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CONTENTS / VOL. 08 / ISSUE 08
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04 THE WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE uniquely positions students, faculty, and staff for success through education and leadership programs; research and scholarship opportunities; and career connections and experiences, which open minds and open doors. It is proud to continue to celebrate the legacy of Hartford College for Women, and is supported and sustained by a community of women and men who believe that advancing the potential of others is a personal and collective priority. M A N AGING E D ITO R Glandina Morris Lyga ’04 CO N T RIBUTING WRITE R Theresa Sullivan Barger Glandina Morris Lyga ’04 D E SI GN Lilly Pereira ’02 A R T DIRECTIO N Alicia Post Lindstadt E D I TO RIAL ASS ISTANCE Amelina Douangvongsa ’26 (LEAD) Jonathan Easterbrook ’87, M’90 Nancy Simonds P H OTO GRAP H Y Em Andersen ’26 Defining Studios, Garrett Uhde Hannah Dhom ’25 University of Hartford Archives and Special Collections P R O F E SS IO NAL STAFF Amy Jaffe Barzach, Executive Director Glandina Morris Lyga ’04, Director Christina Stone ’24, M’25, Assistant Director and LEAD Program Director Saskia Butler, Administrative Assistant H A R T FO RD.E D U/ WO M ENSADVANCEM ENT CO N TAC T U S : 200 Bloomfield Avenue, GSU327 West Hartford, CT 06117 womenadv@hartford.edu Facing page top photo: CISL pictured in the 1963 Highlander yearbook. Bottom: Hartford College for Women students as featured in the 1968 Highlander yearbook.
facebook.com/ womensadvancement
Building Strength Through Love
Brigitte Reyes Rosario ’26 rises with dignity with support from LEAD.
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Life After LEAD
Dr. Gabrielle Novak Fallis ’16, D’19 and Dr. Danielle Novak Briganti ’16, D’19 reflect on their journeys as members of the first LEAD graduating class.
DE PA R TM E N TS 02 HCW FEATURE 08 LEAD ALUMNAE PROFILE 10 DONOR PROFILE 14 IMPACT
B OA R D OF F I CERS Pearl Douglas, Chair Kim Barberi ’99, ’02 (HCW), Vice Chair Mary Ellen Ladieu, Vice Chair and Treasurer Judy Casperson, Former Treasurer Karishma Pinto ’17, M’18 (LEAD), Secretary B OA R D OF DI R E CTORS Lynn Baronas Deb Cerwinski ’85 Amy Chorew Barry Lastra Karen Gibbs Orefice ’65 (HCW) Katharine A. Owens Molly O’Shea Polk Sabrina Streeter ’18 (LEAD) H. Frederick Sweitzer Dr. Nicole Turnbow FOU N DI N G B OA R D CHA I R Lucille M. Nickerson
15 ANNUAL REWIND 16 HCW ALUMNA PROFILE
DEA R A LU MN A E, PA R EN TS, FR I EN DS, A N D STU DEN TS, As the year draws to a close and we usher in a spirit of renewal, I took time to sit and reflect. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the bustle of daily life that we forget to express gratitude for the goodness and kindness we have given and received. Gratitude propels us forward, but it also causes us to look back with curiosity and admiration. In 2026, The Women’s Advancement Initiative (formerly known as WELFund) will turn 20! Through its transformative programs and Hartford College for Women legacy, The Women’s Advancement Initiative provides deep roots for today’s students. Our organization champions students’ personal and professional development by providing life skills, leadership workshops, career readiness programming, and community engagement opportunities. We nourish students’ curiosity for learning and growth by connecting students to a community of women and men that believe in advancing their potential. In 1933, an acorn was planted to signify the strength and potential of Hartford College for Women. I am filled with gratitude and admiration as curiosity makes me wonder: How did those students succeed amid significant challenges and constant struggle? How did they use resources to break barriers? We are thankful for their resilience and courage and we ponder: How can we build community and draw inspiration from their journey? Today, this image of small acorns growing into mighty oak trees motivates our organization to continue making a positive impact in the lives of those we serve. Every day, we encourage students, faculty, and staff to discover their strengths while finding, sharing, and elevating their voices. I am personally grateful to witness the LEAD students cross the stage at graduation— each step representing years of dedication, challenges overcome, and dreams pursued. I appreciate that their path to success is bolstered by our exceptional village of founding and current board members, volunteers, and donors; Hartford College for Women trustees, faculty, staff, and donors; LEAD alumnae and students; constituents, and friends. The 20-year growth and impact of The Women’s Advancement Initiative exists because of you and the Hartford College for Women legacy that now spans more than nine decades. As we continue this meaningful work, my proverb for 2026 and beyond is, “Recognize that the only comparison that matters is between who you were yesterday versus who you are today. Know that you are doing something incredible even when it doesn’t feel like it. Your journey of self-awareness and growth is ongoing. And, it is liberating.” Together, we can help others continue to flourish—like that small acorn planted in an environment that fortifies its humble roots to grow strong. We are grateful for this shared mission and the opportunity to nurture growth in our community. With heartfelt appreciation, PEARL DOUGLAS, Chair, The Women’s Advancement Initiative Board of Directors
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HARTFORD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN DEAR HARTFORD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN COMMUNITY, Gratitude helps us appreciate our past, live in the present, and inspire the future. This Hartford College for Women feature story is about gratitude for you. As I flip through the pages of Highlander yearbooks, sift through thousands of images, read historical memos and documents, watch media clips, view the faces of dedicated faculty and staff, and read the hopes and dreams of students that came generations before me, I am reminded of the importance of gratitude. Hartford College for Women upheld the values of learning, opportunity, and empowerment. It was more than a beautiful campus with stately historic buildings and blossoming gardens. To many, it was home for brief yet meaningful years full of tradition—from orientations at Camp Isola Bella featuring the two-person kayak, Mountain Day, Class Day, Miss J’s afternoon tea, dissecting fetal pigs with Rudi Haffner, dancing across the sunlit
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floor of Cheney Hall with Truda Kaschmann, to innovative programs like Academic Express, accolades like the Golden Acorn Award, celebrations like Thanksgiving Tea, Oktober Fest, Medieval Banquet, movie nights, and mixers. The 3,570 alumnae were awarded more than just a degree. They discovered their potential, forged lifelong friendships, and learned that it was not how or where they started their collegiate path; rather, it was the unique Hartford College experience that reinforced them along the way. I am grateful to research its history, meet with alumnae, and share their reflections. More importantly, I am thankful that the “noble experiment” in 1933 became an opportunity for women like me to embrace education and reach beyond my self-imposed limitations. That more than 90-year legacy lives on with today’s students in The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program. At the onset of any special event, orientation, programming, or
reunion, today’s students learn about Hartford College for Women and how their foundation for future success is deeply rooted in your transformative time at this special place. When alumnae, faculty, and staff share their reflections and journeys or call to stay connected to their legacy, the heart of the message is the same: “Hartford College for Women helped me grow, introduced me to exceptional faculty and staff, and became a supportive community.” I am thankful to you for allowing me to share your Hartford College for Women experience. With gratitude, Glandina (Dina) Morris Lyga Director, The Women’s Advancement Initiative
Above Left: Anh Tran, Khanh Tran, and Mai Tran from the 1977 Highlander yearbook. Middle: Cathy Costas, Lisa Masse, Freddie Gibbons, Shelia Alix, and Cynthia Culver in the 1981 Highlander yearbook. Right: Hartford College for Women students as featured in the 1966 Highlander yearbook.
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My experience at Hartford College for Women was amazing. I felt at home and enjoyed the classes, activities, and the opportunities provided. The settings were very cozy. It was a diverse campus where I learned about different cultures and learned how to cook new recipes from fellow students. If I could speak to my college-age self, I would say, ‘Embrace the learning experience. Do not take anything for granted. Work hard but also make time for yourself. Take time to know people and learn about their culture. Travel. Do not be afraid to ask for help on a personal and academic level. Be willing to help others in need. You never know when you will need help yourself. Volunteer. Participate in events and internships. This will help you build your resume for future opportunities.’” — NANCY MARRERO ’96, ’99 (HCW)
REFLECTIONS To this day, I fondly recall dancing almost every afternoon after classes with Truda Kaschmann. I always admired her sheer joy for dance and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Oliver Butterworth was someone who continued to have a tremendous impact on my life. It was he who demonstrated the transformative power of teaching that comes from the soul. He understood how to put students (me) in touch with our best selves using literature as a tool. It was ‘OB’ who encouraged me to narrate the tale of Sir Gawain and Green Knight on the occasion of the Medieval Banquet in Johnson Hall. I was happier to do so in period costume. Oh, what a night! When crossing the quad one afternoon, OB asked me if I was going to the Hartford Stage for a play that he arranged for students to attend. I told him that I couldn’t go because I had too much studying to do. To which he replied, ‘Amy, never let your academics interfere with your education.’ I relay the same message to my students each semester. My time at Hartford College for Women was everything I needed and wanted it to be at that time in my life. I wish others from Hartford could have such a rich, diverse, and enjoyable educational experience. Without question it has shaped the woman I am today in all the best ways.”
My life at Hartford College was enriched by personal attention, as we could always schedule a ‘sit down’ with a professor, President Johnson, or Dean Short. Professors came to teach from the best four-year colleges. Dr. Weinstein, from Smith, taught Government. Truda Kaschmann, director of dance at the Hartt School, helped us experience freedom through dance. Ruby Burdet, with the title of housemother, could be found in the kitchen and added support to our musings. Cozy chats around the kitchen table were daily events.” — PATRICIA KATZ GOLDSTEIN ’59 (HCW)
Mount Holyoke in Hartford seems like a very long time ago. Another lifetime. I am grateful for that good year, so much better than those that followed. I remember many of my classmates fondly and our teachers who now seem to me like characters mildly surprised at the naive bunch of students they inherited. I recall many details of that year vividly.”
It was at Hartford College that I awakened intellectually. My high school record had been spotty— strong in humanities, weak in math and science. Once I was enrolled at Hartford College, I relaxed. Behind me were the dread of SATs, the jittery edge of wondering if I was worthy of acceptance to college, and the fear that I would fall short in competing for a place to land. I have no memory of anxiety regarding transferring to a four-year college. I knew I was at a solid school with a rich curriculum and inspiring professors, a school that was dedicated to finding the right match for each person determined to earn their degree.”
— WINIFRED LAW MADISON ’36 (HCW)
— ALISON BRASH TAYLOR ’68 (HCW)
— AMY SAILOR ’84 (HCW)
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Building Strength Through Love Brigitte Reyes Rosario ’26 rises with dignity through support from LEAD.
If the dictionary entry for tenacity included a picture, readers would see Brigitte Reyes Rosario’s beaming smile. The first-generation Class of 2026 senior has battled hunger, housing insecurity, family separation, and depression. But people in her life believed in her and encouraged her to keep going. While studying art and illustration, Brigitte paused her education to work and support her mother after her cancer diagnosis propelled them into financial peril. S HE HAD LEARNED from a young age to work to contribute to the family’s finances. Beginning as a 7-year-old child growing up in the Dominican Republic with her grandmother raising her, she earned money by helping classmates with homework. Her grandmother gave her money to buy lunch, but Brigitte skipped the meal to save the money. She took her homework income and lunch money savings and gave it back to her grandmother so she would not have to struggle to make ends meet. Family means everything to Brigitte. “My sister is my person. My protector and my warm blanket in the cold,” Brigitte says. “Sometimes there wasn’t enough food on the table for both of us, so we shared everything. She defended me, cared for me, and shielded me from bullies when I could not do it myself.” “People used to say awful things to me: that I was adopted and unloved. And for a while, I believed them,” she shares. “But my sister stood by me like a
hero—until she, too, had to leave.” Once her sister moved to the United States with her father, Brigitte faced bullies who threw trash at her, isolated her, and fought with her. “I kept it all from my grandmother because I did not want to worry her. I tried to help in the only ways I could,” she comments. “I remember hearing my grandmother cry at night because she was unable to afford food. I felt like it was my job to protect her, even though I was just a child myself.” “There were moments I nearly gave up. But I’m glad I held on. Because now I know what it means to feel joy, purpose, and love,” Brigitte states. Today, Brigitte is a member of The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program. She is grateful to her support system, even when she felt broken—her grandmother, sister, mother, fiancé, and friend and classmate, Lysa-Raye, who
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“No matter our upbringing or background, LEAD teaches students how to become leaders…and how to rise with dignity.” helped her find her voice and confidence in class and encouraged her to apply to the LEAD program. Brigitte met Lysa-Raye in ceramics class. She thanks Lysa-Raye for being quick to help her with a project challenge. They became friends. After Lysa-Raye agreed to ask the professor a question on Brigitte’s behalf, she then coached her to ask the question herself with confidence and curiosity. Now, at her job with Amazon, Brigitte is the person who asks supervisors questions and guides her coworkers to ask their own questions. “The second and third time they asked, I said to my coworkers, ‘You can do this. I’m watching from behind.’ And they go and ask questions themselves,” she shares.
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That experience of being taught to self-advocate so she could then pass that lesson onto others epitomizes her LEAD experience. Brigitte never imagined there was a group like this supporting each other and helping each student to become a better version of themselves. She began the interview for LEAD feeling shy and nervous, but left feeling like she had been talking to a friend. “It was the most fluent conversation I have had in my entire life,” says Brigitte, whose first language is Spanish. After being accepted into the LEAD program, the other students welcomed her. She saw how beautiful it was to have other people outside of her family that were there for you at all times.
Once, while watching other students in the program give oral presentations, she thought, “I want to be just like them one day. They have courage and I hope I can learn from them.” As a result of going through mock job interviews and other lessons taught through LEAD, Brigitte has become more confident and adept at sharing her bio and self-advocating. She remembers one interviewer giving her immediate feedback about how she could sound more professional, which was incredibly helpful. In her art classes, when the materials list exceeded her budget, she asked her professors for less expensive alternatives. “I’ve become better at expressing myself. I ask more questions. I value
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myself in the work environment and as a student,” Brigitte states. She is grateful she is learning leadership and life skills, such as what to put on a resume and how to conduct a job search. Before joining LEAD, she would submit an application and just hope to hear back. She did not look at the job description fully to ensure she could meet the job demands, such as sevenday-a-week availability. Transforming self-doubt and struggle into learning and growth have always been part of her life. Brigitte’s parents separated when she was little and when she was three, her mother left the Dominican Republic to move to the United States to make money for the family. Her single grandmother raised her while working long hours in low-paying jobs. When she was 14, Brigette moved to New Britain, Connecticut, to live with her mother and continue her education at New Britain High School. “I was overwhelmed with joy. And though we cannot get back the time we lost, we have been building new memories ever since,” she says. “She, too, is a warrior. When I found out that my mom had cancer, it shattered me. I was angry at life, terrified of losing her just when I had gotten her back. But every day, I remind myself that what we have now is a gift. My mom has supported all of my dreams.” The side effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatment made her mother too sick to work. Money was scarce and they almost became homeless while Brigitte was studying visual and fine arts at Tunxis Community College. So, after completing her associate’s degree, Brigitte postponed plans to transfer to a four-year college and worked instead to support her mother. She worked at several jobs while attending community college and after graduating. She felt conflicted for putting her bachelor’s degree on hold. Her fiancé, Joshua, her mother, and sister wanted her to pursue her education.
“I carry the weight of wanting to care for everyone, but my love for them gives me the strength not to give up,” Brigitte comments. Joshua encouraged her to follow her heart. “He inspires me every single day. He came from nothing and has built a life through pure hard work, persistence, and unwavering positivity. He has dreams—and he makes them happen. I am so grateful for him. He has been my rock in moments when I could not see my own strength,” she shares. “I’m also blessed with people like my friend Lysa-Raye, who supported me through school, and my brother, who—even though we did not grow up together—has always cared in his own way,” she adds. Furthermore, Brigitte is eternally grateful for the LEAD program and all the skills she has learned, as well as the lessons and wisdom from donors and mentors. As a recipient of the Debbie Javit ’83 (HCW) “Javy” Resiliency Award, Brigitte had a chance to thank Debbie at The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s 2025 annual symposium. She celebrated Debbie for her generosity that made it possible for Brigitte to continue her education and see that there are so many people who care about her well-being and progress. “It’s more than just a program; it’s a family,” Brigitte proclaims. “No matter our upbringing and background, LEAD teaches students how to become leaders, how to prepare for the real world, and how to rise with dignity. They give us advice when we need it most and remind us that we are never alone. I will never forget what this program has given me. I am forever grateful for LEAD.” “I have learned that life is not about having a perfect past,” she shares. “It’s about finding meaning in the pain, building strength through love, and learning how to forgive. I would not be who I am today without the struggles, the tears, or the people who loved me when I could not love myself.”
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SPONSORSHIP
Sponsor a LEAD Student Program Gifts to the LEAD program provide unique educational opportunities for students to experience a life-changing professional development and personal enrichment program. Gifts of all sizes are welcomed and appreciated. For a gift of $2,000, you can sponsor a student’s participation in this transformative program for one year. Your LEAD student sponsorship: • Provides 13 annual interactive leadership training and life-skills workshops. • Connects your student(s) to a network of peers and mentors who inspire them to pursue opportunities and persevere through challenges. • Creates an opportunity for your student(s) to attend a leadership retreat and professional conferences. • Helps your student(s) secure transportation to internships and interviews, and participate in community service trips. You can impact a student’s life in a meaningful and powerful way. If you are interested in sponsoring a LEAD student, please contact Amy Jaffe Barzach at 860.983.5040 or barzach@hartford.edu.
Facing page photos (left): Brigitte Reyes Rosario ’26 pictured in the Hartford Art School studio. Right: Brigitte with her grandmother in the Dominican Republic. Lower right: Brigitte with her LEAD classmate and friend, Lysa-Raye McCaw (pictured on right).
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LEAD ALUMNAE PROFILE
Life After LEAD Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” Novak Fallis ’16 (LEAD), D’19, PT, DPT, OCS and Dr. Danielle Novak Briganti ’16 (LEAD), D’19, PT, DPT GRADUATES OF THE FIRST LEAD CLASS D R . G A BR I E L L E “G ABBY” N OVA K FA L L I S ’16 (LE AD ), D’19, PT, D PT, O C S, AND D R. DA N I E L L E NOVA K BRI G ANTI ’16 ( LEA D ) , D’19, PT, DPT, embarked on similar but different paths to success bolstered by LEAD stepping stones along the way.
Their Story
Gabby and Danielle are fraternal twins who came into this world 60 seconds apart. Danielle is a self-proclaimed “girly girl” who enjoyed playing soccer and participating in gymnastics. Gabby also played a variety of sports. Growing up in Milford, Connecticut, they took most of their classes together from elementary through high school but wanted to form their own identities in college.
Journey Into the Unknown
“My biggest fear I had when I thought about college was how I would be in a new environment,” Gabby states. “I went from knowing the same people throughout my schooling to leaving home for the first time.” “For me, it was the fear of the unknown and hoping it would all work out,” Danielle says. “Looking back, I wish I gave myself more grace.”
Inspired to Apply to the LEAD Program
Gabby knew in high school that she wanted to pursue physical therapy as a major with minors in business management and biology. She was not keen on going to an in-state school, but the University of Hartford provided scholarship opportunities and an exceptional doctorate of physical therapy program. Danielle started her collegiate journey
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as a radiologic technology major with a minor in psychology but switched her major to physical therapy at the start of her junior year. Danielle heard about the LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program through friends. She encouraged Gabby to apply as well. Joining LEAD proved to be the experience that helped shape both of their lives. In addition to LEAD, they both became actively engaged on campus as Red Cap orientation leaders and joined different sororities.
Empowered to LEAD Their Way
“I loved the idea of workshops with likeminded individuals where we created community,” shares Danielle. “The LEAD program was structured in such a way that you had four years to guarantee your growth because it helped you discover your strengths and focus on personal and professional development. It was nice to know that it was okay to not have it all figured out. LEAD felt like a familiar place you could come back to for support.” “I wanted to enhance my leadership skills,” says Gabby. “It was nice to have a program for emerging leaders where I could build my self-confidence and other skills, like public speaking, in an empowering environment.”
A Lifetime of Memories
Gabby recalls her first LEAD session where she met classmates and friends, like Dr. Ramsha Khan ’16 (LEAD), D’19 and Dr. Devyn Kangas ’16 (LEAD), D’19. Danielle used the LEAD session on
salary negotiation to advocate for herself and secure better benefits at her place of employment. Their favorite LEAD memories include president’s receptions, themed holiday parties, Closing Circles, and Hartford College for Women reunions where they learned from alumnae about its legacy and the close-knit community. In spring 2025, Danielle attended the LEAD All-Class Reunion that reconnected the ten graduating classes. “I saw firsthand how strong those LEAD relationships were and how those bonds never diminished,” Gabby says. “I loved to see the growth of LEAD and how the Hartford College for Women legacy lives on through all of us. It helped make us who we are today.”
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Legacy
“The LEAD program provided my daughters with strong role models who inspired confidence and leadership. It offered them a supportive environment to develop their voices, take initiative, and work collaboratively with peers. Through hands-on experiences and mentorship, they gained valuable skills that empowered them in school and beyond.” —Jeffrey Novak P’16, P’19, Gabby and Danielle’s dad, recognizes the meaningful work and impact of the LEAD program in his daughters’ lives. Since 2013, he and his wife, Jeanne, have generously supported the LEAD program.
Life After LEAD Gabby and Danielle earned their doctorates of physical therapy. Danielle works in outpatient pediatrics. She recently joined a clinic that is owned by all University of Hartford alumnae (Crescent Moon Care in Canton, Connecticut). She is grateful to see how far the University’s network can take you. Gabby works in outpatient orthopedics. She was recognized for her work at the American Physical Therapy Conference.
Lessons for Future LEADers
Gabby shares, “Don’t be afraid to try something new. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone.” Danielle states, “I wish I practiced gratitude more in college. Sometimes when you are always so focused on the next step, you don’t take it moment by moment and appreciate the experience.”
Facing page photo: In 2019, Gabby and Danielle earned their doctorate degrees of physical therapy. Above: Dr. Danielle Novak Briganti ’16 (LEAD), D’19 and Dr. Gabrielle “Gabby” Novak Fallis ’16 (LEAD), D’19 at their LEAD graduation ceremony in 2016.
Hartford College for Women taught Karen Gibbs Orefice ’65 (HCW) to put her best foot forward and to embrace opportunities. Little did she know back in the 1960s that a birthday gift she would receive years later would be instrumental in continuing her alma mater’s legacy for today’s students. In 2015, Karen’s husband, Jerry ’66, made a donation to The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program in her honor. The donation supported five students’ participation in LEAD. The students made a thank you video introducing themselves to Karen and shared the impact LEAD had on their lives. After wiping away tears and re-watching the video, Karen was impressed with their willingness to grow and the confidence the LEAD program helped to instill—the very same principles that were part of the foundation to succeed she received at Hartford College for Women. Karen and Jerry were the catalyst for the LEAD Sponsored Student Program. Each year, they underwrite several students’ participation in LEAD with a gift of $2,000 a year per student. To date, they have sponsored 22 students over 10 years. More than 100 students benefit annually from the LEAD program that helps them pursue academic and career opportunities and persevere through challenges during their college and life journeys. In addition to sponsoring students, Karen has served on The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s Board of Directors, worked on reunion planning committees, and honored her Hartford College for Women classmate, Alison Gallagher Coolbrith Lastra ’65 (HCW), by working with the board to establish the leadership award that celebrates Alison’s life. Eight students have received the Alison Leadership Award since 2017. In her lifetime, Karen was an elementary school teacher and later volunteered in the classroom, was active on several university boards, at her church, and at many charities. She later launched a floral design business, which grew into a holiday and home design business. As a watercolor artist, her creativity can also be seen in the many paintings that she sells. This past fall, she designed LEAD honor stoles to be given to graduates at commencement. The stole beautifully depicts elements of Hartford College for Women and The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s LEAD program. We are grateful to Karen for her long-standing commitment to supporting and empowering others. Students in LEAD are proud to walk in her footsteps.
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GI V I N G BAC K BOB AND FRANKIE GOLD FA R B
The Power of Opportunity
TO H E A R B O B A N D F RANKI E G OLD FA R B talk about how they met, their shared love for the arts, their life journey together, and the importance of giving back, you would think it was a scripted story. Frankie’s family were first generation descendants of immigrants from eastern Europe. She was born in New York City and her love for the arts started at the age of eight. Throughout her elementary, middle, and high school years she was a serious ballet student and dancer at the New York City’s School of American Ballet. Bob was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and attended school in West Hartford. His dad’s family first immigrated to Canada from eastern Europe after World War I, and in the late 1920s settled in Hartford. Self-made, his dad rose from a gas station attendant to founding a successful petroleum distribution business. Bob’s parents understood the value and importance of education, and Bob was the first in his family to attend college. He met Frankie when she was 17 years old and he was in his sophomore year at Cornell University. After
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completing his undergraduate degree at Cornell, he received law degrees from Boston University and New York University, becoming a lawyer and member of the bar. After Bob’s first year of law school in Boston, Frankie and Bob married and she transferred from Brooklyn College to Boston University, where she completed her undergraduate studies in English. In the late 1960s, Bob and Frankie settled in West Hartford, Connecticut. Bob joined his dad in the petroleum distribution business, which, over many years, grew to include other related businesses, including real estate development and investments. When their three children were busy in school, Frankie pursued a career in preschool education. She continued teaching, stimulating, and loving these special little people for 32 years, volunteering locally in preschool classrooms thereafter. The idea of giving back is “first nature” to Bob and Frankie. For well over 40 years, they became very active in the Greater Hartford community, especially joining and supporting many charitable organizations, including those in education, music, theater and
the arts, health, and agencies serving those with special needs. Their life story is full of unique experiences and opportunities. However, one fact holds true as the impetus for everything they do: a desire to give access, resources, and support to others. “Many young people today do not have the opportunities we had that enabled us to succeed,” Bob says. “We want to empower them to embrace educational opportunities, including exposure to humanities and the arts, and help them realize they can achieve anything!” It was by chance they met Amy Jaffe Barzach, executive director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative. The Goldfarbs lived two streets away from Amy. A neighbor mentioned that Amy and her husband Peter were in the process of creating Jonathan’s Dream, an inclusive “boundless” playground at the Mandell JCC, which was being built in memory of their son. Bob and Frankie became very involved and made Jonathan’s Dream a sustainable destination for children of all abilities for almost 30 years along with Amy, Peter, and many others. In 2020, they read an article in
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Facing page photos (Left): Bob and Frankie Goldfarb with Tyanna Stewart ’24 (LEAD). (Middle): Victoria Rozario ’23 (LEAD) was sponsored by the Goldfarbs. (Right): A sponsored students meetup with (left to right) Amy Jaffe Barzach, executive director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative, Emma Nobes ’27 (LEAD), the Goldfarbs, and Niah Otieno ’27 (LEAD).
W magazine that featured a story on Grace Academy and LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program alumna Doh Paw ’23. For many years, they have provided scholarships to Grace Academy for middle school students who receive extraordinary life skills mentoring during and after their time at the Academy. Bob and Frankie immediately realized the value and importance of the LEAD program at the college level. The LEAD program provides opportunity and resilience coaching, life skills curriculum, leadership training, career readiness workshops, community engagement opportunities, professional development forums, and a network of mentors. The design of the LEAD program at the University of Hartford was inspired by the way students at Hartford College of Women were supported and empowered. The Goldfarb’s friendship with Amy, and that article about the transformative work of the LEAD program, led to their sponsorship of four students in LEAD. They meet several times a year with the students to hear their academic updates, career plans, interests, and how the LEAD program has impacted them. Bob and Frankie share their life experiences, provide career advice, discuss their art interests, and impart real-world knowledge. Frankie also has served as a LEAD application reviewer to help select students in the classes of 2028 and 2029. “As I review LEAD applications, it reinforces the fact that students want and need a fellowship of peers and extra support,” Frankie states. “LEAD provides that network of building each other up and educating students to be a force so they can make an impact in this world. The program gives them confidence and we love to see the transformation of them becoming their best selves.”
Ways to Give Tyanna Stewart ’24, a health science graduate and community health program coordinator, shares, “I am grateful for the Goldfarb’s support during my time as a LEAD student and beyond. The kindness they showed me inspires me to pay it forward in my daily life. The LEAD program will always have a special place in my heart, as will the Goldfarbs. They never failed to provide constant encouragement and motivation.” Victoria Rozario is a 2023 graduate of the LEAD program. She states, “For as long as I have known them, Bob and Frankie have been kind, supportive, and philanthropic. During each conversation we have had, they provided insightful comments and shared similar experiences. I appreciate their love of community, which is apparent in West Hartford and beyond. I am incredibly thankful to the LEAD program for connecting me with the Goldfarbs.” “I would like to thank the Goldfarbs for their sponsorship and genuine interest in advancing the potential of students,” Emma Nobes ’27, a music education major and performer, says. “The LEAD program gives me such a community, an outlet, and so many amazing people to learn from, and grow with, like the Goldfarbs.” “It’s exciting and energizing for us to see the students realize that they can be all they set out to be by taking nothing for granted and embracing every opportunity,” Bob shares. “Nothing comes easily, but with the help of programs like LEAD, the support of others, and pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, success is possible.” Whether through leadership on nonprofit boards, providing resources to students, or contributing to educational opportunities, Bob and Frankie embody the spirit of generosity and kindness. Today, as they commemorate 60 years of marriage, spend precious time with their family, and continue to enjoy community, education, and the arts, Bob and Frankie also celebrate and treasure their legacy of giving.
GIVE ONLINE Scan the QR code at bottom right or “Make a Gift” at hartford.edu/ womensadvancement. MAIL A GIFT Send a check in the enclosed envelope. SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND Unrestricted annual gifts provide essential support for daily operations of The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s programs, including LEAD, Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantees, and Laura Johnson Leaders. DONATE TO THE LEAD PROGRAM The LEAD program was launched in 2012 to provide students with unique educational opportunities through a life-changing professional and personal enrichment program. The program serves 100+ students annually. See page 7 for information on how your gift directly impacts today’s students. CONSIDER A MAJOR GIFT To discuss major gifts or alternative options—including directing a gift from a donor-advised fund, retirement assets, or real estate—please contact Rebecca Brandt at 860.768.2416 or brandt@hartford.edu. GIVE TO THE HCW LEGACY FUND Gifts to the Hartford College for Women (HCW) Legacy Fund support The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s programs for today’s students, and HCW reunions and events. DONATE YOUR TIME: MENTOR A STUDENT There is nothing more energizing than making a difference in the lives of students. Share your career and life experiences with a student— in person, on the phone, or through a video conference. Enjoy lunch or coffee with students. Hire a student as an intern. Or, host a student at your workplace for a few hours or a few days. To learn more, call 860.768.5961 or email womenadv@hartford.edu.
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD / 2025
12 / DONOR REPORT
THE WOMEN’S ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE
JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025
Donor Report
Thanks to the support of donors like you, The Women’s Advancement Initiative is able to make a significant difference in the lives of today’s students. We honor and thank our community of women and men who are advancing the potential of others in the Hartford College for Women tradition.
$2,500+
$1,000–$2,499
American Endowment Foundation
Amy Jaffe Barzach P’21 and Peter Barzach P’21
Aurora Women and Girls Foundation Barrett Family Foundation Nancy Kinsley Barrett A’57 (HCW)* and Thomas R. Barrett*
Frances Finesilver Blumenthal C’60, ’62 Stillman B. Brown Hon. ’90
Glandina Morris Lyga ’04 and Matthew Lyga Linda Kautz Macy A’70 (HCW) and Terrence W. Macy Jeffrey Novak P’16, P’16 and Jeanne Marie Novak P’16, P’16
Linda Demikat A’66 (HCW) Kimberly Muller Farrington A’81 (HCW) and David L. Farrington Linda Merkle Frank A’63 (HCW) Sandra Nowicki Garick A’62 (HCW) Rhea Higgins
Miriam and Oliver Butterworth and Family LEAD Program Endowed Fund
$250–$499 Peter Arakas and Karen Kellerman
Lois Fisher-Dietzel
Debra Cerwinski ’85 and Michael Block
Dr. Alexandra Wojcechowsky Karriker A’63 (HCW) and Robert J. Karriker Susan Kelly and Peter Kelly
Ellen Jeanne Goldfarb Memorial Charitable Trust
Jennifer B. Fox A’70 (HCW) and Raymond O. George
Dr. Jane Edwards P’11 and Dr. Humphrey Tonkin P’11
Carol Stern Gendel A’67 (HCW)
Francine Goldfarb and Robert Goldfarb
David Estridge and Marjorie Estridge
Mary Ann Godbout M’85 and Dr. Louis Godbout Jr.
Karen Berner Flowers A’68 (HCW) and John H. Flowers
Lisa Hamlin P’25 and Judson Hamlin P’25
Laura Johnson Endowed Fund
Janice Zaleski Klein A’70 (HCW) and David M. Klein
Ruth Harlow A’67 (HCW)
Perry Daniels Huntington A’71 (HCW), ’73 and Gregory Huntington
Mary Ellen Ladieu
Robert E. Donovan Endowed Fund Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Hinda N. Fisher Irrevocable Trust
Dorothy Goodwin Scholars Endowed Fund
Debra Javit A’83 (HCW) and Christine Millington Selette Jemison Barry N. Lastra and Cynthia Gottlieb Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Endowed Fund Dr. Daniel Marshall Patricia McKinley A’72 (HCW) Lucille Nickerson Hon. ’22 and Ralph Zegarelli Karen Gibbs Orefice A’65 (HCW) and Jerry A. Orefice ’66 Sandra E. Peterson Dorothy Mylchreest Redmond A’36 (HCW) Endowed Fund for LEAD Karin Stahl M’73 and William Stahl Jan Cassells Sweet A’65 (HCW)* and Joan Cassells Morgan A’53 (HCW)* Leadership Education and Development Fund
Bobbi McNeil ’94 Debra Palmer ’82 Joan M. Pritchard A’74 (HCW) and Edward E. Clark
Marie Alberici Marks A’66 (HCW) Hannah Morris M’23
Gail Sparrell Pease A’65 (HCW) and Thomas E. Pease
Saralyn Siegel Neff A’70 (HCW), ’74
Sofia Sequenzia A’69 (HCW) and John Shostrom
Kristiana Spaulding A’90 and Greg Didriksen
Margaret Curtis Cornely A’72 (HCW) and Capt. Edward Cornely (Ret) Margaret Pearl Douglas and Dr. Montgomery B. Douglas ’83 Marcia L. Hincks Dr. Elizabeth Ivey and Robert Klein Kay Kloppenburg and Timothy Butterworth Annamarie Lavieri A’65 (HCW) and Albert C. Gunther
$100–$249 Joanne Rydel Ackman A’64 (HCW) and Robert S. Ackman Kim Y. Barberi ’99, ’02 (HCW) and Charles F. Barberi
Maria Orefice ’72 and David Lundberg Dr. Katharine Owens Joanne Ingoldsby Peters M’89 Lisa Christensen Petersen A’76 (HCW) Marie T. Castagno Pezzlo A’63 (HCW) Karishma Pinto ’17, M’18 (LEAD) Molly O. Polk and Ryan F. Polk Monica Sadil ’22, M’22 (LEAD) Jennifer Sanborn
Joanne E. Beers A’72 (HCW) and Earl C. Cree II
Dr. Natasha Segool
Katelyn Birdsey ‘25 (LEAD) Stephanie Brown D’23
Paul Sittard ’85 and Joan Fink Sittard A’81, ’83
Judy Casperson
Ruth Spina
Gail Champlin ’66
Sabrina Streeter ’18 (LEAD)
Amy Chorew
Melanie Fisher Tighe A’76 (HCW)
Carol Coppa ’81, P’16, P’17
Winfield Viering
Heather Corbett and Todd Bamford
Nancy Giuffre Willetts A’57 (HCW), P’82 and William Willets
Esther Danielson and Eric Danielson Jr. Aimee J. Groudas Delong ’05
T H E W O M E N ’ S A D VA N C E M E N T I N I T I AT I V E
Karen Lyga
Michael Mize
Esther Scheinblum Yeck A’70 (HCW)
Joan A. Dombkowski Cooper A’66 (HCW) and William Cooper ’68
Valerie Fleming Lewis A’62 (HCW), Hon. ’08
Shirley Leong M’03
Ina Lee Selden A’64 (HCW)
Nancy A. Brennan
Dulcy M. Lecour A’72 (HCW) and Charles Fujita
Karen Rinaldo Mallin ’94 (HCW) and Richard R. Mallin
M. Martha Sandefer M’06 and Dr. H. Fred Sweitzer III
$500–$999
Paul Krause ’13 and Sarah Hawkes
Barbara Cook Langner A’72 (HCW)
Dorothy Schwobel A’52 (HCW)
Kathleen Farrow Stoddard A’72 (HCW)
Sheryl Holt P’25 and Kevin Holt P’25
Dr. Sharon Toffey Shepela
DONOR REPORT
T H A N K Shadae Forrest (LEAD)
Shaily Prajapati ’20, M’23 (LEAD)
Myrani Alvarado ’18, M’21 (LEAD)
Crystal Gallagher ’24 (LEAD)
Samantha Pruitt (LEAD)
Summer Cerruto Amorosino
Natalia Garbala C’24, A’24, ’25, C’25 (LEAD)
Cam-Nhung Quach (LEAD)
Corinne Ansbro ’18 (LEAD) Nobuhiko Arai ’99
Josephine Garcia ’20, ’20 (LEAD)
Kelly E. Moses Axtell ’99
Patricia Katz Goldstein A’59 (HCW) and Arnold Goldstein
Darby McDougall Ranger ’03 and Michael Ranger A’00, ’02
Angela Barbagallo ’19 and Brian Borbas Melanie Bazer A’89 (HCW) Nicole Birdsey P’25 and Matthew Birdsey P’25 Madeline Blinderman A’20, ’22 (LEAD)
Victoria Radcliffe ’25 (LEAD)
Brayden Ransom ’20 (LEAD)
Abigail Green ’25, C’25 (LEAD)
Raytheon
Joyce Greenfield and Harry Greenfield
Sarah Robison
M. Joyal Guertin Gutis A’71 (HCW) and Mark P. Gutis Hazel Hill (LEAD) Tessa Holt ’25 (LEAD)
Yasmine Bonner ’23 (LEAD)
Gabriella Irwin-Parra ’25 (LEAD)
Alice Browne P’25 and Brian Browne P’25
Rebecca Jackson A’80, C’80 (HCW)
Meghan Browne A’24, C’24, C’25, ’25 (LEAD)
Clarice Jayawickrema ’24 (LEAD)
Sandra Bruggemann A’89 (HCW), P’87*
Judith Hall Kane A’64 (HCW)
Astrid Jarvis ’86
Elena Barrueco Rodriguez ’25 (LEAD) Janice Rosenfeld P’22 and David Rosenfeld P’22 Sarah Rosenfeld ’22 (LEAD) Bryannah Rousseau (LEAD) Victoria Rozario C’22, ’23 (LEAD)
Donations can be directed to the Hartford College for Women Legacy Fund, which supports The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s programs for today’s students, Hartford College for Women reunions, and legacy projects; the Annual Fund; the LEAD program; the Miriam and Oliver Butterworth & Family LEAD Program Endowed Fund; the Laura Johnson Endowed Fund; or the LEAD Endowed Fund that was established thanks to Lucille Nickerson, founding board chair of The Women’s Advancement Initiative.
Isabella Ruiz ’25 (LEAD) Paris Samuel ’25 (LEAD) Dr. Christine Sickle M’77
Mary Birtles White A’64 (HCW) and William R. White
Nancy Simonds
D’naijah Williams ’24 (LEAD)
Stephanie S. Kallicharan Singh A’19, ’21 (LEAD) and Yovin Singh
Sylvia Williams P’04 and Craig Williams P’04
Lisa Langsner and Howard Langsner
Mary Ellen Smith P’16 and Andrew Smith P’16
Alexa Wilson ’22 (LEAD)
Kathleen Lapan A’76 (HCW)
Evania Soljour ’25 (LEAD)
Gengyun Le-Chan
Julia St. Amand ’21 (LEAD)
Jolette Wolf P’25 and Dennis Wolf P’25
Madison Carangelo ’25 (LEAD)
Sydney Lewis ’22 (LEAD)
Lauren St. Germain
Devon Zapor
Nadine Cedro
Samantha Lillis ’25 (LEAD)
Tyanna Stewart ’24 (LEAD)
Sara Cerruto M’18
Karyna Cortes Lopez ’25 (LEAD)
Christina Stone ’24, M’25 (LEAD)
Dr. Caryn Christensen
Kim Ly ’22 (LEAD)
Elna Lindstrom Stratton A’61 (HCW)
Desiree Claudio
Frances Palfrey Mazzaferro A’70 (HCW)
Amelie Suero ’24 (LEAD)
Lysa-Raye McCaw (LEAD)
Jane Claflin Tamaccio A’68 (HCW) and Mark A. Tamaccio
Heather Burgess Samantha Mondragon Bustos ’25 (LEAD) Elaine Nowicki Camposeo A’69 (HCW)
Carol Conti and Anthony Conti Barbara Cordone P’25 and Paul Cordone P’25
Minu Kallukalam Mathews ’25 (LEAD) Cassidy Knutson ’25 (LEAD) Pranay Korada
Claudia J. McGuire A’70 (HCW)
Daria Szarwacki ’25
Gina Cordone ’25 (LEAD)
Married Mesilien ’25, M’25 (LEAD)
Veronica Crichton
Patricia Moran M’83, M’87
Nancy Powers Tanner A’66, ’68 and Craig Tanner
Kathleen Czarnota C’99 (HCW)
Michaela Mueller ’20 (LEAD)
Lily Turmel ’25 (LEAD)
Genta Daci ’18, M’20 (LEAD)
Mariah Nichols (LEAD)
Dr. Nicole Turnbow
Jasmin Enriquez (LEAD)
Emma Nobes (LEAD)
Anna Vandeberg ’25 (LEAD)
Tamyra Farrell ’22
Dr. Danielle Novak ’16, D’19 (LEAD)
Heather Volkens ’17
Meagan Fazio M’16
Teresa Pappagallo A’03 (HCW)
Susan Filupeit A’67 (HCW)
Debra Pierre A’14, ’16, M’20, M’20 (LEAD)
Marcy W. Bufithis Webster ’02 and William Webster II
Carol Gabrielson Fine*
* Deceased HCW – Hartford College for Women | LEAD – Leadership Education and Development
13
Y O U
Up to $99
Megan Bainbridge ’23, ’23 (LEAD)
/
Jacqueline Wolf ’25 (LEAD)
Every attempt has been made to record and honor gifts from our donors accurately. If you note any errors, please accept our most sincere apology and contact us at womenadv@hartford.edu or call 860.768.5961 so that we can correct our records.
Laura Wheeler
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD / 2025
14 / IMPACT
10 LEAD Graduating Classes The LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program was inspired by the Hartford College for Women legacy of supporting, empowering, and challenging students. In 2025, The Women’s Advancement Initiative celebrated 10 LEAD graduating classes (2016–2025) for all that they have accomplished and have yet to achieve. 2016
2017
3,570
Hartford College for Women alumnae
282 2018
2019
LEAD alumnae
100%
Giving from LEAD seniors to support future LEADers
Programs and Project Grants 2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
T H E W O M E N ’ S A D VA N C E M E N T I N I T I AT I V E
The Laura Johnson Leaders Program was established in 2008 to provide faculty and staff with a personal and professional development program that builds community and encourages participants to share their voice and embrace opportunities. The 19 faculty and staff participants in the 2024–2026 group are the tenth cohort to benefit from this dynamic program. The program was named in honor of Laura Johnson, third dean and first president of Hartford College for Women who personified leadership and instilled confidence in the thousands of students whose lives she touched. Dorothy Cheney Goodwin’s impact and legacy of empowering others lives on through today’s students. As a longtime trustee for Hartford College for Women and life regent of the University of Hartford, she made a generous bequest to provide grants to students engaging in innovative research or creative projects in collaboration with a campus mentor through Dorothy Goodwin Project Grants. To date, more than 160 grantees have received awards totaling more than $250,000 thanks to her belief in helping students look beyond their limitations and realize their full potential. In addition to grant funds, students benefit from leadership development training. Since 2009, Robert E. Donovan Scholarships have been awarded to students studying engineering who need financial assistance in order to continue their studies and complete their degree. The scholarships honor the life of Robert E. Donovan, who believed in the power of education. We thank Margaret (Peggy) Donovan for celebrating her late husband’s life with this memorial scholarship. With hearts full of gratitude, we appreciate all of these remarkable individuals.
IMPACT / CURR AE NN N TU AP LR O RG ER WAI N MD S / 15
2 02 5
Events
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1: GoLEAD in Puerto Rico—Eighteen LEAD students traveled to Puerto Rico for a service-learning trip in January 2025. The eight-day trip provided students with opportunities for reflection, discussion, and application of leadership and cultural learnings in a global context. The study abroad trip included two community service projects, lectures, networking events with leaders, and excursions in and around San Juan. 2: Annual Symposium—In March 2025, 16 Dorothy Goodwin Project grantees showcased their innovative research and creative projects in collaboration with their mentors. Doctoral candidate Krista Segreti ’28 (pictured) presented her research on culturally competent parenting. More than 160 attendees also heard live leadership lessons from LEAD students and congratulated the recipients of the 2025–26 Debbie Javit ’83 (HCW) “Javy” Resilience Awards: Katelyn Birdsey ’25, Ava Geraci ’26, and Brigitte Reyes Rosario ’26.
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3: LEAD Retreat—The two-day leadership retreat served as a platform to welcome new students in the LEAD Class of 2029. Upper class students served as mentors while Jamie Guite, Outside Perspectives, Kim Barberi ’99, ’02 (HCW), and Women’s Advancement staff led meaningful activities and discussions centered on building community and celebrating Hartford College for Women. 4: A Weekend of Mindfulness—Thanks to a generous grant, LEAD students and alumnae attended a mindfulness retreat at Copper Beech Institute. 5: LEAD Seniors President’s Reception—University of Hartford President Larry Ward (pictured far right) hosted the LEAD Class of 2025 at a reception to celebrate their achievements. The 2024–2025 Irene Robinson Marshall and Dr. Dan Marshall (seated) Scholarships were also presented to (back row left to right) Meghan Browne ’25, Dyani Maldonado ’26, Samantha Mondragon Bustos ’25, Avery Brooks ’27 (seated), and Jasmin Enriquez ’27 (not pictured). Barry Lastra (pictured far left), a Women’s Advancement board member and LEAD student sponsor, presented the Alison Gallagher Coolbrith Lastra ’65 (HCW) Leadership and Scholarship Awards to Gina Cordone ’25 and Shaynah Castro ’27 in memory of his late wife, a successful executive and chair of the Board of Trustees at Hartford College for Women.
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6: Graduation Legacy Moment—Tessa Holt ’25 takes a graduation photo with her Hartford College for Women and LEAD honor cords in the HCW Legacy Garden. 7: LEAD All-Class Reunion—The LEAD All-Class Reunion served as a platform to reconnect alumnae from the 2016– 2025 class years. Alumnae enjoyed a mini retreat on campus followed by dinner and a speaking program at Gather 55 in Hartford, Connecticut.
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A Hartford College for Women Reunion Celebrating the Classes of 1965, 1975, 1985, and 1995
Hartford College for Women alumnae and LEAD students came together at a fall reunion.
The spirit of gratitude filled the room (and digital screen) as Hartford College for Women alumnae, faculty, staff, and LEAD volunteers came together to reflect, see old friends, test their trivia skills, and make new memories at the reunion. The luncheon featured remarks from Amy Jaffe Bazach, executive director of The Women’s Advancement Initiative; Kim Barberi ’99, ’02 (HCW), vice chair of The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s Board of Directors; University of Hartford President Larry Ward; and LEAD alumna Katelyn Birdsey ’25. Attendees exchanged stories, described their favorite traditions, spoke about their exceptional professors and leaders, explored archives, toured the Hartford College for Women Reading Room and Legacy Garden, and reminisced about the wonderful things that made the College so unique. We thank Hartford College for Women alumnae for leaving their legacy. Today’s LEAD students proudly walk in your footsteps. To view the full gallery of photos from this reunion, visit flickr.com/photos/womenadv/albums
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD / 2025
16 / HARTFORD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN ALUMNA PROFILE
JAMA Z BA RLOW PET T IFORD ’ 02, ’03 ( HCW )
Gratitude Amid Struggle JAMAZ BARLOW PETTIFORD ’02, ’03 (HCW) grew up in a home where her mother and grandfather routinely modeled helping others. Before they could do their homework, she and her siblings were expected to tutor struggling readers from the middle school where her mother worked as a paraeducator. Afterward, the family made room at the supper table for those students so they would not go home hungry. Her grandfather routinely took Jamaz and her siblings to volunteer with the Urban League or the Community Renewal Team. “We did not sit idle. He made sure we had something to do,” Jamaz says. “He was constantly talking about giving back to the community.” So, it is no surprise that her entire career has involved serving others, whether it was helping to reunite children with their parents, guiding people with substance addictions toward sobriety, or screening people seeking legal aid and referring them to resources. She is grateful for the lessons learned from her single mother and grandfather. “I always had a father figure,” she shares. “The person I am the most grateful for was my maternal grandfather.” In the mid-1960s, Jamaz and two of her siblings were among the first students to participate in one of the first voluntary desegregation programs in the United States, called Project Concern. Rather than attend Hartford Public Schools, Jamaz attended St. Thomas the Apostle, a Catholic school in West Hartford, Connecticut, from first through eighth grade. Jamaz got used to living a life different from classmates and many neighbors. That set the stage for her to be different and accept those differences. She developed a strong sense of self that protected her when she encountered people who underestimated her. Despite her academic success and supportive home life, an adult at school T H E W O M E N ’ S A D VA N C E M E N T I N I T I AT I V E
undermined her potential when Jamaz was an eighth-grader. “The first person who ever told me I was not going to amount to anything and that I was going to be a welfare mom was a counselor,” she states. “It hurt my heart.” Later, after she had earned an associate’s degree from Hartford College for Women and a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of Hartford, she encountered a supervisor who devalued her. Jamaz felt like she had to prove herself for the nine years she worked to keep families together. She remembers telling the supervisor, “Despite you, the reason why I give my clients everything that I have, and I’m the best counselor they have, is because you told me I couldn’t do this job.” Back in the ninth grade, she was a student tutor at Hartford Public’s Weaver High School. After graduation, she headed to Hampton Institute, a historically Black college now called Hampton University in Virginia. It was her first time away from home, her close-knit family, and her boyfriend, who is now her husband of 33 years. After the first rocky semester, she did not return to Hampton. She began working at Travelers and helping out family, which delayed her return to college. At work, her supervisor told her she needed a degree to get promoted. After two decades of putting others before herself, she decided in her 40s to go back to college. “When I finally went back, I did it for me. Not my family,” she states. “Knowing what I know now, I should have stayed at Hampton,” she reflects. “It would have made it a lot easier for me, but I don’t regret any of the struggles I faced. It made me wiser, smarter, and more resilient.” She chose Hartford College for Women because she liked the look of the campus and the quality of the paralegal program. The college exceeded her expectations. “It was kind of an intimate, one-of-akind level of connection,” she says. “You’re
one-on-one with the professor when you’re in a class that small. There’s no hiding. That was good because usually I would sit back, listen, observe, and not speak up.” Every professor she had at the College was awesome and she learned something valuable from them. At one point, when working full time and taking five classes, she says, “I was doing minimal stuff and Professor Sharon Pope called me out. This was the first time I ever got an F on a homework paper. And it was in green ink. She said, ‘Come see me.’” “She said, ‘You’re better than that.’” Jamaz decided she would do better not just for the professor but for the only person she was really cheating: herself. Sharon Pope soon became one of her favorite professors. Jamaz has continued applying lessons learned in each class to her work and volunteer life. She has volunteered for more than 24 years as a guardian ad litem with Children In Placement, advocating for children in juvenile and probate courts. She also earned a master’s degree in criminal justice and security administration while working full time. She credits Hartford College for Women for opening doors to opportunities she couldn’t have imagined for herself. When Professor Sharon Pope offered to take students to London, Jamaz went. It was her first trip abroad, and it instilled a love of travel. In October 2024, she attended her Hartford College for Women Reunion. She and fellow alumnae joined students in The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program to celebrate the College’s legacy. “I am grateful to see that the Hartford College for Women legacy lives on with these students,” she shares. “At the reunion, I told them that the world is their oyster and to never be afraid to accept new challenges.”
UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD / 2025
200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117
Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID University of Hartford
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 26 2026, 5:30 p.m.—Annual Symposium Discover The Women’s Advancement Initiative’s programming and impact. View innovative research and creative projects from Dorothy Goodwin Project Grantees and their mentors, meet Laura Johnson Leaders, and learn from interactive leadership lessons presented by today’s LEAD students.
April 25, 2026—LEAD Reunion The graduation of the tenth LEAD cohort was a major milestone that was celebrated with a special retreat and reunion. The tradition continues with a spring 2026 LEAD reunion. Stay tuned for details!
COV E R P H OTOS Front: LEAD student Brigitte Reyes Rosario ’26 shines a light on her creativity, perseverance, and gratitude. Back left (pictured left to right): Hartford College for Women students Trisha McElroy, Roberta Bryant, and Patricia Spagna in front of Butterworth Hall as featured in the 1973 Highlander yearbook. Back right (pictured left to right): LEAD students Katherine Boehme ’26, Cam Quach ’26, Tessa Holt ’25, and Ava Geraci ’26 celebrating a remarkable year of empowerment.