Fall 2011 - Wheelock College

Dear Alumni and Friends,
More than a century ago, Lucy Wheelock dared to open
a new school in Boston to prepare young women to
teach kindergarten—a revolutionary educational idea
at the time. As Wheelock College’s 125th anniversary
in 2013 approaches, we have many accomplishments to
celebrate. From a small school with a first graduating class of 12, Wheelock
has grown to be a national and world leader in higher education,
preparing not only early childhood educators but also human services and
child life professionals, juvenile justice advocates, and policy leaders—in
all, 18,000 graduates dedicated to serving society by improving the lives of
children and families.
One of the most critical aspects of the College’s work today is to
weave Wheelock’s historic mission into the ever-changing environment
of contemporary society. Although children and families and their basic
needs are much the same as they were generations ago, the world in
which we all live has changed and con-
tinues to change at a pace that requires
Wheelock to be even more innovative
and active as a leader in fields having the
greatest impact on children and families.
On October 12, 2011, Wheelock
publicly launched The Campaign for
Wheelock, an $80 million fundraising
initiative that is unprecedented in the
College’s history. We are fortunate to
have for the Campaign co-chairs two outstanding
leaders who have shown extraordinary dedication to the College
and its mission for many years. Keena Dunn Clifford ’68 has led many of
Wheelock’s corporation and trustee committees and major initiatives, and
she is currently Assistant Clerk of the Corporation and a member of the
Student Success Committee of the Board of Trustees. Robert A. Lincoln
is the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees and serves on the Finance and
Development Committees. He has been an outstanding and dedicated
leader at Wheelock in many capacities, including as Chair of the Board
of Trustees.
The Campaign that they lead is a bold undertaking, but one that
comes at an exciting time for the College. In 2005, Wheelock initiated a
strategic plan that laid a clear path for revitalizing and growing the College
as a learning community. Wheelock’s Board of Trustees and Corporation
have led the College to exceed all of the plan’s fundraising objectives and
achieve challenging goals, all while maintaining financial stability during
difficult economic times.
Wheelock is making enormous strides in fulfilling its mission, thanks
to the strength of its faculty and curriculum and innovative programs that
are opening new avenues for preparing more graduates who will improve
the lives of the next generation of children and families. Enrollments at
the undergraduate and graduate levels are healthy, and the quality of applicants
is exceptional. On the Boston campus, the College has a striking
new Campus Center and renovated interiors at Riverway House, the
Library, and the Classroom Building. This much-needed modernization is
contributing to a palpable new vitality in campus life.
The Campaign for Wheelock will provide significant new resources
needed for the College to pursue a future of growth and innovation.
Both Annual Fund and endowment giving are central to this Campaign.
One of the most critical aspects
of the College’s work today is to
weave Wheelock’s historic mission
into the ever-changing environment
of contemporary society.
Ranch C. Kimball, Jackie Jenkins-Scott, A. Keena Dunn Clifford ’68,
Robert A. Lincoln
Contributions to the Campaign’s record Annual Fund goal will have an
immediate impact on student access to a Wheelock education and expand
its growing enrollment of outstanding students. New endowments—
which we are calling the Five Firsts because they are the first in Wheelock’s
history—will be dedicated to supporting scholarships, faculty, and the
technological and other educational resources that are essential to the
College’s purpose and indispensable for
excellence. New support for programs and
facilities will provide a base for expansion
and make ongoing innovation possible.
At the Campaign kickoff dinner in
October, I was thrilled to be able to announce
that during the silent phase of the
Campaign, the College raised $54 million
toward the $80 million goal, and that one
of the key goals—a $5 million endowment
for technology enhancement and
innovation—had been fully funded. This is a transformational gift that
will ensure continuing innovative use of technology, which is integral to
every aspect of Wheelock’s educational mission today.
Under Bob and Keena’s leadership, combined with that of Wheelock’s
trustees, corporators, and current Chair of the Board of Trustees Ranch C.
Kimball, The Campaign for Wheelock is making tremendous progress,
but we have much more to do. Achieving our many goals, all of which are
important to Wheelock, will be challenging, and it will take the support
of our entire community to be successful.
Wheelock could not do all that it does if it were not, at its heart, a
strong community of dedicated individuals who make the College’s cause
their cause, and who give to it the best they have in talent, time, and
resources. It is our shared belief in Wheelock and its mission that will
make this Campaign a success.
In this season of thanksgiving and new beginnings, I want to say a
special thank-you to all Wheelock alumni for the good work you do in
the world and for all that you do for the College. Wheelock owes much of
its excellent reputation to you, our alumni, who are regarded as the very
best in your professions and recognized for the contributions you make to
our world.
I hope that you will share wonderful days and moments with your
families, and especially with the children in your lives, in the weeks ahead.
Sincerely,
Jackie Jenkins-scott
President
Wheelock Magazine 1