Class Notes

A Year in Review: 2006

by Dorothy Jones-Davis, 1998 Class Secretary

Winter 2006

Hello, dear classmates. I do hope that everyone has had a wonderful holiday season.

Our Winter column brings the following updates. 

Gena Binkley married Noah Benjamin Kotch on August 6, 2005 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Gena is a videotape producer in New York for “Nancy Grace”, a legal affairs program on the CNN Headline News channel.

Ann Lichter (Ochsendorf) married Erik Lichter on October 9, 2005 in Lake George, NY.  Ana De los Santos and Carrie Farmer Teh were bridesmaids. Ann reports that they had an amazing time celebrating.  After a two week honeymoon in Italy, they came back to Washington D.C., and the couple now lives on Capitol Hill. Ann has started work as an attorney with Hogan & Hartson, LLP, in Washington D.C., doing government contracts work and litigation.

Alyssa Langlais Dodge and her husband, E.B., are proud to announce the birth of a beautiful baby girl, Josilyn Finity Dodge. Josi was born on August 2, 2005 in Ann Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, MA.  Mommy, daddy, and Josi all report that they are doing well.  In other baby news, Elizabeth “Beth” Russo (Hokanson)  and her husband Frank, are proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, Peter Savino Hokanson Russo. Peter was born on August 14, 2005 in Providence Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska, weighing 9 1bs, 2 oz. Beth reports that everyone is doing well.

I recently received an update from Rebecca Irving. She reports that she still resides in France with her husband Vincent Viton, and is working as a Latin American Project Assistant at Lawyers with out Borders, France (Avocats sans frontiers), where she is able to combine her passion for international human rights work and the legal profession. Rebecca has befriended classmate Justine Firnhaber Baker Schwartz, as Justine was in Toulouse with her husband Mat last year. Justine completed her Ph.D. research in Paris, and Rebecca reports that Justine will be returning to the states any day now. Rebecca also reports that Jamia Sulayman is still in Paris studying at the Sorbonne, and I received word from Mijha Butcher, who recently visiting Jamia in Paris, that Jamia is doing well.  Mijha also sent exciting news about some of our other classmates:

Skye Drynan has been named the Head of Global Health Care for Credit Suisse First Boston. Miriam Goldsmith is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at MCG Capital Corporation in Arlington, VA. And, Tyree Oredein has just started study at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Piscataway/Brunswick for her Doctorate of Public Health in Health Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Finally, I have some good news of my own to report. My husband and I have accepted postdoctoral fellowships at the University of California, San Francisco. Please note the address change (don’t worry, my alum email still works!) if you’re sending pictures or mail correspondence.

Cheers to a Happy New Year for the Class of 1998! Here’s to more good news in 2006!

Fall 2006

As the leaves change color, we Wellesley women continue to embrace change in our own lives….

Cinnamon Stetler was married to Jason Hayden (Georgetown class of 1996) on June 23, 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia.  In attendance were bridesmaid Cassandra Culley Guillory ('99) and Stefanie Johnson ('96).  Cinnamon reports that she is completing her Ph.D. in health psychology at the University of British Columbia and will begin an Assistant Professor position at Furman University in Greenville, SC this Fall.

Sarah Stevenson is proud to announce her marriage to Darrel Menthe (Stanford Law, 1996) on August 6, 2005 in Santa Monica, CA. Sarah’s bridesmaids included classmates Olivia Kienzel, Catherine Nueva Espana, and Anne-Valerie Mirko. The couple currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

Virginia Licklider accepted a position in April at Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) in New York, NY as their Planned Giving Specialist for Estates. Virginia was previously employed at the Ms. Foundation for Women as their Endowment & Planned Giving Associate. Virginia writes, "I've had five good years at Ms., and it was time to move on. This is a big step up in every way, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Love to all." 

Catherine Cloniger Koontz reports that she met up with Lian-Marie Holmes when Lian and her mother were visiting North Carolina in early June.  Lian had just finished a sold-out run of Faust off-broadway at Classic Stage Co. in NYC before traveling to Italy in August to teach acting for dancers. Catherine writes, “As for me, in May of 2005 I earned my Master's of Education and am now teaching English as a Second Language in a local elementary school here in Charlotte, NC.”

Almira Torralba sends word of the birth of her godson, Lucas Darrow, son of classmate Alicia Meza Hilligas and her husband Aaron. Lucas was born on December 5, 2005 in Boise, ID. Almira sends word that Alicia is enjoying her work as an Admissions Counselor at Albertson College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID. Almira graduated from Notre Dame Law School this past May and will be heading to Phoenix, AZ to work as an associate at Fennemore Craig.

Susan Lilly Petersen and her husband Brian are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Caroline Grace Petersen.  Caroline was born on May 8, 2006 in Edina, MN, weighing 8 lbs. 15 oz. Susan graduated with her Masters in K-12 Curriculum and Instruction in 2003 from the University of St. Thomas, and has been teaching third grade for the past 8 years at both private and public schools in the Minneapolis area. 

Nancy Boren gave birth to Kevin Michael Boren Alperson on June 21, 2006.  He was 8 pounds 6.8 ounces and was 20 3/4 inches long.  Nancy reports, “My husband Gary and our 3 year old son Brian and I are all very excited that he's part of the family.”

Continue to embrace all of the beautiful changes that happen this Fall, and keep the news coming!

Summer 2006

Hi Everyone! I do hope that you are all doing well.  A little update on some of our classmates…

Juderns (Judy) Exceus graduated from Howard Law in May 2005. She recently worked in casting for a television show on the TV One Network, called “Get The HookUp”, an African-American dating show, reminiscent of the old 1970’s show, “The Dating Game”. Judy has recently relocated to Fort Greene, Brooklyn, but she spends most of her time commuting between New York and D.C.

Liany Arroyo was recently promoted to director of the Institute for Hispanic Health at the National Council of La Raza in Washington, DC.  I recently spoke to Liany, and she’s doing well and enjoying every minute of her new job, although she also spends a lot of time commuting to D.C. from Pennsylvania, which has been a challenge.

Our classmate and Vice President Gagan Khera graduated from The George Washington University with a PhD in clinical psychology and has accepted a post-doctoral fellowship at Boston Children's/Harvard Medical School with the Neighborhood Partnership program.  She also will be returning to Wellesley, as she has recently joined the Board of Overseers for the Wellesley Centers for Women.

Classmate Helen Alva reports, “The last year has been wonderful and filled with lots of change.  I married Jay Makadia (Harvard '98, HBS '04) on August 20, 2005 in Watertown, MA.  Several Wellesley friends were there to celebrate with us, namely Amy (Hochberg) Beaton, Amy Andermann Chickles, Jamie Eve, Therese Leung, Carleen Madigan Perkins, Catherine Tyrell, Marta Rainer, Vivienne Wan, and Jean Hynes ('91).  I also left an equity research position at Wellington Management in July 2005 and joined Genzyme's Corporate Development group in November 2005.  Jay and I are currently living in Charlestown, MA but are considering moving a few miles to Cambridge.”

Marta, who was in attendance at Helen’s wedding, is doing big things solo!  Her one-woman show, “Unaccustomed to My Name” received accolades from both the Boston Globe and MetroWest Daily News, when she opened in January at Wellesley’s own Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre on campus (a most appropriate venue). Unaccustomed is a portrayal of the character Sofie, who has just returned home to Warsaw, N.Y., after completing a Russian Literature degree in Chicago.  The show deals with Sofie’s internal battles as she tries to deal with finding out who she really is.

Classmate Jill Rubin was married on September 18, 2005 to Matthew Tilem.  The wedding was held at the State Room in Boston.  Wellesley alums included bridesmaid Elizabeth Graettinger, Maid of Honor Cara Bergstrom ('97), Kristin Spinola, Susan Glazer Yospin, Risa Weinstein and Jacqueline Gran ('99). Jill is Corporate Counsel at Fresenius Medicare Care and Matthew is a Staff Neurologist at Lahey Clinic.

Robin Broshi and Jonathan Howard are proud to announce the birth of a baby girl, Sadie Gertrude Howard. Sadie was born on August 17, 2005 in New York City, weighing 7 1b. 3 oz.

Ah, summer is here again. Here’s to warm days and cool nights!

Spring 2006

Spring brings news of weddings, births, new jobs, and exciting careers…

Amy Roy married Ryan MacArthur at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, on August 7, 2004 in Ludlow, Massachusetts. Amy sends word that she just accepted a faculty position in the Chemistry department at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD.

Vasthi Christensen married John Wilson (Harvard, ’97) on May 29, 2005. In attendance were Rachel Feigenbaum (’97), Francesca Cicero, who served as a Bridesmaid, and Vashti’s sister, Julia Christensen St. Pierre (’00), who was her Matron of Honor.

Suzanne (Henry) Brody and husband Marcus (Colgate, ’92) are excited to announce the birth of their daughter, Meital Ayelet. Meital was born in Jerusalem, Israel on October 9, 2005, weighing 3.24 kilos (7.14 lbs!). Suzanne reports that she “is having a great time watching Meital learn all about the world.”

Dokka (Holliman) Williamson and husband Headley welcomed their second daughter into the world on October 17, 2005. Kiera Faith was born weighing 8 lb., 3 oz. Dokka reports that “Kiera’s sister Alexa loves being a big sister!”  Dokka is currently in her residency in family medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Karen Beck Pooley sent word that she and husband Jeff gave birth to a baby girl, Keller Terese, on November 30, 2005. Karen reports that mom, dad, and baby are all “doing great!”

In other news, I recently received an email from Nora Culver. Nora graduated from the University of Santa Clara Law School in May 2005, and has recently started as an associate in the San Jose office of Littler Mendelson, an employment law firm. She lives in Los Gatos, and continues to swim, bike, and run, in preparation for this year’s triathlon season. 

Finally, I was pretty excited to read a news article about classmate Sarah Glynn. Sarah grew up studying piano, violin, and guitar. In college, Sarah was a member of the Boston-based band, Mazer Rackham. Her musical experiences altered her post-college plans from medical school to music, and now Sarah performs with the four-member rock alternative band, Echoset, which has been featured on national television shows. Sarah is touring around the country with the group. In addition to Echoset, Sarah also has her own Sarah Glynn Band, which has released two pop alternative compact discs, “Lucy & the Luck Band”, in 2000 and “To Sweeten Up”, in 2004, which received critical acclaim in the American Songwriter magazine. Keep rockin’ on Sarah!

Ah, spring is finally here, once again. I do hope that everyone is able to take some time to smell the proverbial roses, and to enjoy a bit of sunshine in their lives!