In this issue…

Volume 2   •   21 March 2007  •   Issue 3  

	Welcome from the Executive Director Spring 2007: Opening the doors		Be Part of a Quarterly Article Calling all ethical capitalists
	Alumnae in Action Celebrate Earth Day		Student Reporter Beat It’s a senior affair
	Web News Get connected, win a cash prize		Making News Mount Holyoke alumnae in the media
	Campus Calendar Horses, golf, and gemstones		Online Class Notes Read the latest news from your sister alumnae

Welcome from the Executive Director

appy spring equinox! I didn’t pick up much astronomy as a theatre major at Mount Holyoke, and so managed to get this far in life without knowing the scientific definition of “equinox.” It turns out be quite simple: today, when the sun crosses the equator, day and night are of equal length everywhere on earth.

I share this interesting fact with you because it makes me think about balance. Specifically, I’m reminded of the creative tension between “light” and “dark,” or the smooth and difficult aspects of our lives—and how rare it is to find a perfect balance. As Mount Holyoke women, we sometimes strive to have it all: career achievement and personal fulfillment, a brilliant career and a harmonious home (add your own goals here). The truth is, we can have it all—but maybe not all at the same time, and certainly not perfectly. In the natural world, exact symmetry between night and day occurs only twice each year (the first day of spring and fall), and always as a harbinger of change. That sounds about right for me, too. How about you?

If we can’t have perfect balance, we always have the benefits of a Mount Holyoke education—and the exceptional community that comes with it. Suzan-Lori Parks ’85 is part of that community, and she brought her own insights about being an MHC alumna to a series of inspiring, down-to-earth talks she gave on campus this month. If the students, faculty, and staff who packed Rooke Theatre for her lecture expected to hear a lot about her outstanding achievements, they came away surprised. Parks has a closetful of glittering prizes—but what interests her much more is something she took away from Mount Holyoke, a process she calls “opening the doors to the possibility of joy.” View photos and read more about her visit—and about the exciting College production of Week 16 of 365 Plays/365 Days—on the College’s Web site. You can also look for a feature article about Parks in your summer Quarterly.

How do you create or sustain joy in your life? What doors would you like to open? Personally, I plan to walk through the glass doors of the Talcott Greenhouse as soon as I can. The annual Spring Flower Show is a highlight of the season on campus, showcasing gorgeous spring-blossoming bulbs and plants. If you can’t make it back to campus, you may want to stop and smell the virtual flowers.

Enjoy the season!

W. Rochelle Calhoun ’83
Executive Director, Alumnae Association of Mount Holyoke College

Be Part of a Quarterly Article

t used to be that to make a difference in the world, you had to work for peanuts and hope your project or idea picked up momentum on its own.

Today, a new breed of entrepreneurs and businesses with a conscience are beginning to address the world’s problems— and they’re getting noticed. Whether it’s the chemist designing liquid solids to paint your car without toxic emissions, or the San Francisco start-up that’s engineered a disease-fighting drug from sustainable tree bark for the developing world, or the company setting up dental clinics for poor kids across America that actually accept Medicaid, these folks are interested both in making the world a better place—and making a living.

What about you? In an upcoming issue of the Quarterly, we’d like to feature the stories of a few alumnae who are working to both address a problem in the world—and make money doing it. If you fall into this category, I’d love to hear from you. Please e-mail me, Mieke Bomann, at mbomann@mtholyoke.edu, let me know what you’re doing, and the best way to get in touch with you. Thanks!

Alumnae in Action

ot plans for spring? How would you like to spend one day this April or May

• contributing to a clean, green environment
• promoting Mount Holyoke College, and
• reconnecting in a meaningful way with your MHC friends?

“Alumnae in Action,” the Alumnae Association community-service program for clubs, classes, and affiliate groups, is a way to accomplish all three at once. Our kickoff local event is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, from 10 AM - 1 PM. MHC alumnae and students will join together with Gardening the Community, a youth-centered urban agriculture project in Springfield, to prepare community gardening beds for planting. We encourage alumnae to gather on that Saturday or any day in April or May for a volunteer service activity—planting a garden, starting a recycling project—in their home communities. We’ll even send you a free “action kit,” complete with water bottles and bandannas. Find out more on our Web site.

Student Reporter Beat

tudent reporter Gwyneth Evans ’09 spent a Sunday afternoon at Willits-Hallowell for the annual Senior Fair, co-sponsored by the Alumnae Association, the Career Development Center, the Office of Admission, and the Office of Development:

On a sunny Sunday afternoon in early March more than 120 seniors headed not to the green for basking in the sun, but to the fluorescent-lit rooms of Willits-Hallowell Center. The occasion was Senior Fair, which every year gives graduating seniors the chance to talk to a diverse group of alumnae about life beyond Mount Holyoke.

Alumnae discussed a variety of topics, including financial planning, workplace etiquette, non-government organizations, teaching, and career options. In addressing these topics, alumnae drew information and advice straight from their own experiences. As many seniors noted, learning about what the future holds directly from those who have been there is invaluable. More…

Web News

Finally, many of you asked for “log-in services” to be clearly grouped together in one program. We are pleased to announce MHConnect, an improved group of password-protected services that provides you with instant access to alumnae services and information online.

Here’s what you’ll find when you log in:

• Online Directory (find or update your directory listing—and search the listings of classmates and friends)
• LifeNet (update your profile and start your social and career networking—or be a mentor to a student)

• Job Listings and Résumé Postings (post or look for a new job; share your résumé with alums)
• Discussion Groups (join a lively online conversation about books, career, health, family, and other topics)
• Online Class Notes (view photos and get the latest class news—or submit your own)
• Yellow Pages (find an alumnae-run business or advertise your own company)

Mount Blog
First-year student Melanie Piech ’10 attended a lecture by installation artist Ann Hamilton. She described what she learned about the artist, and about Hamilton’s idea of connections, in a recent blog:

One definition of the verb “articulate” is “to unite by forming joints or a joint” (American Heritage). Early on in her lecture here at Mount Holyoke, installation artist Ann Hamilton explained to the audience how the word “art” serves as the root for both “articulate” and “artist,” and that what she does as an artist is attempt to “forge joints.” After becoming acquainted with Hamilton’s work, it becomes clear that she indeed finds unity in the mediums she joins together. More…

Making News

his month, a number of alumnae have made the Mount Holyoke community stronger—and our pride more visible—through achievements ranging from making a nationally televised appearance on CBS to assuming the presidency of the American Public Health Association. We’re making news—and making history while we’re at it.

Deborah Klein Walker ’65 began her official term as president of the American Public Health Association (APHA) at the organization’s 134th annual meeting in Boston in November, 2006. The meeting drew 13,000 public health professionals from around the world to share research and develop policies related to critical public health issues. Dr. Walker, a faculty member of the Harvard School of Public Health, has more than 30 years of public health experience. More…

Linda Giannasi O’Connell ’69, assistant managing editor of The Morning Call, a Pennsylvania news daily, has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, an organization of editors from the United States and Canada dedicated to the quality of features in newspapers and the craft of feature writing.

Kathleen C. (KC) Maurer ’84 made her national television debut on the CBS Early Show on February 13. She was interviewed by Dr. Emily Senay, the national health editor of CBS, about women’s cardiovascular health and about her New York City Marathon finish. Click on story “28” at this link to view a video of the broadcast…. More…

Dari Williams Alexander ’89 has joined FOX 5 News as an anchor on the FOX 5’s News At 6 PM with Rick Folbaum. She will also continue to report on education for the FOX 5 News Team. A seasoned correspondent, Alexander has covered some of the channel’s biggest stories including September 11, 2001, and wars in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. More…

Campus Calendar

Golf Clinics
Mount Holyoke and The Orchards are partnering on two exciting premier golf schools this year. MHC alumnae will be offered exclusive access to these programs before enrollment is opened to the public. The Executive Women’s Golf School at The Orchards, scheduled for late May, is designed for women who want to use golf for business. This three-day event features world-class instruction combined with networking opportunities, gourmet dinners with wine pairings, and other special activities. It is open to novices and experienced players
alike. The Couples Golf School is being planned for late summer or early fall. For more information on the Executive Women’s Golf School at The Orchards, please click here. Information on The Couples Golf School will be available in the April issue of the Laurel Chain.

Riding Clinics
MHC alumnae often have asked about the possibility of offering riding clinics for alumnae and the general public at the Equestrian Center. Many of you have mentioned your fond memories of the horses and the phenomenal training you received from C.J. and the other instructors. This year, the College is considering offering one or two riding clinics and we need your help in assessing the level of interest in these programs. Click here to take a short survey (less than five minutes to complete). Please complete the survey by March 28. Thank you for your interest and support!

CBL Tenth Anniversary Celebration
Come to campus to celebrate ten years of community based learning at Mount Holyoke. Join us on Friday, March 30, 2007 for a wonderful program, with panels including “Lifelong Learning: Bridging Education and Careers” featuring CBL alumnae, and “College-Community Partnerships: Environmental Action and Urban Planning” featuring MHC faculty, students, and community partners. For more information and a detailed schedule, please visit the College’s Web site.

Online Class Notes

o read more online class notes, or post your own notes and photos, please visit our Web site.

Joan Duffy (1984)
Joan Duffy (1984) writes, “Hi! After 20 years (and still going!) at Yale Divinity School Library, I took a nursing course and work occasional weekends as a Certified Nursing Assistant and am contemplating returning to school again for training as an LPN or RN and making a mid-life career change. In addition, I have also started my movie career! I will appear in an upcoming 8-part mini-series…”

Katherine Journeay (1991)
Katherine Journeay (1991) writes, “Hi all! Been out of the loop for a while. So long that I am not even sure how to write this thing so I don’t sound like a jerk. I bailed on going to the 10 year reunion and I am glad I did. I met the man who became my husband at the retreat I went to instead. John and I bought a house together in 2002 and got married in 2003. I bailed on the 15 year reunion because I have been unable to break away from the project…”

Fionna (McMartin) Kuniyoshi (1996)
Fionna (McMartin) Kuniyoshi (1996) and Jeremy Kuniyoshi are happy to announce their marriage on November 25, 2006 in The Thursday Club, San Diego, CA. They currently reside in Portland, OR. On November 25, 2006 Fionna McMartin married Jeremy Kuniyoshi at The Thursday Club in San Diego, CA. We wanted to honor our multicultural heritages by incorporating traditions from all branches of our families…”

Jillian (Frechette) Ozmore (2000)
Jillian (Frechette) Ozmore (2000) and Nick Ozmore are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Emma Rose. She was born on December 29, 2006 in Manchester, NH, and weighed 8 lb., 5 oz..  

Shannon Lenz (2003)
Shannon Lenz (2003) writes, “After teaching at Perkiomen in PA for three years, I have moved back to CT and I am teaching at Taft. Aside from teaching a variety of science classes, I am the head coach of the JV girls’ soccer team and basketball team. I also live in the dorm and have a group of advisees. It has been nice being back “home” and this fall I saw Christine O’Connor in Boston. I recently had a visit from…”

Amber Hayden (2005)
Amber Hayden (2005) writes, “Recently, I met up with fellow MHC classmates Carrie Albertin and Alice Bertholin in Boston, MA. We went on rather rigorous hunt for bridesmaid dress for Carrie’s upcoming wedding in June. It was very nice to catch up with them.”