Fall 2011 - Wheelock College

Fall Alumni Symposium Honors Louise Marsden
’11MS with Elizabeth Palmer Peabody Award
The Fall Alumni Symposium, held in September, was a definite hit with a lineup of
topics so rich and timely it was hard to choose among them. More than 70 alumni
and faculty members participated in the day’s thought-provoking seminars, workshops,
and discussions and then had a chance to network at the afternoon reception.
Director of Athletics and Sport-based Initiatives Diana Cutaia gave an inspiring keynote
explaining how Wheelock Athletics is challenging athletes to use sport as a tool for peace
building and positive personal growth—an approach that is winning considerable recognition
in the Boston press, not to mention games on the field. Special thanks go to Susan
Constable ’82 and faculty members Paul Thayer, Linda Banks-Santilli ’85, Irwin Nesoff,
Petra Hesse, Castagna Lacet, and Nicole Dubus for sharing their knowledge during event
workshops covering a range of topics that included autism, bullying, and effective leadership.
At the event, President Jackie Jenkins-Scott presented Wheelock’s Elizabeth Palmer
Peabody Award to Louise Marsden ’11MS, who received her master’s degree in care and
education in early childhood settings with a concentration in leadership and public policy
from the College’s off-campus program in Maine. Louise is vice president of Child & Family
Services for People’s Regional Opportunity Program for community action in Portland,
ME. As a strong early care and education leader, she collaborates with others to ensure that
Maine’s children have access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive
early childhood experiences in child care, Head Start, and pre-K programs at 14 sites in
Cumberland County.
Louise’s vision of social justice embodies Wheelock’s mission and guides her in developing
policies and putting them into practice. Recognizing the relationship between quality
early childhood experiences and a strong democratic society, Louise has designed an in-house
model of mental health and support services for her state’s Head Start programs and was
instrumental in writing and implementing policies that are grounded in anti-bias education
to support the needs of immigrant and refugee populations.
Louise deserves congratulations on her award and appreciation for all that she does to
improve the lives of children and families.
President Jackie Jenkins-Scott
(left) presents Wheelock’s
Elizabeth Palmer Peabody Award
to Louise Marsden ’11MS.
“ As a student, Jennifer found her
philosophical niche at Wheelock.
As a teacher, she found her heart
was with the children of Boston’s
inner city. A teacher development
endowment at Wheelock is the perfect
place for Jennifer’s legacy to reside.”
—EllEn StowErS
Jennifer Stowers Quintal
Teacher Development
Endowed Scholarship
Established
The late Jennifer Lee Stowers ’02
brimmed with passion for educating
children and their families and communities,
for integrating music into young
lives, and for addressing social justice issues. In
honor of Jen and her dedication to improving
the lives of children, her family has established
an endowed scholarship fund that will benefit
Wheelock students. In awarding the scholarship
each year, Wheelock will show preference
to graduate students pursuing their professional
careers.
“This endowment is a way to support other
like-minded, energetic, and passionate professionals
who choose to follow Jennifer’s lead in
serving inner-city children, families, and communities,”
says Ellen Stowers, Jennifer’s mother.
“Our hope is that these students will experience
the same sense of purpose and joy that Jennifer
experienced in her work. I’m thinking she’d like
that—a great deal—because when I close my
eyes, I can still see her smiling.”
Wheelock Magazine 21