Alumnae Honored for Achievement and Service
Alumnae Achievement Awards were presented to three alumnae at Reunion for “achievements and service to society that exemplify the values and virtues set forth by the college.”
Barbara A. Cassani ’82, after earning a master’s degree in international relations at Princeton, joined British Airways in London in 1987, where she spent a decade in upper management. In 1997, she became CEO of the low-cost airline Go Fly, which she turned into a profitable enterprise well ahead of schedule. In 2003, she was appointed chair of the London 2012 Olympic bid, which was ultimately successful. She was active in the Salvation Army’s queens Advisory Board in New York and has served as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees.
Astrid E. Merget ’67 received a Ph.D. in public affairs from Syracuse University in 1973. She has held faculty appointments at several prominent universities, including Columbia University, and since 2000 has served as dean of the Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. In addition to serving as an adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Planning, she has offered her expertise to the United Way, the American Red Cross, the Rotary Club, and the Women’s City Club of New York.
Mary Ann Sweeney ’67 earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from Columbia University in 1974. She was one of the pioneering women on the technical staff at Sandia National Laboratory and her groundbreaking research into pulsed power and plasma science led to her promotion as senior technical staff member in 1989. In addition to numerous professional awards for her research, Sweeney has been an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and has actively supported programs designed to encourage women and students of color to consider careers in math and science.
Photo by Paul Schnaittacher
