In this issue…

Volume 2   •   18 April 2007  •   Issue 4  

	Welcome from the Executive Director More than M&Cs: scholarly treats at MHC		First Janet Tuttle Service Trip Pura vida in Costa Rica
	Quarterly Call for Submissions Wanted: passionate minds and hearts		Cori’s Career Corner Get connected to the marketplace
	Student Reporter Beat Alums give firsties the lowdown		Making News MHC alumnae in the media
	I-Witness Climate change: skating on thin ice		Campus Calendar Lectures, a networking luncheon, and more
	Online Class Notes Read the latest news from your sister alumnae

Welcome from the Executive Director

ne of the distinct pleasures of my job (and there are many) is the opportunity to hear directly from Mount Holyoke faculty about exciting developments in their classrooms and in their research. On April 26, the entire campus will come together in Pratt Hall for a celebration of faculty achievements in scholarship and teaching. Among this year’s winners is Stephen Jones, professor of Russian studies and chair of European studies. Fluent in Georgian and an expert on the post-communist societies of the Caucasus, this sought-after scholar writes books that read like political adventures, the most recent of which explores the “adversity, trauma, and finally, liberation” of the Republic of Georgia. After traveling to Russia last summer on a Mount Holyoke alumnae trip—where the group experienced a number of adventures that could happen only in that extraordinary country—I can’t wait to learn more about the life and politics of its people from Stephen. Read more about his work and the other faculty winners online: Bettina Bergmann, Stephen Jones, Harriet Pollatsek, and Christopher H. Pyle.

Brilliant scholarship at MHC isn’t the sole province of faculty. Last week, nearly 90 Mount Holyoke seniors presented their independent research projects at the second annual Senior Symposium, organized by the Weissman Center for Leadership and the Liberal Arts. Mingling over morning pastries and coffee, attendees from the Five Colleges learned about everything from ancient Indian epics to dendritic cell migration to environmental change in the Republic of Georgia (bringing us right back to where we began—another example of the cross-pollination of ideas so characteristic of Mount Holyoke!). Alumnae, too, are engaged in intellectual pursuits.  I am currently poring over the many alumnae fellowship applications we received this year, and am struck with the depth and vitality of the alumnae proposals.  It is clear to me that our intellectual lives continue well beyond the gates of the College.

What kind of ideas interest, stimulate, beckon you? Our founder, Mary Lyon, was passionate about what she called the “peculiar sweets derived from gaining knowledge.” It is sweet to continue learning throughout one’s life, especially as part of a vibrant community like ours. Write and tell me what intellectual delights you’re enjoying now—I’d love to hear from you.

Warmly,

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

First Janet Tuttle Service Trip

aya D’Costa, associate director of campus programs, reports on her experience traveling in March on the Alumnae Association’s first Janet Tuttle Alumnae and Student Service trip:

The first Janet Tuttle Alumnae and Student Service trip was planned with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village Program in Costa Rica. Seven students, three alumnae, and two staff members spent spring break in the northwestern part of beautiful Costa Rica, building houses for families in need of decent housing.

The Mount Holyoke College Brigade (as we were known there), worked on a Habitat for Humanity project to build a total of nine houses on the site. We worked hard in the hot Costa Rican sun to move many heavy concrete slabs and hundreds of wheelbarrow-loads of gravel. We also chopped, dug, and pick-axed our way through many large and stubborn roots, clearing the area for holes to be dug for the foundations of the houses. In fact, we dug several of those holes ourselves using big heavy spuds.

Even though the work was hard (we worked with few tools under a blazing-hot Costa Rican sun), it was fun, exhilarating, and ultimately very rewarding. “Pura vida”—Spanish for “pure life”—aptly describes both the place and the pleasure we took in our work. As you will see from the photos, we started with a pretty bare site, but we left in five days with all the walls of a house completed and the main pillars of a second house up.

The Alumnae Association plans to offer similar service trips that include alumnae and student participants each year during spring break. If you are interested in one in the future, please be on the lookout for it online.

Alumnae Quarterly Call for Submissions

or upcoming feature stories in the Alumnae Quarterly, we are looking for alumnae with experience as:

• Inventors If you have come up with a new method of doing something or a new product or device—we especially covet patented inventions—we want to hear from you. We’re also interested in hearing about long-simmering ideas for inventions you haven’t gotten around to creating.

• Missionaries If your mission in life is literally a mission—spreading the word about a particular religious philosophy—let us know. We’re looking for alumnae who are using their MHC educations in one of the ways Mary Lyon originally intended.

If you are either an inventor or a missionary, please share your story with Emily Weir (413-538-2301; eweir@mtholyoke.edu).

Cori’s Career Corner

pring is high time for job seekers and overall, the market is a good one. Web sites, newspapers, professional associations, and postings within your present organization are all good sources of information about new opportunities. Referrals and networking are especially helpful. I find that many people are shocked when I tell them that networking is still the most effective tool in your job search tool kit. The fact is, almost 60 percent of all jobs are filled by people who knew someone who knew someone. That means you have to stay connected with people in your personal and professional circles. It’s not so much about asking them for a job as it is about asking for information and advice.

If you are making a subtle (or not-so-subtle) change in the direction of your career, networking becomes even more important. When talking to people you know and the people they know, you can emphasize your transferable skills, highlight your related background, and demonstrate your personal characteristics. The Alumnae Association’s online networking program, LifeNet, can be a great link in this process. Have you registered yet? If not, get connected now! Be sure to conduct searches for fellow alumnae in your current or desired field as well the geographical area in which you’re interested. You’ll also want to check out our new online career discussion group where you can “chat” with alums about shared career areas of interest. More…

Student Reporter Beat

Making News

his month, several Mount Holyoke alumnae have made the news—and made our community proud. Read about an alumna’s new play, set in a historic Harlem apartment building; a mayor and member of the class of ’70 fighting suburban blight; an alumnae novelist’s recent Guggenheim award; and more:

Kara Baskin ’00 is scheduled to appear on the Today show tomorrow, April 19, for a segment about panic disorder shot in her hometown of Washington, D.C. Tune in to watch the segment live, or check the Today show Web site after the airing at msnbc.com.

Sabina Murray ’89 was recently featured in a “Talking Points” column in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst’s online publication, In the Loop. An award-winning fiction writer, Murray, assistant professor of English, has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for 2007. She is one of 189 artists, scholars and scientists from the United States and Canada selected for the award by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. More…

Judith Harris Rawson ’70, mayor of the Cleveland suburb Shaker Heights, was quoted in a March 23 New York Times article on suburban blight created by sub-prime mortgage lenders and home foreclosures. More…

Katherine Butler Jones ’57, playwright, educator, and human services advocate was featured in an online Boston Globe article on April 4. Jones’s new play, 409 Edgecombe Avenue: The House on Sugar Hill, opened April 5 at Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre. An autobiographical drama about the apartment building in Harlem in which Jones grew up, the play features ten historical characters including the millionaire businesswoman and “numbers queen” Madame Stephanie St. Claire. More…

I-Witness

his month, we are very pleased to feature an article on climate change by Sarah Fleisher Trainor ’92, one of the first environmental studies majors at Mount Holyoke. Currently a research scientist at the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP), Fleisher-Trainor lives, works, and writes in the veritable eye of the climate change storm:

Climate change is at the forefront of public news and debate. The recently released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Forth Assessment Report concludes that human-induced climate change is impacting natural and human systems world wide. Water availability for food production and inundation from sea level rise are among the most anticipated global changes and these are expected to impact people in developing countries most dramatically.

While politicians, economists and diplomats joist over the costs and benefits of green house gas emission reductions and carbon tax credits, climate change is already affecting people in northern latitudes every day. In Alaska, observed and experienced impacts from climate change already impact food production, infrastructure and transportation. Indigenous peoples whose nutritional needs are most closely linked to natural systems are disproportionately impacted.

As research scientist and coordinator of the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP) (www.uaf.edu/accap), my job is to build bridges between the climatologists, ecologists, anthropologists, geographers and other scientists who study climate change and its impact with policy-makers, people in government agencies, Native governments and non-governmental organizations and industry—people for whom information about climate change is important in their decision-making. More…

Campus Calendar

Wednesday, April 18
“Writers and Stories:
Between the Imagination and the Page is the World”
Dorothy Allison, winner of the 2007 Robert Penn Warren Award for fiction and author of several prizewinning books, including Bastard Out of Carolina (1992), will make two appearances at Mount Holyoke on April 18. She will participate in an informal discussion with students titled “Leading the Writing Life” from 4:15 to 5:15 pm. At 7:30 pm, she will give a lecture open to the public in Gamble Auditorium. More…

Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22
“Yoga: Moving Beyond the Body”
First Annual Yoga Conference at MHC
Sponsored by Sisters of Hinduism Reaching Inward (SHRI), this conference will be held on campus over three days and will consist of intensive yoga workshops, guest speakers, discussions, and Indian refreshments.  Dr. Arun Sharma, director of the International Institute of Mahayoga & Natural Hygiene, is the conference keynote speaker. Registration is open to all Five-College students, faculty, and staff at www.mtholyoke.edu/org/shri.

Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21, 2007
Attention Alumnae V8s!
The Mount Holyoke V8s are joining the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of the Five College Area, to be held April 20 and 21. All alumnae—especially former members of the V8s!—are welcome to join the team, volunteer, or donate funds. The Relay For Life of the Five College Area is planned by students from MHC along with students from Smith, Amherst, Hampshire, and UMass. For more information, please visit the team Web page.

Saturday, May 5, 2007
Alumnae Networking Luncheon
The Lyons Network and the Mount Holyoke College Board of Trustees invite you to join us for the Lyons Network Alumnae Networking Reception Luncheon on Saturday, May 5, from 12:30-2:30 PM at the Willits-Hallowell Center on campus.

The Lyons Network is an Alumnae Association affiliate that organizes career and leadership conferences for undergraduate women. Members invite speakers from a variety of career fields to Mount Holyoke in order to address, network with, and inspire conference in college women as they begin to plan their careers. For more information, please e-mail magoodsp@mtholyoke.edu.

Online Class Notes

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

Marion E. Altieri FP ’88 writes, “I’m living in Saratoga Springs, New York, and loving working in the most beautiful sport on Earth—Thoroughbred horseracnig! In April, 2007, I’ll launch the world’s only website and the only web radio program “…by, for and about women in Thoroughbred horseracing.” Alpha Mare Media is a fun, engaging, entertaining, insightful, opinionated 'site that features my writings and rants; columnists from around the world; handicapping; lessons, blogs and onine arts shows—and every bit of it is about women in the sport of Thoroughbred racing…”

Barbara Ketcham Wheaton ’53 writes, “The past year has been exciting. In October Bob and I celebrated our 50th anniversary, and my 75th birthday was celebrated by the Schlesinger Library with a symposium on culinary history. Next week I will receive an award from the Culinary Historians of New York. Food history used to be a very small specialty, viewed with distrust by the academy. It has become positively respectable. The Radcliffe Institute has just had a spectacular conference on gender and food with wonderful speakers from all over the world.”

Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin ’65 writes, I am preparing work for my upcoming exhibition (“In Sight”) at A.I.R. Gallery in New York City which will take place in May (from the 1st to the 26th, with an opening reception from 6-8 PM on Thursday, May 3rd). In addition, I will be showing work in Tel Aviv, Brooklyn and Philadelphia during the next few months.  

Mindy Setzler Kolodziej ’83, “This is just a note to let you know that my husband Mark passed away suddenly on March 20, 2007. Those of you who went to our 20th reunion will remember Mark as the big guy with the big heart who help bring in the beer. As devestated as I am, I am blessed to have 4 wonderful children to remember him by… Mark was the love of my life and will be eternally missed. I’m glad I was able to share Mt. Holyoke with him. He had a great time and had great memories of our weekend together… Mark was only 41 years old. He had profound sleep apnea and this led to the deterioration of his heart and lungs. If any of knows of someone with apnea please have it treated - don’t allow them to talk you out of the recommended treatment. Also, if anyone has any comments or ideas as to how to raise 4 young children alone and still work full time, I’d love to hear from you…”  

Helen M. Soule ’87 writes, “I had to laugh reading about a classmate who is a grandmother at 41, since I’m expecting my first child (a daughter—yeay!) at 41. In fact, she’s the reason I have to miss my 20th reunion: she’s due June 1st.”  

Deborah Myers Kahn-Harris ’89 and Keith Kahn-Harris are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Ella Sara. She was born on May 23, 2006 in London, UK,. Big brother, Kobi (aged 4), and everyone else are delighted. 

Heidi C. Johnson ’91 writes, “It doesn’t get much more out of the loop than this… I’ve never written a class note, and haven’t been to a reunion since our 2-yr. Let’s see if I can summarize 16 years in a few paragraphs. I went on to graduate school in music, and was having a great time, but I had a major health crisis and had to drop out. That accomplished, I spent about ten years working in various administrative capacities, some more interesting than others. During that time, I met, married, and divorced my “first” husband. I don’t regret having married him, just that it didn’t work out. On that front, however, my current partner and I have been together for six years and I couldn’t ask for a better relationship…”

Stacy-Colleen Nameth ’94 Engaged and then legally made partners! Our little girl is expected mid-June and we are so excited!! Maybe she’ll grow up and attend MHC! 

Margaret S. Clarkson ’94 recently accepted a position at Lyrical Children / Music Together located in Long Island, NY as Teacher. “I’ve always known I like working with young children. This go around, I get to combine teaching kids, their caregivers and music. You’d be amazed how much musicianship little people soak up when their caregivers make music with them! I sometimes feel as though I am the proverbial headless chicken. However, I’m not ready to return to my previously organized career-woman life… how much FUN is one woman allowed?…”  

Nikki Centrella-LaForte ’96 and Ethan LaForte are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Joseph Jack. He was born on November 23, 2006 in Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and weighed 8 lb., oz.. Other sibling is Isabella, 5 years old. Parents are doing great!  

Hillary Dryselius Shortt ’97 and Garnett Shortt are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Leila Ann Shortt. She was born on February 13, 2007 in Virginia, and weighed 6 lb., 4 oz.. Big Brother Ethan (2 yrs old) loves kissing on his new sister!

Rebecca Reiner ’00 writes, “The past year has been a busy one for me! In June of 2006, I was married to Lou Gorham in Boston, MA. Fellow ’00 classmates Amanda Lavoie, Joanna Lovett and Emily van Nort were all bridesmaids. It was a wonderful day, despite the downpour! Not long after the wedding, I started a new job at From the Top, where fellow MHCer Lisa Utzinger also works. It is a great organization and I am so excited to be there. And just in the last month, my husband and I bought our first house! We’ll soon be moving away from the city to the “burbs” of Framingham, MA. We couldn’t be happier!”