In this issue…

Volume 3 • 24 April 2008• Issue 3

	Welcome from the Executive Director April celebrations		Alumnae Updates How we keep in touch with you
	I-Witness Janet Tuttle Alumnae and Student Service Trip to New Orleans		Student Reporter Beat A welcome for firsties
	Lyon Lecture Series Women and film		Alumnae Quarterly Quick clicks, blogazine, call for caregivers
	Making News MHC alumnae in the media		Online Class Notes Read the latest news from your sister alumnae

Welcome from the Executive Director

Who needs April in Paris?  We’ve got April in South Hadley.  The snow has melted, the showers have moved on (for the moment), and green buds are bursting from the ground.  Spring is here, and I’m celebrating. 

I’m also celebrating, along with everyone else at the College, the success of a recent Mount Holyoke event—a spring campaign gala that knocked the socks off New York.  “New York Celebrates Mount Holyoke” was held April 10 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, drawing 500 alumnae and guests.  They were treated to special guest speakers that included Congresswoman Nita Melnikoff Lowey ’59, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks ’85, and President Joanne Creighton, who gave a passionate speech about women’s education and its power to change the world. 

We are each changing the world, in ways big and small, in the public arena and behind the scenes.  Wherever you are—New York or New Delhi, a European city or a small town in the Midwest—you’re part of the strongest, most vibrant community of alumnae on earth.  My best reason for celebrating this April?  You.

All my best for a lovely spring,

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

Alumnae Updates

 New alumnae directory

An important reminder: Our next alumnae directory will be published in November 2008. Once again, we’ve partnered with Harris Connect, a trusted colleague, to gather updated information for publication in the directory.  We hope you’ve had a chance to respond to one of the mail, phone, or email questionnaires.  If you haven’t, don’t worry—you’ll be contacted again in early May with a postcard or email with information about how to call in to Harris Connect.  More…

I-Witness

Janet Tuttle Alumnae and Student Service Trip to New Orleans

Seven Mount Holyoke alumnae and seven student volunteers, joined by Alumnae Association staff members, spent spring break in New Orleans wielding hammers, saws, and paintbrushes as volunteers for the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH), New Orleans City Park, and Levees.Org on a week-long building project. The hard-working group created a blog documenting their extraordinary experiences in the post-Katrina city.  More…

Student Reporter Beat

A welcome for firsties

Student reporter Anindita Dasgupta ’08 reports on the Alumnae Association’s annual welcoming event for first-year students, “Next Steps for First-Years,” held on April 6 in Gamble Auditorium:

You’re not alone. You don’t have to figure everything out right now. Plan ahead but know that you have a support system to help you along the way.

Take a deep breath.

These messages rolled over a group of eager first-year students on Sunday, April 6. The Alumnae Association’s “Next Steps for First-Years” event kicked off in Gamble auditorium with introductions by the first-year class board president, Meredith Nelson ’11; dean of first-year students, Leah Glasser; and Alumnae Association executive director W. Rochelle Calhoun ’83. An alumnae panel followed their addresses, featuring a wide range of alumnae with advice from all fields and walks of life. The mass of first-years followed the neon footprints spray-painted on the ground to Willits, where they snacked on desserts and chatted with alumnae, professionals, career counselors, professors, and upper-class students in round-table discussions.  More…

View more photos from the event here.

Lyon Lecture Series

Alumnae Quarterly

Making News

Online Class Notes

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

Oxana Andreyeva Tolkunova ’04 is proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Roma. He was born on February 4, 2008 in Orel, Russia, and weighed 7 lb., 3 oz.. He is two months old already, has an adorable smile, and enjoys "talking" with his mommy and daddy.

Kirsten Sadler Edepli ’90 and Levent Edepli are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Kerem Sadler Edepli. He was born on August 8, 2007 in New York City, and weighed 7 lb., 6 oz. Our second son, Kerem was born this August. Five weeks later I took our older son, Emre, 4 1/2, and Kerem for a day trip to visit a friend in New Jersey. On our return home, we were involved in a horrible accident which took Emre's life. We are barely surviving.

Tami Dahbura ’84 writes, "HI - I wanted to share with everyone in our community and especially those of you in the Northern California area that I will be singing with the Oakland Symphony in their production of FOLLIES IN CONCERT (Stephen Sondheim). I will be singing alongside Rita Moreno and other Bay Area notables. I am singing the role of "Phyllis" for those of you that know the show. Performances are at the Paramount Theatre May 16 & 18. It would fun to see some of you at the concert! www.oebs.org Tami Dahbura, '84"

Wendy Belcher ’84 recently accepted a position at Princeton University located in Princeton, NJ as Assistant Professor. Wendy recently was employed at UCLA as Editor/Writer. "After working as an academic editor and freelance journalist for many years, I returned to graduate school. I will complete my PhD this June and will start a tenure-track assistant professor position at Princeton University teaching African literature in the Department of Comparative Literature and Center for African American Studies. "

Birungi Mubirumusoke Ives ’96 writes, "Hi there...I have more exciting news. Currently I have seven of my modern abstract paintings being exhibited and sold at two Starbucks locations in mid-town Manhattan and two others at a gourmet restaurant called NOMA in Huntington, New York. The Starbucks locations are at 36th and Madison and 54th and Lexington. Please free to take a look if you are in the area. I am also doing interior design work for a proposal of a new "Environmentally Green" boutique hotel in Chicago. So keep sending positive vibes...because so far they are working!! Whoo Hoo!!!! Please check my website for updates, www.bzen.biz."

Sarah Jordan Carter ’95 and Geoff Carter are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Elias Jordan Carter. He was born on January 21, 2008 in Silver Spring, MD, and weighed 7 lb., 7 oz.. Sarah writes: "We are thrilled to add a little boy to our family. He is a super sweet baby, and big sister Casey adores him too. He gets nothing but tons of kisses all the time! Two months after Eli's birth, we moved to Florida (!) because Geoff was offered a job as an administrative law judge. I most recently worked as a child and family therapist, but am now a full-time mom. Unloading boxes while juggling a 4 year old and a 2 month old has proved nearly impossible! We are all happy and healthy though, and eager to explore our new town. Drop us a line or stop by if you're ever in the Miami area."