Wellesley In Phoenix Newsletter

On Tuesday, November 18, Oprah Winfrey will feature Julia Roberts and three other stars of the upcoming film, "Mona Lisa Smile," which tells the story of a fictional art history professor (Roberts) who teaches at Wellesley during the 1953-54 academic year. In addition to Roberts, the movie features Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Wellesley's own Laura Allen '96 as students and friends who are influenced by and who, in turn, influence their professor. The movie is scheduled for nationwide release on December 19.

A small contingent of Wellesley women attended the show's taping in Chicago. Six current student leaders, Associate Dean of Students Michelle Lepore, and Chicago trustees Vicki Herget '73 and Isabel Stewart '61 also joined the rest of the Oprah audience in an advance screening of the film.

Early buzz about the movie is positive. According to a recent movie round-up in The Boston Herald, "Roberts finds her commercial groove again after 'The Mexican,' while the Wellesley College campus with its beautiful settings also stars." The film's trailer can be viewed online at:

Wellesley's Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Susan Vogt, a member of the Class of 1963, died October 30 after a four-month battle with cancer.

A remarkable woman who never stopped learning and growing, she is remembered by family, friends, and colleagues for her creativity, candor, and generosity, and her diverse interests, which ranged from opera and orchids to hiking and puppetry.

A certified financial planner, Susan joined the Wellesley College community in 2000 from the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey where she had been vice president for administration and finance and treasurer for five years. Before her tenure at Stevens, she was associate dean for administration and planning at the Dartmouth Medical School from 1981 until 1995. She previously had served as a senior health care administrator in Vermont and New Hampshire.

In announcing the death to the campus community, President Walsh said, "Susan brought such a freshness, directness, and generosity of spirit to her work, and exhibited such extraordinary courage and grace in the face of adversity. Even in her dying, she was teaching us how to live. We will miss her very much.”

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 21, at 11:00 a.m. at Houghton Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Susan’s memory to support financial aid at Wellesley.

ALUMNA MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK '17 (MAYLING SOONG) REMEMBERED WORLDWIDE

Upon her death last month at age 105, Wellesley alumna Madame Chiang Kai-shek (Mayling Soong '17) was remembered as a savvy political leader, a powerful partner to her husband General Chiang Kai-shek, and a lifelong scholar and artist.

The Wellesley Club of Hong Kong held a memorial service for Madame Chiang on November 9, and the Taiwanese Cultural Organization, an on-campus student organization, is planning a panel discussion later in the semester.

China scholar and Professor of Political Science Bill Joseph was interviewed by Boston public radio station WBUR about Madame Chiang. His comments can be heard online at:

http://www.here-now.org/shows/2003/10/20031024_3.asp

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT WELLESLEY

There are several current employment openings at Wellesley that may be of interest to alumnae: Assistant Director of Internships and Service Learning in the Center for Work and Service; Program Coordinator for Special Programs in the Alumnae Office; and Public Information Assistant in the Office for Public Information. More details and information on how to apply can be found by clicking on Open Positions at:

http://www.wellesley.edu/HR/careers/

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