gmail.com
Evan Joslin evanjoslin12@gmail.com
After graduating from Agnes Scott, Nicole Canavan attended St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, graduating with high honors in 2012. She then completed a one-year rotating internship in Nashville, Tennessee, before returning to Atlanta to work at a small animal practice in Ormewood. Nicole later moved her family to Florida, where she purchased Care Animal Hospital of Seminole in 2022. She is excited to announce the hospital’s expansion to a new location and rebranding as Coastal Paws Veterinary Hospital, set to open in August 2025.
for over 10 years. Lauren, who has been teaching for more than a decade, began teaching fourth grade at a local public school. After their move to Raleigh, Lauren and her family welcomed their third and final child, completing their family of five. She also began teaching fourth grade at their local synagogue and is grateful for the opportunity to be immersed in Jewish life in the South once again.
Emily Lake Hansen earned her Ph.D. in English/creative writing from Georgia State University in May 2024. She was selected as a Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgia Tech, where she now teaches first-year writing. Her creative work has recently been published in Hayden’s Ferry Review, ONE Art, South Carolina Review, SWWIM and Womanly Magazine.
In November 2024, Evan Joslin was inducted into the Agnes Scott Athletic Hall of Fame alongside the 2007 cross country team. Her family, including her 5-yearold daughter, joined her in the celebration.
Jina Kim was awarded tenure and promotion at Smith College in the Department of English Language and Literature and the Program for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality.
Liz Hartnett Santamaria welcomed her second daughter, Sabrina, on Jan. 29.
Lauren Sadler Lerman and her family recently moved back to the South, settling in Raleigh, North Carolina, after living in California
Emily Hauck Allred founded Piedmont Growing LLC in 2024 to support native ecologies and food sovereignty through educational materials, skillshares and classes for all ages. In 2025, she also incorporated the nonprofit Mycorrhizae Inc. to foster a vibrant, supportive collective for
Atlanta families pursuing home education and intentional living in community. This initiative includes administering Root & Rise, an outdoor enrichment class that offers professional instruction focused on natural learning, socioemotional development and environmental stewardship.
’09
Tiffany Claiborne tiffanydaniellec@gmail.com
The members of the class of 2009 continue to grow their families, contribute to their communities, improve themselves and make significant strides in business.
Starting with the “community improvement” category, we have Mira Walker, who traveled to western North Carolina to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts, assisting with postHurricane Helene recovery efforts. She says, “The people were resilient, the work was hard, and contributing even just a week to the long-term recovery felt amazing.”
Kimberly Watt-McCune, who recently completed her M.L.S., has accepted the role of secretary for the Knoxville Rainbow Library and Archive. The nonprofit organization provides free access to LGBTQ+ materials and preserves the history of queer Appalachia.
The class of 2009 continues to achieve impressive certifications and educational milestones. Imani Irving Perez earned a Ph.D. in literacy from the School of Education at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. Rachel Castleberry is now a certified sex therapist, having launched her own practice. Mariette Moore passed the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice exam, enabling her to professionally conduct modern and contemporary fine art appraisals. She will incorporate this service into Moore | Tetrault, the art advisory she founded last year in Westchester County, New York.
Finally, Jean Panek Hiefner became a certified hypnobirthing educator and started her own company to provide education and support during the childbearing years (perhaps a few classmates will join her!).
Erica Stafford Wood and Harold Brown welcomed their son, Oliver Dale Brown, on Jan. 12. Erica shares that Oliver is “healthy, happy, and has a ton of hair” and that his older brother, Tommy, alternates between being a loving big brother and an indifferent toddler. She adds that Ollie loves to be held all the time, and they’re excited to see who he becomes.
Rachel Castleberry and Christopher Graeff also welcomed a daughter, Quinn Leigh Graeff, on Sept. 14, 2024. Rachel describes Quinn as “very social and most definitely in charge.” She adds, “She is a true delight. Her best friend is the dog Arthur Boo Radley, and she loves to encounter her many reptilian house pets.”
’10
Renu Sagreiya rsagreiya@gmail.com
Olivia Greene-Knight ogreene87@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretaries.
’11
Sarah Bowen Hersh sbowen314@gmail.com
Andrea Jaramillo is getting married in March to Hans Carr in San Antonio, Texas. She and Hans have been together for three years and plan to move to his home state of New Hampshire long term after starting a family beyond their cat and dogs. Andrea is also pursuing a doctorate in information technology from City University of Seattle, with the intention of switching careers from web development to cybersecurity.
Mary-Kate Laird started a new role as product manager for Southern Company in May 2023. She is part of a team implementing a new platform for commercial and industrial customers, with a primary focus on platform testing and go-tomarket strategy execution. She is still in Birmingham, Alabama, working out of the Alabama Power headquarters.
Sara Williford ’11 poses in her queer bookstore the Lavender Bookshop.
Sara Williford opened a queer bookstore, the Lavender Bookshop, in Marietta, Georgia. The store exclusively carries books with queer main characters and hosts several events each month.
Sarah Bowen Hersh gave birth to Franklin Boulay Hersh on Oct. 27, 2024.
Rebecca Lunny Knisely recently started a new job with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory supporting the high school and college internship programs. Annually, these programs connect more than 600 students to STEM careers and opportunities throughout APL.
’12
Devin Alford dalfor14@pratt.edu
Kristina LaMothe made a big move from Florida to Southern California. She packed all her belongings, her mom and her dog into her car and drove across the country. The move brought her a new job with a healthcare
Christen Thompson welcomed her second child, Freya Christen Lain, on June 29, 2024—missing a shared birthday with her Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket father by less than an hour! Freya rounds out the Lain-Thompson clan, joining brother Isaac (born in March 2022). For the record, Auntie Sagan Lain ’10 is their favorite.
Lola Clairmont ’13, Gala Cude ’14, Crista Carter-Moore ’13, Destani Parker ’13, Sarah Fordham ’13, Lex Pulice-Farrow ’14 and Natalie Jorges-Castellanos ’13 gather for a fabulous Scottie Siblings Palentine’s Dinner.
Lola Clairmont, Gala Cude ’14, Crista Carter-Moore, Destani Parker, Sarah Klingenberg Fordham, Lex Pulice-Farrow ’14 and Natalie Jorges-Castellanos all gathered for a fabulous Scottie Siblings Palentine’s Dinner in downtown Washington, D.C.
technology startup and brought her closer to her girlfriend. ’13
Caitlin White cwhite@agnesscott.edu
Rosa Contreras de Lugo gave birth to her first child, a daughter and possible future Scottie, on Dec. 28, 2024.
Emma Kearney graduated from Indiana University with her law and Master of Library Science degrees in December 2021. She passed the February 2022 Georgia bar exam and, in a characteristic Sagittarius pivot, immediately moved to the
Christen Thompson ’12 snuggles her second child, Freya Christen Lain.
Philadelphia Main Line suburbs (go Birds!). She is working as the access services and teaching law librarian at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.
Robert Nicolas Glaser poses with his parents, Kyle Glaser and Elli-Anne Karras ’13.
Elli-Anne Karras gave birth to Robert Nicholas Glaser on March 16, 2024. Elli-Anne describes welcoming a tiny human as a transcendent experience that defies words, and she is truly grateful for the encouragement and support from cherished Scottie friends.
Megan McCulloch presented an oral argument before the Georgia Court of Appeals and is hoping for a favorable decision.
On Jan. 11, Isobel RobinsonOrtiz welcomed her first child with her husband, Victor Mata. Their son, Victoriano Arturo Mata-Robinson, was born healthy and happy, and all three are doing well.
Genefine L. Sapateh accepted a new position with the U.S. Air Force as a logistics management specialist for the new T-7 Red Hawk trainer aircraft, which is dedicated to the Red Tails, the all-Black fighter training team from World War II. Genefine also celebrated her seventh year of owning her own e-commerce business, handling marketing and sales for supply and manufacturing corporations.
Janelle Sourbeer and her husband, Andy, are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Riley Artemis Kirst, on Feb. 13. They are currently stationed in San Diego as lieutenant commanders in the U.S. Navy, and Janelle is finishing her residency in emergency medicine. They also have two dogs and a cat, so they are now happily settled as a family of six!
Paige Sullivan shares that her consulting career and volunteer work keep her fully immersed in the Atlanta nonprofit community. She recently wrapped up a three-year term as board chair of a local house museum and
proudly continues to serve as a board member of the Agnes Scott Alumnae Association. She and her partner are currently renting a house in East Atlanta, where their dog enjoys having a backyard of her own.
On Feb. 16, Nga Than welcomed a daughter, Nina Than Misra, with her husband, Dipendra Kumar Misra. The family of three lives in the New York City metropolitan area.
Anna Williams married Christopher Tully in an intimate ceremony at the Jekyll Island Club on Nov. 26, 2024. Anna is an urban planner for the City of Atlanta.
’14
Aminah Hussain aminah4488@gmail.com
Brittany Williams received her Ph.D. in counseling education and supervision and recently joined the University of North Texas as an assistant research professor while continuing her work as the founder of Rain Therapy DFW.
Aminah Hussain completed her pediatric residency in Macon, Georgia, and will start as a pediatric hospitalist after she takes her board exams.
Rebecca Pham recently started graduate school to become a physician assistant at Mercer University in Atlanta.
In December 2024, Ravea Rodriguez earned an Ed.S. in school psychology from Georgia State University.
Safron Smith is delighted to announce the birth of her second daughter, Samantha N. Ademola, in June 2024.
Denisse Alanis is pursuing an M.P.A. at the University of Arkansas, focusing on nonprofit studies. This is their third attempt at grad school, and by golly, we
hope they finish this time. Their dog, Chocco, is rooting for them!
Audrey Osterbind and her partner, Hayagriv, are delighted to announce the arrival of their daughter, Minerva Meera.
Katherine Wilson graduated from Cornell University with a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 2024. She is now a senior mechatronics engineer at ASML.
Kaili “Kelly” An is co-founder of an AI agent company. She lives in Singapore and actively contributes to building better AI products for underserved businesses around the world.
Abby Scanlon is working as the finance director at a nonprofit community development corporation and is a proud dog mom to a corgi named Queso, rescued from the Chinese meat trade.
Lindsey Gomes-Shepard is enjoying life with a 1.5-year-old who is literally running the house!
Betsy Apple Eldridge and her husband, Daniel, welcomed their son, Charlie Eldridge, in November 2024.
Natalia Castells-Esquivel was nominated for an Emmy for her work on “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.” She is now serving as a producer for “School Spirits,” a Paramount+ show.
Samantha Allen moved to New Jersey and is currently a senior research scientist at ColgatePalmolive. She is excited to finally be able to taste the things she makes in the lab.
’15
Shekinah Phillips sphill@uab.edu
Virginia Ann Barrett Clements announces the arrival of their little one, Hazel Ann Clements, on May
16, 2024, the ninth anniversary of the class of 2015 graduation day! Hazel is their first and only child, and their everything.
’16
Claire Kirchharr clairemk14@gmail.com
Eloisia Seligson has been accepted into a yearlong private practice internship program to improve her skills as a veterinarian.
Rebekah Frishe completed her Master of Healthcare Informatics degree from Franklin University in December 2024.
’17
Jessica Luegering jessica.marie.luegering@gmail.com
Sarah-Meaghan Eiler married Adam Fuller on Oct. 26, 2024, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Several fellow Scotties attended the lovely ceremony.
’18
Abigail Camden camden.abigail@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’19
Laura Sato laurasato96@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’20
Madeline Brasgalla mbrasgalla11@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’21
Teresa Enriquez Texis tenriqueztexis@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’22
Amil Greene amil.greene1@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’23
No identified class secretary. Please send any news to share to alumnae@agnesscott.edu.
No news was submitted.
’24
Nathalie Slaughter nathaliesslaughter@gmail.com
No news was submitted. Please send your news to your class secretary.
’04
Ailana Ruby Velez Hathcock, born to April Hathcock and Armando Velez, September 2024
’05
Gavin Lane Olsheski, born to Julia “Jewels” DeBlasio Olsheski and husband, November 2024
Sagan Alain Williams, born to Allison Trendell Williams and husband, Brian, March 2024
’07
Loren Ott-Karim, born to Elizabeth “Liz” Ott, July 2024
’08
Sabrina Santamaria, born to Elizabeth “Liz” Hartnett Santamaria, January 2025
’09
Quinn Leigh Graeff, born to Rachel Castleberry and Christopher Graeff, Sept. 14, 2024
Oliver Dale Brown, born to Erica Stafford and Harold Brown, Jan.12, 2025
’11
Franklin Boulay Hersh, born to Sarah Bowen Hersh, Oct. 27, 2024
’12
Freya Christen Lain, born to Christen Thompson, June 29, 2024
’13
Robert Nicolas Glaser, born to Elli Anne Karras and Kyle Glaser, March 16, 2024
Rosa Maria de Lugo, born to Rosa Contreras de Lugo and Ryan de Lugo, Dec. 28. 2024
Victoriano Arturo MataRobinson, born to Isobel Robinson-Ortiz and Victor Mata, Jan. 11, 2025
Riley Artemis Kirst, born to Janelle Sourbeer and Andy Kirst, Feb. 13, 2025
Nina Than Misra, born to Nga Than and Dipendra Kumar Misra, Feb. 16, 2025
’16
Rayne Catherine Rowland, born to Rebekah “Bekah” Frishe Rowland, February 2024
’41
Jean Dennison Brooks, sister of Lucile Dennison Keenan ’37 and niece of Jere Keenan Brands ’65, Feb. 6, 2025
’45
Martha Patterson McGaughey, mother of Martha McGaughey ’81, Nov. 30, 2024
’46
Elisabeth “Libby” Woodward Ellis, sister of Judith “Anne” Woodard Simmons ’48 and cousin of Frances Brougher Garman ’45 and Betty Brougher Campbell ’43, Dec. 29, 2024
’47
Sarah Cooley Mason, mother of Sarah “Beth” Mason Gilley ’77, Oct. 24, 2024
’48
Nan Honour Watson, Sept. 16, 2024
’49
Sally Ellis Mitchell, Nov. 18, 2023
Mary “Maic” Aichel Samford, mother of Margaret Samford Day ’75, sister of Louisa Aichel McIntosh Edwards ’47 and mother-in-law of Donna Winters Samford ’77, Oct. 21, 2024
’51
Barbara Caldwell Perrow, sister of Ava Caldwell Averett ’56, Nov. 25, 2024
Marjorie “Marge” H. Stukes Smith, daughter of Frances Gilliland Stukes class of 1924 and aunt of Mary “Polly” Crook Robinson ’76 and Catherine Crook Woodcock ’79, Dec. 6, 2024
Alta “Alta Lee” Patch Howard, Dec. 23, 2024
John H. Weitnauer Jr., husband of June Harris Weitnauer ’51, Oct. 13, 2024
Mary “Betty” Rawls Skelton Copeland, Dec. 1, 2024
’52
Margaretta B. Lumpkin Shaw, daughter of Margaretta Womelsdorf Lumpkin class of 1923, niece of Lois “Berrien” Lumpkin Long ’76 and cousin of Octavia “Tavia” Howard Smith ’31, March 17, 2025
Joyce Hutcheson Huggins, Jan. 13, 2025
Catherine Crowe Ragland, Feb. 9, 2025
Howard B. Sims Jr., husband of Catherine “Anne” Winningham Sims, March 20, 2024
Betty Moon Swofford, Nov. 14, 2023
’53
Martha “Carlene” Nickel Elrod, Feb. 28, 2025
Mary “Mary Beth” Robinson Stuart, Jan. 2, 2025
’54
Mary Burke Hood, Jan. 8, 2025
Burton “Burt” Bridges, husband of Mary Newell Rainey Bridges ’54, Nov. 29, 2024
’55
Agnes “Mickey” Scott Willoch, daughter of Annie Bryan Scott class of 1915, mother of Susan Willoch Shaver ’78, sister of Betty Scott Noble ’44 and Nellie Scott Pritchett ’47, and aunt of Betty Scott Noble ’71, Dec. 11, 2024
Mary Norwood Land, sister of Helen Land Ledbetter ’52 and cousin of Elta Robinson Posey ’41 and Martha “Marcy” O’Ferrall Renegar ’52, Oct. 18, 2024
Catherine “Cathy” Lewis Callaway, Feb. 25, 2025
Susanna Byrd Wells, mother of Elizabeth Wells Lang ’79, Feb. 14, 2025
Callie McArthur Robinson, March 10, 2025 ’56
Martha Dickert Nelson, sister of Sally Dickert Conlin ’51, Dec. 5, 2024
’58
Caroline Phelan Touchton, sister of Margaret “Peggy” Phelan Paschall ’51, Jan. 3, 2025
Clyde H. Wilkes, husband of Elizabeth “Libby” Geiger Wilkes and father of Katherine “Kap” Wilkes ’84, March 15, 2024
’59
Kathleen Brown Efird, Feb. 17, 2025
Kenneth “Buddy” MacKay, husband of Anne Selph MacKay, Dec. 31, 2024
Percival Cabell “Cab” Gregory, husband of Pauline Winslow Gregory and father of Pauline “Polly” Gregory Sapitowicz ’82, Jan. 14, 2025
’60
Harriette Lamb O’Connor, Jan. 27, 2025
’61
Philip L. Elliott Jr., husband of Kathryn “Kacky” Chambers Elliott ’61 and brother-in-law of Barbara Chambers Ford ’64, Oct. 23, 2024
’62
Ruth Seagle Bushong, Sept. 28, 2024
Kayanne Shoffner Massey, Dec. 22, 2024
Mary Curd Percival, Feb. 7, 2025
William Carl Roberson, husband of Margaret “Peggy” McGeachy Roberson ’62 and brother-in-law of Elizabeth McGeachy Mills ’66 and Lila McGeachy Ray ’59, Dec. 12, 2024
’63
Madeleine “Colby” Scott Lee, Sept. 27, 2024
Susan Sevier Link, sister of Lesley Sevier Simmons ’60, Feb. 12, 2025
Jane Rutledge Jessee Sharp, Jan. 14, 2025
Gerald Joseph Meyer, husband of Patricia McLaurin Meyer, Feb. 3, 2025
’64
Brenda Brooks Jackson, Oct. 18, 2024
Mary “Mary Mac” Mitchell Saunders, sister of Martha Mitchell Griffin ’59, March 13, 2025
Robert Bruce Donnelly, husband of Martha Kissinger Donnelly, Jan. 12, 2024
Pamela “Pam” Stanley McCaslin, mother of Jennifer “Jenny” McCaslin Lobel ’89 and sisterin-law of Suzanne Campbell McCaslin ’67, June 1, 2024
’65
Charlotte Webb Kendall, Sept. 25, 2024
Bettye “Beck” Johnson McRae, Dec. 25, 2024
’66
Joseph M. Binns Jr., husband of Carol Mobley Binns and father-inlaw of Melissa “Missy” Mullinax ’94, Jan. 5, 2025
’69
Eliza “Anna” Stockman, Oct. 8, 2024
Robin L. Line, husband of Mary Bolch Line, Sept. 20, 2024
’70
Valerie Tarver Drewry, Oct. 9, 2024
Deborah Kennedy Williams, Jan. 6, 2025
Michael “Mike” Waters, husband of Barbara Black Waters, Nov. 22, 2024
’74
Martha Howard Whitaker, March 18, 2025
’75
Virginia “Carol” Townsend Hollingshed, Feb. 1, 2025
’76
JoAnne “Jody” Melton Mincey, sister of Belinda Melton Downing ’74, Oct. 2, 2024
’79
Lillian Lee, mother of Virginia “Ginny” Lee McMurray, Oct. 28, 2024
’83
Louise Guy Morris, mother of Jeanie Morris Caldwell, Oct. 20, 2024
’84
Mary Ellen Huckabee, Dec. 5, 2024
Wallace “Wally” Warren, husband of Robin Ogier Warren, Jan. 23, 2025
Margaret Henderson Jenkins, mother of Margaret “Meg” Jenkins Locke ’84 and sister of Keller Henderson Barron ’53, March 12, 2025
Don C. Pair, father of Patti Pair Martin, Dec. 28, 2024
’85
Maureen Parish, Feb. 27, 2025
William Robert Davis, father of Elizabeth “Beth” Davis and fatherin-law to Deadra “Dee” Lynn Moore, Nov. 17, 2024
Reba G. Leggett, mother of Kathy Legett Eldridge, Dec. 18, 2023
’88
Caroline Frances Vargas, daughter of Gene “Genie” Reinero Vargas ’58, sister of Susan Vargas Stephani ’86, granddaughter of Clara Allen Reinero class of 1923, and niece of Caroline Reinero Kemmerer ’54 and Mary Allen Reding ’39, Oct. 9, 2024
’89
Elizabeth “Ebie” Blizard Camelo, Oct. 28, 2024
Heath Guthrie Waller, Feb. 9, 2024
’91
Carole “Sue” King, daughter of Martha Foster King Few ’38, Jan. 23, 2025
’93
Renee Cox Ferriter, Nov. 14, 2024
Kelli Suzanne Barnett, Jan. 20, 2025
’04
Rebecca Poole-Ward, Nov. 20, 2024
Faculty
Lee Hale Brown, wife of Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of History Michael J. Brown, March 13, 2025
Rosemary Cunningham, Hal and Julia T. Smith Professor Emerita of Free Enterprise, April 3, 2025