Pine Manor College Bulletin

2005·5.5 MB·English

by  Pine Manor College

Barbara Baldwin Dowd '69 Commencement 2005 Donor Report
and Jittery Joe's/Kalahari Pro-Cycling Team Reunion Weekend 2004-2005
Making the Right
Connections
Admissions
800-762-1357 or
617-731-7104
Robin Engel
Dean ofAdmissions and Financial Aid
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Development and
Alumnae Relations
617-731-7130
Susan Webber
Vice Presidentfor
Institutional Advancement
E-mail: [email protected]
Veronica Beauchain
DirectorofAnnual Giving
E-mail: [email protected]
Leah Chiavacci Shuldiner
DirectorofAlumnae Relations
E-mail: [email protected]
Joan Osterweil '50
DirectorofPlanned Giving
713-860-9820 (Texas)
E-mail: [email protected]
President’s Office
nurses 617-731-7101
police officers Gloria Nemerowicz
President
noYeli/t/
E-mail: [email protected]
Eugene Rosi
CEOs
ExecutiveAssistantto the President
lawyers E-mail: [email protected]
artiste Barbara Kirby
Assistantto the President
E-mail: [email protected]
senators
Centerforilsr
617-731-7620
The Leaders of Tomorrow
Whitney Retallic
DirectorofYouth and
Student Programs
Please Support
E-mail: [email protected]
Pine Manor College’s
RobertShea
2006 Annual fund. DirectorofFaculty Development
and Leadership Curriculum
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. E-mail: [email protected]
Public Information
617-731-7148
You can make your gift to the College by check or credit card.
PeterWoloschuk
Gifts may also be made online at www.pmc.edu/giving DirectorofMedia Relations
E-mail: [email protected]
For more information on how to make a gift,
please contact the Development Office at 617-731-7113
MANOR
Fall 2005 HE
pir
Volume LV
Number 3 Co '
Heg<S 'Bulletin
Editor
PeterT. Woloschuk
Assistant Editor
Features
MaryJane Higgins
Art Director Writing at PMC
Joan Kelley ’00
3 Solstice Writers' Conference
Designers
Joan Kelley ’00 by Meg Kearney, Director, Creative
Writing Programs
Karina Matyukhina
Editorial Advisors 5 College Composition at PMC:
Veronica Beauchain Polishing the Cornerstone
Eugene Rosi by MaryJane Higgins, Assistant Editor
Leah Chiavacci Shuldiner
Susan Webber
8 Focus on Emeriti/ae:
Printing Professor Frederick Converse Cabot
Reynolds*DeWalt Printing
9 PMC and Nellie Mae Foundation Co-Host Summit:
Front Cover Creating New Financial and Educational
Writing at PMC: Solstice
SummerWriters’ Conference, Models for Small Colleges
College Composition classes.
Professor Emeritus Frederick 10 Barbara Baldwin Dowd '69 &
Cabot
Jittery Joe's/Kalahari Pro-Cycling Team
1 2 Update: Scholarship of Teaching
Published by Pine Manor College, 400 Heath and Learning
Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467, USA, three
times ayear. Postmaster: Send address chang- by Robert E. Shea, Associate ProfessorofSociology
es to Pine Manor College, 400 Heath Street.
ChestnutHill,MA02467USA. and DirectorofFaculty Development and Leadership
Curriculum
Publication of material does not indicate
endorsementofthe author’sviewpointbythe
mMaagnaozrinCeo,lletghee. Alumnae Association, or Pine 1 3 YWCA Academy of Women Achievers
Pine Manor College does not discriminate Inducts President Nemerowicz Departments
on the basis ofrace, color, national or ethnic
origin, sexual orientation, age, sex, or marital
statusasrequired byTitle IXoftheEducation
Alemgeisnldatmieonn.tsof1972,andotherrelevantfederal 14 Class of 2009 Profile 2 Letter from the President
1 5 Two New Programs Launched: 21 Around Campus
Transition Program for International 24 Faculty & Staff News
Women and First Year Seminar 26 Alumnae News & Events
30 Donor Profile
16 Commencement 2005
31 Class Notes
PMC Web
Site:
www.pmc.edu Donor Report
(center)
Dear Friends;
am delighted to report that PMC has been approved by the Massachusetts Board of
I
Higher Education to offer a low-residency Master ofFine Arts in Creative Writing. We will be
enrolling the first group ofgraduate students next summer. Pine Manor has always empha-
sized the importance of communication-especially written communication-as a bridge to
others and as a skill for life. The MFAwill enhance “Writing at PMC,” which is featured in this
issue ofthe Bulletin.
As the most diverse College in the country, we feel a particular responsibility to use
the liberal arts to explore cultural differences and human similarities. Our faculty and staff
are leading the way and getting recognition for using the diversity among our students to
increase learning. You will see from the credentials ofthe five new full-time faculty members
whojoined us this year that we continue to attract extremely well-qualified professors who
enjoy teaching at a College where relationships with students are essential for learning.
InJuly we hired a new Dean ofAdmissions and Financial Aid, Robin Engel. am especially
I
pleased that one ofthe first things he did was to hire four recent graduates ofthe College to
help recruit new students. No one can better represent the strengths ofa Pine Manor educa-
President tion than an alumna. The energy and intelligence of these highly motivated young women
will contribute to continued increases in enrollment.
My travels since September have taken me to Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, NewYork, and
Texas, and look forward to visiting California, Florida, and the Midwest in the spring. In
I
visiting those places and many others, am energized by alumnae who arejustifiably proud
I
oftheirCollege, enthusiastic that we remain a College forwomen, and eagerto stay in touch
with one another. I wish I could visit with each one ofyou.
I have saved the best news for last. The recently completed audit has confirmed that in
fiscal year 2004-05 we reached a very important milestone for our financial health: for the
first time in 16 years we balanced both the operating and capital budgets. We have turned
an important corner in the rebuilding ofPine Manor. All ofus who work at the College and
the studentswho nowattend are extremelygrateful to those ofyou who support Pine Manor.
The enclosed Donor Report is an impressive listing. Each year more alumnae and friendsjoin
in giving their support, and by so doing give testimony to the need to maintain our College
—
for generations of women to come. We cannot succeed without you and with you Pine
the
Manor has an important and exciting future.
With best wishes,
President
P.S. I hopeyou canjoin ourcelebration on May 4, 2006, ofa decade ofinclusive leadership andsocial
from
responsibilityatPineManorCollege. ThisspecialeventwilltakeplaceattheColonnadeHotelin Boston.
For more information, pleasecontactAideenJenkins at 617-731-7126 [email protected].
2 Pine Manor College Bulletin
er-u e-nr^c:
SUMMER WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
by Meg Kearney, Director, Creative Writing Programs
The first PMC-sponsored Solstice The nine-day conference included
Workshops for novelists and Summer Writers’ Conference panel discussions,lectures, roundtables,
short-story writers were taught drew47 aspiringwriters from ten readings, and workshops. One student
states ranging in age from their early studying short fiction said, “I got some-
by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River),
20s to their mid-60s to work with an thing from all of the lectures, panels,
A. Manette Ansay ( Vinegar Hill), award-winning resident faculty. and roundtables. They were one of my
The heart ofthe Conference was the favorite parts ofthe conference, as they
Julia Glass (Three Junes),
writing workshops, where students’ showed me that the speakers have
Roland Merullo, Lee Hope, work-in-progress was analyzed and dis- struggled and still struggle with many
Valerie Wilson Wesley, and cussed. In some cases, students were ofthe same things that we do.”
challenged to produce new work and Panel discussions and lectures cov-
Sterling Watson; nonfiction work- present it to their class the next day. eredtopicssuchas“CrossingBoundaries
shops, by Michael Steinberg and “The Conference featured a diverse in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry,”
and dynamic student body and faculty," “The Demons” (“What keeps you from
Anne-Marie Oomen; and poetry, said Dzvinia Orlowsky, member of the writing and how to overcome and/or
by PMC's Kathleen Aguero, plus poetry faculty, a founding editor ofFour manage these obstacles”), and “The
Way Books and a contributing editor to Unreliable Narrator.” A morning of
Kurt Brown, Terrance Hayes,
Agni, the Marlboro Review, and Shade, roundtables enabled students to meet
and Dzvinia Orlowsky. Associate “and the nine days gave me enough with all of the Conference faculty and
time to give my students individual discuss matters of craft that might not
faculty included Patricia McNair
attention and allowed me to work on a be covered in workshops. A panel on
(nonfiction), Eric May (fiction), deeper level and see startling results.” publishing featured literary agent Ann
and Christopher Gleason (fiction). Top,from left:EricMay, andLynda Pilot;Sterling Watson:PattyMcNair;DennisLehane;MegKearney,
Director, andAnne-MarieOomen; Valerie Wilson Wesley;Ann Rittenberg, literaryagent.
Center: WritingPopFiction and/orLiteraryFiction class.
Fall 2005 3
,
always helps me grow and rise to the
teachable moment. It was an excellent
teaching experience, an excellent con-
ference.”
The evening readings, which were
open to the public, were a highlight of SUMMER
the Conference. Each reading featured
two or three faculty members and WRITERS'
included a mix of fiction, nonfiction,
and poetry. Three special guests also CONFERENCE
gave readings: poet Sandra Maria
of Pine Manor College
Esteves, author ofBluestown Mockingbird
PoetryIIclassparticipants,from left: Lea Mambo, and fiction writersAndre Dubus JUNE 16-24, 2006
Banks, Colda Solomon, LizLasan, andSuzanne 111 (House of Sand and Fog) and Tom
McGowan (seated).
Perrotta (Little Children). Each reading
was followed by a reception and book Solstice offers a welcoming,
Rittenberg, who also served as modera- signing. dynamic atmosphere with a
tor, plus David Daniel, poetry editor of Extracurricular activities for the pro- distinguished, award-winning
Ploughshares literary magazine; Meg gram’s participants included several
faculty. Classes are small,
Lamke, an associate editor at Houghton receptions, barbecues, a dance, and
offering generous attention to
Mifflin Publishers; and tours of Boston and
serious writers of poetry,
Mike Steinberg, found- "I got something from the surrounding area.
fiction, and creative nonfiction
ing editor of Fourth Students were also
all of the lectures panels
Genre: Explorations in , given a chance to
Nonfiction. and roundtables.... shine on the last day, Faculty includes:
David Bradley
“The faculty was they showed me that the when they read their
Stephen Dunn
experienced, knowl- work before fellow
speakers have struggled Julia Glass
edgeable,andgenerous students and the
with their time and and still struggle with Solstice Conference Patricia Henley
Lee Hope
experience,” said one many of the same things faculty. This was the Barbara Hurd
aspiring fiction writer. most rewarding event
that we do." Jacqueline Johnson
Anotherstudent added, of the nine-day pro-
Jack Ketchum
“The faculty was very gram, as the students
Elizabeth Powell
relaxed and easy to approach. This cre- read their bestwork and were metwith
Michael Steinberg
ated an atmosphere that was very sup- great applause, affirming their achieve-
Sheree R. Thomas
portive.” ments as emerging artists.
MarkTurcotte
“Itwas awonderful conference,” said
fiction faculty member Sterling Watson,
Special Guest
author offive novels, including Weep No Conference Director Meg Kearney is a pub- Rick Moody
More, My Brother. “I heard and am still lished poet who joined the PMC staff in
hearing good things about it from the January 2005. Before coming to PMC, Meg
students.” spent 1 1 years as associate director ofthe Director: Meg Kearney
Poetand nonfictionwrierAnne-Marie National Book Foundation, which sponsors Miller
Oomen agreed: “The sense of commu- the National Book Awards and several Applications received by
Brandon
nity was lovely...the feeling of‘coming national educational programs for which May 29, 2006
by
home’ to a group ofcommitted learners she was responsible. will be given priority Logo
consideration.
For more information and
MFA: The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education has approved PMC’s pro-
posed low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The new program an application, visit
www.pmc.edu/solstice.
will be launched with a residency in July 2006. Details will appear in the next
Bulletin. For further information please contact Program Director Meg Kearney.
Tel. [phone]; email [email protected].
4 Pine Manor College Bulletin
Composition
at PMC:
Polishing
the
CORNERSTONE
By MaryJane Higgins, Assistant Editor
CCstaffmeetbimonthlytoensureconsistencyacross
theprogram andtosharehelpfulexperiences.
M
—
any at PMC past and pres- flexibility and creativity, PMC faculty
44 Writing is empower- ent—see clear, effective tweaked methods and integrated new
writing skills as the cor- approaches, changing the program’s
ment,” states Stephen
nerstone for every other course a stu- name, curriculum, and pedagogical
Thompson, Professor of dent will encounter and as essential framework along the way. But the goal
for academic and professional success. has remained constant: to teach stu-
Philosophy and Religion, “Students saw they could improve their dents to think critically, read analyti-
skills,” recalls Emeritus Professor of cally, write effectively, and assess their
who has taught English Burnham Carter, who retired own work.
PMC in 1996 after 25 years of teaching Entering a College Composition (CC)
Composition at
first-year writing courses, “and as they classroom today, you might see a stu-
for more than three started writing better, they realized that dent leading a discussion on grammar,
gave them more success both inside or groups ofstudents working together
decades. “Learning how and outside ofcollege.” in small peer groups, or maybe two
PMC’s dedication to honing stu- “fishbowls,” in which two groups of
to think on paper,
dents’ writing skills goes back decades, students are challenging each other’s
exploring and discover- inspired by enthusiastic faculty, includ- stance on a subject. In another room,
ing Professors Emeritae/i Beverly an instructor might be giving individual
ing one’s own mind and Alexander, Fred Cabot, and Burnham feedback via computer to students as
Carter; current faculty from other dis- they write their essays.
feelings as one tries to ciplines such as Associate Professor “We organize each course around
find the right language of Political Science William Vogele; common texts and learning objectives,”
and committed adjunct faculty, most reports Kathleen Aguero, who has
to express oneself- this of whom are writers themselves. The been teaching composition since 1988.
Directorofthe program is Kathi Aguero, “Instructors are free to choose their
is very much a matter of Josephine Abercrombie Professor of own readings and design their own
finding a voice ofone’s English and a published poet. syllabi, as long as they are organized to
Teaching writing at PMC evolved meet the goals ofthe course.”
”
own. over the years from typical “baby” Three courses, tailored to students’
English courses to today’s broader, varying abilities, make up the program
more comprehensive program. With today.Awritingplacementexamfunnels
Fall 2005 5
WRITING AT PMC
Aguero. “We have more students who
may have come to this country when
young or speak a language other than
English at home. We look for ways to
take advantage of our students’ rich
linguistic backgrounds as well as appro-
priate strategies for teaching students
who are proficient orally but may have
ingrained errors in English syntax and
grammar.”
At the end of the semester, each
Composition student writes a self-
assessment essay on her progress. “The
more students can see connections
between Composition and their other
courses, and Composition and their
future professions, the more seriously
AdjunctFacultyMichaelKnollusesa well-written noveltodemonstrategoodwritingto CC 100 they will take it,” Aguero explains.
students.
Continuous Improvement
The nature ofour students into the appropriate course to
start with, and every PMC student must Today’s CC faculty are working to inte-
student body has pass or exempt from CC 101 and CC 102 grate CC and the co-curriculum; to col-
changed in recent to graduate. laborate with the First Year Seminars;
Thebeginningcourse,Developmental and to align with the College’s mission
years... We have Writing (CC 100), offers intensive work of inclusive leadership and social
more students who in writing and grammar skills. The next responsibility. For example, Lisa Breger,
level, CC 101, is organized around a Assistant Professor of English Compo-
may have come to theme, such as finding avoice, diversity, sition and a prize-winning poet, incor-
or understanding differences. The most porated service learning into her CC
this country when advanced class, CC 102, focuses on the courses lastyear by having her students
young or speak a argument and the documented research act as pen pals with local grammar
essay. Students learn to consider a school pupils.
language other than variety of viewpoints on controversial Applauding the growth in the mul-
English at home. issues and to formulate and support ticultural perspective of the program
their opinions on these issues. in the past few years, Breger reports
We lookfor ways “The nature ofour student body has that “We’ve worked hard to select read-
to take advantage changed in recent years,” comments ings that represent the diversity ofour
ofour students’
rich linguistic
backgrounds....
InAssistantProfessorAva KabouchyClough'sCC 101 class, students worktogethertodevelopdescrip-
tivewritingskills.
6 Pine Manor College Bulletin
WRITING AT PMC
students and have based some of our
classes around the theme of ‘ways of
perceiving’ the world. It makes for a
rich classroom environment, one in
which we can learn from one another.”
Ideas for future improvements
include more experimentation with
linked courses (sharing readings and
essay topics with another PMC course)
and shared readings across the co-cur-
riculum. A grading rubric emanating
from CC,which includes the language of
critical thinkingskills, has recently been
accepted collegewide as a standard for
writing.
Professional Rewards
CC 102 takesstudentsto theLibrary, whereAdjunctFacultyKristen Cormanguidesthem through the
CC faculty praise the rewards of their researchprocess.
work, where they witness students’
thinking, communicating, and writ- tiny, I appreciate what my students do When a student writes
ing develop, and their self-confidence again and again in their writing classes.
increase. Thompson recalls one stu- wouldn’t trade my Pine Manor stu- such piercinglyfelt,
I
dent’s poignant essay about a violent dents for any others anywhere!” reflective prose,
death in her family and then how she
learned that the perpetrator had also exploring her own
Learning Resource
been killed. “Instead of feeling better,”
Thompson remembers herwriting, “she Center: An “Equal experience in such
said she felt sadder, and she expressed Partner” a heartfelt way,
it beautifully. When a student writes
PMC’s Brown Learning Resource one realizes that
such piercingly felt, reflective prose,
Center, which provides studentswith
exploring her own experience in such writing/thinking is
full-time, professional tutors at no
a heartfelt way, one realizes that writ-
ing/thinking is a fundamental tool for additional cost, is one of the most a fundamental tool
widelyusedservicesoncampus.“The
self-awareness and self-discovery." for self-awareness
Aguero describes how gratifying it is LRC is really our equal partner,” com-
to see a student’s writing improve and ments CC Director Kathleen Aguero. and self-discovery.
to know that she realizes it herself, and “The tutors work very closely with
our program, are familiar with the
to see a student change her mind about
curriculum, objectives, and syllabi,
something she hadn’t thought about
and are constantly giving us good
deeply enough before. For example,
advice on teaching strategies and
last year a student wrote movingly
about how her views of homosexuality insights into how to help students
better.” LRC Director Mary Walsh
had changed after seeing the College’s
adds: “Tutors frame their sessions
production ofThe Laramie Project.
depending on the learning needs of
“Pine Manor has some extraordinary
students who bring their whole selves each individual student. The work is
collegial; tutors give no grades; they
into the classroom,” Aguero concludes.
“Many ofthem have complicated lives, are there to help and support the
yet here they are, revising their essays. student, wherever she is in the writ-
ing process.Theyhelp them see their
Every time have a challenging writ- —
I
progress which also builds their
ing task myself, particularly in a form —
I’m not experienced in, then expose self-confidence and they share in
their successes.”
that writing to other people’s scru-
Fall 2005 7
Focus
on Professors Emeriti/ae
Professor Frederick Converse Cabot
Frederick C. Cabot taught and spends hours excising them from
I English and College Corn- his domain. He also putters in an exten-
l_y A • position at PMCfrom 1973 sive garden and devotes as much time
to 1996, also serving as head of the as possible at a second home in the
English Department and Humanities front range of the Green Mountains of
Division. Since 1999 he has been a Vermont, overlooking Lake Champlain.
member of the College’s Board of He also enjoys running and amateur
Trustees. astronomy.
“1 love teaching,” Cabot said, “and Cabot is an active member of the
1 miss all my PMC students and col- Charles River Watershed Association
leagues. However, since I’ve been on and has responsibility for monitoring
the Board, I’m able to follow events at the river forwater purity and for public
the school. I’m particularly proud ofthe access as it makes its way through the
waythat Pine Manorhas redefined itself city ofNewton.
and its mission and has boldlyset out to Cabot has served on the board at the
Ym particularly proud provide a good education for promising Longy School ofMusic in Cambridge for
young women who might not have almost 16 years, both as president and
of the way that Pine another chance at higher education." as secretary. For the past seven years
During his tenure at PMC, one of he has also been teaching a wide range
—
Manor has redefined his favorite courses was A World of of courses from Southern Wri—ters
Contrast, which he team-taught with to Homer, Dante, and Cervantes to
Professor Rodman Henry. The course retired adults living at the Lasell College
itselfand its mission
examined French and Italian art history Village.
and literature, touching on everything Cabot and his wife, Liz, have two
and has boldly set
from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Rabelais daughters, Margaret, a school psycholo-
and Erasmus. gist in Framingham, and Katherine,who
out to provide a
Since retirement, Cabot has been is an attorney with the appellate divi-
working on a Gothic novel set in rural sion ofthe state ofConnecticut, and six
good education for Vermont.The manuscript, now number- grandchildren: Nicholas, 10, Elena, 8,
ing more then 150 pages, is more than Paul and David (twins) 5, Haley, 5, and
promising young half complete. However, it may never Eric, 3'/2. Cabot’s sister, Virginia Cabot
see the light ofday because Cabot was Wood, was a member of PMC’s Class
women who might
so nonplussed by the depravity of his of 1945.
main protagonists that he has shelved
not have another the project.
Cabot graduated from Milton jJjCuhutA*, U. ce /
chance at higher Academy in 1955, earned a BA magna %u.f ttlifkitrMjvA V>y *-it
cum laude at Harvard College, and a Hu/jl,rfwiAwf- f
education. PhD with a specialization in Victorian ItlCcrU. AOA/vvtwj o'- 6ro I
literature at the Harvard Graduate O’n'&T(in -Lurtw/*
,
School of Arts and Sciences. While at (btd. tki‘uplx|(btfVi ‘
Harvard he served as the senior tutor in O'tnLtd urtft
the Winthrop House.
Relishing the outdoors, Cabot has
been attempting to responsibly man-
age his acre and a half of fields and
woods in Weston. He is concerned
about the invasion ofnon-native species
8 Pine Manor College Bulletin