Barnard Magazine: Spring 2026

SPRING 2026

BARNARD'S LIFELONG COMMUNITY

A Celebration of the Many Ways Barnard Comes Together

ERINN SMART ’01 ON COMING

BACK TO CAMPUS AND LIFE

AFTER AN OLYMPIC MEDAL

PAM CRABTREE ’72 CARVES

WAY FOR NEXT GENERATION

OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS

ALUMNA AND WIFE BOTH

ELECTED AS JUDGES IN

HISTORIC ELECTIONS

30

A Life in the Field,

A Legacy in the Classroom

Reflections on the career of

zooarchaeologist Pam Crabtree ’72

PHOTO BY JULIANA SOHN

Highlights

Departments

26

Chasing the Olympic Dream

— and Passing It On

Erinn Smart ’01 discusses

women in sports and her return

to campus for her 25th reunion


2 Sundries

3 From President Rosenbury

4 Headlines | Responsible AI at Barnard;

Welcoming the Class of 2030; Barnard's

2026 Goldwater Scholars; Columbia

Lions Earn Championship Title;

Wrestling: A Season of Champions

6 Dispatches | Highlighting Filmmakers;

Student Spotlight; Next Chapters; A New

Building on Campus; Connections

34

The Longest Table

Barnard cultivates a life-long

community through Reunion

and the inaugural Longest Table


15 Beyond the Gates | Alumnae Abroad;

Making a Difference; Innovators; Career

Paths; Lifelong Learning

24 Read Watch Listen | Bookshelf;

Author Spotlight

42 AABC Pages | From the AABC President;

Millie's Friends; AABC Awardees;

Communities

Class Notes

My Barnard Story | Audrey Liu ’01

In Memoriam

Tribute | Hilma Carter ’45

64 Last Image | Angelica (Zhiyi) Zhou ’26

38

Partners in Life

and on the Bench

Juliet Howard ’86 and Norma

Jennings CLS ’90 are believed

to be the first same-sex married

couple to win judicial elections

in New York

On the Cover

Students, faculty, staff, and alumnae gather together

on campus to celebrate the College's first The

Longest Table, a post-pandemic gathering that

celebrates community and forging new friendships



SUNDRIES

BARNARD THROWBACK

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sonia Moghe ’09JRN

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michelle Watson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Hopson ’01SOA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Scout Brobst, Grace Kuraska

PHOTOGRAPHERS Carrie Glasser, Juliana Sohn

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Laura Garzone

DIGITAL ASSOCIATE Liana Began

ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

OF BARNARD COLLEGE

PRESIDENT & ALUMNAE TRUSTEE Sooji Park ’90

ALUMNAE RELATIONS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karen A. Sendler ’94CC

COMMUNICATIONS

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Robin Levine

SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Sonia Moghe

This renowned alumna and anthropologist returned to campus in 1964 to speak

with students and celebrate Barnard's 75th anniversary. Send your guesses to our

team at magazine@barnard.edu, and we will reveal the answer in the Summer

issue, along with the name of the first alumna who guessed correctly!

Winner!

Congrats to Rona Wilk ’91 for being the first to provide the

correct answer to our “Barnard Throwback” quiz in the

Winter issue. Rona identified the designer of the fireplace

in the Ella Weed Room as Louis Comfort Tiffany.

ADVANCEMENT

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT Hillary Strong

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT, LEADERSHIP GIVING

Craig Eozzo

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT Kayla McCaffrey

PRESIDENT, BARNARD COLLEGE

Laura Rosenbury

Spring 2026, Vol. CXVI, No. 2. Barnard Magazine

(ISSN 1071-6513) is published quarterly by the

Communications Department of Barnard College.

Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY, and

additional mailing offices.

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for publication between May 1 and August 1, please share

the news and your class year with magazine@barnard.edu

for Summer 2026 "Bookshelf" consideration. Inclusion is at

the discretion of the Barnard editorial team.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BARNARD ARCHIVES

2

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Lifelong Connections

Dear Barnard Magazine Readers,

At the end of April, the Barnard campus

community gathered on Futter Field for the

College’s first ever Longest Table. Founded by

alumna and trustee Maryam Banikarim ’89 P'21,

this post-pandemic event, designed to help largelyunacquainted

neighbors come together over food,

has become a nationwide movement. Seeing faculty,

students, staff, alumnae, and more side by side

inspired the theme of this issue: Celebrating Our

Lifelong Community.

Our Longest Table was a microcosm of our larger

Barnard community, which spans generations,

nationalities, and areas of academic interest. What

unites us is a lifelong love of curiosity and learning

and a drive to excel at whatever we do.

This spring, that drive was on full display. The U.S. National Science

Foundation awarded graduate research support to a record-breaking number

of Barnard students and alumnae. For the ninth consecutive year, Barnard

was named a top producer of Fulbright students and scholars. Eight Barnard

Laidlaw scholars were selected for publication in F1000Research, a meaningful

recognition of their research’s potential.

Three Barnard alumnae — Sheila Nevins ’60, Julie Parker Benello ’92, and

Rose Arce ’86 — received Oscar nominations at the 98th Academy Awards.

Three other alumnae — Aliett Buttelman ’19, Natasha Cox ’19, and Vienna

Sparks ’26 — were recognized in Forbes’ 30 Under 30. And alumna Hilma O.

Carter ’45 left a landmark $9.5 million bequest to expand scholarship support,

honoring her lifelong commitment to women’s education and her deep

connection to Barnard.

When nearly 800 Barnard students graduated as part of the Class of 2026 at

Radio City Music Hall, they became the newest members of this community.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find stories of what being part of the alumnae

community means: showing up for one another across generations, and through

milestones and difficult times alike.

Thank you for being a vital part of this exceptional community,

Laura

PHOTO BY DOROTHY HONG

SPRING 2026 | BARNARD MAGAZINE 3

HEADLINES CAMPUS NEWS IN BRIEF

The Class of 2030!

Responsible AI at Barnard

Barnard hosted its “Symposium on Responsible AI and the Liberal Arts” on

campus in February, inviting artificial intelligence researchers and alumnae

from various fields and domains to attend and expand upon this timely

conversation as we adjust to a new age of technology.

During a time when artificial intelligence has been integrated into many

aspects of people's daily lives — including education — the ethics and how it’s

used has become a hotly debated topic.

“As a general definition, responsible AI is the practice of designing,

developing, and deploying artificial intelligence systems, in ways that are

transparent, fair, accountable, safe, and aligned with human values,” said

Provost Rebecca Walkowitz.

Despite the rapidly-evolving nature of artificial intelligence, many still

grapple with the risks and ethics associated with the technology, in and out of

the classroom: When and how should students utilize AI? What precautions

should be taken? Can AI usage widen inequalities?

Barnard organized the symposium to guide faculty and students to engage

both critically and creatively with artificial intelligence in various settings.

To expand AI literacy, users must invest in a deeper understanding of what

artificial intelligence is, as well as its social and environmental impacts in order

to decide whether and how to use it for various tasks.

Welcoming and introductory remarks were given by Melissa Wright,

Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Pedagogy, Walkowitz, and

Melanie Hibbert, Director of ATLIS.

“This symposium was an opportunity to bring the liberal arts squarely into

the conversation on the present and future of AI,” said Wright. “When it might

feel at times like generative AI is happening to us, the planning team wanted

to remind our community that we have experts here and across the street

who have been researching AI for decades, that we have alumnae who are

thoughtful and conscientious about the benefits and risks of this technology,

and that we are fortunate to have a wide array of students, faculty, and staff

across fields engaging in vibrant work on the dangers and possibilities of AI.”

Barnard extended invitations to the next cohort

of extraordinary young women leaders selected

out of almost 11,000 applicants. The admitted

students represent 49 states, Washington, D.C., and

Puerto Rico, as well as 58 countries. This class has

remarkable achievements including an average

SAT score of 1500 and an average ACT score of 34.

Among those who reported class rank, 94% placed

in the top 10% of their graduating class, and nearly

a quarter are Pell Grant recipients. One in four

(25%) is the first in their family to attend a four-year

college.

"What struck our team this year was the

extraordinary depth these students brought to

every part of their applications," said Jennifer

Fondiller '88, Vice President for Enrollment and

External Affairs. "They are not just accomplished —

they are reflective, curious, and purposeful. These

admitted students are multidimensional, dialed

into the world around them, and eager to engage

with it in meaningful ways. We are so excited to

welcome them into our community."

The Class of 2030 boasts an array of interests

in climate science, public health, the arts,

and emerging technologies, emphasizing the

interdisciplinary breadth of talent and knowledge.

“They are not just accomplished. They are

thoughtful, engaged, and evolving,” said Fondiller.

"We are so excited to welcome them into the Class

of 2030.”

4

Barnard's 2026 Goldwater Scholars

In March, the Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation

announced that Elena Sasu ’27 and Mia Crawford ’28 have received the Barry

M. Goldwater Scholarship, one of the oldest and most prestigious national

awards dedicated to STEM research. This marks the fifth consecutive year that

Barnard College has produced at least one Goldwater Scholar.

“This recognition of Elena and Mia speaks to the fellowships culture that

continues to grow and thrive at Barnard," said A-J Aronstein, Vice President of

Community Engagement & Lifelong Success at Beyond Barnard.

Elena Sasu is a junior on the Cellular & Molecular biology track. She

currently works in Dr. Jennifer Lillian Small-Saunders’s lab at Columbia

University's Irving Medical Center, where she researches how tRNA

modifications influence stress tolerance and drug resistance in malaria

parasites.

Mia Crawford is a sophomore with a double major in Cellular & Molecular

Biology and English. She has worked in Sebastián A. Riquelme’s lab at the

Irving Medical Center, which focuses on the impact of metabolism on hostpathogen

interactions, as well as Steve Murray’s lab at the Jackson Laboratory,

where she researched the developmental mechanisms of morphogenesis and

structural birth defects.

Columbia Lions Earn

National Title

The Columbia Lions finished off another strong

season by defeating BYU, 81-64, in the Women's

Basketball Invitation Tournament championship

game.

It was a riveting game of Lions versus Cougars,

as Head Coach Megan Griffith ’07 CC led her Lions

to yet another victory.

The tournament concluded with a mighty roar

from the Lions, as Columbia blue and white confetti

coated the court. Three Barnard players — Alicia

Mitchell ’29, Hilke Feldrappe ’27, and Blau Tor ’27

— celebrated for both Columbia and the students

they represent across Broadway.

The Columbia Lions now head into another

offseason, already gearing up for the next season,

while savoring a moment of reprieve to celebrate an

impressive tournament run.

Wrestling: A Season of Champions

The Columbia Wrestling Club wrapped its fifth season by claiming the National

Runner-Up title at Club Nationals, with six Barnard students on the team.

Eleanor DeHoog earned third place at Club Nationals. Mira Sonnen placed

sixth at Nationals. Esperanza Walsh finished seventh at Nationals. Noa Omessi

recorded a seventh-place finish at Nationals. Ushoshi Das won the Novice

competition outright.

“We have student-athletes at every stage of their journey, from those stepping

onto the mat for the first time to those competing for national titles,” coach

Emma Randall said. “What connects them is their consistency, drive, and

willingness to grow. It’s an exciting time for our program. While it would be

easy to be satisfied with where we are, our focus remains on where we’re going

next.”


DISPATCHES HIGHLIGHTING FILMMAKERS

Connecting Generations of

Women Filmmakers

Students, alumnae screened films at

16th annual Athena Film Festival

Barnard alumnae and students screened their

respective films at the 16th annual Athena Film

Festival.

Barnard has long been a haven for creatives and

filmmakers alike, with unique opportunities like

the Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program,

the annual Athena Film Festival (AFF), and the

backdrop of New York City as a classroom.

With an alumnae network containing awardwinning

and nominated actors, writers, and

directors, it’s no surprise that students continue

journeying to Morningside Heights in search of

unparalleled industry connections, opportunities,

and hands-on experiences.

The Athena Film Festival is a partnership

between Barnard College and the initiative Women

and Hollywood.

Each year, AFF presents a curated selection of

narrative and documentary features and short

films, along with engaging panels and postscreening

conversations featuring filmmakers,

thought leaders, and other luminaries, all focused

on advancing women’s leadership through

storytelling. This year, many screened films were

created at the hands of Barnard alumnae.

Maintenance Artist, directed by alumna Toby

Perl Freilich ’80, was screened at the festival. The

documentary focuses on groundbreaking public

artist Mierle Laderman Ukeles ’61, the New York

City Department of Sanitation's artist-in-residence.

The documentary was sponsored by Hanky Panky,

founded by Lida Orzeck ‘68.

Cutting Through Rocks, also screened at the

festival, is directed by Academy Award-nominated

filmmakers Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni

and produced by alumnae Sheila Nevins ‘60 and

Julie Parker Benello ‘92. It tells the story of Sara

Shahverdi, the first elected councilwoman of

her remote Iranian village who fearlessly breaks

patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to

ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages.

Cutting Through Rocks received the Jaya Award in

partnership with the Illumine Service Foundation.

Three students, Lily Mooney ’26, Asha Ahn

’27, and Sofia Trujillo ’25, had the opportunity to

showcase their own films during AFF, as part of the

Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship Program Student

Showcase. The program provides creative project

support and funding to undergraduate Barnard

filmmakers as they produce their own short film.

Mooney’s The Delivery follows hopelessly

romantic Donny as they attempt to court last

night’s hookup with a grand gesture — during

which chaos inevitably ensues.

“I wanted to capture a snapshot of queer

and trans normalcy, containing all the joy and

heartbreak, drama and absurdity that make up

our day to day lives,” said Mooney of the film. “I

am extremely grateful to the Emerging Filmmaker

Mentorship Program for helping me to turn this

film concept into a reality, for helping amplify my

artistic voice and providing me with the tools I

wouldn’t have otherwise had access to in order to

do so.”

It is a rare and valuable

experience to receive this

level of support throughout

the entire process, from the

development of the script to the

final stages of post-production.

For her dark comedy short I’m Sorry For Your Loss,

Ahn drew from personal experiences grappling

with grief in an age of predominantly online social

interactions.

“Barnard’s Emerging Filmmaker Mentorship

Program has been such an instrumental step in my

filmmaking journey and launched me on a path

toward creative directing and editing,” said Ahn.

“It is a rare and valuable experience to receive this

level of support throughout the entire process, from

the development of the script to the final stages of

post-production.”

“Having volunteered at the Athena Film Festival

for the past few years, it feels kind of surreal to

return this time to see my film screened.”

Trujillo’s film, The Secret Life of Golf Ponds, focuses

on the unexpected friendship between a listless

teen and wayward fisherman formed at a deserted

golf course pond during the pandemic. B

6

Pictured above: Photos from this year’s 16th annual Athena Film Festival

PHOTOS BY SKYLER REID AND JULIE THOMPSON


DISPATCHES STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Senior Thesis Season

Comes to a Close

From tuberculosis treatments

to curse tablets, here is what the

Class of 2026 researched

In May, Barnard students put the finishing touches

on their senior theses, the independent research

project that completes their college education.

For the Class of 2026, this involved trips to South

Carolina, Seattle, Tunisia, and, most of all, the quiet

desks on the upper floors of the Milstein Center for

Teaching and Learning. Here, seniors share with us

a few of their projects — and how it all got done.

AMELIA RICE,

BIOLOGY

"Evolution of U.S. drugresistant

tuberculosis

treatment guidelines

(1983-2019): a dual

case study of HIV and

pregnancy"

Thesis: In a postantibiotic

world, we are

comforted to know that, if prescribed the right

medicines, tuberculosis won’t kill us. But some

patient populations are at increased risk for drugresistant

tuberculosis: pregnant people and HIV+

individuals. Using a “jigsaw puzzle” approach,

I went backwards in time to look through

CDC recommendations from 1983 to 2019 for

tuberculosis treatment to find where and why the

guidelines changed.

Travel: Seattle, Washington to research at the

University of Washington’s Weil Lab

Research Spot: The fourth floor of the Milstein

Center for Teaching and Learning

KATELYN FLOYD,

HISTORY

"Red Shirts Redeemed:

Violence and Politics in

South Carolina,

1865-1882"

Thesis: Black

political power in South

Carolina reached an

unprecedented level during Reconstruction, and

a reactionary movement emerged in response.

I tracked the evolution of that movement

from the Ku Klux Klan to the Red Shirts, who

successfully overthrew the democratically elected

state government in 1876 in what they deemed

‘Redemption.’ Most historians of white supremacist

violence stop there, but I continued into the 1880s,

arguing that those later elections were central to

the broader work of rebuilding white supremacy

and laying the foundations of Jim Crow.

Travel: Columbia, South Carolina to visit its

Department of Archives and History

Research Spot: The green chairs on the third

floor of the Milstein Center for Teaching and

Learning

ELLEN KEEFE,

PSYCHOLOGY

"Under-Screened

and Underserved:

Examining Perinatal

Mood and Anxiety

Disorders in Non-

Birthing Parents"

Thesis: Fathers can

experience postpartum

depression — and so can adoptive parents and

parents who use surrogacy. However, non-birthing

parents of all types are rarely screened for perinatal

mood and anxiety disorders and often struggle

to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. I

conducted virtual interviews with participants

from all over the country and received over 100

viable survey responses, which allowed me to

observe regional trends in how parental mental

health is recognized and treated.

Travel: Connecting with participants nationwide,

remotely from Morningside Heights

Research Spot: The fourth floor of the Milstein

Center for Teaching and Learning

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STUDENTS

8

DANI WINKLER,

RELIGION

"Examining Holiness-

Pentecostal

Congregations Through

the Eyes of

Eleanor Dickinson"

Thesis: Eleanor

Dickinson was a visual

artist and figure draftsman whose artistic projects

led her to conduct 18 years of fieldwork in Southern

Appalachia. Though the aims of Dickinson’s

fieldwork were not related to religious studies

scholarship, the interviews she conducted and

the sermons she recorded were largely oriented

around religious life. I focused on how Dickinson

interacted with Holiness-Pentecostal congregations

in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky in order

to study the presence of particular rituals unique to

the branch and the region.

Travel: Washington, D.C. to sift through

Dickinson’s archives at the Library of Congress

Research Spot: The window-lit tables on the

second floor of the Milstein Center for Teaching

and Learning

PRIYANKA

NANAYAKKARA,

NEUROSCIENCE

"Testing the Efficacy of

Intranasal Macrocyclic

Peptides Treatment for

Alzheimer’s Disease"

Thesis: There is no cure

for Alzheimer’s, which is

an incredibly prevalent

disease that causes severe memory impairments,

behavioral changes, and eventually death. Existing

treatments can be invasive, like Leqembi and

Kisunla, which are delivered through an IV. This

project aimed to address the unmet need for

accessible treatment by testing the therapeutic

efficacy of a nasal spray that targets Alzheimer’s

pathology for cognitively impaired patients.

Travel: Uptown to Columbia University’s

Mailman School of Public Health to attend the

“Grand Rounds” speaking series on topical public

health challenges

Research Spot: The quiet workspaces on the

third floor of the Milstein Center for Teaching and

Learning

SOPHIA LING,

CLASSICS

"Revisiting Illustrations

on North African Curse

Tablets"

Thesis: I looked at

drawings of demons on

magical curse tablets

from the Roman period

that focus on influencing the outcomes of sporting

events like chariot races and gladiatorial games.

In particular, my research examined tablets from

North Africa, where there is the largest and earliest

collection of illustrated curses throughout the

Roman Empire.

Travel: Tunis, Tunisia to catalogue ancient

materials

Research Spot: A hand-made dorm room table

MADISON BOUDREAU

POPOVIC, CHEMISTRY

"Mechanistic

Investigations into the

Chemistry of Well-

Defined Dinuclear

Silver(I) Catalysts"

Thesis: Catalysts are

often used in chemistry

to efficiently synthesize a desired product, and

the catalysts used the most are based on rare and

expensive elements. My research in Associate

Professor of Chemistry Michael Campbell’s

“Campbell Group” focused on silver-based

catalysts, which are lower cost and more abundant.

The coolest part of my research involved growing

crystals to determine the structure of the molecule.

Travel: Atlanta, Georgia to present at the annual

American Chemical Society conference

Research Spot: The chemistry department

lounge inside Chandler 2 B


DISPATCHES NEXT CHAPTERS

A Look at the Class of 2026

Nearly 800 graduates bid farewell to Barnard

and turn to the next chapter

At Barnard College’s 134th Commencement ceremony on May 19, there was

the familiar sea of women in light blue cap and gown navigating the bustle of

Midtown Manhattan — almost 800 graduating students, each preparing to take

on the new title of “Barnard alumna.”

Among the graduates were art historians, applied mathematicians, and

ethnomusicologists. But the most popular major for the Class of 2026?

Economics, with English and computer science tied for second. Six students left

not just as Barnard friends but also as Lions teammates, putting down their

college oars, foils, and squash rackets to enter the next stage of life.

And while some said goodbye to New York after earning their degrees, others

plan to move just across the street. More than 70 are expected to begin graduate

programs at Columbia University in the fall through Barnard’s Accelerated 4+1

Pathways, earning a combined bachelor’s and master’s in just five years.

“When the Class of 2026 crossed the stage at Radio City Music Hall, it

marked the beginning of a new chapter with infinite possibilities,” said Nikki

Youngblood Giles, Vice Dean of Campus Life. “For some of our graduates, this

means entering the professional world, starting careers at major corporations,

nonprofits, or research organizations. For others, there are graduate programs

and fellowships ahead. It might feel bittersweet, but as generations of Barnard

alumnae can tell them, their alma mater is a connection built to last.”

Those “infinite possibilities” include financial services, now the top career

destination for Barnard graduates. It can be a challenge to navigate the

corporate world, but students had a helping hand from Beyond Barnard, the

College’s integrated hub of lifelong career support. From intensive advising,

funding for internships, and mentorship connections to alumnae at events like

the annual Opportunities Conference, no student was left to chart their path

alone.

One future finance

professional is Carly

Law, a Bridgewater

Scholar and economics

major who is heading

to JPMorgan Chase

to work in the bank’s

Commercial &

Specialized Industries

division. Law found the

“diverse perspective”

she brought to her

summer internship

at JPMorgan to be an

unexpected strength

— coming from a small

Carly Law

liberal arts college, she

offered different ideas

and global context to the projects her team was tasked with.

“I worked hard, I made a lot of friends, and I was fortunate enough to earn a

return offer,” Law said.

More than three-quarters of Barnard students complete an internship during

college — and more than 400 are made possible each year through the generous

financial support of Barnard’s philanthropic

community. Internship experiences remain a

critical part of training for the workplace, and are

a chance for many to secure full-time positions

before the rush of senior spring.

Alicia Lopez-Guerra, a double major in

environmental science and political science, began

interning at the boutique law firm Brick & Patel

in fall 2025, providing administrative support

and helping partners at the firm with document

preparation. She plans to stay on with Brick & Patel

as a paralegal, gaining critical experience in the

legal profession before pursuing a J.D.

Chiamaka Kanu

When Chiamaka Kanu interned at Boston

Consulting Group, she made it a point to foster

connections with the people she hoped might

be future colleagues. Her meeting with Debbie

Lovich ’89, a longtime Senior Partner at BCG, was

transformative. Now, after graduating with a

double major in neuroscience and English, Kanu

will return to the firm as a first-year associate.

“Debbie talked to me about what it means

to be a woman in consulting, this historically

male-dominated field, and how she was able to

rise through the ranks to a senior-level position,”

Kanu said. “Hearing about her life and career was

inspiring to me, and a clear-cut example of how

great the communities are at both Barnard and

BCG.”

Not every senior is quite done with schoolwork.

With the support of individual advising and

application coaching, Barnard brought many

students to their next academic milestone: law

school, medical school, business school, or a range

of doctoral and master’s programs.

Kayla Andree, an urban studies and public

health double major, will spend one more year in

PHOTOS BY JULIANA SOHN

10

Morningside Heights

while she earns a master’s

degree at the Columbia

University Mailman

School of Public Health. It

is the home stretch of her

MPH 4+1 Pathway, and

there will be little time

for summer vacation —

through Mailman, Andree

is interning as a public

health educator in the

emergency department

at NewYork-Presbyterian

Hospital. In her few spare

Kayla Andree

moments, she plans to

study for the MCAT.

“To be a successful physician, I think you need a strong public health

background,” Andree said. “The master’s program at Mailman is a way for me

to get a head start before I even apply to medical school.”

Shelley Jones, a chemistry major, is packing up her beakers and flasks for

a new lab. In the fall, she will begin her doctorate in organic chemistry at the

University of Virginia, which happens to be the alma mater of her Barnard

mentor, Professor Christian Rojas. Jones’s goal is to work in pharmaceuticals:

“I’m passionate about developing real solutions for chronic conditions that

have no serious or viable solution right now, and might be underfunded,

understudied, or just misunderstood,” she explained.

Trading New York for Boston, Claire Killian plans to earn her master’s degree

in theological studies

from Harvard Divinity

School. The program will

allow her to dive into the

“perfect marriage” of

her academic interests:

religion, language,

literature, and the visual

arts. A double major in

religion and art history,

Killian received other

exciting news before the

end of the semester — she

was awarded the religion

department’s Caroline

Gallup Reed Prize and

Claire Killian

Barnard’s Schwimmer

Prize, presented annually to

an outstanding senior in the humanities. To top it off, she is a Fulbright Semi-

Finalist.

“At Harvard, I know that I want to continue working in carceral justice spaces

and to enrich and explore the foundations that I’ve established at Barnard,” said

Killian. “It’s so important to me to connect my academic pursuits to the practice

of care in the communities around me.”

For Briana Dominici, an environmental science major, post-grad life stems

from a chance college connection. While taking courses in Columbia Climate

School’s Sustainable Development Program, Dominici met a classmate who

worked at Brookfield Renewable Partners, the

owner of a portfolio of renewable power solutions

and technologies. Brookfield offers a two-year

rotational program for new graduates, which

Dominici will begin this summer.

“I’m excited to keep learning in a position that

I know will ask a lot of me, and where I will be

expected to think on my feet,” Dominici said. She

will get to explore a range of specializations, from

financial planning — how much does it cost to have

Shelley Jones

solar panels power homes in New York? — to legal

contracts and the integration of clean power into

local communities.

Charlotte Weinstein, a political science major,

is set to begin a full-time role at Gallagher Re, one

of the largest global reinsurance brokers, soon

after graduation. She interned with Gallagher last

summer on the island of Bermuda, where she grew

up, and found the work compelling — “insurance

for the insurers,” as it is often referred to. Her new

office will be in Midtown Manhattan, just a train

ride south of Barnard, but representing a different

version of New York life.

“I know that I’ll remember studying at the

libraries late at night and hanging out on the lawn

when the weather is nice,” Weinstein said. “Just all

these little, happy moments.”

For the Class of 2026, the Barnard years might

have come to an end, but those memories —

the “little, happy moments” — are permanent

keepsakes. Each student was sure to be thinking of

their own when the tune of “College on a Hilltop”

began:

So we’ll sing to dear old Barnard,

And loyal be and true.

As we show to coming classes

How we love the white and blue. B


DISPATCHES A NEW BUILDING ON CAMPUS

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science

Center Sets a New Standard

for Sustainability

New York City’s first net-zero carbon science building

brings innovative sustainability to the future

of Barnard STEM

for electricity, while also promoting biophilia.

Preserved Altschul structural beams create open,

uninterrupted spaces.

Biology labs

The biology labs on the first, second, and third floor

incorporate recycled and sustainable materials for

flooring, lighting, and baffle ceilings, which reduce

noise and improve acoustic performance.

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center (RDSC) stands as a symbol of

expansion for the future of STEM, both at Barnard and within the greater

Morningside Heights community.

The RDSC, which will house all of Barnard’s bench science programs

beginning fall 2026, is poised to be New York City’s first net-zero carbon, allelectric

academic science building, integrating sustainability into every detail —

from air conditioning to whiteboards.

The RDSC will feature 87,000 square-feet of science space, prioritizing the next

generation of women leaders in STEM, and doubling the current programmable

science space, allowing greater opportunities for student research while

modernizing teaching labs to be more accessible.

It’s the largest gift in Barnard’s history, made possible by the generosity of

Diana T. Vagelos ’55 and Dr. P. Roy Vagelos.

The RDSC’s sustainability highlights include:

Cooling/heating

Science buildings tend to be energy intensive, but

the RDSC incorporates efficient heating, cooling, and

control systems to reduce energy consumption. The

project integrates a building management system

(BMS), which monitors and adjusts settings based on

real time occupancy and conditions. The dual system

using air-source heat pumps and heat recovery

ventilation adapts to unexpected weather by

switching between heating and cooling as needed.

It also captures and reuses energy from outgoing

air, reducing the need for additional heating or

cooling. This keeps the building comfortable while

minimizing energy waste in any season.

Bird-safe windows

Every window of the RDSC features bird frit, a glass treatment containing little

dots. While this may appear to be a design element, these small dots serve a much

larger purpose than merely aesthetic: they save birds by preventing collisions.

Structural reuse

The new RDSC building maintains much of the original structure of the former

Altschul Hall building, including waffle slabs at the Lower Level and two

staircases, emphasizing reuse and long-term sustainability. Structural reuse

preserves existing building materials, avoiding the carbon emissions associated

with new production and construction. The physics and astronomy departments

on the eighth floor incorporate various original elements from Altschul such as

chalkboards, cherry wood cabinets, wood lab benches, and more.

Roof

Atop the building, air-source heat pumps support full electrification. A green

roof further contributes to the building’s environmental performance.

Biophilia

The RDSC prioritizes “biophilia,” which is the human tendency to be associated

with other forms of life in nature. Students will be able to easily see outside of the

building with views east to the McIntosh terrace and west to the Hudson River,

while enjoying natural light shining through. Wooden elements are incorporated

into the covers for electrical panels, drink storage shelving at the lab entrances,

and cabinet fronts for under bench storage inside the labs.

Chemistry teaching labs

The fifth, sixth, and seventh floors are devoted to chemistry. Glass-backed fume

hoods introduce natural light into the teaching labs which reduces the need

Departmental/student support space

All five departments feature a student support area,

where students will have access to a kitchenette

and dishwasher, helping minimize waste while

encouraging them to bring their own food and

reusable containers.

Campus-level entry

A staircase connects the terrace to the lower level,

where a 100-person classroom and a 50-person

classroom are located, encouraging movement

throughout the building. The campus-level seminar

room also features reused wood flooring from

Altschul.

Environmental science lab

Located on the ninth and tenth floor, the

environmental science lab highlights integrated,

everyday sustainable design, including cabinets that

double as whiteboards.

The RDSC integrates a range of sustainable features

and design elements, from flexible, modular benches

in the neuroscience department to the use of energy

recovery units that capture and reuse heat from the

laboratory exhaust system, reducing overall energy

demand. The building sets a new standard for

modern research environments, welcoming its first

classes in fall 2026. B


12


DISPATCHES CONNECTIONS

Maeve Sanford-Kelly ’26 Learns

on the Job

Before she crossed the stage at Commencement, the

senior worked in cable news and on the Hill — twice

When Maeve Sanford-Kelly arrives at the Midtown headquarters of MS NOW

(the cable news channel formerly known as MSNBC), Times Square is a version

of itself few people get to see. The streets are quiet. Tourists are scarce. It is long

before sunrise, although the fluorescent billboards cast more than enough light.

She is with the rest of the morning broadcast crew, clocking in for her shift at

“Ana Cabrera Reports”: 5:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For Sanford-Kelly, a production intern, this means preparing research, creating

graphics, and stepping in to help with all the ad hoc tasks that arise when

producing a television show.

“As a history major, I’m interested in what it means to live in a digital media

age and field so much disinformation,” she said. “How do we approach talking to

the public about international relations when there are all of these different forces

that shape how people see the news?”

The chance to gain first-hand professional experience in media and politics

was a driving factor in Sanford-Kelly’s decision to attend Barnard College. She

transferred to Barnard as a sophomore, eager to take advantage of life in New

York City — the international center of news, culture, and business — and the

resources of a world-class liberal arts college.

In summer 2024, she secured her first internship on the Hill. It was a role with

the Senate Recording Studio and Media Galleries, the group tasked with keeping

the press apprised of activities on the Senate floor. There, Sanford-Kelly learned

the inner workings of media coordination, from liaising with photographers for

major events to assisting with the C-SPAN livestream.

As a junior, she enrolled in “Inside the Situation Room,” the Columbia

University SIPA course co-taught by dean Keren Yarhi-Milo and former U.S.

secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sanford-Kelly had never taken an

international relations class, but the opportunity to hear directly from Clinton

about the decision-making behind critical moments in U.S. foreign policy felt

unmissable. “This was the fall of 2024. The day after the presidential election, I

got to show up to class and ask her about the outcome. Nothing else can replicate

that.”

One benefit of “Inside the Situation Room” was the chance to speak to Clinton

in office hours. At the time, these were on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, but

Sanford-Kelly was prepared to wait. She showed up at the Columbia SIPA office

45 minutes early and earned her place as one of the first in line, speaking to

Clinton more than once over the course of the semester. “I walked away from

those conversations in awe of her,” Sanford-Kelly said.

Their paths crossed again in a few short months. In spring 2025, she applied for

an internship at the Office of Hillary Rodham Clinton online, mentioning in the

cover letter that she attended the Columbia SIPA class. The Office extended her

an offer, and she spent the semester producing briefs for Clinton, preparing the

Office for high-profile events, and completing archival work.

All roads led back to the Hill. This past summer, Sanford-Kelly worked with

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in his national press office — an

internship she secured with guidance and funding from Beyond Barnard, the

College’s integrated hub for career development.

“A core aspect of our work in supporting Barnard students and graduates is to

coach them to make the crucial connections between

their skills and experiences and the roles they’re

applying for,” said Amanda Dye, executive director

of Beyond Barnard. “We are always incredibly proud

to see truly unique and well-qualified students, like

Maeve, achieve their goals.”

As she nears graduation, Sanford-Kelly is

balancing her 5:30 a.m. call time at “Ana Cabrera

Reports” with a full class schedule. This includes

putting the final touches on her senior thesis. Her

research centers around matrilineal power in

congress: In the 1980s, Democratic Rep. Sala Burton

mentored and endorsed Nancy Pelosi, then in her

40s, to take her seat in the House of Representatives.

Men did this all the time, but it was rare to see a

woman leverage her influence to usher in a female

successor. Pelosi, of course, went on to become a

bellwether of women in U.S. politics, serving as the

52nd Speaker of the House — the first woman to

hold the position.

The thesis project took Sanford-Kelly all the way

to San Francisco, where she visited the California

state archives, a trip made possible through the

history department’s Bertha Vapnek Research

Fellowship.

There is a “natural connection” between her

academic research and current work in news, she

said: “So much of what I’ve learned in the classroom

places us in our historical context. It acts as a frame

of reference for what’s happening now.”

The internship opportunities model what a career

in media or politics could look like, something

she had “no sense of” before entering college. “I’m

open to whatever comes my way after graduation,”

Sanford-Kelly said. “I love everything I’ve done so

far — all of it.” B

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAEVE SANFORD-KELLY

14

BEYOND THE GATES ALUMNAE ABROAD

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH KATSMAN

A Grieving Mother Finds Comfort

in the Barnard Community

Hannah Wacholder Katsman ’86 describes her slain son

as a man of peace, leans on community to carry

his memory forward

For the last two-and-a-half years, Hannah Wacholder Katsman has been trying

to heal from every parent’s worst nightmare: the brutal killing of her son.

Dr. Hayim Katsman, the second of Hannah’s six children, was killed during

the October 7, 2023 attack, days after he turned 32, at Kibbutz Holit in the

southwest of Israel near the Gaza Strip border. His death in the violent attack

that started a war was ironic, Wacholder Katsman said, because he was a peace

activist.

“He really wanted to bring Jews and Palestinians together,” Katsman said. His

headstone is engraved with the phrase, “A Man of Peace.”

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

Hayim earned his doctorate in International Studies with a focus on religions,

cultures, and civilizations from the Jackson School of International Studies at

the University of Washington in 2021. Hayim moved to the kibbutz in 2012 and

took on a wide range of jobs, working as a landscaper, a mechanic, a teacher of

political philosophy, chair of the kibbutz council, and even as a DJ featuring

Arabic electronic music “to bring people together,” his mother said.

“He was involved in ‘Academia for Equality’ and regularly spent weekends

with activists in the southern Hebron Hills to deter and document settler

violence,” Katsman added.

Hayim’s death thrust his family — as well as the families of other victims —

into the international spotlight.

“That first year, I participated in a memorial almost every month, most of

them surrounding his academic research,”

Hannah said. “I say yes to 95% of things

because they really do help me. People tell me

they’re inspired by his life, his work.”

Hannah had unknowingly laid down the

roots of the community who would support

her shortly before her son’s killing when she

moved to Jerusalem after thirty years in a

suburb of Tel Aviv.

“When I first came, newly divorced, I got in

touch with the Jerusalem Barnard Book Club,

and they just welcomed me so warmly,” she

said. After his death, Hannah noticed that at

nearly every event where she was invited to

speak, Barnard alumnae showed up to support

her and the project she would eventually work

on in her son’s memory.

MAKING HIS MEMORY A BLESSING

In his memory, Hayim’s family has partnered

with Next October, an initiative connecting

bereaved families with Israeli startups to

fund meaningful memorials. The startup

Hannah Wacholder Katsman ’86 with her son, Dr. Hayim Katsman

CauseMatch, a crowdfunding platform, offered

to donate an online campaign to raise $500,000 to

build a sustainability center in the Bedouin city of

Rahat where Hayim worked with local schools to

create two community gardens.

“When someone dies they leave a big empty

space,” Hannah said. “But things come to fill it —

that’s just the nature of life. Our mind gets filled

with new relationships and activities and obviously

that’s healthy, but it’s also difficult. You don’t want

to forget, and you also want to move forward,

so this is a way of doing something positive,

remembering him, but also working on something

that’s going to have a positive impact.”

When Hayim was killed, Hannah said of the

Barnard alumnae community, “They came out from

the very beginning in different groups and different

ways.” The book club’s main organizer, Marcia

Gelpe ’65, reached out to friends and families in the

U.S. for donations, as did Naomi Voss Potter ’86 and

Julie Zuckerman ’91.

At an event in the summer of 2025 by the newlyformed

Jewish Barnard Alumnae Group, the

organizers honored the memory of Hayim as well

as two others.

Through the project, which will fund an

educational garden, public workshops, and school

programs, Hannah hopes her son’s memory may be

a blessing for others.

If you’d like to donate to Next October’s Hayim Center

project, you can do so at causematch.com/hayim B


BEYOND THE GATES MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Mary Harriman, founder of The Junior League

(Opposite) Valerie S. Mason ’80, recipient of the NY Junior League 125th Anniversary Legacy Award

New York Junior League, Founded by

Barnard Alumna, Celebrates 125 Years

Mary Harriman Rumsey 1905 and nine of her friends

established the group to contribute to the community

The New York Junior League is celebrating 125 years of continued service,

leadership, and impact this year, and is paying homage to a Barnard alumna

who helped create the group.

The Junior League was founded in 1901 by Mary Harriman (above), who was

19 at the time, along with nine of her friends.

Founding the Junior

League was just the

tip of the iceberg of

Harriman’s remarkable

life. At Barnard, she

was a member of

the 1905 class that

founded the Greek

Games, a long-standing

tradition. She served

as the Chair of the

first consumer’s rights

group, The Consumer

Advisory Board of the

National Recovery

Administration after

being appointed by

President Franklin D.

Roosevelt.

She helped write the

Social Security Act

and to this day — has

a venue named in her

honor, in Central Park:

Rumsey Playfield.

And in 2015, Rumsey

was inducted into The

National Women’s

Hall of Fame for

her humanitarian

and philanthropic

contributions further

cementing her place in

women’s history.

“As a young student

at Barnard, Mary

Harriman Rumsey

founded the New

York Junior League

inspired by a simple

yet powerful belief:

that women, working

together, could drive lasting social change in their

own communities,” President of the New York

Junior League, Jeri Powell, said. “The model she

pioneered, with an emphasis on training women

to respond to evolving needs on the ground, is as

relevant today as it was in 1901. Her legacy endures

through the work of nearly 300 Junior League

chapters across the U.S. and around the world.”

The New York Junior League recognized Valerie

S. Mason ’80 (right) with the 125th Anniversary

Legacy Award at its largest fundraiser, the 74th

Annual Winter Ball—Gilded Legacy: Celebrating

125 Years of Impact — on February 28. Mason

PHOTO (THIS PAGE) COURTESY OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE;. (OPPOSITE) BFA/MADELEINE THOMAS

16

graduated magna cum laude with Distinction from Barnard College and later

received a law degree from Duke University’s School of Law. Her commitment

to service is deeply personal. She is a wife, mother, and longtime Upper East

Side resident, actively engaged in neighborhood and faith-based organizations

“Valerie S. Mason embodies the leadership the New York Junior League

seeks to inspire,” Powell added, according to a news release. “Her career

demonstrates how professional excellence, service, and mentorship can drive

meaningful community impact. As we celebrate 125 years, we are honored to

recognize a leader whose work reflects our mission and encourages others to

lead with purpose.”

While at Barnard, Mason played for the Barnard Tennis Team all four years

while at the College, an original “Barnard Bear.” She was the Captain of

the team for three years, while serving as the head of the Tripartite Athletic

Committee and the Council on Intercollegiate Athletics. She served as the

Barnard representative to the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium for the

first four years of the program’s existence. Her senior thesis topic concerned the

then recently enacted Title IX and its future impact.

For Mason, leadership has always been rooted in service — to her profession,

her community, and the city she has proudly called home her entire life. A

native New Yorker, she has dedicated her time and talents to supporting

institutions that strengthen the lives of women, families, and communities

across New York City.

For over two decades, she has been deeply involved in criminal justice reform

through her service with the Women’s Prison Association, one of the nation’s

oldest organizations dedicated to supporting women impacted by the criminal

justice system and their families — and a longtime community partner of the

New York Junior League. She previously served as

President of the organization’s Board of Directors

and currently serves as Chair of its Development

Committee and a member of its Audit Committee.

Through this work, she has developed a deep

appreciation for the role of thoughtful governance

in driving meaningful community change — a

perspective she brings to her civic leadership. In

November 2023, she was elected chair of Manhattan

Community Board 8, which encompasses the

Upper East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt

Island.

She was first appointed to the board in 2017 and

has served as both First and Second Vice Chair,

guiding the board through complex policy issues

with clarity and care. Her dedication to community

advocacy has been recognized by the New York

State Assembly, which named her a Woman of

Distinction in 2017, and by Straus News, which

awarded her an “OTTY” in 2019.

Mason is a partner in the Banking and Finance

Department at Otterbourg P.C., where she serves as

Chair of the firm’s Lender Finance practice group.

While Mason's professional accomplishments are

significant, her commitment to civic engagement

and nonprofit leadership is equally profound.

Recently, she was recognized by Crain’s New

York Business as one of 2026's Notable Women

lawyers.

Valerie credits both Barnard College and the NYJL

with shaping both her leadership path and her

long-standing commitment to service, much like

Mary Harriman.

ABOUT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE

OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Since 1901, the New York Junior League (NYJL)

has responded to New York City’s most pressing

socioeconomic challenges.

Powered by 2,800 women volunteers, the NYJL

works with more than 60 community-based

organizations to advance children’s socialemotional

learning and to provide life skills

programs to youth and adults who are navigating

periods of difficult transition. Bringing their diverse

experiences and talents, trained NYJL volunteers

engage women and children in health, education,

and arts workshops specially customized to their

needs.

The NYJL also responds to community partners’

requests for immediate support and invests funds

and volunteers’ time in restoring public parks

and community spaces to create welcoming

environments conducive to fitness, health,

recreation, and socialization. B


BEYOND THE GATES INNOVATORS

To Janet Feldman ’78, Accessibility

Can Have Style

A one-of-a-kind power mobility chair designed

beautifully and comfortably for an aging population

Janet Feldman didn’t set out to invent anything — until she realized the

perfect mobility chair for her father didn’t yet exist. She knew exactly what he

needed; the market did not.

“I decided — I’ll just make it myself.”

So she did.

The result, Assistance With Elegance, is both a labor of love and a tribute to

the man who inspired it.

Feldman founded the company back in 2014. She foresaw a market which

didn’t completely exist yet: beautiful and convenient furniture for an aging

population. And so, she created the AWEchair, a luxury lift chair that promotes

comfort, style, and independence.

“It was like an education,” said Feldman of taking the first step after the

ideation of the chair. Though she was neither a designer nor engineer, Feldman

knew exactly what the chair needed to become. She began extensive research,

and hired her own team of engineers, robotics

experts, industrial designers, gerontologists, and

statisticians. Feldman went through multiple

iterations of the chair, with prototypes spanning

back over ten years.

The AWEchair, as it looks now, is a patented

design — a lift chair with optimal power, motion,

positioning, and durability to assist users in sitting

down and standing up. The chair offers several

features: a retractable footrest, neck and underknee

pillows, a contoured back for lumbar support,

ergonomic armrests, and more. It boasts pockets for

storage, a water-resistant cup holder, and a visible

and easy-to-reach attached control handset.

Feldman cares deeply about the aging

population, and works to change the discourse

surrounding age. The AWEchair is one way of

allowing people to grow with grace and elegance

by addressing one particular question: Why

shouldn’t an older demographic enjoy beauty in

their homes?

The AWEchair isn’t just safe, convenient, and

18

comfortable — it also looks nice, which was a priority for Feldman, after noting

a deficit in elegant furniture for older populations.

“Nobody had thought of treating older people with dignity, because they

know they’re at the end,” explained Feldman.

The stylish chair is made with Italian leather, though synthetic leather

options are also available. Customers can choose from various colors: caramel

brown, midnight black, crimson red, emerald green. The chair is also available

in two different sizes for comfort: standard and tall.

“It’s not an oversized, bulking monstrosity in the corner. It’s the same height

and dimensions as a regular, non-assistant chair,” said Feldman. “And that

was hard, because we had to shrink the mechanisms, and there are motors and

sensors.”

Feldman desired a chair that resembled any other piece of furniture. She

noticed that pieces designed specifically for elderly populations tended to look

sterile and characterless, not unlike hospital furniture.

“There are a lot of people out there like this, and people are living longer, so

why not design for them?” Feldman said of the too-often ignored demographic.

“Why not give them a really beautiful, functional, and safe chair?”

Feldman graduated from Barnard with a degree in English. She reflects

fondly on her undergraduate years, where she received a well-rounded liberal

arts education that would eventually culminate in her entrepreneurship.

“It was a brilliant school with a very strong core curriculum,” said Feldman.

Following her graduation, she initially worked in

music publishing before transitioning to work for

her father's shoe company, where she remained for

21 years before retiring. As her parents grew older,

she took on the role as their primary caregiver,

which would ultimately lead to her founding of

Assistance With Elegance.

Her piece of advice to aspiring Barnard

entrepreneurs is to find a “reason for being.” She

encourages students to first identify a problem, and

then propose a solution.

“Make something that nobody else has thought

of,” said Feldman, which is exactly what she did

with the AWEchair.

“I’m one person with a chair,” she said. “But a

chair is important.” B

(Left) Janet Feldman poses amongst her AWEchairs.

(Right) The AWEchair.

PHOTOS (LEFT) BY JULIANA SOHN; (RIGHT) BY CHRISTOPHER COE


BEYOND THE GATES CAREER PATHS

Alumnae Featured in Forbes 30 Under 30

Trailblazers with careers spanning different industries

— retail, education, and science — honored

in annual list

Aliett Buttelman ’19 (left), Natasha Cox ’19 (opposite), and Vienna Sparks

’26 all have more in common than the campus on which they spent their

undergraduate years.

They’re also honorees of the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

The women work in different industries — retail, education, and science —

and their selection highlights the power of a Barnard education in setting young

women up for success in a wide range of careers.

“Aliett, Natasha, and Vienna embody something that is evident everywhere

at Barnard, which is a desire to produce value, solve problems, and make

an individual impact,” said A-J Aronstein, Vice President of Community

Engagement and Lifelong Success at Barnard College. “This kind of recognition

is important, not only because it will be transformative for these three great

alumnae themselves, but because it can help spotlight important issues. It’s still

the case that only 2-3% of VC funding goes to women, and we want to continue

to do more to advance entrepreneurial work at the College.”

RETAIL & E-COMMERCE:

ALIETT BUTTELMAN SEES STARS WITH FAZIT BEAUTY

Aliett Buttelman experienced tremendous momentum with her company, Fazit

Beauty, this past year, receiving an onslaught of attention and action practically

overnight.

Amid the chaos, Buttelman remains unfazed.

First, mega-star Taylor Swift donned Fazit’s popular glitter freckles on a few

different occasions, most notably during a Kansas City Chiefs game and while

recording her latest studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Then, the company

received recognition in the retail and e-commerce category of the ever-iconic

Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Buttelman received the news from Forbes while visiting family in West Palm

Beach, Florida. The recognition quickly positioned Fazit Beauty as a front-runner

in the makeup and beauty space. With every new success and accolade, Fazit

continues to grow, continually expanding their product offerings and categories.

The brand has achieved partnerships with massive organizations like U.S.

Soccer and e.l.f. Its products are shelved at over 6,000 retail locations, including

Walmart, CVS, Urban Outfitters, and Sephora UK.

Fazit features a wide range of innovative makeup products — glitter freckles,

eye liner, and eye sparkles. “For us, the messaging around the brand was

progress over perfection,” said Buttelman. “Being able to be confident with

blemishes, and being okay to share and normalize them.”

At Barnard, Buttelman studied both economics and art history. “My

combination of majors was one for the pocket and one for the soul,” she

reminisced.

Following her graduation, Buttelman wasn’t entirely sure of her career path.

She started her own consulting company for startup fashion, tech, and beauty

brands, which ultimately led to meeting her co-founder, Nina La Bruna, who

had been conjuring up skincare potions in her NYU dorm room.

The duo began working on Fazit in 2022. They were scrappy and determined,

combining their respective savings and pitching to investors for funding.

Buttelman noted that her time at a women’s college helped prepare her for the

business world.

“When you go into fundraising for a company,

you’re not expected to know all of the jargon, and

you don’t want to pretend that you know what

they’re talking about, because that can lead to poor

decision making,” she said. “I think being around

other women [at Barnard] who were confident and

had a voice really allowed us to excel earlier on

in our entrepreneur career than, maybe, if I had

attended a coed college.”

Buttelman added: “I’ll send my future daughter

to a women’s school. The confidence that is instilled

in you in a classroom of just women allows you to

find your voice, speak up, and not be afraid to ask

questions.”

Buttelman’s uphill journey to co-founder serves

as inspiration for young Barnard students today.

“What I would love to tell my younger self today

is no one is opening the door for you. You need to

push it down yourself and ask for exactly what you

want,” said Buttelman. “I think that’s an important

lesson for young women — no one’s giving you a

lucky break ever. You have to make it for yourself"

EDUCATION: NATASHA COX EMPOWERS WITH

AVANI SERVICES

Afternoon light poured into a coworking space

in London as Natasha Cox opened the email that

would mark a defining career milestone: she had

been named on the coveted Forbes 30 Under 30 list,

thousands of miles away from Morningside Heights

where her journey first began. Cox was recognized

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALIETT BUTTELMAN AND NATASHA COX

20

in the education category for her work as CEO and owner of Avani Services,

a training and development consulting firm she founded at just twenty-five

years old.

Through Avani, Cox equips teams, leaders, and organizations with

“innovative solutions that create measurable growth and lasting impact.” The

firm’s services focus on team performance improvement, including training

and development, staff augmentation, research and analysis, and strategic

support. Since its founding, Cox has served an impressive roster of highprofile

clients, spanning global brands, the White House, and more than a

dozen government agencies.

Cox graduated from Barnard in 2019 with a degree in political science.

She credits much of her early success to her time with the Athena Center

for Leadership during her undergraduate tenure. Through Athena, she

participated in the Scholars Program, spent a summer as a Global Fellow

shadowing the President of Malta, served as president of the Student Advisory

Board, and worked as an intern for the Center.

“All roads lead back to Athena,” said Cox. “It was really the Athena Scholars

Program that gave me a little taste of what it would look like to start my own

business,” said Cox. “We had to create our own entity [in the program] and

generate funds as if we were starting our own business,” said Cox.

She is also a graduate of premier business programs, including Venture for

America and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses.

After college, Cox moved to New Orleans through Venture for America

to support the startup ecosystem. The experience became a crash course in

business, exposing her to entrepreneurship, operations, and growth strategy.

It also helped her recognize the kind of impact she wanted to create, laying the

foundation for what would later become Avani Services.

Cox encourages current Barnard students interested in entrepreneurship to

take full advantage of the opportunities both on campus and across the city,

advising:

“Lean into internships and club leadership experiences as much as possible

[at Barnard],” said Cox. “Those are the opportunities to figure out what you’re

good at, what you like to do, how to work with other people.”

narrative,” said Sparks. “That’s a bit unfortunate,

but you can’t take it as a sign that you’re in the

wrong space.”

“Realizing that people are showing up for you

and believing in your mission every single day

is really powerful,” said Sparks. “You have an

obligation to put your best foot forward, to lead

with integrity and resilience.”

Sparks double-majored in biochemistry and

economics at Barnard. During her undergraduate

career, she utilized many of the student

organizations that the Barnard-Columbia network

had to offer — like being a member of CORE, the

Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs,

which helped expand her own network as a

founder.

“Barnard encourages you to take risks and

explore avenues that you might not have explored

by yourself,” said Sparks.

Sparks found out about her inclusion in the

Forbes 30 Under 30 list when eating noodles at

a Japanese sushi buffet. She first assumed it was

spam. Her Linkedin and Instagram direct messages

overflowed with interested parties reaching out to

learn more about her company.

Though awards and revenue are impressive

measures of success, Sparks defines MabLab’s

success in the number of lives saved. “At the end

of the day, if we can make a difference or help save

one person’s life, that will be all the difference to

me.”

If there’s one thing Sparks wants current Barnard

entrepreneurs to know, it’s to “fail successfully.” B

SCIENCE: VIENNA SPARKS SAVES LIVES WITH MABLAB

Vienna Sparks isn’t just engaging in scientific research, she’s saving lives.

Sparks co-founded MabLab her freshman year at Barnard after a friend

passed due to drug use. When looking into the current testing technology, she

was shocked by the overall inaccuracy, and the lack of substances tested.

She used MabLab to create the world’s first five-in-one rapid test, to test

drinks for the five deadliest lacing agents in drugs. This groundbreaking

discovery could potentially save more than 100,000 lives and prevent an

additional five million hospitalizations every year, explained Sparks.

“I was inspired to create a product that could holistically detect multiple

substances at once with a lot more accuracy, keeping people safe,” she said.

The test strips serve a diverse range of customers — first responders, music

festivals, and recovery networks. Sparks first started selling to universities,

where she found success with Panhellenic organizations. Then, an appearance

at TechCrunch in 2024 allowed her to meet The Chainsmokers, a popular

American electronic DJ duo, which segued into dialogue about selling to music

festivals: “What would this look like if this was integrated into the workflow

of a music festival?” posed Sparks. “Would you get a test when you get your

wristband? Would you get it at a bar when you’re getting your drink?”

One of the biggest obstacles she’s encountered along the way is being a

young woman in a predominantly male field. “You have to push through that


BEYOND THE GATES CAREER PATHS

Translating the Science of Child

Development

Stephanie M. Jones ’92 named head of Harvard

University’s Center on the Developing Child

Stephanie M. Jones, the newly appointed faculty director of Harvard

University’s Center on the Developing Child, envisioned her career long before it

started — or even knew that it was a field someone could enter. “I was constantly

noticing and wondering about the things that shape how children learn and

grow,” she said, thinking back to her own childhood. “How does a child get from

an infant to a toddler to a kindergartener?”

These questions followed Jones through middle school, where she and a friend

ran a makeshift summer camp for neighborhood kids, and to the psychology

department of Barnard College, where cultivating intellectual curiosity remains a

core value. Her application essay, she remembers, was about better understanding

the structural issues that allow some children to thrive and cause others to

struggle.

The experiences she had at Barnard changed her life completely, Jones said.

She found an early mentor in professor of psychology Lawrence Aber, then the

director of the Barnard Center for Toddler Development, the College’s nationallyrecognized

research, education, and training center for children under three.

In the nineties, Aber was interested in “school-based violence prevention,”

which would later transform into conversations about social and emotional

learning, including the importance of developing non-academic skills like focus

and resilience early in life.

“From that moment, a lightbulb turned on,” Jones said. “I realized that I could

devote a career to children’s health and well-being that was not necessarily

teaching.”

Jones explains social and emotional learning like this: Imagine a group of

children sitting on a rug, listening to their teacher

read a book. The children are listening to the

words and making sense of the story, but that

is the tip of the iceberg. To be successful in that

moment, a child must be able to focus. To shift their

attention and manage their behavior. To feel like

a welcome member of the group. To be attuned to

their emotional experience. “Those skills are part

of learning, and can’t be separated from what’s

happening in the classroom,” she said.

After graduating from Barnard, Jones was brought

on full-time with the Toddler Center. She remained

in various research capacities for a number of years

before leaving to facilitate studies at the National

Center for Children in Poverty, which was then

located at the Columbia University Mailman School

of Public Health.

In 1998, Jones traded New York for New Haven

to pursue a doctorate in developmental psychology

at Yale University. There, she worked with Edward

Zigler, often referred to as the “father of Head

Start,” the landmark government program that

provides needs-based support to expectant parents,

infants, and toddlers. Zigler was a pioneer of

academic research in Jones’s areas of interest, and

a fierce advocate for affordable childcare and better

conditions for working families.

For Jones, joining the Harvard Graduate School

of Education in 2007, and eventually becoming

faculty director of Harvard University’s Center

on the Developing Child in 2026, was the natural

culmination of a decades-long career in child

development. The Center links evidence from

research scientists to effective policies and practices,

working to close the gap on disparate outcomes for

children and families. It is as much about providing

clear insights to people in positions of power as

it is about the academic heft, ensuring that those

making critical decisions are armed with the right

information.

Jones’s lab at Harvard, the Ecological Approaches

to Social Emotional Learning (EASEL) Laboratory,

focuses its attention on applied settings like schools

and communities, exploring how relationships

between individuals and their broader social

context influence children’s social, emotional, and

behavioral development. EASEL has produced

studies in afterschool settings across the U.S., but

also classrooms in Lebanon and Ukraine.

“This kind of work is what I fantasized about

my entire career,” said Jones. “Using science and

evidence to support children and families, making

a difference in how people out in the world — not

just scientists — think about and understand child

development.” B

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

22

BEYOND THE GATES LIFELONG LEARNING

Barnard Alumnae

Continue Education at 62+

Learning Community

Retirees thrive in a new program

at Purchase College

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARYAM BANIKARIM

Picture this — a current Barnard student,

backpack in hand, trekking across campus for her

physics class. After class, she’ll meet up with a

friend at a coffee shop to discuss the lecture and

compare notes. Then, it’s off to the gym for a quick

workout before calling it a night.

About twenty-seven miles upstate at Broadview,

a senior living community on Purchase College’s

campus, a retired Barnard alumna is having the

same day.

At Broadview, this is the image of a student —

not just an adolescent co-ed, but a curious and

accomplished senior citizen, looking to learn and thrive in an age-inclusive

educational environment.

It’s also where a group of eight Barnard alumnae have chosen to call home.

Marge Feder ’53, Angela Salanitro Bellizzi ’56, Harriet Wasserstrum ’68, Linda

Rachele Burke ’68, Linda Cahill ’62, Marion Cantor Cohen ’60, Lucy Shahar ’63,

and Julia Hsia ’66 didn’t know each other when they attended Barnard. Decades

later, they have all found a haven at Broadview.

Through a partnership with Purchase College, Broadview is a residential

learning community for adults 62 years and older. It is one of the first few

University Associated Retirement Communities in New York, and the nation, to

be located directly on a college campus. A pioneer in age-inclusive education, it

is reimagining what we all know to be true; learning is a lifelong journey.

“Broadview challenges age‐based assumptions by fostering a campus

community rooted in shared space, shared purpose, and authentic social

connection,” said Ashley Wade, Executive Director of Broadview. “When

people come together around common interests and values, age fades into the

background, and what emerges is possibility.”

Shahar initiated a meeting amongst Barnard alumnae back in March 2024

after combing through their resident biographies.

“I enjoy sharing memories when we meet,” said Shahar. “I’m also continually

impressed by my fellow grads’ careers: medicine, scientific research, university

and high school teaching, banking, computer science, and teaching English as a

second language.”

“Broadview has turned out to be a community where it’s been easy to find

new relationships in general but even so there’s something very comforting

about finding other Barnard grads here,” said Cohen, a former zoology major

at Barnard.

Maryam Banikarim ’89, a Barnard trustee and co-founder of The Longest

Table, witnessed the strength of the lifelong Barnard connection after being

invited to a brunch with the alumnae when visiting her mother, also a

Broadview resident.

“[Broadview] is an amazing place — filled with lifelong learners, like the

women from Barnard. Interested, engaged, wanting to continue living with

impact,” said Banikarim. “I loved hearing their stories of their time at Barnard,

answering their questions as best I could. Mainly I

just enjoyed being in their company, which is how I

feel about all Barnard women.”

UARCs, like Broadview, offer a combination

of residential and educational services. The

community fosters an intergenerational

environment, greatly benefitting both participating

residents and college students.

At the beginning of each semester, Purchase

College publishes a list of courses available for

Broadview participants to audit. Residents can

learn and study among Purchase undergraduates.

“We’re so pleased that the distinctive campus

community of Purchase and Broadview has

brought together so many lifelong learners,” said

Purchase College President Michael E. Steiper.

“It comes as no surprise that people drawn to the

liberal and performing arts, which are so central

to both Barnard and Purchase, would find a true

home at Broadview and thrive within such a

vibrant, intellectually engaged community.”

Broadview’s list of residents includes a wide

range of retired individuals spanning many fields,

from artists to scientists. Residents can volunteer

to give a presentation in their field of expertise.

Broadview also offers mentoring opportunities for

Purchase students to learn from professionals in

their area of study.

These eight alumnae once found a home in

Barnard, where they could freely explore their

interests and begin anew. While years may separate

their time at Barnard and their current occupations

at Broadview, the experience is the same — Barnard

students, curious and hopeful, stepping fearlessly

into a new phase of their lives. B


READ WATCH LISTEN BOOKSHELF

What Animals Teach Us

About Families: Kinship

and Species in the Bible and

Rabbinic Literature

Beth A. Berkowitz, Professor

of Religion and Ingeborg

Rennert Chair of Jewish

Studies

A reimagination of animal

bonds through the Bible

and rabbinic literature,

taking into consideration

animal emotions and agency,

family diversity, and human

response in its exploration

of the obligations and

opportunities the animal

family presents. (University of

California Press)

Anne Vallayer-Coster

Kelsey Brosnan ’11

A fresh look at the French

painter whose still-life works

earned the adoration of Marie

Antoinette and members of

the French court. Brosnan’s

monograph is the first

English-language publication

in over two decades to center

around the artist. (Getty

Publications & Lund Humphries)

We Are All Having Fun Here

Meg Mullins ’95

A startling and soothing

collection that draws secrets

into the light, alive with

complexity, humor, and

tenderness. Each story opens

hidden spaces, exploring kink,

girlhood, grief, and intimacy

while pushing boundaries

and unsettling what we think

we know. (Fork Apple Press)

Barnett Newman: Here

Amy Newman ’70

The definitive biography

of a founding member of

the abstract impressionist

movement who is often

recognized as the greatest

post-WWII painter. The

author gained full access to

Newman’s archives, painting

a never-before-seen picture of

the artist. (Princeton University

Press)

More Than Enough

Anna Quindlen ’74

The bestselling author’s

latest novel follows a woman

confronted with unexpected

results from an ancestry

test kit, leading her to comb

through generations past and

reevaluate the boundaries

of kinship and friendship.

(Penguin Random House)

Go Gentle

Maria Semple ’86

A journey of self-discovery

in middle age from the

bestselling author of Where’d

You Go, Bernadette. What

happens when a handsome

stranger interrupts a

philosopher’s perfectly

curated life? (Penguin Random

House)

Dear Letters in the Red Box

Sarah Gribetz Stern ’86

A collection of poems that

transports readers into Stern’s

private world, delving into the

randomness of life, nature,

and being. As one poem reads,

this collection is an invitation

to a “… tea party / in a foreign

land.” (Kelsay Books)

Becoming Stendhal: The

Performance of Authenticity

and the Making of a Novelist

Hadley Suter ’07

A critical examination

of Stendhal, the “master

of French realism,” that

draws on his novels, travel

narratives, private journals,

and more to approach the

complex notion of personal

identity and ask the question:

Is there such a thing as an

authentic self? (University of

Virginia Press) B

24

READ WATCH LISTEN AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

From Divorce Revolution to Memoir:

Harriet Newman Cohen ’52 Reflects

One of the nation’s leading family law attorneys shares

lessons from a groundbreaking career

Attorney. Daughter of immigrants. Wife. Student. Mother. Lawyer. Author.

Harriet Newman Cohen has lived more lives than most — and she isn’t

finished yet.

Cohen’s acclaimed new memoir, Passion and Power: A Life in Three Worlds, is

an in depth and unsentimental exploration of Harriet Newman Cohen’s life as a

matrimonial and divorce attorney and how she’s navigated the male-dominated

legal world from the 1970s to today.

The book depicts Cohen’s journey in three worlds: raising a family at a time

when men held all the power; graduating from law school on the cusp of the

“divorce revolution” and the subsequent effort, political and social, to change

women’s legal status; and, finally, refighting all the old battles over women’s

rights and women’s health in this time of reaction and retrenchment.

“When you graduate from Barnard, you want to change the world,” Cohen

said on April 9 in a fireside chat with Barnard College President Laura Ann

Rosenbury. The intimate conversation was held in Sulzberger Parlor, the very

same room where Cohen performed her senior piano recital in 1952.

In her book, Cohen, 93, relates her own experience with candid insights into

how a legal system that often rewards bad behavior and irrational decisionmaking

shapes the culture at large and impacts those trying to navigate their way

towards a better life. With similar candor and humor she discusses the numerous

celebrities she and her firms have represented–from Annette Bening and

Laurence Fishburne,

to Linda Lavin, Tom

Brady, Paul George, and

many others.

The memoir

describes a number

of cases in which

Cohen was involved

in almost novelistic

detail, including

the groundbreaking

“Nuclear Family,” a

case involving a lesbian

couple’s efforts to

maintain custody of

their two daughters

and the focus of a

recent three-part

documentary on HBO.

It also recounts Cohen’s

unprecedented and

successful 1975 effort on

behalf of a transgender

woman to amend her

New York City birth

certificate to reflect who

she truly was.

“As a lawyer, you can help change the world —

one step at a time,” Cohen said.

At Barnard, Cohen majored in Latin and Greek,

minored in music and went on to earn a master’s

degree the following year in Latin from Bryn Mawr

College. At age 38, with four children, a failing

marriage and no money, she entered Brooklyn

Law School, riding the tsunami of second wave

feminism, determined to make her voice heard.

Cohen played a major role in the “Divorce

Revolution” reforms that changed the fundamental

legal and cultural relationship between men and

women, in the process becoming a nationally

recognized voice for women’s and children’s rights.

In 2021, at the age of 88, Cohen embraced the

changes of the post-Covid legal landscape and,

partnering with her oldest of four daughters, Martha

Cohen Stine, founded a new law firm: Cohen Stine

Kapoor LLC. Another one of her daughters, Amy Z.

Cohen ’76, a professional flutist, is the office manager

of the firm.

“Everything I am is because of Barnard,” Cohen

said. B

Harriet Cohen joins President Rosenbury for a conversation

in Sulzberger Parlor.



26

Chasing

the Olympic

Dream—

and Passing

It On

Barnard’s first Black

Olympic medalist talks

about women in sports,

and returning to campus

for her 25th reunion.


In February, Olympian and Barnard graduate,

Erinn Smart ’01 returned to her alma mater to speak

with girls and young women from local public

schools to help inspire them to achieve their athletic

dreams, just like other Olympians inspired her. A

few months later, she returned to campus to receive

the college's highest honor at commencement — the

Medal of Distinction — and to reunite with her

former Barnard classmates at reunion.

“I always look forward to actually being on

campus,” Smart said. “It has changed so much

since I was there, like all the new buildings, but to

be really honest, I’m looking forward to being with

my friends again – a lot of my friends have moved

away.”

Smart visited in February as part of National

Girls and Women in Sports Day at Baker Athletics

Complex. She served on a panel with fellow

Olympian, Cristina Teuscher ‘00CC, to speak with

young women about sports and the industry.

Smart, who has remained connected with

Barnard since she graduated, returned to campus

in May for the annual Barnard reunion, celebrating

25 years since her graduation. She and 12 other

Barnard alumnae – some of her best friends to this

day – rented a house in Harlem to celebrate the

occasion. (one of whom, Audrey Liu, is mentioned

on page 50 in this magazine’s edition of ‘My

Barnard Story’)

As a teen, the future Olympian initially looked to

Columbia University as her college home because

of its fencing program, but her dad suggested she

consider Barnard before making a final decision.

“He took me to the campus and I literally fell in

love. And at that point, I knew it. I was like, ‘I’m

applying early decision – this is where I’m going,’”

Smart said.

Her high school experience was an integral part

of her decision to come to Barnard.

“I went to a very large high school, and I knew

that I did not want that large of an experience for

college. I wanted a personalized feel. And when

I toured Barnard, I really did fall in love with the

school and the feel of everything, and I wanted to

be one of those women.”

Barnard also allowed Smart to live out her vision

of becoming an Olympian — all while balancing her

academics.

“My Olympic dream started when I was really

young,” the 2008 silver medalist in fencing said.

“I always wanted to be an Olympian. I just didn’t

know what sport.” Smart, long inspired by powerful

women, aspired to be the next Mary Lou Retton,

Florence Griffith Joyner and Janet Evans — all

women who shattered records, defied odds, and

PHOTO (THIS PAGE) COURTESY OF COLUMBIA ATHLETICS; (PREVIOUS PAGE) BY JULIANA SOHN

28

challenged the norm in their respective sports.

She fell in love with fencing the moment she

started at age nine. And two years later at age 11,

her parents enrolled her and her brother in the

inaugural class at the Peter Westbrook Foundation.

Peter Westbrook, a 13-time national fencing

champion and the first African-American to win an

individual medal in fencing at an Olympic Games,

started the foundation to introduce inner-city kids

to the sport of fencing.

“Fencing is known as physical chess, because

for every action in your opponent’s reaction, you

have to have another reaction,” Smart explained.

“So it really is thinking two, three, maybe four

steps ahead on how to prepare to match, and then

thinking in real time, you really have to be on your

toes on how to respond to your opponent.”

When she was a student, Smart competed with

Columbia’s fencing team as part of the Columbia-

Barnard Athletic Consortium, something she said

helped prepare her for the Olympics. Smart said

Barnard equipped her with essential skills — like

critical thinking and teamwork — needed for the

sport and in life.

“Fencing at Columbia and collegiate fencing

prepares you well for international competitions,”

Smart explained while talking about her college

experience. “It taught me how to be aggressive in

those early matches, which helps when it comes to

international seeding and who you might fence in

the long run. So it was really great preparation for

international fencing.”

She went on to become the first Black Olympic

medalist in the Columbia-Barnard Athletic

Consortium. And at the 2008 Summer Olympics in

Beijing, she and her brother both claimed medals,

a shared victory that should have felt complete but

lingered with reflection and a bittersweet sorrow

she could not ignore.

“We were devastated by the sudden passing of

our father in 2006; my brother battled a rare, lifethreatening

blood disease in 2007; and just months

before the 2008 Olympics, we lost our mother to

cancer,” Smart told Barnard Magazine in 2016.

Since retiring from fencing, Smart has gone on to

work in finance and media. In her current role with

People Inc., the parent company that owns People

Magazine, InStyle, Investopedia and more, she

works on business collaborations.

“I do strategic partnerships, which means that

when you read content on platforms like Apple

News, Yahoo, or MSN, places outside of our own

websites, I’m the one brokering those deals,” Smart

said.

And if there’s one thing she said time and again

I gained so much

confidence being able to

digest information, whether

it’s my studies, being

capable of articulating

what I’m learning or even

questioning what I’m doing.

that Barnard instilled in her, it was: confidence.

“I gained so much confidence being able to

digest information, whether it’s my studies, being

capable of articulating what I’m learning or even

questioning what I’m doing,” Smart said “It really

helped do a lot of provoking and ideation.”

For young women looking to compete in sports,

Smart cautions that the work is tough and requires

countless hours of training and competition — but it

is doable even while attending the nation’s premier

women’s college.

“The Olympics were a dream. I was never sure if I

would achieve it,” she said. “I would just say that it

takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of commitment and

sacrifice.”

“And if any young girl or woman is on that path,

it’s one that you just have to keep at,” Smart added.

Today, she spends her days in Brooklyn with her

two children and is looking forward to the next

Barnard reunion where she can hang out with her

college friends, once again.

“I love being the older alumna and getting to

learn from others and hear their stories. I always

find that fascinating, especially when connecting

with alumnae of color,” Smart said. “I really enjoy

networking with them and learning about what

they do. I think Barnard does a great job fostering

that sense of community through all the different

events during reunion.”

“It’s not just about my class — it’s about

connecting with people across generations.” B


30


A LIFE

in the Field,

A LEGACY

in the Classroom

Veteran zooarchaeologist

Pam Crabtree ’72 reflects on more than

50 years of excavations


It’s difficult for Pam

Crabtree to estimate the

number of countries

she’s visited to conduct

fieldwork across the

span of her career as a

zooarchaeologist. There are

the standouts, of course.

Ireland has a special place

in her heart; she’s visited

at least a half-dozen times,

returning often to a site

called Dún Ailinne in

Kildare where architecture

dates back to the Iron Age.

In 2010, she was sent to

the grasslands of eastern

Ukraine for a project on

the domestication of the

horse. Then there were the

trips to Egypt — “every

archaeologist’s dream.”

This neglects to mention

all the work she has done

in Antwerp in Belgium

and Maui in Hawaii, as

well as the Turkish region

of Cappadocia, alongside

numerous other field sites

around the world. Crabtree,

a scholar of Medieval Europe, specializes in animal bone remains, using the recovered

materials to search for clues about how people used to live some one-thousand years ago.

Later this summer, she will retire from New York University, where she has worked as a

professor in the Department of Anthropology since 1990. It closes the chapter on a 55-year

career in the field.

For Crabtree, the archaeological world is almost unrecognizable from when she

began her career. For one, methods have changed; standardization of measurements

has improved, as well as the processes for determining age. There is an increasing use

of biochemical data, such as ancient DNA. But the composition of the field has also seen

a transformation. “I was part of the first generation where women — and not just one

token woman once in a while — were admitted to graduate programs,” Crabtree said.

Her instructors were all men, and so was her entire doctoral committee. Now, women are

represented throughout the field, including in leadership positions in college faculties.

THE FIRST DIG

In her words, it has been a “long and winding road” to get to this point. Crabtree arrived

at Barnard College in 1968 with a childhood fascination in the ancient world but no strong

feelings about the direction of her academic path. She enrolled in a range of introductory

courses, settling on a major in art history (the subject was a chance to look at the material

culture of different historical periods) coupled with an economics degree. It felt like a

practical enough combination to appease her parents.

In the summer of 1971, after her junior year, she was invited to participate in her first

archaeological dig. Martin Biddle CBE, FBA, FSA, the pioneering urban archaeologist, was

leading an excavation at the Brook Street Site in Winchester, England. It was a lightbulb

moment of, “This is what I want to do,” Crabtree said. The strong visual memory she

32

developed in art history translated neatly into working with archaeologically recovered

remains, and she found an immediate interest in the site’s period of transition — the bridge

between the Roman and Medieval worlds, in and around the eighth century.

Before graduating from Barnard, she started to consider graduate programs. At

the time, it was an unusual area of research; most programs were not invested in the

intersection between the archaeological and the anthropological. But it happened to be

the specialization of one faculty member in particular, Bernard Wailes at the University of

Pennsylvania. Since her suitemate at Barnard had access to a car, the pair spent a weekend

exploring the campus in Philadelphia.

Crabtree, in a leap of faith, introduced herself to Wailes. The lightbulb flickered again.

During their meeting, Wailes, so impressed that she had excavated in Winchester, asked on

the spot if she would be interested in traveling to Dún Ailinne for another project. “Is the

Pope Catholic?,” Crabtree remembered thinking. The two would go on to work together

throughout her master’s and doctorate at Penn.

In graduate school, Crabtree narrowed her focus to the zooarchaeological. At excavation

sites, she explained, the most common finds are animal bones. “It’s ‘Oh, here’s a little

bit of pottery… and here are lots of animal bones’.” The bones, once assessed, can paint

a picture of how entire cities functioned. What kinds of animals were being eaten? Are

these remains of cattle for beef? Sheep for wool? Are there standardized cuts, suggesting

specialist butchers? How was the meat distributed? “It can tell us an awful lot of things,”

Crabtree said.

LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY

Her scholarship emerged alongside and has made a lasting impression on the

zooarchaeological sub-field. The research in Ukraine, for instance — it was often thought

that modern domesticated horses could be traced back to around 3,500 BC, despite

outstanding genetic and geographic uncertainties. The project’s team of archeologists

searched for remains from suspected domestication sites across Iberia, Anatolia, and the

steppes of Western Eurasia

and Central Asia for greater

insight. In the end, the origins

of the domesticated horse

tracked closer to 2,000 BC.

Even as her career

evolved, Crabtree made it a

point to continue training

undergraduate students, in

addition to those in master’s

and doctorate programs

working on specialized

projects. It’s a point of pride

that some of her first students

are now full professors

themselves. The final classes

she will teach before retiring

are “Zooarchaeology”

and “Barbarian Europe,”

which happen to be two

undergraduate courses

representing her major

academic contributions.

“That is what has felt

important — getting the

next generation involved,”

Crabtree said. B


C ommu

34

nity

Celebrating lasting connections

through Reunion & The Longest Table


A

long table and a college reunion aren’t the setup to a punchline

at Barnard — they’re part of a larger story: one of connection,

continuity, and community that extends well beyond the campus’s

front gates.

Spring brings a new chapter of that story. As flowers bloom and the academic

year draws to a close, it becomes a season of both endings and beginnings —

a time to celebrate graduates at Commencement, to welcome home alumnae

for Reunion, and, for the first time, to gather on Futter Field for the College’s

inaugural Longest Table.

Whether a first-year student is breaking bread at a table that stretches across

campus, or a distinguished alumna is returning to Morningside Heights for

her fiftieth reunion, Barnard steadfastly remains a community that women can

return to year after year.

THE LONGEST TABLE

In a time where smartphones reign, meaningful social interactions have

circumstantially dwindled. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General recognized that

America is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, with nearly one in two adults

reporting feelings of isolation. This epidemic is accelerated largely by an increase

of social media usage and a lack of “third spaces.” In other words, connection is

at an all-time low and people no longer know where or how to find it.

Maryam Banikarim ’89 P'21 is changing that — one long table and

neighborhood at a time.

In 2022, on the heels of a global pandemic that drove social circles apart,

Banikarim co-founded The Longest Table, a community event that brings

together friends and strangers at a communal table stretching across the streets

of one particular location, wherever that may be (thus far, The Longest Table has

hosted 50 tables in various locations across the country). Attendees bring food,

conversation, and a hunger for face-to-face connection.

The Longest Table was initially an answer to a single question: “Why don’t we

know our neighbors?”

Inspired by a photo of an Egyptian communal table circulating around

the internet combined with a desire to engage with her neighbors, Banikarim

decided to host her own version of a block party. The result: 500 guests gathered

excitedly around one table in Chelsea.

“You can create the community that you want to create,” said Banikarim.

“What I love about The Longest Table is it’s about grace and trust. It’s organized

in a very grassroots way.”

Since, the event has grown exponentially, finding

its legs in big cities and small towns across the

country, and even the world — Argentina recently

hosted an event.

Interested parties can get involved in a myriad

of ways: attending, volunteering, or hosting an

event in their preferred location. The Longest Table

provides prospective hosts with helpful toolkits to

guide them through the organization process.

“You’re participating, you’re creating it, you’re

making it your own,” said Banikarim of the toolkit.

“So you get to be part of this bigger thing, which

is the Longest Table community, but your table is

more individual.”

Each table has a designated captain, or mini-host.

The captains organize a group of 8-10 guests to join

their section of the table, and oversee who brings

what. The Longest Table is technically a potluck,

so guests are encouraged to bring their own

food, plates, and silverware. Many guests arrive

alone, in hopes of striking up a conversation with

a new friend. Banikarim assured the event feels

welcoming and accessible to all, especially solo

attendees. “No one has to relive middle school,” she

emphasized.

On April 30, Barnard hosted its first-ever Longest

Table, a full circle moment for Banikarim. “Barnard

was where I found my voice and my community,”

she said. She returned to Morningside Heights to

experience her own creation in the very place that

first launched her professional career.

Three tables stretched side by side across Futter

Field, a vibrant flurry of students, faculty, staff,

alumnae, and friends. Roughly 400 guests attended,

many of whom brought decorations to personalize

their sections of the tables — balloons, hydrangeas,

eucalyptus, pinatas, and paper crowns. The event

was catered by Chartwells, Barnard’s dining

36

services, with an

inclusive menu offering

gluten-free and vegan

options.

Though the sky

was overcast, spirits

were bright. Chatter

sounded around the

field as attendees

intermingled,

exchanging both

pleasantries and

contact information.

“It was a pleasure to

be back on Barnard’s

campus and to see

firsthand all of the

wonderful changes taking shape. Walking through campus and gathering over

a shared meal made it especially meaningful to reconnect with members of

the Barnard community and meet new faces,” said Cindy Lee ’11. “The sense

of energy and engagement was palpable, and it was a lovely reminder of how

much I enjoyed my time there nearly 15 years ago.”

The day marked a resounding success, filled with connections both new and

old, as a tradition took root on Barnard’s campus.

"The [event] gives an incredibly dynamic two-hour shape to something that’s

always true about Barnard. That is: we are a garrulous, joyful, disagreeing,

loving, incredibly protective, proud, diverse, and inclusive community," said

A-J Aronstein, Vice President of Community Engagement and Lifelong Success.

And this isn’t the first time Barnard students have been involved with The

Longest Table — two students interned for the organization back in 2025, Dalina

Cao ’28 and Shreya Shivakumar ’25.

“Over the summer, I was lucky enough to see Maryam in action, bringing

people together and cultivating an environment of trust and authenticity,” said

Cao. “Community is now one of the most important pillars in my own life, and

I have Maryam to thank for showing me how wonderful it is.”

Mary Rocco, Director of Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement and

Inclusion at Barnard, also performed research for The Longest Table.

“In 2023, my students and I worked with Maryam and The Longest Table to

measure the impact of the event. We found it not only reduced loneliness and

isolation but also inspired civic pride and increased connection,” said Rocco.

Rocco was instrumental in bringing the event to Barnard’s campus.

“Community connection is important to any city and neighborhood. The same

is true of our campus environment.”

BARNARD REUNION

In May, alumnae from across the country will return to Morningside Heights to

visit the place where they spent their most formative years. Some are local, like

Sarah Stern ’86, who will journey from the Bronx for her 40th reunion. Others

will travel thousands of miles, like Nina Shaw ’76 and Rebecca Lieberman ’16,

who will fly in from Los Angeles and Hawaii, respectively.

From May 28-30, Barnard’s campus will become a home again to alumnae,

whether celebrating their tenth anniversary or seventieth. The reunion will

give alumnae an opportunity to take classes from Barnard professors to pique

their love of lifelong learning, reconnect with former classmates or, for some,

connect for the very first time.

“I’m excited to see old friends and take part in

the festivities," said Stern. "Forty years! Being an

English major at Barnard has had a profound effect

on my life."

The three-day event marks one of Barnard’s

most beloved and anticipated traditions, bringing

together graduates across generations. Throughout

the weekend, attendees can participate in a

dynamic lineup of events, including faculty-led

discussions from Barnard professors Monica Miller,

Chair of the Africana Studies Department, and

Anne Higonnet, the Barbara Novak Professor of Art

History.

Guests can reminisce on the old while exploring

the new with guided tours of the Roy and Diana

Vagelos Science Center, Barnard’s forthcoming

hub for all bench sciences at the College, and the

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-

Being, home to the College’s innovative three-pillar

approach to wellness that helps guide students

toward achieving financial, mental, and physical

well-being.

Attendees can partake in the Barnard Alumnae

Book Club, with a panel featuring Mary Gordon

’71, Amy Blumenfeld Kamensky ’96, Hester Kaplan

’81, and Elizabeth Benedict ’76. Reunion goers will

also have the opportunity to screen the docuseries

To Marry Whom you Love, Or, Not at All, which tells

the story of how women drove the legal and social

transformations that allow Americans today to

choose their own paths in love, partnership, and

singlehood. The Alumnae Association of Barnard

College (AABC) Awards Celebration will also honor

and celebrate the achievements of the community.

For alumnae, reunion serves as both a reminder of

the lifelong community that Barnard built and an

open invitation to reconnect.

“My Barnard experience was revelatory, and I am

eternally grateful for the education I received and

the opportunities it afforded me,” said Shaw.

“I count my four years at Barnard among the

transformative experiences of my life,” fellow

alumnae Janet Bersin Finke ’56 said.

Whether Barnard community members

reconnect at Reunion, cross the stage at

Commencement, or gather around a long table,

coming together is an opportunity to honor the

past while continuing to forge a bold future. B

Photos (from left): Students, faculty, staff, and alumnae

gather around the table. President Laura Ann Rosenbury

is all smiles at the event. Co-founder Maryam Banikarim

poses.

PHOTOS BY JULIANA SOHN.


in life & on the bench

An alumna and her wife are believed

to be the first same-sex married couple

sworn in as judges in New York state

38


November, New Yorkers from the Bronx to Brighton Beach assembled to vote in the

IN general election. The pundit class watched and waited for the results, with most

focused on the outcome of a competitive mayoral race. But further down the ballot in Kings

County, another footnote in the city’s history was quietly being made.

In two elections, Juliet “JP” Howard ’86 and Norma Jennings CLS ’90 were named to the

benches of state courts, possibly becoming the first same-sex married couple to win judicial

elections in New York at the same time.

The successful election to the 6th Municipal District of Brooklyn’s Civil Court, which

covers much of Flatbush, Midwood, and Prospect Heights, marked Howard’s first time on

a ballot. Jennings’s election to the 2nd Judicial District of the New York Supreme Court,

covering all of Brooklyn, was her third.

Jennings had already crossed off an important judicial “first” — in 2025, with her

induction into Civil Court, she became the first elected Black LGBTQ+ judge in the

borough. Attorney General Letitia James spoke at her ceremony, reminding the crowd of

spectators that it was a historic moment.

Marriage to fellow judges might not be a measure of representation most courts keep,

but it is meaningful to Howard and Jennings nonetheless, signaling something bright and

hopeful for those who seldom see themselves reflected in the legal profession.

Howard grew up in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem, a short train ride north of

Barnard College. In the home was her mother, a clerical assistant turned court clerk, and

her grandmother, a domestic worker who did not attend school past the seventh grade.

Before “Bring Your Child to Work Day” was a common cultural pastime, Howard’s mother

brought her into the courtroom, allowing her to sit and watch the American justice system

play out.

For Howard, these moments planted the first seeds of inspiration for a legal career. “I

look back, and I think about how she made sure that I had the chance to meet attorneys of

color and judges of color,” said Howard. “The truth is there weren’t that many back then.”

In 1982, Howard was accepted to Barnard. It felt like a multi-generational

accomplishment, representing the sacrifices her mother and grandmother made in order

for her to succeed. She decided to major in English, and, during college, her professional


40

path started to become clear — public interest law would enable her to give back to others,

re-entering the courtroom as an adult with a new wealth of knowledge and experience.

After graduation, she soon went on to earn a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.

Howard and Jennings’s stories dance and circle around one another. Both were raised

by single mothers, but Howard is an only child, while Jennings is the youngest of seven.

Howard is a born and bred New Yorker; Jennings is from New Jersey. The two were the

first in their families to attend college (“I like to say that convincing my mom to let me go

was my first successful argument,” Jennings jokes.) Shortly after Howard graduated from

Barnard in 1986, Jennings enrolled at Columbia Law School across the street.

Their paths crossed at last when Howard started her first job out of law school. Both

Jennings and Howard were working as attorneys at The Legal Aid Society, and a romantic

connection was kindled at the office Christmas party.

“I guess sparks flew,” Jennings said. Howard claims she had a crush on Jennings first,

although Jennings doesn’t seem convinced.

The pair have been together “ever since,” Jennings explained, now over 32 years. Howard

interrupts her — almost 32 years.

Jennings laughed, “I’m going to get myself in trouble.”

The two remember being one of the first lesbian couples to raise children in their

Brooklyn neighborhood. Parenthood has been a “blessing” for them, but painful memories

of intolerance still linger. Howard recalled the excitement of taking their first trip with

their oldest son, who was then just an infant. At this point, state law had changed to grant

official parental status to each person in a same-sex relationship, but one member of airport

staff was incredulous, demanding to know who the mother of the child was.

“We both are,” they answered.

“I feel like we grew up together,” said Howard. “Now, to have these careers as judges…

it’s not something I expected. She’s believed in me and encouraged me through each stage

of the process, which I appreciate so much.”

As her legal career developed, Howard also established a thriving creative practice as

an author, poet, and educator, maintaining the ties to her Barnard English major. In 2011,

she founded the “Women Writers in Bloom Poetry Salon,” an open mic series and potluck

designed to celebrate and foster connection among women poets. Her next stop is the 2026

Barnard Reunion, where she is scheduled to be a featured speaker on the intersection of

law and creativity.

After a longtime civil partnership, Howard and Jennings wed in an intimate ceremony

in 2017. Their sons, now 28 and 21, visit them often at their home in Downtown Brooklyn.

Both subscribe to a simple vision of the judicial role: giving back to their communities.

Their shared time at Legal Aid was just the beginning of two dedicated careers in public

service. Howard went on to practice in the Elder Law Clinic before joining the courts, first

as an attorney and later as a judge in housing court. At the height of the AIDS epidemic,

Jennings represented HIV-positive individuals through work with the Gay Men’s Health

Crisis. Later, she held a series of judgeships in housing and civil court.

“I believe it is our duty to introduce young people of color to the court, and to show

that this is a profession to aspire to,” said Jennings. “There’s no set road to take. There’s no

requirement that a person go to college or major in political science to work in the courts.

This is open and available to everyone.”

Jennings noted that people’s first introduction to the court system is often negative. She

sees improving its image to the public as one of her foremost responsibilities as a judge,

intertwined with her lived experience as a Black person. Sitting on New York’s Equal

Justice Implementation Committee, where Howard was a co-chair, is a chance to reach the

next generation of legal professionals — showing young people the range of positions that

exist in a courtroom and the diverse groups of people who hold them.

That spirit of inclusiveness and personal connection is something the couple feels on

the bench. “Even though I’m dealing with difficult issues, I get a chance to listen,” Howard

said. “I get to make sure that a person feels like they’re being heard. I get to give them their

day in court.” B


FROM THE AABC PRESIDENT

#Grateful for the Lessons

Learned

Dearest Barnard Family,

I’ve been blessed, grateful, and privileged to be your

AABC President. To say that it was a unique presidency is

an understatement, but we made it one day, one semester,

one year at a time. As my term comes to an end, I would

love to share a few lessons that I’ve learned along the way

in the hope that we remain the #Bold #Beautiful #Brilliant

Barnard that I know and love.

Being in leadership has a distinct way of challenging

one’s convictions, second guessing one’s beliefs, and

testing one’s patience. Fortunately, Barnard not only

prepares women to lead, it gives them a community to call upon when things get

hard. As a community, we have had to make some very difficult decisions that

weren’t always well-received or most popular. Yet, through the process, Barnard

remains resilient and strong — a place that has always been there for us all.

Kindness matters. It is O.K. to disagree with one another — our different

viewpoints are part of what makes this such a bold, beautiful community

— but the ability to do so with empathy, respect, and kindness is all the more

important in challenging times.

One of my mentors has consistently reminded me to “keep the main thing,

the main thing!” And that’s exactly what I’ve striven to do. Because of this

position, I’ve joined a multigenerational theater-going group, been wildly

inspired at numerous programs and meetings by the alumnae and students who

are changing the world, expanded my network in immeasurable ways, and, of

course, taken countless selfies. ;) But you don’t have to be president of the AABC

to do these things; you only have to show up and focus on the main thing:

Barnard is a lifelong community, united across class years and generations by a

shared passion for supporting the best women’s college in the world.

I am grateful to be a part of this resilient, impressive family that continues to

show up. And with fondness I’ll share these poignant lines in our alma mater:

“There’s a college on a hilltop

That’s very dear to me...

With ties of comrad’rie...

And loyal be and true,

As we show to coming classes”

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this opportunity and these

memories. I will continue to #Live #Love & #Lead with #Purpose for Barnard,

even post-presidency. And I reiterate what I wrote in my very first article:

Women need other women to support, encourage, and cheer for one another.

Let’s continue to support, encourage, and cheer for one another while enjoying

the journey! Together, we will ensure that the future of our beloved Barnard

remains steadfast.

With gratitude and love,

Sooji Park ’90

AABC President, Alumnae Trustee

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOOJI PARK

42

AABC

Welcome to Millie’s Friends, the place for

introducing Barnard babies of both the human

and furry kind.

Top: Willa and Big Girl, submitted by Laura Geringer ’68 of New York, N.Y.

Eloise Mara, daughter of Natalie (Dicker) Fruchter ’20, granddaughter of Nicole (Adler) Dicker

’92, great-niece of Erika (Adler) Olshin ’95, niece of Isabel (Dicker) Gemara ’17, and niece of

current Barnard student Claudia Dicker ’28;

Middle: Theodore “Teddy” James Roberts, great-grandson of Lynn Rosenthal Minton ’53;

Om Ravi, son of Rani Karnik ’00 of Tampa, Fla.; Frederica and Nina, granddaughters of

Katherine Frome Paget ’67 of Brookline, Mass.

Bottom: Bella Luna, submitted by Rona Brinlee ’73 of Atlantic Beach, Fla.; Sunshine in

physical therapy, submitted by Janet Price ’71 of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Todo, submitted by Sheila

(Perry) Bassoppo-Moyo ’78 of St. Louis, Mo.; Rodin and Laura Modrey ’69, in Austin, Tex.

WE LOVE MEETING

YOUR BARNARD BABIES!

Send a picture of your child, grandchild,

niece, nephew, or pet to milliesfriends@

barnard.edu (bonus points if they’re showing

off their Barnard pride) and they could be

featured in Barnard Magazine.

Be sure to include your name, location, and

graduation year, as well as the child’s or pet’s

full name.


AABC

Meet Your

2026 AABC

Awardees

Each year, the Alumnae Association of Barnard College (AABC)

bestows awards recognizing the exceptional achievements and

contributions of members of the alumnae community who are in a

milestone reunion year. Please join us in congratulating this year’s

awardees.

For full bios, visit reunion.barnard.edu/awardees.

Service to Barnard Award

Erin Fredrick ’01

Service to Barnard Award

Rona Wilk ’91

Barnard Bold Award

Julie Scelfo ’96

Young Alum Award

Charlotte Powley ’11

Award for Distinction

Jeanne Fromer ’96

Award for Distinction

Yasmin Khakoo ’86

Millicent Carey McIntosh

Award for Feminism

Katherine Brewster ’71

44

TOKYO

BOSTON

DALLAS/FT. WORTH

PHILADELPHIA

WASHINGTON, D.C.

SAN FRANCISCO

LOS ANGELES

MADRID

SHANGHAI

NEW JERSEY

MIAMI

Welcome to the

Alumnae Community,

Class of 2026!

The Alumnae Association of Barnard College is

thrilled to extend our congratulations and invite

you to meet your new global family at Barnard

Communities.

Moving to a new city? Looking to network and

boost your new career?

Join one of our dozens of regional clubs across

the U.S. and around the world, and update your

information to receive the latest on affinity groups

and alumnae events in your industry.

PHOENIX

SEATTLE

Visit OUR.BARNARD.EDU/

COMMUNITIES

PARIS


CLASS NOTES

RACE TO

REUNION

GIVING CHALLENGE

THE RACE CONTINUES!

Philanthropy is part of our story, and through June 30, we invite you to celebrate your class’s

milestone while supporting the next chapter of leaders at Barnard by joining the Race to Reunion.

NEW IN 2026:

Classes will compete in three categories, with the winner being the first to be emblazoned on

trophies that will secure your class’s legacy for generations to come.

DIANA CUP ATHENA CUP MILLIE'S CUP

Awarded to the class with

the highest overall giving for

the fiscal year

(Annual Fund, named

scholarships, and specificpurpose

giving combined)

Awarded to the class with

the most dollars given to

the Annual Fund, our most

critical source of funding.

Recognizes the class with

the most participants.

Every gift counts, no

matter the size!

From supporting scholarships and faculty research, to maintaining the beautiful campus we all call

home, your Reunion gift to the Barnard Annual Fund ensures Barnard continues to lead the way in

educating the women leaders of tomorrow. All gifts, no matter the size, help move your class up

the leaderboards and put Barnard students on the fast track to a bright future.

Scan here to make your gift

and join the race today!

Race to Reunion: How Milestone Classes Leave Their Mark – Together

To see the latest class standings, create a match or challenge for your class, or learn about tax-smart ways to give,

please scan the QR above, email development@barnard.edu, or phone 212-853-8301.

46


Class Notes

PLEASE NOTE

Class Notes is now available

through a flip-book on the

Magazine’s website (barnard.edu/

magazine). A login is no longer

required for access.

Correspondent

Harriet Newman

52Class

Cohen’s memoir, Passion

and Power: A Life in Three Worlds, about

Harriet’s life and career as a divorce

attorney as she navigated the maledominated

legal world from the 1970s to

today, was released on February 19. It

was also the subject of a conversation

with President Laura Rosenbury on April 9,

2026, in Sulzberger Parlor. This sweeping

narrative details Harriet’s journey through

three worlds: graduating from Barnard

in 1952, raising a family at a time when

men held all the power, graduating from

law school on the cusp of the “divorce

revolution,” and re-fighting old battles over

women’s rights in today’s time of reaction

of retrenchment.

Anne Bernays emailed Harriet Newman

Cohen in March: “Congratulations on

publishing your memoir. I wish I could

come to New York to hear you read but

it’s not possible. Here’s to you and the

success of your book. Xxx Anne.” Anne’s

daughter, Hester Kaplan ’81, spoke

virtually about her memoir on April 21 with

the author Alizah Holstein ’98. Her memoir,

called Twice Born, is about life with her

father.

Ruth Gottesman emailed Harriet, “You

are remarkable! I congratulate you on your

accomplishments.”

Marlene Grossman emailed Harriet:

“Dear Harriet, Congratulations on writing

your memoir! You are amazing! My kids

have gotten sick of asking me to write

mine. Their decision was to hire someone

to talk with me and write them for me. He

came to see me Monday and is now writing

the first chapter. We’ll see how that goes.

Meanwhile, my movie-making grandsons

and I are in the process of converting my

150 lectures (Met Museum, Four Arts,

92nd St Y) into[podcasts]. If it sells, the

kids keep the profits. My family is well and

thriving. So, thank the Lord, am I. Warmest

greetings, Marlene.”

On a sad note, our class lost Ronnie

Myers Eldridge in March.

Rosenthal Minton

writes: “My big news is

53Lynn

the birth of my first greatgrandchild,

Theodore James Roberts,

on June 22, 2025. He is the son of my

granddaughter Rachel Minton and Jeremy

Roberts.”

55

Renee Fleischer

writes: “Unfortunately, I

lost my husband, Elliot

Fleischer, on January 12, 2026, almost a

month after our 71st anniversary and I am

now trying to adjust to my new situation.

I’m mostly homebound by arthritis and

other problems. I keep up with two close

friends from Barnard in our monthly

FaceTime meeting and keep happy

memories alive of Barnard College in our

day.”

Comini

writes: “Living in my new

56Alessandra

two-room abode at CC

Young retirement campus in Dallas, Texas,

where I continue to write and publish art

and music history mystery novels — see

Amazon! My latest is The Wagner Victims

and I’ve just finished the next one, The

Liszt Liquidations. Such fun and so fulfilling

at the age of 91!”

57Vivian Gruder writes:

“Do “Millie’s Friends”,

students and alumnae,

know about “Millie’s” important role at

Barnard influencing the future of Barnard

students? Barnard has not yet given

me the opportunity to make public that

information. I would therefore ask the

Barnard Magazine to permit me to explain

her historic role at Barnard, in particular

through the testimonials of Barnard

students who followed her words in

shaping their futures.”

Margaret Hegg writes: “This past

November I turned 80, a sobering

experience. I enjoy good health, four

grandchildren, sing with several groups,

and walk daily, aiming for three miles per

day. Still, I am going to too many funerals,

and too many friends are developing

dementia. This is part of the hard part of

getting old. And the horror our current

president causes makes it harder. One day

at a time, eh? Sending love.”

Francine Forte Abeles writes: “I

continue to edit articles for journals and

write chapters in books. My total count is

now about 100 items. My eldest grandson

will graduate from Cornell University in

Share

your updates!

our.barnard.edu/

classnotes


fantastic retirement facility directly on

Lake Washington, trying to be a good girl

as I work hard to get back on my feet.

Two wonderful sons plus wives and four

grandchildren, all out of college except

for the freshman at Wellesley, keep me

in touch with the exciting life in the real

world.”

From left: Martha Tolpin ’60, Roberta Cohen ’60, Berl Hartman ’60, Linda Kerber ’60, Susan Goldhor ’60

May with a degree in computer science. My

youngest grandson will enter junior high

in the fall. His interest is in the sciences,

particularly, physics.”

Tucker writes: “It

is with great sadness

59Jane

that I share the news of

the death of our classmate Betsy Ress

Jacobson. She was delightfully witty and a

warm and wonderful friend all these many

years. Betsy was married for 52 years to

Kenneth S. Jacobson (“Kenny”), who died

not long after her. They are survived by their

son, Michael, and three granddaughters.”

Richman Roland

writes: “In 2025, I made the

60Lenore

biggest move of my life,

and I’m forever grateful. Left our two-story

home in Windermere, Fla. (shared it with

my husband, Howard, deceased in 2024,

for more than 30 years) and relocated to a

senior community, The Mayflower, in Winter

Park, Fla. Now I live in a spacious twobedroom

apartment, stay fit with T’ai Chi,

chair exercise, ballet, and walking. I sing in

the chorus, take classes in art and French;

joined a poetry group, attend lectures, and

party. Still working on a full-length book.”

Judith Shapiro-Adamson writes: “Two

pieces of good news: My granddaughter

Georgia M. Paulos will be a member

of the entering class this fall. Second, I

have two step-granddaughters born and

raised in Madrid. The younger is studying

architecture, and the fourth year of the

program is spent in another country. She is

in Paris this year and I and her older sister

will be visiting in April. We had a great time,

the three of us, in Florence in December

2024 so we are exploring together again. I

haven’t been in Paris for 20 years.”

Berl Hartman writes: “On September 19,

the class of ’60 held a Zoom meeting with

Barnard President Rosenbury to discuss

issues of concern to our class such as the

threat posed to Barnard by U.S. government

intervention; new measures to combat anti-

Semitism and other forms of discrimination;

and the number and treatment of foreign

students.

“In October, classmate Roberta Cohen

attended a dinner in honor of President

Rosenbury and had the opportunity to

continue the discussion. Roberta suggested

that Barnard hold regular Zoom meetings

with alumnae to discuss ongoing and future

issues. The President thought this was a

good idea and said she would consider it.

On a lighter note, several Boston-based

members of our class, including Martha

Tolpin, Roberta Cohen, Berl Hartman,

Linda Kerber, and Susan Goldhor,

gathered for a Christmas/Hanukkah brunch

at my home in Cambridge.”

Eva Dietzmann Mader writes: “At age

88, one never knows what’s around the

corner. After an exciting 39-day excursion

to Europe with a wonderful, loving new

husband, the new year proved to start

with a health challenge, putting me in the

hospital and rehabilitation facility for two

months. But I’m back home now in our

J. Feingold

writes: “So, I am 86 and

61Susan

I am writing art songs on

subjects that interest me. I work currently

with two singers, both sopranos, one with

cello, one with piano accompaniment.

Right now I am writing WARPING [The

History of Physics in the 20th century],

featuring Einstein and his friends; one

of whom I knew (and I also knew the

astrophysicist whose student won the Nobel

in 2023). So this will be 3+3 songs, maybe

more. Not retiring, I do it all from home.”

62

Patty Tarallo writes:

“Have recently been in

touch with Alison Gibb

Swanberg and Kathy Mebus Toth, both

still stable healthwise and in good humor.

I toured the campus while visiting my

granddaughter, Livvy, who graduates next

year. So many changes, most notably the

interiors of the original buildings. We were

so fortunate to enjoy the graciousness of

the old dorms! I still knit socks, write poetry,

and keep out of trouble! Best wishes to all!”

Claire Tomlinson writes: “I have

published a memoir, 39 Claremont, which

describes my life from 1940 to 2009. My

father was born in Turkey and raised in Italy;

my American mother was raised in England.

The diversity of this heritage set the stage

for my education, understanding of culture

and class differences, all this in the context

of World War II and the changing culture of

the 1950s and 60s, which began to address

the contradictions on which this country was

founded. For more contact me at ctclairet@

gmail.com”

Carol Prins writes: “My husband and I

are trying to handle this growing old as best

we can. We realize there’s so many things

we can’t do, but lots we can! We’ve taken

advantage here in Chicago of a fantastic

48

Joan Freilich ’63 & Umme Raisah ’26 at Torchbearers

Chicago Symphony Orchestra with a brand

new conductor, Klaus Makel, who at 30,

is absolutely beyond fantastic! Museum of

Contemporary Art Chicago, the Goodman

Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and all the

other great things here in Chicago that we

participate in as much as we can! I was

very grateful that I have a star in front of the

Goodman Theatre and a big plaque with

Carol Prins and John Hart on it. It’s a real

honor and privilege to be on the sidewalk in

front of the theater, along with a few other

foundations and friends. We are limited with

traveling so the grandchildren come to see

us. We now have five grandchildren, so

pretty busy that way. If any of you come to

Chicago please look us up, I’d love to see

you.”

Correspondent

Joan Freilich writes:

63Class

“Our ’63 Zoom gatherings

kicked off the year with our annual New

Year’s event, this year featuring Barnard’s

Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Rebecca

Walkowitz, and a very special session with

President Laura Rosenbury, who brought us

up to date on happenings at Barnard and

spent an hour answering all our questions.

We extend our thanks to both Barnard

leaders for spending the time with us! Other

winter programs included a most informative

session by attorney Susan Pollack,

Planning for the Future — Everything You

and Your Loved Ones Need; a discussion

of the book The Friend, by Barnard alumna

Sigrid Nunez ’72, led by Naomi Wadness

Lerman, and our always lively Let’s Just

Chat sessions.

Umme Raisah ’26 has been the recipient

of the Class of 1963 Scholarship for the

past four years. As she nears graduation,

she sent us this update on her experience

and plans: “My name is Umme and I am

currently a senior majoring in computer

science and minoring in economics. I hope

to enter the industry soon and focus my

career in web/mobile app development

as well as UX design. I would specifically

like to use my technical skills in order to

help people, and ensure that the products

I develop are accessible to all. This

past summer I interned at a nonprofit

organization, and I am currently interning

for a healthcare related startup. I value

leveraging my skills and education in a way

that can benefit others. My time at Barnard

has exposed me to people from various

backgrounds, and these connections

have helped me navigate the hardships of

college. I am thankful to all of you for your

support and allowing me to experience life

at Barnard.”

We lost several classmates in recent

months. Camille Perrotta Hodgson lived

in Canada where she worked as an editor

and then as a fine art dealer specializing

in Canadian landscapes. She studied

voice and was a dedicated patron of the

arts. Camille was a thoughtful participant

in many of our Let’s Just Chat sessions.

Pola Auerbach Rosen was a lifelong

champion of education who for many

years edited and published Education

Update, a newspaper dedicated to

educational issues and dialogue. She also

organized many ’63 alumnae events. Her

family asks that gifts be made in Pola’s

memory to the Barnard College Annual

Fund.

The Class of ’63 extends its condolences

to their families, as well as to the families

of JoAnn Cohen Reiss and Ania Bojcun

Savage, who passed away last summer.

Write to us at barnard.class63@gmail.

com.”

Vicki Semel writes: “My first note ever: I

am a delighted great-grandmother and still

pleased to be working as a psychoanalyst

and psychologist both in private practice

and as executive director of The Academy

of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis in

N.J. where we offer regionally accredited

psychoanalytic certification and degrees

in psychoanalysis and counseling. I can’t

imagine retiring, which my husband is

struggling to enjoy from his pediatric

practice. Would be glad to hear from

anyone.”

Claude Forthomme Bonanno writes:

“All well, just moved back to Rome from

the countryside where we had taken refuge

during the COVID-19 lockdown. Then I had

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classnotes


MY BARNARD STORY AUDREY LIU ’01

Led by Questions, Not Answers

Small Moments of Curiosity Brought Me To My Current

Role: VP of Pro Design Tools at Adobe

By Audrey Liu ’01

I just spent a few days with students at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena,

California. In conversation after conversation, they asked some version of the

same question: how did you get to where you are?

The answer, at least for me, actually starts with what I learned at Barnard,

though it didn’t look like a path at the time.

I think about a studio class I took there with Lisa Yuskavage. We were painting

with ink, and the rule was simple: once the brush touched the paper, you couldn’t

go back. No undoing, no overthinking. You made a mark, and then you built

from it, even if it started as a mistake.

At the time, it felt like a lesson about painting. It wasn’t.

Let me try to explain.

I didn’t set out to work in product design, lead product teams, or end up

in technology at all. For a long time, I was simply following what caught my

attention, even when it didn’t seem to connect to anything larger. That instinct —

to pay attention to what pulls you in — was something that started to take shape

at Barnard, even if I couldn’t name it at the time.

After college, I took a job at Artforum as an advertising production assistant. It

was my first real exposure to graphic design. I found myself drawn to how ideas

became something visual and tangible, and I wanted to get closer to that work.

So I signed up for a night class at The Fashion Institute of Technology, just

across the street. The class was in packaging design. I liked it, but I kept coming

back to the same thought: I was more interested in what was inside the package.

My teacher noticed and suggested I look into product design.

So I followed that

thread.

I found a night

class taught by two

designers from Smart

Design. In the first

session, they told us

about a peeler that a

husband wanted to

design for his wife,

who loved to cook but

suffered from severe

arthritis. It was

simple, thoughtful,

and became iconic.

When I heard that

story, something

clicked. It was

the first time I

understood design as

more than aesthetics.

It was about paying

attention to people

and building

something that made

their lives better. That was enough for me. I applied

to ArtCenter, in Pasadena I got in and then I had

to figure out how to actually put my new dream in

motion.

I took out loans, moved across the country, and

walked into studio classes surrounded by students

who could sketch with confidence. I couldn’t. It was

humbling.

But I had ideas, and I was willing to work. Over

time, the gap closed. Confidence followed.

That pattern showed up again later in my career.

Years after ArtCenter, I was preparing to move to

New York for a larger role at a consulting firm when

I felt pulled toward something I hadn’t tried yet. I

had spent nearly a decade around the tech industry

without ever working inside a tech company.

I took a role at a startup called Thumbtack. It was

a step back in title and salary, and it came a week

before the move. Six weeks in, the head of design

left, and I was handed the team. I had to learn

quickly how to build a team, define a culture, and

ship products. I made mistakes, figured things out,

and eventually grew into the role.

That experience led me to Lyft, where I led the

design and research team, moved into a general

manager role, and eventually to Adobe, where I now

lead the Pro Design Tools category overseeing teams

building products used by millions of creatives

every month.

It would be easy to tell this story as if it were a

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUDREY LIU

50

series of deliberate decisions. In reality,

though, it feels more like a series of things

I chose to follow. Interests, questions, small

moments of curiosity that turned into

something bigger over time.

That way of moving through the world

really began at Barnard.

I arrived intending to be an economics

major and graduated with a degree in Art

History and Visual Arts. At the time, it felt

like a deviation. In retrospect, it was the

beginning of learning how to trust what

interested me, even when it didn’t fit a

clear path.

On the last day of my First-Year Seminar,

the late Natalie Kampen handed each

of us a handwritten letter, not about

the course, but about life. Mine was an

invitation to take more risks, to be louder,

to open myself up to exploration, and to

treat growth as something essential, not

optional. I didn’t fully understand it then,

but I’ve spent the years since trying to live

up to it.

Barnard didn’t give me a map. It taught

me how to move without one. To pay

attention to what pulls me in, to question

what’s in front of me, and to keep going

even when the full picture isn’t clear.

It also gave me a community of women

who were each finding their own way.

Many of those friendships have endured

through career changes, moves, raising

families, and all the stretches where the

path felt uncertain. Watching those lives

unfold in different directions has been

a constant reminder that there isn’t one

version of a meaningful life.

When I think back to those recent

conversations I had at ArtCenter, I

understand what the students were really

asking for. I just don’t think there’s a clean

answer.

Looking back, the moments that

mattered most were often the ones that

didn’t seem especially strategic at the

time. A night class across the street. A

conversation with a teacher. A decision

that didn’t quite make sense on paper.

They only became meaningful later,

once there was enough distance to connect

them.

And even now, it doesn’t feel like

a finished story. Just one that’s still

unfolding. B

cataract surgery that was successful. So I’m

all set to see any of you should you pass

through Rome this year!”

Metzger writes:

“My Chicago Community

64Hallie

Chorus recently had the

honor of singing at a celebration of the life

of Jesse Jackson. It was moving to hear the

testimonials about the impact he had had

on minority communities, especially on boys

of single mothers for whom he became a

father figure.”

Daisy Merey writes: “I just received

the highest honor of the American

Obesity Association: Master Fellow of the

Association. There are only 31 people who

have received this award. I am already a

diplomate and a Fellow of the Association.

I am still working part time as a physician.

On a nice note, we hosted President

Rosenbury and Barnard alumnae in our

condominium. She explained that a needed

new building for the sciences would require

fundraising. My granddaughter, also a

Barnard graduate, is getting married in May!

If she has a daughter, she will be a fourth

generation Barnard student!”

Loraine Alterman Boyle writes:

“Last fall, my late husband Peter Boyle

was honored on the 30th Anniversary

Everybody Loves Raymond special

streaming on Paramount. Since his death

from myeloma in 2006, I’ve served on the

board and chaired 15 comedy galas for the

International Myeloma Foundation and coproduced

shows on Broadway like Memphis

and Beautiful. Two young granddaughters

also keep me happy. Before meeting Peter

I was a rock writer and editor. My stories

under Loraine Alterman byline can be

found on rocksbackpages.com”

There will be an exhibition at Dia

Chelsea October 2026 of videos by David

Lamelas and Hildegarde Duane.

Kreisman

Bernstein just published

65Paula

a medical thriller, Remote

Control, set at the beginning of robotic

surgery. After a 30-year career as an OB/

GYN, she has spent much of her retirement

writing medically themed mysteries. She

is the author of the nine-volume Hannah

Kline series, and her short stories have

been published in multiple anthologies and

magazines.

66Janet Sullivan writes:

“Hello classmates: I still

love living on my own on

the Upper West Side, the neighborhood

in which I was born. I am a singer, pianist,

and music therapist and continue to make

music at home daily, both singing and

playing. I have investigated continuing care

communities and have a terrific, local social

worker, I haven’t moved (yet) for both social

and financial reasons. I see local friends

and am in touch with Barnard classmates

who don’t live nearby. Life still feels rich.”

Jane Altman writes: “Last December I

attended an event honoring our classmate

Linda (Teicher) Milstein, at CHHANGE —

the Center for Holocaust, Human Rights,

& Genocide Education at Brookdale

Community College in N.J. Linda has a

long history of volunteer work with this very

worthy institution. In October, Linda, Susan

(Applebaum) Milstein and I got together.

Next door freshman neighbors, we have

remained friends for the past 60 years,

even though, unlike them, I did not marry a

Milstein!”

Phyllis Selter writes: “I retired in 2024,

after 47 years at a NHC. I am a hospice

volunteer, an inpatient hospice and a baby

cuddler in the special care nursery at MGH

in Boston. My husband, a psychiatrist,

does 30 hours/week of psychotherapy.

A granddaughter is graduating from the

Newhouse, her brother a sophomore

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classnotes


CLASS NOTES

premed at Northeastern. Four others are

in high school and middle school. My three

sons are happily married, to successful

women, and are successful in their own

careers. Getting older is not for the faint of

heart.”

Rubin writes: “At 80,

I have reached the age

67Irene

when one boasts about

what one still does, as opposed to whining

about what one can no longer do (or eat). I

still work out regularly, and I still make my

own bread. I recently made a good (if I say

so myself) pumpernickel loaf. I still practice

my Spanish every day on the computer.

We are seriously considering moving to

congregate living. We are getting rid of stuff

accumulated through a lifetime. Transitions

are difficult.”

Arouca Press has recently published

The Four Cardinal Virtues by Belgian

philosopher and social critic Marcel De

Corte, translated from the French by Inez

Fitzgerald Storck. Her husband contributed

an introduction. According to De Corte,

much of the malaise of what he refers to

as a “dis-society” stems from the fact that

these virtues are ignored. Inez previously

translated De Corte’s On the Death of a

Civilization.

Alice Notley, the much lauded, deceased

poet and recipient of the prestigious Ruth

Lilly Poetry Prize in 2015, was mentioned

in an article in the real estate section of

the 3/21 New York Times. The article

depicted the rent-stabilized, somewhat

dilapidated apartment of Richard Hell, a

musician, writer, and poet, who was a friend

of Notley’s husband, poet Ted Berrigan.

The latter sent Hell a postcard illustrated

by Notley, which included a portrait of her

husband. The article is online.

Philipson writes:

“I recently experienced

69Daphne

the joy of attending

Barnard’s Athena Film Festival once again

for its 16th year. So many excellent films,

many directed, produced or about Barnard

alumnae. It really is a wonderful threeday

event — seeing the films but also

connecting with Barnard alumnae from

all classes and connecting with current

students. Barnard seems to be highly

represented in the entertainment industry.”

Laurie Modrey writes: “I take classes at

the Laguna Gloria sculpture garden and art

school in Austin, Texas.”

Kiely Kelleher

writes: “Whoever said life

70Camille

slows down in retirement?

I was recently elected president of the

Order of Malta Worldwide Relief-Americas

(known as Malteser International Americas).

I take over as we scramble to find funding

to restart projects in Latin America affected

by the shuttering of USAID and State

Department foreign aid. Lots of meetings

and Zooms. The bright side, though, is that I

am meeting new people and traveling more.

Just wish I had taken Spanish at Barnard!”

Catherine McDavid Smith writes:

“Enjoying retirement by traveling. I have

cruised to Alaska, around Sicily, and will

be touring the Baltic countries next. I saw

enormous humpback whales up close in

Hawaii and grey whales in Alaska. Such

magnificent and huge creatures. Feeling

very fortunate to be able to see the world

and its extraordinary creatures.”

Lynn Pollak Golumbic ’75 writes to inform

us of the loss of Beth Moore Long. “Over

the last 20 years, Beth was deeply involved

in genealogical research, first doing

physical research in archives and libraries,

for many people, myself included, while

she lived in Budapest, Hungary. After she

moved back to the States she continued

her work, developing a special subspecialty

in Hungarian Jewish genealogy. And she

pioneered some unique approaches using

DNA research. I worked closely with her

on two large such projects. In one she

managed to identify 24 separate family

groups and how they were related, solving

years of correspondence between the

participants. Over her genealogy career

she literally helped thousands of people

solve genealogy issues. She is survived by

a daughter, Katherine Welch, sister Anne

Campbell, and two grandsons.”

71Cheryl Weiner writes:

“Looking forward to the

55th Reunion for our

class. Proud of BCVoices winning multiple

awards for its documentaries, which will be

a highlight, and for Katherine Brewster as

CEO. I’m anticipating sharing joys, blues,

and news with classmates. I want to witness

the growth of the spiritual vision and the

material additions to the campus. I want

to welcome in my third-of-the-century with

new enthusiasm and energy along with my

peers. To our theme: Reflection, Resilience,

Renewal, and beyond.”

Patricia Auspos has written a fascinating

book: Breaking Conventions — Five

Couples in Search of Marriage-Career

Balance at the Turn of the Nineteenth

Century. Pat chronicles the trade-offs

that seem familiar to us now, but were

path-breaking in 1900. Pat’s book can be

purchased from OpenBook Publishers,

available also as an e-book, and online for

free at http://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0318

Sally Button, who met Pat on 8Reid in

the first week of freshman year, reports

that Pat researched her book in New York,

Chicago, Cambridge, Wellesley, London,

Liverpool, Germany, and Switzerland.

Pat, who holds a doctorate in history from

Columbia, found her “marriage-career

balance” with her husband Jim Riccio, and

her children Matt and Elena, while working

at the Aspen Institute Roundtable on

Community Change.

Carrie Menkel-Meadow and her

husband, Robert Meadow, are lead

producers in a play (Poetry for the People:

The June Jordan Experience) about famous

Barnard alumna, civil rights activist and

poet, June Jordan ’57, at the Fountain

Theatre in Los Angeles, and traveling to

other venues. This is their fourth theatre

production. Their fifth, the play Ascent,

written by playwright Henry Ong, and

directed by Diana Wyenn, opens in L.A.

in May 2026 at the Skylight Theatre in

Hollywood and is the story of Chinese

physicist Qian Xuesen (Tsien Hsue-shen)

who, after helping to found Jet Propulsion

Lab and working as a physicist at Cal Tech,

and serving as a rocket scientist for the U.S.

in World War II, was deported to China,

where he led the development of Chinese

52

rockets that eventually were used against

the U.S. in the Iraq war — a history story

with relevance for today. Carrie remains

a full-time law professor at University of

California, while using semi-retirement for

a second career as a theatrical producer.

If you live in SoCal, come see these

important pieces! Write to cmeadow@law.

uci.edu for more information.

Esther Amini was the keynote speaker

at The Jewish Historical Society of Greater

New Haven on March 22. She discussed

her timely memoir Concealed: Memoir of a

Jewish-Iranian Daughter Caught Between

the Chador and America.

Kerzner writes:

“Lynn Pollak and I and

75Rae

our husbands, Marty

Golumbic and Gary Kerzner, had each

separately planned vacations in Panama in

January, unaware of each other’s plans. It

turned out serendipitously that we were in

Panama the same week, and were able to

spend a wonderful day together, visiting a

museum and a nature preserve. We ended

up at a lovely kosher restaurant. It was a

terrific respite from the real world, and a

continuation of a long friendship.”

Correspondent

Sally Brender Seymour

72Class

writes from her current

trip, traveling through Charleston,

Savannah, and St. Augustine, after her

trip to Egypt was cancelled by the tour

company. Hopefully the upcoming interfaith

trip to Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia will be a

go. “I encourage class members to stay in

touch with me at Sallysey@aol.com as we

gear up to our 55th next year!”

Stephanie Barron writes: “In September,

we celebrated the marriage of my son Max

Rifkind-Barron (CC’11, MFA GSAS’18). This

January marked my 50th anniversary at Los

Angeles County Museum of Art. As senior

curator and department head of modern art,

I have enjoyed a long career of building the

collection and organizing exhibitions and

publishing catalogues. It’s rare to spend

most of one’s career at a single institution

and be able to witness the impact of one’s

work.”

Ruth Steinberg writes: “Sudden

gallbladder attack led me to the Weill/

Cornell ER in February. Bad news — they

paid little attention to me as I got sicker and

finally went into septic shock. Good news —

they revived me and I am alive. I now await

surgery and hope to be able to deliver more

good news in the next issue. Otherwise,

check the obits.”

Goldie Alfasi-Siffert writes: “My son,

David Alfasi Siffert, a life-long New Yorker,

is running for New York State Assembly in

the 66th District. He is a lawyer, progressive

Democrat, anti-racist and feminist, and

has been a community activist for many

MIchelle Friedman '74

years. He teaches about state legislature

and policy at NYU Law School. For more

information, please go to his website www.

siffertforassembly.com.”

Knight was recently

in a NYC concert featuring

74Celia

the Voices of New York

Chorus. Three former Barnard classmates

attended. Four weeks later, she joined the

Barnard College Club for a docent-led tour

of Sixties Surreal at the Whitney Museum.

This show was a fresh take on art during

the 1960s. She also enjoyed visiting the WP

Theater to see The Waterfall, a compact,

two-woman play by Phanésia Pharel ’21.

Linda Spiegel writes: “Proud to share

that I was inducted into the National

Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.”

Michelle Friedman is delighted to

announce the publication of Divine Corners

this May. Available on Amazon, her memoir

paints a picture of little-known Jewish farm

life and explores identity, family struggle,

and what makes one person break while

another survives.

(Krupp) Ketai

writes: “Having fun on a

76Deborah

short-term contract as an

organizational change manager with CVS

Health. My first poetry chapbook, A Matter

of Taste: Poems of Hunger and Thirst,

recently won the Brian Fugett Memorial

Prize and has been published by the

ironically titled Citizens for Decent Literature

Press. In the past month, two of my sonnets

also appeared in an anthology, and my

poem, “The Immigrant” came out in the

Hartford Arts Pages. Another poem, “Live

long enough, and life becomes a Turner

seascape,” will soon appear online in The

Paddock Review.

Amy Cohen writes: “My ensemble, the

N.Y. Flute Trio, performed at Weill Recital

Hall, Carnegie Hall, on April 11. Recently

played with the BCCO in two children’s

concerts at the Brooklyn Museum. I manage

Cohen Stine Kapoor, a NYC boutique

matrimonial and family law firm founded by

my mother, Harriet Newman Cohen ’52. I

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classnotes


CLASS NOTES

helped edit her memoir, Passion & Power

(Bloomsbury) and I designed the book

cover. My Park Slope brownstone includes

a one-bedroom Airbnb — happy to hear

from classmates interested in a short-term

stay.”

Racht writes:

“Fifty years ago, Marcia

77Theresa

Felth, Anne Daniels,

and I arrived in Paris for our spring Reid

Hall program. Beth Pendergast frequently

visited from her program. Lessons were

taught at Reid Hall by local academics like

philosopher Tzvetan Todorov, plus one

local university course. Our classrooms

were the cafes, parks, museums, Paris

itself! The most enduring lesson: living

abroad. That spring was one of our most

wonderful Barnard experiences.”

Maria Foscarinis writes: “I’m happy to

report that my book, And Housing for All,

was published last June and has been well

received. Check out media and reviews on

my new website! In 2021, I stepped down

from leading the National Homelessness

Law Center, the organization I founded in

1989; my successor is a fabulous fellow

Barnard grad, Antonia Fasanelli ’96. This

April and May, I’ll be in Brazil on a Fulbright,

teaching at a University there. My husband,

Nathan Stoltzfus, will join me; our cat,

Mauvaki, will stay home.”

Christina Villa writes: “Retired two years

ago, not entirely by choice. I liked it for the

first six months, but now see it as just a long

tunnel at the end of which is non-existence,

so I’m involved in a bunch of volunteer

activities with the hungry and homeless in

New Haven, plus trying to help out some

artists. About twice a month, I attempt

learning Latin. My current companion

is Daisy, a one-eyed Bassett Hound.

Dismayed by the ever more witlessly

corporate tone of Barnard communications.”

McHarry writes:

“After working 36 years as

78Laney

a clinical social worker, I

am finally retired! Having reached 70, it was

time. Have to say it feels wonderful to be

able to sleep in, read, and watch Netflix. No

big trips yet but Kate and I are pondering

Ilise Feitshans ’79

some choices. In the meantime, we are

enjoying walking our dog Milo and going to

local events. And we are glad the snow is

over here in Maryland!”

Judge Laurel Myerson Isicoff writes:

“After 20 years serving as a United States

Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District

of Florida, I am retiring on May 31, 2026.

I was honored (and also chagrined since

it was already 2006) to serve as the first

woman on the SD Fl bankruptcy bench. In

2016, I became the first woman to serve

as Chief Judge of the SD Fl bankruptcy

bench, a position I held for seven years. I

am looking forward to spending time with

my two granddaughters in New Jersey

and traveling the world, hopefully with my

husband who promises to retire too.”

Class Correspondent Tirza Wahrman

writes: “Congratulations, Laurel, on your

remarkable career. May you inspire

many outstanding women leaders and

judges who follow in your footsteps! In

other class news, thanks to the relentless

organizing of classmate Jacqueline

Linden, a group of us gathered to attend

the Athena Film Festival in early March.

Classmates Suzanne Berger, Gabrielle

Porter Dennison, Emily Gaylord

Martinez, Hillary Weisman, Karen

Lapidus and I enjoyed the first-rate films

on women cartoon writers, on the life of

Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas

and on E. Jean Carroll, the renowned

journalist. The festival provided a spirited

forum for us to reconnect on campus.”

Ilise Feitshans

has been teaching U.S.

79Dr.

Constitutional Law about

“what the President can and cannot do”, as

well as science and technology at the OLLI

program in Widener University… and she is

now a GRANDMA!

Victoria Macdonald writes: “At the

beginning of March, myself and my fellow

alumna Judy Kameny, took part in a 10-

day piano Intensive in New York City. Last

year, Judy and I spent a week at Adamant

Piano Camp in Vermont and this recently

brought us together with some of our camp

mates and gave us the opportunity to

experience new teachers, repertoire, and

techniques. We both plan to attend piano

camp again this year for a full two weeks.

It’s great having a Barnard friend in your

retirement who shares your passion for the

piano.”

Susan Polokoff writes: “Officially retired

in March 2024. We are enjoying our

new home in a 55+ active community in

Lakewood Ranch, Fla. (outside Sarasota).

There is enough to do without playing

54

Pickleball! Catching up on travel that we

put off for so long. This summer our plans

include Croatia and Switzerland. We also

enjoyed a full transit of the Panama Canal

and an Alaskan cruise in 2025. We visited

Portugal and Spain in 2024. Would love to

connect with anyone in the area.”

Flora Jordan writes: “Life is good! After

a great career on Wall Street (I retired

in 2019), my husband and I relocated to

Florida from Connecticut and are enjoying

the Gulf Coast. We travel quite a bit and

especially love trips with our kids and

grandchildren. We will soon complete our

goal to visit all 50 states! Volunteer work

and golf keep us busy.”

Rukhl Schaechter writes: “I’m amazed

to think that I’ve been writing and editing

for The Forward for more than a quartercentury!

After I was promoted to editor of

the Yiddish section (the first woman editor

of the “Forverts”) I focused my energies

on creating short videos in Yiddish with

English subtitles, including cooking demos,

jokes, and lively news reports. Our big

breakthrough was creating a YouTube

series, “Yiddish Word of the Day,” that has

already drawn more than two million views.”

Shelley Saltzman writes: “After teaching

for 41 years at Columbia University (or

“across the street” as we used to say), I

have decided to retire (and travel even

more).”

Jeanette Toomer has been extremely

busy and productive. Last year, she started

a podcast titled Free to Read, Free to Be

on Spotify. She wants all teachers, friends,

colleagues, and Barnard sisters to listen to

one or more episodes and leave feedback.

Also, she enrolled in a doctoral program in

Literacy Education at St. John’s University

in Queens, N.Y. Additionally, during March

of 2026, Jeanette read excerpts from her

book titled Precious Struggles at the annual

National Black Writers Conference held at

Medgar Evers College of the City University

of NY. On top of all that news, Jeanette

knows that she is blessed. Her cancer is in

remission!

80

Valerie Crown writes:

“I am happy to report on

January 18 I married the

love of my life, Robert Goetz. We finally tied

the knot after 21 years and live in Naples,

Fla. I am semi-retired from my law practice

and doing pro bono fee dispute arbitrations

and mediations for N.Y. courts. My other

news is I wrote the second half of a book

(started by my Mom) about her friend, a

Holocaust survivor. The book is historical

fiction and covers 1937 through 1989. If

anyone is in publishing, I would love to hear

from you.”

Lichty writes:

“My theater company,

81Jean

La Femme Theatre

Productions, is staging a revival of Wendy

Wasserstein’s An American Daughter,

directed by Sarna Lapine, from July 23

to August 6 on the Signature Center’s

Diamond Stage. La Femme’s Women

in Agency Festival (WIAF) returns this

summer, workshopping the plays of Abigail

Duclos ’23 and Tess Inderbitzin ’25.

Mikayla Gold Benson ’25 inaugurates

the Pendleton Directing Fellowship. Jean’s

Salon was inaugurated when I took four

Barnard women to Liberation.”

Sosi Vartanesyan writes: “After Barnard,

I got a master’s at Columbia School of

International and Public Affairs. After that,

a doctorate in economics at NYU. I worked

at Moody’s in New York as a sovereign

analyst, then two years in London, then

Paris where I have been living for the past

two decades. I worked in Paris at Amundi

Asset Management as a senior sovereign

analyst for 18 years. I just stopped

working, dedicating myself to photography,

painting and other artistic activities. www.

sosivartanesyan.com”

Laura Helfman writes: “Hello, Barnard.

I’m sitting in my lovely mountain home in

Barnard, N.C., looking at my outside family

of deer and at spring sprouting. The irony

of studying at Barnard and then coming to

live in a rural community of the same name

always gives me a smile. I’m still working as

a pediatric emergency doc (although part

time) and as a whitewater river guide on the

beautiful French Broad River (of Hurricane

Helene fame) which is 200 yards from my

front porch. I’m looking forward to attending

the next No Kings rally in San Francisco

with good friends and to better days ahead.”

Aghion writes:

“I’m thrilled to share the

82Anne

release of my new film,

Turbulence, a documentary memoir 12

years in the making. In the form of letters

to my mother who died when I was a little

girl, the film reflects on my choices in life

and as a filmmaker, to explore how we live

past the heartbreaks, sorrows, and traumas

we endure or witness and come out whole.

Turbulence is available for community and

educational screenings and in TVOD on

KINEMA (www.kinema.com) and on ARTE

(boutique.arte.tv) in Europe.”

Lesley Pratt writes: “I am retired from

managing fundraising technology at

Northeastern University. I got my EdD from

there at age 60. My hobby is making online

puzzles for a platform hosted in the United

Kingdom. I am happy living in Boston with

my spouse Sally; we;ve been together for

30+ years.”

December, Dr. Nadine

Orenstein was appointed

83In

a Knight in the Order of

Orange-Nassau. The royal decoration was

presented by Consul General Ahmed Dadou

on behalf of His Majesty King Willem-

Alexander during a ceremony in New York

City. She’s also teaching a class on Dutch

prints for Barnard this semester.

84Class Correspondent

Leila Lau writes: “Dear

classmates, I know you are

busy! Milestones may not come to mind as

Share

your updates!

our.barnard.edu/

classnotes


THE BARNARD STORE

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Millie Bear Tee | $30

Designed in collaboration with

Rose Fountain '28

Modeled by Fatima Bagom '26

CLASS NOTES

we zoom by in life, but there are things we

remember with pleasure. In these chaotic,

challenging times — what makes you

smile to remember is worth savoring… and

sharing. Here are some of my moments:

Fanny Chan was in NYC recently. We met

with 2 Barnard friends for a nostalgic lunch

at Tom’s Restaurant. Then caught up with

Muna Khan at a CU basketball game that

night against Princeton. Columbia lost, but

we cheered and had a good time anyway. A

trip in March to the Bay Area (to witness the

Total Lunar Eclipse!) put Rahel Jhirad and

me in touch again. The fun and easy banter

we had erased time and distance. There is

something about seeing people who “knew

you back then” (compassionately) that helps

you remember a part of who you are. The

people we spent so much time with early

in our adult lives, are often seldom seen

now. But not easily forgotten! When that

notice comes next time from Barnard, think

of what has made you happy, click that link,

and post it for your fellow classmates. Your

voice, that little bit of joy, interest, wonder,

is more important and helpful to others now,

than you may know.”

Owczarski writes:

“Recently attended a

85Karen

liqueur tasting with Barnard

in Washington, and the Hamilton Dinner

featuring Eric Holder and Lanny Breuer with

the Columbia University Club D.C. Alumni.

It was fun catching up with alums at both

events. I am consulting part time for the

National Park Service and am figuring out

the life-work balance, while officially retired

from federal service after working as a

trademark and intellectual property attorney

since 1988.”

Arce writes: “I

run Soledad O’Brien

86Rose

Productions and I keep

bumping into other Barnard women using

film to elevate the stories of people without

voice. There are three of us this year with

films nominated for an Academy Award. (I

write this just a week before the Oscars.)

Our film nominated for Best Documentary

Feature, The Perfect Neighbor, is on

Netflix and our film nominated for Best

Documentary Short The Devil is Busy, is on

HBO.”

Sarah Stern writes: “My fourth book of

poems, Dear Letters in the Red Box, has

just been published by Kelsay Books.”

Ellen Levitt writes: “My most recent book

has been published! Former Synagogues

of the United States was released at the

end of February by Wipf & Stock. This is

my seventh book and my fourth book about

lost/former synagogues.”

Anne Metcalf writes: “My first book, Old

Town at Home, Historic Alexandria Today,

an inside peek into a selection of homes

and gardens in Old Town Alexandria, came

out in December and sold out in three

weeks! A second printing is due out in

February. After nearly 30 years lobbying

for major museums and other nonprofits,

I’m enjoying this pivot and already thinking

about my next book! In other news, my

sons are both doing well. Jack graduated

from Wake Forest in 2024 and lives in

Boston, where he works for Canonical. The

international company is largely remote,

so the staff meet quarterly. Over the past

year, he’s been to Germany, South Africa,

Austria, and Sweden, where we met for a

long weekend of great meals and walks

in Stockholm and Uppsala, which as an

Ingmar Bergman fan I’d always wanted to

visit. His brother, George, is a very busy

sophomore studying real estate at Cornell

after graduating from Andover in 2024.”

Maerker writes:

“Thrilled to share that

87Melinda

I’ve launched a new

YouTube/IG series, “Voila Brigitte,” starring

Groundlings comedian Kara Morgan.

Brigitte is an irascible French woman with

micro bangs and a dubious circus past

making her mark throughout Los Angeles.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TprBoJOUnV4”

Eisenman, who

serves as head of

88Nina

corporate sustainability at

Nasdaq, was pleased to join the advisory

board of the New York Botanical Gardens

in 2026.

89Ayako Yoshida writes:

“It was so nice to finally

meet President Rosenbury

and staff from Barnard College, as well as

many familiar faces from the Barnard Club

of Los Angeles, particularly since we felt

distant from Barnard during the last few

years. Debbie Pearl ’73 described Hilma

Carter beautifully, bringing back many fond

memories of the very elegant and lovely

alumnae.”

Carole LoConte Tedesco had her

first solo show of her mixed media

artwork, “Ctrl+X - Ctrl+V” at Hood Park

in Charlestown, Mass., supported by

the Artists’ Group of Charlestown. She

continues to practice estate planning and

probate law at Tedesco Law Offices, P.C. in

Woburn, Mass. together with her husband,

Robert Tedesco.

Debbie Lovich writes: “A career

milestone coming up — after 32 years at

Boston Consulting Group, I will retire at the

end of 2026. I’m finalizing edits to a book

with reflections from my three decades

which will be coming out in late October

called, Make Work Work: The 5 Daily

Practices of the Employee-Centric Leader. It

is already available for preorder at Amazon

and Barnes & Noble so please preorder

one!”

Evelyn Rodriguez writes: “Celebrated

my year anniversary living in Cape

Town, South Africa this March 2026. Any

classmates in Cape Town who would like to

connect?”

Share

your updates!

our.barnard.edu/

classnotes


CLASS NOTES

2026 this spring! Dahlia plans to work

in a lab for two years and then pursue

a doctorate in neuropsychology. If this

is your field and you have any pearls of

wisdom to offer, Aviva would love to hear

from you.

Maddie Cornman ’92, Anne Farrar Hayes ’92, and Susan Berkley ’92

Murray writes: “After

20+ years in tech, I’m

90Jen

now a mom of a first-year

at Barnard, living across the street and

baking treats for students — coming full

circle! I founded Morningside Madeleines, a

small-batch NYC home bakery. Connecting

with people and creating moments that

matter is my passion. Oh, and chocolate

madeleines.”

Honorable R. Tali

Epstein, who was serving

91The

as a New Jersey State

Administrative Law Judge, was recently

appointed to be a New Jersey Superior

Court Judge.

Leora Danzig Leeder writes: “Hello from

war-torn Jerusalem. First there was Corona,

which slid into the October 7 Massacre

and the war with Hamas, and now we are

trying to live normally during this war with

Iran. Many of my patients refuse to leave

the house, for fear of getting stuck on the

road during a siren. My daughter has not

had in-person school since before the Purim

holiday. Thankfully, here in Jerusalem we

have less sirens than those unfortunate

citizens in the North and Center of the

country. So we try to have a routine, and

when we get the horrid sound on our cell

phones, join our friends and neighbors in

the bomb shelter below. In the realm of

normal, I have been elected again to the

Israel Chiropractic Society Executive Board.

My daughter in 11th grade has begun the

process of drafting into the IDF. As I grew up

on the East Coast and have never served in

the army — though I wanted to after I made

Aliyah — this is all new territory for me. I

feel proud and terrified at the same time.”

Berkley writes:

“I just spent a fantastic

92Susan

weekend in NYC with

Anne Farrar Hayes, Evelyne Delori,

Sarah Van Ness, and Maddie Cornman.

We went to a museum, roller skated, did

puppy yoga, saw Maddie in Marcel on the

Train, and spent A LOT of time laughing and

catching up. Nothing better for the heart

than a weekend with my Barnard friends.”

Melissa Duge writes: “My first book —

the memoir Holy Disobedience — was

published in March by Lake Drive Books.”

Aviva Patz is proud to announce that

she’ll soon have a second Barnard alumna

in the family. Her younger daughter, Dahlia

Reynolds, will graduate with the Class of

Low, senior

vice President and

93Sonia

chief legal officer of the

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, is

honored to receive the New York City and

State Trailblazers in Law award which

recognizes exceptional leaders in the legal

field who are carrying out their company’s

mission while upholding legal and ethical

standards and standing up for their

profession as well as maintaining the rule

of law in an era of uncertainty.

Sylvia Gimenez continues to lead the

communications, marketing and media

relations of a national affordable housing

nonprofit. She also serves on the board

of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop in D.C.

and as a professional resource to the

Arts Institute for Creative Advancement,

a theater tech workforce development

program. Recently, Sylvia took classes in

acrylic painting and screen printing; she’s

also still thinking about the endings of Clair

Obscur: Expedition 33.

Jamie Babbit just completed an Amazon

queer romcom movie, Red White & Royal

Wedding, in London and will be filming

Hulu’s Only Murderers in the Building in

London as well. Her daughter is graduating

from Barnard this spring.

Miller-Gertz writes:

“I am living in Israel with

94Gilan

my family and working

as editor in chief at TipRanks, a fintech

company. I manage a team of 30+ writers

across the globe and set the tone for our

market news and analysis. Our articles help

investors make smart investment decisions.

Additionally, I have become involved in

the leadership team of the Barnard Alumni

in Israel club, which was rejuvenated

last summer. We have already held two

successful events and have more planned

for the future.”

58

Finkel (Rafferty),

licensed clinical

95Heather

psychologist, in Jackson,

Wyo., since 2010, is training as a relational/

self-psychology psychoanalytic candidate.

She and David have four children, ages

13, 17 (twins), and 28. She enjoys pottery,

skiing, hiking, camping, yoga, meditation,

and volunteering with her therapy dog in

the oncology department. Her oldest works

at Phia, an AI-powered app that helps

shoppers find the best price on fashion/

clothing and shows if the price you see is

low, average, or high.”

Chloë McRae Gilgan

writes: “I am pleased to

96Dr.

announce that I am now

acting deputy head of Lincoln Law School,

at the University of Lincoln in the beautiful

city of Lincoln, UK. My book, Liberal

Democracies and the Responsibility to

Protect, Lessons from Syria, was released

by Routledge in April 2026. Sorry to miss

Reunion 2026 and catching up with my

fellow mighty Barnard people!”

Edie Carey writes: “My family and I are

still in Colorado Springs. I’m touring lots

this year at folk venues and house concerts

across the country. I just had a great visit

in Florida with one of my best Barnard

buddies, Eva Gilliam. She’s been living and

working in South Africa for many years, but

our work brought us to Florida at the same

time. I also recently met up with my dear

friend Sarah Miller Webb in Fort Collins.

I’m grateful for all the incredible Barnard

women in my life.”

97

Vanessa Daugherty

writes: “Living in Katonah,

N.Y. for four years now.

Our three boys are 17, 14, and 11 and the

oldest is starting his college search, which is

surreal (face melt emoji). I’m enjoying being

a partner at an Art Advisory firm, Zlot Buell,

and encourage any alum to email me if they

are trying to break into the art world. Always

love my meditation practice when I manage

to get myself into a good routine. Sending

love to the Barnard Community!”

Correspondent

Helen McClure writes:

98Class

“As I mentioned in the last

issue, most of us turn 50 in 2026. What did

you (or do you plan to) do to commemorate

this momentous milestone? I had a

champagne-and-caviar party and put a

couple of blue streaks in my hair.”

00

On September 16, Kim

Hedges became the fourth

person to swim the 27.5

miles from Santa Rosa Island to Goleta,

Calif., in a time of 19 hours and 24 minutes.

The swim was continuous, and she did

not wear a wetsuit. Notable events along

the way included dolphin and gray whale

sightings and briefly swimming through

a natural oil seep. This was Kim’s fourth

marathon swim in the Southern California

Channel Islands, and she always feels

fortunate to be able to swim in such a

spectacular part of the world.

When her stress and anxiety became

unbearable during the pandemic, Jenny

Mayo embarked on a healing journey.

She discovered the miracles of restorative

yoga (resting yoga for nervous system

reset), meditation, Reiki, sound healing

and other practices that helped her

rediscover her calm. Wishing she’d had

these decades sooner, she now shares

them full-time in the D.C. area and online

so others can feel better too! Find her at

jennymayomindandmove.com. She’d love to

reconnect with Barnard friends!

Kathryn Bezella moved to Hanover, N.H.

in late 2024 where she is now assistant

vice president and dean of undergraduate

admissions at Dartmouth College.

Walker Caron is

happy to report her 10th

01Sarah

book, The Pizza Planet

Cookbook, was released by Insight Editions

in March. She’s been busy with television

appearances and book events to support it.

Twenty-five years after graduating,

Nile Kurashige still loves hanging out

in greenhouses. At the University of

Washington Biology Greenhouse, she

cares for a diverse teaching collection. She

educates students and visitors about the

amazing things plants do, using fun signs

with plastic animal figures. She also often

tries to have dinner with Hadas Kushnir,

since she convinced Hadas’s family to move

to Seattle.

Hadas Kushnir is starting a new chapter

after her career at USAID. She moved her

family, husband Sandeep, son Aviv (age

11), and daughter Aliya (age 8), from D.C. to

Seattle to pursue their love of the mountains

and nature. She continues to work on

issues of climate change and conservation.

She’s happy to be reunited with her college

roomie, Nile Kurashige.

Jamie Rubin lives in Los Angeles with

her husband, Jonathan Gordin (CC ’01).

In February, they celebrated their daughter

Jesse’s bat mitzvah at Temple Israel of

Hollywood, where Jamie serves on the

board of trustees as vice president of

development. She was delighted to share

the special day with several close college

friends, including Erin Fredrick, Rachel

Bloom, Dina Epstein, and Annie (Lainer)

Marquit. Her connection to Barnard will

deepen even further this fall when her older

daughter, Juju, joins the Class of 2030.

Jamie is thrilled to welcome her into the

sisterhood.

Aditi Surana Daga writes: “Can’t believe

it’s been 25 years! Ankur and I live in New

Jersey, not far from campus. We started an

e-commerce business together and have

enjoyed working side-by-side more than we

ever expected. I’m still dancing and have

recently added skiing and mahjong to the

mix. Our daughter Riya is a rising college

senior in L.A., and our son Ved is a rising

high school senior at home — life stays

Share

your updates!

our.barnard.edu/

classnotes


CLASS NOTES

lively with them around. I’m also thrilled that

since I graduated, my youngest sister and

niece have attended Barnard, and this fall

my twin’s daughter will also become a Bear.

Grateful for the many inspiring women in my

life.”

Lumani will publish

her enemies-to-lovers romcom

Not Good Neighbors 02Violet

on June 2, 2026, with Entangled Publishing.

She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Raftery writes: “I

am the managing editor at

04Isolde

KUOW Public Radio (NPR)

in Seattle and just launched a seven-part

narrative audio documentary called “Adults

in the Room,” that has been #3 on Apple

Podcasts top shows. I’m in close touch

with Lesley Raphael (Wojcik), Sarah

Coco (Phillips), and Mayan Bomsztyk, all

baddies in their lives and careers.”

Veksler writes: “In

Memoriam: Sarah E.

05Inga

Cohen, March 7, 2025.

Lovely, caring, wonderful friend.”

06

Michal Richardson’s

play, Bigtan & Teresh Are

Dead, will be performed at

The Tank in NYC on June 8, 9, and 10.

Levine Heller

and her husband Danny

07Rebecca

welcomed their second

son, Ezekiel (Zeke) Harris Heller on

February 26. They are enjoying life as a

family of four!

(Aldis) Crispin

lives in Bangkok with her

08Vimala

journalist husband Shawn.

Their son Shay is headed to college this

fall and Dylan is working and studying in

Oregon. Vimala is Deputy Director of Child

Frontiers, a firm promoting the care, wellbeing

and protection of children. Much of

her work is focused on understanding the

growing threat of technology-facilitated

child sexual abuse and exploitation. She

practices and teaches Ashtanga yoga at the

magical Samasthiti Shala in Bangkok.

Laura Spiekerman writes: “I’m now

11 years into my fintech startup (still

chugging along!) and enjoying life with

two kids (ages 5 and 2). My husband Nick

Greene’s new book, How To Watch Soccer

Like A Genius, is coming out ahead of the

World Cup, which we’re all excited about.

The highlights of the last year have been

meeting up with Barnard alumnae for short

getaways, including in Palm Springs and

Half Moon Bay to celebrate 40th birthdays

and babies!”

Adrienne Stillman Krausz and her

husband Jake Krausz welcomed their

second child, Ada Marie Krausz, on

October 3, 2025. Ada joins big brother

Timothy (4). They continue to live in Napa

Valley.

Holloway writes:

“Very happily divorced from

09Lauren

a man. Thriving as a laterin-life

lesbian. Enjoying the challenges of

motherhood with a 3-year old.”

Correspondent

Kelly Ann Taddonio writes:

10Class

“I am still working as a labor

and employment attorney for the federal

government in Washington, D.C., and am

proud to report that I was promoted to the

role of senior attorney this past year. I would

love to connect with any Barnard alums in

the D.C. area — please reach out if you are

nearby!”

Miriam Manber writes: “I married Jacob

Berman in January 2026 in NYC, with my

Barnard roommates as honored guests —

Rachel (Blatt) Nadkarni, Sandra (Susser)

Berkowitz, Naomi Schachner, and Sarah

Schuldenfrei. Gabriella Ripoll (CC’10),

who introduced me and my husband, also

attended and signed the ketubah. When

not planning the fanciest party of my life,

I am currently a partner at the law firm of

Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP in

NYC, handling commercial and employment

litigation.”

Priyanka Javlekar ’17

Campos writes: “I

am working as a senior

11Vikki

academic advisor, First

Year Experience at George Washington

University.”

Henderson

married Guillermo Quintero

14Caroline

on a perfect fall day in

Savannah, Ga. last November surrounded

by family and friends (including Rachel

Mazur and Anna Marcum ’13). A magical

reception on the marsh followed, where

guests celebrated the couple over a low

country boil and the best key lime pie ever.”

Vasquez-Crede

graduated with a Master

15Alicia

of Science in Social Work

(MSSW) from the University of Texas at

Austin in May 2025. She is currently living in

Savannah, Ga., and would love to connect

with any Barnard alums in the area.

Ashley is in post

production with her film,

16Nia

Black at Barnard, a

60

he struck up a conversation with her —

in fluent Chinese. That small moment

sparked a connection, and soon, they

became study partners. Their shared love

for each other’s culture, music, dogs (and,

of course, Macroeconomics!) brought them

even closer. When the pandemic hit, Joy

moved into Henry’s home and spent ten

months quarantining with his family. From

that moment on, they built a life together,

never looking back.

Tiange Zhao ’22 and Henry Golub (CC’22) wedding

documentary about 100 Years of Black

scholarship at Barnard College. As an alum

and a legacy student (Michele Ashley-

Johnson ’88), it is an honor to share stories

of Barnard Black students, faculty, and

staff. She can’t wait to see everyone at the

reunion this year.

Cooper writes: “This

past year, I began a health

17Lyra

services research doctoral

program at UW and plan to leverage

Medicaid data in my research to improve

adolescent mental health care utilization

and outcomes across the country.”

Priyanka Javlekar writes: “Proud to

have my second Super Bowl in the books

as director of global events and business

strategy at the NFL, working on the strategy

and execution behind the league’s largest

global events.”

Xia writes: “I

recently transitioned from

18Cassandra

my role a private funds

associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges to join

Legora, one of the fastest-growing legal AI

companies in the world, as a legal engineer.

I’m focused on building and implementing AI

tools designed specifically for legal practice,

a space that’s evolving fast and full of

opportunity. Grateful for the Weil foundation

and thrilled for this next chapter. Would love

to connect with Barnard alums in law or

tech!”

Bayer-Yitayew and

Michael Yitayew (CC’19)

19Mollie

welcomed a son, Yosef,

in early 2026. The family is overjoyed and

settling into life with their newest addition.

Hodgson writes:

“Hello from Broomfield,

22Elizabeth

Colo.! Liz is working as

a chemistry teacher and enjoying her

new home in Colorado exploring parks,

mountains, and the city of Denver. Would

love to connect with any alums in Colorado!

Send me an email. :)”

Tiange Zhao and Henry Golub (CC’22)

were married on the North Fork of Long

Island in September 2025. Henry and Joy’s

love story began in their Macroeconomics

class at the start of their sophomore

year in 2019. One day, Joy was using a

Chinese dictionary app to look up a word

the professor had misspelled when Henry,

noticing her struggle, quietly wrote the

correct spelling in his notebook. After class,

Wang is developing

next-generation

25Zijing

sequencing products for

Roche’s SBX technology in the Bay Area,

where she is also navigating early-career

growth while exploring future directions.

As she adapts to life in California, she gets

her first driver’s license and continues to

enjoy combat sports, food exploration,

travel, and learning about personal

finance. She is passionate about adopting

computational power for the biotech/drug

discovery industry.

Share

your updates!

our.barnard.edu/

classnotes


In Memoriam

1934

1953

1959

1968

Marjorie Dixon-Miale

Unknown

Tenki Tenduf-La Davis

11/4/25

Evelyn Farber Karet

1/31/26

Mary Just Skinner

1/9/26

1939

Sue Hess Oscar

1/13/26

Carol Klein Rothschild

Unknown

Sonia Katchian

3/18/26

Elizabeth Wise Aleinikoff

Unknown

1942

Marian Heineman Rose

8/20/25

Helen Baker Cushman

8/11/25

1950

Barbara Gaddy Judd

3/6/26

Rosanne Dryfuss Leeson

3/1/26

1951

Eleanor Lewis

2/23/26

Beverly Yager Levy

2/7/26

1952

1954

Marion Siskind Liebowitz

1/6/26

Eileen Melendez Ortiz

3/14/26

1955

Eva Novotny

6/9/25

1956

Alice Salzman Adler

2/7/26

1957

Barbara Loeb Gordon

4/7/26

1958

Marise Suss Gottlieb

11/8/24

Frances M. Horak Caterini

2/21/26

Marilyn Levin Pet

2/24/26

Audrey Gold

3/14/26

Ann Roth Morse

3/25/26

1961

Marian Folk Safran

1/31/26

Sheila Siegel Lehman

7/27/24

1962

Diane Leinwand Zeller

12/31/25

1963

Deborah Lodge Irwin

5/19/25

1969

Margret Von Holten Cordts

3/20/26

1971

Elizabeth Moore Long

2/18/26

Amy Dolgin Jaffe

2/14/26

Nancy Pasachoff Kutner

11/24/25

1972

Betsy Nichols

3/23/26

1973

Guita Epstein Wilf

12/11/25

1981

Ronnie Myers Eldridge

3/4/26

Barbara Byers Littlefield

3/18/26

Ann Hoare Snowden

2/11/26

Irene Chrampanis Agoratus

2/20/26

Hilde Liman Limondjian

1/24/26

1964

Karen Black Burgin

3/17/26

1967

Deborah Finn

2/5/26

Linda Schneider Kehoe

10/30/25

Pauline Fung Wang

2/21/26

Meredith Waddell

2/12/26

62

TRIBUTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BARNARD CLUB OF LOS ANGELES

Hilma with her beloved Benny in their home on Skyline Drive in Los Angeles.

Hilma O. Carter ’45 Leaves $9.5 Million

Bequest to Barnard College

Carter’s gift memorializes her lifelong commitment

to women’s education

In March, Barnard College announced a transformative $9.5 million bequest

from Hilma Ollila Carter, a devoted alumna, educator, and longtime supporter

of the College. The gift, one of the largest bequests in Barnard’s history, will

help advance Barnard’s mission of providing bold and talented students from

all backgrounds with access to a world-class education.

Carter passed away on December 6, 2024, at the age of 103. Throughout her

life, she was a devoted Barnard alumna, and provided scholarship support

through the “Hilma Ollila Carter and Benny Carter Scholarship Fund.”

“Hilma O. Carter was a smart, tenacious alumna whose love for her education

inspired her to create more opportunities for future generations,” said Barnard

President Laura Ann Rosenbury. “This generous bequest, alongside her decades

of philanthropic giving, is a reflection of the woman she was — someone who

believed that education could unlock a person’s highest potential, that women

should help women to succeed, and that we should all strive to do good in the

world.”

Carter was born in Jersey City on March 4, 1921 and lived in a small

farming town in Connecticut until her teenage years. At Barnard, she studied

Spanish and was heavily involved in Barnard Theatre, participating in several

productions as both a cast member and production staff. In 1944, Barnard’s

junior class produced a yearbook that included brief vignettes to record each

student. For Carter: “Enthusiastic Spanish major… adores her department… plans

to teach… and help the betterment of the world… individualist, believes in practicing

democracy.”

After graduating from

Barnard, Carter went on to earn

a Master of Arts degree from

Columbia University and began

her career in education, teaching

high school Spanish in New

York for over 20 years. Later

in life, she was introduced to

the acclaimed musician Benny

Carter — an “unmatched” jazz

artist, according to The New

York Times. The couple married

in 1979 and remained together

until his passing in 2003.

Carter often said that

attending Barnard was the

best thing that happened to

her. After moving to Southern

California, she became a

founding member of the

Barnard Club of Los Angeles.

Her engagement transformed

the organization into one of

the College’s most active and

productive regional clubs, and

her service as treasurer led to the establishment

of a scholarship fund for undergraduates from

Southern California. In 2001, Columbia awarded

Carter the Alumni Medal for distinguished service

to the University.

“Hilma Carter was a dear friend of mine for

over three decades,” said Jillian Kauff, her estate

executor. “She was a very intellectual person who

was passionate about many things, from eating

well and exercise to reading and education, and

she loved her husband Benny deeply. She cared a

great deal about Barnard College, which provided

her with a scholarship when she was a student and

enabled her to have a great start to her teaching

career. She wanted to provide more students with

the type of support she received.”

The “Hilma Ollila Carter and Benny Carter

Scholarship Fund,” endowed in 2012, continues to

support Barnard students today.

“The Hilma Ollila Carter and Benny Carter

Scholarship has supported me with meaningful

experiences and opportunities that I otherwise

would not have been able to afford,” said Alyssa

Hong ’28, who plans to major in political science

and study abroad in fall 2026. “At Barnard, I’ve

received a one-of-a-kind education with access

to state-of-the-art opportunities, resources, and

institutions. I cannot put into words how grateful I

am — it is a dream come true.” B


LAST IMAGE

Blooming from Scars

by Angelica (Zhiyi) Zhou ’26

2026 | Digital Collage

To have your photography or art featured here, email magazine@barnard.edu

The Case for

The Barnard Annual Fund

Barnard was founded on a mission of

access, and remains committed to the

idea that personal finances should never

come between a Barnard student and her

dreams.

But while the unique advantages of a worldclass

Barnard education are many — small

classes, renowned faculty, access to Tier 1

research labs, and an individualized focus

on well-being and lifelong success, all within

the heart of New York City — they also take

significant resources, and nearly a third of

Barnard students rely on financial aid.

The Barnard Annual Fund provides

critical, immediate-use funding that sustains

the College's most vital priorities. These

unrestricted gifts support need-blind

admissions and financial aid, ensuring

that a world-class liberal arts education

remains accessible to all talented women,

regardless of financial means.

Because these gifts are immediately

usable, they allow the College to remain

nimble, responding effectively to an

ever-changing environment and the most

pressing needs of the Barnard community.

Why Your Support Is Needed

· 35% of Barnard students receive

financial aid.

· Barnard’s endowment covers

approximately 33% of the financial aid

awarded to students. 67% of financial

aid is covered by yearly operating

revenue, which includes the Annual

Fund, fueled by your support.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The College meets 100% of

demonstrated financial need for all

admitted students. More than $60M

in aid was provided in the 2025-26

school year.

Education and Experiential

Learning

Hiring more faculty, supporting new

curriculum, and adding education

experiences inside and outside

the classroom, including paid

internships, faculty-guided research

opportunities, and mentorship.

Spaces for Learning and Living

Meeting operating costs,

restoration, and expansion of

best-in-class learning facilities and

common-use spaces, such as the

Francine A. LeFrak Foundation

Center for Well-Being, The

Movement Lab, and the Arthur

Ross Greenhouse.

Your gift to the Barnard Annual Fund supports our ability to continue

the business of being bold, brave Barnard.

Visit giving.barnard.edu/annualfund to learn more

or to make your gift by June 30.

Barnard College Biology Professor Jonathan Snow's Bee Lab works to install 50,000 honey bees into hives on the roof of Milbank.


Barnard Magazine: Spring 2026

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